Christmas message from the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King jr.

Here's a great speech by an outstanding American during a time of unrest, violence, hate and, yes, hope.

Martin Luther King: A Christmas Sermon On Peace - 1967

Bleeding Heart

Everything Christ talks about here is exactly what the conservatives attempt to denigrate liberals with what, they seem to believe, is the derogatory expression of ‘bleeding heart’.


Jesus said to his disciples:

“To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back.

Do to others as you would have them do to you. For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount.

But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

“Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.

Give, and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”

Luke 6-27-38

Jesus explains well what it means to be a good follower of His; a good explanation of one type of Cross He has asked us to bare. Also, for those of us who dare to call ourselves Christian it’s a good example of how to be a ‘bleeding heart liberal’.

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I would like to wish everyone who reads me a beautiful Christmas that nourishes both body and soul.


For all who celebrate Hanukkah please have a joyous holiday filled with light, family and friends.

Finale' of a Muppet Family Christmas

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If you're Christian the religious nature of the holiday shouldn't be forgotten in all the confusion and gaiety. I really like this little video. When we celebrate the birth of Rev. Martin Luther King we are not remembering little baby Martin but his whole life and legacy. Similarly, we shouldn't be recalling only the nativity story but the whole of who Jesus is and how he fits into our lives.

The Reason for the Season

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It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled ’till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.

- Dr. Seuss

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Copenhagen and environmental concerns

Copenhagen Climate Conference

The far right-wing big conservative mucky mucks must not only be amazed, but overcome with giddiness that every lie and distortion they fling against the wall sticks. The latest concerns the environmental scientists emails. The large level of distrust for the scientific community, among evangelical fundamentalists, rivals that of the Middle Ages. Corporate polluters are all to happy to use their ignorance fueled prejudice in their favor.
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The Sate of Climate Change

NOAA: 2009 Global Temperatures Well Above Average; Slightly Above-Average for U.S.

Arguing, and voting against alternative advances in energy is an insult to the
resourcefulness and ingenuity of the American spirit.

Why anyone would bet against the can-do spunk of Americans is hard to
understand. But, the Republican party is dominated by those who are doing this
very thing in order to protect massive oil company profits. It's a detriment to
what we can all achieve.

The US has always been in the forefront of developing new technology that has
spread around the globe and advanced the standard of living for the whole human
race.

GOP is intentionally ignorant on climate change

The GOP and religious extremists
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President Obama and Afghanistan

what Olberman said about Afghanistan surge the night before Obama's speech...

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I wrote this during the Cheney/Bush years....

They screwed the Afghanistan people and our troops who were fighting the terrorists who really did attack our country by running away from the ‘war on terror’ hijacking it for neoconservative desires. The Taliban is regaining strength in Afghanistan and Osama Bin Laden is still free. They have been the best friends of those who attacked us by making the United States weaker and reviled in the world while boosting Al Qaeda recruiting and prestige. They hijacked the criminal pursuit of Al Qaeda in favor of their own misguided desires and against the interests of the American people and those of the Middle East and they continue to do so. Their lying tongues like the 9-11 terrorists are drenched in the blood of the innocent. They truly belong on trial for the crimes they’ve committed against the citizens of the United States and Iraq and whatever else is uncovered.

I would like to add that Neocon-led Bush policies have made such a mess of Afghanistan, I'm sceptical that previous military successes there could be repeated. However, we owe justice to the 3,000 that has been denied them during this regime.

In an article from the Huffington Post on July 15, 2008 by: GLEN JOHNSON it is made very clear that, as president, Obama would make Afganistan, al-Qaida and the Taliban his top priority.

Obama Iraq Speech: US Strategy Is Unsound
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He's doing exactly what he said he would do.


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I do like the use of heavy diplomacy and political negotiation, as well as humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan. Whatever they have planned in this area they need to multiply. Civilian deaths are way, too, high. If we continue to be careless, it doesn't matter what positive things we do.

