The War Pornographers

Casey, although we are on opposite ends of the politcal spectrum, I am so glad you wrote this. When we were kids there were a few brave reporters who ventured into war zones, not for ratings or to sell more papers, but to bring REAL NEWS to the public. They were in tremendous danger and endured hardships to bring us the news. The overcoiffed Barbies and Kens who are endlessly reporting are after one thing only...their own glorification. What I hate the most is the ads for the shows coming up where, in a most exciting voice, the announcer cries that this is the network to bring you the most coverage with this reporter here and that reporter there blah blah blah.

Anyway...see you on the Cape, sweetie!

The WaPo today seems to be treading in treasonous waters today...

'Waiting to Get Blown Up'
Some Troops in Baghdad Express Frustration With the War and Their Mission

By Joshua Partlow
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, July 27, 2006; Page A01

BAGHDAD, July 26 Army Staff Sgt. Jose Sixtos considered the simple question about morale for more than an hour. But not until his convoy of armored Humvees had finally rumbled back into the Baghdad military base, and the soldiers emptied the ammunition from their machine guns, and passed off the bomb-detecting robot to another patrol, did he turn around in his seat and give his answer.

"Think of what you hate most about your job. Then think of doing what you hate most for five straight hours, every single day, sometimes twice a day, in 120-degree heat," he said. "Then ask how morale is."

Frustrated? "You have no idea," he said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/26/AR2006072601666.html

Poll: World Doesn't Respect Bush

According to a CBS/NY Times Poll, six in ten Americans say world leaders do not respect President Bush. The poll highlights the public's wariness over the increasing violence and chances for peace in the middle east.

The poll results came on a day when Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice would not agree with world leaders for an immediate cease-fire between Lebanon and Hezbollah, as the Bush Administration wants to give Israel more time to cripple Hezbollah. More than sixty percent of Americans polled by CBS and The New York Times think the conflict will lead to a larger middle east war.

See also http://www.huffingtonpost.com

AMBASSADORS OPPOSED TO THE BOLTON NOMINATION FROM 2005:

(caving Senators on Bolton:

Voinivich 202-224-3353
Clinton 202-224-224-4451
Schmuer 202-224-6542

The Hon. Terrell E. Arnold Former Deputy Director, Office of Counterterrorism, U.S. Department of State (Reagan) Former U.S. Consul General, Sao Paulo, Brazil (Carter) Ambassador (ret.)

Harry G. Barnes, Jr. Former U.S. ambassador to Romania, Chile, and India (Nixon, Ford, Reagan) Ambassador (ret.)

Robert L. Barry Former U.S. ambassador to Bulgaria and Indonesia (Reagan, Clinton) Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs (Carter) Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs (Carter)

Ambassador Josiah H. Beeman Former U.S. ambassador to New Zealand and Western Samoa (Clinton) Ambassador (ret.)

Maurice M. Bernbaum Former U.S. ambassador to Ecuador and Venezuela (Eisenhower, Johnson) Ambassador (ret.)

Richard J. Bloomfield Former U.S. ambassador to Ecuador and Portugal (Ford, Carter, Reagan)

Ambassador George Bunn Former member of U.S. delegation to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) negotiations (Johnson) Former U.S. ambassador to the Geneva Disarmament Conference (UN) (Johnson) Ambassador (ret.)

James Cheek Former U.S. ambassador to Sudan and Argentina (G.H.W. Bush, Clinton) Ambassador (ret.)

Carleton S. Coon Former U.S. ambassador to Nepal (Reagan) Ambassador (ret.)

Jane Coon Former U.S. ambassador to Bangladesh (Reagan) Ambassador (ret.)

John H. Crimmins Former U.S. ambassador to the Dominican Republic and Brazil (Johnson, Nixon, Ford) Ambassador (ret.)

Richard T. Davies Former U.S. ambassador to Poland (Nixon) Ambassador (ret.)

Jonathan Dean Former U.S. representative to the Mutual and Balanced Force Reduction Talks, Vienna (Carter) Ambassador (ret.)

Willard A. DePree Former U.S. ambassador to Mozambique and Bangladesh (Ford, Reagan, G.H.W. Bush) Ambassador (ret.)

Robert S. Dillon Former U.S. ambassador to Lebanon (Reagan) Former Deputy Commissioner General of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) (Reagan) Ambassador (ret.)

Donald B. Easum Former U.S. ambassador to Nigeria and Upper Volta (Burkina Faso) (Nixon, Ford) Former Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs (Nixon, Ford)     Ambassador (ret.)

James Bruce Engle Former U.S. ambassador to Dahomey (Nixon, Ford) Ambassador (ret.)

Richard K. Fox Former U.S. ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago (Carter) Ambassador (ret.) Holsey Gates Handyside Former U.S. ambassador to Mauritania (Ford, Carter) Ambassador (ret.)

William C. Harrop Former ambassador to Israel, Kenya, and Zaire (Reagan, G.H.W. Bush, Clinton) Former Inspector General, U.S. Department of State (Nixon) Ambassador (ret.)

Samuel F. Hart Former U.S. ambassador to Ecuador (Reagan) Ambassador (ret.)

Arthur A. Hartman Former U.S. ambassador to France and the Soviet Union (Carter, Reagan) Former Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs (Nixon) Ambassador

Ulric Haynes, Jr. Former U.S. ambassador to Algeria (Carter)

Ambassador Gerald B. Helman Former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Geneva (Carter) Ambassador (ret.)

Robert T. Hennemeyer Former U.S. ambassador to Gambia (Reagan) Ambassador (ret.)

Lewis Hoffacker Former U.S. ambassador to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea (Nixon) Ambassador (ret.)

H. Allen Holmes Former U.S. ambassador to Portugal (Reagan) Former Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs (Reagan) Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict (Clinton)

Ambassador (ret.) Robert V. Keeley Former U.S. Ambassador to Mauritius, Zimbabwe, and Greece (Ford, Carter, Reagan) Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs (Carter)

Spurgeon M. Keeny, Jr. Former Deputy Director, U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency(ACDA) (Carter)    

Ambassador Henry L. Kimelman Former U.S. ambassador to Haiti (Carter) Ambassador (ret.)

Roger Kirk Former U.S. ambassador to Somalia and Romania (Nixon, Ford, Reagan) Ambassador (ret.)

Dennis H. Kux Former U.S. ambassador to Ivory Coast (Reagan) Ambassador (ret.)

James F. Leonard Former Deputy U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations (Ford, Carter)

Ambassador (ret.) Samuel W. Lewis Former Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs (Ford) Former Director of Policy Planning, State Department (Clinton) Former ambassador to Israel (Carter, Reagan)

Ambassador (ret.) Princeton N. Lyman Former Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs (Clinton) Director, Bureau of Refugee Programs, U.S. Department of State (G.H.W. Bush) Former U.S. ambassador to South Africa and Nigeria (Reagan, G.H.W. Bush, Clinton)

Ambassador (ret.) Richard Cavins Matheron Former U.S. ambassador to Swaziland (Carter, Reagan)

Ambassador (ret.) Charles E. Marthinsen Former U.S. ambassador to Qatar (Carter, Reagan)

Jack Mendelsohn Deputy Assistant Director of the Strategic Programs Bureau, Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA) (Reagan) Senior ACDA representative on U.S. START delegation (Reagan)

Ambassador Carol Moseley-Braun Former U.S. ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa (Clinton)

Ambassador (ret.) Donald R. Norland Former U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands, Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland, and Chad (Johnson, Ford, Carter)

Ambassador (ret.) David Passage Former U.S. ambassador to Botswana (G.H.W. Bush)

Ambassador (ret.) Edward L. Peck Former U.S. ambassador to Iraq and Mauritania (Carter, Reagan)    

Ambassador (ret.) Jack R. Perry Former U.S. ambassador to Bulgaria (Carter)

Ambassador (ret.) Christopher H. Phillips Former Deputy U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN (Nixon) Former U.S. ambassador to Brunei (G.H.W. Bush)

Ambassador Stanley R. Resor Former Secretary of the Army (Johnson, Nixon) Former U.S. representative to the Mutual and Balanced Force Reduction Talks, Vienna (Nixon, Ford, Carter)

Ambassador Nicholas A. Rey Former U.S. ambassador to Poland (Clinton) John B. Rhinelander Deputy Legal Adviser, U.S. Department of State (Nixon) Legal adviser to the U.S. Strategic Arms Limitation Delegation (SALT I) (Nixon)

Ambassador (ret.) Stuart W. Rockwell Former U.S. ambassador to Morocco (Nixon)

Ambassador (ret.) Talcott W. Seelye Former U.S. ambassador to Tunisia and Syria (Nixon, Ford, Carter)

Ambassador (ret.) Carl Spielvogel Former U.S. ambassador to the Slovak Republic (Clinton)

Ambassador (ret.) Monteagle Stearns Former U.S. ambassador to Greece and Ivory Coast (Ford, Carter, Reagan) Former Vice President, National Defense University (Carter)

Ambassador (ret.) Andrew L. Steigman Former Ambassador to Gabon, Sao Tome and Principe (Ford)

Ambassador (ret.) Harry E.T. Thayer Former U.S. ambassador to Singapore (Carter, Reagan)

The Hon. Hans N. Tuch Career Minister, U.S. Foreign Service, USIA

Ambassador (ret.) Theresa A. Tull Former U.S. ambassador to Guyana and Brunei (Reagan, G.H.W. Bush, Clinton)    

Ambassador William J. vanden Heuvel Former Deputy U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations (Carter) Former U.S. representative to the United Nations, Geneva (Carter)

Ambassador (ret.) Christopher van Hollen Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Nixon) Former U.S. ambassador to Sri Lanka (Nixon, Ford) Ambassador (ret.)

