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Craig Resigns? Not So Fast...
[Photo of Shirley Shor painting "Leaning, 2005", by Gallery Paul Anglim]
Self loathing is an ugly thing. The despair that it can cause in the human heart can wreak havoc on the world around. And this, sadly, is where Senator Larry Craig seems to be.
Last night, in what I can only think of as a sad and desperate act, Senator Craig (R-ID) indicated, through a spokesman and others, that he wanted to perhaps, rethink, his position on his resignation.
"It's not such a foregone conclusion anymore, that the only thing he could do was resign," Sidney Smith, Craig's spokesman in Idaho's capital, told The Associated Press.
"We're still preparing as if Senator Craig will resign Sept. 30, but the outcome of the legal case in Minnesota and the ethics investigation will have an impact on whether we're able to stay in the fight _ and stay in the Senate," Smith said.
Someone should tell him that the Republican leadership doesn't do takesies backsies, and that public life doesn't provide for do overs. Especially not when the news of your decision comes, not just from your spokesperson, but from the fact that you left a message, on stranger's phone machine, thinking it was your high-priced Washington lawyer's phone machine.
Clearly, stress is having an effect on Craig's judgement, and the pressure he is feeling is evident in his voice. The level of tension and his desperation to hold on to the fiction he has created for himself is tragic.
But the tragedy is compounded when one thinks of the effects of Craig's many votes during his 27-year Senate Career on GLTB issues.
I can only speculate that what is in Craig's mind, which is that he does not see himself as gay. He sees himself as having deviant urges that must, somehow, be suppressed, both in himself, and others. And when that twisted thinking is applied to his voting in the Senate, he turns the tragedy on everyone else.
How does this tragedy manifest itself on a daily basis? Here's one small example: Larry Craig married a woman with three small children. He subsequently adopted those children. To all observers, he has been a steadfast and loving parent to them. So much so, in fact, that one of them appeared on Good Morning America this morning to give public statements of support from himself and his two siblings. But that parental relationship never would have happened in a Larry Craig legislated world, because he opposed gay and lesbian adoption. And as a result, those children likely would have been deprived of the parent/child relationship that quite obviously developed to the benefit of all.
That is the tragedy of the closeted life expanded into a legislative life.
It's a hard lesson to learn, but maybe now Craig will understand that the legislature, be it state or federal, has no place in the bedrooms of consenting adults. And should this public fiasco result in him remaining in the Senate, one would hope that he would bring some newfound compassion for the persecution that homosexuals endure in our society, and reevaluate his Senate votes on these issues.
Of course, I won't be holding my breath, but I can always hold out hope that people will learn from their own personal tragedies.
Craig would say he supports freedom, but what freedom is there in constantly feeling as though you have to hide a most basic part of your self?
[Editor's Note: Link to Talking Points Memos Story added after initial posting of this story. Further note: changes made to correct grammatical and spelling error, incorrect links, and other coffee deprived errors. Apologies for the confusationess. ]
I fully support Biblical moral law - capital punishment - for closet Republican gays who try to take everyone down with them.
After all, that's the stance of their party, so they must set an example and exterminate themselves.
See you in hell, Mann Coulter.
From the last thread:
Posted by: Ralpheh at September 5, 2007 08:55 AM
Thank you for continuing to fall into the right-wing media's trap on Hillary and the Chinese, while you overlook the unreported Korean and Vietnamese crooks giving massive amounts of money to the Republicans.
Seriously, McCain and his Vietnamese overlords, and Brownback and his Korean overlords, all thank you for doing their work for them in attacking Hillary.
Casey, that is one scary visual....
I feel orry bfor Craig and I really felt angry with him too as I listened to the NPR story, in which he pleads with his lawyer to help him spin backwards.
"Quality people are willing to step up here", he says on the taped message. He means Arlen Specter, of course, who waited for days before stating his willingness to step up.
What kind of "quality people" continually vote against the interests of human beings in favor of denial of human rights?
Oh yeah, NEOCONS.
Karen:
What kind of "quality people" wait for days before speaking publicly about the innocence of another? What kind of "quality people" wait until IT NO LONGER MATTERS TO YOUR CAREER" to speak up and come forward about your innocence?
If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.
while you overlook the unreported Korean and Vietnamese crooks giving massive amounts of money to the Republicans.
Posted by: Ally McRepuke at September 5, 2007 11:39 AM
@@@@@@@@@
Don't tell me...
TELL THE HILLARY JUGGERNAUT CAMPAIGN about this
TELL the LA Times about this
Tell Barbara Boxer, Dianne Feinstein and Harry Reid about this...
Ohio congressman found dead in apartment
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Rep. Paul Gillmor of Ohio was found dead in his apartment in the nation's capital Wednesday, leadership aides for both the Republican and Democratic parties said.
Rep. Paul Gillmor was first elected to Congress in 1988.
House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, told fellow congressmen on the floor of the House that their colleague died "suddenly overnight."
"He was a good friend to all of us," said a somber Boehner. "He's going to be missed by us all."
A tribute to Gillmor will be held in the House later Wednesday afternoon, Boehner said.
more...
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/09/05/congressman.dead/index.html
r.i.p.
Posted by: Ralpheh at September 5, 2007 12:50 PM
They all know.
Just saw that about the Ohio Congressman found dead ..
Heard the NPR story about Craig & wondered how in the word the email was left on the wrong phone. Wouldn't a Senator have better security than that and be more careful, especially someone like him? It's as though he wanted it to get out. Had heard Arlen Specter talking about it.
I don't believe in capital punishment under any circumstances, just as some people don't believe in abortion under any circumstances. It's awkward when prominent people such as politicians are "outed" and there are always questions about "sting" operations. BUT, if they are voting legislation into place that takes away rights of people (civil rights, human rights) and then turning around and breaking their own rules - it's hard to feel too sorry for them.
By the way - the House is voting tomorrow on the Holt voter confidence bill - HR 811 - it would require paper records of votes and mandatory audits of electronic machines.
Source: GOP leaders want Craig to quit as planned
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Republican Senate leaders are expected Wednesday to tell Idaho Sen. Larry Craig that he should follow through on his intended resignation after his arrest in an airport bathroom sex sting.
Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, announced his intent to resign Saturday in Boise, Idaho.
"He's fighting this. He is innocent, and he believes that there's a good chance that he eventually will have this charge overturned and that the Ethics Committee won't act against him," Dan Whiting, a spokesman for the Idaho Republican, told KTVB-TV in Boise.
Craig's backtracking upset the Republican leaders, a Republican leadership aide said, because they thought Craig's intended resignation put the controversy behind them.
Craig's hopes of staying in the Senate were buoyed by a call of support from Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pennsylvania, according to a tape of a voicemail Craig left.
On Sunday, Specter said he would like to see Craig fight the allegations against him.
"On the evidence, Senator Craig wouldn't be convicted of anything," Specter said on "Fox News Sunday."
"I'd like to see him fight the case, because I think he could be vindicated," Specter said.
On Wednesday, Specter would not elaborate.
"At least for the time being I've said all I intend to say about the situation with Sen. Craig. I made a comment last Sunday on Fox News. I think now the comments ought to come from Sen. Craig or his attorneys."
more on...
