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The Right of the People
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, paper, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath of affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. Article IV of the Bill of Rights
I don't know about you, but I find the layers of secrecy this administration dances through simply dizzying. On one level, I would marvel at their agility, except for the regular stumbling akin to the long-program figure skating last night. On another level, it is clear we (sort-of) elected a bunch of incompetents; clearly not ready for the big events.
Aside from the obvious fact that the actions of the Bush Administration in circumventing FISA (layers of secrecy upon layers), I have been thinking lately about the whole cabal of criminals. GITMO, FISA, and the entire program that oversteps the Constitution and the Bill of Rights--the Big Brother/Hitler comparisons come along easily, but don't always feel quite right to me.
When I look at the cumulative effects of all the outrages on our democracy, I can see that our government is under attack, and it isn't from outside insurgents. Our government is under attack from its stewards.
The Bush administration, far from being the law-abiding, freedom-loving stalwart defenders they ran as, has turned out to be a bunch of embezzlers. Instead of providing for the common defense, promoting the general welfare, and securing the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, as they swore to do, they have mortgaged the future of the country and, indeed, the planet.
What have they embezzled? They have stolen our votes, they have abused the air and water and natural resources of the planet, they have underfunded the education of our children, they have made it difficult for 18-year olds to go to college and easy for them to join the military, putting their minds and bodies in harm's way while failing to provide for them while doing so. They have failed at homeland security and taking care of the homeless. They have regranted our tax dollars to the wealthy instead of to the needy.
But WE know all this. WE understand crimes have been committed in our name and against our neighbors. It's the 35-48% of us who are too busy trying to get through the day we need to be addressing now.
Because the biggest fraud of all is the one perpetrated against those who work hard, who want and need protection and services despite working hard, but who are being conned by the powerful elites into supporting their own demise.
They feel uneasy and they feel afraid of the future. That future is being stolen every day. Their choices, their agency, their health and their money: embezzled by arrogant profiteers and criminals.
So instead of Hitler, I am reminded of Jim Bakker, David Koresh, and Jim Jones--all of whom had trusting followers and who betrayed them, stealing their money, yes, but also their dreams and their very lives.
We are being conned. Most of us see it; but too many do not as yet.
We must continue to speak and write and provide the same kind of fire the founders of this country ignited. We must be truth-tellers. We are the people and we will have our say. And we will have our future back.
Go to Bush Commission for more information on speaking up.
Hear, Hear, Karen,
I am scared for my children. That is why I do everything I can to educate them, and anybody else that will listen, about what has happened to our country. This site - better than most - provides me with the information I need to bolster my arguments against Bushco.
I am not afraid of anything, especially not them, but I am also not blind. We need to stop trying to control the world and be the center of everything. Economics and demographics are agsinst us and insisting on it could destroy the world.
Paul Krugman: Osama, Saddam and the Ports
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/022406Z.shtml
Paul Krugman writes that Mr. Bush assures us that "people don't need to worry about security." But after all those declarations that we're engaged in a global war on terrorism, after all the terror alerts declared whenever the national political debate seemed to be shifting to questions of cronyism, corruption and incompetence, the administration can't suddenly change its theme song to "Don't Worry, Be Happy."
Embezzlers. Nice frame, Karen. Will use it often.
This group in power also show that getting elected and knowing how to govern are two completely different things.
Karen,
I personally believe that many more people do realize the evil we face. They just don't know the extent of it.
Fighting apathy, desparation, and lost hope leaves us wondering how we can make a difference when we're fighting powerful and corrupt people. How do we fight it without turning into them.
In helping others on their blogs, I see the rage the other side gives out too.
It makes a person want to assume that they know nothing and should leave it to the "politicians".
We MUST fight back just as hard...but somehow we have to temper our anger and talk respectfully and passionately without crossing the line. I find myself reading the blogs and the comments (and writing some) and it seems like the anger on the blogs is SOOOO high! And you do a terrible fencing match with blades swishing here and there, cutting in and out, jabbing here, poking there...yet very rarely do I see someone say, "I'm convinced."
I saw ONE series that went like that...but then the result was different. The two actually realized that each person's posts were based on a misunderstanding. Then a real discussion persued, and then they realized though one felt they were libertarian and the other progressive, many of their ideas were similar.
`They (UAE) have been critical allies in fighting the financial war against terror. They've been critical allies in terms of our military-to-military relationship.''
(White House spokesman for Homeland Security)
Strange terminology
Embezzlers... it goes along with the culture of corruption and culture of cronyism memes. I wonder what will happen when those who voted for Bush do figure out they were conned; when they realize that he and his administration betrayed their trust.
Thanks for putting this together for us, Karen.
