Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Lie of the Union

I will have tomorrow a detailed breakdown on the lie of the union that Bush had earlier but I wanted to touch base on one thing Bush said about oil. America isn't dependent on foreign oil Bush is.

I mean by that is Bush invaded one country so far over oil (Iraq) and will probably invade another (Iran) soon and who knows how many others are next? Bush is also very friendly with a country that actually had a hand in attacking us on 9/11 (Saudi Arabia).

Just remember that.

Patriot Act

I see where Arlen Spector of Pennsylvania wants to add a provision in the Patriot Act where it's ok to arrest protesters at events if they come into a "restricted area." What the restricted area would be who knows.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,183147,00.html

Again more of a power grab.

Breaking News

We got some breaking news here. Cindy Sheehan was arrested again. She was invited to the State of the Union and was arrested for wearing a shirt that listed the number of dead in Iraq. So much for free speech huh? This was at rawstory.com

Fair and Balanced??

I'd like to talk how the media is going to cover George Bush's lie of the union (and don't worry I say that no matter who is Pres). I see where allegedly liberal CNN is having a panel of 3 conservatives and 1 liberal http://mediamatters.org/items/200601310008

You know Fox won't have any liberals and if MSNBC puts up Kieth Olberman I'd be suprised but you know we will see Tucker Carlson, Pat Buchanon, Joe Scarborogh and Chirs Matthews in some form or another.

Yeah it's going to be a non fair and balanced night.

In Name Only

You know what I'm really sick of? I'm sick of these politions that are democrats in name only.

YOu know who I mean? I mean guys like Lieberman and ANY democrat who voted to confirm Alieto. They are disgraces. They really should either become the republicans they really are or independents. We in the democratic party need progressive people with progressive ideas and Lieberman blindly supports Bush.

I see where Cindy Shehan wants to run against Diane Feinstein. Good I say because we need people with free thought and Feinstein is not one of them.

I'm quite sick of people like Joe Lieberman and it's time they finally say who and what they really are and that is republicans. They are not democrats.

Monday, January 30, 2006

A sad day

The attempt to filibsuter Samuel Alieto has failed 75-25 and it looks like this scumbag will be confirmed to the Supreme Court. I will make a note and list EVERY Democrat who supports this yes man for the Republican agenda and will ask you to bombard them with emails, calls and everything to let them know you will remember this come election time.

Party of Post 9/11

That's how Karl Rove describes the Republican Party. How are things after 9/11? Let's take a look:

Osama Bin Laden: Still out there, alive and forgotten about. Remember he was the person involved in the attacks and still alive and well. George has failed miserably on the war on terror and if Karl Rove thinks we are winning, he needs a reality check.

By the way if by also the republicans are the party of post 9/11 that means more of our freedoms will be gone, more government interference in our lives.

Yeah this is good for our country isn't it?

More on Bush-Abramoff

With all the talk about the "liberal" media especially the White House Press Core whenever Scott McClellen says Bush doesn't know lobbyist Jack Abramoff no one says the fact (and I have the link on a previous post) that Abramoff was on Bush's transistion team in 2000.

Odd isn't it?

What is enough?

I just saw where the price gouging oil company Exxon-Mobil just posted a profit of over $10.8 billion dollars. You tell me are they screwing the public or what? Yet not suprisingly no investigation by congress or senate or the White House for obvious reasons.

What a shame.

Sunday, January 29, 2006

Alieto

It's not to late. To as I did. If you are against Samuel Alieto (not a typo) contact your senator. Email them call their office in Washington D.C. urge them for the fillibuster. Alieto is going to be so damaging for this country it's not funny.

I fear for our future if he gets in.

Bill O'Reilly

I wonder if Bill O'Reilly recycles columns cause I seem to remember this weeks column in the past.

Basically he states you can't bash Bush cause it's un-american. Nevermind him and his ilk did that to President Clinton no matter what he did (with both heads).

Last I checked (I guess I need to remind Mr. O'Reilly this) we have the right to freedom of speech in this country. It is in the constitution again last I saw. That to me means we have the right to agree and disagree with people no matter who they are whether it's the President, any politition, friends, family whatever. We can agree and disagree with what is said. It's called Mr. O'Reilly a discussion. You did that no matter what President Clinton did as I just said and now when someone does it to your by god George Bush it's not allowed? Give me a break.

Sounds like as always O'Reilly is a hyporcrite. What else is new from the loser.

Friday, January 27, 2006

Handicaping 2008

So I guess we are already talking about who is going to run in 2008. Here is my view on who may or may not run. Difference right now is you hear many more names from Democrats then Republicans but here is my guess on both sides.

Democrats:
Al Gore
John Kerry
John Edwards
Hilary Clinton
Barrick Obama
Bill Richardson

Republicans
Condelisa Rice (Sorry if that's spelled wrong)
John McCain
Elizabeth Dole
Dick Cheney
Jeb Bush
Rudolph Gulianni
Bill Frist

If you feel I left anyone out of either party feel free to posst. It will be a horserace like 2000.

20 years ago

It was 20 years ago today when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded killing Christa McAuliffe Commander Dick Scobee, pilot Mike Smith and astronauts Ellison Onizuka, Judy Resnik, Ron McNair and Greg Jarvis also died.

I remember just finishing a High School final when the principal came over pa and told us about the tragedy. Let's hope they, as well as the astronauts who died more recently in the Columbia disaster are not forgotten.

Bill O'Reilly

Since it's been awhile since I bashed Bill O'Reilly on any stupid comments he made I thought it was about time. He said on his radio show the other day that Bush has actually kept his promises that he made during his campains.

I'd like to beg to differ with Bill cause I think he has in fact I found a list of EVERY pledge he has broken. It's quite long as you can imagine and the link for where I found it is http://www.americanprogressaction.org/site/pp.asp?c=klLWJcP7H&b=118263

1. Social Security Surplus

BUSH PLEDGES NOT TO TOUCH SOCIAL SECURITY SURPLUS... "We're going to keep the promise of Social Security and keep the government from raiding the Social Security surplus." [President Bush, 3/3/01]

...BUSH SPENDS SOCIAL SECURITY SURPLUS The New York Times reported that "the president's new budget uses Social Security surpluses to pay for other programs every year through 2013, ultimately diverting more than $1.4 trillion in Social Security funds to other purposes." [The New York Times, 2/6/02]

2. Patient's Right to Sue

GOVERNOR BUSH VETOES PATIENTS' RIGHT TO SUE... "Despite his campaign rhetoric in favor of a patients' bill of rights, Bush fought such a bill tooth and nail as Texas governor, vetoing a bill coauthored by Republican state Rep. John Smithee in 1995. He... constantly opposed a patient's right to sue an HMO over coverage denied that resulted in adverse health effects." [Salon, 2/7/01]

...CANDIDATE BUSH PRAISES TEXAS PATIENTS' RIGHT TO SUE... "We're one of the first states that said you can sue an HMO for denying you proper coverage... It's time for our nation to come together and do what's right for the people. And I think this is right for the people. You know, I support a national patients' bill of rights, Mr. Vice President. And I want all people covered. I don't want the law to supersede good law like we've got in Texas." [Governor Bush, 10/17/00]

...PRESIDENT BUSH'S ADMINISTRATION ARGUES AGAINST RIGHT TO SUE "To let two Texas consumers, Juan Davila and Ruby R. Calad, sue their managed-care companies for wrongful denials of medical benefits ‘would be to completely undermine' federal law regulating employee benefits, Assistant Solicitor General James A. Feldman said at oral argument March 23. Moreover, the administration's brief attacked the policy rationale for Texas's law, which is similar to statutes on the books in nine other states." [Washington Post, 4/5/04]