I would also have preferred less reliance on more troops while increasing the use of FBI, CIA and Special Forces in a more law enforcing mode than war.

from this morning - Democracy Now...

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Karzai stole the election. Will he now become our latest dictator in the pocket.

We commit, allow and turn our backs away from many atrocities because we want to better our position in the third world. Our government puts the best spin on these episodes whenever they see the light of day and claim it’s all in an effort to fight radical Islam. But are we truly any better when we endorse the same human rights abuses as our foes? Does it matter what side of the fence the bullet came from when you lie dying?

Friendly Dictators
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When we support a country whose government mutilates human rights we hand an ideological victory and propaganda tools for insurrectionists to use against us. Where they suppress speech we should encourage it. Where they use violence we should react with kindness, food and medical care.

Sometimes every choice sucks. I know Bush stuck us with Karzai, but we should let the people of Afghanistan know we do not support his human and civil rights violations and push for change. We should never provide military assistance or have friendly diplomatic ties with any country that violates the civil liberties of its citizens. We must never, as we have in the past and may still be, in some instances, abusers of the population ourselves.

For example, we have close economic ties with China whose benefits 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.

It is immoral to keep a people held hostage under a dictator or totalitarian system by providing the weapons and money needed to stay in power, then turn around and wage war against these same people because the same tyrannical government becomes unacceptable. This situation in Panama and Iraq left thousands of civilians dead. Will we end up facing this type of crisis in Afghanistan? Every time we cozy up to a dictator it comes back to bite us in the butt.

Too often, it seems many hawks in this country view world relations as a football game, us against them. The other team is dehumanized to ease our feelings as we ‘tromp’ them. There's absolutely no consideration of how we arrived in our present situation and to whether our conduct was and is ethical or in the best interests of all parties involved. Any targeting, careless or otherwise, of noncombatants is sinful.

Representative Joe Sestak on Obama's plan...

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from 60 Minutes...

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US policy in Afghanistan explained...

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Official Army history finds Bush admin. ‘hamstrung’ troops in Afghanistan

Army History Finds Early Missteps in Afghanistan

'A Different Kind of War' (Army’s official history of the war in Afghanistan)

Iraq invasion in 2003 was illegitimate: Dutch probe
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Ambassadors for America

This is a letter I just submitted to the editor of my local paper, the Spokesman Review. There were several issues I wanted to cover. I think I managed to touch on them a tad bit.

Truly harmful political correctness exist within the ‘you’re either with us or against us’ right wing of the Republican Party where strict loyalty is demanded, down to accepting every talking point, including coddling of international corporations

The far right big conservative mucky mucks must not only be amazed, but overcome with giddiness that every lie and distortion they fling against the wall sticks. They must also have contempt for their malleable base and bad backs from bending over for corporations who have used favorable legislation greedily, rather than investing in the US.

We are all ambassadors for America when we leave our shores and that includes business.

If you care about human rights, it's plain that a sizable portion of the money we save buying cheap imports, is money that's being used to subjugate others. There's a direct link between trade policy, the consumer and human rights violations throughout the Third World. Money spent on these products highlights not only international corporate indifference to the plight of our fellow human beings but compliance with child labor and slavery, while our ignorance allows it to continue.

the proof...
Department of Labor report - child labor and forced labor (pdf)
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Free the Children
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AG Holder must go after the war criminals

This Halloween story was probably part of the Friday news dump. It illustrates just how far beyond the Bush/Cheney cruel 'harsh interrogation tactics' treatment of prisoners went. AG Holder needs to get on the stick prosecuting these war crimes regardless of where they may lead. ( the highest levels of the Bush regime)

FBI documents reveal secret CIA prisoners ‘manacled to the ceiling’

from earlier in the year...

Rep. Nadler Says Holder’s Torture Investigation Should Examine Cheney

Cheney was key in clearing CIA interrogation tactics

Red Cross Described 'Torture' at CIA Jails

previously...
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Doing away with inhumane Neocon ideas


When we became a nation that tortures we became less. It was 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.