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/09/05/craig/index.html
Ally
You might know about this or might be interested, though it's a little old. Same guy who wrote a book attacking Kerry wrote one defending Reverend Moon.
http://www.consortiumnews.com/2004/101504.html
I don't have enough coffee either -
I said email when I met voicemail in the comment about Craig, and I said book when I meant video in the comment about Moon.
People really ought to be as concerned about money launderers and government infiltration by foreign influence-peddlers at least as much or moreso than terrorists.
Imagine me on coffee...
It's easy if you try...
No L below us,
Above us, monkeys fly...
Treaty tightens US military ties
AUSTRALIA'S defence co-operation with the United States will be significantly upgraded under a new treaty that gives unprecedented access to the latest US military technology and equipment.
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22369774-5013109,00.html
Posted by: rossiann at September 5, 2007 03:27 PM
Adds new meaning to "down under", don't it?
Blast from the past: Tsongas wins
WASHINGTON (CNN) — It’s been almost three decades since the name “Tsongas” has appeared on a general election ballot in Massachusetts. That streak is about to end.
Niki Tsongas, widow of the late Paul Tsongas – the former Bay State senator and 1992 presidential candidate – won a hotly contested Democratic primary fight Tuesday in the Commonwealth’s Fifth Congressional District. Tsongas, currently a dean at Middlesex Community College, finished first in a five-candidate field with 36 percent of the vote. She edged out Lowell City Councilor Eileen Donoghue, who captured 31 percent.
Tsongas has now won the right to face off against the GOP nominee, Jim Ogonowski, who trounced his sole opponent, Marine Corps veteran/consumer activist Tom Tierney, by a 78 percent margin in the Republican primary. Ogonowski’s brother, John, was the pilot of American Airlines Flight 11, which was hijacked and crashed into the World Trade Center on September 11.
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/09/05/blast-from-the-past-tsongas-wins/
Did you see where 2 nukes were accidentally flown overhead from ND to Louisiana?
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gmqA7P-MPnRJzQ5v9Xi6M5zdr9IA
"..up to 150 kilotons, ten times the destructive force of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima.
Nuclear weapons are normally transferred on cargo planes, never on the wings of bombers.."
..our tax dollars at work
LAMBORN APOLOGIZES FOR VOICE MAILS TO COLORADO COUPLE
Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) is apologizing to a couple in his district who complained that he left them two threatening voice mails after they wrote a critical letter to the editor about the freshman member. In a letter sent Tuesday, Lamborn said he has been working diligently on issues of national importance affecting Colorado's 5th district, including the war in Iraq, the safety and security of our troops, the war on terrorism, immigration and a bloated federal budget. "Therefore, when my record is not accurately portrayed, I am quick and passionate in attempting to set the record straight," he wrote. "Unfortunately, recent events have risen to a level that was unintended."
The letter is addressed to Jonathan and Anna Bartha, who gave the Denver Post access to two voice-mails they received from Lamborn in which he told them there would be “consequences” if they did not withdraw a letter to the editor of a local newspaper. In the letter to the editor, the couple took issue with a $1,000 contribution Lamborn received from the International Game Technology PAC on the basis that it contradicted his stated anti-gambling stance.
more...
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/rep.-lamborn-apologizes-2007-09-05.html
Posted by: Ralpheh at September 5, 2007 12:50 PM
They all know.
Posted by: Ally McRepuke at September 5, 2007 02:42 PM
@@@@@
And they don't care??
And won't do anything about it??
Source: GOP leaders want Craig to quit as planned
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Republican Senate leaders are expected Wednesday to tell Idaho Sen. Larry Craig that he should follow through on his intended resignation after his arrest in an airport bathroom sex sting.
Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, announced his intent to resign Saturday in Boise, Idaho.
"He's fighting
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Apparently Craig has tried to pick up other guys in the men's room. And with all the Gay bashing the Repubs have done since 2004, that is a political death warrant.
That being said, I am bothered by "undercover cops" doing "sting" operations in public bathrooms. Is this really necessary? The disorderly conduct here (in Craig's case) is that his shoe touched the shoe of the policeman... Craig didn't even talk to the guy etc... Doesn't seem like much of a crime to me. Craig could have fought it but looks like he wanted to cover the whole thing up...
Missing: Fugitive Fundraiser Hsu Skips Court Appearance
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20070905/democratic-fundraiser/
Hahahahaha
'Bums for Bush' plan record mooning
Australian anti-war protesters plan a cheeky protest against Bush visit.
A game group of Australian anti-war protesters are planning a cheeky protest against a visit by US President George W. Bush -- baring their bottoms in what they hope will be a world-record moon.
http://rawstory.com/news/afp/_Bums_for_Bush_protesters_won_t_tur_09052007.html
That's News.
CONDI 'CAN BE MY DATE,' Bush says before dinner with PM John Howard.
http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Sep05/0,4670,BushapossDate,00.html
Another eight Georgie
Iraq violence kills eight U.S. troops, 44 civilians
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20601969
ember 5, 2007 05:57 PM EST | AP
Compare other versions »
Compare and versions
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — Disgraced Democratic fundraiser Norman Hsu was a wanted man again after he failed to show up for a court date Wednesday and a judge issued a new warrant for his arrest.
Hsu, whose criminal past has roiled the campaigns of top presidential candidates, was scheduled to ask a judge to cut in half the $2 million bail he posted last week when he turned himself in after spending 15 years on the lam from a felony theft conviction.
Instead, San Mateo Superior Court Judge Robert Foiles ordered Hsu's bail forfeited to the county and issued a new arrest warrant. If Hsu is arrested again, he will be jailed without bail this time.
Hsu, a Hong Kong native, was also supposed to turn over his passport Wednesday. Hsu's prominent Silicon Valley criminal defense attorney Jim Brosnahan said Hsu failed to give the passport to the legal team on Monday.
@@@@@@@@
Oh the Rightwing will have a field day with this news....... Another Clinton fund-raising scandal.
The imaginative Rwingers will ask the hypothetical "would HIllary Clinton, as president, pardon a guy like Hsu?" This will be all over the rightwing media - Faux News, Rush, Shawn, etc....
BTW: does anyone find Sen. Craig's misplaced phone call fishy/odd??? Wouldn't you want to talk DIRECTLY with your lawyer on such a crucial and personal matter and not leave on an answering machine?? And go on and on, in great detail, about what you are planning to do? Wouldn't you have your high-priced lawyer paged? get his cell phone etc...
QUOTE:
Someone should tell him that the Republican leadership doesn't do takesies backsies, and that public life doesn't provide for do overs. Especially not when the news of your decision comes, not just from your spokesperson, but from the fact that you left a message, on stranger's phone machine, thinking it was your high-priced Washington lawyer's phone machine.
Unfrikingbelievable
US general, two officers sanctioned in Haditha killings probe
http://rawstory.com/news/afp/US_general_two_officers_sanctioned__09052007.html
My homemade WMV video got this nice review at
http://proctoringcongress.blogspot.com/2007/09/campaign-video-of-day-september-5-2007.html
QUOTE:
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Campaign Video of the Day -- September 5, 2007
Posted by Corpus Juris
Hillary has famously called for a "conversation" with the American people. The word "conversation" implies dialogue. Both parties in a conversation listen to and learn from the other. Today's video challenges the notion that Hillary is actually engaged in a conversation with the American people. "WHAT conversation" is very quiet, but effective.
