If the Bible is right then Ford is in Hell

I'm happy to learn that I'm not the only one that hasn't forgiven Ex Prez Ford for his pardon to Nixon. America didn't need healing, it needed accountability. America didn't need comforting, it needed justice. And by the time Ford's reign was over, his crimes of aiding and abetting murder put him on par with every other President since Woodrow Wilson and a couple before.

Ford and Carter were the most insidious due to their "Nice Guy" images. The average American is so willing to accept the facade rendered by the Mainstream Media that they are unwilling to read the back pages of the Wall Street Journal and learn what our government is really doing.

What I can't decide is whether it is laziness that keeps them from pursuing the truth or fear. The narcotic of TV serves either, but I believe it's the former for even in fear most people will still do what's right. Acquiescing to the wrongs of our Nation cannot be excused by fear. While laziness does not excuse inaction, it plausibly explains it. Our children will never forgive us if we do not act. Besides, a life lived right cut short beats a life lived long and lazy and wrong.

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Simple Words, Simple man.

In looking at differing parts of each other it’s easy to separate us and them and with anger, vengeance, or fear forget the love that man Jesus comes sharing again. Share your love with ALL. He said, “Live your life in love, like I have.” Giving every thing he had and never needing lies to guide us.

Simple words, a simple man, but simply put, so often taken, used by those with darker plans. His legacy is oft forsaken. Healing words, spirit lifting, telling us to be forgiving. Two or more is where a Church is, meant for sharing, celebrating. When you feel the need to pray, go in a closet, night or day.

Often movements, down through time, all start with good and high intentions, till some fellow acting wise, utilizes his discretion. Picking, choosing bits and pieces. Misconstruing simple thesis’. Elevating his own needs, his flock he fleeces. Multitudes don’t often bother reading texts their faith is based on. Easier to learn by rote, then parroting their Leader’s quote to argue pointedly, basing their points on supposition.

It’s not the book, it’s the word he said. The word that was spoken, not words that are read. And the word above ALL others is LOVE.

*I used to sit and write a poem at one setting. This one took a while. Since my last post.

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Worse than not news

Who, what, when, where, how, and, if independently verifiable, why are the hallmarks of journalism. At least, so I was taught when I first encountered the concept in school. If the story did not contain the first five, then the story was incomplete. The sixth element was allowable only if it could be ascertained by one or more sources independent of involvement in the incident.

News: A three alarm fire that has been claimed to be arson by a Fire Department Investigator, was brought to the attention of authorities around ten o’clock last night. The fire, which appears to have been started on the loading docks, located at the back of the old paint factory on Second and Maple Streets, created the need to evacuate the surrounding neighborhood. Any tips leading to conviction of the perpetrators would be eligible for rewards.

Not News: It was horrible. People were told to leave their homes. The city needs your help.

Worse than not News: The big fire yesterday, which anonymous sources say was set by Joe Blow who hates the owner, was bad for everybody. The big fire today is bigger than the big fire last night, so it will get worse for everybody. Any information that puts Joe Blow in jail will get the informant money.

On matters of most import, the major American media becomes more and more exemplified by the third example. Instead of news we get opinion and/or propaganda. The same lies that the news used to cheer lead the drumbeats that got us into war with Iraq are now beating the drums for war with Iran. This in behalf of a nation that has no constitution. American news quickly assigned blame for the latest assassination in Lebanon to Syria. Why wait for facts or even ask who else might be responsible.

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Support our Troops

Reckon we have been at war, what, seven, eight years? No, wait, that’s how long it’s been since I heard he was running for the job. Then, though, I reckon it probably feels a whole lot longer than that to the men and women over there doing the actual fighting. Finally starting to slow down a little from the relief of the mid-term elections and I got to thinking of those troops we’re supporting over there and wondering how they, individually, got there. I figure on the following percentages:

.05% Are (Air your dirty laundry first, as it needs more disinfection time in the sunlight) those ill individuals who jump at the chance to do bad things to other human beings. It used to be a whole lot less, but as the need for fresh bodies have gone up; recruitment standards and screenings have gone down.