Robert E. White Former U.S. ambassador to Paraguay and El Salvador (Carter) Former Deputy U.S. Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (Ford) Ambassador (ret.)

James M. Wilson, Jr. Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, East Asia and Pacific Affairs (Nixon) Coordinator for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs, Department of State (Ford)

Dirty Laundry
by Don Henley

I make my living off the evening news
Just give me something-something I can use
People love it when you lose,
They love dirty laundry

Well, I coulda been an actor, but I wound up here
I just have to look good, I dont have to be clear
Come and whisper in my ear
Give us dirty laundry

Kick em when theyre up
Kick em when theyre down
Kick em when theyre up
Kick em when theyre down
Kick em when theyre up
Kick em when theyre down
Kick em when theyre up
Kick em all around

We got the bubble-headed-bleach-blonde who
Comes on at five
She can tell you bout the plane crash with a gleam
In her eye
Its interesting when people die-
Give us dirty laundry

Can we film the operation?
Is the head dead yet?
You know, the boys in the newsroom got a
Running bet
Get the widow on the set!
We need dirty laundry

You dont really need to find out whats going on
You dont really want to know just how far its gone
Just leave well enough alone
Eat your dirty laundry

Kick em when theyre up
Kick em when theyre down
Kick em when theyre up
Kick em when theyre down

Kick em when theyre up
Kick em when theyre down
Kick em when theyre stiff
Kick em all around

Dirty little secrets
Dirty little lies
We got our dirty little fingers in everybodys pie
We love to cut you down to size
We love dirty laundry

We can do the innuendo
We can dance and sing
When its said and done we havent told you a thing
We all know that crap is king
Give us dirty laundry!

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) -- Basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley has changed his political uniform from red to blue and is talking again about running for governor of Alabama, possibly in 2010.

-snip-

... Barkley continued to identify himself as a Republican until recently, when he switched to the Democratic team.

"I was a Republican until they lost their minds," he said earlier this month at a celebrity golf tournament in Nevada.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/basketball/nba/07/26/barkley.gov.ap/index.html?cnn=yes

Rolling Stone does it again. Here's another hard-hitting article, this time about how this regime has been planning all along to take on Iran & the role that Chalabi played. I haven't read the whole article yet, but a poster on DU has these comments:

"The administration did a great job of covering their asses on this one. We all knew about the raid on Chalabi's offices and home. We all knew it was related to Chalabi providing info to Iran.

TURNS OUT THE INFO PASSED BY CHALABI DESTROYED OUR WHOLE INTEL GATHERING OPERATION IN IRAN.

HE WAS A SPY PLANTED BY IRAN TO CONVINCE US TO INSTALL A GOVERNMENT FRIENDLY TO IRAN IN BAGHDAD. HE USED THE NEOCONS FOR EYERYTHING THEY WERE WORTH AND NOW WE ALL PAY! "

Iran: The Next War
Even before the bombs fell on Baghdad, a group of senior Pentagon officials were plotting to invade another country. Their covert campaign once again relied on false intelligence and shady allies. But this time, the target was Iran. BY JAMES BAMFORD
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/10962352/iran_the_next_war/1

Posted by: madame defarge at July 27, 2006 09:36 AM

It's the electorate. Stupid.

Thanks, Maria.

See you on the Cape. Please remind my goddaughter's sister to bring her hot pink purse with the feathers. I'm gonna want a picture of that.

Casey, although we are on opposite ends of the politcal spectrum,

MLC

Maria,

It also occurs to me that we are maybe not so far apart, but it serves the political strategies of those in power to make people think they are. That way, they don't find common ground, cross party lines to vote, or even talk to each other about the issue of our time.

Polarizing strategies serve to consolidate power.

Unfortunately, it's about the worst thing to ever happen to democracy.

I think that about 75% of Americans agree on what's important, and the differences, it should be emphasised, between neighbors, are differences of ideas and solutions, not values or morals.

Unfortunately, that kind of thinking does not win elections these days.

Wise words, Casey. Thanks.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/26/AR2006072601666.html

Posted by: madame defarge at July 27, 2006 09:00 AM

Thanks madame for the WaPo link--we happen to be working on a section of the play today for which that update is useful. I will be sharing it when we break.

*****
Posted by: monkey at July 27, 2006 09:30 AM
Also loved the Charles Barkley quote!

*****
For those of you curious about Fear Up, here is a link to some photos from yesterday's rehearsal:

http://www.eavesdrop.net/fear/

If Bolton is confirmed permanently, it'll be a disaster. Heard Voinivich just now on NPR. What has happened?! Clinton & Schumer - beyond words.

Now Al-Quaida announcing Jihad - so this latest facet of the warmongering in the middle east is leading us ever closer to renewal of The Crusades. The two horns of Holy War facing off with more European countries due to get involved (once again), and civilians caught in the middle, young people sent to die. Have we learned nothing in thousands of years?!

Have we learned nothing in thousands of years?!

Posted by: DiAnne at July 27, 2006 10:31 AM

Shirley that's rhetorical, no?

Eek, eek!

If Bolton is confirmed permanently, it'll be a disaster. Heard Voinivich just now on NPR. What has happened?! Clinton & Schumer - beyond words.

Now Al-Quaida announcing Jihad - so this latest facet of the warmongering in the middle east is leading us ever closer to renewal of The Crusades. The two horns of Holy War facing off with more European countries due to get involved (once again), and civilians caught in the middle, young people sent to die. Have we learned nothing in thousands of years?!

Posted by: DiAnne at July 27, 2006 10:31 AM

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

BOLTON HEARING (in theSenate Foreign Affairs Committee) is being broadcast on C-Span 3 right now.

Chaffee is questioning Bolton right now...

Can someone name one constructive thing Bolton has done at the U.N. since being snuck in the backdoor by Bully George that warrants his permanance?

Just one.

Day after day, utterly wrong decisions are being made with horrific ramifications so unfrigginbelievably far-reaching, it seems that those "in the know" don't know squat.

Again, the lack of outrage from the citizenry is staggering.

Apathy kills.

Announcer: And now, a message from the Former President of the United States.

[ open on Bill Clinton (Darrell Hammond) sitting in the Oval Office ]

Former President Bill Clinton: Good evening, my fellow Americans. Tonight, I am coming to you as "Citizen" Bill Clinton. As you know, earlier today, George W. Bush was sworn into office, and now he is your President. For a majority of us, that's a hard pill to swallow! But I'm not here to talk about that. I have other thoughts that I'd like to share. Incidentally, I was able to get in the Oval Office tonight because I know the guy at the door. And everyone else is out partying. I will admit, I've had a few drinks myself! [ shakes off his bourbon ] Now that I'm an ordinary citizen, I can do that! I don't have to think about what's responsible and right. I can finally kick back and have a good time! [ laughs ] Who am I kidding? That's what I did when I was in here! I think I'm gonna enjoy being Citizen Bill Clinton. The Press can put their dirty microscope on George W. now. See how he likes it. Stick around, I bet you'll find something. I'll start you off: on October 29th, 1973, George W. Bush did three lines of cocaine and joined in an orgy in a public swimming pool in Houston. How do I know? I was there! See, I can say all that stuff now. Maybe saying goodbye won't be so hard after all. In my farewell speech the other night, I talked about bringing down the debt, and, you know, about keeping free trade a priority, and I may have bragged a little about making this country a better place. But what I really wanted to say was, "Suck on it!" "Suck.. on.. it." "Suck on it." Maybe it's the booze talking, but I'm pretty sure I took more crap from more people than any President in history, and yet I remain the most popular since Roosevelt, so y'all just suck on it!

President George W. Bush: [ Will Ferrell, enters Office, angry ] Hey! What are you doing here? I thought they flew you out of town?

Former President Bill Clinton: [ stands ] Hello, George. Shouldn't you be out celebrating?

President George W. Bush: Oh, I was. I was boogying down to the Marshall Tucker Band, when someone saw you on TV and said, "Hey, look! There's the President!" And I said, "Hey, guys, how's it going?" And they were like, "No, you Turd-Head. The real President, on TV." And I said, "But I am the real President." Then everybody laughed, which really steamed me, so here I am. [ to the camera ] Hello, America. I'm your President. And, keep in mind, that's for a whole year. [ to Clinton ] And you'd better not touch any of these boxes!