Bush 'worst president', say 52 per cent of Aussies
September 04, 2007 12:00am
Article from: AAPFont size: + -
Send this article: Print Email
MORE than half of all Australians believe George W. Bush is the worst president in American history, a new poll shows.
===
Dr Marr also said similar polls in the United States showed it was not anti-American to be anti-Bush.
"George Bush is not representing American views these days, as over 60 per cent of Americans disagree with his policy in the Iraq war," he said.
"We don't have to go along with every hare-brained military action that he suggests, and unfortunately (Prime Minister John) Howard didn't have the courage to stand up against George Bush and not get involved in the Iraq war."
http://www.opednews.com/maxwrite/linkframe.php?linkid=41387
Leaving Home...
Riverbend, Baghdad Burning
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Two months ago, the suitcases were packed. My lone, large suitcase sat in my bedroom for nearly six weeks, so full of clothes and personal items, that it took me, E. and our six year old neighbor to zip it closed.
Packing that suitcase was one of the more difficult things I’ve had to do. It was Mission Impossible: Your mission, R., should you choose to accept it is to go through the items you’ve accumulated over nearly three decades and decide which ones you cannot do without. The difficulty of your mission, R., is that you must contain these items in a space totaling 1 m by 0.7 m by 0.4 m. This, of course, includes the clothes you will be wearing for the next months, as well as any personal memorabilia- photos, diaries, stuffed animals, CDs and the like.
I packed and unpacked it four times. Each time I unpacked it, I swore I’d eliminate some of the items that were not absolutely necessary. Each time I packed it again, I would add more 'stuff’ than the time before. E. finally came in a month and a half later and insisted we zip up the bag so I wouldn’t be tempted to update its contents constantly.
The decision that we would each take one suitcase was made by my father. He took one look at the box of assorted memories we were beginning to prepare and it was final: Four large identical suitcases were purchased- one for each member of the family and a fifth smaller one was dug out of a closet for the documentation we’d collectively need- graduation certificates, personal identification papers, etc.
We waited… and waited… and waited. It was decided we would leave mid to late June- examinations would be over and as we were planning to leave with my aunt and her two children- that was the time considered most convenient for all involved. The day we finally appointed as THE DAY, we woke up to an explosion not 2 km away and a curfew. The trip was postponed a week. The night before we were scheduled to travel, the driver who owned the GMC that would take us to the border excused himself from the trip- his brother had been killed in a shooting. Once again, it was postponed.
There was one point, during the final days of June, where I simply sat on my packed suitcase and cried. By early July, I was convinced we would never leave. I was sure the Iraqi border was as far away, for me, as the borders of Alaska. It had taken us well over two months to decide to leave by car instead of by plane. It had taken us yet another month to settle on Syria as opposed to Jordan. How long would it take us to reschedule leaving?
It happened almost overnight. My aunt called with the exciting news that one of her neighbors was going to leave for Syria in 48 hours because their son was being threatened and they wanted another family on the road with them in another car- like gazelles in the jungle, it’s safer to travel in groups. It was a flurry of activity for two days. We checked to make sure everything we could possibly need was prepared and packed. We arranged for a distant cousin of my moms who was to stay in our house with his family to come the night before we left (we can’t leave the house empty because someone might take it).
It was a tearful farewell as we left the house. One of my other aunts and an uncle came to say goodbye the morning of the trip. It was a solemn morning and I’d been preparing myself for the last two days not to cry. You won’t cry, I kept saying, because you’re coming back. You won’t cry because it’s just a little trip like the ones you used to take to Mosul or Basrah before the war. In spite of my assurances to myself of a safe and happy return, I spent several hours before leaving with a huge lump lodged firmly in my throat. My eyes burned and my nose ran in spite of me. I told myself it was an allergy.
We didn’t sleep the night before we had to leave because there seemed to be so many little things to do… It helped that there was no electricity at all- the area generator wasn’t working and 'national electricity’ was hopeless. There just wasn’t time to sleep.
The last few hours in the house were a blur. It was time to go and I went from room to room saying goodbye to everything. I said goodbye to my desk- the one I’d used all through high school and college. I said goodbye to the curtains and the bed and the couch. I said goodbye to the armchair E. and I broke when we were younger. I said goodbye to the big table over which we’d gathered for meals and to do homework. I said goodbye to the ghosts of the framed pictures that once hung on the walls, because the pictures have long since been taken down and stored away- but I knew just what hung where. I said goodbye to the silly board games we inevitably fought over- the Arabic Monopoly with the missing cards and money that no one had the heart to throw away.
I knew then as I know now that these were all just items- people are so much more important. Still, a house is like a museum in that it tells a certain history. You look at a cup or stuffed toy and a chapter of memories opens up before your very eyes. It suddenly hit me that I wanted to leave so much less than I thought I did.
Six AM finally came. The GMC waited outside while we gathered the necessities- a thermos of hot tea, biscuits, juice, olives (olives?!) which my dad insisted we take with us in the car, etc. My aunt and uncle watched us sorrowfully. There’s no other word to describe it. It was the same look I got in my eyes when I watched other relatives and friends prepare to leave. It was a feeling of helplessness and hopelessness, tinged with anger. Why did the good people have to go?
I cried as we left- in spite of promises not to. The aunt cried… the uncle cried. My parents tried to be stoic but there were tears in their voices as they said their goodbyes. The worst part is saying goodbye and wondering if you’re ever going to see these people again. My uncle tightened the shawl I’d thrown over my hair and advised me firmly to 'keep it on until you get to the border’. The aunt rushed out behind us as the car pulled out of the garage and dumped a bowl of water on the ground, which is a tradition- its to wish the travelers a safe return… eventually.
The trip was long and uneventful, other than two checkpoints being run by masked men. They asked to see identification, took a cursory glance at the passports and asked where we were going. The same was done for the car behind us. Those checkpoints are terrifying but I’ve learned that the best technique is to avoid eye-contact, answer questions politely and pray under your breath. My mother and I had been careful not to wear any apparent jewelry, just in case, and we were both in long skirts and head scarves.
Syria is the only country, other than Jordan, that was allowing people in without a visa. The Jordanians are being horrible with refugees. Families risk being turned back at the Jordanian border, or denied entry at Amman Airport. It’s too high a risk for most families.
We waited for hours, in spite of the fact that the driver we were with had 'connections’, which meant he’d been to Syria and back so many times, he knew all the right people to bribe for a safe passage through the borders. I sat nervously at the border. The tears had stopped about an hour after we’d left Baghdad. Just seeing the dirty streets, the ruins of buildings and houses, the smoke-filled horizon all helped me realize how fortunate I was to have a chance for something safer.
