I have some family things going on that may keep me off of here for a few days.
.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Obama YES - Derision NO
Fired Up, Ready to Go
Randi Rhodes once mentioned that the primaries are a time for falling in love with your candidate while the time after that is for pulling together. Remember, at the beginning, when all this was fun. It is still exciting, breath-taking and very historic just not as enjoyable as it once was unless you happen to be a masochist.
After Dennis Kucinich had freed us former supporters, by his words in Iowa, to choose another candidate it became a wrestling match in my brain between the two candidates closest to my liking. When you consider the differences between Obama and Edwards, taking into account the likely make-up of Congress that they would have to deal with, there wasn't a lot there. They're similar on every issue but I would give the edge to Barack.
When it comes to legislation the Congress has ideas about every single little issue. Clinton, Biden and Dodd will play great roles on all of these from their Senate seats.
Sitting at the table still trying to make up my mind; the memory of a little elderly African- American lady from my first job as a bus boy crept into my mind. I've never forgotten her.
I was born in Saint Mary's hospital in East Saint Louis, IL. There was a white flight from there to the surrounding communities and strong racial tensions to this day although they have lessened some since my youth. When I was young it was ugly. My family dining table was volatile like so many from those days.
I thought about the other elderly African-Americans I worked along side of when I was younger who bore the brunt of hate filled discrimination of that time, who witnessed the hopes and dreams of Dr. King along with his death and whose eyes I looked into when discussing whatever topic of the day. I cannot turn away from those long gone eyes when I know how much Barack's presidency would mean to all of them and how much his presidency would mean for the whole nation.
That was the final straw that broke the back of the camel of my indecision.
Barack Obama would be a giant step in cleaning out a lot of old cobwebs while not only increasing civil and honorable diplomacy at home but throughout the world.
Virginia Jefferson-Jackson Dinner - Barack Obama Speaks
This was the first caucus experience for my wife and me. It was very hard to get to. Only because the snow banks were so high in many places that only one car could pass at a time, especially with people parking on both sides of the snow and slush filled streets. We also couldn’t find the wheel chair ramp so we had to wobble up the stairs while our son brought our chairs up. The road conditions made it a little bit hard on everyone and the church where the meeting was held was packed solid. There was a record turnout (a little more than twice ‘04 which had its own record turnout). It was GREAT!!!
The room where our precinct met was packed. Every seat was filled all the way around the small room with one person sitting on the floor. We were thirty people. Most of us, including me, spoke up in favor of either Hillary or Barack. There was no bullying of anyone. After a couple of hours of going through the various procedures we had 20 votes for Obama and 10 votes for Clinton. Obama received six delegates while Hillary received three from our group with an alternate for every delegate. A small additional handful of Clinton people would have changed the outcome but there either weren't enough supporters available or they weren't concerned enough to show up.
For me the most important problems, disasters would probably be a better word, facing our nation is;
The occupation of Iraq along with all the serious infrastructure, health and refugee (both external and internal) inflicting the people of the country we shocked and awed;
A return to Constitutional order in the USA;
And our Bush-driven negative status in the world which affects us both diplomatically and economically.
I see Obama as dealing with all of the above much better than Hillary while being better to equal to the tasks involving domestic issues such as the cost of energy, inflation and health care while being far superior in the area of international trade.
I also see Obama as being able to work with both sides of the halls and aisles of Congress far better.
He is very plain on the issues (http://www.barackobama.com/issues/) and yes he will continue investigations of corruption, activity against the freedom of the American people, torture and other crimes at a time of war.
Barack Obama: 'A More Perfect Union'
I didn't vote for Hillary in our caucus because...
Hillary has willingly saddled herself up to her husbands’ legacy of NAFTA, permanent most favored trade status for China, welfare reform and the disastrous effect that Clintonian policy in Iraq had on the children there (thousands suffered & died).
I do not want to return to divisive politics. The slumlord comment, during an earlier debate, from Hillary bothered me a lot. The Clintons reached back as far as they could for some tiny tidbit they could distort Carl Rove style (it doesn’t matter whether it’s true or not just say a distortion enough times and the public will perceive it as being true). We don’t need anymore of that. This is just one example of many of the Clinton's using corrupt Rovian political tactics.(Are Rove tactics being used against Barak? )
Her Rovian politics are steeped in lies, innuendo and now flirting with racist born hate. It's the same style of conducting themselves that we have been decrying throughout the long dark Neocon-absorbed Cheney/Bush years. I'm beginning to think that the difference between her and Bush-hugging McCain is much smaller than the growing gulf between her, solid Democrats and all fair minded Americans.
Keith Olbermann: Special Comment on Hillary Clinton
The way she has conducted herself, during this campaign, Hillary has shown that she has embraced the concept of 'the end justifies the means'. That's another Noecon/Rovian principle that caused us to run away from the war on those who attacked us and the promises we made to Afghanistan which landed us in preemptive war and a misguided nation building occupation in Iraq. She participated in that type of hazardous thinking when she voted for the Iraq war and when she voted to give Bush the excuse from Congress he needed to ' Shock and Awe' Iran.
Clinton has been demonstrating that she continues to embrace risky 'end justifies the means' method of problem solving by the way she is continuing to conduct herself during this campaign.
She is also reaping, with pride, hate radio and other right wing involvement in her few primary victories.
Rush Limbaugh: Operation Chaos
.
Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, Michael Savage, Sean Hannity: Posioning Democracy with Vitriolic Hate
BUZZFLASH EDITOR'S BLOGby Mark KarlinEditor and Publisher
April 27, 2008
http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/editorblog/085
.
Hillary embraces a vast right wing conspiracy
By Leonard Doyle
http://blogs.independent.co.uk/the_campaign_trailers/2008/03/hillary-is-pump.html
.
Why I think (suspect/worry) Hillary is doing what she's doing...
I'm beginning to believe that Clinton would gladly divide the Democratic Party in order to facilitate a future run for power or possibly that they are actually calculating their chances for a just barely squeaked out independent win in November. She knows this may facilitate a dangerous and disastrous GOP presidency for the nation.
The big news ( besides an umbrella for the Middle East) out of the ABC mugging of Obama is that Hillary emphatically believes that Barack Obama can win the Presidency. She also stated that she would work hard for the candidate winning the nomination. That would appear to put a halt to any thought of an independent ticket, unless she 'MISSPOKE', again. Misspeaking and bending the truth appears to be an alarming pattern within the Clinton campaign.
.
FACT CHECK BARACK
http://factcheck.barackobama.com/
.
Don't think Hillary is fighting dirty just for herself, because she is also a surrogate for the Democratic Leadership Council. The globalist Republican-like DLC will be in the back seat of the Democratic Party when Obama rightly claims the nomination for president. They can't let that happen and they will do anything to stop it including tearing apart the party and all who stand in their way.
All those who want to destroy any hope the average American people feel and would prefer to keep things just the way they are in Washington will never be happy letting a person of sincere motives rise to the top.
Republican Lite
When we all disagreed with Bush policies both domestic and international we were called traitors and un-American but we were also referred to repeatedly as Bush haters because we had a difference of opinion.
.
Referring to those who prefer a different more, as we see it, progressive view as Hillary haters is another of a growing list of similarities between Clinton and the disreputable politics of the Bushies and their Neocon buddies.
I still worry she is considering an independent run for the presidency despite giving her word that she would support and work for the Democratic nominee.
Couldn't you just see her declaring at the convention and marching her delegates, led by Michigan and Florida, out with her.
Wrong 'democrat' wrong time.
However, Barack Obama handles all this with class and intelligence.
Barack Obama in Kokomo, IN
for three great policy speeches...
Obama - Good for America!!!
.
from Rolling Stone...
The Queen of Pork
But of the three candidates, no one can touch Hillary Clinton for her expertise in dispensing federal pork. She is fast becoming a sort of Heavyweight Earmark Champion of the Beltway — one think-tank analyst has even dubbed her the "Queen of Pork"
more...
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/20306341/the_queen_of_pork
.
Hillary Strangelove
April 27, 2008
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2008/04/27/hillary_strangelove/?p1=email_to_a_friend
.
Much to worry about an ill-advised attack on Iran!!!
.
Barack Obama: Iran
.
Randi Rhodes once mentioned that the primaries are a time for falling in love with your candidate while the time after that is for pulling together. Remember, at the beginning, when all this was fun. It is still exciting, breath-taking and very historic just not as enjoyable as it once was unless you happen to be a masochist.
After Dennis Kucinich had freed us former supporters, by his words in Iowa, to choose another candidate it became a wrestling match in my brain between the two candidates closest to my liking. When you consider the differences between Obama and Edwards, taking into account the likely make-up of Congress that they would have to deal with, there wasn't a lot there. They're similar on every issue but I would give the edge to Barack.