3. Tobacco Buyout

BUSH SUPPORTS CURRENT TOBACCO FARMERS' QUOTA SYSTEM... "They've got the quota system in place -- the allotment system -- and I don't think that needs to be changed." [President Bush, 5/04]

...BUSH ADMINISTRATION WILL SUPPORT FEDERAL BUYOUT OF TOBACCO QUOTAS "The administration is open to a buyout." [White House spokeswoman Jeanie Mamo, 6/18/04]

4. North Korea

BUSH WILL NOT OFFER NUCLEAR NORTH KOREA INCENTIVES TO DISARM... "We developed a bold approach under which, if the North addressed our long-standing concerns, the United States was prepared to take important steps that would have significantly improved the lives of the North Korean people. Now that North Korea's covert nuclear weapons program has come to light, we are unable to pursue this approach." [President's Statement, 11/15/02]

...BUSH ADMINISTRATION OFFERS NORTH KOREA INCENTIVES TO DISARM"Well, we will work to take steps to ease their political and economic isolation. So there would be -- what you would see would be some provisional or temporary proposals that would only lead to lasting benefit after North Korea dismantles its nuclear programs. So there would be some provisional or temporary efforts of that nature." [White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan, 6/23/04]

5. Abortion

BUSH SUPPORTS A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE... "Bush said he...favors leaving up to a woman and her doctor the abortion question." [The Nation, 6/15/00, quoting the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, 5/78]

...BUSH OPPOSES A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE "I am pro-life." [Governor Bush, 10/3/00]


Just to add to this he said in a phone call to "pro-life" groups this week "We Will Prevail"


6. OPEC

BUSH PROMISES TO FORCE OPEC TO LOWER PRICES... "What I think the president ought to do [when gas prices spike] is he ought to get on the phone with the OPEC cartel and say we expect you to open your spigots...And the president of the United States must jawbone OPEC members to lower the price." [President Bush, 1/26/00]

...BUSH REFUSES TO LOBBY OPEC LEADERS With gas prices soaring in the United States at the beginning of 2004, the Miami Herald reported the president refused to "personally lobby oil cartel leaders to change their minds." [Miami Herald, 4/1/04]

7. Iraq Funding

BUSH SPOKESMAN DENIES NEED FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR THE REST OF 2004... "We do not anticipate requesting supplemental funding for '04" [White House Budget Director Joshua Bolton, 2/2/04]

...BUSH REQUESTS ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR IRAQ FOR 2004 "I am requesting that Congress establish a $25 billion contingency reserve fund for the coming fiscal year to meet all commitments to our troops." [President Bush, Statement by President, 5/5/04]

8. Condoleeza Rice Testimony

BUSH SPOKESMAN SAYS RICE WON'T TESTIFY AS 'A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE'... "Again, this is not her personal preference; this goes back to a matter of principle. There is a separation of powers issue involved here. Historically, White House staffers do not testify before legislative bodies. So it's a matter of principle, not a matter of preference." [White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan, 3/9/04]

...BUSH ORDERS RICE TO TESTIFY: "Today I have informed the Commission on Terrorist Attacks Against the United States that my National Security Advisor, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, will provide public testimony." [President Bush, 3/30/04]

9. Science

BUSH PLEDGES TO ISSUE REGULATIONS BASED ON SCIENCE..."I think we ought to have high standards set by agencies that rely upon science, not by what may feel good or what sounds good." [then-Governor George W. Bush, 1/15/00]

...BUSH ADMINISTRATION REGULATIONS IGNORE SCIENCE "60 leading scientists—including Nobel laureates, leading medical experts, former federal agency directors and university chairs and presidents—issued a statement calling for regulatory and legislative action to restore scientific integrity to federal policymaking. According to the scientists, the Bush administration has, among other abuses, suppressed and distorted scientific analysis from federal agencies, and taken actions that have undermined the quality of scientific advisory panels." [Union of Concerned Scientists, 2/18/04]

10. Ahmed Chalabi

BUSH INVITES CHALABI TO STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS...President Bush also met with Chalabi during his brief trip to Iraq last Thanksgiving [White House Documents 1/20/04, 11/27/03]

...BUSH MILITARY ASSISTS IN RAID OF CHALABI'S HOUSE "U.S. soldiers raided the home of America's one-time ally Ahmad Chalabi on Thursday and seized documents and computers." [Washington Post, 5/20/04]

11. Department of Homeland Security

BUSH OPPOSES THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY..."So, creating a Cabinet office doesn't solve the problem. You still will have agencies within the federal government that have to be coordinated. So the answer is that creating a Cabinet post doesn't solve anything." [White House spokesman Ari Fleischer, 3/19/02]

...BUSH SUPPORTS THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY "So tonight, I ask the Congress to join me in creating a single, permanent department with an overriding and urgent mission: securing the homeland of America and protecting the American people." [President Bush, Address to the Nation, 6/6/02]

12. Weapons of Mass Destruction

BUSH SAYS WE FOUND THE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION..."We found the weapons of mass destruction. We found biological laboratories...for those who say we haven't found the banned manufacturing devices or banned weapons, they're wrong, we found them." [President Bush, Interview in Poland, 5/29/03]

...BUSH SAYS WE HAVEN'T FOUND WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION "David Kay has found the capacity to produce weapons.And when David Kay goes in and says we haven't found stockpiles yet, and there's theories as to where the weapons went. They could have been destroyed during the war. Saddam and his henchmen could have destroyed them as we entered into Iraq. They could be hidden. They could have been transported to another country, and we'll find out." [President Bush, Meet the Press, 2/7/04]

13. Free Trade

BUSH SUPPORTS FREE TRADE... "I believe strongly that if we promote trade, and when we promote trade, it will help workers on both sides of this issue." [President Bush in Peru, 3/23/02]

...BUSH SUPPORTS RESTRICTIONS ON TRADE "In a decision largely driven by his political advisers, President Bush set aside his free-trade principles last year and imposed heavy tariffs on imported steel to help out struggling mills in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, two states crucial for his reelection." [Washington Post, 9/19/03]

14. Osama Bin Laden

BUSH WANTS OSAMA DEAD OR ALIVE... "I want justice. And there's an old poster out West, I recall, that says, 'Wanted: Dead or Alive.'" [President Bush, on Osama Bin Laden, 09/17/01]

...BUSH DOESN'T CARE ABOUT OSAMA "I don't know where he is.You know, I just don't spend that much time on him... I truly am not that concerned about him."[President Bush, Press Conference, 3/13/02]

15. The Environment

BUSH SUPPORTS MANDATORY CAPS ON CARBON DIOXIDE... "[If elected], Governor Bush will work to...establish mandatory reduction targets for emissions of four main pollutants: sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, mercury and carbon dioxide." [Bush Environmental Plan, 9/29/00]

...BUSH OPPOSES MANDATORY CAPS ON CARBON DIOXIDE "I do not believe, however, that the government should impose on power plants mandatory emissions reductions for carbon dioxide, which is not a 'pollutant' under the Clean Air Act." [President Bush, Letter to Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE), 3/13/03]

16. WMD Commission

BUSH RESISTS AN OUTSIDE INVESTIGATION ON WMD INTELLIGENCE FAILURE... "The White House immediately turned aside the calls from Kay and many Democrats for an immediate outside investigation, seeking to head off any new wide-ranging election-year inquiry that might go beyond reports already being assembled by congressional committees and the Central Intelligence Agency." [NY Times, 1/29/04]

...BUSH SUPPORTS AN OUTSIDE INVESTIGATION ON WMD INTELLIGENCE FAILURE "Today, by executive order, I am creating an independent commission, chaired by Governor and former Senator Chuck Robb, Judge Laurence Silberman, to look at American intelligence capabilities, especially our intelligence about weapons of mass destruction." [President Bush, 2/6/04]

