Circuitous Noodle

I'm baaack !

2010-11-04T09:54:00.000-07:00

First thing I want to do is refer to the comments. I've been recieving links to porn. I've also have been recieving comments that appear to be in oriental writing. It can't be read by me, so I have no idea how my little blog is being used. I'm monitering comments now.

Second, thanks to a neighbor I now have a computer, so, I'm no longer left in the foggy world of popular media.

burst appendix and the cancer in Arizona

2010-05-27T08:53:00.000-07:00

Well, on May second I had my burst appendix removed by Laparoscopic Appendectomy . I thought I pulled a muscle when walking the dog. I deal with that level of pain frequently so I wasn't, too, worried about it. So, I was going around with a burst appendix for a couple of weeks. That earned me five days in the hospital getting pumped full of antibiotics while the fluid in my gut drained into a little bag. I'm still a bit sore but I got the Okay to go about my regular business.

More from the cancer in Arizona.........
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Southern poverty Law Center on John Tanton
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Arizona Ethnic Studies Classes Banned, Teachers With Accents Can No Longer Teach English

Why is such hate filled ignorant simplicity so tempting to so many different people of different cultures in so many different lands throughout our shared histories?

We're used to the word terrorism being applied to extreme groups trying to get their way on whatever cause they're overly violently concerned.

TERROR is different. It's employed by government to intimidate the population or a portion of it. Arizona is engaged in a fascist orgy of scapegoating a minority using the weapon of government sponsored TERROR.

Christ used the Samaritans three time as an example to all of us.
They removed themselves from Judea in the past, politically then religiously, by building their own temple for worship separate from Jerusalem. They were very much thought of in much the same way as African Americans were thought of in this country. They were considered sub-par creatures.
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1) The good Samaritan.
2) The one leper, out of ten, who returned to thank Jesus for being healed was a Samaritan.
3) The lady at the well and her town where Jesus found thirst and hunger for faith.
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He was very clear on the fallacy of deeming any person as less than human and treating them hatefully.

I have often stated that Conservatives, especially the Neocon kind, are, at the least, playing with fascism. However, Arizona, with the involvement of, FAIR, is playing with Nazi thought.
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Duncan Hunter: Deport Illegal Immigrants' Children Who Are Natural-Born Americans

Author of Arizona immigration law wants to end birthright citizenship

Amendment 14 - Citizenship Rights. Ratified 7/9/1868.

1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Latina professor jeered, threatened for speaking against immigration laws

Prejudice ignores the facts while clinging to unsubstantiated beliefs in order to justify dehumanizing others.

Human rights, as protected by our Constitution, are not subjected to human rights.
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To Christians on immigration

2010-04-22T09:55:00.000-07:00

Arizona passes strict illegal immigration act

Arizona’s Immigration Bill is a Social and Racial Sin
by Jim Wallis

ARIZONA'S DREADFUL ANTI-IMMIGRANT LAW
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The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

The Word - No Problemo

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Colbert Report Full Episodes

Political Humor

Fox News

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Immigrants should be treated justly.

The most extreme conservative opinion, regarding undocumented workers and their families, is to arrest them all and ship them back to their country of origin. While there are people here illegally from many parts of the world this is first and foremost a reaction to the Spanish speaking Latinos from South of our border.

Massive roundups of those that are unjustly judged ‘unacceptable’ have never worked well for those being arrested or for the offending country involved. We have recent horror stories from Cambodia and Nazi Germany and in the United States with the Japanese internment and the Trail of Tears both of which were a disgrace. Tearing apart Latino families on our ‘liberty loving’ soil would be comparatively disastrous for obvious reasons for them but also for our national spirit which has suffered enough wounds already, most recently through the Bush years..

These people our not from the far flung reaches of the world, they are, especially from Mexico, our neighbors who share history with us. They are a part of the New World family, an ingredient of who we are. Their poverty and status has been used against them, as it was in the past for other immigrant groups deemed unacceptable, for the benefit of unprincipled business interests for many generations now.

It is immoral to use people then throw them away when they become inconvenient. Christian (isn't that the kind of country the religious right repeatedly says we have) kindness would dictate care and forgiveness for these people. Those who wear the bible on their sleeve should know very well how the Lord expects us to treat immigrants and all others who fall into need whether financial or medical. The arguments rationalizing this away do not come from God it comes from a much darker, hotter unholy place.

We need to protect the border. Many business interests seem to prefer the status-quo while others want the border closed simply out of unjustified prejudice. .

Bring them into citizen ship in a manner that's just. We need to have strict, consistent punishment for all those who hire these people with the intent of misusing them for their own benefit. Strong penalties need to be given for all those who pay substandard wages.

Any corporation that moves south of the border must pay livable wages and conform to rational environmental controls or risk a high tariff or lose the ability to trade with the United States. We must realize US involvement in many of the economic and political hardships suffered by others who share the Americas. We have a moral duty to work to make things right and that doesn’t begin with exploitation.

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Does the GOP want to drown us in order to save us ?!?

2010-02-22T10:31:00.000-08:00

I know I haven't been here very much since I broke five ribs and then later my hip. I've just been having a lot of trouble getting the writing muscle, mediocre at best, to work again. I have been posting more on other blogs as leekinny. I think I'm slowly coming back around, again. Oh, my wife and I get around a lot in wheelchairs because of MS not an accident.

National Debt History by President

I know exactly what it feels like to be saddled with great debt from actions taken by a previous generation. The debt from getting through the Great Depression, WWII, the Marshall Plan, and GI benefits fell upon the 'baby boomers'. We all survived. The current GOP would have stood against all of that save the war, with some only supporting war in the Pacific. That debt was lowered every year until 'the deficits don't matter', borrow and spend' Reagan conservatives came along.

What Killed Off The GOP Deficit Hawks?
"The Republicans are now the ones making excuses for big deficits"

Pay as You Go is an improvement over the 'we don't pay for nothin' Republicans. Just like the previous generations saw the need and responsibility to pay for the debt associated with WWII. We have the same requirements on us to deal with the debt of the Bush era. The budget will improve under it's constraints, if followed.

The modern Republican party has allowed itself to be taken over by the extreme right-wing during the past several years. They no longer have the interests of the United States at heart; not for it's people or it's entrepreneurs. Loyalty to large corporations has replaced it's responsibility to the citizens of this nation.

These giant entities are concerned only with their own survival and profitability. Behaving like a giant amoeba gobbling up all around it without conscience, only concerned with winning the competition for it's own best interests.
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Government rules are needed to keep this sprawling beast within bounds acceptable to all those sharing the same global community.
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History is full of examples of corporation excesses being detrimental to society. A little well placed regulation removes these negative aspects for the better well being and protection to small business, society and the environment.

These corrections to corporate power were really begun in earnest, in the U.S. under, ole rough and tumble, rough- riding Teddy Roosevelt, our nations first prominent progressive and a proud Republican.

some examples of his successes for all Americans...

making the Sherman Anti-trust act work;

protecting public lands from exploitation;

standing by the miners of Pennsylvania against the 'wooded headed gentry' that owned and operated the mines;

created the Department of Commerce and Labor;

the Meat Inspection Act of 1906;

and much more among the planted seeds of good fruit to come.

The conservatives often mention the name of 'Great Depression beating-WWII winning FDR' with a mouthful of spit. They dream of rolling back all he accomplished. But, it's not just progressive reforms back to the time of Franklin Roosevelt that they would like to destroy but reforms for the good of the American people all the way back to the time of Teddy and his 'square deal' reforms.

The money that was given, without rules, to the banks in September of '08, before we ever knew who the next president would be. The government has been fighting to get it repaid. Much has been repaid.

The Obama administration would like to use those billions to help small businesses, homeowners and jobs. It's being blocked in the Senate by the Republicans who won't allow it to come up for a vote. The GOP in the Senate with independent Joementom are the reason so much valuable legislation is Blocked.

Congress has a low approval rating because Conservatives will never approve of a Democratically controlled Senate but also because they aren't getting their way on issues near and dear to them such as abortion, immigration and taxes. Progressive aren't happy because we fully expected that the Democratic leadership would stop sacrificing our principals by continuously rolling over to Republican intimidation.

The blue dogs vote with the GOP on issues that fit the conservative nature of their constituents. But, despite that, the House isn't that much of a problem. The people's business does get accomplished despite endlessly tiresome maneuvers by the Republican leadership in order to only stretch out legislative goals from being carried out or to draw attention to themselves for the local news crowd at home.

The Senate Republicans are the fly in the ointment. They have blocked/filibustered every single thing that has come before the Senate that doesn't survive their inquisition. The, 'up or down vote crowd', has used this method of killing Senatorial business more than it's combined use through out it's history.
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What to Do With an Angry Mother Nature

2010-01-23T12:47:00.000-08:00

Hear we go again with another message from a very angry Mother Nature highlighting the misplaced priorities of the human race. We spend too much time and money in an attempt to protect ourselves from those who are different. Too many resources are wasted on selfish needs while those in dire straights are ignored or worse yet used for our own purposes.
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Sometimes we get together for short periods of time to make ourselves feel better and look better by giving what is in most cases inadequate aid to those in the worst situations. At the same time though we’re using the third world as a plaything for our own economic and political needs. The developed nations have all played a role.