Am rapidly nodding my widdle otter (bobble)haid in agreement with karen, casey, sparrow, dwahzon & the rest of the group -- that using the word "embezzlers" in reference to The Gang Who Couldn't Steal Straight in (must emphasize this early & often) *Republican-run* Washington is not only painfully accurate, it's a great soundbyte and a memorable meme and and a cogent way to summarize what everybody pretty much knows to be true even if they haven't all admitted it to themselves yet, i.e.:
The current administration of our country is far and away *the* most despicable group of crooks and liars to betray the public trust here since the Gilded Age -- certainly far beyond even the most paranoid and cynical manipulations of the Nixonian White House (which imho we really should be comparing the Bush White House to with every word we say in public, in order to constantly reinforce the public's impression of how distrustful and distasteful these people really are) -- a group of megalomaniac ethically-crippled greedheads whose force-majeure fantasies would almost be farcical if they didn't involve bringing the whole world so close to the edge of Armageddon that it defies rational belief.
But that's just one otter's opinion -- and an especially pithy one since the local WallyMart was completely out of stock on punctuation marks when I ran over there to buy some more commas and desparately-needed periods this morning, so I am having to carefully husband the few remaining ones that are left in my keyboard buffer until I can get over to the OKMart and buy some there instead (I understand they're on sale this week anyway, thank goddess). Ahem.
Meanwhile, copy & pastes still come free of charge, so I'm going to steal a snippet of something disturbing that madame defarge wrote and then asked about in the previous thread -- because what is even more disturbing than the news she shared is that she also proposed three separate questions to which there is only one answer, and that is a mutual and unsatisfying "yes" to all of them at once...
==========
"More news RE: UAE ports...Not only did the administration not 'know' that the UAE deal had been approved, but they also got the number of ports wrong...6 ports have now turned into 21.
"So here's the quandry of the day for me...
"Is the administration really that stupid & clueless? Or... Do they think we're really that stupid & clueless? Or... Do they think we're as stupid & clueless as they are?"
==========
Gee... if only Nancy Reagan was right and we could all just say no to *that*, huh?
I'd like to buy a vowel if you'll throw in two semicolons and a parentheses along with it,
Otter
Two perspectives of the great sell-out(or is it off)...
Benson is great as always:
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/benson/
Jon Talton - Business Writer for the Arizona Republic - with what the port selling means...
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/business/articles/0223talton23.html
Funny thing Dwahzon is that I think if you ask the Bush supporters they would still say they agree that Americans should give up their rights for Bush and his cabal. There is actually some right wing blogger out there fighting for new sedition laws. There seems to be something very compelling about facism to many people. It reminds me of something a high school friend said to me years ago. I was fretting about something where a decision was made for me and I had no choice in the matter--I cannot even remember what it was. She told me to be glad I had no choice. She hated making decisions. She said she was much happier when the decision was made and she just had to do something because she had to. I was amazed and remember the conversation to this day. Many people seem to like living is a defined box no matter who is defining it for them. I don't get it, but it's there and the rest of us are suffering for it.
Isn't it something that everything a lot of us were saying since 2000 has all come true, and even more so.
Thanks for the great posts Karen today and Suz yesterday.
As always, William S. Lind has something interesting to say about the Iraq debacle.
Remember the predator missles that wiped out a bunch of innocent folks. BushCo said tough...mistakes happen...
Read about possible outcomes...
http://www.d-n-i.net/lind/lind_2_23_06.htm
Peace songs & anti war songs-
I'd love to have a place that is easily accesible that we have all posted our favorites- I know wh have posted them in various threads but is there one thread or some place where they all are? I'd like to use it as resource for programing some things....
battlebob:
Thanks for the link to that article, the closing tagline of it is by itself as close to priceless as a writer could ask for:
"That ticking sound Mr. Bush hears is not Mr. Cheney’s pacemaker. It’s the crocodile, and he’s getting rather close."
the time for tocking is past mister boosh,
Otter
Otter,
Good post above. And thanks for reminding us of md's questions. It really nails it to see them posted together. (Great questions, md)
Ellen,
Great thread header today. I laughed my head off when I read it. You do a great job over there and I've shared your site with my relatives in your district.
Also, Ellen, regarding the 'choice' conversation, I too remember having similar ones--even with my own children. However, not from the standpoint that they don't want to have to chose, but more regarding the reasons why some people take the anti-gay "they're taking away our bible" or "don't you believe in the bible?" as a one track--you can only think one way or you're not following God's rules. It's the whole idea of free thought and that maybe God's rules are guidelines to follow, but they get hung up on the one or two instead of all ten.
Maybe I'm not explaining my thought well, but what I'm trying to say is they've removed the choices that were implicit in the bible and instead have said, "There's only one path".
I think you explained it very well, Suz and I think you are correct. One path is easier from a particular point of view, but sadly we are on the path the irrevocably damaging our country. The worst part of the Dubai incident in my mind is that it is a mere illustration of an fraction of the US business being sent to foreign corporations not subject to our US labor and health and safety laws. So, if this is the path, I have no idea why anyone wants to walk on it.
