Overseas looking in...

Palin's Movement Urges 'Godly' To 'Plunder' Wealth of The 'Godless'

2008-11-01T17:27:00.001-07:00

If anyone thinks that a loss this election cycle will stop this, well I have a bridge in Alaska for you. It is no coincidence that a large portion of the RNC is looking to make Palin a national figure and run in 2012. These people have a fanaticism like that of "jihadists" in there singular obsession.

It is not ignorance that McCain picked Palin, he was gulled into picking her. He has no idea what she represents, she was on someones radar long before McCain had ever heard of her.

These people scare me, they truly believe in this idea of a spiritual war, and they will stop at nothing to bring about their distorted world view.
About Sarah Palin
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Oprah's Vote Lost & How You Can Fight to Assure It Doesn't Happen to You!

2008-11-01T17:14:00.001-07:00

Dear Brad,

thanks for all your great work. the reason this isn't getting reported is because of a national cognitive dissonance of sorts. As Project Censored notes:

We all remember, as young children, scary locations that created deep fears. We might imagine monsters in the closet, dangers in a nighttime backyard, and creepy people in some abandoned house down the street. As we get older we build up the courage to open the closet, or walk out into the backyard to smell the night air. As adults there are still dark closets in our socio-cultural consciousness that make it difficult to even consider the possibility of certain ideas. These fearful ideas might be described as threshold concepts, in that they may be on the borders of discoverability, yet we deny even the potentiality of implied veracity " something is so evil it is completely unimaginable.

A threshold concept facing Americans is the possibility that the...

.. voting system is rigged or compromised..

This is something that has plagued this country since 2000. The "threshold" that things like this could happen in the USA or that our "government" would be complicit in any atrocious or "unimaginable" act.

Oprah, if she is strong enough to shine the light, might be, strangely, the countries best hope.

This is precisely why there has been no Impeachment proceedings, no one WANTS to look into the dark corners.

But the courage to do so will be the only thing to save our nation.
About Voting Problems
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Would Obama's Victory Hurt Obama?

2008-10-30T04:12:00.001-07:00

I worry that the right will capitalize on an Obama presidency and do worse than they did to Clinton. It is stunning that the very architects of Bush have failed so completely and at every turn. No one seems to be asking, are they playing the left.

The clean up for the mess of the last 8 years will start with the next president but won't be felt for years. The first thing that Obama will have to do is make LOTS of hard and unpopular choices. You can bet the vultures will be waiting. They are already prepping Palin for 2012.

They have spent the last 40 years destroying this country bit by bit. 4 years is nothing to them. Pardon the metaphor but they are going to give the Dems enough rope to hang.

By letting Obama win, they "prove" the system works. He starts the clean up, makes the hard choices, then in 4 years, they bring their A game back and catch everyone off guard. I know Obama isn't stupid, but he is inherently good, he has morals and values and honor. They don't and that makes them more dangerous.

It took FDR 3 terms to get things done, we have 1, 2 if we are really lucky.

Fukuyama endorsing Obama, they flashed their hand.

I hope I am wrong.
About Barack Obama
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Maybe You Shouldn't Vote

2008-10-29T02:22:00.001-07:00

nice false equivalency between Fox/Drudge and MSNBC/Huff. Lest you forget you just published on Huff. The left isn't perfect, but keep this in mind as you bash the people who have been rallying against the worst practices of the last 8 years: One side wants people to vote, one side wants to keep people from voting [especially if it is against them]. That is not the same thing!

also, McCain would be fine with a hundred years more war..
About Voting
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Let Sarah Take Her Kids on Work Trips!

2008-10-22T15:46:00.001-07:00

You hit the nail on the head.. But remember, as a single Dad, it is YOUR fault for not having a woman to take care of your kids, assuming she doesn't want to work, and if she does want to work, SHE is entitled to take the kids with her, while you have to schlep to the office.

Is it just me or is feminism [at least this authors brand] starting to sound Orwellian, after all "Some are more equal than others".
About Sarah Palin
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

WATCH: The U.S. Army Prepares to Invade the U.S.

2008-10-11T20:05:00.001-07:00

I have been shouting this since 2001! just because I am not a journalist no one pays attention. Naomi Wolf and now JS McDougall are starting to get some traction and respect. I am very worried. Link this with the bailout, the new revelations about FISA abuse with the NSA, there are stories that pop in and out of existence. There was one right after Katrina about the government giving no bid contracts to companies for future mass detention.

This is very scary. I encourage everyone to start making contingency plans. Get a passport, learn about freenet's and encryption. You will need it sooner than you think.

I know this comes across as a "rant" or "crazy", but I assure you I am very sane. Look heed the advice of people shouting a warning, and maybe the worst-case-scenarios never happen. You loose nothing by preparing.
About Civil Rights
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

US "Dangerously Vulnerable" To Chemical, Biological, Nuclear Attacks: Reports

2008-09-09T17:39:00.001-07:00

oops, the "Drill Baby Drill:" comment is not directed at the article, rather, commenter Blutus.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

US "Dangerously Vulnerable" To Chemical, Biological, Nuclear Attacks: Reports

2008-09-09T17:37:00.001-07:00

Wow, shockingly ignorant, I thought you would have worked "Drill Baby Drill" into it somehow.

The question no one is asking: "If we are so 'Dangerously Vulnerable' and the administration has spent the last 8 years doing little or nothing to secure us why hasn't there been another attack?"

I assume it is not the shear magnificence of King George and Cardinal Cheney. They are after all the ones who remind us constantly of the dangers outside of our shores.

The simple fact is, Al Qaeda could bring this country to its knees with some truck bombs, and a few cell phones, and with our military overburdened, National Guard depleted, our nation would collapse over night. There is an article in the Atlantic Monthly by Richard Clarke, about 5 years ago, he talks about what he thinks the next few years will bring. Looking in hind sight, we should be relieved, but it makes me question why they didn't happen. so WHY did they destroy the twin towers and then give up? Perhaps we missed some clues the first time around, and we need to start digging.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Viewing the Obama acceptance Speech

2008-08-28T23:23:00.001-07:00

It is a cloudy morning in the busiest city in the world, the trains are packed, and the station is busy. Most people are at work. I join a handful of people in a bar in the middle of Shinjuku, Japan to watch one of the most important events in world politics. For the first time, anywhere, a minority will be nominated to lead his country.

Much has been made about the viewing parties throughout the country. CNN frequently cut to not only different locations but to their "situation room"-esque wall of coverage showing Times Square, Maryland, and California. But little attention has been paid, since the Super Tuesday, to a block of voters known as, the Expat. The Expat is a mercurial voter to be sure. Out side of any polling or demographic apparatus, they lurk on the periphery of consciousness. Most pundits will only mention them in oblique terms, like "overseas" ballots, or even simply as service members.

The reality is much different. Simply stated we are Americans working overseas. Some have come with a spouse, relocated by work, some want adventure, others are married to a native of their adoptive country, and some, to be sure, are here in relation to the Military, as a spouse or private contractor. But we are all American, and we all love our country.

Shinjuku, is a administrative ward in the City of Tokyo. It is a bustling metropolis with tall buildings, and international tastes. You would have some difficulty finding a Tokyo-ite to speak English with you, but they will still go out of their way to help. This is a city full of movement and change, buildings going up and coming down in the blink of an eye it seems. As I navigate the early streets, shops and storefronts beginning to open, the streets being picked of litter, I pass a TV crew preparing to come up stairs, the Camera assistant holds the elevator for me and we ride up in silence. As I walk into the bar, there is the gentler murmur of a coffee shop, and anticipation. I hear greetings, and slices of political discourse. I talk to the organizers, make a donation, and find a seat with a few other Expats. All told, 27 people will take time to off work, and make the commute to watch Obama's speech.

Obama is the only candidate that I know of, to so heavily invest in the Overseas community. They have been actively working with Democrats Abroad, Democrats Japan and Vote from Abroad, to get out the vote. They held the first ever online real-time primary to coincide with Super Tuesday, and Democrats Abroad were given half a delegate for their efforts.
The Expats of Tokyo are not just Americans. I work with a diverse group of people and have contact with people from over a dozen countries. But there is one thing they all seem to agree on. Barrak Obama. I have had people beg me to vote for him. Bush has accomplished one goal, to unite the world, but in an ironic twist, it is against him and his policies. The world seems united for Obama.
It is with this in mind that I sit down amongst a group of Democrats hailing from all over the United States, and beyond. The calm of anticipation floods the room as Sen. Dick Durbin leaves the mic and Sen. Obama walks to the stage. I can feel the tension, the anticipation of those behind me. As Obama accepts, the room erupts. There is laughter and applause throughout the speech. I can feel the hopes and dreams of those seated with me, they rest on not just a man, but a movement. "YOU" and "WE" are the phrases I remember throughout the speech. Sure he talked about the environment, and education, and the economy. The only time he ever said "I" was when he mentioned his policy proposals, everything else was about "YOU", that is to say "US". When he ended there was applause, and then immediately people began to reflect on his speech. Stacey, loved it, she was so excited. I mentioned that I could hear her over everyone, and she bashfully apologized, but she wore a huge smile, and her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. I can't recall seeing someone so happy about politics.
Jim is from Boston, he was upbeat about everything. He felt that Obama hit everything, and left little he could be criticized for. He thought it was an excellent speech. Leslie, from Dallas, was worried about the timing of McCain's VP announcement, and felt certain it would be in the next few hours, trying to steal the thunder and momentum from the Obama campaign. Likewise, Jonah, from New Jersey, and Aaron from Orange County, CA, were discussing the possibility of Lieberman or Romney to second the McCain ticket.
But, unlike 4 years ago, I didn't hear any worry in anyone's voice. I heard nothing but confidence and optimism. Thad, from Arlington VA, was optimistic, and thought the campaign did a great job. I was buoyed by the level of confidence I felt there, the organizers were already talking about their big fundraiser on Sept. 18th. People were handing out buttons, and wearing Obama '08 shirts. There is much made about the National Organization that Obama and Dean have created over the last 4 years, but what people don't realize, is that it is viral and has spread beyond the borders. There is the possibility to engage the electorate like never before, thanks to ground breaking companies like Everyone Counts, who managed the Global Primary. There is a movement growing, and for the first time, in a long time. I am optimistic about the out come.

Why Should Anyone Vote for Either of These Two Guys?

2008-08-19T17:43:00.001-07:00

First, the fact that you asked the question means that you should immediately be stripped of your blog and any ability to communicate to a mass audience.

The fact that ANYONE can question who to vote for is mind-boggling. The choice couldn't be more simple, the "undercooked" represents not only a fresh perspective but a radical departure from the last 8 years of tragedy. The "overripe" candidate offers the best chance of the fall of the USA, in all aspects, not to mention major parts of the rest of the world.

So if you are a sociopath narcissist who is in the top 1% of income earners and enjoyed the last 8 years, the the overripe candiddate is for you. If not, vote for "undercooked" just like people did in 1992.

Of course, as a nation we have displayed a remarkable tendancy to vote against our own self interests. Why do we choose our politicians like we choose a car-salesman? You wouldn't choose a neurosurgeon on "like ability" "or "have a beer with" factors. We get the politicians we deserve, not the ones we need or want, and that is collectively our own doing.

Anyone who votes for McDeath, will have lots of blood and misery on their hands.
About Barack Obama
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

The Necessary Audacity of Hillary Clinton as Vice President

2008-08-11T16:01:00.001-07:00

"Her appeal to women and blue-collar voters is indisputably stronger than Osama's."

Osama! Really! And I think it is far beyond conventional wisdom that she would take the VP slot. You think her nutcase 20% who claim they would rather vote for McCain will love the idea of her being second to a man.

Fairness: Yeah. cause the rest of the world is fair. Let's be "fair" to HRC. Give her special treatment.

OBAMA, is making his own bed. Though you have thought out your points and explained them clearly, for your next article make the counter argument. then compare AND contrast the benefits of each scenario. It would seem she brings more damage then she does positive.
About Barack Obama
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

The lament of the old guard

2008-03-19T07:32:00.001-07:00

William Fisher: The Fierce Urgency of How - Politics on The Huffington Post

I agree.But is now the time for that? Certainly during the campaign
would be appropriate, but is it wise to do this during the Dem primary?
Let's say Obama takes a moment, like he did on Tuesday, and lays how
some HOW. 2 hours later, people are ripping him to shreds over raising
taxes, or saying how FUBAR Iraq and Afghanistan are. Or one of the
Opposition campaigns says he is weak because he doesn't think diplomacy
should come at the tip of a sword, and that economics will do more to
end extremism. Not to mention, that it will require not only congress
but the complicity of the media and an engaged electorate to get health
care taken care of. So he does the noble thing, he tells the truth. But
what if he is the only one?

I need to believe in something again. I need to have hope in my
government and my country. I want to dedicate my life to the pursuit of
a more perfect union. The old guard's time has come. It is our turn
now. Lets get the house first, before we start talking about
renovations and contractors. 2 people want to keep things the same,
let's not forget that.

The dropping US dollar

2008-03-13T14:45:00.001-07:00

In further evidence of the decline of the US economy. The US Dollar hit a 12 year low against the Japanese Yen, settling at around 100Y/1$ (virtually a one to one exchange ratio). Meanwhile, the Euro hit a record high of approximately 1.56E, according to NHK news tonight in Japan. According to the reports companies were preparing for massive profit losses due to shrinking exports. Japan is heavily dependent on international trade, and heavily effected by the US economy. Businesses are already suffering losses and decreased foreign investment due to the sub-prime mortgage crisis, and oil trading at over $100/barrel.

For those of you not paying attention this is going to have massive repercussions. For the people who always talked about the "domino" effect of communism, or the more recent "reverse domino" justification for spreading democracy in Iraq continuing to the middle east, they are about to see in near real time an "economic domino" effect. Perhaps, ripple effect or feedback loop would be more accurate. I am no economist, but the global concern about the destabilizing is palpable. US economics is headline news almost daily. As economic indicators continue to point towards a recession, the global consequences are becoming very real.

Some answers to Sen. Clinton's questions

2008-03-13T01:09:00.001-07:00

Sen. Clinton proposes some interesting questions. But like a lot of recent comments they trade logic for rhetoric. For starters, a statement that has gone unchallenged by anyone since the beginning is that Sen. Obama never held a meeting on Afghanistan in his Foreign Affairs sub-committee. The assumption, of course, is that he has neglected his duty. The problem is that he is the Chairman of the Subcommittee on European Affairs. Something that is regularly handled by the entire committee. Not to mention, that Afghanistan is in Central/Southwest Asia.
So I took these comments as an opportunity for some mental exercise about speech writing, foreign affairs, etc.
Fellow bloggers, Obama supporters, if I may answer by proxy some of the questions (feel free to answer others)(full disclosure, I am in no way what-so-ever attached in any capacity to any campaign, but I will take offers):

Will you stand by your definitive commitment to removing all combat brigades from Iraq within 16 months, or will you, as your former advisor said, not rely on "some plan" you "crafted as a presidential candidate or as a US Senator?"

Obama should say: I stand by my commitment to redeploy troops from Iraq. I also plan to recall all non-military contractors. The fact of the matter is, and Sen. Clinton is as aware of this as I, that there are a lot of things that Pres Bush has hidden from Congress, the American People and the World. Will I withdraw the troops, yes. Do I have all of the facts, NO.