By the time we were out of Baghdad, my heart was no longer aching as it had been while we were still leaving it. The cars around us on the border were making me nervous. I hated being in the middle of so many possibly explosive vehicles. A part of me wanted to study the faces of the people around me, mostly families, and the other part of me, the one that’s been trained to stay out of trouble the last four years, told me to keep my eyes to myself- it was almost over.
It was finally our turn. I sat stiffly in the car and waited as money passed hands; our passports were looked over and finally stamped. We were ushered along and the driver smiled with satisfaction, "It’s been an easy trip, Alhamdulillah," he said cheerfully.
As we crossed the border and saw the last of the Iraqi flags, the tears began again. The car was silent except for the prattling of the driver who was telling us stories of escapades he had while crossing the border. I sneaked a look at my mother sitting beside me and her tears were flowing as well. There was simply nothing to say as we left Iraq. I wanted to sob, but I didn’t want to seem like a baby. I didn’t want the driver to think I was ungrateful for the chance to leave what had become a hellish place over the last four and a half years.
The Syrian border was almost equally packed, but the environment was more relaxed. People were getting out of their cars and stretching. Some of them recognized each other and waved or shared woeful stories or comments through the windows of the cars. Most importantly, we were all equal. Sunnis and Shia, Arabs and Kurds… we were all equal in front of the Syrian border personnel.
We were all refugees- rich or poor. And refugees all look the same- there’s a unique expression you’ll find on their faces- relief, mixed with sorrow, tinged with apprehension. The faces almost all look the same.
The first minutes after passing the border were overwhelming. Overwhelming relief and overwhelming sadness… How is it that only a stretch of several kilometers and maybe twenty minutes, so firmly segregates life from death?
How is it that a border no one can see or touch stands between car bombs, militias, death squads and… peace, safety? It’s difficult to believe- even now. I sit here and write this and wonder why I can’t hear the explosions.
I wonder at how the windows don’t rattle as the planes pass overhead. I’m trying to rid myself of the expectation that armed people in black will break through the door and into our lives. I’m trying to let my eyes grow accustomed to streets free of road blocks, hummers and pictures of Muqtada and the rest…
How is it that all of this lies a short car ride away?
http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com/
My video popped up here, as well, but I can't seem to find the original page if it still exists:
Ralphdraw3 Clinton. (0.21 seconds)
YouTube - WHAT conversation??
to Ralphdraw3. Added: 5 hours ago From: Ralphdraw3. The "lack" of conversation at Hillary... The "lack" of conversation at Hillary Clinton's You Tube ...
www.patrickruffini.com/2008wire/go/175102 - 83k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this
Fading away...
Americans believed that they will be welcomed with flowers at the gates of Baghdad.
Iraqis are now forced to go and sell flowers to Americans.
There is a big lesson there for those who care to ponder...
http://arabwomanblues.blogspot.com/2007/09/fading-away.html
"And they don't care??
And won't do anything about it??
Posted by: Ralpheh at September 5, 2007 03:45 PM
Of course they know Ralph and NO THEY DON'T CARE.
If they had cared they would have already done something about it.
Just like republicans who knew all along these are bad bad things, but they also have no motive to do sh*t about it. In fact, they have a motive to cover up the crimes of others, so their own remain undiscovered.
HOWEVER... Your constant attacks on hillary do not seem to be about worrying if the democrats are actually corrupt, but is instead, time and time again it is EXACTLY the same crap the republicans say to TARGET hillary, as if she is the only one. Or as if her fraud is worse than any fraud EVER.
Now, we all know I have no problem blaming other dems for the wrong they do, but your focus on hillary is less of a housecleaning issue and more of a deliberate mantra that republicans want us to repeat until they can blame all of us for her shortcomings.
You wanna take down a corrupt dem, start with Murtha. That son of a bitch has made sure some 2.6 TRILLION DOLLARS is unaccounted for.
2.6 trillion that was announced missing on Sept 10th 2001. It can EASILY be proven he is lying about it.
I am so tired of going after anyone for crimes they MIGHT be committing or MIGHT commit in the future, when we have the goods on them for crimes they DID commit.
Yes, Ralph, they know, and no, Ralph, they don't care...Why..? Because Hillary alone is hardly the problem.
BTW....
What did yall do to the Ohio Congressman while I was out painting?
"It can EASILY be proven he is lying about it."
He did not just lie about it. He catagorically DENIED any knowledge of it at all.
And it is all on tape.
“former Republican U.S. Rep. Jennifer Dunn, who represented Seattle’s conservative east-side suburbs for six terms in Congress, died Wednesday after suffering a pulmonary embolism in her Virginia apartment, said a statement from her family.â€
Bad day to be a republican congressperson.
Posted by: rossiann at September 5, 2007 08:01 PM
Thanks for transcript of that Iraqi family. It is unimaginable to those of us who live where we will always find shelter and food. If that's what we truly want. I hope that they will be able to go back to a peaceful home and existence.
Because, we all know that after Iran, Dubya wants wants to wipe Syria off the map.
I think of this and the image of Dubya's cavalcade of vehicles and the 300+ staff to be accommodated by Australia. The same man whose accommodation is costing Australian taxpayers USD$3,000+ per night (more than $4000 AUD).
The family tale told above is of a family that Australia forces onto Nauru, before deporting them back to Iraq after 5 or 6 years of doing nothing. Thank goodness for compassion at such a time. I say thanks be to the Goddess that these people found Syria, rather than Australia. And I thank her for the compassion to throw out our evil rich leaders and install better so that we can once again house the dispossessed. And stop dispossessing!
Thankyou Syria. In the US and Australia, to thank Syria would be so unAustralian or unAmerican. And that is right. This is not my country and I hope that one day it will be restored to us.
BTW My video is in the running for "Video of the Week"!!!! I couldn't be more proud.....
The website is Watching Those We Chose
* "WTWC is insightful and clever, with a terrific team of writers. I highly recommend it." --Steve Benen, The Carpetbagger Report, The Salon Blog Report
* "WTWC is a valuable addition to the national conversation." --Mike's Blog Roundup at Crooks & Liars
* "One of the sharpest new group blogs out there." Kevin Drum, Political Animal
Cast Your Vote for
NOW | Women in the US Military Assaulted and Raped by Fellow Soldiers http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/090507U.shtml
NOW reports on the shocking phenomenon that is military sexual trauma, saying that "Roughly one in seven of America's active-duty military soldiers is a woman, but a NOW investigation found that sexual assault and rape are widespread. One study of National Guard and Reserve forces found that almost one in four women had been assaulted or raped. Last year alone, almost 3,000 soldiers reported sexual assault and rape by other soldiers. On Friday, September 7, in one of the only national television broadcasts of the issue, NOW features women who speak out for the first time."
HOWEVER... Your constant attacks on hillary do not seem to be about worrying if the democrats are actually corrupt, but is instead, time and time again it is EXACTLY the same crap the republicans say to TARGET hillary, as if she is the only one. Or as if her fraud is worse than any fraud EVER.
@@@@@@@@@@@
Hillary, stupidly and corruptly, gives the Republicans tons of ammunition - Hsu is still on the run - this twice he has fled sentencing, the guy is con man. And Bill was pardoning people left and right near the end of his presidency just like George will do. Hillary's 2000 campaign manager has been indicted. DO THE DEMS REALLY WANT ALL THIS BAGGAGE??? The triangulatin', and the DLCin', "I don't stay in the kitchen baking cookies", "we don't want to go near the truth, the American people can't take it" campaign. Morning in America with Hillary.... ???