17. Creation of the 9/11 Commission

BUSH OPPOSES CREATION OF INDEPENDENT 9/11 COMMISSION... "President Bush took a few minutes during his trip to Europe Thursday to voice his opposition to establishing a special commission to probe how the government dealt with terror warnings before Sept. 11." [CBS News, 5/23/02]

...BUSH SUPPORTS CREATION OF INDEPENDENT 9/11 COMMISSION "President Bush said today he now supports establishing an independent commission to investigate the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks." [ABC News, 09/20/02]

18. Time Extension for 9/11 Commission

BUSH OPPOSES TIME EXTENSION FOR 9/11 COMMISSION... "President Bush and House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) have decided to oppose granting more time to an independent commission investigating the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks." [Washington Post, 1/19/04]

...BUSH SUPPORTS TIME EXTENSION FOR 9/11 COMMISSION "The White House announced Wednesday its support for a request from the commission investigating the September 11, 2001 attacks for more time to complete its work." [CNN, 2/4/04]

19. One Hour Limit for 9/11 Commission Testimony

BUSH LIMITS TESTIMONY IN FRONT OF 9/11 COMMISSION TO ONE HOUR... "President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney have placed strict limits on the private interviews they will grant to the federal commission investigating the Sept. 11 attacks, saying that they will meet only with the panel's top two officials and that Mr. Bush will submit to only a single hour of questioning, commission members said Wednesday." [NY Times, 2/26/04]

...BUSH SETS NO TIMELIMIT FOR TESTIMONY "The president's going to answer all of the questions they want to raise. Nobody's watching the clock." [White House spokesman Scott McClellan, 3/10/04]

20. Gay Marriage

BUSH SAYS GAY MARRIAGE IS A STATE ISSUE... "The state can do what they want to do. Don't try to trap me in this state's issue like you're trying to get me into." [Gov. George W. Bush on Gay Marriage, Larry King Live, 2/15/00]

...BUSH SUPPORTS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT BANNING GAY MARRIAGE "Today I call upon the Congress to promptly pass, and to send to the states for ratification, an amendment to our Constitution defining and protecting marriage as a union of man and woman as husband and wife." [President Bush, 2/24/04]

21. Nation Building

BUSH OPPOSES NATION BUILDING... "If we don't stop extending our troops all around the world in nation-building missions, then we're going to have a serious problem coming down the road." [Gov. George W. Bush, 10/3/00]

...BUSH SUPPORTS NATION BUILDING "We will be changing the regime of Iraq, for the good of the Iraqi people." [President Bush, 3/6/03]

Just to add he has done it twice now.

22. Saddam/al Qaeda Link

BUSH SAYS IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEEN AL QAEDA AND SADDAM... "You can't distinguish between al Qaeda and Saddam when you talk about the war on terror." [President Bush, 9/25/02]

...BUSH SAYS SADDAM HAD NO ROLE IN AL QAEDA PLOT "We've had no evidence that Saddam Hussein was involved in Sept. 11." [President Bush, 9/17/03]

23. U.N. Resolution

BUSH VOWS TO HAVE A UN VOTE NO MATTER WHAT... "No matter what the whip count is, we're calling for the vote. We want to see people stand up and say what their opinion is about Saddam Hussein and the utility of the United Nations Security Council. And so, you bet. It's time for people to show their cards, to let the world know where they stand when it comes to Saddam." [President Bush 3/6/03]

...BUSH WITHDRAWS REQUEST FOR VOTE "At a National Security Council meeting convened at the White House at 8:55 a.m., Bush finalized the decision to withdraw the resolution from consideration and prepared to deliver an address to the nation that had already been written." [Washington Post, 3/18/03]

24. Involvement in the Palestinian Conflict

BUSH OPPOSES SUMMITS... "Well, we've tried summits in the past, as you may remember. It wasn't all that long ago where a summit was called and nothing happened, and as a result we had significant intifada in the area." [President Bush, 04/05/02]

...BUSH SUPPORTS SUMMITS "If a meeting advances progress toward two states living side by side in peace, I will strongly consider such a meeting. I'm committed to working toward peace in the Middle East." [President Bush, 5/23/03]

25. Campaign Finance

BUSH OPPOSES MCCAIN-FEINGOLD... "George W. Bush opposes McCain-Feingold...as an infringement on free expression." [Washington Post, 3/28/2000]

...BUSH SIGNS MCCAIN-FEINGOLD INTO LAW "[T]his bill improves the current system of financing for Federal campaigns, and therefore I have signed it into law." [President Bush, at the McCain-Feingold signing ceremony, 03/27/02]

26. 527s

Bush opposes restrictions on 527s: "I also have reservations about the constitutionality of the broad ban on issue advertising [in McCain Feingold], which restrains the speech of a wide variety of groups on issues of public import." [President Bush, 3/27/02]

…Bush says 527s bad for system: "I don't think we ought to have 527s. I can't be more plain about it…I think they're bad for the system. That's why I signed the bill, McCain-Feingold." [President Bush, 8/23/04]

27. Medical Records

Bush says medical records must remain private: "I believe that we must protect…the right of every American to have confidence that his or her personal medical records will remain private." [President Bush, 4/12/01]

…Bush says patients' histories are not confidntial: The Justice Department…asserts that patients "no longer possess a reasonable expectation that their histories will remain completely confidential." [BusinessWeek, 4/30/04]

28. Timelines For Dictators

Bush sets timeline for Saddam: "If Iraq does not accept the terms within a week of passage or fails to disclose required information within 30 days, the resolution authorizes 'all necessary means' to force compliance--in other words, a military attack." [LA Times, 10/3/02]

…Bush says he's against timelines: "I don't think you give timelines to dictators." [President Bush, 8/27/04]

29. The Great Lakes

Bush wants to divert great lakes: "Even though experts say 'diverting any water from the Great Lakes region sets a bad precedent' Bush 'said he wants to talk to Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chr̩tien about piping water to parched states in the west and southwest.'Р[AP, 7/19/01]

Bush says he'll never divert Great Lakes: "We've got to use our resources wisely, like water. It starts with keeping the Great Lakes water in the Great Lakes Basin...My position is clear: We're never going to allow diversion of Great Lakes water." [President Bush, 8/16/04]

30. Winning The War On Terror

Bush claims he can win the war on terror: "One of the interesting things people ask me, now that we're asking questions, is, can you ever win the war on terror? Of course, you can." [President Bush, 4/13/04]

…Bush says war on terror is unwinnable: "I don't think you can win [the war on terror]." [President Bush, 8/30/04]

…Bush says he will win the war on terror: "Make no mistake about it, we are winning and we will win [the war on terror]." [President Bush, 8/31/04]

Just to add as well the fact the White House has stonewalled on issues like Jack Abramoff and the Katrina Investigation. Just a sad state we are in.

Pay to Play

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/nation/01/27delayfox.html

So Foxnews, you know them right?? Paid Tom DeLay $14,000 to make an appearance on Fox News Sunday last fall. This included a chartered jet. This was right after being indicted for taking money.

I guess he feels he was and still is untouchable.

Grand Theft Auto

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11058929/

We all know the popular video game series Grand Theft Auto. I have it for my Playstation 2 and am well aware of it. The game has a mature rating (after an original rating of teen) meaning of course that is a very violent game. It is. It has a lot of swearing as well.

That being said the City of Los Angeles is suing the company that makes the games Rockstar Games as well as it's parent company Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. for "making misleading statements in marketing the game and engaging in unfair competition."

Again everyone with 1/3 of a brain knows what the Grand Theft Auto is. It's as I said a violent game I will never play that with my nephews and nice around since I know better. However though if someone is under 18 and not old enough to get the game or play the game doesn't that responsibility fall on the person's parents? And if the stores are selling it to minors isn't it also their responsibility?

Just wondering.