I must admit that I don't know what all this gosh-durn Dubai-driven furriner-fuss is all about. I mean, our very own Chuck is an oilmonger living in a far-away country like Doha and we let *him* post here without sending angry emails to Faux News about it, so what the hey?
Ahem.
walk like an egyptian,
Otter
P.S. -- where the hell *is* "Doha", anyway??
proud to be a globally-konshus highly-eddicated amurikin,
Otter
Otter and Md,
You give Bushco too much credit. I don't believe Bushco even gives a thought to how smart/informed/uninformed/stupid the American people are. They are totally focused on corporatism -not necessarily in that term itself - but how they can enrich their corporate brethren even at the expense of the American people. It is my understanding that the port management company made a substantial contribution to the Carlyle group of over 50 million dollars. It is all business to these guys, and if America is harmed, well that's the way it goes. Politics is not a consideration for them when money is involved. Politics just gets in the way. So, in a way it is incredibly stupid (does that surprise you?) considering that we are in an election season.
Look at this map
http://tinyurl.com/nj23h
It is the election results of the 2004 election by congressional district. Unless you happen to live in Kansas or Utah, there are at least as many people around you who did not vote for Bush as did.
Consider this, as rough figures, 60 percent of all registered voters actually voted in the last election, of that 60% only 51.5 of them voted for Bush. That leaves a whopping 88.5% who did not vote for Bush.
The figure I could not find, and if someone knows it I'd love to see it, is the percentage of people eliglable to vote who are not registered. I'd be willing to venture a guess that it is in the neighborhood of about 40%. Let's assume that of that 40% the split is about the same, ie. of those unregistered people 88.5 of them would not have voted for Bush. Now even if you deduct the 40% of this group that would not vote in any case, you are still left with 48 per cent who would not have
voted for Bush.
Are you lost yet? Here my point, the average American isn't as dumb as we take him to be. We are surrounded by people, who as Karen so aptly pointed out, are uneasy and uncomfortable with this administration. Many aren't registered, many didn't vote last time, but they are becoming increasing aware that things aren't right.
We have two choices here, we can go on just assuming that most people don't care, or we can engage them, bringing them into the process. There are a few of us here who never paid much attention to politics until the last election. Someone, some where engaged them. Now it is our turn to bring as many as possible into the process, because it's the only way to win.
Not just the 2006 elections, not just the 2008 elections, but the very fight to bring our country back to it's roots. It's up to you, you are surounded by people just waiting to hear from you.
http://backbonecampaign.org/storydetail.cfm?ID=148
Backbone – Kerry
Here Otter.. I didn't have a clue either..
http://tinyurl.com/pl3zt
What's the opposite of "paranoia and isolationism"?
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/themix/32749/
(good summary of Dubai port mess & context)
Posted by: (:>) the blogger formerly known as Ladytechie at February 24, 2006 02:20 PM
So when are you going to change your name to (:>) ?
wow battlebob is back, its been a long time.
Latest Rasmussen poll reported on Fox says the public trusts Democratics in Congress by 43% over Bush at 41% to protect national security.
Oh how the mighty have fallen. Heard G.Gordon Liddy(he comes on before Ed Schultz) say this morning if they can't trust us on national security what the hell can they trust us with. If things don't get any better I expect Republicans to crash and burn said Liddy. Stand aside and watch them eat their young.
Heard a very interesting piece on NPR's Morning Edition about Condi's efforts to convince Middle Eastern governments not to accept Hamas as legitimate and to withhold funding them. Doesn't sound like she's making many friends over there...The person being interviewed, Rami Khouri, the editor-at-large of the Daily Star in Lebanon, said this of her efforts: "If I can use this term, imbecilic..!"
The piece was very informative; you can listen to it here:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5231759
Posted by: madame defarge at February 24, 2006 03:10 PM
As of now. If Prince can use a symbol instead of a name why not a blogger? I've chosen my symbol carefully, and only after much thought.
Why (:>)? Because it has become my chosen mission on this blog to point out the positives. They are there, and we often ignore them. I shall no doubt offend at times with my Pollyannish view of the world. So be it.
I am not blind to the negatives, but I am convinced that only by positive acton will we overcome them.
Posted by: (:>) the blogger formerly known as Ladytechie at February 24, 2006 03:28 PM
This one's for you, (:>)... It's one of my very favorites...
Always Look on the Bright Side of Life
Some things in life are bad,
They can really make you mad,
Other things just make you swear and curse,
When you're chewing life's gristle,
Don't grumble,
Give a whistle
And this'll help things turn out for the best.
And...
Always look on the bright side of life.
[whistle]
Always look on the light side of life.
[whistle]
If life seems jolly rotten,
There's something you've forgotten,
And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing.
When you're feeling in the dumps,
Don't be silly chumps.
Just purse your lips and whistle.
That's the thing.
And...
Always look on the bright side of life.
[whistle]
Always look on the right side of life,
[whistle]
For life is quite absurd
And death's the final word.
You must always face the curtain with a bow.
Forget about your sin.