And people wonder why many Americans don't bother to vote. Not only is Hillary wrong on the issues - pro-war, voted for the patriot act, didn't call for Gonzales to resign, she is an arrogant person.
And absolutely NOTHING can be done about her at the moment.
Him fleeing will all be told, her ...'crimes', will all come out, and there is barely a chance in hell she will be getting the nomination.
The best we can do is ignore her for the moment. People are dying and we can not even rebuke georgie much less stop him.
We know hillary won't stop him so she renders herself irrelevent.All I am saying is... wait for the story to play out, watch it, whatever, but focus your wrath on the dems that actually are the problem at the moment.
That would specifically be Pelosi and Conyers.
If we are going to do something about hillary, or any other corruption laden politician, the only way it can get done is by taking them ALL DOWN starting with the ones at the top who got us into this mess and still absolutely believe they are just going to be allowed to get away with it.
Cut off the head of corruption, and the body of it will die too.
Ralph,... I perhaps understand your dislike of her better than you think I do, and I will be the first to defend your right to bash her when she steps out of line, but to me the focus of her is what is damaging to our internal little d discussions.
Yeah, she carrys a lot of weight around, but for now, she is as irrelevent as ghoulianni or Ron Paul or even John Edwards. There is this big huge tragedy unfolding in DC and these people are hardly even on the stage.
Yet, simply because republicans spend so much time and focus on her, us dems are also forced to be just as focused in both denoucing OR embracing her.
The cult of Clinton was more a republican invention than it ever was a manifestation within democrats ranks.
She is one of many players or options, but yet we are all suppossed to stop and focus solely on her every time she even seems to step wrong.
At some point, it just seems a wee bit ridiculous and obssessive compulsive. She is sooooo less corrupt than many of the other people that are thrust into our faces on a daily basis now.
You know why democrats completely SUCK at organizing?
Conflicting priorities.
If I had to actually number her as a priority right now, she would be like 362.
Thanks for transcript of that Iraqi family. It is unimaginable to those of us who live where we will always find shelter and food. If that's what we truly want. I hope that they will be able to go back to a peaceful home and existence.
Posted by: woz at September 5, 2007 09:41 PM
That is River from Baghdad Burning, she has been posting since Georgie decided to bomb Iraq of the face of the earth.
This is her site, you will find all her posts there, about the war and what has been happening sh got a very prestigous award for her postings on the war about 12 months ago.
http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com/
This is Laylas site if you want information on the workings of the middle east, and who is in play in the occupation of Iraq with America and the Coalition, read her, she hold nothing back though, she is very very angry and I do not blame her she say her country disintergrate before her eyes. Her family are sunni and shia.
http://arabwomanblues.blogspot.com/2007/09/fading-away.html
Yet, simply because republicans spend so much time and focus on her, us dems are also forced to be just as focused in both denoucing OR embracing her.
The cult of Clinton was more a republican invention than it ever was a manifestation within democrats ranks.
Posted by: Christy at September 5, 2007 10:35 PM
Gad - I take that back about Syria. Syria plans to send Iraqis back to Iraq. Thanks for the website rossi.
http://arabwomanblues.blogspot.com/2007/09/alarm-bells.html
In Australia last year, the man I've always thought of as the smartest man I know, was interviewed by Maxine McKew. Maxine has left television journalism in order to challenge John Howard's parliamentary seat in Canberra. She may even unseat him. I can't think of anyone more worthy of being unseated than John Howard. This is a small part of the interview.
"MAXINE MCKEW: Let's start where your book ends and I think there's an elegiac feel to the way you finish this book because you're talking about the state of the world since the attacks of September 11 in 2001 and you say this,
this was the year when politics dropped out of the politics and paranoia broke the spirit of political oppositions.
That's a bleak conclusion, isn't it?
BARRY JONES: Well, it's an apocalyptic conclusion, but in the end I quoted Samuel Beckett and in the end one simply has to go on. In the United States, a phenomenon that people hardly recognise, in the United States you've had since September 11th, 2001, this concept that Dick Cheney called the "new normal" and the idea of that was to say the process of the rational analysis of evidence and then you reach a conclusion on the basis of that analysis the kind of process that was honed by the Enlightenment of the 18th century, that era came to an end on September 11, 2001.
Now we're in the "new normal" and in the new normal decisions have to be faith based, not evidence based. Faith based. You've got to rely on gut and on instinct. Now, that meant, for example, that the American decision to go to war in Iraq over the weapons of mass destruction didn't have to rely on evidence.
In fact, the evidence was counter-intuitive or almost irrelevant. The question was: did you believe it to be true? Did you have faith that it was true? Well, if you had faith it was true, that was enough. You made a decision based on faith. Strangely, in the United States now, they've got faith based national parks and they've got signs and they've got material out saying that the Grand Canyon, it now appears, was produced by God in only six days. So, you've now got a faith based National Park.
MAXINE MCKEW: Given the multiple mistakes in the prosecution, if you like, of US led foreign policy since 2001, what explains the, almost paralysis, though, on the non-Conservative side of politics, in terms of articulating a coherent alternative, whether it's the Labor Party here or the Democrats in the United States?
BARRY JONES: Oh, well, part of it, of course, is the fear that if there is some other event, like a terrorist act, another terrorist act in New York or another terrorist act in Washington or indeed a terrorist act in one of Australia's major cities or somewhere in Great Britain, this will have the effect of completely changing the political outcome and that it will make it harder and harder to get a cool, coherent reaction. I notice that the response of the research carried out by the Lowy Institute suggests now an overwhelming scepticism about the Iraq war and its outcome.
http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2006/s1755762.htm
Whooooooops to fast
The cult of Clinton was more a republican invention than it ever was a manifestation within democrats ranks.
Posted by: Christy at September 5, 2007 10:35 PM
Now that is the truth
Hello Aussies!
Any chance you can keep georgie?
We don't want him back.
Bush hysteria wherever you go. Normally I don't like this group of comedians who, irrespective of being university graduates, haven't grown out of the 8 year old toilet humour stage. However, they occasionally get a chuckle out of me, like the guy that got right up to Hillary in Washington DC and handed her an enormous formatted resume of photographs of him in scanty attire and asked if he could please be her intern. She laughed. And it was a laugh you couldn't fake.
They've been to court a few time since they push the borders to the limit.
Chaser duo held over motorcade stunt
Arjun Ramachandran
September 6, 2007 - 12:25PM
Two of The Chaser team have been detained after conducting a fake motorcade through the city this morning.
Police have detained Chas Licciardello and Chaser executive producer Julian Morrow at the InterContinental hotel.
Lawyers for ABC are in discussions with police.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/chaser-duo-held-over-apec-stunt/2007/09/06/1188783379922.html
. Maxine has left television journalism in order to challenge John Howard's parliamentary seat in Canberra. She may even unseat him. I can't think of anyone more worthy of being unseated than John Howard.