Do you regret that you have never held any substantive hearings on Afghanistan or any other subject, since you became chairman of the subcommittee on European Affairs in January 2007?

Mr. Obama should answer: No, because Afganistan is in Southwest Asia, and not covered by my committee. I think it is important to have a President who not only knows geography, but the limit and scope of Presidential power and authority.

Do you agree with General McPeak that you are more qualified to be commander in chief because you don't "go on television and have crying fits?" Are you prepared to remove General McPeak from your campaign for what is viewed by many as a sexist comment?

Sen. Obama's reply: "I do not agree with that and you know it’s regrettable that any of our supporters on both sides say things that veer off into the personal. We ought to keep this focused on the issues. That’s what this campaign should be about," Sen. Clinton's "... campaign staff seems to have forgotten her(sic) pledge. We have not...And, we reject these false, personal and politically calculated attacks..."

Are you still willing to meet separately, without precondition, during the first year of an Obama administration, in Washington or anywhere else, with the leaders of Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba and North Korea? Are there any circumstances in which you would not conduct such meetings?

Sen Obama should say something like this: Am I willing, Yes. Because, the ideals of this country are greater than hubris and pride. Now more than ever before we are globally connected. For the first time, in my life, the United States is viewed negatively by a majority of people in the world. As President, as a Senator, as a Citizen, I pledge to do the most patriotic thing, I pledge to make new friends. I pledge to once more make the Unites States the beacon of freedom and hope that has inspired people for hundreds of years. Words, make a difference, they always have. Words, put us on the moon. Words, committed us to WWII. Words, gave us a dream. So if my words to change inspire these leaders, all the better. But if not, I will do the hard thing. I will meet with them and give actions to my words. We have nothing to fear and nothing to loose by talking with these countries, and everything to gain. We now have proof what 8 years of silence and bullying will do. Lets see what 4 years of talking, and diplomacy can do, and then leave it to the people to decide. We know the old ways, now is the opportunity to try something new.

As voters evaluate you as a potential Commander-in-Chief, do you think it's legitimate for people to be concerned that you have traveled to only one NATO country, on a brief stopover trip in 2005, and have never traveled to Latin America?

There is no test to be President. I am running to be elected President of the United States. I believe it is important to have visited countries overseas. I have had the unique opportunity to spend many years overseas. It has made me love this country even more. The time to think of NATO countries as the most important in the world is past. It is an old and Dangerous way of thinking. We need to embrace all countries, regardless of whether they are NATO or not. As President I plan to visit not just our close allies in NATO, but also India and China, the emerging powers in Asia. Brazil, one of the fastest growing countries in the world. Now, more than anytime in our history we are all connected. It is time we come together, for the betterment of all mankind.

Earlier in the campaign you were asked how you would respond to a terrorist attack on two cities in the United States. You talked about the need for an effective emergency response but were initially unclear about the need for a military response. What do you think that says about your readiness to be Commander-in-Chief?

Obama should say something like this: I think it says I am ready to be President of the United States. A President unwilling to sacrifice our freedom, or judgment in Knee-jerk reactions of revenge. My first commitment is to the people of the United States. The fact is, that our national ability to not only prevent an attack, but respond to one has been severly compromised by this horrible Iraqi War. That is why I commit to redeploying our forces, and refocusing our priorities at home. If we are attacked again, it will be because, Pres Bush, engaged us and has stuck us in Iraq, we are less safe and less prepared because of that.

You publicly broadcast your willingness to attack Pakistan unilaterally, a statement which caused unrest in that country. Recognizing that we need to combat terrorism wherever it exists, do you wish you would have made your comments in a way that didn't cause unrest?

Sen Obama, says something like this: To suggest I caused unrest in Pakistan is not only the height of arrogance, I don't think I have that kind of power. Being ahead in delegates, and winning more states, and filling stadiums is one thing, but saying a few words and causing trouble in another country, well I as a Christian, I was brought up to believe that there is only one person who has that type of power. The unrest in Pakistan is troubling, but it shows a profound lack of understanding in foreign policy, to suggest I caused it. I proposed a broad plan, a plan that the CIA recently endorsed through not only action but success. The American people need to understand that the only terrorists in Iraq, are the ones we have created. We have ignored Afghanistan and Pakistan at not just our own peril. Pakistan is facing radical elements trying to destabilize the country. Afghanistan is facing a resurgent Taliban. I am very concerned about that, that is why I want to redeploy our forces. So we can better combat these radicals. A long time ago, we mad a promise to help the people of Afghanistan. 4 Preisdents have failed to uphold that commitment, and the world has suffered. I will not be the 5th, I will do right by the people of Afghanistan, just like I will do right by the people of the United States of America. I will do right by big states,and small states, red states and blue states, I will do right by you, because you are doing right by yourself.

Read this ONLY if your are Mr. Martin Lewis

2008-03-09T20:23:00.001-07:00

I am not a super delegate, nor do I have to be. You do pose a clever tactic.
1) Post an article on a public forum.
2) Say it is only for a certain population (in this case Super delegates)
3) Make claims
4) reject anyone who challenges those claims if they are not a super delegate.
Nice rhetorical combat, but as several people have pointed out, your claims are flawed at best. I don't begrudge you the right to defend your candidate or carry water for her (you have a clear appeal to authority), however, to give a "huffPick" to the only commenter that agrees with you as well as lending your authority ("Only honest person") is cheap.
You have yet to address any other claims, especially ones siting the SurveyUSA poll, as well as some of the great work done at DailyKos.

Ultimately, you present a straw man argument. You create a fallacious scenario; first, where the rules of the general election apply to the democratic primary [untrue]. Most primaries and caucuses are proportional [far more democratic than the general]. Second, you compound that error by siting that HRC has more electoral college votes than Obama, but they are not competing against each other for electoral college votes, nor is it winner take all. Third, you make a fallacious assumption, that Democratic strongholds, like CA, NY, and MA can ONLY be one by HRC, that is an indefensible presumption.
And lastly, you make two, rather monstrous, assertions, 1, caucuses aren't real democracy, and only democrats count, in the democratic primary. I will concede you the later for any open primary. Otherwise, most of them have been closed. But I find it the height of hypocrisy, at least, that all of your arguments center around demeaning voters, and saying some votes are more equal than others.

I would love to go toe to toe with you on this. Ask Huff, to give me a blog, that will level the playing field nicely. You can set the ground rules, what constitutes fair, issues, substance, etc. Balls, in your court Mr. Lewis, do you accept?

radio call in

2008-03-07T07:24:00.001-08:00

for anyone who might happen across this post.. I was on the Adam Carolla show as a call in.. Probably under "Weed Walking" but the last segment of the first hour. Not to gush, but my favorite radio program and what I listen to on my commute.

Will we really win in November?

2008-03-06T23:45:00.001-08:00

The reigning questions from objective analysis seems to be 1) How to make this fair taking into account MI and FL. 2)Will Clinton cede the nomination or take it into the mud. and 3)who is the most likely winner.
As of today, it is Obama. Despite the spin from the Clinton and the media. Her wins are a lot less than astronomical She needed huge wins to narrow the gap substantially and didn't get it. The other spin has been about her offer to Obama. The timing seems suspicious at best. First of all, despite her "gaining momentum", basic projections put the delegate nomination well out of her grasp. She would need to win every state by more than 25% to achieve that. Not to mention she is down in the popular vote by over 500,000. For her to ask the front runner to give up his position is bizarre to say the least. Tantamount to encouraging political suicide. The other strange echo has been her claiming to have one NY and CA somehow preclude Obama from winning it in the general. According to the SurveyUSA poll, both candidates handily win those 2 states. NJ is closer for Obama, but should go his way.

Great editorial on the Nation. Well balanced, fair, and accurate. The basic point is thus

Adding to the tension of this moment for all Democrats is the knowledge that scorched-earth tactics are at least partly responsible for Clinton's success on Super Tuesday II. Through its fearmongering over terrorism and national security and by taking advantage of smear campaigns against Obama's patriotism, race and religion, the Clinton campaign has already sunk fairly low--but it could very well sink lower, threatening to negate the early promise of this historic contest, which has seen a massive spike in voter turnout, particularly among the young and minorities, and the enthusiastic rise of progressive values and issues. If the campaign continues this descent during the long slog to Pennsylvania on April 22 and beyond, the ultimate benefactor may well be neither small d-democracy nor the Democratic Party--but Senator John McCain and the GOP, who no doubt will spend the time taking notes and sharpening knives. Given the electoral challenge it faces, the Clinton camp ought to think long and hard about how it chooses to wage the remainder of this campaign.

I do have one critique. Your comment about Obama and "NAFTA-gate", while pointed, neglects the fact that the even never happened. It was a lie and a smear. It was manufactured. Read Paul Loeb at HuffPost and this at DailyKos.

As I see it, a corollary to your arguement is this: For the good of the party [aka. Nation] whoever the loser is, has to not only endorse but throw behind whoever is nominated. If we assume based on the results of the SUSA poll that Obama is the best candidate for swing states [see here and a better numbers crunch here]and that he is up almost 600,000 in the popular vote and over 100 in pledged delegates, he will be the presumptive nominee. Therefore, it is up to HRC to back him ASAP.
Lets play it safe and give them until May. Have the "re-do" in MI and FL in May. Hillary needs to cut whatever back channel deals she can before that vote [Obama too], the second that vote is decided, the other has to convince their supporters to throw behind the other. Anything less than 110% confidence in the nominee by the runner up would be disastrous. Really, it needs to be along the lines of " A vote for _____ is a vote for me, and everything we have fought for. It is a vote for your country, and your future. _______ is the strongest candidate for our future and I will back _____ with everything I have."
However, assuming Barak is the winner, this is only possible if HRC refrains from going negative and relying on scorched-earth politics. The next week will tell us her true intentions and reasons for running. Is it the good of the country or "you owe me" that is fueling her drive?

Disclosure: Though I voted Edwards I do plan to vote for the Democratic nominee. I am currently an Obama supporter.

More on math

2008-03-05T22:10:00.001-08:00

Great post by RJ Eskrow on HUffpost.. and I agree.. some interesting math here at Dkos.

Basically even IF Hillary carried every election by 25% she still is 50 delegates shy of Obama. Like you said there is virtually no mathematical way she can win. Further, she keeps talking about how she one Dem strongholds like California and NY.. this is a false argument on a good day, they will go blue regardless of the nominee. MI and FL have to basically be counted out thanks to the recent Dean/DNC comments/Rules clarification.
Hillary supporters have to ask themselves, when does her victory become Pyhrric? Even if she does win the battle she may lose the war, costing her and down ticket Dems victories. this will have far ranging consequences not just domestically but globally. The credit/housing crunch leads the news frequently here in Japan. Without a Dem president, and large majorities in Congress, all policy proposals become moot.
The next President will have to make decisions so unpopular that the population will need massive reassurance and..Hope. Hillary claims the good of the country is her motivation, well, prove it.
Start with some back channel behind the scenese negotiations with Barak, and some other Dem leaders.. then let her make a big presentation.. she can look like she is taking the high road, say she will be his best ally in the Senate..
She can be the next Ted Kennedy in the Senate. But please, she needs to stop this scorched earth tactics. It may win the battle, but it will lose the war, because you loose not only the infrastructure, but the hearts and minds as well.

Censorship in Japan

2008-02-21T17:18:00.000-08:00

Well maybe not exactly censorship exactly, but controlled access to information. Today is the Democratic debate in Texas, actually as I type. But for some bizarre reason, Japan is blocked from viewing the live CNN feed. No doubt there is a some profit sharing, IP agreement involving broadcast rights, etc., but to say it is frustrating is an understatement.
Being overseas you are at the whim of governments and corporations, at least you become quickly aware of it when you try to access information that normally seems so easy from the USA.
The interesting thing about the CNN video feed is that only the live feed is blocked. On Demand video and all other content is available in both US and international editions. But if you jog over to cnn.co.jp then you get much much less and no links to video.
This isn't pornography [ironically much easier to access], but political coverage that will be talked about extensively on the nightly news.

This is the hidden poison pill of the information age. No doubt there are many sites and content that are blocked wholesale by many countries, that is one thing. But for CNN to deny access to their video feeds based on geography is highly disturbing to say the least. Granted the print edition is available, but being able unable to watch the live coverage seems to negate the point of having streaming video in the first place. Perhaps, it is a matter that CNN only wants the Japanese or Expats to PAY to get their news via cable. If that is in fact the case, it is a most unfortunate state of affairs. One that needs to be attended too.

Transformation; from Campaign to Movement

2008-01-31T03:57:00.000-08:00

We have been presented with a unique opportunity, in recent history. In my life there has never been a candidate that was not only inspiring but honest, and someone I could honestly look up to. Someone who I would openly support and advocate for. Not because he was a Democrat, but because I believed in the message, and I new it was not just a show.

Now due to circumstances, we have the opportunity to transform the momentum of a campaign, to a movement of change. I have gotten some support in this idea. I am not the only one to have it, but I offer up this site freely to our common cause.
WE THE PEOPLE, will make a change.
WE THE PEOPLE, will make our voices heard.

Post comments with a registered ID, and I will start building an e-mail/action list. If you want to b able to compose things, let me know. I will link to any and all websites advocating the same thing.

Lets change the world!

The rise of Fascism in the United States of Blackwater, Carlysle, and Saud?

2007-11-04T21:42:00.001-08:00

Naomi wolf connects the dots. I have been trying to raise peoples awareness for a while, but i don't have the same forum as you..
re: the flight detentions. people don't realize that once you pass immigration out of country A, you don't exist until Country B lets you pass immigration in. No big deal if you are 80% of america, but the other 20% of us are at risk every time we take an international flight, not to mention foreign nationals.
Additionally, there was a small little news blurb, around August or September of 2006, talking about open-ended contracts for private securities companies to create detention facilities. Add this to the blackwater stuff. Add that the top counter-terrorists, and intel people (like Richard Clarke) don't know why we haven't been attacked again. All that is needed is one more terrorist attack, or say an attmempt on the P and then DV Cheney is suddenly in power, and their goes what is left of the Constitution. Not that there is much because of the Military Commissions Act.
I am in a foreign land, and I am starting to be frightened about returning.

July 3rd Massacre?

2007-07-04T07:22:00.000-07:00

So will our democracy survive? Will the citizens of our Nation rise up? How about the DLC? When will people say the rule of law is the most important thing we have. It is the thin, blind, line, that separates us from Dictators and Tyrants.

We have but one necessity. I have been arguing this for over a year now. The pain of an Impeachment [both Cheney and Bush] is minuscule compared to the pain of losing our democracy. How much more will we endure? At what point to we rise up, this is our country, our nation, and ultimately the responsibility of it's citizens. As Franklin said "[We have a] Republic, madam, if you can keep it".

Purdue's new Science..

2007-06-13T08:00:00.001-07:00

this is basically a response to all the comments on the wired web site.

Wired Science - Wired Blogs

So with out the name calling: I am converted.. I was firm believe that what I saw on the news and what was reported was what really happened.

Then one day, on my own, to defend what I saw on the news, I started to do research.