Middle East Elections

I'd like to talk about Hamas taking over in the elections held in Palestine. Everyone knows I support Isreal and my impression is Hamas is a terrorist organization who will only join in furthering the destruction of Israel.

I think though there are two choices here and we will all I guess have to find out what will ultimately be decided. And if anyone has alternate choices please feel free to leave them.

A) Hamas is claiming to want to extend an olive branch of peace to the region so let's try it and see what happens.

B) Overthrow an elected government as the U.S. has done in recent years in Haiti and Iraq.

Really I feel those are the only two options. The United States and Isreal will have to weigh the pros and cons and decide which is best. However knowing Bush's preference for war (come on we know this) I have a feeling how he will decide however if I am wrong I will be the first to apologize on this site.

Thursday, January 26, 2006

Joel Stein

I'd like to talk briefly about conservative columnist Joel Stein's last piece in the Los Angeles Times I believe it was yesterday. He stated, as all of the right-wing media states, you cannot support the troops if you don't support the war.

I would like to defer with those comments. Most of the troops who signed up thought they would be going to the forgotten war in Afghanastan against the forgotten mastermind of 9/11 Osama Bin Laden. Not an illegal war in Iraq. Most of the troops thought they would be properly armed which they are not. Most of the troops thought they would have armored vehichles which they are not. Most thought they would NOT have to get their own armor for themselves but they DO. Remember Rummy's comment you go to the war with the army you have not the one you want??

I want the troops home for those reasons. They are fighting an illegal war, the troops are not properly armed or have the proper protection. We are at 2200 + soldiers murdered based on this illegal war (not to mention how many died after being wounded cause the Pentagon doesn't release those numbers).

But that's me and my opinion.

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Katrina and the White House

I saw on CNN and MSNBC where W. is refusing to release documents relating to the governments response to hurricaine Katrina to senate and house investigators who are investigating the slow response.

I'd love to say I'm suprised but obviously I'm not since they do that to every inquiry made. We can NEVER have a proper investigation with this sick psychopath in office. What is actually wrong with wanting to know what was done right or done wrong?

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

A dark day

It's a dark day for America as Samuel Alieto (not a typo) passed the Senate Judiciary commitee in a vote along party lines.

Bill Frist the other day said Alieto would be "liberals worst nightmares" so how am I supposed to feel now that the court has switched so far to the right?

A woman's right to choose, gone. Right to privacy, gone. More Presidential power this civil rights.

It's a dark day as I said.

Monday, January 23, 2006

West Wing

After a ratings decline over a couple of years NBC decided to cancel the award-winning show the West Wing. At it's best it was a great show that actaully involved politions who think of solutions.

I'm not sure why Foxnews talked about it in depth yesterday even though the one correspondent said she has never seen it they seemed gleeful and why it's the headline in today's Los Angeles Daily News after all it is a TV Show. Nothing more nothing less. TV Shows get cancelled all the time.

Oh wait, it was about a LIBERALm common sense President who was sane in his decision making and actually SOUGHT opinions from staffers instead of oh our current president who makes his own decisions despite being what's best for the country.

Conservatives must really be happy about this huh?

Sunday, January 22, 2006

UCLA

I'd like to talk about something that's going on at UCLA. A graduate named Andrew Jones (not the one that plays for the Braves) started a group called Bruin Alumni Assn. who's sole purpose is to silence liberal professors.

The group is offering money for notes,handouts and illicit recording of lectures (up to $100 for all three) on the professors who lean just to the left. Now last I checked we do have freedom of speech in this country and the group is not doing the same for conservative professors.

Something is very wrong with this.

Saturday, January 21, 2006

Google

Tell me something. Is it alright for the government to know what you are looking for on the internet? I don't think it's anyones business but my own but that's me. The Justice Department is asking for ALL search requests from Google so they can claim they are searching for people looking for pornography. You know how I distrust this administration so I think they are as usual budding into our private affairs. How can any sesible conservative support this administration big brother? They are going into our lives and it has to stop!

Friday, January 20, 2006

Curious

http://money.cnn.com/2006/01/20/technology/google_stock/index.htm?cnn=yes

Isn't it interesting how 1 day after Google refuses to give search results to the government Google has it's single biggest drop ever?

I'm not implying anything just coincidence.

No News

Sorry there is no news yet on the 2 miners that are missing in West Virginia after another mine incident. If there is more news I will give it to you.

Brokeback Mountain

Ladies and Gentlemen I would like to talk about a movie that has been making news both positive and negative and that is Brokeback Mountain. The movie is about pretty much two gay cowboys. I have not seen the movie nor do I have an interest in seeing it so I am not going to make any judgements on the movie one way or another nor am I going to advise you to see it or not see it. The choice is clearly up to you.

However that does not stop homophobic right-wing media to share their views on it. I'd like to give some quotes (courtesy of media maters) and I may note that most of them who are judging the movie have not seen it to judge.

First from Scarbourough Country with guest Catholic League President William A. Donohue:(this was on December 15th)

DONOHUE: Well, I heard that from other people that it is, artistically, a good movie.

So, I haven't -- going to see it. Gay cowboy doesn't interest me. I am going to go see King Kong. I suspect the people who make these kind of movies, though -- like gay cowboy -- would go to see a movie called 'The Gay Gorilla'. But that's the difference between Hollywood and mainstream.

Now Fox's James Gibson: GIBSON: Hollywood may, in fact, want to give every Oscar it can find to the first gay cowboy movie. But I think most people do not want to go into a darkened room with a tub of popcorn and munch away watching two guys get it on. I just don't.

[...]

I had one prominent writer say he wouldn't come on my radio show because I made hate-encouraging speech when I said I couldn't figure out which was going to be harder to watch, the guys smooching in Brokeback or [former CIA operative] Bob Bear getting his fingernails ripped out in Syriana.

I said, hey, I know people who are gay. I have nothing against them, but I don't want to see this movie.

This is from the Jan 17th Larry King Live with conservative talk show host Janet Parshall and Southern Babtist Theological Seminary president R. Albert Mohler Jr.:

PARSHALL: No, I didn't see the film and I'm not at all surprised that out of seven [Golden Globe] nominations Brokeback walked away with four -- and some might say that's an indication of what the Oscar ceremonies might look like later on this year.

KING: Why would you comment on it if you haven't seen it?

PARSHALL: Well, I'm interested in all of the buzz around the film. I'm not the least bit surprised that we're hearing so much chatter. After all, I think what we're witnessing, Larry, is the homosexualizing of America.

[...]

MOHLER: I've not seen the movie, Larry, and that's a matter of decision, not just a matter of chance. Like others, I don't feel any need to see the movie. I have read the screenplay. I know the short story and, of course, I know what the movie is about because it's out there so much in the media.

That's the main issue. I am not a movie critic. I really can't speak to the cinematography. I can just speak to what the cultural meaning of this film is and why I see it as a great challenge.

KING: Didn't the short story move you at all?

MOHLER: Well, no, actually --

KING: For example, you're a reverend. Didn't you have some compassion for what happened to the younger one of the two?

MOHLER: Well, absolutely. You have to feel compassion when anyone feels pain and when anyone goes through that kind of struggle. But, you know, I really am horrified to think about where that story ended.

You know, my main concern, Larry, is not with the gospel of heterosexuality -- even though I think that's very important -- it's with the gospel of Jesus Christ, and what I find lacking in the movie, the screenplay, and in the short story is any resolution that really brings these persons to know why they were created and how God really intends them to live, and how they would find their greatest satisfaction in living just as God had intended them for his glory.

This is from Jan 2 of Fox's Special Report with Brit Hume:

JIM ANGLE (Fox News chief Washington correspondent): I'm joined by our all-star panel, with or without crystal balls, to find out what they expect to see in this coming year. Fred Barnes, executive editor of The Weekly Standard, Mort Kondracke, executive editor of Roll Call, and the syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer, Fox News contributors all.