Posted by: woz at September 5, 2007 10:48 PM
Now wouldn't that be fantastic, knock the Bastard right out of our political system, altogether.
ghoulianni - that's a great name change Christy!
Hello Aussies!
Any chance you can keep georgie?
We don't want him back.
Posted by: Christy at September 5, 2007 10:52 PM
Christy, that's an idea... They can keep W, in exchange for us getting Rupert Murdoch.
The cult of Clinton was more a republican invention than it ever was a manifestation within democrats ranks.
Posted by: Christy at September 5, 2007 10:35 PM
Personality cults are for brainless Republicans - that's why W has a strong personality cult around him, rivalled only by the Kim family in North Korea.
Dems are too independent-minded to ever develop a cohesive, oppressive personality cult, even for Bill/Hillary Clinton.
Any chance you can keep georgie?
We don't want him back.
Posted by: Christy at September 5, 2007 10:52 PM
Friking Hell Christy in your dreams, I just got am email from my cuz, teasing me about him being here, United we stand together, I could have punched her out, I am getting phone calls and emails from every man and his dog it seems, they know of my feelings for the thug, when the forty of us get together which is quite a lot, the conversation goes straight to that because they all know how I feel, I sent her a not nice reply, go drown yourself
"...go drown yourself"
HAHAHAHA!! OMFG HAHA!
I'm going to have to steal that one.
We don't want him back.
Posted by: Christy at September 5, 2007 10:52 PM
Christy, that's an idea... They can keep W, in exchange for us getting Rupert Murdoch.
Posted by: Ally McRepuke at September 5, 2007 11:00 PM
Can't we find an inhospitable planet - one that's had nuclear tests on it - to relocate those we simply DO NOT WANT?
Hmmm - how did I make that typo? I meant to say "island" but "planet" sounds much better. Or a bit of space junk that we've jettisoned off the space station perhaps.
Bush embraces embattled Howard
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/09/05/1188783321018.html
Now how the HELL does the wanker decider, think he is going to endear his puppet to the Australian public. His arrogance is pathetic
And to the space flotsam we could also relocate the folks that are the real perverse - like Craig and all the others who've had to walk off stage in shame.
Now how the HELL does the wanker decider, think he is going to endear his puppet to the Australian public. His arrogance is pathetic
Posted by: rossiann at September 5, 2007 11:14 PM
rossi, I laugh whenever I read that headline. I'm hoping that more and more see it. Bush is less popular here than he is in America. And I love the idea for "mooning" the president by protesters. They intend to give Bush a 21 bum salute. Ya gotta luv protesters.
Can't we find an inhospitable planet - one that's had nuclear tests on it - to relocate those we simply DO NOT WANT?
Posted by: woz at September 5, 2007 11:09 PM
Darn good suggestion
Ally, I think dems do develop personality cults too, we just pick much better and more able personalities.
Like J.F Kennedy. A 'cult' following has developed around Obama, and is amassing by the boatload.
The reason the Clinton cult took hold in dem ranks is because clinton was just as fun to watch as Kennedy with some kinky stuff thrown in. And he was a good leader in spite of his apparent evils.
He was very EFFECTIVE. He did actually deserve some of the...endearment. Had he been bad at it no dem would have defended him.
We don't defend Carter, and he actually had no real evils.
The republican cults tend to put up the worst kind of losers and pervs saying anything they have too to get elevated, and then they will stand by them no matter what truth comes out about them.
I think the difference is not so much we don't become cultish, it is just that we are more likely to doubt someone who is lying to us than republicans are.
And we have higher standards for what merits such adoration. The republicans are too busy having anonymous sex on toilets to worry about standards in their leaders.
Obviously.
And to the space flotsam we could also relocate the folks that are the real perverse - like Craig and all the others who've had to walk off stage in shame.
Posted by: woz at September 5, 2007 11:15 PM
Shit that would be the whole republican party, well we wouldn't have to worry about not getting a dem into White House in 2008 then.
They intend to give Bush a 21 bum salute. Ya gotta luv protesters.
Posted by: woz at September 5, 2007 11:18 PM
Now maybe if I mooned the bum, he would have a heart attack, and it would be worth it.
We don't defend Carter, and he actually had no real evils.
Posted by: Christy at September 5, 2007 11:22 PM
And that always amazes me, he is a truely christian man I think, a man with the moral values that the world is so in need of in this time of turmoil, the moral values the friking republican deviates always espouse, but have none of
Trouble is rossi - he'll only be allowed to see what his minders will allow. That's what's good about the Chasers motorcade. Everyone's attention was on *violent* protesters. So they had a free run - and hey, it got attention which was surely the purpose anyway.
Wal-Mart's prices are higher than their competitors' 80% of the time.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/9/5/131910/3695
What is all the hype about *violent* protesters anyway? The only violence starts with police, not with protesters. Oh yes - and some plants put there to stage violence and make the protesters look violent.
Report From Retired Military Officers Recommends Dumping Iraqi Police Force
Quick Read
Study: Iraqi Security Forces Not Ready
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20070905/us-iraq/
Shit it has only taken the 5 years to put them together, and now they want to disband them.
Georgie you lose another one.
Why Is Bush Smiling?
By Robert Scheer
In the effort to retaliate against terrorists who hijacked planes six years ago with an arsenal of $3 knives, this year’s overall defense budget has been pushed to $657 billion. We are now spending $3 billion a week in Iraq alone, occupying a country that had nothing to do with the tragedy that sparked this orgy of militarism.
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20070904_scheer_sept_5_why_is_this_man_smiling/
Posted by: Christy at September 5, 2007 11:40 PM
Wal-Mart's latest ads say that because the Republican oil companies have been fleecing us, we have to be "sensible" and make that up by "saving" at Republican-owned Wal-Mart. To do otherwise is just very crazy, they say.
How insulting to the American public.
I'm sticking to blue Costco, despite its inexcusable red behavior in Red California.
Posted by: Christy at September 5, 2007 11:22 PM
You do have a point, but I've never seen a Dem call Clinton a Godsend (or even God himself).
By contrast, W is considered the latest Christian prophet by many Republicans. As for the Kim family, they are Gods themselves.
Pavarotti has died.
Australian Age poll -
Defence treaty : Will the new security deal with the US benefit Australia?
Yes - 24%
No - 76%
Total Votes: 1999 Poll date: 05/09/07
Post Bush and Post Howard the same question would have a different result - unless we manage to elect worse!!
Pavarotti has died.
What a terrible loss.
Yes, Christy that news came through while you were sleeping.
It is sad for the world, but a relief for him, I'm sure.
We know hillary won't stop him so she renders herself irrelevent.All I am saying is... wait for the story to play out, watch it, whatever, but focus your wrath on the dems that actually are the problem at the moment.
That would specifically be Pelosi and Conyers.
@@@@@@@@@
Impeachment is becoming more and more of a pipe-dream:
1) We have run out of time - only a little over a year left in Dubya's reign of error. The Campaign for 2008 has begun - Hillary, Obama, Dodd, Biden are busy, they don't want to deal with impeachment
2) The Senate won't convict George anyway
3) NONE of the presidential candidates presently in the Congress, not Hillary, not Obama, not Biden, not Dodd, not McCain, NOT EVEN Rep. Ron Paul are calling for impeachment.