I was astounded as to what I uncovered. I don't know it was an inside job, but when you add everything up, and apply Occam's Razor, it definitely points to conspiracy.. to what degree, i can be sure, but it is clear the whole story hasn't been told.

It is a symptom of our current culture, that only popular views are supported. There are multiple comments suggesting that credence must be given to the Purdue Scientists because they are Scientists, But Scholars for truth [including Physicists, Engineers, Demolition Experts] and Military Demolition Experts, are given no credibility. I have studied, many fields. Physics, Engineering, Demolitions, Fire, etc. And after reviewing all of the evidence, the pancake collapse theory [what this video supports] still seems more improbable than the building being helped.

So some questions to be answered, by the skeptics:

1) At what speed is a building likely to collapse? Should it be the same as an object in free fall in a vacuum?

2) if most of the Jet Fuel burned off on impact [i don't believe that is in dispute] then how can it also act like lava?

3) What temperature was the structural steel of the WTC buildings rated at? for how long?

4) How long did the fires burn?

5) what is the maximum temperature of  an office fire?

6) Have you looked at other structural steel high rise fires?

7) What is the significance of black smoke when it comes to fires?

8) Why is the presence of s structural core, and a hat truss, omitted from the NIST findings?

9) How much damage did building 7 sustain? How bad were the fires?

10) Why is the burden of proof not on your side? Their was more money spent investigating Monica Lewinsky [i would guess cumulatively to this date as well], then there was the greatest man made disaster [murder, terrorism] on US soil ever! Why?

11) The Government is selling unprovable theories, and pressuring others [media, pundits, populace] to go along with it. We have a duty and a right to call Bullsh*t, and demand they explain themselves. Why is that wrong?

I kept it civil.. thanks for doing the same.

fact sheet on illegal immigration

2007-06-05T22:29:00.001-07:00

I have had this debate numerous times. Now, I have the numbers to back me up [well for reference that is].

The brilliance of this is the fact that once these numbers are introduced, then the argument switches to other things.

The simple fact is, that without illegal immigrants our current economy would collapse. Despite what a lot of people "think" the economy is built like a pyramid with the lowest paid workers on the bottom. It is not the bankers and CEO's that keep the economy churning, it is the dishwashers, the produce pickers that allow the country and economy to function.

ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties: Issues

Democrats and Iran

2007-02-01T19:01:00.001-08:00

This should be chilling news to every progressive and sane person in the world. The potential blowback [to use an Intel term] is staggering. If people think a bi-partisan non-binding resolution is even going to tap the breaks of this runaway disaster they are severely deluded. We are all at peril here. One of the more disappointing aspects of this is the assertion that that most of the Dems would rather play politics instead of standing up for whats right. Saying, "We don't think you should bomb another country further endangering the troops and this nation while fueling anti-american sentiment..." is not a bad thing!!

What we need is an investigation in to the VP and the President as soon as possible. A large percentage of people in nationwide polls believe there should be an investigation. Strangely these same polls show a reluctance for impeachment proceedings. I would attribute that to the older watergate generation. They are unwilling to go through what they claim was a traumatic national moment.

I may be young, but I disagree. A surgery is traumatic, but if it removes a cancerous growth or heals a failing organ, the body is ultimately better off for it. Our national body is so ill that if we do not treat it it will wither and die. The rule of law, the adherence to legal principals, a strong congress, are needed if we want to continue this bold experiment.

The Democrats were voted into power for a change and, yes, to move on. But not to sweep things under the rug. They were elected, because they stood for something good and noble. They offered a path away from the corruption, cronyism, and lawlessness of the 109th and before.This is not about vengeance. "If you want peace, work for justice." This is our moment of truth.

gift from medicine!

2007-01-31T19:25:00.001-08:00

How nice for Ms. Cheney. It must be nice be so rich and powerful that she can claim rights for herself while destroying the rights of others. In a she claims that this is a child and on neither side of political issue. She also decides to defend that homo-sexuals are equally capable of family raising.. I think her dad, his boss, and her closeted lesbian mother might dissagree. If it were anyone but her, their far right friends would be screaming for her blood. "This is a baby. This is a blessing from God. It is not a political statement." says Mary, well you are wrong. It is. It is a statement of I don't care about anyone but myself. I don't care if my parents, the President and their political friends try to destroy the lives of every other homosexual and non-evangelical christian on the planet. I am above the fray. My family wields too much power so you can't criticize me!
How convenient. How many "potential lives" did you destroy in your little medical experiment? How many fertilized eggs weren't used?
God, has nothing to do with this.. It is bio-engineering. And if you were anyone else your dad would spit on you.
No, Ms. Cheney, your political statement is loud and clear. You live a life of such utter privilege, few can comprehend it. Your baby is a testament to you and your families utter disregard for their fellow man.

What Habeas Corpus MEANT to you....

2007-01-30T20:22:00.001-08:00

Larry Beinhart writes an interesting column today about the meaning of Habeas Corpus, and does an excellent job of spelling out what that right entails. However, like most in the media he either forgets or is unwilling to recognize that the Military Commissions Act of 2006 [MCA-06] has already stripped that right away. The denialists like to argue from untenable and dubious positions like "if you have nothing to hide.." or "this only applies to foreigners..". What they fail to grasp is that if you are picked up by "accident", how exactly are you able to prove you are a citizen without Habeas Corpus? Well you can't! Further more the right to enforce that law falls to either the Attorney General or the President OR anyone they designate!

This is a law that should never have been passed, but the belief that it will be repealed is fantasy. The President will veto it and their aren't veto proof numbers to go around him. And I am not optimistic about the Supreme Court stack with Bush loyalists overturning the constitutionality of it.

Of course, it isn't like this Admin would let themselves be shackled by any of this pesky legality. And Mr. Beinhart's point of:

Gonzales' assertion is intended to do two things...The second, is a defense in advance for the president and his minions.
They can claim that they thought what they were doing was legal. After
all, the Attorney General of the United States wrote them a memo that
said it was. And if, he was wrong, well then, if it goes to court and
the court says so, then they'll stop. See, they acted in good faith.

is earily prescient and even more disturbing in the light of MCA-06.

Welcome to our new blogger...

2007-01-30T00:22:00.001-08:00

fababs6!

She will be joining the Americans for Liberty Blogging team after her eye opening world travels!

Welcome aboard.

Project Censored and the truth about....

2007-01-24T18:28:00.001-08:00

Project Censored and 9/11

Though i said i don't have the energy for this anymore, i met some people who have reinvigorated my desire to "fight".

So here is a not so new update, but one that may open your eyes a bit more.

Technorati Tags: 9/11, "project censored"

closing time

2006-11-09T04:48:00.000-08:00

i lack the energy to keep this up. I am too far away, both physically and emotionally. If anyone reads this and would want to continue this let me know with a comment.
The elections results give me hope even though I am nervous that how certain people may react if cornered, not to mention whether or not the Dems have the stones.

thanks for letting me vent

Democratic Win Would Mean Homosexual Control Of House

2006-10-25T12:02:00.000-07:00

GOP Ad: Democratic Win Would Mean Homosexual Control Of House

(Evansville, Indiana) An Indiana Republican congressman fighting for his political life has launched an attack ad so vitriolic it has even members of his own party wincing.

The radio ad was paid for by Friends of Rep. John Hostettler who locked in a tight race against Democrat Brad Ellsworth. Polls show Ellsworth ahead by a substantial margin.

But the radio ads don't even mention Ellsworth until the very end. Instead they attack Massachusetts gay Democrat Barney Frank and Nancy Pelosi the California Democrat who would become Speaker if Republicans lost control of the House.

The one-minute ad features an announcer impersonating Clint Eastwood from the movie "Dirty Harry" warning Pelosi as Speaker would threaten marriage.

"Pelosi will then put in motion her radical plan to advance the homosexual agenda, led by Barney Frank, reprimanded by the House after paying for sex with a man who ran a gay brothel out of U.S. Rep. Frank's home," the narrator says.

"I know what you're thinking," the narrator says. "Is this true? Well, do you feel lucky? Go ahead, vote for Brad Ellsworth. Make Nancy Pelosi's day."

Hostettler, a Christian fundamentalist, was one of the drafters of the so-called Marriage Protection Act to amend the US Constitution to block same-sex marriage.

In his six election races he has barely squeaked by and Democrats have labeled him one of the most vulnerable GOP incumbents in the nation.

Democrats need 15 seats to gain control of the House.

In an interview with The Associated Press Hostettler defended the ad.

"Eighth district voters are concerned about the homosexual agenda," told The AP. "Brad Ellsworth himself has said that he is in favor of granting benefits to same-sex couples that are now reserved for heterosexual married couples."

Rep. Harris: Church-state separation 'a lie'

2006-08-28T14:55:00.000-07:00

MIAMI, Florida (AP) -- U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris told a religious journal that separation of church and state is "a lie" and God and the nation's founding fathers did not intend the country be "a nation of secular laws."

The Republican candidate for U.S. Senate also said that if Christians are not elected, politicians will "legislate sin," including abortion and gay marriage.
Harris made the comments -- which she clarified Saturday -- in the Florida Baptist Witness, the weekly journal of the Florida Baptist State Convention, which interviewed political candidates and asked them about religion and their positions on issues.

Separation of church and state is "a lie we have been told," Harris said in the interview, published Thursday, saying separating religion and politics is "wrong because God is the one who chooses our rulers." Electing non-Christians allows 'legislating sin' "If you're not electing Christians, then in essence you are going to legislate sin," Harris said.

Her comments drew criticism, including some from fellow Republicans, who called them offensive and not representative of the party.

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Florida, who is Jewish, told the Orlando Sentinel that she was "disgusted" by the comments.

Harris' campaign released a statement Saturday saying she had been "speaking to a Christian audience, addressing a common misperception that people of faith should not be actively involved in government."

The comments reflected "her deep grounding in Judeo-Christian values," the statement said, adding that Harris had previously supported pro-Israel legislation and legislation recognizing the Holocaust.

Harris' opponents in the GOP primary also gave interviews to the Florida Baptist Witness but made more general statements on their faith.

Harris, 49, faced widespread criticism for her role overseeing the 2000 presidential recount as Florida's secretary of state.

State GOP leaders -- including Gov. Jeb Bush -- don't think she can win against Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson in November. Fundraising has lagged, frustrated campaign workers have defected in droves and the issues have been overshadowed by news of her dealings with a corrupt defense contractor who gave her $32,000 in illegal campaign contributions.

I would love to see your comments on this....

Seymore Hersh

2006-08-16T06:33:00.000-07:00

Damn this guy is good! However, there is a part of me that wishes he wasn't so i could sleep better at night. His latest piece highlights our complicity in the Israeli-Lebanon war, and our plans for Iran.

"We told Israel, 'Look, if you guys have to go, we're
behind you all the way. But we think it should be sooner rather than later - the
longer you wait, the less time we have to evaluate and plan for Iran before
Bush gets out of office.' " Read more.

This is scary stuff. But really something everyone needs to be versed in. It is looking more and more likely that somehow the Bush admin will see it as necesary to strike Iran. NO GOOD will come of it. Even in the best case scenario of hitting all of the targets and destroying Iran's capabilities, and assuming we don't have to engage ground forces, we can look to massive assymetrical counter-strikes [aka. counter stikes using terrorism/guerilla tactics]. The baffling part is, there is no way the best case scenario is going to happen, and domestically we will HAVE to activate the slective service [draft] mechanisms. Even without Iran, this is an option that is direly needed to prevent the utter collapse of the Army, and a cascade on the rest of the millitary. They are facing budget shortfalls and cuts in the middle of a war [is anyone home?]. They simply cannot continue this pace without a serious influx of capital, both monetary and warm bodies.

Here it is..

2006-08-16T05:40:00.000-07:00

This is it.. Here is what I have been saying all along.. only being said better and more elloquently [not to mention research] than I. Here is the Unspoken, Unvarnished, Truth. Here is how our government is trying to destroy our nation and constitution from within."Dispatches from the Bush Faction's war on America come in every day, piecemeal, the dots rarely if ever connected." Read More.

SEA FTA is a matter of life and death...

2006-08-05T05:02:00.000-07:00

So for those of you keeping score, the US has been in negotiation with Asian countries for some Free Trade Agreements [FTAs]. Just recently there were massive protests in South Korea against the US FTA which was heavy on Intelectual Property [IP] rights, and low on wage protections and human rights guarantees [would have allowed US companies to outsource to North Korea where people are literally slaves]. IP rights don't sound bad, until you realize that IP mean patent guarantees, as in Pharmaceutical patents, among other big biz corporate interests. What this means is that on the one hand US citizens would lose their jobs to North Korea [axis of evil or friend of buisness?] while making it harder and more expensive for South Koreans to get medical care and life saving drugs.
   Well back in January/February there were similar talks in Thailand with massive protests over just such IP regulations. Thailand currently enjoys some of the most affordable and best health care int he region. In fact it is one of leaders in Medical Tourism. Wealthy and the not-so come from all over the world to get top notch world class medical care at affordable rates. You can stay in private Hospital Suites that rival 5 star hotels for amenities while you get your health needs addressed all while paying about 1/8th the cost of mediocre care in the US. Thai's were understandably furious that they might soon be forced to pay outrageous prices [based on per capita GDP] for medicines.
    Fast forward to Friday, August 4th, where Thai scientists annouces a generic form of the bird-flu vaccine that is half the price of Tamiflu. This is the first version of a generic form of the only known vaccine that can currently combat the H5N1 Bird-Flu variant. However, were the FTA agreement to go forward than presumably Roche would be looking to block distirbution of the generic version of it's Tamiflu Vaccine. Tamiflu is currently over $3.00 per capsule while the generic version is around $1.80.
    If you think this only affects Thailand, think again! The implications are huge not just for Thailand, but for all poor people and those who lack sufficient medical coverage [most of the USA]. Preventitive dosages for large populations in developing nations would also be affected by this price difference.
    Previously the Government Pharmaceutical Organization had developed generic anti-AIDS drugs for retro-viral treatment. The implications of this are even more astonishing. One month of generical anti-viral treatment goes for around $30 where the patented drugs available in the USA are going for around $450 per month of treatment.
    Thailand is one of the few countries to be directly affected thus far by the Bird Flu. They have slaughtered 100s of millions of poultry and had 15 of the 134 human fatalities in ten countries. Currently, there have been 232 reported cases of birflu since the winter of 2003. Indonesia and Vietnam have been the hardest hit.

more here: Thais Make Cheap Generic Drug Against Bird Flu

last comment on mel

2006-08-02T19:20:00.000-07:00

I know that no one read this, but i just want to throw this out there just in case.
Why are we so bent on eviscerating Mel? Ok sure what he said was bad, wrong, etc. But it's Mel Gibson. He shapes minimal public opinion. What about Ann Coulter, and Michele Malkin for starters, How about Jerry Falwell he said that the Antichrist is a Jew. So why Mel?
A lot of people have been bandishing about psychology explaining how sick Mel is. But I think what we aren't saying is more revealing. To brandsish my own psychological terms: Transference and Displacement.