When it comes to legislation the Congress has ideas about every single little issue. Clinton, Biden and Dodd will play great roles on all of these from their Senate seats.
Sitting at the table still trying to make up my mind; the memory of a little elderly African- American lady from my first job as a bus boy crept into my mind. I've never forgotten her.
I was born in Saint Mary's hospital in East Saint Louis, IL. There was a white flight from there to the surrounding communities and strong racial tensions to this day although they have lessened some since my youth. When I was young it was ugly. My family dining table was volatile like so many from those days.
I thought about the other elderly African-Americans I worked along side of when I was younger who bore the brunt of hate filled discrimination of that time, who witnessed the hopes and dreams of Dr. King along with his death and whose eyes I looked into when discussing whatever topic of the day. I cannot turn away from those long gone eyes when I know how much Barack's presidency would mean to all of them and how much his presidency would mean for the whole nation.
That was the final straw that broke the back of the camel of my indecision.
Barack Obama would be a giant step in cleaning out a lot of old cobwebs while not only increasing civil and honorable diplomacy at home but throughout the world.
Virginia Jefferson-Jackson Dinner - Barack Obama Speaks
This was the first caucus experience for my wife and me. It was very hard to get to. Only because the snow banks were so high in many places that only one car could pass at a time, especially with people parking on both sides of the snow and slush filled streets. We also couldn’t find the wheel chair ramp so we had to wobble up the stairs while our son brought our chairs up. The road conditions made it a little bit hard on everyone and the church where the meeting was held was packed solid. There was a record turnout (a little more than twice ‘04 which had its own record turnout). It was GREAT!!!
The room where our precinct met was packed. Every seat was filled all the way around the small room with one person sitting on the floor. We were thirty people. Most of us, including me, spoke up in favor of either Hillary or Barack. There was no bullying of anyone. After a couple of hours of going through the various procedures we had 20 votes for Obama and 10 votes for Clinton. Obama received six delegates while Hillary received three from our group with an alternate for every delegate. A small additional handful of Clinton people would have changed the outcome but there either weren't enough supporters available or they weren't concerned enough to show up.
For me the most important problems, disasters would probably be a better word, facing our nation is;
The occupation of Iraq along with all the serious infrastructure, health and refugee (both external and internal) inflicting the people of the country we shocked and awed;
A return to Constitutional order in the USA;
And our Bush-driven negative status in the world which affects us both diplomatically and economically.
I see Obama as dealing with all of the above much better than Hillary while being better to equal to the tasks involving domestic issues such as the cost of energy, inflation and health care while being far superior in the area of international trade.
I also see Obama as being able to work with both sides of the halls and aisles of Congress far better.
He is very plain on the issues (http://www.barackobama.com/issues/) and yes he will continue investigations of corruption, activity against the freedom of the American people, torture and other crimes at a time of war.
Barack Obama: 'A More Perfect Union'
I didn't vote for Hillary in our caucus because...
Hillary has willingly saddled herself up to her husbands’ legacy of NAFTA, permanent most favored trade status for China, welfare reform and the disastrous effect that Clintonian policy in Iraq had on the children there (thousands suffered & died).
I do not want to return to divisive politics. The slumlord comment, during an earlier debate, from Hillary bothered me a lot. The Clintons reached back as far as they could for some tiny tidbit they could distort Carl Rove style (it doesn’t matter whether it’s true or not just say a distortion enough times and the public will perceive it as being true). We don’t need anymore of that. This is just one example of many of the Clinton's using corrupt Rovian political tactics.(Are Rove tactics being used against Barak? )
Her Rovian politics are steeped in lies, innuendo and now flirting with racist born hate. It's the same style of conducting themselves that we have been decrying throughout the long dark Neocon-absorbed Cheney/Bush years. I'm beginning to think that the difference between her and Bush-hugging McCain is much smaller than the growing gulf between her, solid Democrats and all fair minded Americans.
Keith Olbermann: Special Comment on Hillary Clinton
The way she has conducted herself, during this campaign, Hillary has shown that she has embraced the concept of 'the end justifies the means'. That's another Noecon/Rovian principle that caused us to run away from the war on those who attacked us and the promises we made to Afghanistan which landed us in preemptive war and a misguided nation building occupation in Iraq. She participated in that type of hazardous thinking when she voted for the Iraq war and when she voted to give Bush the excuse from Congress he needed to ' Shock and Awe' Iran.
Clinton has been demonstrating that she continues to embrace risky 'end justifies the means' method of problem solving by the way she is continuing to conduct herself during this campaign.
She is also reaping, with pride, hate radio and other right wing involvement in her few primary victories.
Rush Limbaugh: Operation Chaos
.
Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, Michael Savage, Sean Hannity: Posioning Democracy with Vitriolic Hate
BUZZFLASH EDITOR'S BLOGby Mark KarlinEditor and Publisher
April 27, 2008
http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/editorblog/085
.
Hillary embraces a vast right wing conspiracy
By Leonard Doyle
http://blogs.independent.co.uk/the_campaign_trailers/2008/03/hillary-is-pump.html
.
Why I think (suspect/worry) Hillary is doing what she's doing...
I'm beginning to believe that Clinton would gladly divide the Democratic Party in order to facilitate a future run for power or possibly that they are actually calculating their chances for a just barely squeaked out independent win in November. She knows this may facilitate a dangerous and disastrous GOP presidency for the nation.
The big news ( besides an umbrella for the Middle East) out of the ABC mugging of Obama is that Hillary emphatically believes that Barack Obama can win the Presidency. She also stated that she would work hard for the candidate winning the nomination. That would appear to put a halt to any thought of an independent ticket, unless she 'MISSPOKE', again. Misspeaking and bending the truth appears to be an alarming pattern within the Clinton campaign.
.
FACT CHECK BARACK
http://factcheck.barackobama.com/
.
Don't think Hillary is fighting dirty just for herself, because she is also a surrogate for the Democratic Leadership Council. The globalist Republican-like DLC will be in the back seat of the Democratic Party when Obama rightly claims the nomination for president. They can't let that happen and they will do anything to stop it including tearing apart the party and all who stand in their way.
All those who want to destroy any hope the average American people feel and would prefer to keep things just the way they are in Washington will never be happy letting a person of sincere motives rise to the top.
Republican Lite
When we all disagreed with Bush policies both domestic and international we were called traitors and un-American but we were also referred to repeatedly as Bush haters because we had a difference of opinion.
.
Referring to those who prefer a different more, as we see it, progressive view as Hillary haters is another of a growing list of similarities between Clinton and the disreputable politics of the Bushies and their Neocon buddies.
I still worry she is considering an independent run for the presidency despite giving her word that she would support and work for the Democratic nominee.
Couldn't you just see her declaring at the convention and marching her delegates, led by Michigan and Florida, out with her.
Wrong 'democrat' wrong time.
However, Barack Obama handles all this with class and intelligence.
Barack Obama in Kokomo, IN
for three great policy speeches...
Obama - Good for America!!!
.
from Rolling Stone...
The Queen of Pork
But of the three candidates, no one can touch Hillary Clinton for her expertise in dispensing federal pork. She is fast becoming a sort of Heavyweight Earmark Champion of the Beltway — one think-tank analyst has even dubbed her the "Queen of Pork"
more...
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/20306341/the_queen_of_pork
.
Hillary Strangelove
April 27, 2008
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2008/04/27/hillary_strangelove/?p1=email_to_a_friend
.
Much to worry about an ill-advised attack on Iran!!!
.
Barack Obama: Iran
.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Truth and free speech go together like soup and sandwich
"Well, I don't know if China is any different, but our relationship with China is certainly different. We're in hock to the Chinese up to our eyeballs because of the war in Iraq, for one thing. They're holding hundreds of billions of dollars worth of our paper. We also are running hundred of billions of dollars worth of trade deficits with them, as we continue to import their junk with the lead paint on them and the poisoned pet food and export, you know, jobs to places where you can pay workers a dollar a month to turn out the stuff that we're buying from Wal-Mart. So I think our relationship with China has certainly changed. I think they're basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they've been for the last 50 years."
Jack Cafferty, CNN commentator, April 9, 2008
China does not deserve an Olympic celebration
China gets the Bronze
.
Jack Cafferty, CNN commentator, April 9, 2008
China does not deserve an Olympic celebration
China gets the Bronze
.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
FBI knew about CIA torture - and did nothing
from Congressman Robert Wexler ( http://wexler.house.gov/ ) that I recieved in an email...