Give the audience a grin.
Enjoy it. It's your last chance, anyhow.
So,...
Always look on the bright side of death,
[whistle]
Just before you draw your terminal breath.
[whistle]
Life's a piece of shit,
When you look at it.
Life's a laugh and death's a joke it's true.
You'll see it's all a show.
Keep 'em laughing as you go.
Just remember that the last laugh is on you.
And...
Always look on the bright side of life.
Always look on the right side of life.
[whistle]
I am positively certain that I am going to have to go in the other perky cheery room and fwow up now.
:0)
where the hell's my insulin now that I need it,
Otter
The Happy Song - JoJo
VERSE 1:
Nothin makes me more happy than to know
That I have such a close friend
To know that you're down for me is reassuring
It's the reason I'm always smilin
And when I'm kickin' it with you
I have a lot fun with you
Never any kind of pressure
Comin' from you
Trying to get me to do
Anything I'm not ready to
That's why I really like you
CHORUS:
Da da da da da
Da da da da da
Da da da da da
You make me happy
Da da da da da
Da da da da da
Da da da da da
So very happy
LOL!
http://www.metrolyrics.com/lyrics/220037/JoJo/The_Happy_Song
Fine, if y'all are gonna be that way...
[insert coughing-up-hairball sound here]
----------
Here is a little song I wrote
You might want to sing it note for note
Don't worry be happy
In every life we have some trouble
When you worry you make it double
Don't worry, be happy......
Ain't got no place to lay your head
Somebody came and took your bed
Don't worry, be happy
The land lord say your rent is late
He may have to litigate
Don't worry, be happy......
Look at me I am happy
Don't worry, be happy
Here I give you my phone number
When you worry call me
I make you happy
Don't worry, be happy......
Ain't got no cash, ain't got no style
Ain't got no girl to make you smile
But don't worry be happy
Cause when you worry
Your face will frown
And that will bring everybody down
So don't worry, be happy (now)......
There is this little song I wrote
I hope you learn it note for note
Like good little children
Don't worry, be happy
Listen to what I say
In your life expect some trouble
But when you worry
You make it double
Don't worry, be happy......
Don't worry don't do it, be happy
Put a smile on your face
Don't bring everybody down like this
Don't worry, it will soon pass
Whatever it is
Don't worry, be happy......
------------
since after all a happy smile is just a rethuglican frown turned upside down,
Otter
This is the quote I just chose for benediction tonight (I am leading services-Rabbi out of town)
• If we learn to open our hearts, anyone, including the people who drive us crazy, can be our teacher.
Pema Chodron
on the other hand I also just answered Gov Bill Richardsons request for items on the port question to ask at Gov's meeting (http://activist.acthere.com/page/m/e3va50fo7jg/FMB8kM)
I wrote to Geoge-
Please don't tell me its all safe-like we dodged a bullet with Katrina. Not even you are right 100% of the time amd this is a needless risk in the post 9/11 world.
hehe
Posted by: Otter at February 24, 2006 04:51 PM
Don't make me start singing "Candy Man" to you...
Posted by: mkh at February 24, 2006 04:53 PM
I found a similar quote the other day...
"Overcome anger by love, evil by good, the greedy by generosity, and the liar by truth."
- Buddha
Because my news are not your news, I would just like you to know about what I heard on my morning news.
I'm not gonna talk about Irak, too late.
Harbours. Ii's domestic policy, and I have no right to intrude.
But this morning, I listened to one of the best politics experts on MiddleEast, and we all have to worry about Jordan. The king, and the regime (only 80 yars old) might be thrown away.
Why?
They are bordered by Irak and Palestine.
They have a large Palestinian population, who voted for Hamas.
Many of their generals happen to belong to the Muslim Brotherhood.
They are seen as US friends.
They are totaly isolated in the zone...
There were some more details, but I forgot.
The conclusion was : instead of going frantic on Iran, America should focus on Jordan, becaue if the regime falls???????????
The worst has already taken place in Irak, can you fancy more?
I'm not sure my message will reach most of you, but at least I passed it.
My own personal favorite for the day: "That which does not kill me makes me strong."
Tap dancing along here....
Andree,
your messages are always valued here. I don't know why you think that anyone here would ignore one of your posts.
Now do we have great impact on what's discussed in Congress and on the mainstream news sites? No, but we can research it further and bring it up where appropriate.
Thanks for letting us know what you heard in your news today.
dwahzon,
i worry because you don't get fair news.
I worry because Americans tend to be self centered.
I worry because I've watched your country going astray.
I worry because I 'm desperatly trying to save you from your isolationism.
I worry because I love you, blue people.
Posted by: Andree - France at February 24, 2006 05:27 PM
Andree,
I have always recognised that the middle east is a barrel of gas waiting for the something to light the flame. But of our country, we now are embroilled in Iraq due to Bush's manipulation of evidence and their incompetence.