OK. 2006, Charles, what do you see?

KRAUTHAMMER: I see, number one, Fidel Castro dies. I say this not with any inside medical information as a doctor but he's actuarially due. Cuba becomes a free country and a decent one and a favorite American resort.

Number two, Iran reaches the point of no return in uranium enrichment, declares openly it's going to seek and acquire nuclear weapons. [United Nations] Security Council will do absolutely nothing.

To balance the bad news, number three, the [President Bashar Al-] Assad dictatorship in Syria will be overthrown.

And last but not least, Brokeback Mountain will have been seen in the theaters by 18 people, but the right 18, and will win the Academy Award.

ANGLE: Brokeback Mountain, the movie about gay cowboys.

KRAUTHAMMER: Exactly.

And last my personal favorite Bill O'Reilly from December 14th:

O'REILLY: Okay. You know, it's interesting because the polls show that Americans are going back to church in greater numbers than they were 10 years ago. But I believe that there's a segment of Americans that have -- are rebelling against the no boundaries deal, and they're so fed up that they said, "You know, maybe there's another way," and that's why that's happening.

But in popular culture, things are getting worse. You know, I can give you -- I could sit here and give you examples all day. Let me just give you this example, and this is a controversial example. This gay cowboy movie -- and it's going to win, you know, a lot of awards all over -- and their -- the media is pushing this like crazy. And I couldn't care less about it, to tell you the truth.

I probably will not go to see it, you know, just because I don't care about gay cowboys. I mean, it's -- to be quite frank. If it were straight cowboys, I probably wouldn't go to see it. I saw a lot of cowboys when I was a little kid, I loved the cowboys then. Right now, cowboys don't really mean much to me. So, probably not going to go and see it.

But you're going to see, over the next month, this movie being pushed and pushed and pushed by every media you can imagine. Why? Because they want to mainstream homosexual conduct. That's the goal.

Now again O'Reilly from January 17th:

O'REILLY: And I get a kick out of Brokeback Mountain. I get a kick -- I'm not going to go see it, because people have seen it. [Legal analyst] Lis Wiehl said it was boring. But if it were -- you know -- if I had gotten good reviews from the people I know who have seen it, I'd go. But, you know, I'm not really interested in sheep herders. They got two sheep herders and two guys, and they're in Montana. I like Montana. Or Wyoming. Maybe, they cross the border here and there. I don't know.

But they're in the tent together rolling around. It's not -- you know, to me -- I want to watch ESPN. OK. I'm not -- the pup tent rolling around -- I want to watch the highlights of the game, not the pup tent. Just me. You want to go? Go. All right.

By the way a movie theater chain in Utah owned by Utah Jazz owner Larry Miller decided not air the movie breaking his distribution deal with the company.

Again I have no interest in the movie. If you want to see it that's your choice if you don't want to see the movie it's your choice but to turn it into a pollitical issue like the right wing media is trying to is plain wrong.br

Thursday, January 19, 2006

Breaking News

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/mine_fire

Two people are missing after a fire in a mine in West Virginia. If I get anymore information I will pass it along.

New Tape

I'd like to share something that W. said March 13th,2002 6 months after 9/11 when asked about Osama Bin Laden: “So I don’t know where he is. You know, I just don’t spend that much time on him. … And, again, I don’t know where he is. I — I’ll repeat what I said. I truly am not that concerned about him.” [3/13/02]

So I posted how Osama is the forgotten man even though he is responsible solely for 9/11, even though he is responsible for the deaths of over 3,000 people Bush has forgot about him and in fact there hasn't been a tape from him since 2004 leading to some speculation (including me) that he might have been killed perhaps in the big Earthquake they had in Pakistan.

Wrong. Today a new tape was released to Arab TV promising more attacks and if you don't think it will happen, you are wrong. I believe him more then I believe anyone in the Bush administration.

Just remember (and you can ask Israel this) you can have the best security in the world but if someone has the guts enough to attack they will find a way.

Wednesday, January 18, 2006

Caught Again

I'd like to talk more about disgraced lobbiest Jack Abramoff and his connection to George Bush. Here is an exchange between White House Press Secretary Scott McClellen and some questions he was asked. I'd also like to give some facts on the relationship between Abramoff and Bush. Courtesy of thinkprogress.

This is from Jan 5th.

Q Any update on the Abramoff visits to the White House beyond the three parties that he attended?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I indicated yesterday that I think there were some — a few staff-level meetings. But, no, I’m making sure that I have a thorough report back to you on that. And I’ll get that to you, hopefully very soon.

Now from yesterday:

Q Specific staff? You were going to get back to us on the specific staff —

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, my understanding from the check that we did was that there are just a few staff-level meetings in addition to those.

Q Who was in the staff meetings?

MR. McCLELLAN: I don’t get into discussing staff-level meetings.

Sounds like they found info they feel we shouldn't know about but then again I expect no less. Could this be it?

In President Bush’s first 10 months, GOP fundraiser Jack Abramoff and his lobbying team logged nearly 200 contacts with the new administration as they pressed for friendly hires at federal agencies and sought to keep the Northern Mariana Islands exempt from the minimum wage and other laws

Also, Bush personally met with Abramoff at least once early in his presidency:

Abramoff was so closely tied to the Bush Administration that he could, and did, charge two of his clients $25,000 for a White House lunch date and a meeting with the President. From the same two clients he took to the White House in May 2001, Abramoff also obtained $2.5 million in contributions for a non-profit foundation he and his wife operated.

Bush is neck deep involved with this.

Max Boot

I'd like to talk about conservative LA Times columnist (like there is much else from the paper) Max Boot's column in todays LA Times. He states that the fact that the Bush Administration is wiretapping Americans shouldn't bother us.

If I may I would like to make arguments against that viewpoint.

First it's illegal but what should I expect from an administation that has no regard for the law.

It violates our right to privacy. We do, as few as we now have, do have some basic civil rights and this violates that as well. (Remember a private conversation between Monica Lewinsky and LInda Tripp that illegally wiretapped and that was used against President Clinton?)

It's also more of a power grab. Remember even if you have nothing to hide, a neighbor or someone you don't get along with can call the tip line and a file would be started on you.

Also it's known that Bush is using the domestic survellience at anti-war protests and groups that want piece.

So gee do you wonder why I get upset?

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

Watch Out

http://www.cnn.com

The Nikki index in Japan closed early due to a massive selloff. Massive drops in Korea, Taiwan and Australia. Be careful tomorrow too.

12 Years Ago

12 years ago today at 4:31 am the infamous Northridge Earthquake occured. Dozens of lives lost, thousands injured, freeways collapsed, buildings crumbled, homes (including mine) were damaged.

Mind you earthquakes are not just a west coast thing. There are overdue earthquakes in South Carolina, Missouri, New York and other areas.

Just be ready and careful if one hits.

The Forgotten Man

I'd like to take a quick moment to talk about the forgotten man. That's right Osama Bin Laden. You remember him don't you? He was the person responsible for attacking the United States on 9/11 and bringing down the World Trade Center. Apparently George Bush and the administation has forgot about him cause we haven't heard one damn thing (as I said maybe we are lucky and he was killed by that huge quake in Pakastan) from the administation about their efforts to capture him as we used to.

Now whenever we hear about 9/11 we hear Iraq even though the 9/11 commission has said they had no link between them.

Bush has failed in the war on terror which is the war against Bin Laden.