It wasn’t long ago when Kashmir and the surrounding region were suffering greatly from a severe earthquake. I find it interesting that this place was worth risking nuclear war over. Millions were spent by two impoverished countries willing to wage war to the point of enveloping each other in a nuclear fireball over land coveted by both.

The greatest menace to the area ended up coming from an ‘act of God’. Nooooo, though it’s a tempting avenue of explanation and exploitation I’m not blaming the Lord. This has always been a seismically active region. What I am blaming is a human weakness for power, fear, hate and violence.

I know if there were perfect love and lions and sheep were cohabiting all over the place this disaster still would have happened. But what could have been different was the way the world would have been able to react. Far too much effort is expended on military preparations and adventurism around the world. In the United States our glowing example of this was when our response to hurricane Katrina was greatly hampered by the war in Iraq.

If we spent a lot more time trying to understand each other rather than feeding our fear, power lust and greed we would all be more prepared to react to these repeated scenes of desperation. The international communications within the United Nations is still the best avenue for keeping this hope alive. The conservatives within the US in their foolish arrogance would love to not only withdraw from this institution but would love to see it die.

The gluttonous arms industry, which fuels so many conflicts in the third world, also needs to be decimated and what little piece of it that is left must be highly regulated by strict international oversight. It’s true we can all do a lot better with how we react to each other in the world. It all depends on what we allow to dwell in our hearts.

God’s anger with the United States must be great since He hears the cry of the poor and oppressed. We waste billions flooding the world with immoral misadventures. The wealthiest nation in the world could do much to alleviate suffering but instead we choose to use our military might and money to make the world safe for big business. The neoconservative dominated Republican Party has infected us with a little dream centered on our own selfish desires while having the gall to claim we are the greatest Christian nation doing the work of God. Our irrational fear and popular culture driven wanton ignorance has caused half our populace to shamefully follow blindly behind.

We can do better if we really embrace the love God wants us to have for each other. These natural disasters have illustrated just how inadequate our love for each other really is.

Dwight D. Eisenhower speech, January 17, 1961. Farwell Address.
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MLK on freedom, love and war

2010-01-17T22:28:00.000-08:00

"Don't ever let anyone pull you so low as to hate them. We must use the weapon of love. We must have the compassion and understanding for those who hate us. We must realize so many people are taught to hate us that they are not totally responsible for their hate. But we stand in life at midnight; we are always on the threshold of a new dawn."

Martin Luther King, Jr.

"In struggling for human dignity the oppressed people of the world must not allow themselves to become bitter or indulge in hate campaigns. To retaliate with hate and bitterness would do nothing but intensify the hate in the world. Along the way of life, someone must have sense enough and morality enough to cut off the chain of hate. This can be done only by projecting the ethics of love to the center of our lives."

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King "I have a dream"

“We must move past indecision to action. We must find new ways to speak for peace in Vietnam and for justice throughout the developing world, a world that borders on our doors. If we do not act, we shall surely be dragged down the long, dark, and shameful corridors of time reserved for those who possess power without compassion, might without morality, and strength without sight.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
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on War

I get the felling I’m supposed to hate. I can’t be a loyal American unless I believe that all members of Islam want to make us all like them or destroy us and our freedom in the process.

Bravado driven nationalism that disguises hate in an illusion of the defense of mom and apple pie does not improve its immorality.

We are constantly assailed by the religious right that we are a Christian nation founded on Judeao/Christian values. It takes a lot more than just saying it; you have to struggle your best to be it. Isn't that the way it is with all religions or belief systems?

It doesn’t matter what our founding fathers believed about their own personal faith. To be a Christian nation we would have to act like one. We would have to be the servant of all and as a nation make meaningful sacrifices for the good of all people.

We would have to love those who hate us and wish to do us harm , pray for them, ask that they be blessed, forgive them and do good things for them as well.

Far too many times we Christians have excused crimes against humanity done in our name. Our nation has too often placed into power or supported dictators guilty of many human rights atrocities for what is perceived as some short term foreign policy benefit. Often these arrangements are made for the profit of powerful international corporations.

A short list of past sins against our neighbors would include; detention of innocents, accepting the use of torture, tolerance of the killing of innocent women and children as just a casualty of war, participating in and profiting from the arms trade, and supporting cruel and unjust economic policies in the third world.

Holy Dirt -by: Steve Schalchlin.

Back during Israel’s incursion into Lebanon I remember a caller on CSPAN who, with a calm fatherly voice speak of, after identifying himself as a Christian, how wrong a cease fire between Israel and Lebanon would be. He told a story of how he along with his father and brother had to go into their barn and kill all the rats, big ones and little ones. How sad when a person who claims to represent reason and family values can so calmly call for bloodthirsty violence, terror from the skies and murder.

The sad thing is these types of words and the actions they’re meant to initiate inflame the haters. Violence whether it’s from shadowy terrorist or from terrifying smart bombs is always counterproductive except for those who want to keep hate super-charged. We have a huge hate problem toward everyone of Middle Eastern ancestry now from the radical conservatives, many who claim to be good to outstanding Christians. Many want all Muslims, including citizens, to carry special identification, but, they would prefer Muslim round-ups and expulsion at home with bombing to the point of genocide else where.

They believe greater violence is the only answer. Evil can and often does exist on all sides in a war. Many are feeling comfortable cuddling up with wickedness. They are deceiving themselves that they are doing God’s will while calling evil good. Bravado driven nationalism that disguises hate in an illusion of the defense of mom and apple pie does not improve its immorality.

Barack Obama Speaks at Dr. King's Church

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Hate is evil, it always has been and it always will be the largest obstacle to fitting through the needles eye.

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

2009-12-24T10:26:00.000-08:00

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

Copenhagen and environmental concerns

2009-12-15T11:15:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-02T12:18:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-20T15:53:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-02T10:27:00.000-08:00

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

2009-10-28T08:35:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-19T10:37:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-01T07:42:00.000-07:00

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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

2009-09-17T08:29:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-16T08:32:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-12T14:56:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-11T08:19:00.000-07:00

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 !!!

2009-05-27T15:32:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-22T07:55:00.000-07:00

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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It was right to let President Obama speak at Notre Dame

2009-05-19T09:32:00.000-07:00

President Obama: Notre Dame Commencement

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I can't help but think conservative Catholics lining up with Evangelical Fundamentalists did much to harm social justice issues of concern to the Church. These issues, so important to our identity, were subjugated to one cause, while the others were rationalized away in the race to accept all things right wing.

In a previous post on this topic I stated that the belief in life at conception must be related to someone with the love and respect we would convey our cherished Eucharist. Here is that blog entry...

it just wouldn't leave my head
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A Few Bad Apples

2009-05-06T16:24:00.000-07:00

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We conducted the unjust relocation called the 'Trail of Tears'. The only price paid was a president's image on the twenty dollar bill. We continued to make this crime all the way to the 'Japanese Internment'. No serious price was paid. Even though it's looked back on by many as a shameful embarrassment there are those who still consider mass relocations as valuable. That's why a thorough investigation, prosecutions, legal precedence and legislation must be conducted regarding mistreatment and torture of those in US custody.

A Guide to the Memos on Torture
By THE NEW YORK TIMES

Torture Memo

The Secret Red Cross Torture Report

Rachael Maddow - Torture invented

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I wrote these familiar words of mine as a letter to the editor in the Spokesman Review of the Inland Northwest. It was printed last May 1st...

When we became a nation that embarked down the sinister path toward torture, we became less. Great shame was brought on us because of this hideous practice. It is and always has been evil, unconstitutional, immoral and a completely un-American exercise in shame. Those who have welcomed this unreliable filth have disgraced our flag, our ancestors' sacrifices and the dust of their bones.

Once we believe that torture is okay, that we're still pure, clean and good for having accepted it, we open ourselves up to many evil embraced horrors of our own making. It's adherents already believe in pre-emptive war and collateral damage without a conscience thought of the results.

How long before they embrace it as domestic policy? One not only used against a suspect but also, as in Iraq, inflicted on any family members or friends who may have desired information.

Torture, a well documented war crime, is evil everywhere it's practiced. It must never be used for information, punishment, intimidation or for any of the other screwy reasons governments or 'freedom fighters' deploy it.

All those, traitors to ‘mom, apple pie and the American way’, should be prosecuted, regardless of to whom it may lead.

Rachael Maddow - tortured logic

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I know I must always speak out against these truly creepy people and their satanic ways. I used that word 'satanic' to poke the chest of so-called 'pro-torture christians'. They don't seem to realize their pro-cruelty position is an apologetic argument supporting the unjust way Jesus was abused by the ancient Romans. (we open ourselves up to many evil embraced horrors of our own making)

CSPAN Torture open lines...