It 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.

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. The last administration and their supporters accepted pre-emptive war and collateral damage without a conscience thought, of the results of those actions.

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.

Obama Issues Directive to Shut Guantánamo

Guantanamo: Obama Executive Order To Close Prison Full Text

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Today we have been lifted from the cancerous depths of craven inhumanity. No longer do we have to hold our heads down in shame.

The whole world and history are looking at us now.

If we are strong, if the faith we have in our nation is strong, if what we have always told ourselves what we believed about the endurance of our Constitution is strong; then we should move forward with guts.

Obama/Clinton announce special envoys

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Past administration officials who 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, a traitor to ‘mom apple pie and the American way’.

Levin: I’ve Suggested To Eric Holder That He Should Appoint An Independent Investigator On Torture

Bush/Cheney and cohorts should be tried for war crimes against the people of the United States and the world. I fear, to do nothing would be an affirmation, by neglecting justice, of the former presidents’ position on all the wrong doing he and his administration have conspired against the laws and values of our nation.

CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE
and Other Cruel, Inhuman or DegradingTreatment or Punishment
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from...
Thursday, April 24, 2008
The 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.
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Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL), Patriot
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Obama would ask his AG to "immediately review" potential of crimes in Bush White House

Obama: Torture takes away our civil liberties

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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

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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
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Hiding those pesky little war crimes
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Extraordinary Rendition
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Child and forced labor

If you care about human rights, it's very plain that the money you save buying cheap imports, often for un-necessary garbage is money that's being used to subjugate others, for our buying pleasure. There's a direct link between US trade policy, the American consumer and human rights violations throughout the Third World. The money you spend on these products highlights international corporate indifference to the plight of our fellow human beings while our ignorance allows it to continue.

the proof...
Department of Labor report - child labor and forced labor pdf

from a previous post...
Human trafficking

ILRF

Those corporations, who, un-patriotically closed down US based manufacturing in favor of slave and child labor have also done great harm here at home.
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AFL-CIO

Frontline - The Warning
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update...Thanks Ms. Rachael. This topic does not see enough light.
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fractured hip and the GOP economic disaster

I've been walking since the first of September. Hip and leg pain has been growing steadily ever since then. I've got a feeling this is just the way it's going to be or my 'poor old lady bones' are just going to be slow to mend. It's back to the doc tomorrow. I don't want to hear that hip replacement surgery is in my future. I wonder if all this has slowed by posting down to a near nonexistant crawl. I don't see how, though.


We need to remember when the collapse occurred. It was last September during the Bush administration before the nation ever picked it's next president. Obama inherited this GOP generated disaster. The following Bush speech should receive much more attention.

Home Ownership and President Bush setting the stage for economic collapse

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Study: Bush administration blocked efforts to prevent housing crisis

What FDR did
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Dow hits 10K

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Give a Man a Job - 1933

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Consevatives cave to fear and lies

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The little old lady, from the McCain rally in '08, who worried that Obama was an Arab, actually believed what she'd been told and was truly scared. She had been so flooded with lies she became terrified that the US would be taken over by terrorists, that her and her families lives would be at risk, and that America would cease to exist. I'm sure she loves and believes ,whether they be family, friends, radio and tv personalities or politicians, these horror stories they tell her. There are thousands just like her who are tricked into a state of fear. That is truly abuse and it's shameful.

Government lies, propaganda and war

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Fear has been used to manipulate the American people on many issues, with Iraq and the Patriot Act being among the most notable. Reactionary right wing radio and FOX news had participated with the Bush government, corporate interests, and now the exiled conservatives in getting a message out benefiting them, without regard to what's best for the United States. This is what propaganda is. It's illegal in this country. It's also why Rush, Sean and the rest of hate radio and FOX news are guilty of crimes against the American people along with complacency in war crimes.