Transference is defined as: Transference is a phenomenon in psychology characterized by unconscious redirection of feelings of one person to another. For instance, one could mistrust somebody who resembles an ex-spouse in manners, voice or external appearance; or be overly compliant to someone who resembles a childhood friend. more. courtesy of Wikipedia

Displacement: In psychology, the term displacement is an unconscious defense mechanism, whereby the mind redirects emotion from a 'dangerous' object to a 'safe' object. For instance, some people punch cushions when angry at friends. more. once again Wikipedia

I mean come on! Braveheart is the scourge of the seven seas? we have used him as a straw man. Transfering our anger from the Right Wing Neo-con fascists to Mr. Gibson, and we are displaceing our anger in an un-healthy way. I am not defending what he said or what he did. but lets put what he did in context not just in terms of the state of the world, but in terms of who he is?
Ann Coulter has slandered and libeled 9/11 widows, and openly advocated the murder of a sitting congress man. Pat Robertson publicly advocated for the assasination of Hugo Chavez, a foreign President. Michelle Malkin has, among other things [so hard to keep up with her and Coulter], advocated for Internment camps for anyone even looking Arab. VP Cheney, Evil. President Bush, misled our nation into a war that has resulted in 10's of thousands of casualties on both sides. Not to mention Katrina, domestic economy, Israel-Lebanon, and the Sexual Harrasment of German Prime-Minster Merkell. this list is my no mean extensive or complete.
But where our anger towards these people is somewhat subdued and in check, the anger towards Mr. Gibson is un-bridled and furious. And it isn't like he is constantly spouting this crap. As Bill Maher noted on Huffpost, he genuinely seems like a man who is at struggle with the deamons inplanted in him by his father. but for that he gets our hate and contempt. But people who gleefully wade and in hate and evil on a daiily basis get a pass, and are coddeled as a "different opinion".
How quick we all rush to judge and condemn the easy target, but the real threats are handled with kid clubs, we are bunch of bullies in society. This isn't much different from the false indignation about Janet Jackson, and rules of indecency. So rather than focus on the pyschology of Mr. Gibson, lets look at the mirror that he as unwittingly held up to us.. but of course, it is harder to look at ourselves unflinchingly in the mirror than to throw a stone.. who said that again?

all about Mel

2006-08-01T19:24:00.000-07:00

Is there nothing more important to be talking about? is perhaps all our anger and frustration about the state of the world and the incompetence of this administration being directed at Mr. Gibson?

How shamefull we as a society are to quickly cast the first stone. Are our own house so spotless?
I have been drunk more times then i can count, and for the grace of god, i have never had to pay for the studip decisions i have made or said. Yet, the things i have said, around friends, are un-repeatable. So lets just say, though I don't like what he said, i can't condemn him. For in condemning him i not only condemn myself, but I practice a sactioned form of bigotry.

Besides, everyone has a secret hate or prejudice they keep locked away. You don't like him, your choice, but you have no right to condemn him. It's not like he instigated a war of choice that has lead to a regional conflict and the deaths of 10s of thousands..

no good

2006-07-31T21:26:00.000-07:00

No good will come of this current mess. I no it seems like I am overstating the obvious but people really need to take a look at the big picture. Here are a few of the more troubling pieces: 1) Our military [specifically the Army] is dangerously overextended. They are on the verge of an institutional collapse. They are diverting funds from units not in Iraq just to stay at readiness. Short of massive pull out or a draft and MASSIVE monetary input [read repeal of tax cuts, and economic retooling] our military is FUBAR [look it up]. 2) There are rumors that the US is pushing ISrael to hit Syria. Bad, bad, bad. The first bomb or bullet on Syrian soil is the second Syria declares war, Iran joins in, and every Shia in Iraq decides to destroy Israel and the US. And we have over 130,000 troops in the middle of it. If that happens, well.. lets pray it doesn't. 3) Hopefully this is just a reaction to the rumors, but Syria is elevating it's readiness. Did I mention that Syria DOES have chemical and biological weapons?! Syria has vowed to suppor Lebanon. If they were to join the fray, regardless of the fact that they started it, Iran would join, and we have the same result as in number 2. 4) Lebanese are becoming increasingly radicalised as the result of Israel's actions, and Hizbolla should have no problem increasing its ranks.
The slightly larger issue of 4 is that Muslims around the world are getting increasingly radicalised against the US and Israel, but you can be sure that our western allies will also get some of the anger in a guilt-by-association scenario.
    There is a powder keg waiting to go off, but this is not some isolated explosion, mark my words, this will not just ignite a regional conflict but a global one. However, this will differ in that it will be "Asymetric Warfare" on a massive global scale. Muslims [except for Pakistan, Syria, Iran] to our knowledge control no NBC [Nuclear, Biological, Chemical] weapons to our knowledge. However, in the face of a technically superior advesarry, they will resort to asymetrics, aka. guerilla, warfare. Or as the intellectually challenged like to call them, terrorists.
    Their is lots of bluster, and the accompanying criticsim of the bluster, about WW3 or something like that. While people are right to criticise the neo-con bluster, there is a greater issue at stake. It makes it hard to have an honest disscussion about the implications of the possible outcomes of the current scenarois and crisis. But politics gets in the way.
    I guess this is a by product of polarising the electorate. We are tricked into believing that Republicans are strong on defense and Democrats are weak on it. We are goaded into the idea that National Defense is a political issue. No one wants a weak national defense but the false choice, and division, makes a real debate impossible.
    We have a shrinking window where we have the luxury of debate, but i fear all to soon that the window will not only disappear but will turn into an inferno. There is too much at stake but no one is willing to engage in the hard choice debate. Soon this war of choice may in fact be a war of survival.

REsponse to Mr. Drobny...

2006-07-24T06:20:00.000-07:00

In re: this post...

Mr. Drobny,
I really enjoyyour posts. I like that you try to give a
historical, if not always cultural, perspective to the middle east. Has
most of the responses visible thus far have pointed out: 1) Preaching
to the Converted. 2) blogs attract wackos and different oppinions.
While
I personally don't ascribe to the rather vehemenet anti-Israeli views,
I do take issue with both the Zionist movement and Israli [read THEIR
government] policies in the same way I take issue with our own
government policies and our belief in "manifest destiny".
As many
bloggers have pointed out, it is the Hypocrisy of the Israeli
government/military that draws ire. They want Lebanon who has barely
had its first free elections in over 20 years, has no military, and
democratically elected Hezbollah members on the cabinet, to restrain
one of the most effective and popular "terrorist" cells in existence.
At best that was a naieve hope, and more likely it was an irrational
one. The idea that the middle east country with the most powerful
Military, sees fit to bomb a fledgling neighboring democracy both into
the stone age, and into extremism/radicalism seems moronic at best,
like a Cheney plot at worst [read likely].
Further more, in your
illuminating portraits of historical context you have neglected the
"Palestinian" point of view. I use Palestinian to describe the
displaced people of the Israeli land snatch. The point is, "terroism"
is the only means of discourse that is left to them. They have no
legitimate military, they are not recognised as a soveriegn people by
anyone that matters, their infrastructure is in tatters, unemployment
is through the roof people don't have over their heads, what do you
want them to do?
So basically what this boils down to is, this is
most likely a proxy war, initiated by decree in the Oval Office in the
hopes of 1) deflecting criticism, 2) shoring up votes and 3) hoping to
draw out Iran and Syria so they can "kick some ass".
That the results will be and are so far horrific, I think is unquestionable.
Their
are far greater issues regarding the middle east than can be discussed
on a blog/comment site, especially concerning Israel. However, people
should see the forest for the trees on both the blog side and the
comment side.
Unequivacal support for Israel is as bad as anti-semetic condemnation. Reality, exists in the misty grey area between.

one
final metaphor. Should the US bomb the shit out of a country everytime
and American is kidnapped or taken hostage? forget about kidnapping
across state lines [states have National Guards]. I mean just in
foreign countries. Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Philipines.
Or in Spain, any Arab country [Iraq doesn't count anymore], Africa...
How do you think it would go over, if a Drug Cartel kidnapped some of
our National Guard boys for leverage and we started bombing Mexico
City....

Thank you

Americans for Liberty

Ms Levantine: Another Letter from the south

2006-07-22T19:28:00.000-07:00

Ms Levantine: Another Letter from the south
Great blog on what its really like in Lebanon.
Raw and honest..
Thank you for sharing

the Hard division of power and politics

2006-07-22T18:06:00.000-07:00

Today on HuffPost David Sirota responds to his NYT Book review of his book Hostile Takeover:

That, my friends, is the fault line that is driving everything in
today's politics: a battle between the people inside the Establishment
whose careers rely on protecting the status quo and the vast majority
of Americans who have been locked out of their own political and media
debate. Of course, you don't hear that in our current political
discourse - everything is always ramrodded into a debate between
Democrats and Republicans, red and blue, liberals and conservatives.
That's deliberate - the Establishment wants the public to think this
battle is about everything OTHER than the struggle between those with
power who want to preserve the status quo, and those without power who
want democratic control of their country. Because if this fault line is
actually brought to the front and talked about, it means a direct
challenge to the powers that be. Read More....

I've been saying this since high school, but i was called jaded and a cynic.
I always enjoy your work David. Been a fan since the first time i heard you on Air America.
I am sad to admit that I think i took the easy road by NOT running for my house seat that is up for grabs.. but it is hard to take that type of risk when you can't find anyone to help or support you.
Maybe in 2 years i will be braver.
It is hard to believe that we are forced to spell our the power dynamic for people over and over again. I think the true Democracts, like Feingold etc, can use this to their advantage.
Every time the Powers vote for something that lines their pockets and hurts citizens, Feingold and his compatriots should call a press confrence and say that "They voted for money, we voted for the people". Have a different rep every vote, and just hammer it home, like the R's do on every lie and distortion.
In Theory, eventually the MSM will be forced to take notice, as more peoples eyes are opened.
thanks

The Atrophy of our..umm...

2006-07-19T19:27:00.000-07:00

I am 29 and even my friends and I have noticed it about those even a couple of years younger than us.
I guess the ironic part is that I keep hearing "that the important abilities in the future will be things like pattern recognition, empathy, and imagination.[more]" and that people my age are highly coveted or will be in the future to replace the Aging baby boomers. So how come i keep losing out to younger and "dumber" "kids" who are willing to work for less?
I can actually site several instances where I have been "downsized" or restructured because of these very talents. I n fact i learned at an early age that there is perhaps nothing our social conditioning hates has much as intelect. Especially being reminded that someone is smarter than you. You say it is untrue? Then perhaps you are the bully. You say it is untrue? look at elections. I rest my case.
It is money and power that is worshiped in this society and at the altar of capitalism. You think these "culture wars" are about men vs women, or red vs blue, minority vs white? think again, those are distractions [granted there are inequities] but it is the "Have more's" vs "the help". think i am wrong?
The standard arguement is that Men are in power [specifically White Men], and they all have it so good they can't stand to share it with anyone, especially women and minorities. Think again, you think that there is some magic day that all white men get a little invitation to an orientation on how to game the system and keep everyone else down? Think about how George W. Bush got into Harvard Buisness School as a drunk with a C average. Maybe cause of his family, and their power. Power and money beget power and money. Sure there are exceptions but they are few and far between. Besides the exceptions are usually New Money, and New Money doesn't or can't stand up to the power of Old Money. Entrenched loyalties, and tentacles of power.
Think about Bill Gates. New Money. And though his donations towards AIDS are commendable, they will do minimal good. Pharmecutical companies and the Reps they control have no interest in a cure.. there is no profit in it. With the amount of money that Gates and now Buffet are contributing they could do a lot. They could still put a billion into AIDS, but at the same time they could save Knight-Ridder and create a new not for profit NEW MEDIA enterprise incorporating Blogs, video journalism, etc. And that is only a few million. Lets keep these figures round:
       $1bil    AIDS research and prevention
       $.5bil   New Media enterprises
       $1bil    PAC for Progressive candidates, acting in the public trust to encourage no-special-interest elections
       $10bil Trust for United Nations: Unicef, Unesco, etc
       $5bil    Low interest loans for sustainable development projects world wide.
       $5bil    For Alternative Energy research. Create a foundation, dole out anual awards for funding etc
       ------
       $22.5 Billion    Total

Let see here those are just some starting ideas. The Bill Gates Foundation will soon be worth over $60billion, I have just spent $22.5bil.. so some quick math....... they still have $37.5+billion... gosh what will we do now! how about a few million for all of those free trips to Disneyland and the $1000 [i keep forwarding those e-mails, i would hope your e-mail tracking would work by now.. but you owe me a ton of money].
That is the only way to really change things. I hold now illusions that my ideas will make it to his eyes but if they do... give me a job.
Here is a man who realizes his wealth and time can and should be devoted to charity.. great.. good for you, but if you are going to do it, you have the ablity to fundamentally change the WORLD!!! you did once with Microsoft. now lets do it in other ways. If you do it piece miel.. a few million here and there.. nothing much will change.. You have the opportunity to not only change the rules, but change the game for the betterment of mankind. I know there are thousands of us who would gladly contribute our intellect and energy, but often have no opportunity.

I hope this gets to you sir.

What has become of us!?

2006-07-18T18:14:00.000-07:00

Firwst soldiers have to pay for their gear so they can fight and try to live. Now this.

Rules for the Non-Military

2006-07-18T14:42:00.000-07:00

Another one I can't take credit for, but this is a great email...

>Rules for the Non-Military
>Dear Civilians, "We know that the current state of affairs in our great
>nation has many civilians up in arms and excited to join the military.
>For those of you who can't join, you can still lend a hand. Here are a
>few of the areas where we would like your assistance:
>
>
>
>1. The next time you see an adult talking (or wearing a hat) during the
>playing of the National Anthem---kick their ass.
>
>2. When you witness, firsthand, someone burning the American Flag in
>protest---kick their ass.
>
>3. Regardless of the rank they held while they served, pay the highest
>amount of respect to all veterans. If you see anyone doing otherwise,
>quietly pull them aside and explain how these veterans fought for the
>very freedom they bask in every second. Enlighten them on the many
>sacrifices these veterans made to make this Nation great. Then hold
>them down while a disabled veteran kicks their ass.
>
>4. (GUYS) If you were never in the military, DO NOT pretend that you
>were. Wearing battle dress uniforms (BDUs) or Jungle Fatigues, telling
>others that you used to be "Special Forces," and collecting GI
>Joememorabilia, might have been okay when you were seven years old.
>Now, it will only make you look stupid and get your ass kicked.
>
>5. Next time you come across an Air Force member, do not ask them, "Do
>you fly a jet?" Not everyone in the Air Force is a pilot. Such
>ignorance deserves an ass-kicking (children are exempt).
>
>6. If you witness someone calling the US Coast Guard 'non-military',
>inform them of their mistake---and kick their ass.
>
>7. Next time Old Glory (the US flag) prances by during a parade, get on
>your damn feet and pay homage to her by placing your hand over your
>heart. Quietly thank the military member or veteran lucky enough to be
>carrying her---of course, failure to do either of those could earn you
>a severe ass-kicking.
>
> 8. Don't try to discuss politics with a military member or a veteran.
>We are Americans and we all bleed the same, regardless of our party
>affiliation. Our Chain of Command is to include our Commander-In-Chief
>(CinC). The President (for those who didn't know) is our CinC
>regardless of political party. We have no inside track on what happens
>inside those big important buildings where all those representatives meet.
>
>9. 'Your mama wears combat boots' never made sense to me---stop saying
>it! If she did, she would most likely be a vet and therefore, could
>kick your ass!
>
>10. Bin Laden and the Taliban are not Communists, so stop saying 'Let's
>go kill those Commies!' And stop asking us where he is! Crystal balls
>are not standard issue in the military. That reminds me---if you see
>anyone calling those damn psychic phone numbers, let me know, so I can
>go kick their ass!
>
>11. 'Flyboy' (Air Force), 'Jarhead' (Marines), 'Grunt' (Army), 'Squid'
>(Navy), 'Puddle Jumpers' (Coast Guard), etc., are terms of endearment
>we use describing each other. Unless you are a service member or vet,
>you have not earned the right to use them. That could get your ass kicked.
>
>12. Last, but not least, whether or not you become a member of the
>military, support our troops and their families. Every Thanksgiving and
>religious holiday that you enjoy with family and friends, please
>remember that there are literally thousands of soldiers, sailors,
>marines and airmen far from home wishing they could be with their
>families. Thank God for our military and the sacrifices they make every
>day. Without them, our country would get it's ass kicked.
>
>"It is the Veteran, not the reporter who has given us the freedom of
>the press."
>"It is the Veteran, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech."
>"It is the Veteran, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom
>to demonstrate."
>"It is the Military who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag
>and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to
>burn the flag."
>
>"If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you are reading it in English, thank
>a Veteran "
>I will add one more:
>
>13. If you ever see anyone either standing for or singing the national
>anthem in Spanish - KICK THEIR ASS.