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US interrogators may have killed dozens, human rights researcher and rights group say
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Daily Show - A Brief History of Torture

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

M - Th 11p / 10c

A Brief History of Torture

thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Economic Crisis

Political Humor

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Here's a letter to the editor that was printed yesterday. Just another guy regurgitating statements from the radio and FOX he doesn't understand.

Interrogation fully justified

Sorry, Mr. Wells and Ms. Frankel (letters, May 3), but in my opinion nothing we’ve done in terms of aggressive interrogation techniques rise to the level of torture as we know it. We waterboarded three high-level terror suspects...more...
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Torture - The Spokane Connection

2009-04-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

Well, my ribs are healing and my shoulder pain isn't because it's busted up; no, I have arthritis. The heck with it. I'm doing all the things I used to do. I was about to go nuts just resting.

Amy Goodman was just down the road a piece at our local PBS station. She discussed Spokane's unfortunate connection to torture.

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Torture brings sadness and shame to Spokane
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Before President Obama made his position clear on investigating and prosecuting torture, I would have given him a low grade for his first 100 days. I'm very glad he clarified his position in favor of human rights.

The whole story must come out. Those who were responsible and participated must be prosecuted. In the meantime there are medical and legal professionals who should lose their license to practice.

Sheppard Smith spoke out, somewhat courageously considering he works at FOX propaganda network, against these policies, that are clearly torture.

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Sometimes the 'F word' is the most appropriate word...

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The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

M - Th 11p / 10c

Balzheimers Disease

thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Economic Crisis

Political Humor

We are not a Christian nation

2009-04-09T09:21:00.000-07:00

I haven't been doing much, especially here since I got hurt. It might stay that way for a while because it's still painful to sit at this computer. But I couldn't pass this up.

Obama to Turkey: We are not a Christian nation

Christopher Hitchens debates Kenneth Blackwell, from the Family Research Council

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It doesn’t matter what our founding fathers believed about their own personal faith. To be a Christian nation we would have to act like one. We would have to be the servant of all and as a nation make meaningful sacrifices for the good of all people. We would have to love those who hate us and wish to do us harm , pray for them, ask that they be blessed, forgive them and do good things for them as well. Far too many times we Christians have excused crimes against humanity done in our name. Our nation has too often placed into power or supported dictators guilty of many human rights atrocities for what is perceived as some short term foreign policy benefit. Often these arrangements are made for the profit of powerful international corporations. A short list of sins against our neighbors would include; detention of innocents, accepting the use of torture, tolerance of the killing of innocent women and children as just a casualty of war, participating in and profiting from the arms trade, and supporting cruel and unjust economic policies in the third world. ‘God bless the whole world-no exceptions’.

Terror from CPAC

2009-02-28T21:45:00.000-08:00

Joe the Plumber Conservative Republican spokesman

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When I first decided to use the word fascist when describing Bush/Cheney and their Neoconservative alliance, I agonized over using the term. I didn't want it to be just some flipant remark thrown around as so many other terms, like communist, socialist or illegal gay alien Marxist from space.

I've used fascist-like, fascist wannabes and playing with fascism. I may have been most correct when I stated that future historians and political scientist would come up with a more appropriate name later on, but, for us, for now, fascism was close enough.

As angry as we get, even at our most exuberant, impeach and try for war crimes moments, I don't believe anyone, except for a smattering of isolated nuts, referred to the other party as the enemy. Yet that has been a constant rallying cry among the Conservative Right.

McConnell On Rush Limbaugh

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With good reason,they, with their bellicose rhetoric, easily parroted by semi-conscious believers and charlatans alike, voicing their narrow-minded dogma, frighten me.

They need to become as politically and socially irrelevant as the hood wearing cross burners of the South, and taken about as seriously.

CPAC: Obama's a Communist and a Foreigner

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CPAC 2009: Wingnut Inmates Take over the Conservative Asylum

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Keith Olbermann - Reinventing the GOP

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"I Do Want Obama to Fail" - Rush Limbaugh 02/28/09 at CPAC

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from Crooks and Liars...
Rush Limbaugh's message to the nation: Liberalism is a 'psychosis'

from Huffington Post...
Rahm On Rush: He's The Voice, Energy And Intellect Of The GOP

from Think Progress...
Ziegler: Conservatives Who Criticized Palin Are ‘Traitors’ Who Should Be ‘Ostracized And Punished’

Eric Cantor Tries To Distance Himself From Rush: ‘I Don’t Think Anyone Wants Anything To Fail’

I'm Sorry Rush!

previously on Rush...

A disturbing video from the ditto king courtesy of Media Matters. The link below, also from them, should be checked out. You might just want to go ahead and do that if you find him as repulsive as I do. Sorry for any upset stomachs.

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Limbaugh on Obama: "I hope he fails"
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I have been fed-up with Rush for a long time, along with the rest of his fascist-like cohorts and blind parroters. They are not loyal to this nation, because they are only interested in an extreme right-wing version of the GOP. These guys were the main propaganda machine for Bush. Now they are still ding it for conservative extremism.

People like the pig above have referred to Democrats as un-American traitors and the enemy within. Now that we're in power Rush and company still refer to us this way.

He is arguing for the failure of the American president resulting in the failure of the US. Limbaugh is a demonstrated racist who is more interested in the politics of fascist leaning political goals than the success of our country. He calls us enemies, including our new president, while using lie laden propaganda to foment distrust and hatred toward Obama, his executive branch and Congress.

And what is their main instrument of sedition? It' a favorite. FEAR - of ideas, cultures, that others will change what those around you believe or leave you with less than you now have, which leads to a kind of selfishness that seeks to justify the subjugation of others and causes a dehumanizing hate as its authority.The dangerous thing is that fear is a great motivating force for violence. I'm beginning to believe, for them, this would be a desired result.

Yes, Limbaugh wants evil to fall on our land. It's obvious, now, that all of the GOP leadership agree, by lock-stepping their fellow members, behind Rush and his ilk, on the road of obstructionism and blocking legislation.
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The doctor needs a doctor to help him with his shrinkage problem.

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After all the meetings President Obama held with GOP leadership, demonstrating a bipartisan effort, non-existent in the previous administration, and bending over backwards to address their concerns, every one of them voted 'NO'. They're claiming to do the same in the Senate regardless of the damage to America.

The Republicans, with Bush/Cheney, brought the country into horrendous times. They're trying to justify what they did by trying to force their rejected ideas on an unwilling America, even if they have to bring her to her knees to do it.

from the Daily Show

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Fox News Fear Imbalance

Daily Show Full Episodes
Funny Political Videos

no fun

2009-02-27T11:57:00.000-08:00

Emergency room bound. The doctor thinks my liver may be bleeding. I woke up with this enormous bruise on my lower right side and a nice little water balloon-like sack.

Success! I'm home.

The little bag on my side is old blood. No organ damage or active internal bleeding. Oh! I do have five broken ribs but there all in place.

The only thing I'm worried about now is that the emergency room was packed with people, young to old, who appeared to be suffering from flu-like symptoms. I guess I could put up with the flu as long as it doesn't make me sneeze.

There's many urgent care facilities, 'doc-in-the-box', scattered all over town. The one I went to, before being sent to the hospital, was empty. They don't take all insurance so maybe that's the reason for their apparent under use. I thought they existed to take the load off the emergency rooms. Something needs to be fixed there.
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more on torture

2009-02-25T12:39:00.000-08:00

I'm still in a lot of pain. Sitting over this keyboard hurts like hell. I've been wanting to do more on torture, prisons and the Obama administration. Here's a rough star of what I was working on before I was injured......

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’.

Torture Documents Released Under FOIA

Rachael Maddow did a great job of highlighting torture on her program last night. Hats off to Neely.

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from The UC Davis Center for the Study of Human Rights in the Americas (CSHRA)
Testimony of Spc. Brandon Neely

Why can't this be solved tomorrow?

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Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri, Qatari student

Document - USA: Incommunicado detention/detention without charge/legal concern, Ali-Saleh Kahlah al-Marri (m)

Whitehall devised torture policy for terror detainees

MI5 interrogations in Pakistan agreed by lawyers and government

Randi Rhodes: Time to investigate the Bush administration

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I put the above video on just because it was nice to hear her. But, you know she's right.

There's been some friction about releasing Bush/Cheney era emails. I suspect that has to do with presidential power, but it flies in the face of openness.

He unequivocally pronounces that the "United States does not torture". Welcome, long desired words to the credit of the man. Some abuses continue. President Obama needs to put on his 'Commander in Chief hat and insure that those serving under him perform as he has determined they should.

There's also a question as to whether prisoners (Bush's detainees) in Iraq and Afghanistan should have access to American courts.

The Obama administration says that they do not.

If they are prisoners of war handled properly under the Geneva Convention and allowed Red Cross visits, no; if on the other hand they suffered under Bush/Cheney rules of imprisonment, YES.