Allied Radio - A Good Day for the Media

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Caving into fear is understandable; when all you want is security. As long as you can have your lifestyle and be comfortable in your homes and feel nice and safe until you die you’re willing to have ‘Big Brother’ take care of you from ‘cradle to grave’. ‘From cradle to grave’ your willing to sell out your children’s and grand children’s future liberty and climate in order ‘to keep things just the way they are’, to feel secure in your finances and lifestyle.

You’re willing to give up freely what others, who came before you, worked, suffered and died for. Why, because you’re afraid of the boogie man from the Middle East who has the strange religion and frightening ways. So scared, that calling the president a Muslim seems like a fitting insult and cause for anxiety. You’re willing to throw it all away because of fear mixed with a healthy dose of willful ignorance and a smattering of hate. No amount of evidence can convince you seriously misguided adherents of anything FOX and Limbaugh that you are willing victims of propaganda and lies.

You’re, too, voluntarily blind to see you are denying your faithfulness to what you so proudly proclaim as God and country. You are swept up by the passion of conflict and follow along aimlessly. Duped by your own pigheaded ignorance and fear of going against what seems popular with your peers you halt any contrary questions you may have floating around in your conscience.

The whole idea, embraced by the right, that many of us, who don't succumb to their warped ideology and fears, aren't real Americans and are the enemy within is dangerously threatening to our nation. Fear and suspicion of anyone 'not like us' has been catastrophic in every country it has existed in and is equally cataclysmic here. For the party that claims to be the 'America-first crowd' this is an extremely irresponsible tactic to the well being of the ideals of our country.

You’re allowing yourselves to be taken advantage of by those who would desire to see your freedoms lessened for their own lustful purposes.

The Nexus f Politics and Terror - 2009 edition

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True political correctness exist within the ‘you’re either with us or against us’ right wing of the conservative end of the Republican Party. Qualifications matter little to this group compared to strict party loyalty down to accepting every single party principle of the moment. It is not possible to say something is, for example, truly blue when party loyalty demands it to be red.
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Just a few of the many examples…
(I could have come up with many more)

Al Qaeda was in Iraq.
Iraq had weapons of mass destruction
Iraq was a danger to the U.S.
Iraq would cause mushrooms clouds to be on our shores
Iraq snuck out all its weapons
Iraq wouldn’t let in the weapons inspectors
Iraq is better off now
Women are freer in Iraq now
Women are freer in Afghanistan now
The press only shows the bad in the war
Reagan ended the Cold War
God is on our side
We are a Christian nation
Bush is right
To criticize Bush is un-American
To criticize Cheney is un-American
To criticize Rove is un-American
To criticize Rumsfeld was/is un-American
To criticize Rice is un-American
To criticize Gonzales is un-American
To criticize any of them is un-American
Rush is always right
Savage is always right
Hannity is always right
Beck is always right
Fox and Friends is always right
Fox is always right
The far right is always right
The Second Amendment is about private gun ownership
Taxes are always bad
Government is always bad
White people are discriminated against
White men are discriminated against
Anything good in this world came from white men
Evolution is wrong
Science can’t be trusted
Global warming is a myth
Global warming is natural
Global warming is caused by the sun
Liberals/Environmentalists/Feminists/homeless/human rights defenders/etc…. hate America
Liberals/Environmentalists/Feminists/homeless/human rights defenders/etc…. hate God
Liberals/Environmentalists/Feminists/homeless/human rights defenders/etc…. are Nazis
Liberals/Environmentalists/Feminists/homeless/human rights defenders/etc…. are Communists
Liberals/Environmentalists/Feminists/homeless/human rights defenders/etc….are evil
Liberals/Environmentalists/Feminists/homeless/human rights defenders/etc….are less than human
President Obama is a Muslim
President Obama is a terrorist
President Obama was not born here
President Obama is a socialist
President Obama is a communist
President Obama is a fascist
President Obama is a racist
President Obama hates America
President Obama hates white people
President Obama is destroying America
That socialism, communism and fascism are the same thing
That there is no racism or prejudice among teabaggers
That Democrats are the rasist ones
That the flood of Southern conservatives to the GOP had nothing to do with civil rights
That the pending health bill funds abortion
That the pending health bill includes illegal aliens
That the pending health bill is about government take over of health services
That the pending health bill contains death panels
That insurance company profits are reasonable
President Obama wants to indoctrinate our children
President Obama wants to form an army of 'brown shirts' from our children
That census workers are evil
That census workers are using GPS to identify Republicans and Christians for
a United Nation army
bizarre... bizarre... bizarre...
Etc…etc…etc.