Can't take credit for it, but I thought it was interesting...

2006-07-17T13:02:00.000-07:00

When WWIII Started****1979 This is not very long, but very informative. First you have to read the catalogue of events in this brief piece. Then, ask yourself how anyone can take the position that all we have to do is bring our troops home from Iraq, sit back, reset the snooze alarm, go back to sleep, and no one will ever bother us again. In case you missed it, World War III began in November 1979... that alarm has been ringing for years.

US Navy Captain Ouimette is the Executive Officer at Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida. Here is a copy of the speech he gave last month. It is an accurate account of why we are in so much trouble today and why this action is so necessary. AMERICA NEEDS TO WAKE UP! That's what we think we heard on the 11th of September 2001 (When more than 3,000 Americans were killed). Maybe it was, but I think it should have been "Get Out of Bed!" In fact, I think the alarm clock has been buzzing since 1979 and we have continued to hit the snooze buttonnd roll over for a few more minutes of peaceful sleep since then. It was a cool fall day in November 1979 in a country going through a religious and political upheaval when a group of Iranian students attacked and seized the American Embassy in Tehran. This seizure was an outright attack on American soil; it was an attack that held the world's most powerful country hostage and paralyzed a Presidency. The attack on this sovereign U. S. embassy set the stage for events to follow for the next 25 years. America was still reeling from the aftermath of the Vietnam experience and had a serious threat from the Soviet Union when then, President Carter, had to do something. He chose to conduct a clandestine raid in the desert. The ill-fated mission ended in ruin, but stood as a symbol of America's inability to deal with terrorism.America's military had been decimated and down sized/right sized since the end of the Vietnam War. A poorly trained, poorly equipped and poorly organized military was called on to execute a complex mission that was doomed from the start.

Shortly after the Tehran experience, Americans began to be kidnapped and killed throughout the Middle East. America could do little to protect her citizens living and working abroad. The attacks against US soil continued! In April of 1983 a large vehicle packed with high explosives was driven into the US> Embassy compound in Beirut. When it explodes, it kills 63 people. The alarm went off again and America hit the Snooze Button once more. Then just six short months later in 1983 a large truck heavily laden down with over 2500 pounds of TNT smashed through the mai gte of the US Marine Corps headquarters in Beirut and 241 US servicemen are killed. America mourns her dead and hit the Snooze Button once more.

Two months later in December 1983, another truck loaded with explosives is driven into the US Embassy in Kuwait, and America continues her slumber. The following year, in September 1984, another van was driven into the gate of the US Embassy in Beirut and America slept. Soon the terrorism spreads to Europe. In April 1985 a bomb explodes in a restaurant frequented by US soldiers in MadridArial>. Then in August 1985 a Volkswagen loaded with explosives is driven into the main gate of the US Air Force Base at Rhein-Main. 22 are killed and the snooze alarm is buzzing louder and louder as US interests are continually attacked. Fifty-nine days later in 1985 a cruise ship, the Achille Lauro, is hijacked and we watched as an American in a wheelchair is singled out of the passenger list and executed. The terrorists then shift their tactics bombing civilian airliners when they bomb TWA Flight 840 in April of 1986 and kill 4. Then in a more tragic bombing, they get Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988, killing 259.

Clinton treated these terrorist acts as crimes; in fact we are still trying to bring these people to trial. These are acts of war.

The wake up alarm is getting louder and louder.

The terrorists decide to bring the fight to America. In January 1993, two CIA agents are shot and killed as they enter CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia. The following month, February 1993, a group of terrorists are arrested after a rented van packed with explosives is driven into the underground parking garage of the World Trade Center in New York City. Six people are killed and over 1000 are injured. Still this is a crime and not an act of war? The Snooze button is pressed again.

Then in November 1995 a car bomb explodes at a US military complex in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia killing seven service men and women. A few months later in June of 1996, another truck bomb explodes only 35 yards from the US military compound in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. It destroys the Khobar Towers, a US Air Force barracks, killing 19 and injuring over 500. The terrorists are getting braver and smarter as they see that America does not respond decisively. They move to coordinate their attacks in simultaneous attacks on two US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania . These attacks were planned with precision. They kill 224. America responds with cruise missile attacks and goes back to sleep. The USS Cole was docked in the port of Aden, Yemen for refueling on 12 October 2000, when a small craft pulled along side the ship and exploded killing 17 US Navy Sailors. Attacking a US War Ship is an act of war, but we sent the FBI to investigate the crime and went back sleep. And of course you know the events of 11 September 2001. Most Americans think this was the first attack against US soil or in America. How wrong they are. America has been under a constant attack since 1979 and we chose to hit the snooze alarm and roll over and go back to sleep!!! In the news lately we have seen lots of finger pointing from every high official in government over what they knew and what they didn't know. But if you've read the papers and paid a little attention I think you can see exactly what they knew. You don't have to be in the FBI or CIA or on the National Security Council to see the pattern that has been developing since 1979. I think we have been in a war for the past 25 years and it will continue until we as a people decide enough is enough! America needs to "Get out of Bed" and act decisively now. America has been changed forever. We have to be ready to pay the price and make the sacrifice to ensure our way of life continues. We cnot afford to keep hitting the snooze button again and again and roll over and go back to sleep. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Admiral Yamamoto said "... it seems all we have done is awakened a sleeping giant." This is the message we need to disseminate to terrorists around the world. This is not a political thing to be hashed out in an election year. This is an AMERICAN thing. This is about our Freedom and the Freedom of our children in years to come.

Remember, Freedom is not free. There was a price to obtain it and a bigger price to maintain it. The enemy will not negotiate. The enemy is bent on killing every American they can--all of us if possible. The enemy is seeking world domination. The enemy will behead you, your children and your neighbors. You cannot negotiate or ignore a rabid dog. You have to put it down.

Fascinating Thesis on Israel

2006-07-15T18:26:00.000-07:00

The current events surrounding Israel and the possbile tipping into WW3 [or4 depending on who you ask]. Is being followed with great interest. There is a great Blog/analysis by Steve Clemons via HuffPost.:

But that doesn't explain it all. The Israeli response to the Hezbollah
incursion is exactly what Hezbollah wanted. Adversaries rarely give
each other the behaviors the other actually desires unless there are
other objectives involved. Read more...

The overall thesis is intriguing and with lots of merit. If true, it is disturbing that they are so willing to forgo global stability for any sort of national myopic interests. But then again, we aren't much better.

Private Misdemeanor.. the rotten fruit ruins the whole bushell..

2006-07-14T07:42:00.000-07:00

As reported at ThinkProgress.org:

The U.S. Army private accused of raping and murdering a 14-year-old Iraq girl “was a high school dropout with three misdemeanors and was accepted into the Army just as the military, desperate for recruits, began issuing more ‘moral waivers.’” read more..

Damn.. was i ahead of this.. I should be an anchor.
but seriously. The Army has been expressing concerns about the "lowering of standards" since the begining. In fact, they are ready to start the selective service boards [aka. draft] and have been ready for at least 7 months now.
Beleive me, the military has no desire for Private Misdemeanor, but they have little choice. Anyone with any sort of income/opportunity is unlikely to volunteer.
Once again, blaim falls squarely at the feet of the Administration. I think Rummy, Cheny, Bush, et al, should be charged with negligence.

Troops might lose immunity...what about private contractors?

2006-07-13T02:35:00.000-07:00

OneWorld.net is reporting that the Iraqi's are requesting the UN lift their mandate that grants immunity to occupying forces [Read Here].
This raises a number of troubling parallel arguments. First of all, there is no excusing the rape of a 14 year old and the murder of her family. The soldiers should be tried and if guilty, executed. This is un-defendable. This does raise certain questions, that go beyond the immediacy and horror of the incident.
First of all, if immunity is suspended, then couldn't the entire military and the whole coalition be summarily prosecuted for whatever greivence the Iraqi's brought up, real or otherwise. Yes, I know it is the slippery slope argument, but it is a valid concern. Consider the coalition's overall popularity. Lest we forget they are bullets, and IED's not flowers that our soldiers are facing on a daily basis. Would things degenerate into a witch hunt.
Secondly, what about immunity for the Private Contractors. There is a Presidential Memo, granting the Private contractors blanket immunity from all laws, national and international. Recent court rulings raise doubts about the Memo's legality, but of the few "bad apples" that have been prosecuted, none of them have been Private Contractors.
Third, were these troops recruited under the relaxed, lowered standards of the Army? Are these troops the direct results of the lowered recruiting, which in turn is due to the mis-management of the entire Iraq affair? Many in the Armed Forces community have expressed concern about these practices. Most recently, the reports, that Neo-Nazi's and skin heads are being given the benefit of tax funded training. These are groups that have been actively barred from millitary service. The mere association with one of these groups have been enought to bar enlistment.
Finally, what about the fact that we are forcing these troops into this sort of preassure cooker. Is it any wonder things are staring to devolve. Some are on their 3rd and 4th tours of what is routinely described as hell on earth.

"After a while, you kind of lose the sense that the people you are
occupying are human after all. That's part and parcel of the fact that
you're really chasing ghosts," he said. "Iraqi insurgents blend in with
the rest of the population. I'm not making excuses, but I can totally
see how people would snap." Here.

News Agency idea... and my response

2006-07-12T21:42:00.000-07:00

(Photo from Don Phelps) First off, a reminder that we need some more people to vote in the most recent Audeamus awards, something I'm doing here to highlight social entrepreneurs. Second, I'm starting to get ideas about creating a news...;Read more

Great idea. i read your post on HuffPo. I am a big supporter of this idea. I am not a jouranlist by schooling, but I am willing. I am based in Thailand and have easy access to Burma, Laos, and Vietnam. I have a laptop, digital camera, and [after it is repaired] a digital video camera. I would be more than happy to be a correspondent. I think Brussels and SF are great locations. you can always add DC later. I have been pondering trying to do a video journal ala Kevin Sites [probably start as a travel louge until i can get some cred], but I believe as you do in this cause. I think if you/we can harness the power of "netroots" we can build a legitimate non-biased news org. I wish you could get a slice of that Buffet pie, and i wish he would drop some chage on Knight-ridder to keep it independent. Or some of these other big names, google etc.. along with this 21st Century stringer idea.. and you could have an amazing source of journalism. [maybe Gore's buddies running that Cable channel]

Rummy needs to answer up.

2006-07-12T21:05:00.000-07:00

Rumsfeld's latest trip to Baghdad is apparently the same old song and dance. No timelines!? Cause military training is such and amorphous known unknown? Are you kidding? The US Military has training and Selction down to an exact science. Only one major problem. The policies of this Administration [resulting in the Iraq war], have forced them to make compromises and lower standards, which further endangers the troops and carreer men and women over there.
Arianna has some great observations here.

"When asked when he thought the Iraqis would be ready to meet the
security needs that would allow for the reduction of U.S. forces,
Rumsfeld said, "I don't talk deadlines" -- a snappy rejoinder we can add to the list of other Rummy don'ts.."

Has anyone else been confused by the Iraqi security forces timeline. or should i say lack there of? The
most highly trained soldier in the US Army is The Special Forces Medical Corpman, he can perform ER level, stabalising surgery, can train others to do it. He Speaks at least 1 other language. And is an expert in Counter-insurgency and querilla combat tactics. It takes 2-2.5 years to train them.
It Takes less than an year to train an MP or an Army Ranger.
so why are there no secuirty forces? we have been at this traiing thing for at least 2 years.

This guy has issues.

2006-07-12T20:06:00.000-07:00

Greg Gutfeld's latest post. HERE
I really must discourage you from reading him but here is my post to his:

I am tired of getting sucker punched into reading your posts. I have no problems with differeing logical coherent opinions, and i have more often than not, found such opiions rather interesting and even found myself chaning my opinions. Hell, I own up to my mistakes all the time.
However, I find your posts to be lacking, in both wit and logic. If this is your attempt at satire, i surmise you would fail any 101 class on writing. You arguments are full of fallaious reasoning, jingosit mentality, and the ever present ad hominem attack. As you refrence another post, you perfectly prove the point; asking polite queations to encourage thought and debate. Incidentally, you also prove the point of another post, namely you are unable to seperate your emotional connection to the argument from its logical components.
While i don't think that answering all your postulates is especially clever, i applaud those who took time to do it. [Your responses are great]. I do, however, what to address some of your questions.
-How did we find it better to foment hatred for our own country instead of focusing on fanatics bent on destroying it? Same concept as treating an infection. the body is fairly fortified against external attack, it is the viruses, bacteria, and cancers that attack from the inside that do the most harm.
-how do you feel when all that effort invested in Plame turned out to be the biggest waste of time ever? it wasn't. Try the Monica Lewinsky trial, and all investigations into 9/11 and Iraq.
-Could it be possible that your 'all Republicans are stupid or evil' schtick from bumpersticker to watercooler to cocktail chatter causes everyone else to feel very uncomfortable, but they just chalk
up your rudeness to a simple mind? Only if the same is true of looking at all of your "right-wing" bumper stickers. I fail to see how "work, succeed, be happy" annoys a liberal.
-How did we come to hate the President of the United States more than Saddam Hussein and bin-Laden? He stole 2 elections, and fails to govern in the best interest of the People. Also, he seems to have no regard for the constituion of the United States, and sees fit to make and strengthen our national enemies.
- When the original HuffPo poster, Margot Kidder, went from activist to the sanitarium, where were you on her road to recovery? No, why would i be? i don't know her, and i think she was Iconic, though mediocre as Lois Lane.
- Isn't it amazing how everyone I know thinks all the same things are really, really bad - and isn't it amazing that that coincidence has nothing to do with the uniformity in bias of the news venues you choose to use? wow big words. i don't get your point.
-Can you advocate any kind of strategy that counters the absolute threat of terrorism? Yes. But A) not my job [wish it was] B] it is nuanced and requires personal and national sacrifice. C) Don't ask unless you want a real answer. D) "Bomb 'em" doesn't work.
- Can you come up with a single realistic solution for Iraq, other than saying it was a mistake? Yes. But A) not my job [wish it was] B] it is nuanced and requires personal and national sacrifice. C) Don't ask unless you want a real answer. D) "Bomb 'em" doesn't work.
-Is manmade lightning burning the ozone hole? manmade lightning doesn't exist. so no.