Former President Bill Clinton: Is this your stuff?

President George W. Bush: [ looking around ] Hold on a second.. I don't see.. You didn't take it..? Oh, there it is! [ reaches in box ] My talking fish! [ pulls out Billy Bass ] I thought you took it.

Former President Bill Clinton: No, no, I.. what is it?

President George W. Bush: It's my Billy Big-Mouth Talking Bass. It talks, see? [ turns it on ]

Former President Bill Clinton: [ laughing ] I'll be damned! Where'd you get that, that's the funniest damn thing I ever saw!

President George W. Bush: A guy sold it to me for $1,000.

Former President Bill Clinton: Well, if you ever see another one, why don't you let me know.

President George W. Bush: I doubt I'll see another one. But, if I do, I'll send it along.

Former President Bill Clinton: Okay. You know, George, you're not half bad. If you keep your mouth shut, and your eyes closed, you're gonna be alright. Uh.. could you just give me a second?

President George W. Bush: Yeah, sure. [ walks away ]

Former President Bill Clinton: Well, America, I had a lot more I wanted to say tonight. But I guess I'll end it all by saying, for the last time, "Live, from New York, it's Saturday Night!"

http://snltranscripts.jt.org/00/00jclinton.phtml

Sheehan buys land in Crawford with son's insurance money

CRAWFORD, Texas – As President Bush prepares to spend some vacation time at his ranch here, not all is peaceful within the peace movement that has doggedly criticized his war policies for the past year.

The Gold Star Families for Peace says on its Web site that its members will again flock to Crawford in August to protest Bush's wartime decisions. Leader Cindy Sheehan is again demanding to meet with the president -- a replay of a year ago -- garnering worldwide attention and making Sheehan, the mother of a fallen soldier, the most familiar face of anti-war protesters.

But Sheehan and Mark Mattlage, owner of the 1-acre property where protesters have been allowed to gather, have had a falling out over scheduling and increased costs for liability insurance.

So, Sheehan has purchased a 5-acre plot in Crawford, saying she did so with some of the insurance money she received after her son, Casey Sheehan, was killed in Iraq.

"We decided to buy property in Crawford to use until George's resignation or impeachment, which we all hope is soon for the sake of the world," Sheehan said in a newsletter, scheduled to be sent to her supporters today. "I can't think of a better way to use Casey's insurance money than for peace, and I am sure that Casey approves."
http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/myrtlebeachonline/news/nation/15135859.htm

SINCE THE START OF THE IDF-HEZBOLLAH CONFLICT, I'VE BEEN KEEPING TABS ON ONE OF MY FAVORITE CELEBRITY CHEFS-ANTHONY BOURDAIN, WHO WITH HIS CREW FOR HIS "NO RESERVATIONS" SHOW, WAS TRAPPED IN BEIRUT WHEN THE ATTACKS BEGAN.

HE HAS FINALLY RETURNED HOME, AND AS A MEDIA PERSON, AND JUST A CARING HUMAN BEING, I FOUND HIS TOTAL LACK OF OPPORTUNISM ABOUT CURRENT EVENTS HEARTENING.

THE FOLLOWING IS AN EXCERPT OF HIS INTERVIEW WITH LARRY KING.

KING: Now joining us from New York is Tony Bourdain. He's the host of "Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations" on the Travel Channel. He's the chef and best-selling author.

You were in Beirut shooting an episode of your show. What happened?

TONY BOURDAIN, CHEF/HOST, "NO RESERVATIONS": Well, I spent two really magical days meeting Beirutis, all of whom were bursting with pride for a sort of new resurgent, relatively tolerant, westernized Beirut.

As it happened we were standing outside of the Harir memorial. I was with a Sunni, a Shiite and a Christian at the time when we started to hear gunfire and see cars filled with Hezbollah supporters celebrating the capture, kidnapping of the Israeli soldiers.

The look on the three faces of my companions was one of shame, embarrassment, dismay and sort of resignation as they all seemed to immediately get what inevitably was going to happen next.

KING: That's a great city, isn't it, Tony?

BOURDAIN: It was a paradise. I'm heartbroken that I doubt we'll ever get to show the world what a hopeful place it was, how proud, how tolerant, kind of a dream version of what we would like the Middle East to be some day, were we to get our way. Sophisticated, largely English-speaking, friendly, food-centric.

It was, for me, you know, two days of paradise followed by the heartbreak of watching all of these nice people, many of whom Lebanese-Americans who had returned it their homeland or Lebanese who'd left during the civil war, come back to try to make a better Beirut, a better Lebanon, thinking that this was a good time to do it to watch all those hopes dismantled piece by piece before my eyes. It was a horrible thing to see.

KING: How did you get out, Tony?

BOURDAIN: I left after quite a bit of waiting around and waking up to bombing and going to sleep to bombing every day for over a week on the USS Nashville. And I have to say the Marines and sailors of that ship who were called on to help with the evacuation at the last minute were incredibly efficient. One doesn't think of the word "kind", "tender" and "sensitive" when you think of the Marine Corps, but they were really incredible to the people being evacuated.

KING: Did your crew continue to shoot?

BOURDAIN: We shot what we could, but I think there was a real sense, right away, that, you know, we make a travel and food show exploring cultures through travel and food. We shot a lot of footage that I don't think we ever want to use.

You know, what we went through in Beirut is nothing compared to what Beirutis themselves had to go through. I suppose we'll -- I don't know. I really -- I don't know that we can use what we shot.

Certainly, some of the things, I guess, I'd like to show people what Beirut was like before and perhaps could be again in the future. Certainly, I'm proud of what we -- what we filmed of the Marines and sailors. But, there are a lot of time spent of us just sitting around worrying about, you know, when are we getting out of here? I don't know whether I'd feel good about airing that.

Here's a really interesting diary about one person who learned that one person really can make a difference and set about doing so. This will be of particular interest to anyone in the 29th Congressional District of New York.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/7/27/12232/0732

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democrats on Thursday said they remain opposed to President Bush's pick for U.N. ambassador, contending that John Bolton has not yet repaired his reputation as an ineffective "bully."

Sen. Christopher Dodd, a Connecticut Democrat, cited recent press reports on Bolton's interactions with other U.N. officials as evidence that Bolton "clearly has an aversion in my view to building consensus."

A Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing for Bolton, who has been serving as ambassador under a recess appointment, twice was interrupted by protesters shouting that he did not effectively represent U.S. interests.

Shrugging off the criticism of Bolton, Republicans predicted that the U.N. ambassador would be confirmed soon for the position on a permanent basis.

Bush last year temporarily installed Bolton as U.N. ambassador while Congress was in recess, an appointment that will expire in January. The recess appointment, provided for by the Constitution, came after Democrats blocked repeated attempts by GOP leaders to grant Bolton Senate approval.

"The sole thing that remains is the constitutional authority of the Senate to give its advice and consent," said Sen. John W. Warner, a Virginia Republican.

"I do believe without any reservation whatsoever that the Senate will and should give that advice and consent to this nominee because he becomes an integral member of the president's national security team at a time when our nation is faced with these many complex issues," Warner added.

Speaking from prepared testimony, Bolton called for a "durable solution" to the violence in the Middle East and the need to "defang" Hezbollah.

"We are actively considering a variety of methods" to disarm Hezbollah, including establishing an international security force in the region, he said.

Bolton also said the United States remains committed to bringing peace to Darfur.

Bolton said some "modest progress" has been made in U.N. reform. "The goal now is to identify priority targets where progress can be made" and create a "lasting revolution of reform," he said.

Sen. Richard Lugar, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Bolton exhibited "experience and accomplishment" and noted the Senate has already conducted an "exhaustive review" of Bolton's credentials.

By resubmitting Bolton's nomination to the Senate, the president has made clear "that Ambassador Bolton is important to the implementation of U.S. policies at the United Nations and to broader U.S. goals on the global stage," said Lugar, an Indiana Republican.

Bolton has the green light from Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, who last year sided with Democrats in opposing the president's nomination. While Democrats are still expected to oppose the confirmation, Bolton also has retained the support of other key GOP senators.

Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware, the Foreign Relations Committee's top Democrat, has said that Bolton should not get a confirmation vote until the White House turns over documents Biden requested when Bolton was nominated last year.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/07/27/un.ambassador.ap/index.html

So they are confirming Bolton, or current U.S. foreign policy???? In either case, where is the benefit to the nation????????????

Thank God (or somebody)

Good thing Kerry's dad was in the Foreign Service - he's been around the block - knows what "diplomacy" actually means. It's a new word for "W".

John Kerry Opposes Re-Nomination of John Bolton for UN Ambassador

“John Bolton’s still the wrong man, for the wrong job, at the wrong time.

“Mr. Bolton has had nearly a year to prove the Senate wrong since his recess appointment. Instead, he has proven that the Senate was right to deny his confirmation last summer. He has helped isolate the United States, made it harder to pursue our interests, and failed to get results on our critical security issues.