This morning, during a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee, I questioned FBI Director Robert Mueller on his agency's response to claims - made by his own FBI agents - that the CIA was torturing prisoners. I wanted to find out why, if the FBI's own agents had alleged illegal actions were taking place, there was no investigation into the CIA's illegal and immoral practices.
Mueller's responses, which I would like you to read below, create new concerns and call for further investigation in the days ahead.
I believe Mr. Mueller owes more to Congress and the American people than the half-answers he gave in his testimony today.
I would urge you to contact the editors and news departments of your local media and ask them to look into the responses below. It is critical that this discussion takes place beyond emails and blogs – and is covered by the mainstream media.
In two weeks the Judiciary Committee will be holding hearings to investiga te the fact that the highest levels of the Bush Administration sanctioned and ordered the torture of prisoners in United States custody. This is intolerable and we must vigorously oppose this policy that demeans our nation and offends our conscience.
Please read the below transcript of my exchange with Mr. Muller.
This is a deeply troubling interchange which should be alarming to all Americans.
Congressman Robert Wexler
(TRANSCRIPT:)
Robert Wexler: Thank you Mr. Chairman. Mr. Director, in January of 2006, the New York Times reported that the NSA wireless wiretapping program had produced thousands of leads each month that the FBI had to track down, but that no Al-Qaeda networks were discovered. During a July 17, 2007 briefing, FBI deputy director John Pistole indicated that the FBI was not aware of any Al-Qaeda sleeper cells operating in the United States. In August of 2007 Congress passed the Protect America Act, giving the intelligence community greater access to electronic communications coming into and out of the United States. I have two questions in this regard.
RW: Has the FBI found any sleeper cells yet? One…
RW: Two. Has the NSA’s wireless wiretapping programs either before the Protect America Act or after led to the prosecution and conviction of any terrorists in the United States?
Robert Mueller: Well, as to your first question as to whether we have found affiliates or, as you would call them, cells of Al-Qaeda in the United States, yes we have. Again, I cannot get into it in public session, but I would say yes we have. With regard to the relationship of a particular case or individual to the terrorist surveillance program, again that is something that would have to be covered in a closed session.
RW: Alright, Mr. Director. An LA Times article from October, 2007 quotes one senior federal enforcement official as saying quote "the CIA determined they were going to torture people, and we made the decision not to be involved" end quote. The article goes on to say that some FBI officials went to you and that you quote "pulled many of the agents back from playing even a supporting role in the investigations to avoid exposing them to legal jeopardy" end quote.
RW: My question Mr. Director, I congratulate you for pulling the FBI agents back, but why did you not take more substantial s teps to stop the interrogation techniques that your own FBI agents were telling you were illegal? Why did you not initiate criminal investigations when your agents told you the CIA and the Department of Defense were engaging in illegal interrogation techniques, and rather than simply pulling your agents out, shouldn’t you have directed them to prevent any illegal interrogations from taking place?
RM: I can go so far sir as to tell you that a protocol in the FBI is not to use coercion in any of our interrogations or our questioning and we have abided by our protocol.
RW: I appreciate that. What is the protocol say when the FBI knows that the CIA is engaging or the Department of Defense is engaging in an illegal technique? What does the protocol say in that circumstance?
RM: We would bring it up to appropriate authorities and determine whether the techniques were legal or illegal.
RW: Did you bring it up to appropriate authorities?
RM: All I can tell you is that we followed our own protocols.
RW: So you can’t tell us whether you brought it; when your own FBI agents came to you and said the CIA is doing something illegal which caused you to say don’t you get involved; you can’t tell us whether you then went to whatever authority?
RM: I’ll tell you we followed our own protocols.
RW: And what was the result?
RM: We followed our own protocols. We followed our protocols. We did not use coercion. We did not participate in any instance where coercion was used to my knowledge.
RW: Did the CIA use techniques that were illegal?
RM: I can’t comment on what has been done by another agency and under what authorities the other agency may have taken actions.
RW: Why can’t you comment on the actions of another agency?
RM: I leave that up to the other agency to answer questions with regard to the actions taken by that agency and the legal authorities that may apply to them.
RW: Are you the chief legal law enforcement agency in the United States?
RM: I am the Director of the FBI.
RW: And you do not have authority with respect to any other governmental agency in the United States? Is that what you’re saying?
RM: My authority is given to me to investigate. Yes we do.
RW: Did somebody take away that authority with respect to the CIA?
RM: Nobody has taken away the authority. I can tell you what our protocol was, and how we followed that protocol.
RW: Did anybody take away the authority with respect to the Department of Defense?
RM: I’m not certain what you mean.RW: Your authority to investigate an illegal torture technique.
RM: There has to be a legal basis for us to investigate, and generally that legal basis is given to us by the Depart ment of Justice. Any interpretations of the laws given to us by the Department of Justice….(talking over each other)
RW: But apparently your own agents made a determination that the actions by the CIA and the Department of Defense were illegal, so much so that you authorized, ordered, your agents not to participate. But that’s it.
RM: I’ve told you what our protocol was, and I’ve indicated that we’ve adhered to our protocol throughout.
RW: My time is up. Thank you very much Mr. Director.
.
Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL), Patriot
.
Obama would ask his AG to "immediately review" potential of crimes in Bush White House
Obama: Torture takes away our civil liberties
.
prosecute the head torturer in chief
.
more info today...
White House under siege: Will pointed questions burst Bush bubble?
Eric Brewer Thursday April 24, 2008
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/White_House_Under_Siege_Will_Pointed_0424.html
CIA admits they will continue rendition program, which allows torture overseas
John Byrne Thursday April 24, 2008
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/CIA_knew_secret_detention_interrogation_program_0424.html
.
Hiding those pesky little war crimes
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Extraordinary Rendition
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Is US the New KGB?
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Wednesday, April 23, 2008
GOP - Fear and Incompetance
Fear Vs Hope
I wrote this on News Years Day and it's sadly a prediction (observation) that was all to easy to make.
I hate using the fear word but its going to be prominent in ’08. Fear of Iran, Al Qaeda, terrorists everywhere among us, immigrant hordes, liberals and worst of all taxes.
I have hope that none of it will work;
Hope that the best Democrat will win the nomination;
Hope that this Democrat will be president;
Hope that war crimes will be on the road to justice;
Hope that the fascist threat from the right-wing will be left in the dustbin of history.
.
remember...
Keith Olbermann: The Nexus of Politics and Terror
.
.
Bush-hugging McCain has made fear of terror and nation-building occupation and still more war as the center of his run for the presidency. (The Republican-like DLC supported Hillary Clinton campaign may be close to doing the same after she revealed herself to be a zealous hawk on Iran with her huge protective umbrella over the Middle East.)
As is typical he and the other so called conservatives like to claim that the liberals are to blame for the problems in Iraq.
Complete nonsense.
The Republicans were in charge;
when warnings about terrorism were ignored before 9/11,
when Afghanistan and the battle against the Taliban and Al Qaeda was abandoned,
when a war of choice against a country that was not an imminent threat was begun,
when a war in Iraq was begun based on lies,
when this ill-advised war was begun without a cultural understanding of the people,
when far too few troops were used for that illegal action in Iraq,
when lawlessness and looting were tolerated,
when the Iraq army was disbanded,
when troop armor and gear were kept sup-par for the mission,
when a forced vote was held too early before Sunni concerns were addressed,
when torture was allowed to become administration policy,
when illegal detentions became administration policy,
when spying on Americans became administration policy,
when support for war profiteers became administration policy,
when habeas corpus became something not available to all,
when posse comitatus became abandoned,
when spying on American citizens became an okay thing to do,
when a culture of corruption was allowed to flourish at home,
when congressional oversight was abandoned,
when doing the same failed thing over and over without success became the plan,
when our war dead became something to hide in shame,
when the injured military and their families were treated without proper care or respect,
when terrorism was allowed to grow world wide while claiming success,
when fear became a weapon of propaganda against the American people,
when failure became always someone else’s fault,and when lies and propaganda became an acceptable substitute for truth when dealing with the public,
when obsene debt, weak dollar, $100+ a barrel of oil, inflation and recession have appeared.
For these reasons and many more Iraq has become the volatile mess it now is.
For these reasons and many more impeachment is well deserved for the Bush/Cheney cabal.
For these reasons and many more McCain does not deserve the presidency.
The Gop and religious extremists
Remember that this current group of Conservatives, especially the Neo-kind, have a distorted view of spiritualality.
They worship at the Alter of Commerce in the Church of Supremacy.
Their dungeons are full of skeletons and sinister secrets.
