Dancing Around the Fire

Thanks for sharing the in-person energy of those experiences with us, karen & dick. It's not the same as being there ourselves, of course, but you let us share vicariously in what happens in the People's Colony Of D.C. on a regular basis, and we do appreciate that.

The MSM, the AM, and the BM are all agog this morning with news & views regarding last night's SOTU speech... the majority of them fulminating over, or at least acknowledging, the overall generic lameness of same. (That would be the Main Stream Media, the Alternative Media, and the Blogospheric Media respectively, in case any of you were wondering.)

All but the more foaming-mouthed right wingnuts seem to be giving Boy George a failing grade for last night's presentation to the class. Even for a lame-duck president in these unbalanced un-democratic times, his SOTU scores were notably low this morning. Gee, I wonder why. Could it be that Boosh is... *gasp*... a failure and a fake??

I'm sure I could spend all day just poring through all my RSS feeds and following up on the headers and links about that one topic. It's probably a Good Thing for my old eyes and my bad paw that I don't have the time to do that, though. Right. You betcha.

By the way... since part of our mission here is to inform & educate, let me respectfully suggest that y'all bookmark this site and grok it at least once a day:

http://www.opednews.com

(And that goes ditto for these, of course:)

http://mediamatters.org
http://www.alternet.org
http://truthout.org

You can keep a pretty good no-spin handle on the political unrealities and media distortions that we're all dealing with just by visiting those four sites on a regular basis.

Hard-core news & op-ed junkies, of course, will still end up collating a couple of hundred bookmarked RSS feeds in their daily queue before the sun is over the yardarm.

Not that I'd know anything about that, you understand...

more news & views you can use,
Otter

Very nice to wake up to, as it's just past 6 AM here and I have to drive through the dark. My car alarm started going off for no reason in the middle of the night, so I had to get up and park it in the garage unlocked. I assume it was the high winds and something wrong with one of the latches. I hope it doesn't start doing it in the parking garage at work.

Anyway, I got home too late to go to the World Can't Await event here, but I benefitted greatly from NOT watching or listening to the State of the Union Address. I had a phone call afterward from someoone I trust, who said it was almost exactly the same as last year - WMD, terra, ownership etc. I also spent time in the IRC, which I seldom do, for technical problems & lack of time. & that was also a great crowd! We laughed, we went from comic (human-animal hybrid?!!) to serious (Iran ..).

I'm sure NPR and maybe even the BBC will have a bit to say, it'll be a summary & somewhat (not that) objective. Then there will be plenty of blogs, newspaper articles etc. talking about it. & if I really want to excerpts of "him", those will be there too.

I know of several older people who didn't watch because they don't like to hear "his" voice or see "him" (am I forgetting to Capitalize? but the halo has been getting dimmer)

This just in from the "I couldn't have said it better myself" department...

Tale of Two Presidents
Five difficult years in office have left the White House straining under the weight of its own contradictions. That was abundantly clear in the State of the Union address.

WEB-EXCLUSIVE COMMENTARY
By Richard Wolffe and Holly Bailey
Newsweek
Updated: 8:28 a.m. ET Feb. 1, 2006

Feb. 1, 2006 - The State of the Union was a tale of two presidents. One was gracious about his opponents, seeking common ground for the sake of the nation’s future. The other accused his critics of being isolationists, pacifists, protectionists and unpatriotic.

One wanted the downfall of tyrants and dictators; the other wanted the downfall or transformation of elected governments in Iran and the Palestinian territories.

One wanted to extend tax cuts; the other wanted to cut deficits.

One was determined to promote America as the world leader in science; the other was determined to put strict limits on human embryo research—restrictions that other countries have rejected.

Both presidents are of course one and the same: the often inspirational, often self-contradicting, George W. Bush. Democrats frequently mistake this split personality as some kind of giant game of bait-and-switch. But it’s more accurate to think of it as the gap between Bush’s idealistic self-image as a leader, and his realistic desire to do whatever it takes to win.

more... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11126201/site/newsweek/

(Okay, so maybe this ain't exactly news, but it still counts as views... including a jpeg reproduction of that controversial Entertainment Weekly cover, which you can view for yourself along with the rest of the outspoken interview on EW's site at: http://tinyurl.com/7lgb4 )

-----------

On March 10, 2003, the Dixie Chicks' Natalie Maines stepped onto a London stage and announced, "We're ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas." All hell promptly broke loose. A month later, she and bandmates Martie Maguire and Emily Robison finally addressed the controversy for the first time, posing naked on the cover of Entertainment Weekly and candidly discussing the firestorm Maines' comment sparked.

Now the group is prepping its first album since The Incident, and they're promising it will be a big departure from past work. Produced by Rick Rubin, it's shaping up to be an old-fashioned rock album, reminiscent of '70s rock bands like the Eagles (the still-untitled disc is due in stores this April).

One highlight is sure to be "Not Ready to Make Nice," which directly addresses the fallout from the big Bush bash. When EW called Maines for an exclusive preview, she -— not shockingly -— had plenty to say.

[snip]

-----------

(FWIW, I'm still mad at all the right wingnuts who demonized the Dixie Chicks and drove them away from the business for almost three years. For one thing, it's a First Amendment violation to publicly and savagely trash people for speaking their minds the way those wingnuts did. But I genuinely like the Chicks' sizzling music & spunky personae, too, so I was bummed when they suddenly and summarily got desaparecido'd from the country music scene like that...)

the right, they drove ol' Dixies down,
Otter

Thanks for posting the teaser and link to that Web-only Newseek article, monkeyman. It's one of the best post-SOTU analyses I've seen, and it's certainly worth clicking on and reading all the way to the end.

the news that gives Boosh fits we print,
Otter

(In my email)

From The Philadelphia Inquirer

Nick Berg's father to seek U.S. House seat in Del.

Green Party peace candidate Michael Berg, whose son
was beheaded in Iraq, will oppose seven-term Rep. Mike
Castle.

By Sandy Bauers

Inquirer Staff Writer

Michael Berg, father of independent contractor Nick
Berg, who was beheaded in Iraq in 2004, is turning his
emotional antiwar crusade into a political battle
against one of Delaware's most popular elected
officials.

The retired West Chester teacher, who moved to
Wilmington in May, is expected to become the Green
Party candidate for Delaware's lone U.S. House seat
when the party's coordinating council votes tonight.

"My head count says we're good to go," John Atkeison,
the party's Delaware chairman, said last week.

(The rest snipped off. Looking for a link.)

Karen, it sounds wonderful. It's good to know that there was joy and hope in the middle of all the chaos and despair of yesterday.

Take care of yourself today.

And thank you to everyone who worked together to let us know what was going on in our nation's capitol... about who was speaking out and what they were saying. It took a lot of time and personal commitment and it is appreciated.

And BTW, here's another link to Cindy Sheehan's own first-person report of what happened to her last night. She says she intends to file a First Amendment lawsuit as a result of her mistreatment by authorities at the SOTU speech. You GO, girl!

http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/06/02/con06043.html

first amendment? what first amendment?,
Otter

Otter
I paid to download some Dixie Chicks.

I liked what Howard Dean sent out today - what the SOTU didn't say. He started out talking about the "infamous 16 words" lie that got us into war.

There was alot of grumbling about the Democrat response last night. Someone here even sent me info on how to file to become a Senator. (No thanks but glad if there are "activists" who try - it is an expensive proposition to run against multimillionaires). He's a conservative and religious Democrat. Maybe it was a good strategy, maybe not. Some people aren't tv material, I guess.

By the way, thanks for all the positive things people are doing on and off-line. It's easy to criticize someone else. (I read through the comments on the last thread.)

I am a MODERATE, okay I said it, and I mean it, in the old fashoin sense of Conservatism I am a Conservative Dem that makes me a Moderate. I am so sick and tired of this country being divided by the extremes in both parties in a lot of cases Democrats are as quilty of that as Republicans are.

Kerry last minute push to mount a Filibuster was a sad statement on the state of our party. Kerry knew his gambit wouldnt work so why do it? Have any of you asked yourselves that? I detest Bush and I am afraid of him yes, but I am so tired of seeing anyone who doesnt agree with a paticular part of our party skewered. Did anyone watch those confirmation hearings on Alito? Did anyone see Kennedy get egg on his face because he insisted on somthing without first checking it out?

Kerry and Kennedy, Kennedy is from an old family where public service is a mainstay we love and respect him as the elder statesment and as a Kennedy. However his veiws arent always mine. Here is the big thing, they shouldnt always be mine. I can respectfully disagree with him, I often do.

Kerry, I supported him in the last election after a lot of research, my daughter loved him and the fact he was a hero, however after the election I was left with the feeling this is the best we can do? Ineffective defense for the attacks launched by the far right? No easy to understand agenda, remember 9/10 of the American public want sound bites quick ones they understand. Us good them bad would do for some.

Bush's approval ratings are at tolet level and yet we still arnt effectivily launching the right attacks, Clinton had an approval rating during Monica Gate in the 60's and the Republicans succeeded in making him look enough like the boogy man that Gore ran from him. Has anyone asked thereselves why?

Bush scares me and I dont like him its as easy and as hard as that, he doesnt scare me because he is smart he scares me because he is idealog who believe his way is the only way and the best way despite evidence to the contrary. Okay so ask yourselves are we not becoming exactly what we fear?

Once again I am going to say it I am a Moderate! Half this country is made up of people like me, the far left has about 25% the far right has about 25% that means 50% of this country wants harmony and checks and balances the challenge to the Democrats is to reach not the far left but the middle of both and do it effectivly.

I was dissapointed by our tepid response to the SOTU, one thing struck me in Gov Kaines reponse though he mentioned values and God. Something Democrats rarly do, not that they should run around as Bush does proclaiming their holliness. But some people want to hear our legislators at least have a passing aquanitince with God, even if they dont believe in everything we do. Atheists make up a very small portion of our society agnostics make up a slightly larger portion. I dont want to become them, them meaning the Republicans but we have to quit running from our religion. I make the effective argument all the time that I was taught it was up to God to Judge man not man. meaning somethings are none of our business, takes some of the scare out of things huh, and takes the fire out of their cooker makes them look like the nosey old busybodies that they are.

I dont know I am just tired of all this division and I know if I am others are to, Republicans are NOT going to put a stop to it, if they feel its their ticket to winning. We have to figure out a way to make it their tickey to losing. Being a Moderate isnt a bad thing people its not a bad thing at all, neither is being a Liberal both parties need the extremes its fires up Ideas and makes us creative.It makes us want to be better, I always say I embrace being called a Liberal because I love the definition of liberal, even if I am not one, we need to take the Liberal veiw and form it shape and make it Moderate enough for everyone to want to follow we need to make it the only way! One thing we need to stop doing is looking totally ineffective when we should be hitting hard, I thought alot about this last night, how can we expect the people in this country to think Democrats can defend them if we can not even defend ourselves effectivly? How can we expect the people to feel that we will hit Terrorists hard if we cant even hit the one who is running this country into the ground hard? We have become weak and I mean weak, we have thrown in the towel on our wonderful Ideas because we lost an election or two because some group made a President with 60% approval look like the boogyman and we can even do that to a President with 40% who has lied and started a war and is spying on us. I dont care about election fraud let me repeat I dont care about election fraud it would have been a non issue had we framed the issues better if they stool the last election it was because WE let them. Instead of being whining sniveling babies its time for us all and I mean all to figure out a Better Way. My husband said last night when Kaine was speaking his phrase A Better Way invoked Clinton, and believe it or not, their isnt a lot of Moderates out their who would not go out in record numbers to vote for someone who takes the Best from both Parties and ties it up into one neat bow! Like Clinton did. Moderate is no more and ugly word than Liberal is.

For those who are angry at the Democrats who voted for Alito, remember something they represent their states and their states veiws on things not everyone elses. The Alito Confirmation hearing showed glaring the wrongness in both parties, the Republican pander and the Democrats attack even when their might not be somthing to attack.

If we want to win this year I suggest every single Democrat start insisting on talking about the issues we all care about ALL Care ABOUT not some all. Also it wouldnt hurt for us to quit pussyfooting around and call the President a criminal okay he lied he has circumvented the Constitution. Which he swore to uphold, and I truly dont care why he did he did it. If I break the law no one is going to give me a pass for any reason STOP your Democratic reps from giving Bush and COmpany a pass. We are not weak when we defend the defensable we are only weak when we let them make us so!