“The world is literally blowing up around us, and we need serious people for serious jobs. I don’t care if he is the smartest kid in the class. I don’t care if he is the loudest kid on the block. I care that he doesn’t get results at a time when we need them. He couldn’t get the UN to enforce Resolution 1559 to disarm Hezbollah. He failed to get Russia, China, and even our ally South Korea on board at the Security Council to impose tough sanctions on North Korea. And he has shown no leadership to stop the genocide in Darfur. We need an Ambassador at the United Nations who knows how to build coalitions and can get results.

“We need someone at the UN who can achieve real results, not just talk big; someone who inspires confidence in all of us, not just confidence in neoconservative circles. This is a time that demands statesmanship in this post.”

On Charlie Rose tonight:
SEN. BYRON DORGAN (D-ND)
Author, " Take This Job and Ship It: How Corporate Greed
and Brain-Dead Politics Are Selling Out America"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2006/07/26/stewart-rips-on-iraqi-pri_n_25888.html
Stewart Rips On Iraqi Prime Minister's Visit...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/5219360.stm
Israel says world backs offensive
{{{Er... I'd suggest the only part of the 'world' that backs the Israel offensive is the Bu$hCo administration (and certainly not the majority of the people of the US). The US used to be the leading world superpower, but with the erosion of that image based on all the LIES the installed administration tells, to the world, and not only the citizens of the US, I'd suggest that perhaps the rest of the world not wait for the US to take any kind of lead in any peace negotiations, even if Condisleazy did go as a matter of perfunctory performance art to be broadcast on propaganda TV in this country....}}}

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/5218982.stm
Leading US senator rebukes Bush

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/5219710.stm
Saddam to learn fate in October
{{{Harrumph.... koff, koff... but isn't that conveniently close to US election day and any 'conviction' of Saddam Hussein can then be exploited by the RepubReich??? koff, koff...}}}

James Bamford | Iran: The Next War
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/072706J.shtml
"Even before the bombs fell on Baghdad, a group of senior Pentagon officials were plotting to invade another country. Their covert campaign once again relied on false intelligence and shady allies. But this time, the target was Iran," writes James Bamford.

Bush cites Iran's role in Lebanon conflict
Declines to criticize Israel's tactics in offensive against Hezbollah

Updated: 31 minutes ago

(AP)WASHINGTON - President Bush declined Thursday to criticize Israel's tactics in its continuing offensive against Hezbollah guerrillas in southern Lebanon, and gave a sharp condemnation of Iran's role in the bloody fighting.

"Hezbollah attacked Israel. I know Hezbollah is connected to Iran," Bush said tersely at the end of Oval Office meetings with Romanian President Traian Basescu. "Now is the time for the world to confront this danger," Bush said.

Bush said he hoped to see the violence end "as quickly as possible" and repeated his call for Israel to try to limit the impact on civilians. But he suggested that the Israeli campaign has his support for as long as it takes to eliminate Hezbollah's influence in Lebanon and its ability to attack neighbor Israel.

"Now is the time to address the root cause of the problem and the root cause of the problem is terrorist groups trying to stop the advance of democracy," he said. "Our objective is to make sure that those who use terrorist tactics are not rewarded."

-snip-

In response, the al-Qaida terrorist network threatened new attacks, its first comment on fighting now in its third week. The videotape by Osama bin Laden deputy Ayman al-Zawahri also was the first sign that al-Qaida aimed to exploit Israel's two-pronged offensive _ against Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas-linked militants in Gaza _ to rally Islamic militants.

"I'm not surprised people who use terrorist tactics would start speaking out," the president said. "Here's a fellow who is in a remote region of the world putting out statements basically encouraging people to use terrorist tactics to kill innocent people to achieve their political objectives. And the United States of America stands strong against Mr. Zawahri and his types. "

more...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14062129/

Nerds Wratchet

Speaking of "pornography" (war is worse; this is just disgusting). I just sent the below to the two in-state TV station news departments who aired five second blurbs about the story last night and this morning. I think this incident happened in broad daylight. There was film footage from what looked like the vantage point of a traffic cam which showed police cars outside the pizza parlor, and it was full daylight.

http://kstp.com/article/stories/S17854.html?cat=1
Norm Coleman's father cited for public sex
http://wcco.com/topstories/local_story_207174612.html
Coleman's Dad Cited For Lewd & Disorderly Conduct
Police cited the father of U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman, Norm Coleman Sr., on Tuesday for lewd and disorderly conduct for allegedly engaging in a sex act in a car outside a pizzeria.