Senate to announce investigation of torture under Bush, senators say
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Can't fart, belch, cough, or sneeze and don't even make me laugh

2009-02-19T15:16:00.000-08:00

I have been struggling a bit with MS and the challenges of the season, but now I've fallen causing a busted rib or two or three. Definitely, Definitely, a distraction. But I shall endevour to percevere.

McMorris-Rodgers & GOP - Bad----- Dems & Stimulus - Good

2009-02-15T11:25:00.000-08:00

The GOP and their organ grinder radio people continue to deny Bush involvement in the train-wreck of an economy he dumped on America. Bad loans were emboldened by Republican 'W' encouraged policy.

Home Ownership and President Bush

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McMorris Rodgers on Fox News After Stimulus Vote

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Her right-wing-wacko voting record doesn't serve her district very well. We have six hospitals here in Spokane that serve the whole inland Northwest area, in addition to having the highest incidence of MS in the nation, second only to an island off the coast of Wales, in the world. Poverty or near poverty is high here. She is not serving the needs of either of these groups among others.
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But, she does cater to the Rush following GOP and all their failed ideas.

This was part of an email I received from NETWORK ...

We hope that as you contact your members of Congress you will use this information to support or challenge them on their vote. To find out how your representative and senators voted, go to http://capwiz.com/networklobby/keyvotes.xc/?lvl=C . You can enter your zip code or click on the final conference report vote for H.R.1.

Supported and achieved

Job creation
Job creation is a part of each provision included.
Head start and early head start
$ 2.1 billion - provides 50,000 additional jobs for teachers and staff
Job training for all skill levels
$ 3.95 billion under Workforce Investment Act
$ .25 billion for Job Corps
Unemployment Insurance
$27 billion for extension and increase in benefits
"Greening" of our nation
$ 11 billion - Smart Electric Grid
$ 2.3 billion for energy-efficient renovations of HUD units
$ 5 billion for Weatherization Assistance Program
$ .5 billion for energy efficiency upgrades for Native American housing programs
$ .1 billion for lead-based paint removal
$ 20 billion energy tax credits
$ 9.3 billion for mass transit
$ 1.6 billion for Amtrak intercity rail services - emphasis on high-speed
Safety net programs
Housing
$ 4 billion for HUD Capital Fund
$ 2.3 billion for the HOME Program
$ 1.5 billion in Neighborhood Stabilization Program
$ 1.5 billion for emergency homeless shelter grants
Nutrition
$20 billion increase in food stamps (SNAP) and lifting time limit on receipt of assistance
Child Tax Credit - partial success
$14.8 billion
Maximum credit raised to $1000 per child. At income above $75,000 ($150,000 per couple) phase out of $50 per $1000 of income.
The bad news: Those with the least income receive the least benefit from the CTC. The floor to receive a credit is $3000 and the benefit is 15% of income. Therefore, earning $3000, the benefit would be $450 and earning $60,000, the benefit would be $9000.
Medicaid Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAP)
$86.6 billion in additional federal matching payments for state programs
Oversight
$84 million to create a Recovery Act Accountability and Transparency Board to coordinate oversight of federal spending
"Flash Reports" to Congress
Quarterly Reports to Congress and Administration
Reports posted on website: Recovery.gov
The bad news: protection for whistle-blowers on federal projects was removed from the bill, although retained for state and local level whistle-blowers.

Opposed and kept out of the Recovery bill

* E-Verify Program - would have required all contracting employers to use the Internet-based program to verify the employment eligibility of their hires. This was removed from the bill.
* $ 1 billion for Nuclear Weapons-related activities was removed from the bill.

For more information on the bill, see

Saturday, February 14th, 2009 at 5:30 am
A major milestone

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What FDR did

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It Is Signed - Success!!!

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Lincoln and 'What God Did!'

2009-02-12T17:28:00.000-08:00

The last few days have been doctor days. Today was the day we get admitted to the hospital so we can receive our Tysabri infusions, while sitting in adjacent easy chairs. It takes a couple of hours or so. We get to order a meal. It's our MS date.

So, I'm tired.
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Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

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Lincoln, for a kid who grew up in Illinois, was the most special president of all. His birthday was the one we always got off from school. We were taught that the Civil War was fought for freeing the slaves. I was astonished, while living in Biloxi, that a common belief among southerners was that it was only about states rights. They didn't seem to hold President Abraham Lincoln with the same high esteem as I was taught as a child.
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God spoke to us throughout the eons by means of the prophets and those charged with putting words to paper. I can't help but believe He is also speaking to us through science. It's where He reveals the beauty of His creation. It's a book, filling the learned halls, revealed to us through slowly turned pages illustrating the Master Weaver He really is rather than a, 'snap of the fingers, wave of the wand', magician.

It follows the rules of it's Method religiously, filling that tome, one paragraph, sentence, phrase or word at a time. Science must be left to be science or it will cease to be science at all. I can't help but wonder, when it is all said and done, if they will be looking at the face of the Lord exclaiming, "God does exist!", then, a little later, the race to proclaim, "my theory is proved!"

Vatican buries the hatchet with Charles Darwin

Vatican hosts Darwin conference
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A President that knows how to be presidential and get good things done

2009-02-10T11:03:00.000-08:00

Today was a day to see our MS specialist. I had to post these videos.

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Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

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Rachel Maddow explaining why Republicans are wrong on FDR

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Town Hall Meeting in Florida

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Senate Passes Stimulus Plan
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sedition or dissent - loyalty or cult

2009-02-08T17:02:00.001-08:00

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We were accused of being anti-American for opposing actions by the Bush/Cheney administration in direct violation of our Constitution, it's Bill of Rights, our international treaties and laws of our land.

Now they are using their propaganda network of lies, innuendos and distortions to undermine the sitting president of the United States. Their stated desire for the failure of the elected leader of the American people, so that their economic/political theory would possibly gain more prominence, approaches a level crossing into sedition.

A cultish adherence to an unencumbered free market system exhibits a loyalty to an ideology over one's own nation.

Limbaugh, Hannity, and the GOP: an iron triangle of stimulus misinformation

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Yea,....I do kinda think the right-wing, ultra-conservative, everything Rush and Sean tells us is true, parrot-mimicking followers of everything we're told to believe by our favorite personalities type intellectually lazy American is to blame for many of the political bottle-necks we face today.

Radical fundamentalism of all types, whether religious, political or environmental, is a disaster for all involved. Their adherents know not loyalty or reason.
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Don't piss down my back and tell me it's rainin'

2009-02-05T16:28:00.000-08:00

The Republicans are trying to say that none of the problems of the last eight years are their fault and that they possesss no responsibilities for the situation the country is in now. What's even more brazenly shameful, on their part, is to claim that the same ideological failings, that led to an economic situation approaching the Great Depression in severity, is the only solution to the problems that a fanatical adherence to these beliefs caused.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

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President Obama has gone more than the extra mile in his dealings with the GOP. It seems they resent being blamed for the problems, having their conservative ideology proved defective and losing the White House. It makes me wonder if they are mad at America, Rush sure seems to be and they must follow his lead.

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What do Marxism and Reaganomics have in common ?

2009-01-30T18:25:00.000-08:00

neither works

Terrified That Barack Obama Will Bring Socialism!

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I've never read Marx and I don't intend to take time away from all the stuff I should be reading to trouble myself with another nut. Although, I've been looking through quotes. I couldn't help but get the feeling he had a fanatical religious devotion to his own idea of communism. I wonder if his disciples view him in a Roman-like deity way.

I was looking for a statement about socialism being an interim step to Marxism.

I left the Air Force in '84, after being in the Philippines for three years. It was amazing how many changes there were in the US during that time. One of those things was cable television. Among other channels there was CNN and CSPAN.

Ever since I got back I've heard, from conservatives, that Karl Marx said creeping socialism will lead a nation to communism. Now, maybe there is a direct quote, or maybe they made it up, or maybe a good reading would lead to that conclusion. What has always boggled my mind is why the right-wing can take the words of a discredited theory, one they hold in contempt, but, treat this one speculation of Marx as gospel. Could it be that they want to use their favorite weapon of fear to scare people away from accepting any social advancement, especially if it mandates corporate responsibility or interferes with exorbitant profits.

Obama socialist attack is really about welfare/race-baiting

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I keep hearing that we are already socialist because we have taxes. If that were all there was to it wouldn't that, also, make feudal society socialist? I seriously doubt if the average FOX/Rush adherents have any idea what it is. They've been told it's baaaaad and that's good enough.

Socialism is when production and distribution ( conservative favorite Wallmart could be a good example of how that might be carried out) are controlled by the government or, simply, when business is owned by them. That occurred in the United States under Bush's conservative, trickle- down-Reaganomic watch, with the 'Bail-Out Bill'.

Bush speaks on bailout

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Unfettered negligent free market cultists led to this economic crisis we are all facing now. The GOP are dominated by it's worshipers. Anything less than pure doctrinal loyalty is, in their paranoid selfish eyes, socialism.

Obama slams Wall Street bonuses and talks Superbowl

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Capitalism works.