I am tired. If I am so are a lot of others this kind of politics is exhausting, when frankly most people dont have time to be exhausted by this stuff they are struggling to make ends meet, we need to use their own words against them more effectivily after all they do it to us right, and also Couric said to Kerry this morning surely you arent blaming this on the press and guess what Kerry said no I am not lol. Wow. he should have said yes I am you are owned by a company that wants a share of what Fox has and therefor you arent always reporting actual news, perfect opening he missed the oppurtunity, to point out to us Moderats the Presses rule in this partisan divide we live in called America. We here can yell about it people on other sights can yell about it, but in the end the main streem isnt hearing us. They think everything they are hearing is true. Howard Dean did a good job the other morning correction Katie's statemtn that this is a Bi Partisan scandle he did not let her get away with it, people were listening! Start talking!

I saw a headline "Bush Hitting the Road on State of the Union Tour" - what is he a rock star?
Taxpayer's expense? But he's a lame duck! What's the point? All the appearances will be contrived and controlled. Unless he can increase his ratings & erase his (?) record, campaigning for people will only hurt them. They will try to distance. I know I'm not buying the t-shirt.

As if the fact that 35 out of the 50 state governorships are up for grabs this coming November isn't enough...

Here's still another good reason why we need to be beating the drums for all available non-neocon candidates early and often this year, as noted in the 'First Read' column on MSNBC's website:

"The new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll shows that interest in the November elections is unusually high for this point: on a scale from one to 10 (i.e., 'not interested' to 'very interested'), 46% say they're at 10, and another 34% rate their interest between seven and nine. Meaning that 80% of those polled are, well, really quite interested in the midterms. Pollster Bill McInturff observes that the level is 'essentially the number we had in October of the last three off-year elections,' and that we're in a 'period where the public is unusually attuned to politics.' The war in Iraq, health care costs, and gas prices are all 'capturing people's interest and making them pay attention,' he says. This interest may or may not translate into high turnout in November. Usually there is a link, McInturff says, but turnout for the upcoming primaries in the spring, summer and early fall may be a more accurate measure given how far out we are from November."

(Full version of the article that this 'First Read' snippet references is here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11103804/ )

get out the vote and turn left,
Otter

sparrow:

Here's the actual source link to that Philadelphia Inquirer article on Nick Berg's father that you got from your mailing list:

http://tinyurl.com/9x7kn

(The article itself was originally published on 1/23/06, so that says something about the relative timeliness of some email-list news reposts...)

we gotcher hot links right here,
Otter

Here's a timely blog item from culturekitchen.com, posted this morning by frequent CK blogger Lorraine. She wants to organize a targeted "Defeat The Vichy Ten" campaign. Hmm. Sounds like an interesting strategy to me...

----------

THE VICHY TEN:

Daniel K. Akaka, Hawai'i
Jeff Bingaman, New Mexico
Robert C. Byrd, West Virginia
Maria Cantwell, Washington
Thomas Carper, Delaware
Kent Conrad, North Dakota
Herb Kohl, Wisconsin
Joseph Lieberman, Connecticut
Bill Nelson, Florida
Benjamin Nelson, Nebraska

These are ten particular Democratic senators who made odd choices on Monday and Tuesday. While some were opposed to Samuel Alito, they still chose to vote for cloture on Monday afternoon, effectively confirming him. Cloture went through on a 75-25 vote; Alito was confirmed by a vote of 58-42. If the 42 senators who had opposed Alito had put up a real fight, there would still be some debate going on in the Senate, and those of us who cherish our civil liberties might be feeling a little less threatened.

Why am I focusing on these ten when other Democrats made the same choice? Well, because each of the ten are up for re-election this year. Which means, each of them will face a Democratic primary opponent. Which means, voters in each of those states has an opportunity to send a message to their incumbent Democratic senator that we cherish the ideals of the Democratic party -- the former values -- and that "same bullshit, different day" is not cutting it as the current platform.

[snip]

Full-length blog post is here:
http://www.culturekitchen.com/lorraine/blog/the_vichy_ten

----------

time to brew up a fresh pot of vichy sauce,
Otter

April,

I know you just said you're a moderate and maybe you are. Really, there are lots of people out here that are moderate in some aspects, liberal in another, and conservative in others. Regardless, we all have pieces of ourselves that are not defined by one specific party or view.

Furthermore there is no one person who is the end all and be all of what represents our viewpoints at any given time.

So with respect to what you wrote about the filibuster, I actually support what Kerry did and here is why. One, do you have any idea of how many people don't know that Alito approved of the little 10 year old's being strip searched? I can tell you from talking to people around here that they don't know that. Do they know his views on privacy, the 4th ammendment and executive power?

In a normal circumstance with the media doing it's job and if those questions had been asked and answered, then I would say it was a political move. However, this time, I actually think Kerry stood up for the filibuster because he was trying to do the right thing. And to me, it takes courage to stand up when you know you're going to get kicked around and take a stand. He did this. He stood up for us April. That's what we want our reps to do--no matter what their political party or affiliation is. So if our reps don't take a stand because "It's a losing battle" then they may as well stay home and not do anything.

The filibuster is a legitimate part of the confirmation process. Because it's legitimate and to be used in cases where questions still arise about nominee, anyone who is voting "up or down" on a candidate serves the public well by asking for a few more days, a week, whatever the case may be in order to get to the truth before a vote. In my opinion, this is not a liberal, moderate, or conservative idea. To me, it's about democracy, justice, and protecting the American people from someone who is appointed for life!!! (So I do disagree with you about that issue.)

Reading through the rest of your comment: I did not see the interview with katie Couric however, it does sound as if Kerry missed a golden opportunity and that is very sad!

Now, regarding the rest of your comment about being tired, tired of the fighting, and tired of the politics of things, of course I agree with you. However, I know that apathy and exhaustion is the friend of politicians and dictators. And so I believe that even if you and I disagree on the first issue--the filibuster--it does not mean we can not work together on other issues.

Just like you noted your views about how you felt about JK's filibuster and I noted opposing views, I'm sure there are 20 more issues that we have in common. But I'm not willing to label you a moderate or me a liberal or visa versa. I'm a 100,000 page book with so many different ideas and emotions (and I'm sure you're the same way) and one word doesn't cut it to describe a political or philosophical ideology.

We're just human. Two people and a group of people on the blog trying to make life better for people. And isn't that what public service is suppose to be what it's about?

I wtched the SOTU without sound when I got home laqst--I have been interviewed by a lot of media about the nonverbal and I wanted to see what I saw without the rancor I tend to feel immediately upon hearing his voice.

After I did my analysis (much slowed down, lots of adaptive swaying, less tension, more evenness of tone nonverbally, fewer lip gestures, but monotonous monotonous phrasing), I listened to most of the words themselves.

I was struck by how much seemed familiar.

Remember I heard a lot of JK's speeches during the campaign and I now I am wondering if extra copies found their way across town...

Same words, different delivery style...

Good comments, point/counterpoint.

BBC had 2 sentences about the SOTU - basically Bush is not wanting to be an isolationist & thinks we are addicted to oil.

NPR did a really good job of deconstructing the speech. They played excerpts and I heard enough.
http://www.npr.org has the speech & commentary. I am an NPR democrat.

We only get 1/5 of our oil from the middle east. The rest comes from Mexico, Canada, Nigeria and Venezuela, mostly. We can have hybrids, research but we have not reduced vehicle size to increase the efficiency of our national fleet like we did in the '70s. Bush omitted these facts. He minimized complications we have had in the middle east and didn't include the unpredictability of "spreading democracy" in the middle east (rise of Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and Hamas in Palestine - officially terrorist organizations).

The health savings accounts Bush touts are mostly for those who don't make enough to pay income taxes. There is a high deductible. They rarely have money to save and in fact, US savings rate in general is the lowest since 1933. The "ownership" society is a way to get government to have less responsibility. It is doomed to fail and won't save money because there will be an increase in social problems.

A small percentage of elders have signed up for Medicare Part D (prescription drug coverage). The healthy are expected to subsidize the sick under this program.

Bush used a euphemism for "domestic spying" and that was "terrorist surveillance program." He claims it could have prevented 9/11. He claims other Presidents did the same thing. Not after FISA though. He broke the law when he went around FISA.

Lies.

Ahh it is good to have my coffee in here.

Karen and Dick, thank you for going on our behalf when we can't.

Karen your words spoken at the thread at the top
to us are elquent, firey and encouraging.

I admit, even if I didn't admit it last night, I
went to bed wondering if there is anything we can do without big money and corporate financing to change the course of this dountry.

But this morning I woke up happy, because I saw the divide in the hall during the responses. I know April we should all try to get along, but sometimes it is futile to try to rock solid unity.

When I called my 88 year old dad last night and told hin about the kitchen bands (the Pot and Pan and drum bands) all over the country he chuckeled.

I didn't know they put the Dixie Chicks out of business three years ago. That little Valerie
Maine is so cute and her husband is too.

I am encouraged by the tone of the hall last nigh.
Tension so thick in there it was cuttable, and I
think that is good so the people get the message that the Democrats are not all liberals and airheads, but truly upset at what is going on with this aminstration.

Oh, and you were asking what the response was to the Dem rebuttal? My dad, a moderal convervative,
like him and said he made some good points. I
think it was a good stragey to put someone in there who is a conservative dem. Cuz like you say April MOST people are moderates.

Karen's movement analysis...

In the NY Daily News...
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/387231p-328576c.html

The UPI release...
http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20060131-104841-9951r

Furthermore, to have an ADDICT tell us we are addicted to the very thing that has made his family wealthy beyond belief, and to have the ADDICT launch a war of choice on an oil rich country, which very few doubt had everything to do with oil, and then to plunder the countries of the oil and wealth and THEN to say, we don't need your commodity anymore, all the while making enough enemies based in that region to fight us for 1000 years... well, that's a whopper.

Not to mention how THIS guy must be feeling this morning...

http://tinyurl.com/9wjbk

And, I think Cindy getting arrested was a victory. Bless her heart. It got alot of air time right before the address.

She's been getting alot of coverage from the rumor that she may run for senator in the future.

In her own way, she is getting very well known, and respected.

Hey Monkey and Otter,

Why dont'cha write a song or poem about a two headed snake, and/or a chameleon.

CNN.com...

How did President Bush's speech make you feel about the state of the nation?

More encouraged 22% 21636 votes

Less encouraged 30% 29327 votes

I didn’t watch it 47% 45924 votes
Total: 96887 votes

Let me start with two cliches.

"They also serve who stand and wait" John Milton

"All Politics are local" attributed to Tip O'niell, said by everyone who's played the game.

As I told Karen last night, she did what she could for democracy. As did Cindy Sheehan, as did all who were at local world can't wait gatherings,

But so to did I and Otter and Madame Defarge, We listened, we made ourselves aware of what this President wants to set as his coming agenda. (Well, his ongoing agenda, but that's another post).

I did as well on my way home last night, talking to a young mother, who thinks she's Republican, but isn't happy at the way Congress has "had it's hand in the cookie jar"

Madame, bless her heart, is is doing what she can for democracy even as I type, hosting a coffee for a canidate.

All of us have lives, responsibilities to those close to us. It does not make us less concerned, rather more. All of us do what we can, when we can, at a cost that we can bear. The work gets done, not only by dramatic gestures, but by the, as Rick reminded us last week, the small things as well.

Let us bear with one another, appalding, comforting and encouraging for that too is doing what you can for democracy

Well, the Capitol Police were busy last night.

They also ejected the wife of a representative, Rep. C.W. Bill Young, R-Indian Shores, FL, last night for wearing a t-shirt with a slogan that said, "Support the Troops Defending Our Freedom."

"Young's husband found out about the incident after Bush's speech and called it unacceptable."

Read all about it here...
http://www.local6.com/news/6647094/detail.html

Tell us something we don't know:

New studies spotlight a growing gap between top and bottom. The divide is widest in Arizona, narrowest in Wyoming.

By MSN Money Staff

Two new studies find the rich are getting richer at a faster pace.