In summation. of 75 questions, 3 were coherhent and could actually provoke discussion. The rest are imbedded with ad hominem, fallacious logic, or worse.

as a personal emotional aside. I know many marines, and we get along fine. They are trained and educated to accept and consider other points of view. That is why they are the pest Light Infantry Unit in the history of the world.
- do you really think anyone bought your compassion for New Orleans when once the Bush bashing capital was spent - you stopped caring? i didn't stop. it is a crime against the people that we as a nation have forgotten them.
-Do you feel good when bad stuff happens to America? Are you stuck in that horrible little place that prevents you from feeling anything positive about the country you call home? go cheney yourself. I am a liberal, and i volunteered to go fight. went to boot camp and got injured. Then i volunteered again. They just raised the age, and the standards are REALLY low. Show us how much you LOVE the country. or are you stuck in a horrible little place that prevents you from standing behind your rhetoric.

Is a new declaration in order?

2006-07-12T19:16:00.000-07:00

We all know the begining of the Declaration. " When in the course of human events..." and then there are the notable sections:

" We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

"That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,.."

But have you taken time to read the whole thing lately? I must admit that even in my studies at school, we rarely read more that the first couple bits. Maybe once or twice the whole pre-amble [yes the constitution too]. It begins with:

"The history
of the present King of Great Britain [George III] is a history of repeated
injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an
absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a
candid world."

The lists of grievences are long, and in the language of the time. Some apply to today, some do not. But is it that much of a leap to actually equate then to now? You can read the whole declaration here.

or opp to read the list of grievences:

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the
public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance,
unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when
so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of
people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the
Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and
distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of
fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly
firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be
elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have
returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the
mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions
within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose
obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others
to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new
Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws
for establishing Judiciary powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices,
and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to
harass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the consent of
our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil
power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our
constitution and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of
pretended Legislation:

For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they
should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us, in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province,
establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as
to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same
absolute rule into these Colonies:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering
fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with
power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and
waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed
the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat
the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of
Cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally
unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear
Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and
Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring
on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known
rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and
conditions.

Perhaps as a nation, we now need to do the same. A national list of grievences. The facts, submitted to a candid world.

RIP Middle class

2006-07-11T21:35:00.000-07:00

Corporations, along with individuals as rich as corporations, have the
money and influence required to make Faustian deals with White House
and Congressional souls. And once such arrangements are struck, a
politician in hock to Lucifer becomes even more energized and
determined to work his boss's will. The war in Iraq rages on not
because of some quixotic quest for democracy, but because the military
industrial complex and its corporate cohorts are invested too deeply
over there -- too profitably -- to allow for a "premature" pullout.
Just think of the Pentagon and Halliburton as vampires in the midst of
a repast.

Wow.. great post [here]! I have been saying this for a long time but nobody wants/wanted to hear it!
If we do not take control of the rudder we will turn into Mexico, or worse. The irony is that the only thing that protects the Wealthy from a Marie Antoinette hair cut is the buffer of the middle class.
If the day comes [when is more likely] that the middle class wakes up and realizes they aren't middle class, that everything they thought they had is gone. Well, then you will see some REAL political activism and participatory government. The only thing is, will they wake up before or after the constitution is shredded. Before or after there is a way back from the darkness?

Net-o-crats

2006-07-06T06:20:00.000-07:00

There was a blog recently talking about how the net-roots community had
to get together with the beltway democrats by Trey Ellis [Read Here].
And I agree. The greater good for us all, the good of the country, ney
the world is at stake. But I propose we take it one step farther. I say
we offer the heads of the DLC, DSCC, etc. contract. Basically, saying
we as a community are willing to back any Democrat, and especially
anyone who wins a primary. However, in doing so they have to acknowledge our ideas and our input. Anyone we support, has to agree to some sort of code of conduct in order to get our support.
Now here is the kicker, your worm at the bottle of the Mescal. No matter what we do everything we can to win back as much of congress as possible. But on the Day after the Election, if they have snubbed us, broken their contract, or even failed to win back one house of congress, we split.
That's right, we split. We can debate the name later, but we form a 3rd party. Crazy you say. maybe but look at the ammount of power and influence the "netroots" community now weilds. Actually, we could have put Dean in the White House [he should have been nominated, scream and all], but we got scared, we deffered to the "grown ups". Well, they don't care about us. They have demonstrated that at every opportunity for the last 6 years. The consequences of their actions won't effect them half as much as it will effect us. So it is time to claim our place.
Being that this is the ultimate thesis of this blog, i will go one step further. If the Dems fail to win a house. I will run for a house seat in 08 [I got nervous this time], and I will run on the community.
Let me know what you think. Spread the word. and if i can get some buzz, i will start a wiki.
Thanks.

We Don't Speak Chinese!

2006-07-06T06:11:00.000-07:00

The continuing assertion that the government of the United States can criminally prosecute the New York Times for disclosing to the American people the existence of an unlawful program of surveillance is nothing short of shocking. What does the First Amendment mean if not that the press can inform the American people that their elected representatives have violated the law? Read blog here.

This is totally different from what the chinese are proposing [Read Here]. They speak Chinese and several hundred regional dialects [though one is the OFFICIAL language], and they have leaders that weren't democratically elected.
Not like this administration at all... oh wait. If ever there was a crisis in a democracy, i would say we are well beyond that.
I guess the irony is more along the lines that their soldiers don't wind up homeless after sacrificing everything for their country.. then again maybe they do, so how are we better? Our homeless vets barely complain about it [Read Here]. While the Administration stands up there and says how we have to honor the soldiers, honor the dead, except for the funeral part [Read Here]. Can you imagine THE President having to go to EVERY soldiers funeral? It would seriosly cut into his vacation time.
First off, how about we honor the living. Then we can honor the dead by not making more of them just so a few can get richer. Yeah, i know that is a big no-no to say but i think we should be past the point of delusion and denial. I know some of us are. It is nice to know that the Press Secretary has more compassion for the death of Ken Lay than the 2500 dead soldiers ["It's Just a number" vs. "I don't know, what do you think would be the appropriate thing to say?" Here]

a call for leaders

2006-07-03T05:02:00.000-07:00

why the world needs morally courageous leaders. It would seem self evident to many. it is a sad testament that we have walked so far down this path.

...Kennedy forcefully gave his case for supporting human rights declaring,
"We must recognize the full human equality of all of our people before
God, before the law, and in the councils of government. We must do
this, not because it is economically advantageous, although it is; not
because of the laws of God command it, although they do... We must do
it for the single and fundamental reason that it is the right thing to
do."

read the collumn here.

Comments on: A Public Presentation of My Thoughts About Lying

2006-07-02T01:01:00.000-07:00

A Public Presentation of My Thoughts About Lying

By Ellis Weiner. via HuffPost

This Fourth of July, when we traditionally wish the U.S.A. a happy
birthday and, once again, kick ourselves for not having brought a
present, how natural it is that we pause to reflect on life as we know
it these now still somewhat united states. And in the hurly-burly of
our modern a-go-go fast-paced routines of getting and spending and, of
course, being a productive member of society, it’s easy to forget that
we are surrounded—still!—by a religio-corporate government, and its
vast media army of chorus boys, make-up girls, and baby-crushers, who lie to us all the time.
About—well, you name it. Or, since you’re a busy person, I’ll name
it: Global warming (they say the jury is still out, while in fact the
jury has been dismissed with the thanks of the court, and has long gone
home). Iraq (they said it was a threat to us; it wasn’t). Elections
(said to be open and fair; aren’t). Corruption (“a few rotten apples,”
no. “Entire orchard infested with maggots,” yes.) “Signing statements”
(announcement of intentions to violate the law presented as legitimate
exceptions to the law), the “death tax” (saving “the family farm” which
is never actually imperiled), the badness of increasing the minimum
wage, the goodness of cutting taxes during “war time,” the “importance”
of a flag-burning amendment…
Wait here. I have to bang my head on the desk.
Thanks. It helps, a little.
The point being, Republican lying is so ubiquitous, so relentless,
and so shameless, a certain amount of habituation sets in. One’s
eventual response is as though to the weather. You have to endure it
but, really, you sort-of think, there’s nothing you can do about it.
But there is something you can do about it, darn it. You
can exploit it. Their unregenerate lying offers us a number of potent
opportunities curled up, like the other six or seven dimensions, within
these secret, wonderful secrets:
1. PEOPLE WHO LIE REPEATEDLY CAN, AND NEED, AND SHOULD, NO LONGER
BE BELIEVED ABOUT ANYTHING. That these people have lied, egregiously
and incessantly and traitorously, and that the lies have been proven to
be what they are (i.e., untruths, which is to say, lies), is now
indisputable, on-the-record, and in-the-bag. And, of course, when
confronted with the indubitable truth of their lying, they deny it with
new lies. By now even one’s children (regardless of their politics),
one’s dog (regardless of its breed), and one’s Roomba (even the older
models) all know this to be the case.

The Republican
relation to the truth has been therefore permanently ruptured. As in
any other relationship, when the partner lies over and over, you get to
the point where you can’t believe them even if you want to, and then to
the point where you don’t believe them even when you should.

That’s where we are in our “relationship” with these criminals, and
that’s great news for anyone even remotely concerned that a George
Bush, a Bill Frist, or some other similar-type individual will—via the
sheer law of averages alone—somehow say something truthful in defense
of their (indefensible) actions or statements. They won’t, of course,
but if they do (although they won’t), it will not matter. We’re
entitled not to believe them when we think they could be telling the
truth, and we’re entitled not to acknowledge it when we know they’re telling the truth. Their future truths have been forever contaminated by the fait accompli

of their past lies.
Some rich person—not Warren Buffett, but someone who still has
money--should hire a sky-writing firm to inscribe this in letters of
purest vapor across the length and breadth and heighth of the land:
“People of good faith need never take seriously anything said by the
right ever again, or at least until further notice.”
From the mountains to the prairies to Pat Robertson white with
foam, Republicans have forfeited their right to take part in what
hitherto has been touchingly called “the national conversation.” This
means you, David Brooks and Sean Hannity and Bill Kristol and Peggy
Noonan, yes, you too, Michelle Malkin and Jonah Goldberg and Charles
Krauthammer. (Jesus, what a roster. Can we please finish that
time machine, so we can send these people back to the 1760s, where they
can froth away as Tories to their hearts’ content?) They, the right,
are to remain silent. Or they can type and yak their little heads off.
But no one else need bother listening. Their credibility is on that
truck, over there, being carted to a landfill. And they have only their
(lying) selves to blame.
2. THE PATTERNS OF THEIR LIES REVEAL THEIR HIDDEN CONCERNS. In the sequel to Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (i.e., The Honourable Schoolboy,
which is my favorite!) John Le Carre has George Smiley explain that,
while the discovery and unmasking of a “mole” in MI 6 was a disaster,
it has its hidden benefit: Now they can trace the mole’s actions and
reports out into the world or back into the archives, to uncover new
things—secrets, betrayals, hidden schemes, other
moles--they’d never have otherwise suspected. Thus, like scar tissue
strengthening a wound, does an injury morph into an unexpected
advantage.
Similarly, Republicans reveal the very areas of their insecurity
with every lie they concoct. When Ann Coulter calls liberals “godless,”
the secret revealed is the right-wing insecurity about assuring that
“people of faith” remain loyal to the Grand Orc Party in spite of the
increasing torrent of news detailing the party’s obviously ungodly
behavior, including but not limited to theft, killing, torture, taking
the Lord’s name in vain, and lying.
A year ago, Dick Cheney said to a purportedly “live” Larry King, “I
think they're in the last throes, if you will, of the insurgency." It
was, of course, a lie. Cheney could have muffled the matter entirely
with something like, “These things are impossible to read from afar.
You and I, Larry—no matter how live you appear to be--don’t know the
real underlying reality of the actual blah blah of the contingency of
the blah” and, even in spite of King’s famous dogged insistence on
pressing the tough questions and getting at the truth, he’d have
successfully avoided the issue. Instead, he lied—not with the statement
that the insurgents were failing, but with the “I think” part. From
that statement alone, Cheneyologists and other interested parties could
have deduced that he didn’t think that at all—and that it worried him.
Memo to Dems running in November: take note of how they traduce
you. That is where to apply the counter-pressure. Of course, you can
reject this advice, and disdain it as “letting them dictate the
agenda.” But in refusing to address the lie, you’re letting them
dictate the agenda anyway. Rather, think of it as “letting them reveal
their insecurities, and acting accordingly.”
In fact, you already know this. It’s the Karl Rove Jiu-Jitsu
Special, or “swift-boating”--take the enemy’s strong point and attack
it head-on with lies. Next time they do it, don’t make John Kerry’s
mistake, and allow it to slide for a time so as not to dignify it with
a response. Its dignity (and yours) aren’t the point. Instead, shove it
down their throats—not out of “self-respect” or for the sake of your
reputation, or even in the name of truth, but because their lie shows
exactly where their throats are most vulnerable.

3. THE
CO-ORDINATION OF THE LIES REVEALS THE CONTROLLING HAND OF THE CENTRAL
COMMITTEE. The truth, being objective, will always occasion
“coincidences,” as many people naturally, legitimately all arrive at
the same assertions. Not so lies, which are artificial,
subjectively-constructed creations. When they come out at the same
time, about the same thing, it’s the opposite of coincidence. Thus,
when, say, a Republican senator, and a columnist for The Weekly
Standard (and what better name for a publication that changes its line
to suit the agenda? “What’s our standard this
week, Fred?” “The Constitution is a living, breathing document that can
be changed to not apply to Gitmo.” “Got it! Thanks!”) and an
excrescence like Rush “I’m Not A Doctor, But My Doctor Plays One in
Drug Stores” Limbaugh…

Where was I? Oh, yeah: when all three of these “disparate”
personalities all assert the same Party Line, you know it’s come down
from on high. (Remember that hit single from last year, “The Democrats
Are Criminalizing Politics”?) Jon Stewart and The Daily Show crew can’t
be the only ones to point this out.
Therefore, Dems: Jump on it. Publicly announce your expectation
that all the usual bloviators and gas-bags (cite them by name; include
a bibliography) will say exactly the same (lying) thing. They have to.
They’ve been commanded to by the Executive Committee of the Grand Old
Presidium.
“That’s how they did it in the Soviet Union,” you say at a press
conference or on Meet the Press or, if you’ve had your shots and there
are paramedics on call, on Fox. “They had a one-party totalitarian
system there, too, just like the Republicans today.” Etc. Yes, you
heard me. Et damn cetera, baby.
Of course, taking advantage of these secret opportunities hidden
within Republican mendacity requires a Democratic party—or at least a
few dang Democrats besides us amateurs here on the blogs—willing to
open up a mouth. You have to be willing to call a lie a lie—not
nervously (like Howard Dean), not sadly (Al Gore), not even indignantly
(John Kerry), but firmly and contemptuously, with just enough anger to
give it some zing. They throw the lie at you, like a Molotov cocktail.
You catch it, throw it right back at them, and pause for the explosion.
Then you can get on with the good part: You can tell the truth.