Foot in Mouth

Sen. Hillary Clinton put her foot in her mouth yesterday by saying that congress is run like a plantation. http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1513201&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312

Now I know what the cry of racism will be from the right-wing media but I want to take you back to something that Newt Gingrich said in 1994:

http://www.thinkprogress.org/

How long before the media mentions that Newt Gingrich, just before becoming Speaker of the House, made the same comparison in 1994:

“I clearly fascinate them,” Gingrich said of the Democrats. “I’m much more intense, much more persistent, much more willing to take risks to get it done. Since they think it is their job to run the plantation, it shocks them that I’m actually willing to lead the slave rebellion.” [Washington Post, 10/20/94]

Nothing happened to Gingrich at that time either.

New CNN Hire

I'd like to talk about CNN hire Glen Beck. He is another ultra conservative who has said some, shall we say, contraversial things in the past. Among them the following (courtesy of media maters)

September 9th 2005:

BECK: Let me be real honest with you. I don't think anybody on talk radio -- I don't think anybody in their right mind is going to say this out loud -- but I wonder if I'm the only one that feels this way. Yesterday, when I saw the ATM cards being handed out, the $2,000 ATM cards, and they were being handed out at the Astrodome. And they actually had to close the Astrodome and seal it off for a while because there was a near-riot trying to get to these ATM cards. My first thought was, it's not like they're going to run out of the $2,000 ATM cards. You can wait! You know, stand in line. Maybe it's because I'm the kind of guy, when I go to a buffet, I either have to be first in line, or I'm the very last. Because I know there's going to be extra food, and I just won't stand in the line. I'll wait until all the suckers go get their food, and then I'll go get mine. Or if I'm really hungry, I hate to admit this -- and really, I don't even have to be really hungry. If I'm really being a pig, I will kind of, like, hang out around the buffet table before the line is -- you know, chat with people right around the table: "Oh, they just opened the line! Let's go!" And then you're first in line.

When you are rioting for these tickets, or these ATM cards, the second thing that came to mind was -- and this is horrible to say, and I wonder if I'm alone in this -- you know it took me about a year to start hating the 9-11 victims' families? Took me about a year. And I had such compassion for them, and I really wanted to help them, and I was behind, you know, "Let's give them money, let's get this started." All of this stuff. And I really didn't -- of the 3,000 victims' families, I don't hate all of them. Probably about 10 of them. And when I see a 9-11 victim family on television, or whatever, I'm just like, "Oh shut up!" I'm so sick of them because they're always complaining. And we did our best for them. And, again, it's only about 10.

But the second thought I had when I saw these people and they had to shut down the Astrodome and lock it down, I thought: I didn't think I could hate victims faster than the 9-11 victims. These guys -- you know it's really sad. We're not hearing anything about Mississippi. We're not hearing anything about Alabama. We're hearing about the victims in New Orleans. This is a 90,000-square-mile disaster site, New Orleans is 181 square miles. A hundred and -- 0.2 percent of the disaster area is New Orleans! And that's all we're hearing about, are the people in New Orleans. Those are the only ones we're seeing on television are the scumbags -- and again, it's not all the people in New Orleans. Most of the people in New Orleans got out! It's just a small percentage of those who were left in New Orleans, or who decided to stay in New Orleans, and they're getting all the attention. It's exactly like the 9-11 victims' families. There's about 10 of them that are spoiling it for everybody.


This from May 17th, 2005: From the May 17 broadcast of The Glenn Beck Program:

BECK: Hang on, let me just tell you what I'm thinking. I'm thinking about killing Michael Moore, and I'm wondering if I could kill him myself, or if I would need to hire somebody to do it. No, I think I could. I think he could be looking me in the eye, you know, and I could just be choking the life out -- is this wrong? I stopped wearing my What Would Jesus -- band -- Do, and I've lost all sense of right and wrong now. I used to be able to say, "Yeah, I'd kill Michael Moore," and then I'd see the little band: What Would Jesus Do? And then I'd realize, "Oh, you wouldn't kill Michael Moore. Or at least you wouldn't choke him to death." And you know, well, I'm not sure.


There are others as well. But what do you expect from the right wing media?

Monday, January 16, 2006

Martin Luther King

Today is Martin Luther King day. I thought it would be proper to give the text of the I have a dream speech he gave. While I feel we have come a long way in race relations since that time we still have a very long way to go. The words though still ring true.


I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check -- a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.

We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny and their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.

As we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied, as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We can never be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.

Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.

I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."

And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!

Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, When we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

Sunday, January 15, 2006

More on Alieto

It appears sadly the Samuel Alieto (again not a typo) will be confirmed as a United States Supreme Court and will unfortunately be a member for a long time. These hearings this week meant nothing. People who think he will do the right thing instead of being a puppet for the Bush Administration is mistaken. The record of his rulings should be enough to see that. He is for domestic spying, against abortion, for big business, he will not recluse himself from cases he has a stake in (like Vanguard). He is wrong for this country and we are currently going in the wrong direction.

Friday, January 13, 2006

Only on Fox

I just saw on Fox News where they compared the current situation in Iran to Iraq in 2002 and 2003. So that means Iran has no weapons and is no threat yet we are probably going to attack them.

Fox is fair and balanced huh??

Thursday, January 12, 2006

Backdoor Politics

Remember how the Senate blocked drilling in ANWR? Well it seems the Bush Administration seemed to find a back way to destroy the environment. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/11/AR2006011102211_pf.html

They are going to allow drilling in space the equivelent of the state of Indiana according to that and this was done at the request of Bush's energy policy. You know the people they did not want us to know who was there.

Bush needs to be stopped now more then ever.

Who's already judged

After watching allegedly liberal Wolf Blitzer on alledgedly liberal CNN the past couple of days accuse Democrats of already making their mind on Samuel Alieto (no that is not a typo) I'd like to talk about republicans and give a few quotes from them who at least what I think according to these quotes but first here is what Blitzer has said the past two days:

(courtesy of mediamaters and thinkprogress)

From CNN's January 11 coverage of the Alito hearing:

BLITZER: Some Democrats are delivering an early verdict on Alito's performance. They say his testimony has been too vague, and even contradictory. We'll be watching as the judge tries again to make his case in the hours ahead.

BLITZER: It's 11 a.m. here in Washington, and Democrats are trying again to get more out of Judge Alito. Are they looking for answers? Or for the Supreme Court nominee to stumble?

nstead, Cornyn should look toward the four senators (including himself) who have already pledged support for Alito:

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX):

Judge Alito, the reason why these groups are trying to defeat your nomination because you won’t support their liberal agenda is precisely why I support it.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC):

It’s possible you could talk me out of voting for you, but I doubt it. So I won’t even try to challenge you along those lines. I feel very comfortable with you being on the Supreme Court based on what I know.

Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ):

These are the standards for a Supreme Court justice, and you plainly meet these expectations. As a consequence, I view your nomination with a heavy presumption in favor of confirmation.

Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS):

I will be supporting your nomination in front of the committee and on the floor. I think you’re an outstanding nominee, and I have appreciated your thoughts that you have put forward here.

So I ask based on these quotes who already judged Alieto?

Wednesday, January 11, 2006

Tell me something

I'd like this question answered if possible: Did Bush plan to attack Iraq before he got elected or at least shortly after. I'd like to, courtesy of http://www.capitolhillblue.com/artman/publish/article_7980.shtml , give some quotes from Bush and you can decide this:

“We will confront weapons of mass destruction, so that a new century is spared new horrors,” Bush said in his inaugural address on Jan. 20, 2001.

On January 21, Bush held his first meeting of the National Security Council in the White House. At that meeting he ordered the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to draw up plans for an invasion of Iraq as, he said, “a contingency.”

On February 16, in a press conference with Mexican president Vicente Fox, Bush said:

“Saddam Hussein has got to understand that we expect him to conform to the agreement that he signed after Desert Storm. We will enforce the no-fly zone, both south and north. Our intention is to make sure that the world is as peaceful as possible. And we're going to watch very carefully as to whether or not he develops weapons of mass destruction, and if we catch him doing so we'll take the appropriate action.”