A study released last week, from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Economic Policy Institute, found that the gap between the highest- and lowest-income families is significantly wider than it was 25 years ago.

And an analysis of income-tax data by Congressional Budget Office found that the top 1% of households own nearly twice as much of the nation's corporate wealth as they did just 15 years ago.

http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/invest/extra/P143548.asp

***I think it would be important to know how much was increased per year--not just this overall 15 year measurement.

(And also, I worked to increase the minimum wage and actually had people question these same statistics saying, "That's a democrats number." Sadly, it's not.)

Cindy Sheehan is on the Comcast home page.

I'm reading all I can about Iran, starting with Reuters, wondering if expansion of war in the middle east is imminent.

Looks like the Iranian people will be the victims no matter what happens, like the Iraqi people (I mean common people, moderate people, working people). War - civilian casualties, loss of infrastructure. Sanctions - thousands employed in car and ship building will suffer because the companies depend on foreign loans. Iran is 4th largest crude producer but imports most of its petrol. If it went up even a little, the average person will have a hard time with basic food and lodging expenses (similar in Iraq).

Interesting to read quotes from Bush and Ahmedinejad side by side - both essentially describe the other nation as being held hostage by a small clerical elite, both speak to selected domestic audiences. One side shouts "nuke Iran" the other "death to America & Israel."

My recommendation - don't take sides.
It's a no-win situation. The best thing is to become informed, avoid fanaticism, be aware of propaganda. Iran threatens that oil would rise to $100/barrel and stock amrkets would crash, but their economy appears very vulnerable to embargoes. Russia helps them with their "peaceful" nuclear program but has sided with the other "big 5" at the UN.

We have one month. Then will we be on the path to war? If so, it seems a war between fanatical clerics and a bit of a hypocrisy too, as Pakistan has nukes, Israel has nukes. You can't just "go in" and "take out" things in other countries that you don't like (that may or may not be there). That backfires.

There was an article on Chalabi, speaking from a posh hotel in Vienna. He was trying to attract more big oil companies to Iraq, and I wonder also how this would benefit the ordinary Iraqi?! Under Saddam, 1.7 million barrels were exported each day and now it's 1 million barrels. Sanctions against Iraq were very hard on ordinary Iraqi people, especially children (widespread illness & outright starvation). & now add the pointless war.

Now NO ONE is checking on North Korea (no nuclear monitoring at all - they have all been kicked out). They don't have oil. & ordinary North Koreans subsist at semi-starvation levels. Relations between China & Japan are at the lowest ebb since WW2. Do we focus on that situation enough? (Asia is alot closer to US than the middle east).

& there are nations in South America who have been electing leaders democratically who want to nationalize oil and natural gas. Again, "spreading democracy" does not always result in what our powers that be deem essential to our "interests" (which are usually more economic but referred to as "national security"). You should not wish too hard for something because you just might get it (results of "democracy").

& it seems increasingly hypocritical to "spread democracy" when our last 2 elections are in question but the (controlled, for the most part) press has kept mostly silent about it.

Posted by: dwahzon at February 1, 2006 11:51 AM

If we're all equal under the law, then why was she only ejected and not arrested?

Two Americas...

Sparrow,

Your right we do agree more than disagree, here is the problem we are offering Analysis of Bush's speech and we all know what we would have our reps do better however their is still a large segment of this country who wants to Hear what Democrats and Independants would do better not just what we believe Bush is doing wrong. I know we have plans but for whatever reason we are being very ineffective at delivering these wonderful Ideas and plans to the rest of the population, we are still allowing Republicans to frame the discussions and arguments and yes even the attacks. Bush is the circus ringleader all razzle dazzle no substance and we are allowing him to get away with it. The commentators last night were all talking about how cohearant Bush sounded when he usually doesnt, Hello we should expect our President to speak to us cohearantly and not give him extra points for doing it. One of the Democratic Senators from California came on and when asked how she rated the Presidents speech she actually gave him a B+, why? he didnt talk about anything he hasnt said a million times before he did not give an actual state of the union, he gave his rose colored glass veiw and she gave him a B+ because he actually spoke in complete sentances essentionaly, wow if thats all it takes to get a B+ in this country my daughter who is 11 should be in college by now.

Katrina GAO report starts to hit the streets:

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/02/01/katrina.washington.ap/index.html

The House committee chaired by Rep. Tom Davis, R-Virginia, is expected to release its own findings by February 15. Additionally, a Senate panel will conclude a separate investigation by mid-March.

UPi & Daily news- You rock Karen!!

I spent the eveing with a group of folks from local temple & church, working on a joint program that will focus on tolerance and diversity as God's way in the world. We also will be looking at what capitailism has come to mean (ie profit) and the do unto others before they do unto to us jive of today.

One question-can you/we see the face of God in the face of the stranger? In the face of Cheney?

Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Learning from Dear Leader

(updated below)

I disagree with lots of things which Cindy Sheehan says but if the circumstances of her arrest last night at the State of the Union speech are anything like what she describes them as being (h/t Lis Riba), then her arrest is completely disgraceful.
(Snip)

This is nothing more than a naked attempt to stifle dissent and to create a criticism-free bubble around George Bush. Presidents routinely use all sorts of propagandistic imagery at the State of the Union to decorate their speeches with an aura of regal patriotism. We always see weeping widows and military heroes and symbolic guests of all sorts who are used as props and visuals to bolster the President's message both emotionally and psychologically. The State of the Union speech is hardly free of visual messages and propaganda of that sort; quite the contrary.

But we apparently now have a country where the only ideas allowed to be expressed in our Nation's Capitol while the President is speaking are ones which glorify the Government and its Leader and where dissenting views are prohibited and will subject someone to arrest. Message cleansing of that sort belongs at a political rally in North Korea, not in Washington, DC.

There have been stories here and there of the Secret Service and other federal government agencies exercising the police power of the state for no purpose other than to stifle dissent. Virtually every appearance of George Bush is meticulously and vigilantly staged to ensure that he is surrounded only by agreement and adoration and almost never dissent of any kind.

This is plainly unhealthy and disgustingly contrary to every defining core American value. Our leaders aren't entitled to reverence and worship and aren't supposed to want it.

(snip)

And these attacks on dissent are particularly ironic given that they occurred in the midst of a speech by a President who loves to lecture the world on the virtues of liberty and who holds himself out as the Chief Crusader for freedom and democracy.

In fact, as Cindy Sheehan was being dragged out of the Royal Speech, His Majesty was regaling us with the importance of respecting civil debate, the virtues of diversity and freedom, and the need to protect minority views. It's as if there was some universal force that wanted to provide the most compelling demonstration possible of how disingenuous his speech was, and came up with the idea of having Cindy Sheehan dragged out of the hall for doing nothing other than wearing a t-shirt politely expressing criticism of Bush's war.

UPDATE: The law is clear that Sheehan did nothing illegal and there was no legal basis whatsoever for removing and arresting her for wearing that t-shirt.

(read cases at the link)

Nothing Sheehan did could even be remotely construed to constitute a "demonstration." She was sitting quietly in her seat wearing a t-shirt, an activity which is expressly excluded from the activities prohibited by this statute and, in any event, could not possibly be criminalized consistent with the First Amendment. We don't have a system of government -- at least we didn't used to -- where someone can be arrested for wearing a t-shirt that expresses criticism of the President.

Isn't that just the most basic political value that we have? What kind of Americans sit idly and passively by while they watch a fellow citizen arrested and removed from the Capitol during a political speech for doing nothing other than wearing an anti-war t-shirt?

UPDATE II: If you are someone still in need of dispositive proof that Michelle Malkin is one of the most un-American, liberty-hating, disturbing creatures around, please see this rancid post of hers (h/t Mahablog) where she calls for Rep. Lynn Woolsey to be barred from inviting anyone to such speeches in the future because someone she invited wore a t-shirt which was critical of The Leader.

posted by Glenn Greenwald | 12:20 PM

http://glenngreenwald.blogspot.com/2006/02/learning-from-dear-leader.html

The MSNBC report on Cindy's arrest does include excerpts from her blog post (ADS, dailykos) that state that she was never told not to wear the shirt and what happened from her perspective.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11120353/

The Farcical Definition at the Heart of the War on Terrorism
By James Bovard
More people died as a result of the U.S.-backed invasion of East Timor than were killed by international terrorists in the subsequent 30 years. According to the U.S. State Department, between 1980 and 2005 fewer than 25,000 people were killed in international terrorist incidents around the globe.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article11737.htm
{{{This shows what hypocrites the US is regarding the subject of "terrorism.}}}

Jason Leopold | Bush Ignored 9/11 Warnings
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/013106J.shtml
The Bush administration ignored hard evidence from its top intelligence officials between April and September of 2001 about an impending attack by al-Qaeda on US soil. There's no chance that the National Security Agency's domestic wiretapping initiative would have saved the lives of 3,000 American citizens if an intelligence memo titled "Bin Laden determined to attack inside US" that President Bush received a month before 9/11 couldn't move Bush to take such threats seriously.

U.S. Instigated Iran's Nuclear Program 30 Years Ago:
White House staff members, who are trying to prevent Iran from developing its own nuclear energy capacity and who refuse to take military action against Iran "off the table," have conveniently forgotten that the United States was the midwife to the Iranian nuclear program 30 years ago.
http://tinyurl.com/94lg9
{{{Like the amnesia the US has over the fact that the country that gave Saddam Hussen the WMD in the first place was the US?!?!}}}

FBI Agents Back Down When Librarian Refuses to Let Them Seize 30 Computers Without a Warrant:
An e-mail threat that prompted the evacuation of more than a dozen Brandeis University buildings on January 18 led to an unusual standoff in a public library in Newton, Mass., a few miles from the Brandeis campus.
http://chronicle.com/temp/email2.php?id=HZs6ytfGjgq2jTYrv2bddZnqv3qYq6rp

Senator Feingold Claims Gonzales Misled him on Wiretaps:
Sen. Russell Feingold (D-Wis.) charged yesterday that Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales misled the Senate during his confirmation hearing a year ago when he appeared to try to avoid answering a question about whether the president could authorize warrantless wiretapping of U.S. citizens.
http://www.truthdig.com/eartotheground/item/20060131_gonzales_misled/

The Real Danger of Presidential Spying :
Why isn’t the danger that the president could easily blackmail opponents part of our national discussion of the spy program? Perhaps it’s too frightening to contemplate.
http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/forumy/2006/01/real-danger-of-presidential-spying.php
{{{One wonders how much blackmail of currently elected senators and representatives has occurred thanks to warrantless spying.... Is that why so many Dems have caved when it comes to all of the horrendous nonsense on the part of The Cretin and his Criminal Cabal already???}}}

Molly Ivins: Groundhog Day:
As government officials keep more and more information from us, they are in turn increasingly less accountable for what they do, since we have no idea they're doing it. Those are small things with grave consequences.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article11736.htm

Charley Reese: Fargo or Bust:
Another idea I've had for solving the corruption problem in Washington is to move the Senate, the House and the president and vice president to Fargo, N.D.
http://www.lewrockwell.com/reese/reese258.html

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/uclickcomics/20060201/cx_crwiz_uc/crwiz20060201
Wizard of Id - political cartoon

Posted by: dwahzon at February 1, 2006 12:53 PM

Well, they arrested another mother who had lost a son in Iraq for wearing a tee shirt outside the town meeting hall when Bush was selling snake oil about social security.

Posted by: April at February 1, 2006 12:20 PM

Thanks for not getting upset at my comments to you. I wasn't sure how you would react to my disagreement.

Ok...well, I think as I said and agreed with you that Kerry missed a golden moment to tell people (who ARE tuned into the morning news) that corporate media has a motive to spin things. Whether she wishes to take it personally or not is up to her. But I think a few handy-dandy examples would be very useful if that question were to arise again.

Now, your comment about how people don't understand what progressives offer is indeed valid. I know! We can hate Bush all we want but it's not about Bush anylonger. If you sit in a room with progressives you hear them talk about the widening gap between rich and poor--and this comes from rich democrats saying it too, not just the poor. Yet, when you hear them on tv they all can't "PUSH" that "PASSION" and empathy into their voices and demeanor! NO--I'm not saying they should take drama lessons; we've already seen that with Bush and his "compassionate conservative" and his faux cowboy crap.