Half truths, self- aggrandizement and trepidation are the subjects of their sermons.
The virtues they cherish are greed, pride, gluttony and tyranny.
The fruit they bare is misery, death and devastation.
Darkness follows in their wake;
And ruin is their toll.
.
Barack Obama Speaks at Dr. King's Church
.
Obama destroyed her big lead!
Clinton has been expected to win Pennsylvania since Ohio and she won it the same way, dirty, and by a much smaller margin than was thought she would going in. The math is still working against her. I still worry she is considering an independent run for the presidency despite giving her word that she would support and work for the Democratic nominee.
'Impossible for Obama to Lose His Lead'
.
Conservatives rolling out attack ads aimed at Obama, supporters
Nick JulianoPublished: Wednesday April 23, 2008
Willie Horton ad creator takes credit for Clinton win in PA, unveils new attack aimed at Obama, Clinton
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Conservatives_rolling_out_attack_ads_aimed_0423.html
.
.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Barack Obama, Right Choice for America!!!
I have said that I was beginning to believe that Clinton would gladly divide the Democratic Party in order to facilitate a future run for power or possibly that they were actually calculating their chances for a just barely squeaked out independent win in November.
Obama says debate focused on 'gotcha' not policy issues
http://www.rawstory.com/news/mochila/Obama_says_debate_focused_on_gotcha_04172008.html
from Countdown...
Well the big news out of last nights ABC mugging of Obama is that Hillary emphatically believes that Barack Obama can win the Presidency. She also stated that she would work hard for the candidate winning the nomination. That would appear to put a halt to any thought of an independent ticket, unless she 'MISSPOKE', again.
She also came out of the closet as a much bigger hawk on Iran than was previously noticed. Hillary, who was in a position to know better willingly voted for the Iraq war and never accepted responsibility for that vote in addition to giving the Bushies and their Neocons the Iran 'terrorism vote' which will give them the authority as they see it to 'shock and awe' Iran.
I've been outrageously angry with the Clinton campaign because of her Rovian politics steeped in lies and innuendo. It's the same style of conducting herself that we have been decrying throughout the long dark Neocon-absorbed Cheney/Bush years. The difference between her and Bush-hugging McCain is much smaller than the growing gulf between her, solid Democrats and all fair minded Americans.
.
Senator Clinton Became What She Beheld: The Right Wing Slime Attack Machine
BUZZFLASH EDITOR'S BLOG
by Mark Karlin
Editor and Publisher
April 20, 2008
http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/editorblog/082
.
Clinton campaign gets new conservative nod
.
Obama Responds to McCain and Clinton attacks
.
Don't think Hillary is fighting dirty just for herself, because she is also a surragate for the Democratic Leadership Council. The globalist Republican-like DLC will be in the back seat of the Democratic Party when Obama rightly claims the nomination for president. They can't let that happen and they will do anything to stop it including destroying the party and all who stand in their way.
.
Clinton Slams Democratic Activists At Private Fundraiser
.
Hillary, Bill and their campaign have sadly embraced the concept of 'the end justifies the means'. That's another Noecon/Rovian principle that caused us to run away from the war on those who attacked us and the promises we made to Afghanistan which landed us in preemptive war and a misguided nation building occupation in Iraq. She participated in that type of hazardous thinking when she voted for the Iraq war and when she voted to give Bush the excuse from Congress he needed to launch a risky ill-advised pre-emptive attack on Iran.
She has been demonstrating that she continues to embrace risky 'end justifies the means' method of problem solving.
On Iran, Hillary Clinton sounds just like Bush and Cheney
.
Much to worry about an ill-advised attack on Iran!!!
.
Bush & the Neocons are the real threat of starting WWIII
.
Once again, Hillary Clinton is making it very hard to stand by my words below; even if I were to wear a clothes pin.
Anyone who refuses to work for the Democratic nominee or vote in the general election because they didn’t get the person of their choice is 'nuts' because they would be flirting with keeping the White house in the inept hands of the Republicans along with possibly allowing them more seats in Congress.
Wrong 'democrat' wrong time.
However, Barack Obama handles all this with class and intelligence.
Barack Obama at Penn State University
Barack Loves the USA!!!
.
This morning meet the press held another Obama mugging and among all the other BS ,mister 'the Iraq war is a good idea' brooks, accused him of not being inspiring the last few weeks and is acting like just another liberal politician. All those who want to destroy any hope the American people feel and would prefer to keep things just the way they are in Washington will never be happy letting a person of sincere motives rise to the top.
Barack Obama in Philadelphia
Obama - Good for America!!!
also from super patriot Steven Colbert... well done ABC...some time with Hillary the pretender...and a surprise visit.
she pretended to be the one able to do the job
.
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/
.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
To right wing Christian hawks.
Homeland Security: Generosity vs. Domination
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth was a huge improvement in justice for the time. Prior to its acceptance a person might feel they were entitled to two eyes and a tooth, a few lives and maybe a couple of young maidens or more if he were wronged.
Hammurabi's Code, which came from an ancient Sumerian world, a region we now call Iraq, strove to be a giant step towards justice. Jewish history then brought us the concept of," An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth", which is about equality and fairness in justice; not the vengeance or revenge (or preemptive strike) so many from our present time would like to equate it.
If you are a Christian you believe that Christ took this further to subjugate justice to the concepts of love, forgiveness and mercy, as is expressed throughout the New Testament.
This is why Christians should be against:
Illegal detention,
Inhumane treatment,
Cruel and unusual punishment,
Torture,
The death penalty,
(Jesus Christ suffered all of the above and He offered Prayers, Mercy and Forgiveness to all involved. If the object of being Christian is to strive to be Christ-like, as much is humanly possible for our lowly state, then it would seem necessary that we should not go without noticing the examples of His Passion.)
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Eplains His Theory On Nonviolence
Economic violence,
Environmental violence,
The weapons industry,
Violent Reactionary ‘solutions’,
Collateral damage,
And unjust wars, (as if there were such a thing as a just war)
to name just a few.
"NO TO WAR"! War is not always inevitable. It is always a defeat for humanity. International law, honest dialogue, solidarity between States, the noble exercise of diplomacy: these are methods worthy of individuals and nations in resolving their differences. I say this as I think of those who still place their trust in nuclear weapons and of the all-too-numerous conflicts which continue to hold hostage our brothers and sisters in humanity. At Christmas, Bethlehem reminded us of the unresolved crisis in the Middle East, where two peoples, Israeli and Palestinian, are called to live side-by-side, equally free and sovereign, in mutual respect. Without needing to repeat what I said to you last year on this occasion, I will simply add today, faced with the constant degeneration of the crisis in the Middle East, that the solution will never be imposed by recourse to terrorism or armed conflict, as if military victories could be the solution. And what are we to say of the threat of a war which could strike the people of Iraq, the land of the Prophets, a people already sorely tried by more than twelve years of embargo? War is never just another means that one can choose to employ for settling differences between nations. As the Charter of the United Nations Organization and international law itself remind us, war cannot be decided upon, even when it is a matter of ensuring the common good, except as the very last option and in accordance with very strict conditions, without ignoring the consequences for the civilian population both during and after the military operations.
Pope John Paul II
Our misguided leaders and half the country didn’t listen to him or any of the Churches before the Iraq war. Pray that we all listen and react before any military involvement in Iran.
Prayer of St Francis - Sara McLaughlin
"O Lord, make me an instrument of Thy Peace!
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is discord, harmony;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light,
and Where there is sorrow, joy.
Oh Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life."
For the Grace to Desire Peace
Great God, who has told us "Vengeance is mine,"save us from ourselves,
save us from the vengeance in our hearts
and the acid in our souls.
Save us from our desire to hurt as we have been hurt,
to punish as we have been punished,
to terrorize as we have been terrorized.
Give us the strength it takes
to listen rather than to judge,
to trust rather than to fear,
to try again and again
to make peace even when peace eludes us.
We ask, O God, for the grace to be our best selves.
We ask for the vision
to be builders of the human community
rather than its destroyers.
We ask for the humility as a people
to understand the fears and hopes of other peoples.
We ask for the love it takes
to bequeath to the children of the world to come
more than the failures of our own making.
We ask for the heart it takes
to care for all the peoples
of Afghanistan and Iraq, of Palestine and Israel (Lebanon, Darfur,Syria, Iran & those south of our border)
as well as for ourselves.
Give us the depth of soul, O God,
to constrain our might,
to resist the
temptations of power,
to refuse to attack the attackable,
to understand that vengeance begets violence,
and to bring peace – not war – wherever we go.
For You, O God, have been merciful to us.
For You, O God, have been patient with us.