Wise, thoughtful regulation is necessary to protect from it's potentially dangerous excesses as is the ability for employees to organize.

Trade laws need to be geared to prevent them from carrying their more destructive and egregious errors around the globe.

Tax cuts, windfall profits and otherwise must be geared to business self-improvements and personnel.

The unpatriotic practice of devising clever ideas to avoid paying taxes to the country, they claim allegiance to, must be stopped.

We can do better.

We don't have to resign ourselves to being robbed.

Sen. Claire McCaskill - Patriot

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Rush and the GOP sittin' in a tree K- I -S- S- I- N- G

2009-01-30T11:24:00.000-08:00

A disturbing video from the ditto king courtesy of Media Matters. The link below, also from them, should be checked out. You might just want to go ahead and do that if you find him as repulsive as I do. Sorry for any upset stomachs.

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Limbaugh on Obama: "I hope he fails"
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I have been fed-up with Rush for a long time, along with the rest of his fascist-like cohorts and blind parroters. They are not loyal to this nation, because they are only interested in an extreme right-wing version of the GOP. These guys were the main propaganda machine for Bush. Now they are still ding it for conservative extremism.

People like the pig above have referred to Democrats as un-American traitors and the enemy within. Now that we're in power Rush and company still refer to us this way.

He is arguing for the failure of the American president resulting in the failure of the US. Limbaugh is a demonstrated racist who is more interested in the politics of fascist leaning political goals than the success of our country. He calls us enemies, including our new president, while using lie laden propaganda to foment distrust and hatred toward Obama, his executive branch and Congress.

And what is their main instrument of sedition? It' a favorite. FEAR - of ideas, cultures, that others will change what those around you believe or leave you with less than you now have, which leads to a kind of selfishness that seeks to justify the subjugation of others and causes a dehumanizing hate as its authority.The dangerous thing is that fear is a great motivating force for violence. I'm beginning to believe, for them, this would be a desired result.

Yes, Limbaugh wants evil to fall on our land. It's obvious, now, that all of the GOP leadership agree, by lock-stepping their fellow members, behind Rush and his ilk, on the road of obstructionism and blocking legislation.
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The doctor needs a doctor to help him with his shrinkage problem.

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After all the meetings President Obama held with GOP leadership, demonstrating a bipartisan effort, non-existent in the previous administration, and bending over backwards to address their concerns, every one of them voted 'NO'. They're claiming to do the same in the Senate regardless of the damage to America.

The Republicans, with Bush/Cheney, brought the country into horrendous times. They're trying to justify what they did by trying to force their rejected ideas on an unwilling America, even if they have to bring her to her knees to do it.

from the Daily Show

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Fox News Fear Imbalance

Daily Show Full Episodes
Funny Political Videos

Doing away with inhumane Neocon ideas

2009-01-22T19:16:00.000-08:00

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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It's a new dawn!!!

2009-01-20T10:04:00.000-08:00

Martin Luther King predicted a Black President

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I wrote this last July...

What are your issues of importance?

For me, despite mine and my families health and financial needs, it is; no Iran war, return to constitutional order(kill fascism), an end to the occupation in Iraq, end torture and mistreatment of prisoners, no more extra ordinary renditions(disappearances), to renew our commitments to Afghanistan, bring 9-11 perpetrators to a proper justice and to reclaim our respect and dignity in the world. Energy, economics, health, education and environmental concerns follow closely.

I know it's quite a list which most Progressives share, maybe in a little different order of importance, but similar. These are all things which have been decimated during the Bush regime and will only continue to worsen if McCain were allowed to become president. We can't let that happen!

That is why for all of us who call ourselves liberals, progressives, democrats, independents, or fed-up Republicans the single most important issue, on the top of everyones agenda must be getting Barack Obama elected president, with a Democratic Congress.

There will be plenty of time for fighting on the issues after the inauguration, especially with the conservative-district Blue Dogs compromising with the far right, so often. We're passionate Democrats who do love nuance and are willing to go through the struggles to have all these issues work best for the American people.

Now the efforts of many people across the United States is bearing good fruit.

Barack Obama is walking out now...........

I hit mute when warren was on...........

Aretha sounded wonderful........

We now have a new Vice President - one we can all be proud of.........

We now have a new President - one we can be proud of........

President Barack Obama's Inauguration and Inaugural Address
(I'll call it the 'We Speech')

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

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History, goosebumps and ecstatic pride........

Bush just left in the helicopter and my wife is singing "na na na na hey hey hey goodbye".........

The long nightmare is over and hope has begun.
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Full transcript as prepared for delivery of President Barack Obama's inaugural speech

My fellow citizens:

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.

These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.
Story continues below

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many.

They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America - they will be met. On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.

For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.

For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn. Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.

This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions - that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act - not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.

Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions - who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.

What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them - that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account - to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day - because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.

Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control - and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our Gross Domestic Product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart - not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort - even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.

To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages.

We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment - a moment that will define a generation - it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.

For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends - hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

This is the source of our confidence - the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.

This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed - why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.

So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:

"Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."

America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.
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Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. & a special day to follow

2009-01-19T16:58:00.000-08:00

I have a dream

"Don't ever let anyone pull you so low as to hate them. We must use the weapon of love. We must have the compassion and understanding for those who hate us. We must realize so many people are taught to hate us that they are not totally responsible for their hate. But we stand in life at midnight; we are always on the threshold of a new dawn."

on War

"In struggling for human dignity the oppressed people of the world must not allow themselves to become bitter or indulge in hate campaigns. To retaliate with hate and bitterness would do nothing but intensify the hate in the world. Along the way of life, someone must have sense enough and morality enough to cut off the chain of hate. This can be done only by projecting the ethics of love to the center of our lives."
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Barack Obama Speaks at Dr. King's Church
On the day before the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday Sunday, Jan 20, 2008
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Jimmy Durante - GIVE A MAN A JOB (1933)

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I'm going to say something a bit extreme. I thought about not saying it. In fact I am agonizing over it, even now. Here it goes. Is allowing the auto plants that retooled to make the jeeps, tanks and other equipment that was absolutely necassary to win WWII, to close down a bit like spitting in Pearl Harbor? Because of these factories and the people (Rosie the Riveter) who made them crank out all that they were asked to do we won the necessary manufacturing element of the war.

Civilian cars were not made during this period because they turned their production lines over to the war effort against fascism. In fact, this country was once awashed in a variety of factories providing every kind of thing necessary for the well being of any nation.

With only a few exceptions all manufacturing was turned over to defeating fascism in Europe. I can't help but believe that the loss of our manufacturing base is a serious threat to our national security.

People willingly, maybe sometime begrudgingly, submitted themselves to a variety of inconveniences for the good of the country. Things like rationing of gasoline, meat, rubber, even bubble gum. People did what they could and did without for the good of the US, those fighting and mom and apple pie.

We are in a similar situation, today, in America, requiring the efforts and sacrifices of us all.

I was intending, at the time I originally wrote those words, to complain about the apparent lack of a picth-in spirit, of far ,too many, of the following generations. I'm not going to do that now. Barack Obama, is taking, President John F. Kennedy's, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country", and super-charging it with good examples.
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We've liked this guy since Iowa. But, today, I, was incredibly impressed by both him and his wife and the person and his wife he chose as a running mate. He did not have to do any of the things he did today. He's already won. I doubt that, in fact I believe I'm safe in assuming, that nothing like this has ever been conducted by the winning presidential team in the history of our nation.

He worked painting at a teen homeless shelter, visiting injured active-duty military and vets at Walter Reed and speaking abut the public responsibility and necessity of volunteer service at a high school, after which Barack and Michelle, shook every one's hand in the cafeteria setting..

And if all that wasn't saintly enough he's having a dinner for Senator John McCain, tonight.

The Last President-Elect Weekly Speech

Obama’s ‘Call to Service’ Includes Volunteer Projects

DO IT !!!
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As Randi Rhodes says, " Don't let the door hit 'ya where the Good Lord split 'ya.

2009-01-16T08:58:00.000-08:00

Bush's tele-prompted farewell speech to the nation was last night. I couldn't take it. I just had to turn it off. It was nothing but a delusional pat himself on-the-back speech.
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I'm so glad he's going to be gone in a few days. Cheney/Bush and the Neoconservatives were a disaster for this country, it's Constitution, the rule of law, it's military, economy, international relations and the Middle East. They deserve, and it's our responsibility to the future, to try these guys for war crimes and violations to their oath of office to defend and protect the Constitution.
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I'm going to put up his last wrestling match with the press and the American people. The arrogant fool is how we all new him.
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Most of soon-to-be-gone President Bush's press conferences have been strange but this last one was down right bizarre. This man has no idea what's gone on for the last eight years and what he does know he lies about. His whole attitude is one of disrespect for America.
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Bush final press conference 1/2

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Bush final press conference 2/2

. I though Rachel Maddow did the best analysis of this sad spectacle.
Rachel Maddow Lame Duck Watch 1/3

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

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2/3

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

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3/3

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

"I feel like God wants me to run for President. I can't explain it, but I sense my country is going to need me. Something is going to happen... I know it won't be easy on me or my family, but God wants me to do it."