On February 23, in a press conference with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Bush said:

“We spent a lot of time talking about our mutual interests in Iraq and the Persian Gulf, and from our perspective, as you know, I made the famous statement that our sanctions are like Swiss cheese. That means they're not very effective. And we're going to work together to figure out a way to make them more effective. But I think the Prime Minister and I both recognize that it is going to be important for us to build a consensus in the region to make the sanctions more effective. Colin Powell left today, after lunch, to move around the Middle East, collect thoughts and to listen, with a policy of strengthening our mission to make it clear to Saddam Hussein that he shall not terrorize his neighbors, and not develop weapons of mass destruction.”

On May 21, Bush spoke at the Naval Academy in Annapolis:

“Today, nearly one-third of our naval forces are forward-deployed overseas. The USS Constellation carrier battle group and its 10,000 sailors are plying the waters of the Persian Gulf, enforcing the no-fly zone over southern Iraq. Another 3,800 sailors and Marines stand guard nearby with the Boxer amphibious ready group, deterring any mischief Saddam might contemplate.”

If anything, Osama bin Laden was a diversion from Bush’s obsession with Hussein, a problem that got in the way.

On September 11, 2001, as Air Force One headed out of Florida, Bush turned to chief of staff Andrew Card and said “find out how soon we can be ready to go into Iraq.”

Card told him that preliminary reports pointed towards bin Laden and Afghanistan.

“Forget fucking Afghanistan,” Bush responded. “Hussein is behind this. I know it. We’re going into Iraq.”

Aides who overheard Bush’s outburst say Card hustled him away and talked for Bush for more than 30 minutes in private. After that, Bush talked more about bin Laden and less about Hussein.

Sounds to me like Bush had an obsession with Hussein. You can though be the judge and oh yeah whatever happened to Osama he's still out there isn't he?

Lying under oath

Samuel Alito has just lied under oath under question from Sen. Kennedy of Massachusets. He said he doesn't remember being involved in a group when he was at Princeton called CAP: Concerned Alumni Prinston. This is something he touted in his 1985 application for a promotion in the Reagan Justice Department.

Cap is a group that was established pretty much to have Princeton not admit women or minorities to the University. Sen. Kennedy has asked for record that contradict Alito's claim from Chairman Spector of Pennsylvania and so far he has been stonewalled.

Ladies and gentlemen this is your Supreme Court nominee.

http://www.thinkprogress.org/
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20051212/press

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

Baseball

I'd like to first give my congrats to Bruce Sutter for making the Baseball Hall of Fame. I feel he deserves the honor. Now I'd like to comment on someone who is not elgible for the Hall of Fame and that is Pete Rose.

I am a Pete Rose fan. I feel he should be in the Hall of Fame based on his performance as a player. He IS the alltime leader in hits and again if you base it on stats as a player he should be in with bell on.

I realize he bet on baseball. We are full of second chances. Look at Steve Howe among others. If the Hall of Fame was concerned about ethics would Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb be in it? Everyone knows they are among the least ethical members of the Hall of Fame.

I am not saying he should be reinstated in baseball. Don't get me wrong on that. I just feel he is deserving of the Hall of Fame as I said based on what he did as a player.

By the way I remember Baseball Commisioner Bud Selig saying all he had to do was come clean about the gambling? He did in the book he released last year and Selig is still giving him an FU. Where is the honesty there as well?

Anrie

Our esteemed Gov. got into a motorcycle accident last weekend. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10794604/

The interesting thing is he didn't have a motorcycle liscense and his 12 year old son was in a sidecar. Naturally Arnie did not get a ticket because I guess of who he is but he did require 15 stiches.

A legal question can the owner of the person he rammed into sue him for this infraction? Just curious on the one.

Fair and Balanced?

Watching foxnews yesterday and their tagline "Fair and Balanced" (which we know is bs but that's another story) I couldn't help but notice during the Alito hearings when democrats were giving their 10 minutes intros they kept taking cheapshots at them. For instance when Senator Kennedy was giving his speech they listed republican judges he voted against and I noticed they did that with democrats I saw but when Republicans spoke they listed all of the positives they did.

Fair and balanced eh??

Monday, January 09, 2006

Even more on the DeLay - Duke Cunningham connection

Found another piece (also on thinkprogress) connecting the scandals of Tom DeLay and Randall "Duke" Cunningham:

When DeLay announced his official resignation on Saturday, he also announced he was “reclaiming” his seat on the powerful Appropriations Committee.

Why is there a seat available? From the San Diego Union Tribune, 12/10/05:

A vacancy on the panel occurred earlier this week when Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham, R-Rancho Santa Fe, formally resigned from Congress after pleading guilty to charges that he accepted bribes from defense contractors.


(HT: Firedoglake)

UPDATE: Contractor Brent Wilkes, named as “co-conspirator No. 1″ in Cunningham’s plea agreement, has given $30,000 to DeLay, “who flew on Wilkes’ jet several times and has been a frequent golfing buddy.”

He's an evil evil man.

Living in Denial

I'd like to talk about something the former hammer Tom DeLay said on Fox and I'd like to know if you feel as I and that is Tom DeLay is in denial over his situation. Courtesy of thinkprogress.org


DELAY: And because of that rule, the Democrats used this runaway District Attorney here in Austin, Texas to abuse that rule. Eight grand juries indicted me, and the only reason to indict me is to get me to step aside.

ANCHOR: You said just a moment ago you suspect that this was the real reason you were indicted because the Democrats wanted you out of the role of Majority Leader.

DELAY: It’s the only reason, Brian.


I really hate to burst DeLay's bubble here BUT the reason he was indicted was there was enough EVIDENCE to indicted. If this isn't denial over how serious these charges are I don't know what is.

Sunday, January 08, 2006

Justice Sunday?

http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=LH05D02

Today the right-wing psycopaths like James Dobson, Jerry Falwell and other are having what they call "Justice Sudnay." They are going to say basically that if you don't support the nomination of Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court, you are against god.

Think about it ladies and gentlemen this is exactly the intimidation I'm talking about. The right-wing tries to bully, intimidate and even try to guilt you into thinking only THEY are right and the other side is going to hell.

Well I tell you what people - I DO NOT (obviously) support Samuel Alito. I think he, like Roberts, will be the exact thing the country DOES NOT NEED. They are only puppets for the right.

I've posted previously Alito's decisions I've also talked about John Roberts and with this Indiana abortion law looming I fear for our future.

More on O'Reilly

As you know it is a Sunday tradition for me to take apart Bill O'Reilly column in the Sunday Los Angeles Daily News. Here we go.

He talks about his apperence on the David Letterman show and how a "culture war" erupted between the two.

First he blatantly lied in continuing the stupid "war on christmas" in claiming that a school district claimed in Wisconson changed (by the way wasn't Wisconson a red state) the lyrics to the song silent night when, as reported on media maters, that didn't happen.

Then talk turned to Cindy Sheehan, you remember her as the person who asked to speak with so-called President Bush a second time after her son was murdered in Iraq and he refused. Naturally O'Reilly continues to attack this woman and Letterman defended her. They got into it nevermind how disrespectful O'Reilly is BUT do not have sympathy for her as O'Reilly has or ANYONE who lost a loved one during this illegal war in Iraq is rediculous and downright stupid. (http://newsbusters.org/node/3454 for that quote)

So again Mr. O'Reilly I realize I don't have a big site here although to me 3400 + people is a lot to me, but if you have any guts (which I doubt since you are a right-wing coward) but me on your enemies list. After all I actually believe in giving all points of view a forum here and I actully give people who disagree a chance to engage with me contrary to you when you shout over them.