For You, O God, have been gracious to us.
And so may we be mercifuland patient and gracious
and trusting
with these others who you also love.
Joan D. Chittister, OSB
"Reprinted with permission from Pax Christi USA
I've never been strong enough to take this vow but here it is. Maybe someday I will be, maybe some day we all will be.
~VOW OF NONVIOLENCE~
RECOGNIZING THE VIOLENCE IN MY OWN HEART, yet trusting in the goodness and mercy of God, I vow for one year to practice the nonviolence of Jesus who taught us in the Sermon on the Mount: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons and daughters of God...You have learned how it was said, "You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy"; but I say to you, "Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. In this way, you will be daughters and sons of your Creator in heaven." Before God the Creator and the Sanctifying Spirit, I vow to carry out in my life the love and example of Jesus by striving for peace within myself and seeking to be a peacemaker in my daily life; by accepting suffering rather than inflicting it; by refusing to retaliate in the face of provocation and violence; by persevering in nonviolence of tongue and heart; by living conscientiously and simply so that I do not deprive others of the means to live; by actively resisting evil and working nonviolently to abolish war and the causes of war from my own heart and from the face of the earth. God, I trust in Your sustaining love and believe that just as You gave me the grace and desire to offer this, so You will also bestow abundant grace to fulfill it.
After reading and reflecting on the Vow of Nonviolence, people often commit themselves to trying to follow it daily for a year. If a group of people is committing to the vow, a ceremony can be planned. We invite all who take the vow to sign the following commitment statement and return it to us at Pax Christi USA, 532 West 8th Street, Erie, PA 16502 or at info@paxchristiusa.org I commit myself to living according to the Vow of Nonviolence for a one year period. Signature ___________________________________________________________ Name (Print) ________________________________________________________ Street ______________________________________________________________ City __________________________________ State ___________ Zip _________ Date _______________________________________________________________
Pax Christi USA
National Council of Churches USA
Fellowship of Reconciliation
.
As Pope Calls For Treating Immigrants With ‘Dignity,’ Bush Administration Carries Out Raids In Five States»
.
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth was a huge improvement in justice for the time. Prior to its acceptance a person might feel they were entitled to two eyes and a tooth, a few lives and maybe a couple of young maidens or more if he were wronged.
Hammurabi's Code, which came from an ancient Sumerian world, a region we now call Iraq, strove to be a giant step towards justice. Jewish history then brought us the concept of," An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth", which is about equality and fairness in justice; not the vengeance or revenge (or preemptive strike) so many from our present time would like to equate it.
If you are a Christian you believe that Christ took this further to subjugate justice to the concepts of love, forgiveness and mercy, as is expressed throughout the New Testament.
This is why Christians should be against:
Illegal detention,
Inhumane treatment,
Cruel and unusual punishment,
Torture,
The death penalty,
(Jesus Christ suffered all of the above and He offered Prayers, Mercy and Forgiveness to all involved. If the object of being Christian is to strive to be Christ-like, as much is humanly possible for our lowly state, then it would seem necessary that we should not go without noticing the examples of His Passion.)
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Eplains His Theory On Nonviolence
Economic violence,
Environmental violence,
The weapons industry,
Violent Reactionary ‘solutions’,
Collateral damage,
And unjust wars, (as if there were such a thing as a just war)
to name just a few.
"NO TO WAR"! War is not always inevitable. It is always a defeat for humanity. International law, honest dialogue, solidarity between States, the noble exercise of diplomacy: these are methods worthy of individuals and nations in resolving their differences. I say this as I think of those who still place their trust in nuclear weapons and of the all-too-numerous conflicts which continue to hold hostage our brothers and sisters in humanity. At Christmas, Bethlehem reminded us of the unresolved crisis in the Middle East, where two peoples, Israeli and Palestinian, are called to live side-by-side, equally free and sovereign, in mutual respect. Without needing to repeat what I said to you last year on this occasion, I will simply add today, faced with the constant degeneration of the crisis in the Middle East, that the solution will never be imposed by recourse to terrorism or armed conflict, as if military victories could be the solution. And what are we to say of the threat of a war which could strike the people of Iraq, the land of the Prophets, a people already sorely tried by more than twelve years of embargo? War is never just another means that one can choose to employ for settling differences between nations. As the Charter of the United Nations Organization and international law itself remind us, war cannot be decided upon, even when it is a matter of ensuring the common good, except as the very last option and in accordance with very strict conditions, without ignoring the consequences for the civilian population both during and after the military operations.
Pope John Paul II
Our misguided leaders and half the country didn’t listen to him or any of the Churches before the Iraq war. Pray that we all listen and react before any military involvement in Iran.
.
Prayer of St Francis - Sara McLaughlin
"O Lord, make me an instrument of Thy Peace!
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is discord, harmony;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light,
and Where there is sorrow, joy.
Oh Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life."
For the Grace to Desire Peace
Great God, who has told us "Vengeance is mine,"save us from ourselves,
save us from the vengeance in our hearts
and the acid in our souls.
Save us from our desire to hurt as we have been hurt,
to punish as we have been punished,
to terrorize as we have been terrorized.
Give us the strength it takes
to listen rather than to judge,
to trust rather than to fear,
to try again and again
to make peace even when peace eludes us.
We ask, O God, for the grace to be our best selves.
We ask for the vision
to be builders of the human community
rather than its destroyers.
We ask for the humility as a people
to understand the fears and hopes of other peoples.
We ask for the love it takes
to bequeath to the children of the world to come
more than the failures of our own making.
We ask for the heart it takes
to care for all the peoples
of Afghanistan and Iraq, of Palestine and Israel (Lebanon, Darfur,Syria, Iran & those south of our border)
as well as for ourselves.
Give us the depth of soul, O God,
to constrain our might,
to resist the
temptations of power,
to refuse to attack the attackable,
to understand that vengeance begets violence,
and to bring peace – not war – wherever we go.
For You, O God, have been merciful to us.
For You, O God, have been patient with us.
For You, O God, have been gracious to us.
And so may we be mercifuland patient and gracious
and trusting
with these others who you also love.
Joan D. Chittister, OSB
"Reprinted with permission from Pax Christi USA
I've never been strong enough to take this vow but here it is. Maybe someday I will be, maybe some day we all will be.
~VOW OF NONVIOLENCE~
RECOGNIZING THE VIOLENCE IN MY OWN HEART, yet trusting in the goodness and mercy of God, I vow for one year to practice the nonviolence of Jesus who taught us in the Sermon on the Mount: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons and daughters of God...You have learned how it was said, "You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy"; but I say to you, "Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. In this way, you will be daughters and sons of your Creator in heaven." Before God the Creator and the Sanctifying Spirit, I vow to carry out in my life the love and example of Jesus by striving for peace within myself and seeking to be a peacemaker in my daily life; by accepting suffering rather than inflicting it; by refusing to retaliate in the face of provocation and violence; by persevering in nonviolence of tongue and heart; by living conscientiously and simply so that I do not deprive others of the means to live; by actively resisting evil and working nonviolently to abolish war and the causes of war from my own heart and from the face of the earth. God, I trust in Your sustaining love and believe that just as You gave me the grace and desire to offer this, so You will also bestow abundant grace to fulfill it.
After reading and reflecting on the Vow of Nonviolence, people often commit themselves to trying to follow it daily for a year. If a group of people is committing to the vow, a ceremony can be planned. We invite all who take the vow to sign the following commitment statement and return it to us at Pax Christi USA, 532 West 8th Street, Erie, PA 16502 or at info@paxchristiusa.org I commit myself to living according to the Vow of Nonviolence for a one year period. Signature ___________________________________________________________ Name (Print) ________________________________________________________ Street ______________________________________________________________ City __________________________________ State ___________ Zip _________ Date _______________________________________________________________
Pax Christi USA
National Council of Churches USA
Fellowship of Reconciliation
.
As Pope Calls For Treating Immigrants With ‘Dignity,’ Bush Administration Carries Out Raids In Five States»
.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Iraq from the BBC
All sides want us out; they believe its okay to kill our men and women and they are all going after us with great relish. Our troops are stuck in the middle of a brutal multi-faceted civil war where all sides are shooting at them and the enemy can not be easily discerned, if at all. They do not belong in the middle of this and it’s an illicit misuse of the military to expect them to.
.
Take Me Home----Arden Eaton
http://ardensgarden.org/video.html
.