Instead, what I'm saying is they should get off their techno lingo and TALK to people, talk from the heart. Stand in front of the cameras and say, "I'm damn upset your losing your jobs and I'm ANGRY! I'm going to WALK into Congress and create these laws to HELP you!!!"

I think the progressive pledge the DCP began was a great start. I'm sure it speaks to both moderates and liberals. (Here's the link since I don't know if you saw it. http://www.democracycellproject.net/pledge.shtml )

So are we agreed upon that?

Researchers needed here:

Some of the GOPUSA goopers had ENRON email accounts!!!

Want to do some research? ePluribus Media can use some help on this!!

Check it out: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/2/1/10953/58081
[GOPUSA was the home of TalonNews and our favorite two-day-fiddy-dollah-certificate journo man-whore Jimmy-Jeff Gannon...sh*t, this leads right to the Veep's office!!]

http://www.haloscan.com/comments/firedoglake/113881320962085963/#243104

The MSNBC poll's current results:
Do you believe President Bush's actions justify impeachment? * 215489 responses

86% - Yes, between the secret spying, the deceptions leading to war and more, there is plenty to justify putting him on trial.

4% - No, like any president, he has made a few missteps, but nothing approaching "high crimes and misdemeanors."

8% - No, the man has done absolutely nothing wrong. Impeachment would just be a political lynching.

2% - I don't know.

The question at msnbc:

Do you agree with the decision by Capitol Police to remove activist Cindy Sheehan from the gallery at the president's State of the Union speech because she was wearing a T-shirt with an antiwar slogan?

****Poorly worded question. Two people were wearing t'shirts that night. Only one was arrested and the other was 'removed'.

Come on msnbc, be honest here!!!

Bush’s One Hour Argument With Himself

Last night, President Bush conducted a one hour argument with himself, otherwise known as the State of the Union.

First, he warned of the dangers of isolationism. He is right. However, it has been the President himself that has pursued policies that have isolated the United States from the rest of the world. Beginning in 2001, the President retreated from international agreements regarding missile defense, the environment and non-proliferation. It was the Bush administration that retreated from engagement policies regarding North Korea and the Middle East Peace Process. It was the President who decided to rush into Iraq without a real international coalition, and then blocked open bidding on contracts that could have drawn the international community into efforts to reconstruct Iraq. It is the arrogance of the Bush administration that has turned world opinion against the United States and caused the world to fear rather than embrace us.

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/02/01/bushs-one-hour-argument-with-himself/

No Leadership: No clear Katrina chain of command, report says
‘Red tape’ was and still is a problem, investigative arm of Congress finds

NBC News and news services
Updated: 12:37 p.m. ET Feb. 1, 2006

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration failed to set up a clear chain of command to respond to Hurricane Katrina, slowing coordination, communication and relief efforts, the investigative arm of Congress said Wednesday.

“We need to be able to have somebody who is clearly responsible and accountable to the president, who has the authority of the president to deal with the overall response,” David Walker, head of the Government Accountability Office, told reporters in announcing his preliminary findings.

“You’ve got to cut through all the layers and bureaucracy and red tape,” Walker added. “No one was designated in advance, despite clear warnings by the National Hurricane Center.”

Walker said many of the issues were identified by the GAO more than a decade ago after Hurricane Andrew, but the recommendations then were not implemented.

Responding, a Homeland Security Department spokesman attacked the GAO’s preliminary findings as “premature and unprofessional.”

more... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11127695/

New studies spotlight a growing gap between top and bottom. The divide is widest in Arizona, narrowest in Wyoming.

Posted by: suz at February 1, 2006 12:03 PM

Arizona... tell me about it!

With all its anti-labor laws, I am not surprised at all.

Posted by: April at February 1, 2006 12:20 PM

April,

I am thinking more about your post. Like why the media is charmed by Bush stinging five words together into a sentence and why the Democratic Senator from CA gave him a B plus.

For me, that's exactly WHY I approve of what John Kerry did with the filibuster. I'll try to explain my logic--and yes, I know my hubby would say I have no logic, but let's pretend for a little while that I do.

Ok...so, here's the Democratic Senator on tv giving Bush a b-plus. Why? Does she really think if he was anyone else, he earned that score? Or is she just trying to not get kicked around by the bullies on the block. In this case the bullies on the block are the media and the Republicans. She's playing it safe, just like all of us have done at one time or another in our lives when faced with bullies who attack you. It's easier. It's simpler. And it's safer! But she didn't tell the truth now did she? She didn't hold Bush accountable and she didn't do anything that would help Americans or mankind by playing it safe.

Now, with reference to John Kerry and the filibuster, he didn't play it safe. He knew the bullies were going to smear him and question his motives--the bullies meaning the media and the Republicans; however, he did it because to have Alito on the Supreme Court without this important step would not help mankind or Americans.

And so to me, the Senator gave in to the bullies and continued to let the bullies thrash others on their playground. And Senator Kerry at least tried to hold the bullies accountable and slow down their progress towards the next thrashing.

*******************

Also, another comparison is to sitting in the left turn lane and someone honks their horn behind you trying to intimidate you into turning before you're ready. You have a choice to make at that time. GO or Stay Stopped. If you go, you may panic and run into another vehicle or pedestrian. But if you ignore the rushed driver behind you, you will see more and be able to make a wiser decision.

So this scenario fits well with the decision Kerry faced. (It's not quite as good of an analogy to the newsprogram.)

The State of the Union address is a news event, and the media should cover it. A speech to an audience at the Grand Ol'Opry is not a news event. Yet CNN and MSNBC are both covering it from beginning to end.
So how do we expect them to cover Cindy Sheehan's imprisonment last night fairly. They're in campaign mode for the GOP already.

April you stated:

"I am a MODERATE, okay I said it, and I mean it, in the old fashin sense of Conservatism I am a Conservative Dem that makes me a Moderate. I am so sick and tired of this country being divided by the extremes(we all are but GWB wants it that way) in both parties in a lot of cases Democrats are as quilty of that as Republicans are.

Kerry last minute push to mount a Filibuster was a sad statement on the state of our party. Kerry knew his gambit wouldnt work so why do it? Have any of you asked yourselves that? I detest Bush and I am afraid of him yes, but I am so tired of seeing anyone who doesnt agree with a paticular part of our party skewered. Did anyone watch those confirmation hearings on Alito?(yes I listened to every minute of testimony on my xm satellite radio while at work April). Did anyone see Kennedy get egg on his face because he insisted on somthing without first checking it out?"

I too am a moderate and when it comes to business and investor issues certainly more conservative than most of those here.

I say that to show you that I share a lot of your values, but totally disagree with your assertion that Kerry was wrong and playing politics by leading the filibuster to divide this county.It was the moral thing to do it was the consistant position to take. In fact during the '04 debates and during his campaign he pledged to filibuster any nominee in the mold of Anthony Scalito. Would you prefer that he have back tracked on that commitment to the American public April?

As a Lawyer I am profoundly effected by who sits on our benches, as are my clients. As an advocate for my clients I don't inject politics in my legal representation, but I know and my clients know that there is a profound difference in their outcome as to who the judge is hearing their case. Here in Texas the judicial system has been turned on its head by the business community under their draconian tort reform agenda which has literally closed the court house to everyone other than business and the wealthy. We in Texas have also personally seen the corruption of ReDistricting, Cash being actually handed out on the floor of our State Legislature, text books that are being rewritten with a biblical slant, and a race to the bottom for healthcare and education. In DC we have seen attempts to unravel Medicare and Social Security that my parents and at some time your parents will depend on to survive. Is that the kind of agenda and culture you want in Washington DC or in your community or would you rather see folks like John Kerry, Edward Kennedy and Barbara Boxer do everything in their power to stop that? .

April. lately we have read statments by Anne Coulter, Pat Robertson and others advocating criminal acts against Michael Moore, a Supreme Ct. Justice and a head of state.

It is this lunacy April that has taught us that we cannot just stand by and do nothing as you advocate and which is pushing many of us to advocate positions like blocking judicial nominees, that we truly would rather not have to do. John Kerry, Edward Kennedy and Barbara Boxer honestly believed that Justice Alito was wrong for America and would do actual harm to the Supreme Ct and to this country's foundation of civil right sand civil liberties. They were acting on the principles and on their values. Something we as Democrats are constanly being accused of not having. Personally I do not think that Senator Kerry had any other choice but to do everything legislatively he could, to stop Mr. Alito from being confirmed. Do you think that Sen Orin Hatch or Senator Frist would have done otherwise had the tables been turned. And no one would have dared to criticize them.

To have stood by and done nothing would have been cowardice and actually the more political thing to have done. To have voted against Mr. Alito and then support cloture like Senator Lieberman and Senator Salazar did was the morally bankrupt position to take and actually the "political thing to do". My point April is that the neocons are turning folks like me who pride themselves on being labeled moderate, to more progressive positions and taking more forceful and deliberate positions that might rankle many in this country. Lets be honest April, about who is at fault for dividing this country and it is not John Kerry , Edward Kennedy or the Democratic Party. The statement by Bush that I am a uniter not a divider, was never meant as anything other than a political stunt;the constant in your face politics by this whitehouse is pushing making moderates and I am sure millions of independents, further to the left to stand up to this current rein of tyranny. I wish there was another way (as Tim Kaine so eloquently stated last night) but unfortunately standing in the middle of the road, accomplishes nothing.

mkh- Yes I've seen the face of God in a lot of strangers, but asking about seeing it in the face of Cheney is a loaded question. Of course not.
Can you year the voice of humanity in the robotic tones he uses when he speaks? Have you ever heard him laugh, by the way? I know I haven't.
His wife takes pride in saying that when they met at a school dance, he wasn't enjoying it.
He was standing around, not smiling, not dancing, nothing. And she married this creature?????
There's no humanity in Dick Cheney, therefore, there's no God in his face. Remember, it's just humans that are supposed to be created in the image of God, not creatures like Cheney and Bush.
They're a different breed altogether. I don't even know what they are, but they are very, very scary.

Bush said it would have been "cool" to give the State of the Union address at the Grand Ole Opry, wearing a Porter Waggoner outfit. I kind of wish he had. That would put the finishing touch on his image after the "Mission Accomplished" stunt on the aircraft carrier.

If the media is covering his SOTU "tour" then they are like the propaganda machine in authoritarian countries that shows "our leader" constantly, with the flag and national anthem, people are "watched" and cannot dissent.

I have one question with all the times someone has posted, "I'm a moderate." My question is: Why do we even need to distance ourselves from 'the left' or "liberal" or 'Progressive" or anything.

You'd think there is something to be ashamed of in being any of those. There's not! I think "this side of the aisle" ahs learned about all the things that use to be Republican strongholds--fiscal responsibility, reform, strong and smart defense.

The name calling of "left", "Liberal", and so on is simply another way a bully is smacking us down and trying to make us insecure in our beliefs and too intimidated to state a complete whole hearted opinion.

Is that why we hear, "I'm a moderate..." so often?

my point sparrow is that the right is having the opposite effect. Rather than push us more towards the center they are by their radical behavior,pushing some folks further to the left. that is my perspective anyways.

Thank you Brad! (I said it all along, but it's good to know I'm not alone.)

http://www.bradblog.com/

Let me be very clear, since the Mainstream Wingnut Media Spinners are already attempting to "Fair and Balance" (read: level an unlevel playing field) this one.

Cindy Sheehan, who did not plan to, or even want to go to the State of the Union speech, was convinced to go. She wore the T-shirt she had been wearing all day long in support of our troops, including her own son who gave his life in service to this country while in Iraq. Sheehan's shirt said, "2,245 Dead — How Many More??"

She was arrested for wearing the shirt, held for hours in detention, and claims to have been "roughed up" a bit in the process.

We covered the entire process, minute-by-minute, as it shamefully unfolded last night.

Later, during the speech -- after Sheehan had already been arrested -- the wife of a Republican Congressman from Florida, Bill Young, was politely asked to leave the chamber for wearing a T-shirt in support of our troops. Her shirt said "Support the Troops Defending Our Freedom."