According to a police report, the elder Coleman, 81, was having sex with 38-year-old Patrizia Marie Schrag, who was also cited for lewd and disorderly conduct.
~~~~~
"I love my father dearly," Sen. Coleman said in a statement Wednesday. "I do not condone his actions or behavior, and I am deeply disturbed by what I have learned. He clearly has some issues that need to be dealt with, and I will encourage him to seek the necessary help."
~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm sure the only thing about this whole incident that "deeply disturbs" Coleman is the fact that his father got caught and it reflects on his political career.

An 81-year-old NeoConRepuke having sex with a 38-year-old woman needs "help" with his "issues" for having sex in a car in front of a family pizza parlor, and now his son, "Senator" Coleman, Mr. Family Values, whose lips have been surgically attached to Bu$h's butt since acquiring his senate seat, and who just two days ago voted for the senate version of the bill that proposes criminalizing people who help teenage-pregnant girls cross state lines if the girl wants (or needs, for medical reasons) an abortion, and whose amateur-actress wife passed out totally tasteless and tacky, almost sexually explicit, photos of herself in scantily-clad attire in a bedroom at the last RNC in NY, now has a 'family scandal' on his hands because of his daddy, and voters are left to assume that the senator was raised with the "family value" that lewd and lascivious behavior in public is acceptable, and, if caught, something for which an adult only needs "help?"

Uh..., "Senator" Coleman, does that mean you believe your father needs Viagra to help him keep an erection? Or does that mean your father needs to be issued condoms and taught how to use them, since a woman of that age can still get pregnant (if she's not had a tubal ligation or hysterectomy or is not on the pill), and you don't want to deal with forcing the woman to have an abortion for the sake of your own political career, or because you're afraid she had an STD or HIV-AIDS and gave that to your father and now you have to face having your father tested for STDs? Or are you going to now say your father has Alzheimer's as an excuse for his lack of judgment (and will your father go along with that kind of slander if he's still in full possession of his mental faculties)? What was the woman's excuse for having sex with an old fart in a car in front of a family pizza parlor? Was she a willing participant? Is she a prostitute? Or was she coerced/raped? How much money will the senator have to dish out to keep her from being interviewed by the media? Seriously, if the elder Coleman is as ugly as the junior Coleman, what was she thinking?!? I'll bet in private Coleman, and others with hypocritical 'moral family values' like him, will be giving Coleman's father high-fives for even having sex at his age, regardless of the lack of judgment about where he was having sex! (I'm more concerned about whether or not the woman was willing, and if she was, just how stupid is she?!?)

I'm the least prudish person I know, but I would not willingly have sex in a car in a public parking lot in front of a family pizza parlor where children and their parents could view the whole thing. (I'd take it to a nice cozy, comfortable - and very, very private! - bedroom!) So, yes, I'd like to see a LOT of news coverage about this whole thing with the elder Coleman, including an interview with the woman who was dumb enough to participate (whether she was willing, or a paid prostitute, or just outright stupid).

If this had been Clinton, this would make the headlines daily for the next year, minimum (and the Repuke's favorite line for justifying their actions of any kind, from sex to war, is to nasally whine 'Clinton did it!'). No, I'm not excusing Clinton, but WAY too much media coverage was involved in his indiscretion with that slut, Lewinsky, since it really only affected the Clintons' marriage. Europeans thought the "journalists" in American Lamestream Media were nuts when they dwelt on the Clinton-Lewinsky thing endlessly, obsessively, daily, several times a day, for years and years, not to mention the congressional nonsense following the whole idiotic affair (and the Europeans were correct in their assessment!). That era was when it began to dawn on me that nothing serious would be talked about in Lamestream Media ever again, and subsequent Republican scandals involving far more serious issues (like impeachment, or illegal, unjust, immoral, unethical, dishonorable wars based on lies, not to mention war crimes like concentration camps and torture, illegal wire tapping, etc., etc., etc.) that have been mentioned maybe once, maybe twice, and then never mentioned again proves it. If a Republican does any kind of crime, it's okay and sanctioned as ethical by Lamestream Media, but if a Democrat has sex, it's a scandal of earth-shattering-world importance that must be talked about obsessively and at length to exclusion of all other more important matters, is the message that sends to the American public with the sins of omission committed by Lamestream Media regarding Republican crimes.... Lamestream Media needs to stop protecting the elite Republican criminals in office. (Is it any wonder people who want real news turn to the internet to be fully informed?!? Really, who the hell cares about celebrities' babies, or their newest or broken relationships? Gimme a break!)

Right now both President and Senator Clinton are out of favor with Democrats because they have not been issuing statements against the war in Iraq and they have not been calling for an immediate withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan, and they are out of favor for supporting Lieberman in CT because he's been too pro-war, and recently the Clintons are being entirely too chummy with the Bu$hes and the rest of the NeoCon administration... issues far more worthy of news coverage than a stupid sex act years ago that Lamestream Media still talks about. (Why is Lamestream Media hung up on Clinton's sex life after all these years? He's out of office now; get over it!) Supporting the Iraq war will not get Senator Clinton the Democratic nod for a presidential run in '08, but I notice all the political talking heads are obsessively dwelling on her running in '08, forcing the whole idea down the throats of Democrats and the American public. Nope. Democrats will not vote for her if she doesn't come out against that idiotic war based on lies started by Bu$hCo, because everything about that war, from the lies justifying it to the invasion to the current occupation to the concentration camps on Gitmo (and elsewhere) and torture are all war crimes, and for that the Bu$hCo administration needs to be impeached, then brought up on war crimes charges at The Hague! Democrats who support the war in Iraq will likely not be elected this fall, or in '08, whether they are incumbents or new candidates.

But, back to the topic at hand... I hope at least in-state media will exploit the sexual indiscretions of the elder randy-old-goat Coleman and his connection to Senator Mr. Family Values with the wife who hands out photos of herself with nearly sexually-explicit poses (and I'd like to see the story about the elder Coleman mentioned on national news).... Let's see what the Religious Reich does with it, and how they try to justify lewd and lascivious behavior in public by one of their own now that they have taken over politics in this country - even if they are only a numerical minority of the Republican party and never respect the First Amendment's separation of church and state - and one day I'd like to see an intelligent discussion about why Lamestream Media gives so much publicity to such a small number of people who are obsessively devoted to making this country a theocracy with their cult-like, brainwashing rhetoric. I'd rather vote for an atheist who tells us the truth than vote for a Religious Reich 'Christian' type who lies every time he opens his mouth!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14062129/
Nerds Wratchet
Posted by: monkey at July 27, 2006 02:39 PM

Hmmm.... cooking the books, telling the lies that connect these 'ter-rists' to Iran as justification to start the next war, just as there was a web of lies to connect 9/11 to Iran....

I guess it's just too simple a solution to let law enforcement chase down the criminals who commit terrorist acts. The Cretin insists on muddying up otherwise clear waters (more clear now with melting glaciers) to start more wars to give him the glory of being a 'war president' - never mind how many lies he has to tell to get these things started. (Clue: since young men are not standing in line at military recruiting offices to enlist since 9/11, doesn't that tell the administration that we know these wars are not for anyone's benefit, but just a cruel hoax to enable The Cretin's corporate cronies to become wealthy beyond anyone's wildest imagination?!?)

Posted by: NonnyO at July 27, 2006 03:02 PM

... ya mean the way millions of Americans are heeding the presidunces exemplary leadership, answering the call for sacrifice durin' wartime, for weaning ourselves off furrin earl, just like Americans rallied and sacrificed in the 40's during Dubya Dubya Dose?

Oh, wait...

Exxon Mobil makes over $10 billion
No. 1 U.S. oil company earns $1,318 a second -topping forecasts - but comes in just shy of a record.
By Steve Hargreaves, CNNMoney.com staff writer
July 27 2006

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Profits at Exxon Mobil surged 36 percent to a near record $10.4 billion in the second quarter as surging oil prices helped the world's largest publicly traded company soundly beat Wall Street forecasts.

The company's profit - which amounts to a cool $1,318 a second - is the second biggest ever reported by a U.S. company, behind only the $10.7 billion Exxon itself earned in the fourth quarter of 2005.

http://money.cnn.com/2006/07/27/news/companies/exxon/index.htm?cnn=yes

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/07/26/opinion/polls/main1838662.shtml
Poll: World Doesn't Respect Bush
60% In CBS/NY Times Poll Say President Not Respected By Foreign Leaders

Duh... like Lamestream Media (of which CBS is a member) couldn't read this information in any e-newsletter from any internet news web site, they had to take a poll to tell us what we already know?!? Seriously, didn't anyone in Lamestream Media see the reaction on Merkel's face when The Cretin "massaged" her shoulders in passing, her hands thrown up in a defensive gesture with a grimace of utter distaste for the unwanted move? The expression on Blair's face when Georgie-Porgie was eating with his mouth open and talking at the same time? Hear the translation of Putin's put-down when he said he didn't want a democracy like they have in Iraq? I think our home-grown media needs to stop protecting the elite Republican criminals in office and start doing a little homework to catch up on what's involved with the First Amendment's 'freedom of the press.' Hint: It does not involve broadcasting Bu$hCo or Pentagon propaganda and lazy journalists who do not investigate anything for their stories about the administration....

Respect from any other world leaders? I think not. Better yet, why would any foreign leaders respect him? Take an honest look at Bu$hCo track record, Lamestream Media, and teach your "investigative journalists" how to do some honest investigation and honest fact-based reporting (no spin, just facts)....

Posted by: monkey at July 27, 2006 03:12 PM

Yessir, I mean just that, my furry friend... ;-)

JK's office quite busy today:

I wanted to be sure you saw the letter Senator John Kerry sent to Rumsfeld, pressing for information on the administration’s plan to send additional American troops to Baghdad --

July 26, 2006

The Honorable Donald H. Rumsfeld
Secretary of Defense
1000 Defense Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301-1000

Dear Mr. Secretary:

The plan announced by President Bush yesterday to deploy additional U.S. forces to Baghdad raises some important questions about the extended U.S. troop presence in Iraq. There is an increasingly widespread perception that the Administration is not being forthcoming with Congress or the American people about Iraq's escalating civil war and the fact that U.S. troops are clearly not standing down as Iraqi security forces stand up. Given the importance of being honest about the situation in Iraq, I urge you to provide clear answers to these questions as soon as possible.