And we always knew that the other Arab countries have a love hate relationship with each other, but like a 'family' will usually bond with each other against a common enemy.
So...while you're saying look at Jordan. I'm saying, look at ALL of them! I don't say that out of discrimination, because Isreal is just as capable of creating ill will and doing something stupid. But what I'm saying is we can not just focus on one country--instead we have to focus on the region and in fact the world.
Yes...I'm saying we have to multitask. THAT is why it is so important to have gov't representatives who are capable of multitasking.
I nominate everyone here at the DCP to take those jobs and 'run with it.'
(But I"m a lousy multitasker..and not at all competent...so I'm giving me an escape clause. mua ha ha ha!!!)
But of our country, we now are embroilled in Iraq due to Bush's manipulation of
Posted by: sparrow at February 24, 2006 06:03 PM
Ok..Ok..I know it makes no sense.
Just call it, "Fill in the blank" or "Scrambled words..."
Whatever...
Sparrow,
i'm not gonna quote my former Minister of Foreign Affairs (Dominique de Villepin,now PM) who warned the world and Bush (with the only ever applauses in UN) about the Irak war and its consequences...that you are quoting now.
What was due to happen, happened....
What I heard about Jordan (on 7 a.m) news, really caught my attention.
Why? I'm good at anticipating on precise news, that end up turning into a real mess. I just feel it.
Just ask ask DiAnne, when on private mailing, I often tell her "do you remember what I told you 2 months ago?". Unfortunately I often prove to be right.
De Villepin was right 4 years ago unfortunately for your soldiers.
Posted by: Andree - France at February 24, 2006 06:31 PM
Andree,
I understand completely! All of us at the DCP does as well--and many other places too.
The problem...well, we're the ones who may do things better but we're not in charge of our destiny. It's just as frustrating for us as it is for you.
I forgot to tell you, I had a special talk show on Jordan tonight on...TV for over an hour.
Same conclusions as on radio. Jordan regime is in danger of facing political crisis. Political experts being no jerks here.
Did I daydream between 7 a.m and 7 p.m?
kumbaya my lourdes kumbaya
gittin jiggy widdit,
Otter
One more for the road....
Keep on the Sunny Side - the Whites
There's a dark & a troubled side of life
There's a bright, there's a sunny side, too
Tho' we meet with the darkness and strife
The sunny side we also may view
[cho:] Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side,
Keep on the sunny side of life
It will help us ev'ry day, it will brighten all the way
If we'll keep on the sunny side of life
The storm and its fury broke today,
Crushing hopes that we cherish so dear;
Clouds and storms will, in time, pass away
The sun again will shine bright and clear.
Let us greet with the song of hope each day
Tho' the moment be cloudy or fair
Let us trust in our Saviour away
Who keepeth everyone in His care
[cho:] Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side,
Keep on the sunny side of life
It will help us ev'ry day, it will brighten all the way
If we'll keep on the sunny side of life
Andree,
I found this on the Jordan situation:
Olmert apologises to King, Jordan for general's remarks
Agencies
Acting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Thursday apologised to King Abdullah and Jordanians for remarks by an Israeli general that an “Iran-Gaza Islamic axis” would envelop the Kingdom in the future and affect the country.
Olmert telephoned the King and condemned Major General Yair Naveh's comments, which, he said, did not reflect Israeli government policy or its official position, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. Olmert said he appreciated King Abdullah's efforts to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East.
more: http://www.jordantimes.com/fri/homenews/homenews1.htm
Peace songs & anti war songs-
I'd love to have a place that is easily accesible that we have all posted our favorites- I know wh have posted them in various threads but is there one thread or some place where they all are? I'd like to use it as resource for programing some things....
Posted by: mkh at February 24, 2006 12:19 PM
This is a great idea. People have nominated nine songs that they feel are the best political songs from 2005 over at my blog: nite swimming (imagine what the participants of this blog could come up with). A few of the songs I'd never heard of. I was thinking today that it's a darn good start for a complilation CD. A CD to play as your very own democracy cell gathers to meet.
Posted by: cali at February 24, 2006 08:14 PM
Cali,
You're link on your name isn't working right. I think you have a comma there instead of a dot.
Cali -
excellent idea! Can you give us the link to your site?
Sorry - mkh - excellent idea as well!
The Iraq disaster is coming to a turning point. On C-Span's Washington Journal the first question for viewer call-in segment was "Should we stay in Iraq?". Lamm, the moderator, was asking all kinds of good questions about the "staying the course" option, such as
1) how long do we stay? years?
2) how many troops should we have there? should we send more troops?
3) how much money should we spend on the war/occupation? should we raise taxes to pay for the occupation?
4) what should the American troops do if a full-scale civil war breaks out?
I would like to know:
1) Who is the military general that is in charge of the Iraq operation??
2) Why isn't Condi Rice spending MOST OR ALL OF HER TIME ON IRAQ and the Middle East problem?