"I just want you to know that, when we talk about war, we're really talking about peace."

“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.”

”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”.

all from....

President George W. Bush

War On Terror Fear Campaign (montage)

Bush led America into believing that we were under an imminent threat of attack from Iraq. That mushroom clouds would appear on our shores if we did not move quick enough. Of course this was all lies. Because of these lies they rushed the troops into battle without the proper equipment or personnel. This was a huge military blunder that needlessly caused our troops to spill their blood on Mesopotamian sand. Their PNAC (http://newamericancentury.org/index.html) desire for empire produced thousands dead, thousands more injured, billions stolen, a broken and destabilized Iraq and created themselves into the best recruiting tool the fundamentalists Islamic extremists have ever had.

The whole administration is guilty of treasonous type activity and likely war crimes for invading a country on false pretenses, intentionally using illegal and inappropriate weapons around civilian populations, torture, illegal detentions and misrepresenting our reasons for being there to the American public and the world.

Our president is very good at invoking God in connection with his wars and policies. Many on the religious right truly believe he has the ear of God and that God speaks to him and guides him. If this is true then God is a bumbling liar.

I don’t believe that He is.

22 "When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.
Deuteronomy 18:22

President Bush is a uninformed figurehead doing the bidding of others while spreading the lies they struggle to teach him to annunciate. He's a terribly horrible president and if Bush is a prophet; he's a false one.

An Administrations Legacy - Burnt Page Films

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Oppressed people deserve compassion

2009-01-13T07:32:00.000-08:00

Super Duper Spokane Snow Storm 12/18/08 (day 1 from a local person)
My wife and I live way up on the South Hill where we got more snow and no plows - for days

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I've grown used to the particular restraints that MS has placed on my life over the years. My wife and I have both struggled to adjusted to the world we have found ourselves. The great snowstorm of this holiday season put strains on many of my coping skills. Irritability sets in. that's commonly referred to as 'cabin fever'.

The whole town has it in one form or another. But, we all endure. There was a smattering of violence, like snow plow drivers being shot at,but, mostly just everyone trying to get along in as good a nature as possible, for a stressed-out situation.

Spokane under snow seige

01-05-2009 snow update for Spokane

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Somehow we all came through to the other side.No matter how bad, frustrating or down-right exhausting the barrage of storm after storm may have tired everyone, we all knew it would end. Not only did we know it would end, but we knew sunshine and warmer weather would eventually follow. In other words we were certain our situation would improve. Moments of individual and group frustration still managed to persist. In many cases only fleetingly.

I've observed, to varying degrees, the same thing happening in many natural disasters around the globe. There's the initial shock, the pulling together,
worry-fed frustration and the eventual coping with the challenges at hand. Situations such as Bush-agrivated Katrina, in the US, are a bad example to any type of responsible government-aided moving ahead.

I wrote this about Hamas...

The logic of firing missiles into Israel completely escapes me. I fail to understand what Hamas hoped to accomplish. Maybe there's some bravado driven slaps on the back that makes this all worth-while to them. Maybe it's their way of solidifying their base. The political, social, humanitarian and spiritual result of terrorism always seems to be negative outside of the few perpetrators who receive some form of self satisfaction in their horrible deeds.

I still believe, in reference to an educated leadership, that those words still ring true.

But, for the Palestinian people, feeling abandoned by the world, while lost in an oppressive field of perpetual injustice who, at the same time, are suffering from inadequate food and medical care, and are exhibiting signs of depression, frustration, anger and hostility, we must realize much understanding, patience and all forms of help are do them as a responsibility of humanity. Remember, their frustration, unlike our weather related ones, seem forever to them and so must their feelings of indignity. I really don't see how they could expect to feel differently.

If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.
Desmond Tutu

There are far too many skilled politicians and businessmen at the art of the manipulation of public opinion for truth to be anything but muddied while they keep the pot stirred for their own benefit.

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.

This leads to a kind of selfishness that seeks to justify the subjugation of others and causes a dehumanizing hate as its authority.

You can't lock people up in oppression an not expect hostility directed upon you.

You can't fight violence and hate with more of the same and not expect it returned to you.

I must admit that I feel a bit like what Stephanie Miller calls 'Captain Obvious' in reference to 'only seven days left Bush' for those last few sentences.

"In struggling for human dignity the oppressed people of the world must not allow themselves to become bitter or indulge in hate campaigns. To retaliate with hate and bitterness would do nothing but intensify the hate in the world. Along the way of life, someone must have sense enough and morality enough to cut off the chain of hate. This can be done only by projecting the ethics of love to the center of our lives."
Martin Luther King, Jr.

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The Guardian on Gaza

The BBC on Gaza

my past posts...
Anger and Vengeance and Intolerance in the Middle East MUST END!!!

from Pax Christi on Gaza crisis
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Hope for the Human Rights Crowd

2009-01-06T10:21:00.000-08:00

Cheney Takes Credit for Torture

Amnesty International USA from Nov. of 2005...
Cheney provided guidance on abuse, former Powell aide says
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This is a very good sign that torture, prisoner abuse, illegal detentions and disappearances will be promptly dealt with.

Obama Names 4 for Justice Jobs in Break From Bush Path

Dawn Johnsen on the role of the Office of Legal Counsel

I wrote this two years ago...

The United States was at one time the leader of the world in human rights. We liked to call ourselves the greatest nation in the world.

Oh, it's true we stumbled along the way but we always moved ahead in a positive direction. We haven’t always lived up to the fullness of what our Constitution and Bill of Rights calls us, so there were bumps and sometimes giant ruts along our shared histories path that brought great trials and sometimes costs many lives. But America grew brick by brick laid by the tough hands of our forefathers and foremothers whose lifeblood flows throughout the heart of our land. History is full of the tales of their labored lives, hardships, troubles, and accomplishments. The dust of their bones will be desecrated if we take a wrecking ball to the foundation they set.

Now, because of a desire for power, secrecy and control among those in the Bush administration our nation has embraced a cancer of cruel suppression of the dignity of humanity. A sheepish fear among their followers, has allowed them to become mesmerized by a calculating group masquerading as trustworthy, giving the neoconservatives approval to disregard, as if it didn’t exist, the law and ethics of our nation. Acting as all cancers do if not removed it will grow and bring death to our democratic republic.

The loyal dissenters believe this to be a horrible wrong. Driven more by the love we have for this country than by fear, we believe that all must speak out; that every one must shout’ STOP’. We believe it is time for all to demonstrate the courage of our ancestors and love America more than fear the unknown. And that goes especially for our new Democratically controlled Congress who have given us a new found hope for a return to constitutional order, an end to Iraqi occupation and a halt to military adventurism.

We our now facing our giant rut along the path, will we dishonor the legacy of those who stood so bravely on this land before us?

Amnesty International Guantánamo Bay Protest Slideshow

http://www.amnesty.org/resources/slideshow/gtmo-230107/eng/html/index.html

Amnesty International USAHuman Rights Agenda for the 110th U.S. Congress
http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/document.do?id=ENGUSA20070123001&tr=y&auid=2303033

ACLU Calls for Accountability from Gonzales on Torture and Surveillance
http://www.aclu.org/safefree/index.html

House of Representatives

U.S. Senate

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What's interesting is the optimism I expressed for the beginning of the 110 Congress. That ended up being aa enormous let down.
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It causes a huge amount of skepticism among the progressive members of the Dems. I still have that hope, once again, with his new appointments only enhancing them. But, I still have that stepped on feeling. I know some feel he has made some questionable appointments, however, I said he should have a honeymoon period lasting, at least, until Inauguration Day and I,m sticking to it.
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from Pax Christi on Gaza crisis

2009-01-05T08:56:00.000-08:00

Report From Gaza City: Palestinian Journalist Sameh Habeeb Democracy Now 1/5/09

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I received this email from Pax Christi this morning. I think it and the information contained in it are worth seeing.

The Israeli offensive in Gaza took an ugly turn this weekend when ground forces were employed and the death toll rose. As of this morning, a Reuters article quoted a UN agency that "527 Palestinians have been killed, at least a quarter of them civilians, while four Israelis have been killed by rockets and mortar shells fired into Israel since the offensive began and an Israeli soldier was killed in fighting on Sunday."

When I sent out the email action alert last week from our friends at the US Campaign to End the Occupation I received quite a few emails back asking why we did not feature how militants in Gaza were killing Israeli civilians by rockets and the number of Israeli dead, as well as a few emails justifying the Israeli campaign (some genuinely concerned for the welfare of Israel, while others gloated that those Palestinian terrorists were getting their just desserts.)