The far right big conservative mucky mucks must be amazed that every lie and distortion they fling against the wall sticks. They must be overcome with giddiness, and contempt for their malleable base that is so easy to fool.
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When I hear things like socialism, fascism and communism are all the same thing, I'm, witnessing gullibility wrapped up in ignorance with a dizzying level of intellectual laziness. Among those right wingers, who know better, spreading this falsehood is a successful effort to rip fascism of it's meaning.

You good Republicans need to develop the courage to see the truth because these monsters are destroying you from within and along with you they’re dragging the whole nation into disgrace. These are not your fathers Republicans they’re essentially fascists and devastation is their mistress.
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Rush inflames old hatreds

Limbaugh: We need segregated buses

I grew up on the west end of Belleville and graduated from Belleville West High School.

I've never seen a fight that didn't draw a crowd of cheering kids. They were always white kids because there were less than a handful of blacks in the town. I grew up in a racist environment centered on a fear of the predominately African American community of East St' Louis moving up Edgemont hill into our town. That underlying prejudice still exists among the older population of the community. I haven't been there in 14 years but I would suspect that those feelings are less, like everywhere else, among young people.

Here in Spokane it doesn't take very much motivation for fists to start flying, if that's a common trend, across this country, that's the reason why it was so necessary for a fight to start over a seat.

Hate merchant, Rush and others are trying to inflame the old feelings of animosity and racism that this nation struggled so hard to climb out of.


Steele's support for Rep. Wilson's rude outburst toward the president along with the hatred from the right is shocking.

Steele knew that man’s background. He knew what he meant.

Racist actions and talk MUST always be challenged!

What did Steele do? What did he stand for?

It seems as though he has placed loyalty to party above all else.
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Bloody Sunday

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Pro-Segregation Riots Draw Federal Troops

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The Battle for Ole Miss - Part 1

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The Battle for Ole Miss - Part 2

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This is why the angry south, and those of like minds went Republican. Like it was sad and shameful then, it is now.

For the right wing conservatives to say it's not about race and that it's only a few extremists isn't true. To silently tolerate racists speech and actions within your midst is the same as participating in that hatred.
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The GOP and right-wing racist nuts

Rachel Maddow - right-wing nuts

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Rachel Maddow - 9-12 - health

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Many thought that Reagan was the death of liberalism. But it wasn't, because progressives kept fighting for all the causes that were important to it. We made a resurgence towards the end of Bush41 and struggled to stay alive throughout the Clinton administration.

The vile language of the 'hate everyone who is not like us' conservatives brought them back to life leading to the incredibly destructive Neoconservative dominated Bush43 crowd. The far-right fascist-leaning Neocon embracing conservatives will not let up. They will constantly attack a Democratic government as being the enemy.

These fiends aren't going away. I wouldn't be honest if I didn't say all this is more than a little bit frightening. I've been convinced that at the minimum these guys are playing with fascism. I'm even more convinced, since they are intentionally raising the level of hatred by equating President Obama as the enemy of the United States, that America is dead and other incredibly dangerous talk, that I feel, has crossed the line into sedition, if not treason, at least for all those who suggest the death of the president.

It has already been well established that the Neoconservative dominated Cheney/Bush administration were fascist wanna-bees. All totalitarian oriented societies or political parties whether they've achieved complete power or not, need, no must have, a propaganda arm. Fox and reactionary radio are that arm.