Analysis: The struggle for Basra
By Adam Brookes BBC News, Baghdad
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7314650.stm
Split loyalties among Iraqi tribes
By Roger Hardy BBC Middle East analyst
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7202465.stm
Profile: Moqtada Sadr
Moqtada Sadr has been a turbulent presence in Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003, although followers of the radical Shia cleric have been drawn into - and have even propped up - the political process.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3131330.stm
Timeline: Iraq
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/country_profiles/737483.stm
Dozens dead as Iraq cities bombed
More than 50 people have been killed in blasts at three cities in Iraq, in one of the deadliest days there for weeks.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7348089.stm
Archbishop Desmond Tutu had great success dealing with the results of the hate such conflicts generated. He should be listened to now and his methods seriously investigated, otherwise I fear the violence will continue for generations to come. This is ultimately the greatest challenge of Iraq and sadly around the globe and within each of us. We must begin to address all the problems that lead to groups using terror as a weapon and embracing extreme radical tactics to convey their displeasure and explore all the methods in which the arms trade and propping up of corrupt governments for monetary or political gain aid in creating desperate groups. That’s going to take the rest of the world helping out, too.
.
For example, there's a direct link between US trade policy, the American consumer and human rights violations in China, Tibet and Myanmar (Burma). The money made from Chinese profits highlights an indifference to the plight of our fellow human beings. The benefits of close economic ties with China evidently carry more weight than the blood spilled by democracy loving students or the freedom and human rights we say we cherish so deeply.
.
Policies such as this soil the Stars and Stripes far more than any match.
.
We must truthfully analyze our government and corporation involvement throughout the world, past, present and future. We were once taught that when we travel into another country we are all ambassadors for America and that should include the business community.
It's high time we stand for the human rights we so boldly claim we believe in.
.
End this illegal occupation
.
Restore constitutional order
.
No Iran war
.
Impeach the president/vice-president
.
Take Me Home----Arden Eaton
http://ardensgarden.org/video.html
.
Analysis: The struggle for Basra
By Adam Brookes BBC News, Baghdad
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7314650.stm
Split loyalties among Iraqi tribes
By Roger Hardy BBC Middle East analyst
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7202465.stm
Profile: Moqtada Sadr
Moqtada Sadr has been a turbulent presence in Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003, although followers of the radical Shia cleric have been drawn into - and have even propped up - the political process.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3131330.stm
Timeline: Iraq
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/country_profiles/737483.stm
Dozens dead as Iraq cities bombed
More than 50 people have been killed in blasts at three cities in Iraq, in one of the deadliest days there for weeks.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7348089.stm
Archbishop Desmond Tutu had great success dealing with the results of the hate such conflicts generated. He should be listened to now and his methods seriously investigated, otherwise I fear the violence will continue for generations to come. This is ultimately the greatest challenge of Iraq and sadly around the globe and within each of us. We must begin to address all the problems that lead to groups using terror as a weapon and embracing extreme radical tactics to convey their displeasure and explore all the methods in which the arms trade and propping up of corrupt governments for monetary or political gain aid in creating desperate groups. That’s going to take the rest of the world helping out, too.
.
For example, there's a direct link between US trade policy, the American consumer and human rights violations in China, Tibet and Myanmar (Burma). The money made from Chinese profits highlights an indifference to the plight of our fellow human beings. The benefits of close economic ties with China evidently carry more weight than the blood spilled by democracy loving students or the freedom and human rights we say we cherish so deeply.
.
Policies such as this soil the Stars and Stripes far more than any match.
.
We must truthfully analyze our government and corporation involvement throughout the world, past, present and future. We were once taught that when we travel into another country we are all ambassadors for America and that should include the business community.
It's high time we stand for the human rights we so boldly claim we believe in.
.
End this illegal occupation
.
Restore constitutional order
.
No Iran war
.
Impeach the president/vice-president
Saturday, April 12, 2008
What the Neocons said at the beginning of the Iraq debacle.
There's Something About W
Saddam Hussein's offensive military capability, his capacity to threaten his neighbors, has been virtually eliminated.
Dick Cheney Secretary of Defense - April 29, 1991
"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 - October 3, 2000
He has not developed any significant capability with respect to weapons of mass destruction. He is unable to project conventional power against his neighbors. So in effect, our policies have strengthened the security of the neighbors of Iraq ... "
Secretary of State Colin Powell - 2001 February 24, 2001
"But in terms of Saddam Hussein being there, let's remember that his country is divided, in effect. He does not control the northern part of his country. We are able to keep arms from him. His military forces have not been rebuilt."
National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice - July 29, 2001
Saddam Hussein's regime is despicable, he is developing weapons of mass destruction, and we cannot leave him doing so unchecked... He is a threat to his own people and to the region and, if allowed to develop these weapons, a threat to us also."
Prime Minister Tony Blair - 10 April 2002
"Iraq is a very wealthy country. Enormous oil reserves. They can finance, largely finance the reconstruction of their own country. And I have no doubt that they will."
Richard Perle - 7 Nov 2002
"I don't believe that anything like a long-term commitment of 150,000 Americans would be necessary."
Richard Perle - 10 Mar 2002
"In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members.... It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons."
Sen. Hillary Clinton (D, NY), Oct. 10, 2002.
Iraq has weapons of mass destruction, Saddam has continued to produce them, he has existing and active military plans for the use of chemical and biological weapons, which could be deployed within 45 minutes.
Prime Minister Tony Blair - 2002 Sept 24
"It is unknowable how long that conflict will last. It could be six days, six weeks. I doubt six months."
Donald Rumsfeld - 2 Jul 2003
"Having defeated and then occupied Iraq, democratizing the country should not be too tall an order for the world's sole superpower."
William Kristol - 24 Feb 2003
"It's hard to conceive that it would take more forces to provide stability in post-Saddam Iraq than it would take to conduct the war itself and to secure the surrender of Saddam’s security forces and his army. Hard to imagine."
Paul Wolfowitz - 27 Feb 2003
If we don't act now, then we will go back to what has happened before and then of course the whole thing begins again and he carries on developing these weapons and these are dangerous weapons, particularly if they fall into the hands of terrorists who we know want to use these weapons if they can get them.
Prime Minister Tony Blair - 11 March 2003
I think things have gotten so bad inside Iraq, from the standpoint of the Iraqi people, my belief is we will, in fact, be greeted as liberators.
Dick Cheney - 16 March 2003
"I think it will go relatively quickly...weeks rather than months."
Dick Cheney - March 16 2003
Do not obey any command to use weapons of mass destruction against anyone, including the Iraqi people. War crimes will be prosecuted. War criminals will be punished. And it will be no defense to say, "I was just following orders."
President George W. Bush - March 17, 2003
Those who follow orders to commit such crimes will be found and they will be punished. War crimes will be prosecuted. And it will be no excuse to say, 'I was just following orders.' Any official involved in such crimes will forfeit hope of amnesty or leniency with respect to past action.
Donald Rumsfeld - March 20, 2003
"When it comes to reconstruction, before we turn to the American taxpayer, we will turn first to the resources of the Iraqi government and the international community."
Donald H. Rumsfeld - March 27 2003
"There is a lot of money to pay for this that doesn't have to be U.S. taxpayer money, and it starts with the assets of the Iraqi people. We are talking about a country that can really finance its own reconstruction and relatively soon."
Paul Wolfowitz - March 27 2003
.I picked up a newspaper today and I couldn't believe it. I read eight headlines that talked about chaos, violence, unrest. And it just was Henny Penny -- "The sky is falling." I've never seen anything like it! And here is a country that's being liberated, here are people who are going from being repressed and held under the thumb of a vicious dictator, and they're free. And all this newspaper could do, with eight or 10 headlines, they showed a man bleeding, a civilian, who they claimed we had shot -- one thing after another.
Donald Rumsfeld - April 11, 2003
.
"Major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed."
President Bush (Mission Accomplished" USS Lincoln aircraft carrier) - May 2, 2003
"The United States is committed to the worldwide elimination of torture and we are leading this fight by example."
George W. Bush - June 26, 2003
"My answer is bring 'em on."
George W. Bush - July 2, 2003
.
Oh, indeed there is a tie between Iraq and what happened on 9/11. It’s not that Saddam Hussein was somehow himself and his regime involved in 9/11, but, if you think about what caused 9/11, it is the rise of ideologies of hatred that lead people to drive airplanes into buildings in New York."
Condoleezza Rice November 28, 2003
See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda.
President George W. Bush - May 24, 2005
"I think they're in the last throes, if you will, of the insurgency."
Dick Cheney - June 20, 2005
.
Freedom from torture is an inalienable human right, and we are committed to building a world where human rights are respected and protected by the rule of law…Throughout the world, there are many who have been seeking to have their voices heard, to stand up for their right to freedom, and to break the chains of tyranny. Too many of those courageous women and men are paying a terrible price for their brave acts of dissent. Many have been detained, arrested, thrown in prison, and subjected to torture by regimes that fail to understand that their habits of control will not serve them well in the long-term.