She was not arrested for wearing the shirt, she was not held for hours in detention, nor roughed up. She does not face any legal charges or legal fees in connection with the incident that we know about. And, as far as we know, did not also make the ultimate sacrifice of giving the life of her child for this country.

Rep. Young reportedly decried, "Shame, shame," on the U.S. House Floor today for the treatment of his wife. His wife, who was not arrested as far as we know.

While neither woman should have been arrested -- or even removed from the gallery (in our opinion) -- they were not treated equally. Whatever the "rules" are about such things in the U.S. Congress, they did not receive "equal treatment under the law". (A law, we might add, which would seem to be unconstitutional, according to this 1971 Supreme Court decision which ruled that wearing a "F*** the Draft" T-shirt into a courthouse was Constitutionally protected free speech).

Both T-shirts were in support of our troops. Both shirts made a political statement of sorts. One woman was arrested, the other was not.

In fact, the other was not even asked to leave until after the speech had already started. After Sheehan had been arrested and after the authorities knew they had a politically sticky situation on their hands. All of which begs the question of whether Mrs. Young would have been asked to leave the chamber at all, had not Sheehan's arrest occurred previously.

(more at the link)

[Edited to remove offensive language. Please keep it clean, even when you source other people's stuff.]

I have attended many deliberations at the house of representatives, and watched little girls get ejected, little boys, teenagers, men , women, cuts across the board. Usually for making noises, kicking the seats, making gentures, etc.
I am all for , the House is a seat of Political Power for this Nation

Cindy sheehan....i would have not allowed her entrance at the least, dont know exactly what happened yet to determine if arrest was warranted.
The Branches of Government must be respected and honored, many people in our History Died defending them, and not just soldiers. Regular everyday people.
Showing up with T-shirts protesting any side of an issue would degenerate into a free for all, with conservatives wearing anti abortion, etc, whoever wearing the anti or pro side of any issue.
When a Democrat President takes office, T-shirts will not be allowed either. it cuts both ways.

Cindy Sheehan lost her son in War, a sacrafice most of us cannot imagine. But the time and place to protest in not during the SOTU speech in the House of Representatives.

Posted by: Ladytechie at February 1, 2006 11:50 AM

Thank you, ladytechie for the kind comments. And believe it or not, I was probably speaking Tip O'Neill's words when I introduced our candidate, Dan Seals, as you were typing them.

I'll write up more later when I get my thoughts together, but I would like to remind all of you that you can make a difference. You're making a difference on this site by sharing your views.

But remember the three DCP words...
Educate
Activate
Empower

We made it through the SOTU. We've got primaries coming up in many districts in many states. We've got the mid-terms in November. If you want to really make a difference, help your local candidates. If the representative/senate seat in your district/state is secure, then help another candidate somewhere else.

It's good that we're here discussing the many issues we face and the latest news/scandal caused by this regime, but frankly, I'm tired of us spinning our wheels on the same stuff day after day. I'm focusing on the "Activate" part of our mission because I am now educated and empowered.

then a simple statement to her that you must either cover that shirt or please leave would have sufficed, toolmaker. I believe she left on her own accord so exactly what law did she violate( violation of a dress code) and why in the world would you arrest her unless you were trying to chill her free speech and make a political statement.

What is disturbing is that a similar situation occured at a Bush rally last year in Denver(not a state of the union speech) where Republican operatives were disguised as secret service and escorted and arrested someone wearing the same shirt to a Bush rally. We have never heard the out come of that lawlesness on the part of the Colorado Republican party.

Furthermore protested are regularly caged in miles away from political events during Presidential campaigns. I was one of those saying it would be inapproprate for Dems to walk out/protest the SOTHU speech out of respect for the 'presidency'. But that in no way excuses the lawlessness of Republicans trying to silence and arrest any political activity regardless of the circumstances.

Arresting her was way over the line and I think you know the difference. This pattern is disturbing.

Here's a little story that you'll enjoy...

You might think no one's listening, but they are
by Duke1676
Tue Jan 31, 2006 at 03:03:07 PM EST

After the last few days, I'm quite frankly drained. I was going to write another one of those "rallying call" stories, for everyone to buck up, stiff upper lip and all that. But instead I figured I'd tell you a little story about something that happened yesterday in the mist of Alito madness. Something that has changed my whole view of our little blogtopia.

[...]

read the rest here...
http://scoop.epluribusmedia.org/story/2006/1/31/1537/52218

Toolmaker:

I understand the point you were making in your post from 3:55 pm today, and there is merit to your POV. However, by your own admission you were working with only limited information when you wrote that.

Had you read the news stories, posts here on the DCP, and Sheehan's own post-arrest blog post regarding the incident in question, you'd know that she was not demonstrating at the SOTU speech, nor had she gone there intending to protest anything.

You can read her side of the story and then decide for yourself what should have happened to her last night by clicking here:

http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/06/02/con06043.html

the right of the people to peaceably assemble shall not be abridged,
Otter

Appearing on NBC's "Today" show, the Massachusetts senator quibbled with Mr. Bush's comment that America is addicted to oil.

Kerry says it's this administration that's addicted to oil.

He said when the administration was given the chance to write an energy bill last year, it was the energy companies that did the writing and Kerry says Mr. Bush's proposal for Social Security was a "terrible plan that even Republicans didn't embrace."

For those who were in the IRC last night during the SOTU, this one's for you...

As if to underscore that point, Democrats reversed the ritual for most of the address's applause lines – Republicans whooping and the opposition scowling stonily – and rose in a standing ovation when he said reprovingly, "Congress did not act last year on my proposal to save Social Security."

There's more to read in the Time article that's interesting, but at least someone wrote about the Dems reaction.

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1154992,00.html?cnn=yes

BTW, here's a great paragraph...

The headline-making quote in Bush's speech was, "America is addicted to oil." Democrats and environmentalists mocked the President's assertion of concern and his stated new goal of replacing 75 percent of the nation's Mideast oil imports by 2025 with alternative energy sources. Critics quickly pointed out that he has been saying for years that the nation needs to reduce its dependence on foreign oil, even as the percentage of U.S. oil from foreign sources rose without the administration advocating any dramatic measures to reverse the trend. "It's impossible for someone to simultaneously be the cause and the solution for a problem," said Jeff Nussbaum, a Democratic speechwriter. Rep. Rahm Emanuel of Illinois, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, pointed to the oil and gas industry's heavy contributions to the GOP and asserted that the real problem is "Republican addiction to oil money."

Posted by: Toolmaker at February 1, 2006 03:55 PM

Toolmaker,

The fact is that when Cindy came in she was covered. (Her t'shirt was.) She arrived in it accidentally, yet the Republican wife INTENTIONALLY wore her t'shirt AND after YEARS of going through the SOTU isn't her 'crime' worse than Cindy's? I'm talking about prior knowledge and intent.

Next, Cindy was not asked to cover up. Her story that was posted earlier said that she had not been asked to do that, but instead was manhandled and shoved out of the building. Did that happen to the Republican Senator's wife?

So regardless of IF either was dressed appropriately, their "punishment" was doled out in UNEQUAL ways.

AND THAT goes against what our Country and Constitution is suppose to represent.

(And btw, moderator, that 4 letter word slipped by me the first time--Sorry!)

Toolmaker,

Sorry to sound so harsh.

Just catching up on the analyses of the SOTU... Wow...Even the Chicago Tribune is hitting on poor georgie...

--snip--
Bush's supporters see a virtue in his sturdy consistency. When Dan Bartlett, counselor to the president, previewed the speech for reporters, he acknowledged that "some of it will sound very familiar to you."

To one set of ears, that steadiness is comforting. But to his opponents, the repetition has become grating and in some cases seems in apparent defiance of what the military likes to call "ground truth."
Of all the appeals he made, the one perhaps least likely to succeed is his call to change the bitterly divisive partisan tone in Washington, a central theme of his campaign for the White House in 2000. The way in which he did so, however, might make that task all the more difficult. Rather than offering compromise, particularly on the war and on contentious social issues, the president called for his opponents to come his way.

--snip--
Bush's past State of the Union addresses are in some cases notable now for what was not achieved. Two-thirds of the "axis of evil"--Iran and North Korea--represent at least as great a threat to the United States today as they did four years ago. The pledge to reform Social Security with private accounts died an unceremonious death in Congress.

Bush's other addresses also have been marked by a sense of optimism. This time, he seemed to be trying to buck up an anxious nation. "We must never give in to the belief that America is in decline or that our culture is doomed to unravel," he said.

In a midterm election year, with Democrats lusting for a return to power in Congress, compromise won't be a welcome visitor to the capital. That fact was made vivid by the nearly unanimous Democratic vote against Alito, who was confirmed by the Senate on Tuesday 58-42.

http://tinyurl.com/bvmo3 = Chicago Tribune

Just FYI from MSNBC,

"...Capitol Police will ask the U.S. attorney's office to drop the charges, NBC News’ Mike Viqueira reported Wednesday."

“We screwed up,” a top Capitol Police official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

He said Sheehan didn't violate any rules or laws.

read it all here...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11120353/

VA Special Election. DEM Wins 62-38% in Former Repub. District

Here's the best poll on the Bush Presidency. Well-to-do, previously Republican controlled District in Northern Virginia--DEMOCRAT WINS BY 62% - 38% -- aka, Dems kicked ass.

Here we go, they're getting their message. This was a Republican state senate seat. Guess that's changed. If we win like this in moderate to liberal Northern VA, what can they look forward to in House seats in CA, NY, PA, MI, FL.

http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1137833785738

Posted by: dwahzon at February 1, 2006 06:01 PM

Wow!! Can you say HUGE LAWSUIT?

Posted by: not my president at February 1, 2006 03:05 PM

Oh, was that the president last night? I thought I was watching a rerun of "The Wizard of Oz".

Posted by: sparrow at February 1, 2006 06:35 PM

Jinx. Same thing I was thinking.

Look at that picture of Cindy. She has lost so much weight, and looks so sad still.

What I see, that I don't know if many people realize, she triumphed last night.

In my eyes (mine only, you see for reasons best left unsaid) she was my Rosa Parks. She is suffering mightily, but Casey would be so proud of her. She is our modern day example, like Martin Luther King protested the degradation of African Americans, Cindy is representing the heart and soul of my kind of America.

What is my kind of America? Where people share and care, more about each other than they do about how much more gold they can stockpile.

Let's face it. EVERYBODY had to have had a mother. And somewhere in each of us lives a little child that says "Thank you Mom". We as parents say "Thank you, Cindy, on behalf of our children."

I loved it that all the television stations were reporting that Cindy was arrested right before the Wizard got to the podium.

There is justice after all.

That is NOT to say, however, that she was not treated terribly.

She was dishonored in front of a nation last night, and treated unfairly, discriminated against. Why wasn't Mrs. Young handcuffed and taken to a station and arrested? Her t-shirt was a statement. Cindy's t-shirt was a statement.

Because Cindy is a threat. She is like truth walking into the jaws of death. That's why.

She was not treated equally under the law, and like the police spokesman said, "We screwed up."
Let's hope he realizes it's more than screwed up.
They got it FUBAR'D.

And, Karen and Dick,

The fire is in us. Thanks for all you do, for your commitment and hard work.

Fitzgerald admits White House may have destroyed some emails relevant to CIA leak case

Published: February 1, 2006

RAW STORY has acquired a letter from CIA leak Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald to Vice President Dick Cheney's former Chief of Staff, I. Lewis Libby, who was indicted for allegedly obstructing justice and other charges for his role in the outing of CIA agent Valerie Plame.

In the letter, Fitzgerald admits that he has been told some emails from the President and Vice President's offices have been deleted, though he cautions that "no pertinent evidence has been destroyed."

"In an abundance of caution," he writes, "we advise you that we have learned that not all email of the Office of the Vice President and the Executive Office of the President for certain time periods in 2003 was preserved through the normal achiving process on the White House computer system."

The New York Daily News' James Meek reported this morning that "CIA leak prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald collected 10,000 pages of documents - including the most sensitive terrorism memos in the U.S. government - from Vice President Cheney's office, he said in court papers released yesterday.

Libby's lawyers are seeking classified material to aid their defense, which many legal analysts see as an attempt to force the prosecutor's hand in dropping the case or reducing certain charges in the interests of national security.