How about the biggest lie of all.. the war on terror. First of all there is no war [never was] mostly because congress didn't declare war. Second, You can't have a war against a tactic. but the most important part.. Military action against a tactic and a complex problem involving religion and globla socio-economic conditions is a losing battle [aka. War on Drugs].

The other whopper.. is that there are only 2 choices in Iraq: 1) stay the course. 2) Withdraw.
When actually there are many options, as Paul Reikoff has been expertly pointing out. One of the biggest gorillas in the room is the option [even the desire of many in the military] to do right by the people of Iraq. Namely, they want to give them what was promised. New and better lives. but this will require some hard choices. 1) More troops to quell the unrest and get the security in order. 2) the MILITARY, not corrupt private contractors and Haliburton [in a class by itself], need to fix the infrastructure with aid/assistance from other countries. 3) International support across the board, with the UN/NATO calling the shots. 4) a phased redeployment out of the region [and back to Afganistan], thereby creating a truce with the militias, and allowing for steps 1-3 to play out more smoothly. 5) Making sacrifices at home namely in the form of repealled tax cuts and raising taxes. and the acknowledgement that the military [especially the Army and Marines] are on the verge of fracture, and the Selective Service needs to be re-authorised.
I am not saying this is the only sollution but using details of other proposals, i think it can create more stable results. The current path is impossible to maintain with out catastrophic consequences [though i have been wrong before in terms of size]. We need people willing to put their butts on the line for long term gains. People who can and will see/fight for the big picture, not just a profit/power margin.

Freedom of the press

2006-07-01T21:35:00.000-07:00

NYT editor Bill Keller and LA Times Editor Dean Baquet have a great opinion piece. It is scary that the very freedoms we claim to be fighting for [to defend and austnsibly to promote] are the very freedoms the "cheerleaders" are most willing, nigh, eager to destroy!
The Fourth Estate [newspapers and now-a-days Media] were given the utmost importance and monumental responsibility. Many progressives have written excellent pieces on this, both on the role of journalism and the perils of it's lackadasical attitude and decline.
Every support should be given to those organizations that do things right, and criticised [but encouraged to do better] when the fail. Keith Obberman, the LA Times, NY Times [on both counts], Thinkprogress.org, the DailyKos.com to name a few.

Axis of Banality

2006-06-25T05:43:00.000-07:00

Since 9/11, there has been a horror that many Americans have been
unable to confront. It is not the horror of terrorism, or the ugliness
of despotism, or the ambitions of our adversaries. It is the fear that
-- at this terrible crossroads in human history -- the Constitution no
longer protects us from the ad hoc fascism of monomaniacal ideologues,
and that the President who fronts for them is no less clueless today
than when he was plucked from mediocrity at the end of the last century
to be their Manchurian candidate. Perhaps now, finally, we are becoming
more willing to lower our hands from our eyes and see the awful truth. Read whole post here.

couldn't have said it better. really. great blog.

secret timetable and the Sept/Oct surprise.

2006-06-24T19:15:00.000-07:00

“The top American commander in Iraq has drafted a plan that projects sharp reductions in the United States military presence there by the end of 2007,
with the first cuts coming this September, American officials say…after
criticizing Democratic lawmakers for trying to legislate a timeline for
withdrawing troops, skeptics say, the Bush administration seems to have
its own private schedule…”

So what this article is saying is: Just before the midterm elections, maybe late August the republicans are going to introduce a plan to get our troops home. W will of course endorse this, saying that the Iraqi's are standing up. And see this proves we are winning. All of the Republicans who are shouting "stay the course" can say.. see we were right.. and get to have their cake and eat it too. Then they can start calling the Democrats more names and shifting the blame to them..
meanwhile....
a bomb is ready to go off.. look for an October suprise.. bush needs "something catastrophic" to "save" his numbers.. betcha it will link to Iran. I anticipate, a late november attack.. i am sorry.. brining the perpetrators of this horrible deed to justice.. Lets just hope he gets it right, and doesn't accidentally invade Armenia, i mean they are so close together on the map!

Maybe this is why Rove still needs his clearance.. so he can orchestrate a sham withdrawal and boost all Republicans numbers. You don't think it will happen? you don't think that is their motivation!? Watch and see.

Was the 2004 Election stolen?

2006-06-24T00:28:00.000-07:00

Yes! duh! This National Affairs piece in Rolling Stone Magzine by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is one of the most troubling acounts of the 2004 election. The research is verified, but that doesn't stop the right from spinning it, or the MSM from ignoring it. This should [and may prove] to be the most important piece of journalism in at least our modern history. I am posting this at the top of the blog because of its importance. If you want the article in PDF with several of the accompanying graphics charts, as well as the original GAO report. let me know.
Excerpt:

Like many Americans, I spent the evening of the 2004 election watching
the returns on television and wondering how the exit polls, which
predicted an overwhelming victory for John Kerry, had gotten it so
wrong. By midnight, the official tallies showed a decisive lead for
George Bush -- and the next day, lacking enough legal evidence to
contest the results, Kerry conceded. Republicans derided anyone who
expressed doubts about Bush's victory as nut cases in ''tinfoil hats,''
while the national media, with few exceptions, did little to question
the validity of the election. The Washington Post immediately dismissed allegations of fraud as ''conspiracy theories,''(1) and The New York Times declared that ''there is no evidence of vote theft or errors on a large scale.''(2)

But despite the media blackout, indications continued to emerge that
something deeply troubling had taken place in 2004. Nearly half of the
6 million American voters living abroad(3) never received their ballots
-- or received them too late to vote(4) -- after the Pentagon
unaccountably shut down a state-of-the-art Web site used to file
overseas registrations.(5) A consulting firm called Sproul &
Associates, which was hired by the Republican National Committee to
register voters in six battleground states,(6) was discovered shredding
Democratic registrations.(7) In New Mexico, which was decided by 5,988
votes,(8) malfunctioning machines mysteriously failed to properly
register a presidential vote on more than 20,000 ballots.(9)
Nationwide, according to the federal commission charged with
implementing election reforms, as many as 1 million ballots were
spoiled by faulty voting equipment -- roughly one for every 100
cast.(10) Continue...

Fascism is on the March

2006-06-23T23:34:00.000-07:00

License to Lie, is an intersting mishmash of book review and article, perhaps an annotated synopsis is more apt. It is a highlight reel for, Ron Suskinds book. I guess I can forgive people for claiming i was over the edge. And i guess i can forgive Gary Kamiya for backing away from that conclusion [as he notes who wants to go down that path]. But the simple fact is that Suskind shows us how dangerous things have gotten. That along with the RS/Kennedy piece shows that there was, in fact, a bloodless coup in America. The fact that it falls outside of the realm of polite discourse is immaterial at best, and complicity at worst.
The saddest bit is that Kamiya has a real opportunity to help bring the very debates he longs for into the foreground yet chooses to couch his writings as a review, and overall the piece feels qualified. But if there is any trebidation about whether or not to read Suskind's latest, after the article there should be no doubt that it is an imperative.

tagentally, i would like to highlight the fact that i have always said that things about Tenet before 9/11 and how he was described and pilloried after didn't match. Though it is sad that he in failed the test that would have made him a great man, how many of us can actually say we have faced the test and passed. Just look at Powell, if anyone had the ability, experience and character, surely it would have been he. It is nice to see that they have to some degree tried to atone in whatever ways left to them.

Boys ARE being left behind

2006-06-23T21:08:00.000-07:00

Update: I guess I am a bit off my game, and have fallen prey to mis-information. I appologise. Here is the latest data

Apparently the right aren't the only ones adept at spin: No Boy Left Behind

so sad. I will give the author her
points for her credentials and background. But not for embracing/forcing stereotypes.

Men have 'Less sophisticated brain functions'?

I guess it was the horrible patriarchal
societies that made it impossible for women to be Einsteins or
Hawkings.

God that makes me angry! Or saying that
ALL men should just get over it. That would go over really well if i
told that to a woman. Oh you are being sexually harassed and or
discriminated against: Get over it! Fat chance! I would be fired from
whatever job i had. OK i had to vent first...

Yes men and women are different. THANK
GOD! That ads to the beautiful tapestry of life, and makes sex so
much better. Yes some men are pigs [sorry about you and your friend
IrishFan]. But the larger point is being missed.

Boys ARE being marginalized, by an
effort to help and encourage women. I have no problem with gender
equality. I encourage it. If someone better than me gets promoted or
a job, well guess what that is life. But I have the same gripes as
women, and minorities. I think the playing field should be level, not
tilted in any direction. If you are a man accused of sexual
harassment at the work place you will be in the wrong. Heck you might
just get fired and not even know why. How about being a white guy
accused of racism. Same result. Doesn't matter if it is true or not.

So look at the numbers. Boys aren't
just scoring lower than girls, they are scoring lower than boys of
previous tests. They are entering colleges in lower numbers, and are
entering hard sciences at lower rates. Not compared to women, but as
an overall trend amongst BOYS!

I don't know women are joking or not
when people predict boys/men will become second class citizens and
they say “good”. I shudder either way. I guess this is what the
feminist movement is all about? Superiority. I swore it was equality
but you know that “less sophisticated brain” of mine has a hard
time keeping up. I guess my “less sophisticated brain” would tell
IrishFan's friend to file some lawsuits or find a less hostile
workplace. And i would tell IrishFan that as she well knows that
studying and working hard doesn't = good job and money. Did you ever
stop to think that those guys with the well paying jobs are getting
the same ones i don't get. Maybe they are just well connected. I mean
it wouldn't be the first time someone got a job because of who their
daddy is or don't you see the news. What about me? Do i get to
complain about losing jobs to women who are willing to flaunt their
cleavage and sexuality and get promotions? Or how at 29 i get to
watch all of my jobs shipped overseas or given to college graduates
who will do twice the work for half the money but not as well.

You may think it is all just a backlash
[yeah maybe some jerks are playing it that way], but that is like
saying that concerns about election fraud is just liberal sour
grapes. In both cases if you marginalize the real numbers and
evidence [global warming] you eventually get to a place that is
untenable and maybe even past the point of no return. What that will
it be like if boys are continually marginalized, i don't know. I doubt,
however, that many people will like it.

October Surprise

2006-06-17T00:15:00.000-07:00

In the discussions of Carter and Reagan it is amazing how often the October Surprise is ignored. Similarly, now that Reagan has shuffled off this mortal coil and simultaneuosly been beatified by the right the meer mention of Iran-Contra is taboo.
I bring these up in light of this blog by Tony Hendra. It raises the seriously troubling questions that are being raised by few others, but notables sucks as Ron Suskind and the collaborative RS/Kennedy election piece.
If history it is taught us anything, it is that those who lust for power above all else, will do whatever is neccesary to keep it. And has it turns out the gun is still warm on some of these events.
Don't missinterpret, i am not saying that anyone in the government is planning to blow up the UN. if for no other reason than i have no way of knowing. But if anyone thinks that the right wouldn't capitalise on any attack on our soil than i have some property to sell you in New Orleans, it has a great lake view. Further more, I am not alone [and i am not refering to conspiracy nuts who though amusing, i have little patience for in terms of serious discourse] in beleiving that there are levels of duplicity and cover ups perpetrated by this administration that are so unspeakable, people would rather discount them, than investigate and try to find the truth.. don't believe me!? Ask yourself: Why did 9 people get to decide the election in 2000? Why did statistically impossible errors occur in the 2004 election, but only in Bush's favor?
As Sherlock Holmes says, "Once you have eliminated the impossible, whatever is left, no matter how improbable, must be the truth." It is in the interest of those who would control unchecked power, to keep the populace uninformed.

Iran test fires missile, ducks radar!??!

2006-03-31T16:08:00.000-08:00

TEHRAN, Iran -
Iran's military said Friday it successfully test-fired a missile not detectable by radar that can use multiple warheads to hit several targets simultaneously, a development that raised concerns in the United States and

The Fajr-3, which means "victory" in Farsi, can reach Israel and U.S. bases in the Middle East, Iranian state media indicated. The announcement of the test-firing is likely to stoke regional tensions and feed suspicion about Tehran's military intentions and nuclear ambitions.
"I think it demonstrates that Iran has a very active and aggressive military program under way," State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said in Washington. "I think Iran's military posture, military development effort, is of concern to the international community."
Gen. Hossein Salami, the air force chief of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards, did not specify the missile's range, saying how far it can travel depends on the weight of its warheads.
But state-run television described the weapon as "ballistic" — suggesting it is of comparable range to Iran's existing ballistic rocket, which can travel about 1,200 miles and reach arch-foe Israel and U.S. bases in Iraq and the Persian Gulf region.

"Today, a remarkable goal of the Islamic Republic of Iran's defense forces was realized with the successful test-firing of a new missile with greater technical and tactical capabilities than those previously produced," Salami said on television, which showed a brief clip of the missile's launch.
"It can avoid anti-missile missiles and strike the target," the general said.

He said the missile would carry a multiple warhead, and each warhead would be capable of hitting its target precisely.

"This news causes much concern, and that concern is shared by many countries in the international community, about Iran's aggressive nuclear weapons program and her parallel efforts to develop delivery systems, both in the field of ballistic missiles and cruise missiles," said Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev.

"The combination of extremist jihadist ideology, together with nuclear weapons and delivery systems, is a combination that no one in the international community can be complacent about," Regev said.

Yossi Alpher, an Israeli consultant on the Mideast peace process, said the news "escalates the arms race between Iran and all those who are concerned about Iran's aggressive intentions and nuclear potential."

"Clearly it's escalation, and also an attempt by Iran to flex its muscles as it goes into a new phase of the diplomatic struggle with the U.N. Security Council."

Andy Oppenheimer, a weapons expert at Jane's Information Group, said the missile test could be an indication that Iran has MIRV capability. MIRV refers to multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles, which are intercontinental ballistic missiles with several warheads, each of which could be directed to a different target.

"From the description, it could be a MIRV. If you are saying that from a single missile, separate warheads can be independently targeted then yes, this is significant," he said.

"But we don't know how accurate the Iranians are able to make their missiles yet, and this is a crucial point," Oppenheimer said.

"If the missile is adaptable for nuclear warheads, then they are well on the way," he added. "But they have not made a nuclear warhead yet. The current estimates are it could take five years."
Iran's existing ballistic rocket is called Shahab-3, which means "shooting star." It is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.

Israel and the United States have jointly developed the Arrow anti-ballistic missile system in response to the Shahab-3.

Iran launched an arms development program during its 1980-88 war with Iraq to compensate for a U.S. weapons embargo. Since 1992, Iran has produced its own tanks, armored personnel carriers, missiles and a fighter plane.

Last year, former Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani said Tehran had successfully tested a solid fuel motor for the Shahab-3, a technological breakthrough in Iran's military.