3) I think it is time to get Congress involved in the war/occupation policy - Bush has failed completely. The Congress should hold hearings and find out what EXACTLY IS GOING ON IN IRAQ - WHAT IS THE U.S. MILITARY DOING ETC....
Many of the callers to C-Span called for Arab or United Nation troops...
Bill Moyers | Restoring the Public Trust
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/022406A.shtml
Bill Moyers speaks on the issue of money and politics: Watching these people work is a study of the inner circle at the top of American politics. It is a Dick Cheney world out there - a world where politicians and lobbyists hunt together, dine together, drink together, play together, pray together and prey together, all the while carving up the world according to their own interests. It is time to fight again. It's not their government, it's your government.
{{{Ah, it's so nice to read a sane voice in an insane world! The beginning section talks about Bush-Armstrong-Rove-Cheney-Baker links I wasn't aware of before. He goes on to talk about DeLay, Abramoff, big money (connections to Rove, too)... and check out the big name clothing lines whose garments were made with sweatshop labor in the Marianas Islands... and then he ends his speech with what could be done to clean up our election process... This is a long read, but well worth the time to read it. }}}
Madame-finally got to hear the NPR piece-
WOW!!
Winning hearts and minds nowhere....
FBI Memos Reveal Allegations of Abusive Interrogation Techniques
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0224-06.htm
{{{Besides heinous acts, Gitmo torturers are illegally saying they are FBI agents.... Funny. Funny odd, not funny haha. Who these interrogators are connected with is still not clear (to me), even if officers who are in the US military are "in charge."}}}
CIA Using Canadian Airstrips
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/022406K.shtml
CIA planes have landed in Canada 74 times since the 9/11 terror attacks, underscoring fears that the United States is ferrying suspected terrorists through its neighboring country en route to foreign prisons for torture, according to newly declassified government documents.
Blogger Bares Rumsfeld's Post 9/11 Orders
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0224-01.htm
Nobel Laureates Join Call to End Iraq Occupation
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0224-08.htm
William Greider | The Boy Who Cried Wolf
http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0224-30.htm
UAE Gave $1 Million to Bush Library
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/022406S.shtml
A sheik from the United Arab Emirates contributed at least one million to the Bush Library Foundation, which established the George Bush Presidential Library at Texas A&M University in College Station. The UAE owns Dubai Port Company, which is taking over operations from London-based Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, which operates six US ports.
Port Agency to Break Lease in Bid to Block Dubai Sale
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/022406M.shtml
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will break the lease of a big container terminal at Port Newark to stop a company based in Dubai from taking over part of the operation there, the agency's chairman said yesterday.
US to Pay Big Corporations Billions for Retiree Health Plans
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/022406O.shtml
America's largest companies expect the federal government to pay them about four billion dollars over the next four years to help keep their retiree health plans alive at a time when such benefits are increasingly on the chopping block, according to a new study by Credit Suisse First Boston.
John W. Dean | Why Worry about Bush Spying?
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/022406P.shtml
John W. Dean writes: To those who don't worry about giving up their rights, programs like the NSA's may seem fine. But others of us appreciate the blood and treasury this nation expended, both indirectly and directly, in securing those rights. And I am convinced my generation will fight to the end to prevent the zeal of good intention in fighting terror, from letting the terrorists win by permitting the government to take those rights.
BREAKING | Jason Leopold: White House 'Discovers‚ B R E A K I N G
250 Emails Related to Plame Leak
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/022406Y.shtml
Jason Leopold has learned that 250 emails from Dick Cheney's office, relating to the outing of undercover CIA operative Valerie Plame-Wilson, that the White House claimed did not exist, in fact do. Those newly re-discovered emails have been turned over to Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald and are said to be explosive.
About Andree's posts -
Yes I did get one early this morning our time (so last night in France) about Jordan. & I kept it in mind & before long came across similar information about Pakistan. & yes, Andree's predictions & information from the French (& other foreign press) often turns out to come to pass. It's true.
From the reading I've done, Jordan, Kuwait, UAR, Saudi Arabia & some others are headed by royals, emirs, sheiks - whatever - who are kind of like the most rich one percent who run this country. The rest are the downtrodden (like we are becoming).
Why do people turn to fundamentalist religion - when they are dissatisfied and know not where else to turn, when the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, when the values of healthcare & education & a decent standard of life for the greatest number of people are ignored in favor of an elite few.
Consider how rich the richest are in the middle east, compared to the poorest poor. & then aside from those countries with royals, emirs & sheiks we have those places like Egypt and Pakistan where an unpopular leader is propped up by the likes of us. I read where Musharraf is known in some circles as Busharraf.
It's such a hypocrisy to talk about spreading democracy. It's all about the oil. An explosion in Saudi Arabia and oil is up two dollars a barrel - even my mom noticed.
Whoa
Grueling long week at work, home for food bath & nap, & ready for a news read.
Took a quick trip to Kos & found:
- remember the Fallows article in Atlantic Monthly where he covered in depth the need for the US to prepare Iraqi troops to defend their own country - so we could pull our troops out?