Meek added: "Fitzgerald, who is fighting Libby's request, said in a letter to Libby's lawyers that many e-mails from Cheney's office at the time of the Plame leak in 2003 have been deleted contrary to White House policy."

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Fitzgerald_admits_White_House_may_have_0201.html

Posted by: monkey at February 1, 2006 07:06 PM

ARRRRGGGGhhhh

Republicans used the purple finger ploy at last year's SOTU yet not one was arrested.

******

Congress salutes with purple fingers

By BOB DART
Cox News Service
Wednesday, February 02, 2005

WASHINGTON A footnote of political history will remember it as the night of the purple fingers.

Ink was provided by a fledgling Republican congressman from Louisiana near the entrance of the House chamber Wednesday night. On their way to hear President Bush's State of the Union address, many lawmakers — mostly Republicans — dipped a digit and thrust up a purple index finger. Purple ink pads awaited GOP senators when they reached the House floor.

The salute to the voters in Sunday's Iraqi election was organized by Rep. Bobby Jindal, president of the freshman class of lawmakers.

"We all watched with joy as Iraqis dipped their fingers in ink and held them high, proudly proclaiming to the world that they had voted," recalled Jindal in a "Dear Colleagues" letter coordinating the congressional action. He provided the purple ink for both Republicans and Democrats.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/shared/news/nation/stories/0203scene.html

Repost from last thread. Sorry about my typos upthread early this morning before coffee. I wanted to say too that Cindy is my Rosa Parks.
TSP

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

Posted by: karen at February 1, 2006 07:19 AM

Karen, we all know better, and are profoundly grateful and proud of you and Dick and everything you do on behalf of Democracy.

Of course, we are all entitled to our opinion, and in the interest of not being interested in another altercation, because I have already said this once before when we were all accused of being couch potatoes and ne're do wells, it is worth repeating, so I am going to say it again.

We each are unique individuals, with very distinct and different abilities, personalities, strengthS and talents. We are not all the same physically, emotionally, or financially. Some here may have health problems, or a loved one they care for that has a health problem. Our resources individually vary for each and every one of us for we have differing circumstances. Some of us, also, because of the area of the country we live in, are limited in our ability to do some activities that people in more populated areas are able to attend and can achieve. I tried to get together a band here last night, and didn't get any r.s.v.p's. You have to understand that in little tiny towns you do more harm for your cause by being a lone person on main street banging a pot with a spoon than you do just making friends with people and as the relationship grows, you share things with them. Had I driven north to a larger city that didn't have any gathering at all planned, had I stood out in front of our state capitol building and banged on a pot with a spoon, I might have gotten my picture taken for the newspaper, but I was advised against that because everyone knows everyone in this state, and my job would definately be in jeopardy, because it is non-profit and we are NEVER to mix our political views with our work. Even though that's not what I would be doing, small town mentality does it for you. In places this size, the two would be very blended in people's minds because that is the nature of the beast in very rural areas. So I do what I can.

To my way of thinking, it is not constructive, nor edifying to take a group of people and judge them without knowing each circumstance and attitude and motive of every person involved. I know that by reading here, and learning here, that I feel I know people's attitudes and motives for the most part, and I haven't even met most of you in person. But we agree on one thing: We each want to do what we can to help make our country better, and to nourish our own souls, our friends and families, our neighborhoods. We do this because this is the kind of people we are. We want to contribute something, to make the world better.

But, we can't all do it in the same way. While some of us have more finances, we contribute that resource....we don't look around and look at the rest in our group who don't have extra to spare this month and judge them. WE BELIEVE IN EACH OTHER AROUND HERE. If someone else is laid up with a physical problem, it is just as vital to their sense of wanting to be part of a constructive effort on behalf of this community, nation, and world to do what they can, and contribute what they contribute. From these people we can glean alot from what they do contribute. They may have more opportunity to read, research, and help keep us informed with the best news sources available. Someone else may not have extra resources to contribute financially, but they are in a vicinity where they are allowed to hold a job and attend rallies and be very active in participating in many physical ways, like Karen and Dick can. People isolated in small rural areas have to contribute in different ways than do people in metropolitan areas.

Please, please stop judging. Think the best. Believe in your fellow patriots. We are all in this together, and nobody needs or wants praise or recognition for all they do. Truth be known, Karen and Dick don't even have time to TELL us all they do for democracy. They are busy doing it.

When we sit behind our keyboards we are doing what our circumstances will allow. And people's circumstances change all the time. I for one will be very glad I have the knowledge I do when circumstances allow me to do more.

I so hope this message is understood this time. After all, we're all swimming upstream together.

This is a place work together, to build each other UP.

Let's support each other!

Posted by: Truth Shall Prevail at February 1, 2006 06:50 PM

Maybe they did what they wanted to do! They made sure every day American's didn't see her in a dignified setting and instead the right-winged faux media can demonize her.

OK, time to lighten up around here. You guys are way to serious tonight. Check out the SOTU 'toons.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x299369

And here are some more...There's some overlap, but there are some really poignant ones in there...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x300191

Linda:
there is a tonglon Buddahist practice on compassion that involves "turning poision into good medicine".
I am working with members of this administration with it because I know that any negativity I produce (such as the rage when I think about certain things these folks have done)only feeds the negativity out in the world.
Maybe one of the reasons folks were so happy on the mall last night was that it was a sea of positive energy-shinning its light as a beacon of hope.

I am not claiming to have gotten there but I do beleive we all need to remember that negativity is negativity.....

dance away..........

Posted by: Truth Shall Prevail at February 1, 2006 07:22 PM

Truth,

Yes, each of us does what we can. Having a tea party like Christy did or live blogging as Karen has done, it's all important.

I remember on the jk blog last year the story of the last starfish. When I can find it, I'll post it here, because it's literally the story of saving things one at a time.

re: 'Posted by: Truth Shall Prevail at February 1, 2006 07:22 PM'

"WE BELIEVE IN EACH OTHER AROUND HERE."

yer dam strate skippy we doo,
Otter

Here's the story:

The Starfish Story
adapted from The Star Thrower by Loren Eiseley
1907 - 1977

Ok...posted at the link in order to observe "fair use" copyrights.

http://muttcats.com/starfish.htm

A google can be more than an incomprehensibly large number. Of course, it takes a bit of extra effort to winnow away the wheat from the chaff, but... sparrow, is this maybe what it was that you were recollecting a few posts back?

----------

The Starfish Rescuers
by Jeff Roberts

One morning after a particularly fearsome storm, a man arose early and decided to go for a walk along the sea. As he neared the beach, the early riser saw an old man in the distance slowly, yet purposely, ambling down the shoreline. As he watched, the old man stopped, picked something up, and tossed it into the ocean. Then, the old man slowly straightened himself up, walked several more feet, stooped down, and once again picked up something, which he tossed into the sea.

Intrigued, the early riser moved closer. As he drew near, he realized suddenly what the old man was doing. Littered all down the shoreline, as far as the eye could see, were thousands upon thousands of starfish cast out from the ocean by the fury of the now-passed storm. As the early riser watched, the old man bent down, gently picked up a small, helpless starfish, and tossed it back into the ocean. He repeated the same process every few feet.

After a minute or two, the early riser approached the old man. "Good morning, sir" he said. "I couldn't help notice what you're doing. I commend you for what you're trying to do, but the storm has washed up thousands of starfish on this beach. You can't possibly save them all! What possible difference do you hope to accomplish?"

The old man paused for a long time, pondering the early riser's question. Finally, without saying a word, he bent down, picked up a starfish, and tossed it far into the ocean. "It made a difference to that one," he said.

Now, it was the early riser's turn to be silent. As he looked at the old man with growing admiration, it seemed as if the years fell away, revealing someone wise, noble, and strong enough to stand up to any challenge. Deeply moved, the early riser struggled for the right words, but none would come. At last, he too, bent down, picked up a starfish, and tossed it into the ocean. The old man, watched intently. He spoke not a word, but his nod and a wink said all that was needed. "Well," the early riser said as he looked out at the thousands of starfish stranded on the beach before them, "It looks like we've got a lot of work to do."

Just then, the two men realized they were not alone. Others out for their Saturday morning walks and jogs had witnessed what had taken place. When they saw what the old man and early riser were attempting to do, they too bent down and picked up starfish of their own. Soon, the morning sun shone down upon hundreds of good Samaritans - young, old, black, white, rich, and poor; each working diligently to save as many starfish as he or she was able. What had started out as one, had grown into an army of kindness.

Some time later, an amazing thing happened. As the last starfish was tossed into the ocean, a spontaneous cheer broke out among the starfish rescuers. People hugged and high- fived each other. Some exchanged names and numbers and promised to stay in touch. Others walked off together to share breakfast with new friends. To a person, each one felt they had done something important and had made a difference.

That morning, in the span of only two hours, five thousand starfish were saved, and hundreds of lives were transformed. All because one person cared enough to try to make a difference.

The next time you begin to think that the good you are doing (or considering doing) won't be enough to make a difference, think back to the Parable of the Starfish. Remember... "What is impossible for one, is easily accomplished by many." But someone needs to be the first person to throw the first starfish into the sea.

(Appropriate fine print follows:)

Copyright 2002, The Acts of Kindness Association. From our book, 'Love is Kind: How the Kindness of Ordinary People Can Make an Extraordinary Difference and Change the World'. For information about The Acts of Kindness Association, or to obtain reprint information, please contact us by phone, 800-822-5874, or visit us on the web, www.keepthekindnessgoing.org. You are welcome to copy this story and/or to send it to others, provided you do not remove this copyright notice, and do not reprint it in other publications without our consent.

----------

please practice random mindfulness and sensitive acts of beauty,
Otter

here's another take on the Cindy Sheehan / Capitol Police apology story with a few more details.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-02-01-sheehan-charges_x.htm

sparrow:

Interesting, interesting. When copyrights and claims of online intellectual property collide...

it's a blog new world out there,
Otter

Posted by: Otter at February 1, 2006 08:41 PM

Yeh it was Otter, but then I decided I shouldn't reprint it so I posted a link to a different web version.

Thanks for your help though.

I love that story!

Thanks Madame!

Posted by: Otter at February 1, 2006 08:48 PM

Well, far be it for me to claim the "intellectual property"...

------

Mrs. Young was sitting about six rows from first lady Laura Bush when she was asked to leave. She argued with police in the hallway outside the House chamber.

"They said I was protesting," she told the St. Petersburg Times. "I said, 'Read my shirt, it is not a protest.' They said, 'We consider that a protest.' I said, 'Then you are an idiot.'"

----------

Welcome to the Chensfeld-Rumsey-Bushrove New World Order and its Axes of Weevils, Ms. Young. Glad you were able to acquire a clue so quickly. Now please do make sure you spread the word, okay?

just say whoa to boosh's alternate universe,
Otter

Someone just sent me this quote... I'll presume it's real...

Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) was asked what he thought about President Bush.

"Well," he said, "I really think he shatters the myth of white supremacy once and for all."

Don't Believe A Word That Man Says

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/13767599.htm

Administration backs off Bush's vow to reduce Mideast oil imports

WASHINGTON - One day after President Bush vowed to reduce America's dependence on Middle East oil by cutting imports from there 75 percent by
2025, his energy secretary and national economic adviser said Wednesday that the president didn't mean it literally.

What the president meant, they said in a conference call with reporters, was that alternative fuels could displace an amount of oil imports equivalent to most of what America is expected to import from the Middle East in 2025.

But America still would import oil from the Middle East, because that's where the greatest oil supplies are.

The president's State of the Union reference to Mideast oil made headlines nationwide Wednesday because of his assertion that "America is addicted to oil" and his call to "break this addiction."

Bush vowed to fund research into better batteries for hybrid vehicles and more production of the alternative fuel ethanol, setting a lofty goal of
replacing "more than 75 percent of our oil imports from the Middle East by 2025."

He pledged to "move beyond a petroleum-based economy and make our dependence on Middle Eastern oil a thing of the past."

Not exactly, though, it turns out.

"This was purely an example," Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said.