Salami, the Revolutionary Guards general, said Friday the Iranian-made missile was test-fired as large military maneuvers began in the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea. The maneuvers are to last a week and will involve 17,000 Revolutionary Guards as well as boats, fighter jets and helicopter gunships.

The tests come amid growing concern over Iran's nuclear program. The United States and its allies believe Iran is seeking to develop nuclear weapons, but Tehran denies that, saying its nuclear program is for generating electricity.

The U.N. Security Council is demanding that Iran halt its uranium enrichment activities. But an Iranian envoy said its activities are "not reversible."

Privately purchased body armor banned!?!?!

2006-03-31T13:57:00.000-08:00

Privately purchased body armor banned
Army order comes six months after reimbursement agreement

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Just six months after the Pentagon agreed to reimburse soldiers who bought their own protective gear, the Army has banned the use of any body armor that is not issued by the military.

In a new directive, effective immediately, the Army said it cannot guarantee the quality of commercially bought armor, and any soldier wearing it will have to turn it in and have it replaced with authorized gear.

But Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said Friday that there are no plans to enforce such a policy across all of the military services. While he said the Pentagon wants all the troops protected to the highest degree, he added that all such equipment decisions are left up to the individual services.

Army officials told The Associated Press on Thursday the order was prompted by concerns that soldiers or their families were buying inadequate or untested commercial armor from private companies -- including the popular Dragon Skin gear made by California-based Pinnacle Armor.
"We're very concerned that people are spending their hard-earned money on something that doesn't provide the level of protection that the Army requires people to wear. So they're, frankly, wasting their money on substandard stuff," said Col. Thomas Spoehr, director of materiel for the Army.

Murray Neal, chief executive officer of Pinnacle, said he hadn't seen the directive and wants to review it.

"We know of no reason the Army may have to justify this action," Neal said. "On the surface this looks to be another of many attempts by the Army to cover up the billions of dollars spent on ineffective body armor systems which they continue to try quick fixes on, to no avail."
Spoehr said he doesn't recall any similar bans on personal armor or devices. Such directives are most often issued when there are problems with aircraft or other large equipment.
Some veterans denounced the decision. Nathaniel R. Helms, editor of Defense Watch, the online magazine for the group Soldiers for the Truth, said he has already received a number of e-mails from soldiers complaining about the policy.

Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Connecticut, who wrote legislation to have troops reimbursed for equipment purchases, said soldiers "haven't been getting what they need in terms of equipment and body armor. That's totally unacceptable, and why this directive by the Pentagon needs to be scrutinized in much greater detail."

But another veterans group backed the move.

"I don't think the Army is wrong by doing this, because the Army has to ensure some level of quality," said Paul Rieckhoff, executive director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. "They don't want soldiers relying on equipment that is weak or substandard."

Rieckhoff said, the military is partially to blame for the problem because it took too long to get soldiers the armor they needed. "This is the monster they made," he said.

Early in the Iraq war, soldiers and their families were spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars on protective gear that they said the military was not providing. Body armor generally includes armor and ceramic plates that cover the front, back and sides of a soldier's torso.
Last October, after months of pressure from families and members of Congress, the military began a reimbursement program for soldiers who purchased their own protective equipment.
The Army ban covers all commercial armor. It refers specifically to Pinnacle's armor, saying, "In its current state of development, Dragon Skin's capabilities do not meet Army requirements."
The Marine Corps has not issued a similar directive, but Marines are "encouraged to wear Marine Corps-issued body armor since this armor has been tested to meet fleet standards," spokesman Bruce Scott said.

Military officials have acknowledged that some troops -- often National Guard members or Reservists -- went to war with lesser-quality protective gear than other soldiers were issued.
"We'll be up front and recognize that at the start of the conflict there were some soldiers that didn't have the levels of protection that we wanted," Spoehr said. Now, he added, "we can categorically say that whatever you're going to buy isn't as good as what you're going to get" from the military.

In interviews Thursday, Army officials said aggressive marketing by body armor manufacturers was fueling public concerns that troops are not getting the protection they need.
Army Lt. Col. Scott Campbell said the Army has asked Pinnacle to provide 30 sets of the full Dragon Skin armor so it can be independently tested. He said Pinnacle has indicated it won't be able to provide that armor until May, and the company said that is still the plan.
Campbell said initial military tests on small sections of the Dragon Skin armor had disappointing results. He said Pinnacle has received $840,000 in research funding to develop improved armor.

Spoehr said he believes the directive will have little impact on soldiers in Iraq or Afghanistan because it's likely that nearly all are wearing the military-issued body armor.

Bikers roll to military funerals to oppose anti-gay protests

2006-02-21T08:53:00.000-08:00

Saw this on CNN... we need more people like these bikers in our world.

FORT CAMPBELL, Kentucky (AP) -- Wearing vests covered in military patches, a band of motorcyclists rolls around the country from one soldier's funeral to another, cheering respectfully to overshadow jeers from church protesters.

They call themselves the Patriot Guard Riders, and they are more than 5,000 strong, forming to counter anti-gay protests held by the Rev. Fred Phelps at military funerals.

Phelps believes American deaths in Iraq are divine punishment for a country that he says harbors homosexuals. His protesters carry signs thanking God for so-called IEDs -- explosives that are a major killer of soldiers in Iraq.

The bikers shield the families of dead soldiers from the protesters, and overshadow the jeers with patriotic chants and a sea of red, white and blue flags.

"The most important thing we can do is let families know that the nation cares," said Don Woodrick, the group's Kentucky captain. "When a total stranger gets on a motorcycle in the middle of winter and drives 300 miles to hold a flag, that makes a powerful statement."

At least 14 states are considering laws aimed at the funeral protesters, who at a recent memorial service at Fort Campbell wrapped themselves in upside-down American flags. They danced and sang impromptu songs peppered with vulgarities that condemned homosexuals and soldiers.

The Patriot Guard was also there, waving up a ruckus of support for the families across the street. Community members came in the freezing rain to chant "U-S-A, U-S-A" alongside them.

"This is just the right thing to do. This is something America didn't do in the '70s," said Kurt Mayer, the group's national spokesman. "Whether we agree with why we're over there, these soldiers are dying to protect our freedoms."

Shirley Phelps-Roper, a daughter of Fred Phelps and an attorney for the Topeka, Kansas-based church, said neither state laws nor the Patriot Guard can silence their message that God killed the soldiers because they fought for a country that embraces homosexuals.

"The scriptures are crystal clear that when God sets out to punish a nation, it is with the sword. An IED is just a broken-up sword," Phelps-Roper said. "Since that is his weapon of choice, our forum of choice has got to be a dead soldier's funeral."

The church, Westboro Baptist Church, is not affiliated with a larger denomination and is made up mostly of Fred Phelps' extended family members.

During the 1990s, church members were known mostly for picketing the funerals of AIDS victims, and they have long been tracked as a hate group by the Montgomery, Alabama-based Southern Poverty Law Center's Intelligence Project.

The project's deputy director, Heidi Beirich, said other groups have tried to counter Phelps' message, but none has been as organized as the Patriot Guard.

"I'm not sure anybody has gone to this length to stand in solidarity," she said. "It's nice that these veterans and their supporters are trying to do something. I can't imagine anything worse, your loved one is killed in Iraq and you've got to deal with Fred Phelps."

Kentucky, home to sprawling Fort Campbell along the Tennessee line, was among the first states to attempt to deal with Phelps legislatively. Its House and Senate have each passed bills that would limit people from protesting within 300 feet of a funeral or memorial service. The Senate version would also keep protesters from being within earshot of grieving friends and family members.

Richard Wilbur, a retired police detective, said his Indiana Patriot Guard group only comes to funerals if invited by family. He said he has no problem with protests against the war but sees no place for objectors at a family's final goodbye to a soldier.

"No one deserves this," he said.

Do as we say not as we do!

2006-02-20T20:13:00.000-08:00

So over the last 5 1/2 years we have been treated to the fallacious arguments of the radical/neo-con right. Basically, if someone disagrees they are a traitor or they hate [don't support] our troops. By that logic the biggest offenders are the neo-cons, republicans, and of course the President. The 2007 budget proposed by the Bush Administration, as decided to add insult to literal injury, by raising insurance costs for all members of the Armed Forces [active duty with an emphasis on retirees]. So not only are they asked to lay down their lives for us, but they are expected to pay more for any injuries that occur on the job. Perhaps the "Support our Troops" flair should say "Bend Over and Take IT!". Though the increases are fiscally small, it sends a horrible message. The idea is to save money more money on the backs of those already carrying the heaviset burden. They are hoping to save $420million by raising the cost to the point that people will not choose to use health care. Add this to the cost cutting, of underfunded VA, and an under equipped and overextended millitary, and you see the true colors of people in power who have never so muched as shouldered a rifle. But more than that, it draws a distinct line dividing those who talk and those who are willing to do something about it.
Of course this is completely seperate for the latest cost projections of the war, $1trillion or more, not to mention the fact that most indicators project sustained fighting for 10-20 more year. That doesn't count Iran [look for it in September, with a millitary strike after mid-terms].
We should all be disgusted and outraged!!

quick the sky is falling!

2006-02-09T18:18:00.000-08:00

WOW so much has come out over the last 24 hours that I really don't know where to begin! The Abramoff e-mails? The Brown/Katrina fiasco? Outrage in the Muslim world? Wiretapping? Terrorism? if i was a journalist i would be salavating and perplexed at where to start. SO MUCH TO REPORT! but if i was a journalist i would be forced to follow, Natale Holloway, Britney Spears, or that Murder on the east coast with the husband in England.
The ineffectuallness of the media is story enough. In a court document released today, 'Scooter' Libby is quoted admiting that he got orders to divuldge classified information to the public to help support the Iraq invasion, and presumably to defame the Wilson family. Big suprise to the those on the far left, but it really is BIG NEWS! On orders from the Vice President and possibly the President, Libby disclosed classified information. If anyone else did that they would be lucky to get to prison and not a firing squad. Less you are confused, the President and VP do not have the authority to decide what is or is not classified material! Treason anyone?

why does Neo Con BS appeal to Americans?

2006-02-09T07:44:00.000-08:00

The Neo Con led GOP has taken the country in a direction that doesn't make any logical sense. We invaded Iraq in response to 9-11!? This is so absurd it's mind boggling.

Yet, the elites in media and the Democratic Party take the Neo Con paradigm seriously.

How skilled are GWB, Cheney and Rove as hucksters? They have talent, but they aren't extraordinary.

So why does the game work? The people want to be led in this direction. Bush and his con game fulfill some yearning that needs to be met. What do citizens yearn for? Why does the Neo Con perpetual war fulfill this yearning.

The Dems may hate Bush, but he's not the problem. He's the symptom. What is the underlying psychological issue for the American people?

Paying for Failed Body Armor

2006-02-08T19:09:00.000-08:00

The AP reports that an Army 1st LT had to pay for body armor that was destroyed during an attack on his vehicle before he could be completely discharged. As per the article there are clearly several people to blame on the "lower rungs", a supply officer 'forgot' to file the correct form a BC, refused to support the Lt's claim. I would argue that it is unlikely that the BC simply decided to not help out someone in his command, nor did was a supply officer Derelict in his duty to file the appropriate form. Seems to me another DOD policy trickling down to the ranks. Look at the current recruiting practices, they are getting everyone they can despite the studies proving that a Smart soldier is more effective and better for the Army. It brings back the old saying "More meat for the grinder". Clearly the DOD is not so much interested in Soldiers [well trained warriors fighting for a cause], so much as soldiers [bullet stoppers].
It should be noted that there has been some outrage, both from Senators and local citizens.. The questions is will this "frustration" last, and will it translate it to the necessary action by the citizens and our representatives. The on the spot poll shows a sample group of 160K+ [about 10 times the normal media poll] it concludes the following: 68% are surprised that a soldier had to pay for bloody destroyed body armor, leaving 27% not at all surprised with just 6% being moderately surprised. But the more startling figures are that 65% view the treatment of returning soldiers as poor, and just 12% think it is good! 65% of the populace says that soldiers are being treated poorly on their return. This is not some partisan website, this is AOL, if you wanted something more mainstream in America, I couldn't help you. So now the conundrum appears in full. 65% see there is something wrong, but they are unable or unwilling to do anything about it. Thus in their silence they imply endorsement.

the declaration of Americans for Liberty

2006-02-07T14:05:00.000-08:00

Our way of life is in jeopardy. Our Constitution is under attack. Our ability to govern ourselves and have a healthy democracy is in imminent danger. The terrifying aspect is that we are not under attack from a foreign foe, rather we are being destroyed from within. Perhaps you think I use hyperbole to make a point. If anything I am understating the gravity of the situation. We are in a position now because of a process that started decades ago. According to a survey by the American Bar Association, “barely half of the public know what the three branches of government are, or understand the basic responsibilities of a judge, or know the meaning of "separation of powers" and "checks and balances."” The cause of this is obvious, education [or more precisely a lack of].
It is well known that an educated and informed populace are integral to a healthy republic, but as countless tests and surveys have demonstrated over the years, the US population is neither well educated or informed. This is a direct result of an underfunded Education system, and this is completely by design.
We as a nation rely on the mainstream media too heavily and as a result we have been lulled into complacency. The politicians of both parties are the only ones who stand to benefit from this. If we as a populace remain uneducated we are easier to control.
We as a people have not only the right but more importantly the duty and obligation to become educated so that we can actively participate and defend our Republic. Not just physically but intellectually.
The 2 party systems though long standing has proved ultimately un-healthy for our experiment in democracy. We need to actively pursue and advocate a multi-party system. This will force our representatives to legislate by consensus and coalition rather than by perceived mandate.
We have come to a crossroads in our development as a nation. There are people who are attempting to obfuscate their desire to destroy the system of checks and balances so carefully put in place. The power of our government is entrusted to the people through their elected representatives, NOT in a single man. The path we are on to broad and unchecked, unbalanced Presidential power is the path to a dictatorship.
This is the foundation the starting bloc for a stronger republic.

Liberal is defined as: A) Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas; free from bigotry. B) Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; broad-minded. C) Of, relating to, or characteristic of liberalism.

Liberalism is defined as: 1) 2) A political theory founded on the natural goodness of humans and the autonomy of the individual and favoring civil and political liberties, government by law with the consent of the governed, and protection from arbitrary authority. 4a) A 19th-century Protestant movement that favored free intellectual inquiry, stressed the ethical and humanitarian content of Christianity, and de-emphasized dogmatic theology. 4b) A 19th-century Roman Catholic movement that favored political democracy and ecclesiastical reform but was theologically orthodox.

Liberal: root from the Latin liber; free

This is a call, an invitation to all liberals and those who believe in the ideas of Liberalism. This is an invitation to Democrats and Republicans alike. To all of those who would protect and preserve our Constitution. You are invited to submit articles, link to texts and news, and philosophize on the necessary direction and course we as a people must take. There will be no place for lies, slander, or deception. A difference of opinion is not an argument against fact, nor will it be tolerated as one.

I have taken an oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic. Will you join my side?

just created.

2006-02-06T22:07:00.000-08:00

i just created this.. lets see how i do. going to try and invite other people to write/post. will right the manifesto etc. tomorrow