In a recent speech, Bush said we had 125 batallians that could fight independently without US help. It turns out there are maybe one.
- Bush will not back down from the UAR port deal and it is not for 6 cities - it is for 21. I am going back to read & then head for the news.
Well, headed back to research & try to tease apart what is speculation and what may be realistic.
Okay. I have found what is, if not the, at least a perfect solution:
Everybody in the DCP moves to Mentone, Texas.
No, I am not making this up. And I'm not kidding either.
Well, mostly not, anyway. Because, hell -- it really *could* work...
http://tinyurl.com/fjhnm
ain't geographical politics grand,
Otter
Sorry Otter, no coast nearby.
cry me a river....
State Senator Robert Hagan has a new proposal for the Ohio legislature in response to Ron Hood's bill to prevent gay adoptions. Titled Republicans are unfit to adopt, the article can be found at
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-robinson/republicans-unfit-to-adop_b_16311.html
Help, Otter! I don't know how to use tinyurl! Think I could be ready to move to Mentone. it would have to be better than Ohio at this point.
Ann Coulter splits IU's crowd
'Ms. Right' draws supporters, protesters
Conservative author Ann Coulter drew a large crowd to the IU Auditorium Thursday night. More than 2,500 of the auditorium's 3,200 seats were full, but that number dwindled throughout her speech as many students were ejected for disruptions and others simply walked out after certain comments.
-snip-
"You are paying me to give a speech," she said. "I mean, if you don't want me to keep talking, that's fine, but I think I'll just do the speech. Hopefully, the idiot liberals will be out of here by the second half of the speech.
"You guys are doing a great job." she said sarcastically later to auditorium ushers. "I guess they did hire Democrats as ushers."
When her speech could actually be heard over both cheers and boos, Coulter touched on a string of topics about her views of liberal inadequacies. She claimed liberals "hate God and hate America," and that there is no hope for the Democratic Party, citing a 25-year reign of Republican dominance.
"It's time for someone (in the Democratic Party) to say, let's start over," she said.
She took shots at several notable liberals, including former presidential candidates Howard Dean and Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., and filmmaker Michael Moore. She said that Democrats often try to appear moderate, but she thinks they fail in that regard.
"If the Democrats want to stay in the middle of the road, why do they keep sticking with Teddy Kennedy?" she said. "Didn't he have some trouble staying in the middle of the road?"
She attacked the "liberal media," saying she thought CBS anchor Dan Rather's resignation was "one down, 16 to go." She did, however, say there was a need for stations such as "Air America," which she claims has only 200 listeners.
"We need these liberal talk radio shows to keep the tinfoil-hat types busy while we run the country, democratize the Middle East and secure our borders," she said.
-snip-
Coulter raised some controversy in her speech when she said that Democrats don't want democracy to succeed in Iraq. She said, "They don't think the little brown boys could handle democracy," to which students responded, "We don't tolerate racism here. Go back to Germany."
Coulter even made comments about the physical appearances of those who were removed.
"Another attractive Democrat," she said as junior Sean Hall, a man wearing a blonde wig, white sheet and a sign that said "Coultergeist" was removed.
"I think we should have saved the ushers some time and just removed all the ugly
people," she said.
During her question-and-answer session, Coulter responded to both fans and protesters. One comment that drew strong audience reactions came from a young man who asked her if she didn't like Democrats, wouldn't it just be better to have a dictatorship? Coulter responded with a jab at the way the student talked.
"You don't want the Republicans in power, does that mean you want a dictatorship, gay boy?" she said.
IU College Republicans President Shane Kennedy defended Coulter's comments by stressing that the speech was for entertainment and attendees should have expected Coulter to say controversial comments.
"I think the guy could have been more respectful to her," he said. "I mean, we already know that she was going to be controversial and she was just saying what people were thinking. If you are going to talk like you are gay, then Ann Coulter is going to call you gay. Of course, she said it in a spiteful tone, but it was expected."
more swill... http://www.idsnews.com/news/story.php?id=34257&adid=news
p.s. Since freedom of speech is so important to her, I say lets kill Ann Coulter.... I know, it's controversial, but I'm only saying it because it's what others are thinking.
If Anne Coulter's sarcastic public hate speech is for entertainment, why are people being ejected for free speech responses in return? Do other countries have these pathetic right wing clowns as political pundits who are actually taken seriously by many? I once opened and paged through a Michael Savage book, out of curiosity, and was depressed for days.
Bush's "just trust me" logic just isn't working with the American people anymore. He is ingoring or forgetting what he did to get elected - scare half of America into submission. Here is a great article from Canada (eh) about the American ports for sale.
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1140824432693&call_pageid=970599119419
Hosea 8:7 "For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind . . ."