Read the rest at the link.

mkh- there's a possibliity that I couldn't ever be a Buddhist, because I can't conjure up one iota of compassion for any member of this administration. As far as turning their poison into any kind of medicine, I think it's far too late for that.
I know this might be a bit of a stretch, but I remember years ago after Anthony Hopkins won his Oscar for portraying Hannibal Lecter for the first time (Hi Chuck- I know you're a big fan too ;-) , he said that he thought the most frightening thing about that character was his absolute lack of any doubt. He had a frightening certainty about all his actions- no moral questioning in his make up. That's how I feel about Dick Cheney, in particular- I see no trace of humanity in anything he does. His mind is made up, and he never questions his motives or his actions, nothing. If people are hurt along the way by what he does, they're just collateral damage. His vision is pure, he knows his direction, and little things like human lives really don't matter to him. And Bush is very much the same, only with a smirk instead of a robotic stare and dead voice.
I think that certitude has intimidated our party for the last 5 years, and I think that, up until very recently, it's paralyzed them.
I think that Katrina helped wake up the American people to how truly inhuman and frightening these monsters are, and the Democratic party is following the lead of the American people by finally speaking out. It's a shame that they didn't show leadership until last Fall, but at least they're waking up somewhat now.
But, like I said, I do often see the face of God in strangers, in their actions and in their small kindnesses. But I can't find that anywhere in the leadership of the Republican party, and especially in the President or the Vice President. Maybe it takes being a Buddhist to think along the lines you do- I can't see it though. All I see are two absolutely certain, absolutely frightening leaders who haven't an ounce of humanity in them.

"This was purely an example," Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said.

Read the rest at the link.

Posted by: DiAnne/Bert at February 1, 2006 09:59 PM

Huh????

E-hay aid-say ee-thay ame-say ing-thay efore-bay.

Linda Enterkin:

If Bush & Cheney don't make good Christians, they really don't make good Buddhists either. Here is why:

The Ten Fetters that "bind" Beings to perpetuating themselves in artificial, manufactured, fictitious realities are:

1. Notions of a permanent individual personality, soul or self (ie. ego, "Mission Accomplished" stunt aboard aircraft carrier)
2. Attachment to wrong views, rites, rituals, dogma, superstitions (self-explanatory)
3. Doubt and confusion (look at him)
4. Liking, attachment, passions, sense desires, lust, greed (his history)
5. Disliking, aversion, hatred, malice, illwill, spite (obvious)
6. Lust and craving for perpetuating forms and hereafter’s of Fine Materiality (oil)
7. Lust and craving for perpetuating formlessness and hereafter’s of Immateriality (false halo)
8. Wrong views of conceit plus pride and arrogance, declaring "I am the doer" (dictator)
9. Excitement for constructions and perpetuating artificial realities, Self-Delusion and Self-Illusion (a really key point)
10. Addiction to Self-Deception and a complete state of Self-Ignorance, necessary for the ILLUSION of artificial realities and individuality to seem real, necessary for not seeing the impermanence and ill for what it is, and the pain and peril associated with these addictive, ill-conceived, conditioned, fleeting states of fabricated fictitious existence. (failure to ever complete rehab)

Is Bush the AntiBuddha?

http://www.alternet.org/story/18717/

It is out of line to wear T-shirts either protesting or supporting a position at the SOTU address by anyone, regardless of who they are or what the statement is.
It is an Affair of State, and requires decorum. It is not a place to protest, and the comparison to Rosa Parks does not hold water. Cindy Sheehan has expressed interest in seeking Political office, Rosa Parks was fighting for Civil Rights.

The arrest, as i stated already is another matter.
I knew this would not be a popular position to take in here, but decorum must be observed at the SOTU. The House, the Senate, the White House are honorable establishments, regardless of who actually occupies the office.

7. Lust and craving for perpetuating formlessness and hereafter's of Immateriality (false halo)
8. Wrong views of conceit plus pride and arrogance, declaring "I am the doer" (dictator)
9. Excitement for constructions and perpetuating artificial realities, Self-Delusion and Self-Illusion (a really key point)
10. Addiction to Self-Deception and a complete state of Self-Ignorance, necessary for the ILLUSION of artificial realities and individuality to seem real, necessary for not seeing the impermanence and ill for what it is, and the pain and peril associated with these addictive, ill-conceived, conditioned, fleeting states of fabricated fictitious existence. (failure to ever complete rehab)

Posted by: DiAnne at February 1, 2006 10:31 PM

O.M.G., DiAnne,

I know a person just exactly like this! Is it a personality disorder? Tell me more......

The person I know like this will never allow him/herself to be ruled by his/her conscience. He/she lives in a fantasy world of his/her making, and ACTUALLY BELIEVES THE FANTASY HE/SHE
CREATED FOR him/herself.

Trying to deal with this person was like wrestling a pig. I got real muddy and the pig stayed the same. It was one of the most frustrating things I have ever encountered. I have NEVER seen any material on it before anywhere. I was told this person was in a deep state of denial, but all the other things went with it - the holiness/piety fascade, pride, arrogance, dictatorship, and especially nbr. 10, above. This person was willing to fight to the death if need be to stay in his/her fantasy world. I would watch this person do something, and then this person would turn around and tell me they didn't do what I saw them do. When I told them I just saw them do it, they told ME I WAS CRAZY. I didn't know this material existed.
Email me more on it if you can, would you please?

Thanks.

Truth Shall Prevail
Kind of your basic psychopath maybe? But it fits nicely into Buddhist teaching about self-delusion, which is something adherents want to try to avoid.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychopath

Toolmaker, for what it's worth, I agree with you but I don't think they've taught the etiquette or protocol that goes along with such occasions in a very long time in American schools.

I don't think that it's ever mentioned on TV. I suspect most Americans have no clue nor would they even think about the appropriateness of their actions in that regard.

Dress codes should be posted.

& high government officials have violated more than protocol.

I think what happened last night was that we all were feeling a little anxious and a bit overwhelmed, watching the King perform for his court. (Loved the cartoons, Madame, especially the first one!)

That was on top of Alito being confirmed and sworn in yesterday.

When we are feeling a bit powerless we have a tendency I believe to look around and say "Hey, everybody, we're going down, get off your fat arskies." I know I have felt that way before, when I just feel like yelling "Come ON,
let's get it together and get organized and get out there."

That's why it's important, I think, to sometimes take a step back and look at the whole picture.

(All I am saying, is give peace a chance.)

My last post just bounced.

high government officials have violated more than protocol.

Posted by: DiAnne at February 1, 2006 10:56 PM

Absolutely!!!

And in the scheme of things, which was worse? The violation of the implied dress code or the roughing up and arrest of one person (not liked by this administation and the majority party) and the polite request to leave the room given to the wife of a Senator who is a member of the majority party.

Protocol versus unequal treatment under the law. (Discrimination! One was a Democrat and one was a Republican. One was a 'pauper' the other was a Senator's wife.) THIS goes to the heart of our Constitution!!! We are ALL equal under the law... (well not anymore)

When you think you've heard it all......

"My job is the Educator-in-Chief as much as it is the Commander-in-Chief." ~ George W. Bush
February 1, 2006

(I want my money back for my tuition.)

I wonder if that's kind of like a Dick Tater-in-Chief?

Cheney Denies Knowing Bush

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/cheney_denies_knowing_bush_39060127

Truth Shall Prevail
see also
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissistic_personality_disorder
I was just at the Health Club and coincidentally picked up a Psychology Today magazine with an article on this.

Thanks DiAnne,

Very interesting stuff. I really do know someone like this!!!!

Not watching the State of the Union Address was part of how I looked at the big picture. In the great scheme of things, it's an annual posturing to the domestic audience. It's all about PR. I can't stand the whimpering voice punctuated by the rounds of applause.

I learned enough just from comments last night, radio & newspaper commentary today & some reading on energy & Iran which resulted from my questions. I just asked my son (poli sci major) what he thought. He said much was misleading - only about 20% of our oil is from the middle east so reducing that by 75% over a number of years is fairly nonimpressive.

He and my husband are watching "Citizen Kane" and the other night they watched "The Nutty Professor" with Jerry Lewis. That's probably more educational.

Sparrow
Comment re Cindy Sheehan. No matter what she does she will be now a symbol of the "radical left" - like Michael Moore, even Martin Luther King in his day. That just shows the fear that happens when someone takes a stand. It's only a way to disempower people if they let it be.

I just tried 3 heavy solvents on a paint scratch on my car. They did nothing. So I tried an all-natural oil made from oranges & the paint came right off. An analogy: We should not assume that we do not have powers that all the money in the world can not buy. Speaking truth to power is a good thing to do.

Cheney Denies Knowing Bush

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/cheney_denies_knowing_bush_39060127

Posted by: DiAnne at February 2, 2006 12:15 AM

DiAnne, that one was really funny!!! Loved the part about Rummy!!!

Did you get a chance to take a look at the cartoons Madame DeFarge posted upthread of the SOTU address? I love the top one. I hadn't thought of that last night when I watched a brief bit of it, but it really is the people up in the galleries that run the "show". How very eery and ironic that cartoon is.

Ah, yes, the big picture. You know, last year after the SOTU address, I went in to the IRC and was really upset, Marc and Indy did a two man vaudeville act to cheer me up. I have learned so much in the past year it hardly even phased me last night. We did have fun in the IRC last night, glad you came by for a bit.

I think there is alot to that phrase knowledge is power. I have been thinking about power and how we either feel like we have some to change our circumstances or we don't feel like we can change anything. I do know yesterday was kind of overwhelming for many, and the first impulse is to get mad and yell for change, or to walk away and throw in the towel. Then today I had to question how much power do I really have to change anything regarding the powers that be, but you know, even though the facts had me freaked out at first last year, the more you know, the more empowered you feel.

I hope everyone reading this knows deep down that, even though success is not overnight, it will come at dawn because always, always through- out history right and truth overcome wrong and man's inhumanity to man.

Man has through the ages always had the lust for power, and we all know that absolute power corrupts absolutely. Man has a huge capacity for inhumanity to his fellow man.

But, the pendulum always swings back the other way, we have seen it in this country already, as well as in the history of this planet.

The really important thing here, at least for me, for a time like this, is to know, that I am empowered. I am the fire. We are the fire Karen
and Dick talk about. It is a very precious thing. We need to nourish and feed that fire and watch it spread. It begins with us. With the fire within us.

Peace everyone.....

15% of imported oil is from the Mideast but thats not the problem. Its how much the rest of the world imports from the mideast, and how much slack is in the production pipeline versus demand.
when small interuptions occur in world production, it disturbs supply, and the rest of the world suffers. If China cannot get its share of oil, Chinese production drops, and supplyes to american products are cut off. That means production lines are idled, here and in Europe.

Reducing American demand frees up world supply, as well as providing alternatives and avenues to dependance on petroleum. We live, eat, work, purchase and spend in a global environment, we need to view problems and solutions from that perspective as well.

As far as Cindy sheehan, the comment that she is now a symbol of the radical left is correct. The debate on Iraq, the issue(s) she fought for, and will fight in the future will take a back seat to wearing a T shirt to the SOTU.
This is how movements get derailed, when the person and their actions become more important than the message.

My mom is a very conservative person from North Dakota, watched the whole State of the Union address, & she said she was proud of Cindy Sheehan. She was talking about all the women locally who joined the Guards for extra money and now they're in Iraq and Afghanistan and grandmas like her are raising the children, who may not even recognize their mothers when they see them again. She said the Bush twins ought to be in the military and to hide my son.

Posted by: Toolmaker at February 2, 2006 12:50 AM

Toolmaker,

I know Cindy is "labeled" a symbol of the radical left. That was the label and spin the Rovian smear team put on her as soon as she became noticed. I watched it happen. The fact that every major news broadcast and news network calls her that I believe is because that's the info they are being fed by their powers that be.

Cindy is a real threat, and what RoveCo does to ANYONE who has real potential and power to meet them nose to nose, they discredit that person and smear them as fast as they can put out a cigarette.

As far as Cindy wearing her t-shirt last night, it has been explained many times that she wore that t-shirt all day yesterday, and didn't even know for sure she was getting a seat in the hall. Unknowingly she removed her jacket and was approached.