Pax Christi USA condemns violence in all its forms and we believe that the way to peace is not blazed through use of arms, violence, and military might. Rocket attacks from Gaza on Israeli civilians are not acceptable and we mourn the loss of life on all sides of any conflict. That being the case, it is extremely difficult to see the current Israeli offensive as a proportionate response. At the start of the Israeli air campaign ten days ago, 7 Israelis had been killed by rockets from Gaza over the past 3 years. A major military campaign--which has now killed over 500 Palestinians, at least 125 civilians (including women and children), while also destroying Gaza's infrastructure and disrupting humanitarian aid--does not seem to be the answer for any long-term hopes for a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians, especially coming on the heels of a 6 month cease-fire in the region.

Johnny Zokovitch
Director of Communications, Pax Christi USA
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as only the Daily Show can explain it...

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Strip Maul

Barack Obama Interview
John McCain Interview

Sarah Palin Video
Funny Election Video

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Rabbi Lerner on Israel in Gaza

Resources for the current conflict in Gaza Please see the resources below on the crisis in Gaza.

The website for the Jewish Voice for Peace, includes a statement on Gaza

Rabbi Michael Lerner on the Gaza Crisis

Rabbi Arthur Waskow: Gaza and Beyond-What's the Alternative?

Churches for Middle East Peace, includes a letter to President-elect Obama, and a action alert calling for a cease-fire in Gaza

Talking points on the Gaza conflict from Phyllis Bennis posted on United for Peace and Justice's website

Action alert on the Gaza crisis from Catholic Relief Services

J Street is a new Jewish organization committed to Middle East peace and security, affirmed by Rabbi Arthur Waskow of the Shalom Center

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Doctors Without Borders in Gaza

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from Catholic Relief Services; a petition to Bush

from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops...
Catholic Campaign for Peace in the Holy Land
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Back during Israel’s incursion into Lebanon I remember a caller on CSPAN who, with a calm fatherly voice speak of, after identifying himself as a Christian, how wrong a cease fire between Israel and Lebanon would be. He told a story of how he along with his father and brother had to go into their barn and kill all the rats, big ones and little ones. How sad when a person who claims to represent reason and family values can so calmly call for bloodthirsty violence, terror from the skies and murder. The language of hostility is still present with the Gaza crisis.

These types of words and the actions they’re meant to initiate inflame the haters. Violence whether it’s from shadowy terrorist or from terrifying smart bombs is always counterproductive except for those who want to keep hate super-charged. They believe greater violence is the only answer. Those who disagree are called un-American/Israeli traitors in league with the terrorists, bad Christians/Jews and anti Semitic. Evil can and often does exist on all sides in a war. Many are feeling comfortable cuddling up with wickedness while deceiving themselves that they are doing God’s will while calling evil good.

There’s no shortage of people who mistakenly think terrorism is the answer to their political or economic problems. They are not a homogeneous group, they are all different with different solutions to each circumstance. I wish they would learn from such great men as Gandhi, Martin Luther King, John Paul II, Desmond Tutu and others for a better way to attack their problems. Much more can be accomplished through nonviolence.

'An eye for an eye for an eye would make the whole world blind.'
Gandhi

"As an essential part of its fight against all forms of terrorism, the international community is called to undertake new and creative political, diplomatic and economic initiatives aimed at relieving the scandalous situations of gross injustice, oppression and marginalization which continue to oppress countless members of the human family. History in fact shows that the recruitment of terrorists is more easily achieved in areas where human rights are trampled upon and where injustice is a part of daily life.”
Pope John Paul II

Whoever says he is in the light,
yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness.
Whoever loves his brother remains in the light,
and there is nothing in him to cause a fall.
Whoever hates his brother is in darkness;
he walks in darkness
and does not know where he is going
because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
1 Jn 2

‘God bless the whole world-no exceptions’.
?????
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Gaza aid shipments

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Civilian casualties escalate in Gaza

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Hope in '09

2009-01-02T12:07:00.000-08:00

I miss my garden.

It won't stop snowing. We had about 5' in the latter half of December.

I'm glad the local paper put this article on the front page...

Elderly, infirm face extra challenge

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.

That's what I wrote last New Years Eve. A whole lot of the hopes are on the road to working out, I hope.

We heard more fear mongering than what I thought was possible in this country. The economic turmoil and concern over Middle East violence spreading to something much larger are two legitimate areas to be scared about.

The election went well.

There's a lot of doubt over justice and what will become of the fascist wannabes

I never saw a time ahead of such troublesome uncertainty. (I was,too, young to remember the Cuban Missile Crisis. Although, I recall my 6 year old mind imagined soldiers running at our school.)

I wrote this pie-in-the-sky statement concerning foreign policy; 'The hope of Obama is diplomacy. The hope of diplomacy is people putting aside past grievances, many of which are horrendously terrible and heart wrenching, in favor of mutual cooperation, security and growth'.

What are we facing at home over the next year? What will 2009 bring to the people of America? What will it mean for the world?

I don't know what to say about this year we're all headed in to. I know we all talk about hope and embrace hope, whatever hope means to its' holder.

It's good to have hope when heading into interesting times. I just hope it's a healthy hope about having things move in the right (liberal) direction rather than all problems being solved soon.

I WANT TORTURE, DISAPPEARANCES AND PRISONER ABUSE ENDED SOON!!!

At least we're getting rid of this guy.

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and getting this guy...

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Anger and Vengeance and Intolerance in the Middle East MUST END!!!

2008-12-30T12:47:00.000-08:00

Yeah you don't tug on Superman's cape
You don't spit into the wind
You don't pull the mask off the old Lone Ranger
And you don't mess around with Slim
Jim Croce - You Don't Mess Around With Jim

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The logic of firing missiles into Israel completely escapes me. I fail to understand what Hamas hoped to accomplish. Maybe there's some bravado driven slaps on the back that makes this all worth-while to them. Maybe it's their way of solidifying their base. The political, social, humanitarian and spiritual result of terrorism always seems to be negative outside of the few perpetrators who receive some form of self satisfaction in their horrible deeds.

Much more can be accomplished by embracing the non-violent methods of outstanding leaders such as Martin Luther King and Gandhi. The world would be far more supportive of injustices inflicted on and the needs of the Palestinian people if we all didn't have to do a collective 'yea but' because of terrorism.

This in no way excuses Israel from the wrong they have done to the Palestinians. Military occupation always leads to human rights abuses and bad feelings between the parties which has been exasperated by foreign settlements and the hated wall of separation. 'Shock and awe' military excesses especially for punishment is always unjustified. It doesn't deter terrorism, it feeds it a high protein diet because of the deaths, injuries and hardships it forces upon a largely innocent civilian population.

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Bush is not blameless. Removing the US from the peace process from the earliest days of his administration was an invitation to kaos. His forceful encouragement of having votes too early in Afghanistan, Iraq and among the Palestinians in his zeal to have instant democracies only brought him instant Karma and disaster for the people of those nations. His embracing of excessive violence over diplomacy has been a disaster for the Middle East and legitimized its use among others inclined to embrace this bloody trap.

The hope of Obama is diplomacy. The hope of diplomacy is people putting aside past grievances, many of which are horrendously terrible and heart wrenching, in favor of mutual cooperation, security and growth.

Loving your enemy, doing good things for them and forgiveness, as Christ taught, needs to be embraced by the Christian community so that we can be legitimate brokers for peace rather than antagonists for doom and destruction.

Whoever says he is in the light,
yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness.
Whoever loves his brother remains in the light,
and there is nothing in him to cause a fall.
Whoever hates his brother is in darkness;
he walks in darkness
and does not know where he is going
because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
1 Jn 2

Bush Refuses To Interrupt His Final Vacation As Middle East Crisis Escalates
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Progressive Jewish Groups See Test in Crisis
Israeli Bombings Mark Moment to Show Jewish American Voice Not Monolithic on Force

US, UN, EU, Russia urge immediate Gaza cease-fire
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From Left to Right on Israel Makes War on Gaza

Israel Considers a 48-Hour Cease-Fire

from the nutty and very dangerous Neocon mind...
Bolton: Gaza Crisis Means We Should Attack Iran Now
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Israel Rejects 48-Hour Cease-Fire Plan
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End unlawful attacks and meet Gaza's emergency needs
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West Bank anger over Gaza raids
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more on the maddness from MSNBC...

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

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Graphic, uncensored video shows carnage in Gaza

Israel Invades Gaza: Info, Updates
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Orwell said it.

2008-12-27T10:49:00.000-08:00

They are ready and willing to accept something as being green one day, then believe, without a doubt, because they've been told, that same thing is orange the next day; convinced it never was green, while it has been, in fact, truly blue all along.

I thought the sentiment behind those lines were original with me. But, may be not. It may have been locked up in the deep recesses of my brain from reading '1984' in the '70s. I sure don't remember it.

Last night I listened to an old time radio version of 1984 I found on the net. Boom! There it was. He used different colors but the concept was the same.

Although, it's an easy analogy to come up with. I've heard it on progressive radio before and wondered if I might have been the source. Oh well. George Orwell deserves the ultimate credit.

I just wish we didn't have to live so much of it during these last 8 years.