The game, now, is holding the next president accountable for the truth and to correct the wrongs. Hillary is already avoiding this: she doesn't want to talk about her 2002 vote in favor of invasion; she doesn't want to talk about the Patriot Act or her support of it....
It is time to set new goals -
1) getting out of Iraq
2) getting a decent presidential candidate for 2008
Vets for Peace suggest:
Welcome Congress Back!
Congressional Call-In Day
Join the nationwide effort to flood the offices of our member of Congress with calls demanding an end to the U.S. war in Iraq. Let's make it clear:there cannot be "business as usual" in Washington. We need to bring our troops home immediately!
Our voice as veterans is extremely important to the decision makers in Washington, and we need to tell them, "Bring the troops home now, and take care of them when they get here!"
When: Thursday, Sept. 6
Capitol Hill Switchboard: 202-224-3121
Other numbers to reach Capitol Hill switchboard:
(800) 828 - 0498
(800) 459 - 1887
(800) 614 - 2803
Call your Representative and both Senators on Thursday, September 6th.
Tell them: "I want you to act now to end the war and occupation of Iraq. The Congress has the Constitutional right and a moral responsibility to use the power of the purse to withdraw all U.S. soldiers and contractors from Iraq on a rapid and
binding schedule. Four and a half years of this war is too long - it has to end
now!"
TIPS FOR CALLING YOUR REPRESENTATIVE'S OFFICE
When you call, ask for the aide who deals with your issue. Tell the aide who you are
and where you are calling from, identifying yourself as a constituent. Briefly state why you are calling and ask what the congressperson's position is on the measure. Then explain what action you are asking your congressperson to take: co-sponsor a bill, vote for or against a measure, etc.*
BACKGROUND
In September, Congress will focus on Iraq. They will vote on the President's request for continued funding of the war. At this writing, the request stands at $142 billion, but Bush will probably increase it to over $190 billion! Congress is not required to give Bush any of this money, or even to bring the request to a vote.
Congress can also put restrictions, firm withdrawal time lines and other conditions on any funding in order to force an end to the U.S. occupation of Iraq.
* http://www.fcnl.org/getin/resources/phone_lobby.htm
VETERANS WORKING TOGETHER FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE THROUGH NON-VIOLENCE.
Veterans For Peace, 216 S. Meramec, St. Louis, MO 63105, 314-725-6005
www.veteransforpeace.org
SON OF A BITCH!
Bush knew Saddam had no weapons of mass destruction
Salon exclusive: Two former CIA officers say the president squelched top-secret intelligence, and a briefing by George Tenet, months before invading Iraq.
By Sidney Blumenthal
Sept. 6, 2007 | On Sept. 18, 2002, CIA director George Tenet briefed President Bush in the Oval Office on top-secret intelligence that Saddam Hussein did not have weapons of mass destruction, according to two former senior CIA officers. Bush dismissed as worthless this information from the Iraqi foreign minister, a member of Saddam's inner circle, although it turned out to be accurate in every detail. Tenet never brought it up again.
Nor was the intelligence included in the National Intelligence Estimate of October 2002, which stated categorically that Iraq possessed WMD.
http://www.democracycellproject.net/blog/archives/2007/09/craig_resigns_n.html
(Insert Rabid Screaming Here!)
OOOPS.
I meant
http://www.salon.com/opinion/blumenthal/2007/09/06/bush_wmd/
Ralph, no one high profile is calling for it, cause at the moment our ENTIRE GOVERNMENT is implicated in WAR CRIMES, CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY AND WAR PROFITEERING.
And, it has become a pipe dream because nancy and conyers refuse to get off of their arses and do their jobs!
See cause it is just easier to let everyone get away with it then to confront the lot of them and start putting people in prison.
Of course the senate will not vote to convict at this moment, because most of them are IMPLICATED.
It is seriously time to start discussing the decapitation of our government as is our right spelled out in the Declaration of Independence.
Fire them all. Or as many as possible.
If we don't, you know what will happen...?
Nothing.
We don't defend Carter, and he actually had no real evils.
Posted by: Christy at September 5, 2007 11:22 PM
And that always amazes me, he is a truely christian man I think,
Posted by Rossi
We do not defend his Rossi, because he was a lousy president.
A good man, absolutely, but a crappy president.
TIPS FOR CALLING YOUR REPRESENTATIVE'S OFFICE
When you call, ask for the aide who deals with your issue. Tell the aide who you are
and where you are calling from, identifying yourself as a constituent. Briefly state why you are calling and ask what the congressperson's position is on the measure. Then explain what action you are asking your congressperson to take: co-sponsor a bill, vote for or against a measure, etc.*
BACKGROUND
@@@@@@@@
Just called my Representative's office _\
NOBODY HOME....
I will now call the district office
BTW, I wanted to add something about those nukes being flown into Barksdale.
For 1, that could not have happened by accident.
Remember, I was married to an Ammo Sgt who was stationed at Barksdale and helped design the computer tracking system for every nuke on base.
I am telling you right now, there is no way in hell those nukes were 'accidently' flown across the country.
And for 2, airplanes flying over my head with nukes is something you just get used to thinking about living beside the largest nuclear installation in the country.
THEY do not freak me out half as bad as a potential railroad disaster.
I just realized, I should probably move.
Experts doubt drop in violence in Iraq
Military statistics called into question
By Karen DeYoung
washingtonpost.com
Sept 6, 2007
The U.S. military's claim that violence has decreased sharply in Iraq in recent months has come under scrutiny from many experts within and outside the government, who contend that some of the underlying statistics are questionable and selectively ignore negative trends.
Reductions in violence form the centerpiece of the Bush administration's claim that its war strategy is working. In congressional testimony Monday, Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, is expected to cite a 75 percent decrease in sectarian attacks. According to senior U.S. military officials in Baghdad, overall attacks in Iraq were down to 960 a week in August, compared with 1,700 a week in June, and civilian casualties had fallen 17 percent between December 2006 and last month. Unofficial Iraqi figures show a similar decrease.
Others who have looked at the full range of U.S. government statistics on violence, however, accuse the military of cherry-picking positive indicators and caution that the numbers -- most of which are classified -- are often confusing and contradictory. "Let's just say that there are several different sources within the administration on violence, and those sources do not agree," Comptroller General David Walker told Congress on Tuesday in releasing a new Government Accountability Office report on Iraq.
Senior U.S. officers in Baghdad disputed the accuracy and conclusions of the largely negative GAO report, which they said had adopted a flawed counting methodology used by the CIA and the Defense Intelligence Agency. Many of those conclusions were also reflected in last month's pessimistic National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq.
Picking different numbers, outcomes
The intelligence community has its own problems with military calculations. Intelligence analysts computing aggregate levels of violence against civilians for the NIE puzzled over how the military designated attacks as combat, sectarian or criminal, according to one senior intelligence official in Washington. "If a bullet went through the back of the head, it's sectarian," the official said. "If it went through the front, it's criminal."