George W. Bush June 26, 2005
"If our commanders on the ground say we need more troops, I will send them. But our commanders tell me they have the number of troops they need to do their job. Sending more Americans would undermine our strategy of encouraging Iraqis to take the lead in this fight. And sending more Americans would suggest that we intend to stay forever, when we are, in fact, working for the day when Iraq can defend itself and we can leave."
George W. Bush - June 28 2005
.
Before The IRAQ WAR Surge
Everything these guys said was wrong at best but most commonly were lies mixed with distortions. The people against this war were right in their characterization of what the outcome would be. They were ignored and called traitors and cowards when they should have been listened to. Listen to them now when they speak against current and future military misadventures (Iran) because their voices carry more truth than the voices of the egocentric chicken hawks in the Bush administration.
.
"When The President Talks to God"
.
Bloodiest Week of 2008 for US Troops in Iraq Ends With Roadside Bomb Death, Pushing Toll to 19
ROBERT H. REIDAP News
Apr 12, 2008 20:58 EST
http://www.rawstory.com/news/mochila/US_GIs_in_Iraq_suffer_worst_week_of_04122008.html
.
Saddam Hussein's offensive military capability, his capacity to threaten his neighbors, has been virtually eliminated.
Dick Cheney Secretary of Defense - April 29, 1991
"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 - October 3, 2000
He has not developed any significant capability with respect to weapons of mass destruction. He is unable to project conventional power against his neighbors. So in effect, our policies have strengthened the security of the neighbors of Iraq ... "
Secretary of State Colin Powell - 2001 February 24, 2001
"But in terms of Saddam Hussein being there, let's remember that his country is divided, in effect. He does not control the northern part of his country. We are able to keep arms from him. His military forces have not been rebuilt."
National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice - July 29, 2001
Saddam Hussein's regime is despicable, he is developing weapons of mass destruction, and we cannot leave him doing so unchecked... He is a threat to his own people and to the region and, if allowed to develop these weapons, a threat to us also."
Prime Minister Tony Blair - 10 April 2002
"Iraq is a very wealthy country. Enormous oil reserves. They can finance, largely finance the reconstruction of their own country. And I have no doubt that they will."
Richard Perle - 7 Nov 2002
"I don't believe that anything like a long-term commitment of 150,000 Americans would be necessary."
Richard Perle - 10 Mar 2002
"In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members.... It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons."
Sen. Hillary Clinton (D, NY), Oct. 10, 2002.
Iraq has weapons of mass destruction, Saddam has continued to produce them, he has existing and active military plans for the use of chemical and biological weapons, which could be deployed within 45 minutes.
Prime Minister Tony Blair - 2002 Sept 24
"It is unknowable how long that conflict will last. It could be six days, six weeks. I doubt six months."
Donald Rumsfeld - 2 Jul 2003
"Having defeated and then occupied Iraq, democratizing the country should not be too tall an order for the world's sole superpower."
William Kristol - 24 Feb 2003
"It's hard to conceive that it would take more forces to provide stability in post-Saddam Iraq than it would take to conduct the war itself and to secure the surrender of Saddam’s security forces and his army. Hard to imagine."
Paul Wolfowitz - 27 Feb 2003
If we don't act now, then we will go back to what has happened before and then of course the whole thing begins again and he carries on developing these weapons and these are dangerous weapons, particularly if they fall into the hands of terrorists who we know want to use these weapons if they can get them.
Prime Minister Tony Blair - 11 March 2003
I think things have gotten so bad inside Iraq, from the standpoint of the Iraqi people, my belief is we will, in fact, be greeted as liberators.
Dick Cheney - 16 March 2003
"I think it will go relatively quickly...weeks rather than months."
Dick Cheney - March 16 2003
Do not obey any command to use weapons of mass destruction against anyone, including the Iraqi people. War crimes will be prosecuted. War criminals will be punished. And it will be no defense to say, "I was just following orders."
President George W. Bush - March 17, 2003
Those who follow orders to commit such crimes will be found and they will be punished. War crimes will be prosecuted. And it will be no excuse to say, 'I was just following orders.' Any official involved in such crimes will forfeit hope of amnesty or leniency with respect to past action.
Donald Rumsfeld - March 20, 2003
"When it comes to reconstruction, before we turn to the American taxpayer, we will turn first to the resources of the Iraqi government and the international community."
Donald H. Rumsfeld - March 27 2003
"There is a lot of money to pay for this that doesn't have to be U.S. taxpayer money, and it starts with the assets of the Iraqi people. We are talking about a country that can really finance its own reconstruction and relatively soon."
Paul Wolfowitz - March 27 2003
.I picked up a newspaper today and I couldn't believe it. I read eight headlines that talked about chaos, violence, unrest. And it just was Henny Penny -- "The sky is falling." I've never seen anything like it! And here is a country that's being liberated, here are people who are going from being repressed and held under the thumb of a vicious dictator, and they're free. And all this newspaper could do, with eight or 10 headlines, they showed a man bleeding, a civilian, who they claimed we had shot -- one thing after another.
Donald Rumsfeld - April 11, 2003
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"Major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed."
President Bush (Mission Accomplished" USS Lincoln aircraft carrier) - May 2, 2003
"The United States is committed to the worldwide elimination of torture and we are leading this fight by example."
George W. Bush - June 26, 2003
"My answer is bring 'em on."
George W. Bush - July 2, 2003
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Oh, indeed there is a tie between Iraq and what happened on 9/11. It’s not that Saddam Hussein was somehow himself and his regime involved in 9/11, but, if you think about what caused 9/11, it is the rise of ideologies of hatred that lead people to drive airplanes into buildings in New York."
Condoleezza Rice November 28, 2003
See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda.
President George W. Bush - May 24, 2005
"I think they're in the last throes, if you will, of the insurgency."
Dick Cheney - June 20, 2005
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Freedom from torture is an inalienable human right, and we are committed to building a world where human rights are respected and protected by the rule of law…Throughout the world, there are many who have been seeking to have their voices heard, to stand up for their right to freedom, and to break the chains of tyranny. Too many of those courageous women and men are paying a terrible price for their brave acts of dissent. Many have been detained, arrested, thrown in prison, and subjected to torture by regimes that fail to understand that their habits of control will not serve them well in the long-term.
George W. Bush June 26, 2005
"If our commanders on the ground say we need more troops, I will send them. But our commanders tell me they have the number of troops they need to do their job. Sending more Americans would undermine our strategy of encouraging Iraqis to take the lead in this fight. And sending more Americans would suggest that we intend to stay forever, when we are, in fact, working for the day when Iraq can defend itself and we can leave."
George W. Bush - June 28 2005
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Before The IRAQ WAR Surge
Everything these guys said was wrong at best but most commonly were lies mixed with distortions. The people against this war were right in their characterization of what the outcome would be. They were ignored and called traitors and cowards when they should have been listened to. Listen to them now when they speak against current and future military misadventures (Iran) because their voices carry more truth than the voices of the egocentric chicken hawks in the Bush administration.
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"When The President Talks to God"
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Bloodiest Week of 2008 for US Troops in Iraq Ends With Roadside Bomb Death, Pushing Toll to 19
ROBERT H. REIDAP News
Apr 12, 2008 20:58 EST
http://www.rawstory.com/news/mochila/US_GIs_in_Iraq_suffer_worst_week_of_04122008.html
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prosecute the head torturer in chief
Cheney authorized 'harsh interrogations'
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Cheney_authorized_harsh_interrogations_0411.html
New reports and disturbing stories of torture and injustice
http://www.amnestyusa.org/Torture/New-reports-and-disturbing-stories-of-torture-and-injustice/page.do?id=1051232&n1=3&n2=38
US/Jordan: Stop Renditions to Torture
CIA Transfer of Suspects to Jordan for Interrogation Violates International Law
http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2008/04/08/usint18463.htm
When we became a nation that tortures we became less. It's a dark sinister turn that must be halted and made right. Great shame has been brought on our nation because of this hideous practice. Torture is and always has been evil. This is highly unconstitutional, immoral and again it must be stressed a completely un-American exercise in shame with much more in likeness to the old Soviet Union, China, or any other authoritarian government. Confessions as the result of torture and ill-treatment make them completely invalid.
Information gained is unreliable and dangerous to the well-being of our troops. We hanged people in Nuremberg for the practices we carry out today. Once we believe that torture is okay, that we're still pure and clean and good for having accepted it, we open ourselves up to many evil embraced horrors of our own making. We already believe in pre-emptive war and collateral damage without a conscience thought, of the results of our actions.