The President said yesterday at his White House news conference with Prime Minister Maliki that the additional U.S. troops being deployed to Baghdad “will come from other areas of the country.” Yet a CNN report on this plan yesterday stated that a “senior Defense Department official said that part of a backup force that had been stationed in Kuwait was heading into Iraq.” There have been other conflicting reports, with some news reports today also indicating that additional U.S. troops will be sent to Baghdad from Kuwait as part of this plan.

It is essential that the Administration be completely straightforward about the situation in Iraq, particularly when it comes to U.S. troops being put in harm’s way. In the interest of setting the record straight, please provide clear answers to the following questions:

1.Is it true that additional U.S. troops are currently being deployed to Iraq from Kuwait, and if so, how many?

2. Are troops from Kuwait now being sent to Baghdad, or will they be replacing troops from other areas that are being sent to Baghdad?

3. Is the deployment of additional troops from Kuwait part of the plan announced by the President yesterday?

4. Can you state unequivocally that this plan will not result in an increase in the number of U.S. troops in Iraq?

5. Will this plan lengthen the deployments of U.S. troops currently serving in Iraq?

6.How will you measure the security situation in Baghdad, and what conditions will allow for these additional U.S. troops to be removed?

7. What does this mean for the Pentagon’s reported plan to begin withdrawing American troops from Iraq this year?

Thank you for your attention to this important matter. I look forward to receiving your responses to these questions as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

John Kerry

The president of the United Church of Christ, an organization made up of Evangelical Christian denominations, has denounced yesterday's Washington State court ruling reaffirming a ban on gay marriage.

"Rather than defending constitutional rights," said Rev. John H. Thomas, general minister and leader of the 1.2-million-member organization, "the court has allowed itself to become complicit in prejudice and bigotry."

"In the name of 'family values,'" he continued, "we have denied the worth of families across our land and in our churches, families marked by love and covenant commitment."

Nineteen couples, including a one made of clergy from Seattle's University Congregational United Church of Christ, had sued to challenge the constitutionality of the state's ban on same-sex marriage.

"Throughout the years our nation's court system has often been the voice of reason and hope in the midst of debates over human and civil rights, defending personal liberties and upholding the dignity of every person," Thomas explained. "The decision of the courts in Washington to deny the right to marry to same gender couples is, therefore, profoundly disappointing."

The church is made up of many Evangelical, Protestant denominations. The group has often been critical of current government policies on social issues, taxes, and the environment.

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/President_of_Evangelical_group_blasts_Washington_0727.html

UCC is a pretty liberal church. I believe that UCC endorsed gay marriage last year.

Campers:

Camp Democracy will be held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., from September 5 to 21. This will be a camp for peace, democracy, and the restoration of the rule of law. Camp Casey will move from Crawford, Texas, to Washington to create a larger camp focused not only on ending the war but also on righting injustices here at home and on holding accountable the Bush Administration and Congress.

http://www.campdemocracy.org

Your travel to Camp Democracy is part of the camp and should be a community-building experience. Do you have two people in your car but four seats? Can you bring a van? A large bus? Or do you want to fly on a plane together with others bound for Camp Democracy? Sign up here to offer a ride or to ask for one: http://spaceshare.com/campdemocracy

Do you have or need a room in the Washington, D.C., area? Sign up here to offer a room or request one: http://spaceshare.com/campdemocracy

We Need Your Help!

Camp Democracy is a grassroots effort and will only succeed with the help of many, many people contributing the small amounts they can afford. This is our opportunity to do what the citizens of the Ukraine, of Mexico, and of other countries do when their democracies are taken from them. This is our chance to say "Enough is enough!" Can you help us?
http://campdemocracy.org/sponsor

I am helping to develop activities for the 8-11 of September (three days of training and creative activities to build new ways of bringing change along) and would love some help, ideas, volunteers. Please let me know if you are interested! These days will be issues-oriented but also include creative activities, theatre, music, producing, writing, etc as well as media training.

P.S. This thing seems to be going a little viral...

Posted by: Casey Morris at July 27, 2006 09:54 AM

Nicely said Casey.

I have been reading John Dean's new book and have come to learn that "conservatism" is a rather new political "ism". It is the "liberal" (especially) progressive philosophy which has been the guiding force behind American ideals to empower and encourage our government to make life better for our citizens.

So, I guess one could say that most Americans do have a bit of "liberal" in them while respecting the conservative nature.

Dean Baker | Long-Term Deficit Disorder
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/072706L.shtml
"In the quest to criticize the Bush tax cuts, many progressives have seized on long-term projections (often for the infinite future) showing the dire financial state, or even bankruptcy, of the federal government. These long-term budget projections should be treated with care," writes Dean Baker. "The Bush tax cuts are just a footnote in this story. The real story in these long-term projections is health care."

Jonathan Schell | Too Late for Empire
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/072706N.shtml
"The lesson most of the country learned from Watergate and the forced resignation of Richard Nixon was that the imperial presidency had grown too strong. (In general, our imperial-minded Presidents have had much more success rolling back freedom at home than extending it abroad.) Dick Cheney, who had served as chief of staff for President Gerald Ford, drew an opposite lesson - that the powers others called imperial were in fact the proper ones for the presidency and had been eviscerated by the opposition to Vietnam and the Watergate scandal," writes Jonathan Schell.

{Very interesting essay....}

Had an interesting discussion with some Iraqi & Lebanese people - they are worried sick (literally, in some cases).

Some senators to thank. .
from Bob Geiger blog 1/3/06
http://www.democrats.com/node/7315
"US Senators who made us proud in 2005"

". . .While it's easy to get discouraged watching these [conservative Democratic] guys crossing the aisle to go against things most of us support very strongly – not to mention Joe Lieberman's (D-CT) disgraceful performance in literally and figuratively playing kissy-face with George W. Bush for much of the year – it's important that we also salute our Democratic lions in the Senate.
Think all Democratic Senators are made of the same stuff? Think again. Then, take a look at the Senators who had absolutely zero weasel-worthy votes in 2005:
Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
Jon Corzine (D-NJ)
Ted Kennedy (D-MA)
John Kerry (D-MA)
Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Jack Reed (D-RI)
Paul Sarbanes (D-MD)
No politician can please everyone, but when you look at the sheer number of important votes that these seven Senators had to be involved with, it is commendable and somewhat astounding that they voted like real Democrats on every, single one of them."

Since January: Corzine's no longer senator, and Barbara Boxer's been a little confused lately, but Kerry and Kennedy have continued on their praiseworthy paths, their courage, thoughtfulness, and fire undiminished. .

Kucinich Introduces Legislation to Abolish All Nuclear Weapons
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/072706C.shtml
Today, Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich introduced legislation, HR 950, to abolish all nuclear weapons. The Kucinich resolution states: "That the House of Representatives calls upon the President to initiate multilateral negotiations for the abolition of nuclear weapons."
{Yeah, like this legislation will pass... with an executive branch that authorized testing of new nuclear weapons.... But I applaud Kucinich's efforts. I wish, I wish, I wish no country had nuclear weapons or the technology to use them... more, I wish we had a mentally stable leader who wouldn't even dream of using them, or any other kind of weapons. Peace. We need peace, and the world is insane for war. I don't understand it.}

Lou Dobbs | Why Is the President Ignoring Our Laws?
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/072706D.shtml
"With upraised right hand and left hand on the Bible, each of our presidents, from George Washington to George W. Bush, has solemnly sworn to 'preserve, protect and defend' the Constitution of the United States. The American Bar Association claims President Bush has violated that oath by issuing hundreds of 'signing statements' to disregard selected provisions of the laws that Congress passed and he signed," Lou Dobbs writes.

Here is an update on the situation in Alaska where Diebold, then the GOP controlled Alaska State Government, refused to provide the Democratic Party with raw vote totals, first on the basis that it was Diebold’s proprietary information, and then based on the argument that it would pose a security threat. Almost two years after the election the voters of Alaska still do not know why the totals are off. Unfortunately similar errors are rampant around the country.

This is just one good example of why our election processes should not be outsourced to private companies who are not required to answer to the people. It is also a good example of how our elections are being hijacked by partisan officials and how citizens are losing the power to verify election results.

I urge you all to continue to pressure your elected representatives, at a local, state and national level, to focus on restoring integrity and accountability to our elections. Make them realize that this is a major concern of the citizens and that it cannot be ignored.

Thanks for listening,
Elizabeth

Poll: World Doesn't Respect Bush
According to a CBS/NY Times Poll . . .See also http://www.huffingtonpost.com
Posted by: DiAnne at July 27, 2006 09:04 AM

a useful supplement from Greg Sargent, July 27- (http://www.prospect.org/horsesmouth/) asks: "WHEN WILL THE PUNDITS CATCH UP WITH THE PUBLIC ON IRAQ? "

Excerpts of some of the hard data for the NYT poll:
(1) Do you think the United States should or shouldn't set a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq? SHOULD: 56 Should not: 40
(2)Do you think it is worth the loss of life and other costs for the United States to remain in Iraq until there's a stable democracy there, or is it not worth the loss of life and other costs, or are you unsure?
Worth it: 25
NOT WORTH IT: 42
Unsure: 32

(3)How do you think the war with Iraq is affecting the United States' image in the world? Is the war making the U.S. image in the world better, making it worse, or is the war having no effect on the U.S. image in the world?
Better: 10
WORSE: 72
No effect: 12

(4) Do you think the U.S. presence in Iraq is leading to greater stability in the Middle East, less stability, or won't it have any effect on the stability of the Middle East?
Greater: 25
LESS: 41
No effect: 25

. . .

(6)Regardless of how you usually vote, do you think the Republican Party or the Democratic Party is more likely to make the right decisions about the war in Iraq? Republican: 36 DEMOCRAT: 42
. . . .

Makes you wonder: When will many of our pundits and commentators catch up with the rest of the American public? And when will they start seriously acknowledging the extent to which the Democrats are more in step than the GOP with American public opinion?