Their job is to take a spin on the truth, a distortion of it or an outright lie and paint it as the most pro-American or pro-Christian point of view for anyone who loves America to hold. Their very good at playing on peoples prejudices and weaknesses. In other words they are very gifted at getting people to believe what isn't true with gusto.

The sad thing is they have no idea it's all being used against them and that the propagandists have no love or respect for those who they fool. It's absolutely amazing for those of us who have been fortunately immune from this vileness to watch their effect on their mesmerized adherents. The word or phrase of the moment that encapsulates Neocon ideas or concepts are universally parroted by the blind sheep. There's no amount of facts, proof or evidence that can deter them from their hypnotic trance.

This same group screams about the liberal press but that same press, much of which is corporate controlled, does little to expose the distortions and lies of the Conservative right. Too often, truth is treated as opinion. To their credit they do the right thing now and then but, they play ball far, too often, with the far right and corporate goons.

The propagandists have a back-up for when the press actually do their jobs; it's called 'distrust'. They have all made it very clear to their hypnotic audience that the truth comes only from them.

No one else is to be believed.

We hold the true truth.

It's dangerous to listen to them.

We are the truth.

LISTEN!

Countdown - right wing racism

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Rapping Joe’s Knuckles
By MAUREEN DOWD
Published: September 15, 2009
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Fractured hip and GOP fear and lies

I haven't wrote anything here since I broke my hip. Yep, about 8 weeks ago I fell and fractured my hip right below the ball. I have three long pins holding it all together. No, I'm still not able to walk.

I was fortunate that, because of MS, a walker and electric wheelchair with a ramp were available to me. I'm used to making adjustments, but, I used to be able to walk, not very well or for very long, but, I could do it. Now, I can't and I don't know how long it will be before I can do it again.

Oh, and I found out why my right side sounds like worn and busted gears struggling to complete their duty. They haven't healed and are separated. Well, this causes me to wonder how well my hips are healing.
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I submitted this as a letter to the editor ( I was angry about the topic and in a hurry - I could have done better)...

My wife of 31 years and I, both USAF veterans, have MS. We both had insurance through her employer until she joined me in the ranks of those, too, disabled to work.

We had long term care through her insurance from her job but they refused to honor it claiming MS isn't disabling. Even our doctor couldn't get them to change their position.

So instead of the insurance company shouldering their commitment the government is forced to do it for them through Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Insurance should have accepted their lawful burden rather than push it on to the taxpayer in order to protect their profits.

It's a tale not unique to us but one that's repeated thousands of times across the US. It's the status quo that hate radio, the bizarre birthers and deathers along with their violent thugs are striving to protect. Their lies and fear generation are an authoritarian-like maneuver against diplomatic discourse which has served our nation well.
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Fear is a great motivating force for violence. Fear of ideas, cultures, that others will change what those around you believe or leave you with less than you now have.

What I find myself worrying about most is the violence among the radical, ignorant right.

Every time the Republican party, from the time of Reagan to the present, wanted to rev-up public emotion toward an enemy they always compared him to, Hitler and the Communist menace. It didn't matter that they were on the opposite sides of the political spectrum, or, that the situation in no way even came close to applying. All that mattered was stirring up fear, hate and incitement of military pre-emption.
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Bold hope for understanding and cooperation

He made three good speeches on this foreign policy trip, one of them great.

Here it is...

President Obama Speaks to the Muslim World from Cairo, Egypt


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The only problem I had with the speech, above, is that I wish he would have brought up collateral damage. ( a term I pray will fall out of use, at least when it refers to people)

Q+A-Civilian casualties in Afghanistan

Afghanistan: Civilian Deaths From Airstrikes

President Speaks After Touring Nazi Concentration Camp In Germany


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United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

President Obama's D-Day Speech

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These men bravely faced death in their victorious effort to defend the principles embodied in our Constitution.