Saturday, January 07, 2006

More on Abramoff-Bush

I found this at thinkprogress.org interesting:

The White House maintains that Bush does not “recall” meeting Abramoff and, if they ever did meet, it was only in passing at a large gathering:

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, I said it’s possible that they would have met at a holiday reception or some other widely attended gathering. The President does not know him, nor does the President recall ever meeting him.

Q But he has the special designation as a Pioneer, as Terry was alluding to, raising more than $100,000. And he attended, as you told us, three events, holiday receptions at the White House. How likely is it that the President would not have met him —

MR. McCLELLAN: That’s why I said it’s possible. But I just told you what I know at this point, and the President doesn’t recall meeting him and he certainly doesn’t know him.

It’s not just possible, it happened.

The Texas Observer reports that Abramoff met with Bush on May 9, 2001, with his clients, the Coushatta tribe. (The chairman of the Coushatta tribe initially denied the meeting occured, but subsequently admitted that it did.) Abramoff charged his client 25,000 to arrange the meeting.

So another lie by the Bush Administration. They keep adding up but nothing has happened to them. Shame isn't it.

More on DeLay

I'd like to take you back to October.

Tom DeLay said this wasn’t going ot happen. From the AP, 10/3/05:

The criminal charges are “so frivolous, so over-the-top, so embarrassing to the judiciary that we ought to be able to get it out of here pretty quickly,” DeLay told “Fox News Sunday.” “It will be over and be over very, very soon. And I think I will go back to be majority leader.”

Thankfully today DeLay stepped down as leader in Congress. Shame he isn't stepping down immediately but see my last post for my idea.

Friday, January 06, 2006

DeLay

Why is Tom DeLay in any type of leadership position while under indictment? If congress/senate is serious about ethics (something they claim they are) they should make a rule that any member (democrat or republican) under indictment needs to resign from congress immediately. Now if that member is cleared of charges then he/she can run again either if that special election is going on OR when the person who replaces him/her has their term up. But then again why would they do something ethical like that?

Terror Watch List

I saw on cnn.com where a woman was told her 4 year old child was on the terror watch list. That's incredible I didn't realize 4 years olds were terrorists but I guess with Bush (and he's in charge of the Government isn't he) anything is possible.

I guess as the old saying goes those who give up thier freedom for security get niether.

IRS

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/5440902p-4912739c.html


The article states that the IRS is gathering pollitical affiliation of people. Is it me or is that really really scary?

While they claim they are not using the information in the article they don't say that they don't give that information to other people (like the GOP perhaps?).

Again more power run wild.

Just wondering

I wonder why the so-called liberal media has to televise every speech, every event Bush does/attends? I mean I know they hardly showed anything President Clinton ever did but then again the media is right-wing isn't it?

Thursday, January 05, 2006

MOnday Morning Quarterback

That's the term that was used by Robert when I lambasted USC for that chokejob against Texas. The term also applies here.

I saw Newt Gingrich on Fox yesterday and he said the following: there should be no lobbyists in Washington. Isn't that funny after all when he was speaker I'm quite sure he entertained and was paid off by lobbyists as all political people are on both sides of the aisle.

I guess now that he's not speaker anymore it why should it bother him?

That's being a monday morning quarterback

Nightmare come true

http://www.theindychannel.com/news/5866441/detail.html

There is a republican sponsored bill in Indiana where they will outlaw abortion. The sponsor of that bill is hoping that it will get to the Supreme Court (which it will) and they will overturn abortion rights (which again they will).

This is the worse scenario imaginable for those who support pro-choice. Let's hope Alito doesn't get confirmed BUT even if he doesn't whoever Bush appoints will do the same.

We are heading toward a dark time in our country.

An Interesting Hire

To replace ultra-conservative, treasonist (for leaking the name of Valerie Plame) commentator Bob Novak CNN has apparently hired even more conservative commentator Bob Bennett.

You know Bob Bennett who had to resign his radio show after saying the following "it's true that if you wanted to reduce crime ... you could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down."

Of course he already joins the many idiotic conservatives on air in the right-wing media so I guess we shouldn't be suprised.

Wednesday, January 04, 2006

Overrated

Congrats to the Texas Longhornes for beating the apperently overrated USC Trojans in the Rose Bowl. Bottom line is USC blew that game and Texas wanted it and USC did not want to win. Now before USC fans like Robert ask where UCLA was last I saw UCLA won the bowl game they were in and represented Los Angeles and the Pacific-10 conference where USC did not. And don't talk about the other two cause it's what have you done lately and USC chocked!

The Bush Abramoff Connection

The White House denied any connection between themselves and lobbyest Jack Abramoff but if you say google the two you will find that Abramoff is one of Bush's "rangers" (people who donate more then $200k,000) and if you go to http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,11069-1970350,00.html
you will see Bush returned the donations Abramoff gave. So that means Bush is involved with this additional scandel as well as that is another in a long list of lies and deceipt.

An Apology

I want to apologize. Last night I reported per the news that the miners trapped in West Virginia were alive(12 of 13) but obviously like the rest of the media the report was wrong. I try to be accurate and I screwed up on this one. My heart goes out to the families of the victims. And I hope the one survivor gets through this ok.

Tuesday, January 03, 2006

Breaking News

Just found out they found 12 of the 13 miners alive in West Virginia. The miricale happened thank god.

Not looking good

Things are not looking good in West Virgina as they found 1 body of the trapped miners. http://www.nbc4.tv/index.html We are going to need a miricle here.

Caught

I'd like to give you a tale of two, stories, by White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan. Thanks to thinkprogress for this.

First from December 13th:

QUESTION: So what does that say about the hill that you have to climb?

MCCLELLAN: A couple things. Let me first correct you in terms of saying that we don’t ever look at polls. We don’t govern based on polls. The president does not govern based on polls. The president governs based on a clear set of principles and a clear set of beliefs. [WH Press Briefing, 12/13/05]

Now from today responding to why Bush is ustified in continuing to conduct an illegal wiretapping program:

MCCLELLAN: I think that clearly the American people strongly support the efforts that we are undertaking to save their lives. I think there actually was a poll last week that said 60 percent — more than 60 percent of the American people support the actions the president is taking to prevent attacks from happening in the first place. That is what this president is committed to doing. This is about saving lives.

SOunds to me like there was a lie there. Either you govern by the polls or you don't it's not a matter of convenience as when it suits you.

Guilty as charged

Rebpublican lobbiest Jack Abramoff plead guilty today to federal charges of conspiracy, tax evasion and mail fraud and he will cooperate with the justice department against congress and the senate (mainly republicans but some democrats).

Abramoff is also under indictment in Florida.

Monday, January 02, 2006

Breaking News

Breaking News from West Virginia where 13 people are trapped after an explosion in a mine. Let's hope they can survive this and come out ok.

Sunday, January 01, 2006

Some things never change

As we are officially (by about 13 hours) into 2006 I see some things never change like the ignorance and denial of Bill O'Reilly. In his column today he is claiming that the media "hates" W. I don't know what media he watches or listens to (unless it's the Air America network) but I don't recall hearing anyone on the media calling for his head or impeachment like they did under President Clinton for lying about the affair he was having.

Now we have a current President who has broken many many laws (see previous posts on specifics) and guys like him, CNN, Fox, MSNBC are giving him a free ride? Again what media does he watch or listen to? Or is he upset at the NY TImes which actually TOLD THE TRUTH about Bush's wiretapping of Americans without warrants? Does that make him upset when THE TRUTH comes out??

You see it's morans and idiots like Bill O'Reilly that are actually bad and hippocrites because if I recall wasn't he among the many in THE MEDIA which he bitches and moans about when he was saying how President Clinton should be impeached? Or does he conveniently forget this?

Ladies and gentlemen I ask you are you going to let stupid people like O'Reilly get away with this? He needs to be put in his place like all of the right-wing controlled media. All I see is W. getting a free ride!