--Greg Sargent

Stumbling into war in the middle east

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2006/07/26/EDGOBIPVN21.DTL&type=printable

This about nails it.

Posted by: monkey at July 27, 2006 04:23 PM

This was the talk of the town when I was in Seattle earlier this month.

The state of Washington is a fragile place - between the reactionaries east of the Cascades, and the conservative, homophobic immigrants in bedroom communities like Bellevue, the progressive movement and the gay rights movement have to rely on places like Seattle and Olympia.

DiAnne and I discussed the ethnic homophobia both online and in person. And the picture isn't pretty, especially if one wants to keep his head buried in the sand of political correctness. DiAnne mentioned the Ukrainian and Polish immigrants in many sections of Seattle, and I know how homophobic they are. She also mentioned traveling all the way to Brixton in London, England, only to find Korean Christians proselytizing to the local Jamaicans; what I failed to mention, at that time, was that the Puget Sound area Korean community had officially pledged itself to "helping the mainstream community defend the sanctity of marriage."

This is WAR.

Makes you wonder: When will many of our pundits and commentators catch up with the rest of the American public? And when will they start seriously acknowledging the extent to which the Democrats are more in step than the GOP with American public opinion?
--Greg Sargent

Posted by: mbk at July 27, 2006 08:02 PM

I am not even sure if the Democrats are in step with the American public anymore, given the number of sellouts like Hillary, Lieberman, and Schumer.

Excellent post. Casey has it just right.

Democrats launch 'Six for '06' agenda
Party unveils campaign themes, says elections will be about Bush

The document, which carries the title "A New Direction for America," is a brief compilation of six themes Democrats have been pushing in various ways all year:

# National security

# Jobs and wages

# Energy independence

# Affordable health care

# Retirement security

# College access for all

"This 100 days is about drilling in the different direction we as Democrats will take this country," said Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee

Brian Nick, spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Campaign, said Democrats are "flailing in their desperate attempt to demonstrate that they have a plan and are unified."

"Their plan is really to raise taxes, increase spending and weaken important tools that protect Americans in the war against terror," he said.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/07/27/campaign.2006/index.html

Can't the republicans come up with anything better than that same old crap about Dems raising taxes, increasing spending, & weakening security??? Sheesh. Guess that shows just how weak they really are now...

To those of you that know the story of my Aunt, I would like to reappear for a moment here to tell you that it is almost over for my family now.

After 23 years, the man who murdered her has now confessed to the crime and the murders of 47 other women. Apparently he kept her drivers lisence as a trophy.

Her name was Faye Alieen Self, she was 27 years old and we can now say she was murdered the same night she disappeared off of the face of the earth in Coushatta Louisiana.

Her confessed killers name is Robert Charles Brown. And lo and behold his father and brother both were sherriffs deputies from the same damn office that her open murder file disappeared from.

If you hear about it, please say a prayer for people like my grandparents whom both died never knowing what had happened to their youngest child. Or for the three babies she left behind.

This man has left so many victims, it is hard to know where to begin.

To those of you that know the story of my Aunt, I would like to reappear for a moment here to tell you that it is almost over for my family now.

After 23 years, the man who murdered her has now confessed to the crime and the murders of 47 other women. Apparently he kept her drivers lisence as a trophy.

Her name was Faye Alieen Self, she was 27 years old and we can now say she was murdered the same night she disappeared off of the face of the earth in Coushatta Louisiana.

Her confessed killers name is Robert Charles Brown. And lo and behold his father and brother both were sherriffs deputies from the same damn office that her open murder file disappeared from.

If you hear about it, please say a prayer for people like my grandparents whom both died never knowing what had happened to their youngest child. Or for the three babies she left behind.

This man has left so many victims, it is hard to know where to begin.

OOPS Doubled up. My bad.

Dear Christy...

It's all too damn close to home anymore, ain't it?

I'll just say this. You have a way of sending a ripple through the pond like few I've ever crossed t's with. You appear with a message that resonates from the core, to the core.

Tonight, you stopped me dead in mid-wallow, and forced me to take a deep breath, and imagine experiencing what you and your family has.

Clarity is a bitch, but it forces growth and compassion, and you have to find some light from such crap.

Even at darkest nite, you de lite ;-)

xopeacexo

Can't the republicans come up with anything better than that same old crap about Dems raising taxes, increasing spending, & weakening security??? Sheesh. Guess that shows just how weak they really are now...

Posted by: madame defarge at July 27, 2006 09:35 PM

And honestly, the Republicans need to realize that not everyone benefits from the Grover Norquist school of government. In fact, most lose.

Posted by: Christy at July 27, 2006 09:44 PM

Hi Christy,

I have just heard of that serial killer, but didn't know that your aunt was one of the victims.

There is closure for your family, and I think this is a good development.

This case also tells us just how rotten our justice system is - death penalty or not. Some people just get away with it for a long time, maybe for life.

Please stick around, Christy. We've been worried about you.

"Clarity is a bitch"

Amen my brother.

Right now the only thing that seems real is that I sincerely dread whatever it is that comes next.

We do not know yet how she.. umm what he did to her, but we know he has said he put her body in the Red River, so atleast now we know where to look.

The Mighty Red does not give many of them back, so if yall can keep your fingers crossed, we may just finally bring her home after all. Her children have had it very very hard and I hope this settles something for them.

I dread my mother hearing the details, but then again we sat through Henry Lee Lucas' false confession, and that sick bastard made up the most unspeakable tale ... My grandma had to live with that, so honestly at this point, whatever the details atleast it won't be THAT.

Henry Lee Lucas, the only man to ever get a reprieve from George W Bush, may they both rot in hell.

This man, browne, that has confessed... He shares the same name as the former sherriff down there and his daddy was a deputy investigating the very murders his son committed. Isn't that freaking convienant.

My aunt and her nieghbor.. seperated by a drive way and two days. Both remained unsolved all these years, 23.. only for him to confess to them both.

My Aunt worked on an Ambulance, this creep was the ambulance driver. A cops son.

It is all really quite unbelievable.

Would you like to see a pic of my aunt? She was really a lovely woman

http://www.doenetwork.us/cases/1410dfla.html

And here is the Shreveport Times story, that FINALLY names my aunt as a known victim of somebody.

"Browne told El Paso County sheriff’s authorities that he killed two women in 1983. One, Wanda Hudson, was a neighbor, and he met the other, Aline Self, at the Wagon Wheel on state Highway 1."

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060727/BREAKINGNEWS/60727026

There are a lot of families tonight that will be suffering, if my mom is any indication 23 years is not enough time, if yall do pray, please pray that whatever happens now these women can finally come home now. It has been far too long.

I love you Ally.

Oh and Monkey..

"I'll just say this. You have a way of sending a ripple through the pond like few I've ever crossed t's with."

It is because I was cursed at birth by a chinaman who said, 'May you lead a fascinating life'. And ever since then I keep finding myself in the middle of the damndest circumstances.

And no, my spell checker is no longer checking any thing I type.

The only thing I have to blame is myself and the Louisiana Public School System.

I love you Ally.

Posted by: Christy at July 27, 2006 11:27 PM

Thanks, and I missed your "Art for Boys" "Art for Girls" and "Vintage for Ally" sections on your blog too.

To fill in, I once did a "Photo for Ann Coulter" however. :)

It is hard for me to blog anymore. It gets so damn repetivly depressing.

Ive gone local and these busheviks on my local board absolutely despise the very air I breathe.

I get to slap them around pretty much as I like since the administrator is not very good at administrating.

They keep threatening to shoot me or send large groups of men to my house to 'visit' with me, but not one of the little chickenhawks have taken up my invitation to bring that the hell on.

I hate waiting.

Anyways, I will get back to my blog one day, when it does not make me want to claw out my own eyes or otherwise self mutilate .

Damn can we just impeach him already?

Again, I hate waiting.

Oh man, I think I just found a detail in the original Reuters story that reffers to my aunt.

Earlier today we were told they left the bar together on the ambulance and he used some type of 'chloroform' from the ambulance to subdue her, then killed her in her apartment. I just found this in the reuters story... I though 'chloroform' sounded wierd.

"In one case, Browne used ether to knock out a drunken woman he was seducing and then "used an ice pick on her," "

Oh God please don't let that be about Aline.

But then again, it has to be about someones loved one. Oh man oh man.

And if it was her she was unconcious, right?

I think I just lost all perspective of this... thing.

I can't let my mother find this, not just out of the blue. Oh man.

I don't even know what happens now.

What does happen now? What are we supposed to do? She is still not home where do we go now from here?

None of this makes sense

Posted by: Christy at July 27, 2006 11:57 PM

Just reading ReBelle can be very depressing these days. Especially when I see that it's really just Big Oil that's causing so much trouble and death, for its own profit.

If I could find another fuel to run my cars on, I would. It's bad enough that I have to drive a 15MPG Ford Econoline to my work in the desert. I wish I could drive my own car, which gets twice the mileage, but it's a luxury import and will not make good impressions with some people I work with (I am contracting with the Marines).

But I really miss your voice. Would really love to have your energy back - both here at DCP, and at ReBelle Nation. And of course, those vintage nudes too.

I admit that political blogging can wear me out too. That's why I do some non-political stuff with my blog as well.

Does anyone seriously know how the stages of grief works in this situation?

I mean if its delayed by years... What is happening to my mom cause honestly she does not look right. You know, like shes been... It almost reminds me of rape, the way a rape victim looks. Is that normal?

Any advice would be nice, because honestly something freaky is happening and I am so not sure what is abnormal at this point.

Ally
You have a good memory!! There is also an article in The Stranger during the last year or so about a guy who was badly beaten in Capitol Hill by Russian or Ukrainian immigrants who had come down from Bellingham area. Not to stereotype any whole group, but of interest. To make it stranger, the guy who was beaten to within an inch of his life was the son of a homophobe fundamentalist preacher from Bremerton, if I remember right. Such a strange world.

Catching up

Christy