D-Day


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They didn't compromise what America stands for in a shameful attempt to be safe. They faced their duty with uncompromising courage.

This is something I previously wrote about the cowards among us who have placed safety above liberty and our duty to pass it on to those who follow.

To the Red 25 - 30 percent

from last November...

Radical conservativism isn't dead.
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Angry with Rachael Maddow !!!

I was very miffed at Rachael Maddow. The previous entry shows how darn near ecstatic I was over the president's speech.

Then I watched Rachael Maddow...

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So I had to listen to the speech again, be less enthused and add the statement below to the previous posting.

I would like to add that much more soul searching debate needs to be conducted over the fate of those, who cannot be tried because of torture, that we seem to be afraid to let lose.

I'm wondering if Rachael may be wrong by suggesting that the Obama administration will manipulate law, unjustly, in order to keep some individuals locked up forever.

Is he avoiding having to discuss our inability to hold these people at this time?

It seems he may be leaving this up to the courts, out of his apparent deep respect for the separation of powers, to do the proper legal thing.

That's what I hope.

He deserves to hear from the whole human rights/constitution loving community, and everybody else, about just how unacceptable is the scenario described by Ms. Maddow.

In this area and others, where domestic and international crimes were broken.the Attorney General and especially Congress MUST stop fooling around and step up to their responsibilities.

Pressure needs to be placed in appropriate places and that is upon those whose job it is to oversee, investigate and prosecute.

I used to think he ended up with so much on his plate that God had to give him a platter,but recent events would indicate He stuck him with a whole buffet. He can't do it all and he shouldn't be catching all the hell; just his fair, rightly deserved portion.
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Pres. Obama's remove the plank from our eye speech

Since my Air Force days in the Philippines I have been very concerned about human rights and our conduct throughout the world especially what is called 'third'.

Despite mine and my families health and financial needs, my top issues of importance is an end to torture and mistreatment of prisoners, no more extra ordinary renditions(disappearances), to bring 9-11 perpetrators to a proper justice and to reclaim our respect and dignity in the world.

I've longed to hear the words spoke by our president, yesterday.

President Obama: Our Security, Our Values


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Bush/Cheney and cohorts should be tried for war crimes against the people of the United States and the world. I fear, to do nothing would be an affirmation, by neglecting justice, of the former presidents’ position on all the wrong doing he and his administration have conspired against the laws and values of our nation.

CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE
and Other Cruel, Inhuman or DegradingTreatment or Punishment

president has monarchal powers!?!
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Radical conservativism isn't dead.

Something else for those who dare to embrace Christianity. Being an apologist for torture means you believe governments have the right to torture if they see a need. You've created justification for the Roman way of dealing with Christ.

Isn’t it just typical?


You’ve got the long haired guy who talks about peace and love.
“This sandal wearing self proclaimed ‘know all the secrets of
the universe’ genius” who even wants some kind of forgiveness
for our enemies, which we all know is just another word for amnesty for those who hate our freedom.

Liberals are always soft on those who wrong us. The worst part about this guy, who we all know doesn’t have a job, is he’s attracting the attention of our enemies. It’s traitorous, because he’s making us look like we’re not united, that we don’t support our leaders, and then that makes all these horrible people just fight harder and harder and harder. Why, because they think they can outlast us.

If that’s not giving aid and comfort to the enemy I don’t know what it is. He's a traitor!

You’re not stirring up trouble, you wouldn’t act like that guy, so what would you be doing?

Well………You would be cheering the freedom fighters. For the guy who stood against those who stood against God, who harassed your family, who rounded up people and locked them away, humiliated, tortured and murdered. He would be a hero for having the courage to stand against those who picked your leaders.

You would be screaming for……


Barabbas!!!


Former interrogator rebukes Cheney


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I would like to add that much more soul searching debate needs to be conducted over the fate of those, who cannot be tried because of torture, that we seem to be afraid to let lose.
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