"Depending on which numbers you pick," he said, "you get a different outcome." Analysts found "trend lines . . . going in different directions" compared with previous years, when numbers in different categories varied widely but trended in the same direction. "It began to look like spaghetti."
more on...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20594604/
May whatever God yer into have mercy on us all...
(CNN) — Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee made a dramatic statement regarding Iraq at Wednesday night's GOP presidential debate, declaring, "We bought it because we broke it."
The comment came in perhaps the most compelling moment of the Republican debate when the Arkansas Republican directly confronted Texas Rep. Ron Paul on his position for an immediate withdrawal from the country.
"Congressman, whether or not we should have gone to Iraq is a discussion for historians, but we're there. We bought it because we broke it," he said. "We've got a responsibility to the honor of this country and the honor of every man and woman who has served in Iraq and our military to not leave them with anything less than the honor they deserve."
Amid loud cheers, Paul responded, "The American people didn't go in. A few people advising this administration, a small number of people called the neoconservatives, hijacked our foreign policy. They are responsible, not the American people."
Huckabee quickly fired back: "Congressman, we are one nation. We can't be divided. We have to be one nation under God. That means if we make a mistake, we make it as a single country."
As the crowd roared louder, Paul answered, "When we make a mistake, it is the obligation of the people — through their representatives — to correct the mistake, not continue the mistake. We have dug a hole for ourselves and we have dug a hole for our party. We are losing elections, and we are going down next year if we don't change it."
Huckabee replied loudly, "Even if we lose elections, we should not lose our honor."
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/09/06/huckbee-and-paul-tussle-on-iraq/
John Kerry at Huffington Post - and he calls it the "escalation," not the "surge." It's always good to reframe things. People constantly forget to do that, even with the press in Bush's pocket.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-kerry/the-escalation-didnt-wor_b_63167.html
The population of this country is 300
million.
160 million are retired.
That leaves 140 million to do the work. There are 85 million in school.
Which leaves 55 million to do the work.
Of this there are 35 million employed by the
federal government.
Leaving 15 million to do the work.
2.8 million are in the armed forces preoccupied
with killing Osama Bin-Laden.
Which leaves 12.2 million to do the work.
ake from that total the 10.8 million people who work for state and city governments. And that leaves 1.4 million to do the
work.
At any given time there are 188,000 people in
hospitals.
Leaving 1,212,000 to do the work.
Now, there are 1,211,998 people in prisons.
That leaves just two people to do the work.
You and me.
And there you are,
sitting at your computer, reading jokes.
Larry Craig Gives Up His Seat
http://www.silencedmajority.blogs.com
(cartoon: can't post the jpg here & get it to open)
Ralph, no one high profile is calling for it, cause at the moment our ENTIRE GOVERNMENT is implicated in WAR CRIMES, CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY AND WAR PROFITEERING.
And, it has become a pipe dream because nancy and conyers refuse to get off of their arses and do their jobs!
@@@@@@@@@@@@@
1) It's all the Congressional Dems - Pelosi, Reid, Clinton, Obama, Dodd, Biden who are running away from impeachment.
2) The Repubs in the Senate will not vote for impeaching Cheney much less impeaching Bush...
it's a lost cause..
BTW - Bills of censure of Bush and Cheney have been introduced in both the House and the Senate
We do not defend his Rossi, because he was a lousy president.
A good man, absolutely, but a crappy president.
Posted by: Christy at September 6, 2007 08:34 AM
Well I wasn't into American Politics back then, only committed myself in 2000, but you can't tell me he could have been that bad a President, after all look at what America has allowed into the White House for the last eight years, now I call that impetent little wanker, a LOUSY, INCOMPETENT, ILLITERATE ASS****,and I cannot see any redeeming qualities in this deviate at all.
Posted by: rossiann at September 6, 2007 10:17 AM
You really need to learn to express yourself more vividly ;-)
You really need to learn to express yourself more vividly ;-)
Posted by: monkey at September 6, 2007 10:23 AM
Ahahahahahah I thought I was monkey, can't you tell I dislike you president immensely. YOu have a corrupt little thug in the White House, If Carter was a lousy President, you have gone from bad to worse with each President residing in the White House since, Except for Bill maybe, his little fling, and his impeachment facinated the world, and really, can't you think of what kinds of kinky games Georgie has been performing in that same oval office with the likes of Gannon, and all the other deviate repubs for the last eight year
They Cooked The Books
Not Counted As Violence: People Shot In The Head From The Front, Car Bombs, Sunni On Sunni Violence, Shi'a On Shi'a Violence...
Experts Doubt Drop In Violence in Iraq
Military Statistics Called Into Question
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/05/AR2007090502466_pf.html
Once a thug and a liar, always a thug and a liar.
Bush: "We're Kicking Ass"
By George: now it's all the way with Howard J
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/by-george-now-its-all-the-way-with-howard-j/2007/09/05/1188783320123.html
Now Georgie according to the Polls, and the war in Iraq, I would think the only ass that is being kicked, is you own.
May he'll be in the headlines for the next 18 mths do you think?
Craig supporters call for boycott of Minneapolis airport
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BATTLE GROUND, Wash. -- Supporters of Sen. Larry Craig with the American Land Rights Association are calling for a boycott of the Minneapolis-Saint Paul Airport.
The Battle Ground (Washington) based association says airport police who arrested the senator in a men's room sex sting are responsible for
weakening private property rights in the West. Craig is a Republican member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
The American Land Rights Association, which has an office in Washington, D-C, advocates for the use of federal lands and against what it calls federal "land grabs."
The association says the airport should apologize to Craig for what it calls "ambushing" the senator.
Craig is trying to withdraw his guilty plea in the Minnesota case, and if he can do that he would change his mind about resigning.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420AP_WA_Craig_Land_Rights.html
Ahahahahaha
Video: Fake Osama comes within 30 feet of Bush hotel
Aussie comedians arrested for mocking Bush motorcade
http://rawstory.com//news/2007/Security_Breach_Fake_Osama_within_30_0906.html
Ron Paul wins 'text messaging vote' at Fox News debate
Republican iconoclast Ron Paul (R-TX) won a text messaging poll directly following the Fox News Republican debate last night.
Paul, who has polled poorly in national surveys, has a tremendous following online. His supporters have been instrumental in demonstrating his strength on popular news voting sites like Digg.com and Reddit.com.
The Texas congressman has co-sponsored a bill with another presidential contender, Democrat Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), that would repeal President Bush's authority to use force in Iraq within the next sixth months. Besides Kucinich, 18 other Democrats have signed on.
Clips of his answers at the debate can be found here.
http://hotfreshnow.blogspot.com/2007/09/ron-paul-conquers-fnc-debate.html
Hannity is upset Ron Paul is getting tons of votes!
Ahahahahahah,
Get a load of the you tube videos on Ron Paul at
http://hotfreshnow.blogspot.com/2007/09/ron-paul-conquers-fnc-debate.html
Ron Paul is giving it to Faux New in Bucket loads,
Ahahahahaha,
YOu should see Brit Humes face in these videos, and the dude on the Sundays programme, it's one for the people, they have told Faux New the mouth of the White House, to go wank themselves. rotfl
And Darn it all He's a republican