I heard about that case - what a coincidence that it touched your own family! I had told my friend in Mpls about something that almost happened to me that resembled what I heard about the killer. I was hitch hiking in the '70s and that was stupid, but nevertheless, the guy who gave me a ride told me he was a photographer and had a bunch of bikinis in his trunk, had been photographing some flight attendants. He took me to my uncle's house, who wasn't home, then drove away. A little later, I was putting an album on the stereo and he had come back and entered the house, came up behind me and grabbed me from behind. I didn't scream, I turned around and stayed calm, told him I was 16 years old (I was 18) and that my uncle was due home, and that he was the Chief of Police (not true). I think if I'd screamed, I'd have excited him & probably gotten strangled. Strange - I just told him about this today when he sent me a link about the killer.

This has been a strange day, for personal reasons. My son's friend lost her job as a loan officer - it's being outsourced to India. Her aunt lost her job & decided to go to NYC as a nanny, leaving her long-term boyfriend here & following a layoff at Quest. Then my son's apartment is being torn down, so the city has to help him with relocation (just like FEMA!).

Then I had mideast clients and so I must respect confidentiality but let's say we had a meeting of the minds, in alot of ways. I usually see Iraqi immigrants with interpreters from Egypt, Lebanon etc. My Iranian friend is a Farsi interpreter. We do hear alot from people who are worried to death about relatives in the middle east and we also know some of what's going around which may or may not be true, but which is damaging to the United States' (& allies) reputation - & probably it's too late to change much about that. Blame the neocons - they did it.

Christy
To you question - I'm no expert, but I would think that no matter how many years have gone by, your mom could flip back into a prior grief stage. This will "resolve" some of what has happened that was a mystery, but possibly in a worse way then she expected & it'll take time to deal with. Will be thinking of you guys.

The other thing I forgot, on the level of personal tragedy - I had a call just a bit ago from a friend. Someone we worked with when we had our own businesses (in the Clinton era when we were richer!!) learned that her husband has a very aggressive cancer - the treatment may or may not save him but will mean destruction of much of his tongue, teeth, he'll eat through a tube - they have a 12 year old boy, only one, and are a very close family.

I see the prayer book at the hospital and I see people with faith asking for miracles. I wish I had such faith - if there is a God does he really listen to mortals? Even my mother wonders now.

I think my mom is just flipping, not sure which stage it is but its a whammy.

I was with my aunt, in that very apartment he now says he killed her in. I was 10 and drove down with my uncle and his family. I remember I was as tall as she already, and she seemed so beautiful to me that day.

Sometimes I wonder if I actually felt that way or if it came in the days after, in my memory she is...ageless. She was a very pretty girl, but I remember that day she seemed to just shine.

She had a new boyfriend and her family all around her. It is hard to.. absorb .. what he says.

All we knew after that is she never came back to my grandpas to pick up her baby. My grandfather was angry, but never upset until the cops....

They knew she was missing before we did, damn them they knew where her car was. They, someone PURGED her open murder file, they took everything, except a missing persons report.

What kind of cops remove dental records DENTAL RECORDS from the open unsolved murder case file of a missing woman?

His daddy investigated it? The sherriff has the same last name the new sherriff was his highschool teacher??? Omg.

Crap.. I think I just hit the anger part of grief again I keep coming back to it.

Those bastards KNEW and he went on killing for TWELVE MORE YEARS.

OMFG.

What is going to happen now?

Seriously what in the crap is supposed to happen now cause this is no good no good no good at all.

I just turned off my comp to go take a bath and go to bed, and I was listening to the water and it hit me...

Your DADDY is a cop. Your brother is a cop.

Your brother owns an apartment building where two murder victims live. 17 victims in Louisiana alone.

SEVENTEEN!!!!!

HOW IN GODS NAME DO YOU KILL SEVENTEEN PEOPLE RIGHT UNDER THE NOSES OF TWO COPS AND EVEN SOMETIMES ON THEIR FAMILY PROPERTY AND THEY NOT KNOW?

HOW?

1 or 2 or 10 ok maybe but SEVENTEEN!!!!??????

Oh my God this can not be happening.

17 in Louisiana alone...

Have Mercy.

Christy... you need to keep pressing the forward button...

Who on earth d'you think you are,
A super star,
Well, right you are.

Well we all shine on,
Like the moon and the stars and the sun,
Well we all shine on,
Ev'ryone come on.

- John Lennon

PM urged: Stand up to Bush and call for ceasefire

By Colin Brown, Deputy Political Editor
Published: 28 July 2006

Tony Blair will face fresh pressure over the Middle East crisis today when he arrives in Washington to meet President George Bush. Senior Downing Street aides said the two leaders intended to show the world they were seeking an urgent end to the hostilities in Lebanon, despite the failure of the much vaunted Rome summit on Wednesday to deliver a unified call for a truce.

Israel's Justice Minister, Haim Ramon, added to the pressure yesterday, when he interpreted that indecision as a green light to continue the bloody assault on Lebanon.

"We received yesterday at the Rome conference permission from the world... to continue the operation," he told reporters.

The Prime Minister's visit takes place as 42 leading figures in politics, diplomacy, academia and the media put their names to a declaration urging Mr Blair to tell the President that Britain "can no longer support the American position on the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in the Middle-East". Their declaration, printed on the front page of today's Independent, calls on the Prime Minister to "make urgent representations to Israel to end its disproportionate and counter-productive response to Hizbollah's aggression".

After his stop-over in Washington, Mr Blair will fly on to California tonight to attend a conference with the media magnate Rupert Murdoch. An ally of Mr Murdoch, Irwin Stelzer, insisted Mr Blair was not Mr Bush's "poodle", but his "guide dog", particularly over the Middle East.

Downing Street officials said Mr Blair intended to respond to world criticism by showing urgency in seeking an end to the hostilities between Israel and Hizbollah. The Prime Minister and the President are planning to commit their governments to a lasting ceasefire by restoring the authority of the elected government against the unilateral action by Hizbollah.

Their joint appearance at the White House is likely to be met with scepticism. The Bush administration said this week it was seeking a "new Middle East", raising fears that the crisis in Lebanon was a proxy war between the US and Iran, Hizbollah's backers.

Senior officials in Downing Street said the Prime Minister supported the US strategy on the Middle East, which was agreed at the Sea Island G8 summit in 2004. Mr Blair is credited with persuading the President to pursue a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine problem. Mr Blair and Mr Bush will emphasise they are working behind the scenes to push for an urgent end to the violence on both sides in the Lebanon.

"Don't in any way underestimate the intensive nature of the diplomacy," said one senior aide to the Prime Minister. "There is a lot going on behind the scenes. We want to show that we are stepping up the search for a process that allows both sides to end the hostilities and there is urgency about that."

Mr Blair's influence on the US President, as part of the "special relationship" with America, was ridiculed after Mr Bush was heard saying "Yo, Blair" to him at the G8 summit in St Petersburg. In the recorded conversation, Mr Bush refused to allow Mr Blair to mount a diplomatic mission to the Middle East, preferring instead to send his Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice.

Both leaders know that their time in office is running out, and officials said they saw eye to eye on four out of five of the key items on the agenda at today's meeting - the "war against terror", the need to spread democracy in the Middle East, restoring stability to Iraq, and the need to curb the nuclear ambitions of Iran. They are far apart on the collapse of the world trade talks, which is also on the agenda, but other tricky issues such as the controversy over the use of British airports for US arms shipments to Israel will be put to one side. "That is matter for Mrs Beckett [the Foreign Secretary]," said one No 10 source.

Downing Street has insisted that Mr Blair has privately used influence on the Bush administration over the war in Lebanon, rather than calling publicly for a ceasefire that could not be enforced. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said Mr Blair decided to "roll his sleeves up" and work behind the scenes, rather than act as a commentator on the sidelines.

Sir Stephen Wall, one of the Prime Minister's most trusted former advisers, said Mr Blair's approach was wrong. "There have been times on trade issues when the PM should have told Bush to get his tanks off our lawn," Sir Stephen wrote in the New Statesman. "There are still times when, as well as working quietly with Congress on climate change, we should speak up about the irresponsibility of the White House.

"There are times, such as the past two weeks, when a British prime minister should have been thinking less about private influence and more about public advocacy."

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/politics/article1201307.ece

Christy -

I saw the pix of your aunt - very pretty woman! I'm so sorry she ended up at the hands of a serial killer under the worst circumstances possible where he seems to have been related to the law enforcement officials. What an ugly situation!

Regarding the five stages of grief: Now that this newest info has come to light, I think you'll find your mother and yourself and other family members and friends will go through this all over again as though the intervening years had all disappeared, that often more than one stage of grief will happen all at the same time, not just one at a time.

Anger is your primary stage, by what you've written, and it is justifiable anger. Your outlet to express your grief is writing. I realize that's no comfort right now, but many people don't have an outlet for their grief, and you are "fortunate" in the sense that you do have writing as an outlet. (My most prolific writing was done in the years after my father died when I turned to writing poetry.)

When my grief was brand new when each of my parents died, any words people spoke to me meant nothing. It was as though someone was speaking in a foreign language when they tried to tell me all the soothing phrases some people utter to those in deep mourning, and I remember looking at people out of the haze of grief wondering what they were saying. Nothing anyone said helped (well, not for me, at any rate). I forgot their words the moment the people were out of sight, and I forgot who said what. Things and words and people went in and out of focus those first few days, and all these years later most of those first few days after my father's death, in particular (31 yrs. ago), are still foggy. Years later I figured out my emotions reverted to feeling like an abandoned child and I was angry at him for dying and abandoning me (unreasonable because I was an adult and he couldn't help dying from the always fatal disease he had, but grief isn't particularly reasonable when a parent dies). The only thing that ever helped me after each of my parents died were hugs. With absolute clarity, I remember the people who hugged me and said nothing. If you think it will help your family members, I recommend long quiet hugs and letting the tears fall as the first step to dealing with this renewed grief.

I wish you and yours well... and, again, my condolences.

6:15 AM on the west coast

Couple of interesting things in my before-work email:

- Code pink peacemakers will be meeting with iraqi peacemakers in Amman Jordan

- Comcast (my internet provider) is censoring a video ad about infiltration of extremists into the US military (with a high probability of such types committing atrocities which then endanger other troops & also ourselves through increasing likelihood