It's an old recording without the best sound in the world, but, it's bearable. (almost an hour long)

1984 by George Orwell
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it just wouldn't leave my head

2008-12-26T16:09:00.000-08:00

I have been receiving Saint of the Day from American Catholic for years. Not anymore. I haven't received it since I wrote this post. Thinking that something went wrong with my registration I attempted to re-register. A notice popped up that I've been banned. I was a little hurt and a little angry.
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Catholics believe that at the very moment of conception a new person complete, with soul, is present. It's a treasured occurrence where a mother and father join with the hand of God in a beautiful act of creation. Abortion, in their view, not only destroys a tiny human life, but is an affront to God.
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I do believe, my religious convictions, aligning with the Church, as expressed above, to be true. As many ways as I can think about it I always come to the same conclusion; a life is here that deserves it's chance to be whatever it will be. My wife has had two miscarriages, early in her pregnancy. I've given them the unisex names of Jackie and Jordan and try to remember to wish them good night every evening.
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The pro-lifers see this as an absolute truth needing to be fought, for the lives of little children. They do not except that the beginning of life is a religious belief that can't be legislated on in the US, except by amending the constitution. Many are intolerant of those who disagree with this political point and threaten with loss of Communion and Hell.
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My problem is I'm able to see both sides. That's why I believe in using the knowledge of science and the art of legislative creation by building on consensus. in order to lessen abortions.
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Such as, proper government funded nutrition and health care for the pregnant woman and her child through well after birth. This is seen by them as subjugating life to the material. However, they seem to not realize these provisions would be supported by Democrats regardless of the status of abortion.
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We're trying to point out to conservatives one of the many values of providing good care to lower middle class to lower class people; fewer abortions by those who fear what the economic hit will do. I know it's said, but it happens every day. This would be an easy fix. One that we shouldn't let pass by. If you're willing to protest in the hopes of just deterring one woman you should be willing to embrace this type of legislation which will save thousands.
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Embracing to tolerating Conservative Republican ideology, it's methods and atrocities do a disservice to the whole spectrum of pro-life causes. I think we can do better.
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Just like the faith and love it takes to instill upon a person a reverent devotion for the Eucharist, to be able to embrace life as beginning at conception, complete with soul, must be infused in the heart of a person in much the same way.
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(update) Sometime after this post I was able to receive Saint of the Day, again.
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Peace and Goodwill to the Whole World - NO Exceptions

2008-12-24T13:55:00.000-08:00

Joy to the World

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Sorry I haven't been here much. This time of year puts my brain in low gear. Three feet of snow hasn't helped much either. You normally think about shoveling the walks or digging the car out, but, we had to make paths in the backyard for the dog to go to do his business and have someplace to run.

Last year in Spokane we had the second most snowy winter on record which just missed being broke by less than a couple of inches. We've already broke the record for snowfall in a single day. It seems like were headed for another one like last year. It just keeps snowing. We are to get another big storm in tonight with another one coming this weekend. I hope this isn't what climate change is going to mean for us. At least the snow goes away, but, those who's home or nation gets buried under water are in a considerably more dire situation.

It's reeking havoc with travel and the retail end of this holiday season. The road crews can't keep up. If you don't have a four wheel drive with good tires your not getting around, after one of these large storms hit. (update - Well, it's the 5 o'clock news and we have now made the snowiest December on record)

O' Christmas Tree

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

Even for you members of whatever alphabet agencies may be tasked with monitoring loyal Americans because of their political, religious, peace or environmental convictions. Here's hoping that the new year will bring more rewarding and productive work for you.

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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This will be a Christmas no one will forget in the Northwest. Shipping hasn't been working very well.

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

Another embarrassing moment for the US courtesy of 'W'

2008-12-15T10:17:00.000-08:00

Shoe Thrown at Bush in Iraq

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Iraqis Pick Up Their Shoes: Reaction From Around the Country

The American public was first introduced to the concept of the bottom of the shoe being an insult during the staged toppling of the Saddam Hussein statue. I guess it's a way of saying you're lower than the dirt on the bottom of my shoe. I wonder if this incident will be occasionally adopted by our citizens towards politicians by showing the bottom of our footwear or will heckling and the one finger salute continue to dominate? Flinging a shoe would be considered assault especially if it involved a steel-toed work boot.

We should be angered and insulted at such a demeaning act being done to our president as an act of disrespect for America. But that's not what happened. This man's act of civil disobedience tickled everyone to the left of the conservative right. Not just here, but, across the world.

Remember when, Hugo Chávez, the democratically elected president of Venezuela made this comment in front of the UN, while insulting to everyone here since it was made on our soil, is no great surprise either, "Yesterday, the devil came to the UN, and today, it still smells of sulfur and Bush". Conservatives were outraged, but, what should have been shocking to us were the giggling, laughter, and applause, not just in the UN but globally.
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These two incidents along with the many protests everywhere he goes, at home and wold-wide, point a bright shining light on how the president and his neoconservative administration are viewed around the world. Much more than half the Americans, while not seeing him as literally the ‘devil’, do see the immorality of the way he conducts much of our nations business overseas and at home.

Why is it so often, for so many leaders around the world, advantageous at home and around their regions to knock Bush (and America, because of the way they’re running it)?

This is why I believe the large crowds Obama had in Europe and the huge turnout at his rallies at home would be comparable if Hillary, Richardson, or any of the other Dems won the nomination and election. The Bushies have led this country in such an appalling way that everyone embraces the hope that changes away from the Neoconservative method of running government (into the ground) will bring at home and around the world.

For his part at home Bush is trying to change regulations to fit the radical conservative agenda in such a way that will make it difficult for President Obama to undo.

At the Last Minute, a Raft of Rules

Republicans aren't trying to help fix the economy at this time either. It seems as though they are trying to exacerbate every problem they've left for the nation in an attempt to make Obama look bad when he takes office. The right wing propaganda merchants on the radio, FOX and elsewhere will then badger him the whole way with fabrication and lies while the Senate Republicans filibuster (block) everything they don't like.

I read somewhere today that it might be time to use former Sen. Frist's nuclear option.

The Senate Republicans, forever loyal to all things Bush, are the fly in the ointment. They have blocked/filibustered every single thing that has come before the Senate that doesn't survive their inquisition. The, up or down vote crowd, has used this method of killing Senatorial business more than it's combined use through out it's history.

This maneuver goes something like this hypothetical example....

Let's say there is a bill that has swept through the House with broad bi-partisan approval such as, a needed improvement in prenatal and natal care through the WICK program.

Conservatives in the Senate, the Administration and those who influence them find objection to not only 'robbing the tax payer to help irresponsible women', but it became noticeable that the bill contained a provision for regulating the baby food industry in order to insure the high quality of their product, not only domestically but international sales as well.

Both sides jaw about the pros and cons of the bill when it finally comes time for someone to invoke cloture. Cloture means it's time to stop talking about the bill, set time for final debate then vote. It takes sixty votes to stop debate (cloture). The Republicans have more than enough votes, even with a few honorable defections, to block every vote in the Senate and they have used it without mercy or pity.

What's the nuclear option? It only takes a simple majority to change the rules of the Senate. They can easily change the number of votes needed to pass cloture. It hasn't been a popular thing to do, but, if the Senate Republicans are going to do nothing but block everthing Obama tries to do for the US it may be time to play that card.
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How stupid can you get?

2008-12-12T10:16:00.000-08:00

I know I'm late about putting this guy in the BLOG. I was raised in down-state Illinois where Chicago has always had a bad reputation. Although, that's typical for people on the opposite end of a state with a large city. We lived there for three years and found Chicago land to be cool. Except for the gangs which were spreading out into the neighboring communities at a furious pace. We also lived on the Mississippi Gulf Coast for 5 years and found that place, all the way into Louisiana, to be very crooked. At the time there were several big scandals going on including the murder of a judge and his council woman wife.

Illinois Gov. charged with 'selling' Obama Senate seat

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A lot of people, vets and liberals or maybe just me, wanted to see Tammy Duckworth in that Senate seat.

If this is anywhere near true, and it sure seems to be, we should all be angry about it. Tammy or other deserving Democrats would not stand a chance. All we would be getting is someone who already sold their soul.

I agree that the timing is funky but if BofA was privy to a classified law enforcement investigation, that in itself requires a detailed look into why.

But it in no way sanctions the governors alleged activity. He deserves his day in court, but, you all must realize, if true, then he was damaging Democrats most of all. The number one choice of the incoming Obama administration was cast aside in favor of finding someone corrupt. If I was lobbying for a Senate candidate I would be very upset at the way the governor was conducting business. There's many who would have let the crime be known to law enforcement including the Obama team.

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I really don't understand those who would defend their own party member when wrong-doing is discovered. They should be first in line to hang their butts up in a sling. Because, it always hurts the political party that person is in. For example, the Republicans should have been hopping mad at Senator Stevens because he cost the GOP what would have been a secure Senate seat.

Rachel maddow - The Infinite Sadness of Gov. Rod Blagojevich

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