Bush likes to make bellicose speeches about evil all over the world. Well torture is evil here and everywhere it's practiced and it must never be used for information or punishment or intimidation or for any of the other screwy reasons governments or 'freedom fighters' deploy it. Torture is a cowardly act of weakness.
You people who have welcomed this filthy practice of torture have disgraced our flag, our ancestors' sacrifices and the dust of their bones. This is a war crime and all those involved should be prosecuted all the way up to the head torturer in chief, George W. Bush, a traitor to ‘mom apple pie and the American way’.
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Cheney_authorized_harsh_interrogations_0411.html
New reports and disturbing stories of torture and injustice
http://www.amnestyusa.org/Torture/New-reports-and-disturbing-stories-of-torture-and-injustice/page.do?id=1051232&n1=3&n2=38
US/Jordan: Stop Renditions to Torture
CIA Transfer of Suspects to Jordan for Interrogation Violates International Law
http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2008/04/08/usint18463.htm
When we became a nation that tortures we became less. It's a dark sinister turn that must be halted and made right. Great shame has been brought on our nation because of this hideous practice. Torture is and always has been evil. This is highly unconstitutional, immoral and again it must be stressed a completely un-American exercise in shame with much more in likeness to the old Soviet Union, China, or any other authoritarian government. Confessions as the result of torture and ill-treatment make them completely invalid.
Information gained is unreliable and dangerous to the well-being of our troops. We hanged people in Nuremberg for the practices we carry out today. Once we believe that torture is okay, that we're still pure and clean and good for having accepted it, we open ourselves up to many evil embraced horrors of our own making. We already believe in pre-emptive war and collateral damage without a conscience thought, of the results of our actions.
Bush likes to make bellicose speeches about evil all over the world. Well torture is evil here and everywhere it's practiced and it must never be used for information or punishment or intimidation or for any of the other screwy reasons governments or 'freedom fighters' deploy it. Torture is a cowardly act of weakness.
You people who have welcomed this filthy practice of torture have disgraced our flag, our ancestors' sacrifices and the dust of their bones. This is a war crime and all those involved should be prosecuted all the way up to the head torturer in chief, George W. Bush, a traitor to ‘mom apple pie and the American way’.
.
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from RAW STORY
CIA has 7,000 documents relating to rendition, detention, torture programs, filing shows
Published: Wednesday April 23
2008http://rawstory.com/news/2008/CIA_has_7000_documents_relating_to_0423.html
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Saturday, April 05, 2008
Scarry Choices With McCain
Watchin' basketball work on Blog later
Buchanan & Scarborough on McCain
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The first most important thing about McCain is, strained foreign policy, the prolonged occupation of Iraq and war with Iran and no telling what else the Neocon-inclined brain might come up with.
Secondly, is his choice for vice president.
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(I would like to say that there are those on the right who are trying to claim that we have no respect for the sacrificial heroic military service of Senator McCain or the thousands of others from his time before and since who gave so much in service to the United States; as a veteran I would say that is all nonsense. We have trouble with his current political positions which would be damaging to our nation.)
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recieved this in an email from Move On this morning...
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to email this list to friends
http://pol.moveon.org/mccain10/?id=12407-6811214-4Z50St&t=231
10 things you should know about John McCain (but probably don't):
1. John McCain voted against establishing a national holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Now he says his position has "evolved," yet he's continued to oppose key civil rights laws.1
2. According to Bloomberg News, McCain is more hawkish than Bush on Iraq, Russia and China. Conservative columnist Pat Buchanan says McCain "will make Cheney look like Gandhi."2
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3. His reputation is built on his opposition to torture, but McCain voted against a bill to ban waterboarding, and then applauded President Bush for vetoing that ban.3
4. McCain opposes a woman's right to choose. He said, "I do not support Roe versus Wade. It should be overturned."4
5. The Children's Defense Fund rated McCain as the worst senator in Congress for children. He voted against the children's health care bill last year, then defended Bush's veto of the bill.5
6. He's one of the richest people in a Senate filled with millionaires. The Associated Press reports he and his wife own at least eight homes! Yet McCain says the solution to the housing crisis is for people facing foreclosure to get a "second job" and skip their vacations.6
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7. Many of McCain's fellow Republican senators say he's too reckless to be commander in chief. One Republican senator said: "The thought of his being president sends a cold chill down my spine. He's erratic. He's hotheaded. He loses his temper and he worries me."7
8. McCain talks a lot about taking on special interests, but his campaign manager and top advisers are actually lobbyists. The government watchdog group Public Citizen says McCain has 59 lobbyists raising money for his campaign, more than any of the other presidential candidates.8
9. McCain has sought closer ties to the extreme religious right in recent years. The pastor McCain calls his "spiritual guide," Rod Parsley, believes America's founding mission is to destroy Islam, which he calls a "false religion." McCain sought the political support of right-wing preacher John Hagee, who believes Hurricane Katrina was God's punishment for gay rights and called the Catholic Church "the Antichrist" and a "false cult."9
10. He positions himself as pro-environment, but he scored a 0—yes, zero—from the League of Conservation Voters last year.10John McCain is not who the Washington press corps make him out to be.
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Please help get the word out—forward this email to your personal network. And if you want us to keep you posted on MoveOn's work to get the truth out about John McCain, sign up here:
http://pol.moveon.org/mccaintruth/?id=12407-6811214-4Z50St&t=232
Sources:
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1. "The Complicated History of John McCain and MLK Day," ABC News, April 3, 2008 http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/04/the-complicated.html
"McCain Facts," ColorOfChange.org, April 4, 2008 http://colorofchange.org/mccain_facts/
2. "McCain More Hawkish Than Bush on Russia, China, Iraq," Bloomberg News, March 12, 2008 http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aF28rSCtk0ZM&refer=us
"Buchanan: John McCain 'Will Make Cheney Look Like Gandhi,'" ThinkProgress, February 6, 2008 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/06/buchanan-gandhi-mccain/
3. "McCain Sides With Bush On Torture Again, Supports Veto Of Anti-Waterboarding Bill," ThinkProgress, February 20, 2008 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/20/mccain-torture-veto/
4. "McCain says Roe v. Wade should be overturned," MSNBC, February 18, 2007 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17222147/
5. "2007 Children's Defense Fund Action Council® Nonpartisan Congressional Scorecard," February 2008 http://www.childrensdefense.org/site/PageServer?pagename=act_learn_scorecard2007
"McCain: Bush right to veto kids health insurance expansion," CNN, October 3, 2007 http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/03/mccain.interview/
6. "Beer Executive Could Be Next First Lady," Associated Press, April 3, 2008 http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h-S1sWHm0tchtdMP5LcLywg5ZtMgD8VQ86M80
"McCain Says Bank Bailout Should End `Systemic Risk,'" Bloomberg News, March 25, 2008 http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aHMiDVYaXZFM&refer=home
7. "Will McCain's Temper Be a Liability?," Associated Press, February 16, 2008 http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=4301022
"Famed McCain temper is tamed," Boston Globe, January 27, 2008 http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/01/27/famed_mccain_temper_is_tamed/
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8. "Black Claims McCain's Campaign Is Above Lobbyist Influence: 'I Don't Know What The Criticism Is,'" ThinkProgress, April 2, 2008 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/04/02/mccain-black-lobbyist/
"McCain's Lobbyist Friends Rally 'Round Their Man," ABC News, January 29, 2008 http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=4210251
9. "McCain's Spiritual Guide: Destroy Islam," Mother Jones Magazine, March 12, 2008 http://www.motherjones.com/washington_dispatch/2008/03/john-mccain-rod-parsley-spiritual-guide.html
"Will McCain Specifically 'Repudiate' Hagee's Anti-Gay Comments?," ThinkProgress, March 12, 2008 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/03/12/mccain-hagee-anti-gay/
"McCain 'Very Honored' By Support Of Pastor Preaching 'End-Time Confrontation With Iran,'" ThinkProgress, February 28, 2008 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/28/hagee-mccain-endorsement/
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10. "John McCain Gets a Zero Rating for His Environmental Record," Sierra Club, February 28, 2008 http://www.alternet.org/blogs/environment/77913/
Support our member-driven organization: MoveOn.org Political Action is entirely funded by our 3.2 million members. We have no corporate contributors, no foundation grants, no money from unions. Our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. If you'd like to support our work, you can give now at:
http://political.moveon.org/donate/email.html?id=12407-6811214-4Z50St&t=241
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Barack Obama Responds to John McCain
Buchanan & Scarborough on McCain
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