Here is a conservative against the war - as well as an isolationist, he's also a flat taxer and anti-immigrant to the max but not a neocon - a mixed bag. He has written many articles that illustrate the differences between neocons (like Bush administrtion is infiltrated with) and paleocons (more traditional conservatives who embody extreme fiscal conservatism and don't want to police the world but do not favor government social programs, so more like Grover Norquist economically). Personally, I don't agree with either, but I'm glad he's speaking out again about the war.
I would love to see the threads of the conservative party in America break apart into warring sectarian factions and fail to regroup in 2006 and 2008.
William F. Buckley: It Didn't Work
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/022506Z.shtml
"I can tell you the main reason behind all our woes - it is America." William F. Buckley explores the violence between Sunni and Shiite Muslims in Iraq, finding that the "troublemaker in the middle" who is propelling the clash is the interfering United States.
Corpses in the Garden
By Charles Sullivan
Knowing what I know about the history of my country, it is often difficult for me to fathom how my fellow countrymen have shaped their views. I have come to believe that they have created a mythical America that is not a real place. The perceived necessity of substituting a fantasy world for the real world suggests there is something terribly wrong with the American psyche
http://informationclearinghouse.info/article12059.htm
Ted Koppel in 'NYT': Iraq for U.S. Is 'About the Oil' :
In a surprisingly strong Op Ed on Friday, Ted Koppel, the former "NIghtline" host who is now an occasional columnist for The New York Times, argues that when it comes right down to it, the U.S. adventure in Iraq is, as some charge, "about the oil."
http://tinyurl.com/h5g9h
{{{Gee, Sherlock Ted. When did you arrive at that light bulb moment? I still remember you asked Gore what he thought The Cretin meant by some silly comment he'd made before the '04 election when you were supposed to be interviewing Gore, but spent five minutes trying to get Gore to say what he thought Bu$h meant... can't even remember which stupid Cretin comment it was, now, just remember you badgering Gore and taking up time that was not spent asking Gore his stance on any valid issues....}}}
Venezuela cuts US airline flights :
Venezuela is cutting flights by US airlines as relations between the two countries continue to deteriorate.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4747828.stm
Venezuelan-Owned Citgo Faces Congressional Inquiry For Offering Discounted Oil to U.S. Poor
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/02/24/1513213
BUSH IS TO BLAME FOR DESTROYING IRAQ
Robert Dreyfuss, TomPaine.com
Americans, Iraqis and the international community must hold Bush and Cheney responsible for the destruction of Iraq.
http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/32747/
IF IT'S SUNDAY, IT'S CONSERVATIVE
Joshua Holland, AlterNet
A new report nails down what we knew all along: if you're a guest on a TV talk show, you're probably a conservative.
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/32712/
THE CIA'S PAIN PROJECT
A Democracy Now! Interview
Alfred McCoy exposes how the Bush administration gave the CIA an opportunity to perfect its research on psychological torture.
http://www.alternet.org/story/32638/
{{{Absolutely 'MUST READ' interview! Check out the quote from The Cretin's 'signing statement' when he signed the 'torture ban' that wasn't really a torture ban. Aside from the outrage you may feel when he used the words 'unitary executive,' the way it's worded also goes against the Nuremberg judgement that 'following orders is not a just defense' for war crimes - and there are other ludicrous things on the part of the administration.... And, let's not forget whose father, and former president, once headed the CIA during Iran-Contra when he was VP!!! This is absolute insanity!!!!!!!}}}
NonnyO-
http://informationclearinghouse.info/article12059.htm
Great article!!
NonnyO, mhk
Yes, just read same article - I used it in rebuttal against a conservative patriotic sickening diatribe I was sent. It was from a former conservative who wanted to show it to me - he doesn't agree with it. The article gave me great ammo though - the same mentality went into lynching blacks, torturing at Abu Graib & writing the disgusting little rightwing circular that I am not going to perpetuate by posting even for study, unless by private mail.
This is a great idea. People have nominated nine songs that they feel are the best political songs from 2005 over at my blog: nite swimming (imagine what the participants of this blog could come up with). A few of the songs I'd never heard of. I was thinking today that it's a darn good start for a complilation CD. A CD to play as your very own democracy cell gathers to meet.
Posted by: cali at February 24, 2006 08:14 PM
Cali,
You're link on your name isn't working right. I think you have a comma there instead of a dot.
Posted by: sparrow at February 24, 2006 09:30 PM
Cali -
excellent idea! Can you give us the link to your site?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You're right, I goofed up the link to nite swimming. Here it is:
http://niteswimming.blogspot.com
BTW - did you know that people have deliberately set up websites at addresses that are common typos for blogspot URLs? With my typing skills I found this out quickly. I often type blogspot as blogpsot.
I read this entire article, "Churchill, Hitler and Newt" (Gingrich) before noticing it was written by the conservative, Pat Buchanan.
http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060225/NEWS/202250346/1030/news08
worth a read
I feel strange posting 2 Pat Buchanan articles in 1 morning. I am against wars in the middle east but do not agree with Pat on domestic issues - ah well ..