Personally, I think it is disgraceful that a mother who is deeply grieving the death of her son would be treated in such is disrespectful way. They could have just asked her to step out with them for a moment, and taken her away if they thought they had to arrest her. The woman did nothing wrong! If the rules aren't made available on dress code then they should be and should be given to all in advance of the gathering. It sounds like they were a little rough with her. She is already in enough pain. I worry about her, she looked so thin and unhappy last night. She's still my Rosa Parks.

I don't think the movement is going to be derailed because Cindy wore a t-shirt in the hall. Because, like I said before, EVERYONE has a mother, and everyone deep down inside knows what she is feeling and what she is fighting for. Everytime she shows up it is a reminder that her son died in an unjust war based on false pretenses.

Good to see you around, Tool Maker.

Hello Truth, good to see you also.

A movement becomes powerfull when it is focused and stays on message. Its why the Republicans are able to keep their juggernaut going, they stay focused.

I am a huge supporter of Cindy, my past posts testify to that. Once she began to express desire for political office, she risks becoming the message, and in that comes responsibility, awareness, and political strategy.

was she treated disrespectfully..? yes she was. was she treated differentially than the senators wide? yep she was. The media doesnt care, they build people up, and tear them down.
The politicians that stay on top of the heap keep the focus on the message, not on themselves.

we will watch this play out over the next week or so in the Media, and as posted cindy will probably be labeled, dismissed, etc by the MSM. This was a given once she expressed political desires. This is the big leagues.

Toolmaker,

Oh, I get what you are saying, and I know that Cindy was very aware of that being a possibility last summer. She got on t.v. and told people she was not part of MoveOn.org, just a mother grieving her son who wants to spare others her grief. I don't know why MoveOn.org got on her bandwagon, I hope it wasn't for opportunistic reasons, I choose to think it was a structure that could help her, and indeed they did.

I feel very sad and worried about her after seeing how down she looked on the clips last night and today. She looks gaunt.

Do you think you will get in touch with her and tell her she is alot more effective alone? Or is it too late for that?

I'm sorry to see it, if her story is reduced to politics. Martin Luther King was labeled and look at what he accomplished!

Cindy will be OK, there are a lot of people around her that will provide support. Its a tough environment to work in....no leeway.
She struck a chord in the US, probably did more to question Iraq than any senator or congressman. i just hate to see it taken over by the MSM whining about her Tshirt.

Interesting news item this morning- evidently, Alito sided with the majority in staying an execution until the court could decide if lethal injection is cruel and unusual punishment or not.
I wonder if this is just a way to make a more permanent mark by allowing the court to make a decision on the issue, or if he really has doubts about the matter.
If he does, he's going to be a real disappointment to W in the future. He may be more of a Souter than we realize.
At any rate, it's an interesting start to the day.

It's good that we're here discussing the many issues we face and the latest news/scandal caused by this regime, but frankly, I'm tired of us spinning our wheels on the same stuff day after day. I'm focusing on the "Activate" part of our mission because I am now educated and empowered.

Posted by: madame defarge at February 1, 2006 04:02 PM

yes, yes, yes.

We saw "The Green Table" last night (ABT) and I am still moved--need to run to school now, but thanks everyone for the great thread here!

Oh, Linda you truly are the eternal optimist. Your post made my day. Not that realistically Alito will be a Souter, but to know that we have a true optimist among us. After a pretty lousy week so far, with the Alito confirmation, hopefully your sense of optimism will be contageus.

Its nice to know that very very ocassionally, even Sam Alito does the right thing, I just wouldn't hold my breath about any other such rulings.

sorry about accidentally typing your name.

This may seem trivial, but in today's climate of media control, you never know what you're missing.

Here's the latest attempt...but was it an attempt to control or to make the issue get more coverage???

Joint Chiefs Fire At Toles Cartoon On Strained Army
By Howard Kurtz
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, February 2, 2006; Page C01

In a protest with an unusual number of high-level signatures, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and each of its five members have fired off a letter assailing a Washington Post cartoon as "beyond tasteless."

The Tom Toles cartoon, published Sunday, depicts a heavily bandaged soldier in a hospital bed as having lost his arms and legs, while Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, in the guise of a doctor, says: "I'm listing your condition as 'battle hardened.' " Toles said he meant no offense toward American soldiers.

See the cartoon & what they're saying at DU about this...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2080655

madame-link not working at this time
I saw that cartoon-I do not understand their beef...it seemed mild to me

Rep. Lynn Woosley's statement about Cindy Sheehan's arrest...

http://woolsey.house.gov/latestnews.asp?ARTICLE5110=57121

madame defarge
I think a cartoon can be more controversial than I imagined. I'm following the trajectory of the ones published in Norway and Denmark which depicted Allah & caused international incidents. Now papers in other European countries have published them, which adds fuel to the fire for Jihadists among them or infilitrating easily. It isn't smart.

It's a freedom of speech issue, but the potential for incitement to violence must also be considered. We had a discussion on here about Ann Coulter's words of hate (poisoniing judges), we discussed Glenn Beck (who advocated killing Michael Moore) and Pat Robertson (who advocated killing of Chavez in Venezuela), Fallwell (who said 9/11 happened b/c of gays). Some people try to organize and act on the basis of hate speech and propaganda of others. (example: we recently had Nazi youth in the Pacific NW)

It's two issues - freedom of speech (can the cartoon be printed? can the words be spoken?) - and the potential of same to incite violence (will the offended want to retaliate? - in the case of depicting Allah in a cartoon, that is blasphemous)(will the gullible carry out the hate words? - in the case of Coulter, Beck, Robertson)

I think Editors should think carefully before they publish certain things (but almost never censor - there would have to be real potential for trigger of violence) and possibly libel suits would put a lid on some of the others. George Galloway in the UK has done well with this approach, when his character was defamed.

Freedom of speech issues are always interesting!
By the way, hasn't the Patriot Act extention expired & another was granted - one more month?

Other trigger events:
police brutality (as in Rodney King incident, as in the Paris riots)
reports of torture (Abu Graib, Guantanamo, "ghost prisons")

There are tinderboxes of controversy always waiting for that one spark, to explode.

I think the whole thing could work positively too - if a person or incident catalyzed some momentum in a positive direction. There is always "the straw that broke the camel's back" "the hundredth monkey".

It's not the hundredth monkey I'm worried about.

It's the first one.

;0)

marc my words,
Otter

Toolmaker
Cindy Sheehan struck a chord all over the world, not just in US. We never imagine how influential and inspiring people can be from within this country. When I have travelled, I am asked about them continually. It's important that people realize we don't all support the status quo, just as we realize that they don't. We are used to exporting our soda pop, filma and music but that's not all of our culture that is "bought." I think it's one of the most hopeful things imaginable.

Posted by: DiAnne at February 2, 2006 09:24 AM

That may be true of the cartoon you're talking about that was published in Europe. The cartoon I was discussing, if you looked at it, was not religious in any way. In fact, it used Rummy's words (which he said in public) and it discussed an issue that MSM has largely ignored -- the state of the wounded soldiers who are returning from Iraq/Afghanistan.

And if you read the article I posted in the WaPo, the generals are singing the same old regime line about how the cartoon was a personal attack on, or a derogatory comment on, "the service or sacrifice of American soldiers." That's very different than inciting insurgency violence, as the cartoon you are talking about did.

This whole issue of how our soldiers are have suffering traumatic and life-altering wounds is really important on many fronts: the mental state of those returning, the lack of Vet benefits to support them when they do return, the state of our health care system, the divorce rate in the military. I believe these social issues will be worse than those brought on by the Vietnam War.

Did you know that at least 60% of those returning have suffered head injuries/brain damage? And by the way, in many cases, those brain injuries are not the only injuries they have; in many cases, there are multiple bodily injuries, including missing limbs etc.

The NYT has had a couple of powerful articles on this lately. Both have audio/photo journals that prove the realities of war.

A New Kind of Care in a New Era of Casualties (January 31, 2006)
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/31/national/31wounded.html

Struggling Back From War's Once-Deadly Wounds (January 22, 2006)
http://tinyurl.com/ayzvb = NYTimes

In summary, I believe the cartoon I was discussing is not offensive in any way and should be published everywhere.

madame defarge

No that cartoon was not religious, just controversial, and I was glad to see it. I didn't mean that it shouldn't be published, just that Editors need to be prepared for controversy when they make such a decision.

I was also expanding on the issue of controversy and bringing attention to the inflammatory cartoon in Europe, as I had not heard anyone mention it but it was all over the BBC this morning.

The inter-related issues of freedom of speech & incitement to violence as the issue came up the other day on this blog. Ann Coulter used hate speech publicly and it was tolerated whereas in some other countries with equivalent of first amendment here, a lid would have been put on her because such hate speech could trigger violence.

The power of political cartoons (as with the religious one in Europe, which is still having violent repercussions, as in Gaza Strip today) - is the tip of the iceberg.

There is the freedom of speech issue, the issue of where to draw the line (at hate speech which can incite violence), and the separation of church and state issue - all interlocking and related.

A recent controversy in England has been the new bill which limits what comedians can say about religion. Rowan Atkinson ("Mr. Bean") wrote eloquently about it.

Now more than ever is the time for humor, but maybe we need to find out what makes people laugh and why! (See the movie "Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World," in which the US government sends a Jewish comic to India and Pakistan, to find out what makes Muslims laugh).

As far as cartoons depicting wounded soldiers and such, I imagine they are touchy to the commanders and brass in this country, since there is a policy of hiding the bodies, minimizing the wounded. (No cameras at Dover, etc).

madame defarge
The other thing is that any writings or cartoons the "brass" don't agree with can be attacked by saying they are not patriotic, that they aid and abet the enemy etc etc. It's another shade of saying that things are "partisan" or in some other way attacking the messenger in order to try to deflect attention from the message.

You're wondering about the Danish cartoons on mahomet that got Arab countries on fire?
Here they are.
http://permanent.nouvelobs.com/medias/20060202.OBS4859.html

After the threats to the Danes and other Scandinavians, they were issued yesterday in France Soir in support of freedom of speech.
And what happened? The chief editor got fired by the owner of French-Egyptian origin.

Cartoonists always existed and had the same targets for years : politics, religion, war, states men. But we here bump again into the wall separating democracies and theocracies where freedom of thinking, writing, criticizing is not allowed.

All our cartoonists are defending their rights today in different papers by drawing on the topic in the name of press freedom.

This was a given once she expressed political desires. This is the big leagues.

Posted by: Toolmaker at February 2, 2006 01:45 AM

Toolmaker,

She was treated differently and impuned by the media way back in August before she even expressed political aspirations.

How do I know this? Well, it's because I heard Democrats locally demonizing her and not even realizing they were repeating the Repubican media's portrayal of her personality and her motives.

Frankly, for everyone who gets involved in politics at any level, they will be continually be questioned. Yes, sometimes that's a great thing IF they're questioning ethics (such as accepting money from lobbyists) or if they're questioning behavior within their job (such as the behavior of Rep. Jean Schmidt's calling Rep. Murtha a coward while desecrating the sanctify of House rules). Those are legitimate.

But frankly, in August, the media portrayed Cindy as a "product of moveon", "a neglegent mom to her other kids", "a person looking for attention", etc...

If Cindy wants to go into office believing she can make a positive change, then she's not going to be villified any worse than they have already.

And for anyone who wants to go into office, no matter your political philosophy, thank you for taking that risk. Because I can't imagine a more mean spirited place to want to join.

Oil profits
In a wide-ranging interview, Bush defended the $36.13 billion profit Exxon Mobil Corp. posted in 2005 — the highest ever for a U.S. company. He said the profit reflected the market and that consumers socked with soaring energy costs should not expect price breaks.

“I think that basically the price is determined by the marketplace and that’s the way it should be,” said Bush, a former Texas oil man.

But he added: “There’s also a responsibility for energy companies to continue to invest and improve the ways that the American people can get energy.

“I would very much hope that Exxon would participate in the development of a pipeline out of Alaska, for example, in order to make sure there’s more natural gas available for families and small business owners so the economy will grow,” the president said.

Britain (BBC) joins the Muhammad cartoon fray:

http://media.guardian.co.uk/site/story/0,,1700798,00.html

Posted by: monkey at February 2, 2006 11:59 AM

Does he still own stock or is the stock in his children's name?