50% Are economic draftees. Those who felt the only way they’d ever become financially able was by trading a few years of service to their country in return for training or a chance at higher education.

20% Are those whom society (parents, teachers, guidance counselors, friends, and loved ones) steered into the military because they felt they needed a structured environment in order to keep them off the streets and out of the gutter.

15% Are those who believed the recruiters and really thought they were going to see the world while defending our nation.

09% Are legacy enlistees. Most military families, whose members have been serving for generations, insist that their children serve at least one term of duty in order to make an informed decision as to weather or not to continue the family tradition.

5.95% Are dedicated, professional career soldiers whom account for, probably, 95% of confirmed enemy combatants killed or captured.

That last percentage most likely equates to the actual size of the military needed by our country if the goal of our military was, in actuality, the defense of our nation. It is the military contractors and the multinational (that used to be US) corporations that need the juggernaut for the process of ever increasing profit and expansion. In other words, the size of the forces is predicated on the fantasy of an infinitely growing economy based on infinite resources, whose cost of doing business is subsidized by the public. That we allow this to continue shows infinite stupidity.

The linked site explains how the M.I.C. keeps tensions stirred up so the media can be used to keep the propoganda going about how we need a large military.

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Too little, Too late?

The Resident started out more coherent than I’ve heard him in a long time. When he stated that he didn’t know where we got the idea that he was all about “stay the course,” I got the feeling that his changing face is superficial. While he did show improvement in his political acumen, I wonder how it will translate into working with an actual opposition party in power.Of course, I’m assuming the Democrats will so act.

The most interesting part I discern is his replacing Rumsfeld with Gates, a CIA spook. I’d say former, but my understanding is you don’t retire, you just go on extended leave. Rumors were rife during his confirmation hearings to head the CIA that he lied to congress about his knowledge vis-à-vis Iran/Contra. The Resident might get his marching orders from a higher power, but it seems his soldiers are more and more composed of Bush 1 minions.

The Republican meme: The further we go, the be hinder we get. So, with that in mind, I can now hope that we won’t degrade back to the stone age in the next two years, though the Resident’s posting of nuclear bomb designs on the web might make the make up of our congress irrevelant.

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November, already.

Voted already, to ensure I leave a paper trail. I intend to spend Tuesday at my local polling place, just to interact with the populace and hopefully educate on the stupidity of our current system of trusting those black boxes with our votes.

It is almost too easy as nearly everyone has a computer and no one has had a trouble free experience. Ask them if they'd trust their life on the reliability of a computer and at least it gets them to thinking. I tell them they have a right to request a paper ballot and I was pleasantly surprised how many took that option during the primaries.

Dickhead Pearle has learned that the war he championed so loudly for, four years ago, turns out to have been a mistake. If it took this long for him to learn that, he's a slow learner and probably unable to project that lesson forward. I can hope that he will stop banging the drum for a new war with Iran. If he thinks that the war with Iraq was a "mistake," I lack the language to define the boondoggle that will insue should the cretins in control ignite the conflagration of a war with Iran. The truly maddening part of this is that I have to include way too many Democrats in the insane list of warmongers. Too much money in military contracts, I reckon.

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Elections, Southern Style

Leave it to the GOP to call reaching out to the KKK as reaching out to its base. As Chris Floyd writes in the above linked article,

“Freed but disenfranchised, emancipated but still in chains, balked by law and brutal custom from full participation in society, the Southern blacks also made handy targets to divert the anger and dissatisfaction of the "poor white trash" from the elites that exploited them as well, albeit less severely. If even the poorest white man could consider himself superior to someone, if you could keep him tied up in psychological and emotional knots about inferior darkies messing with his women, going to his schools, sitting at his lunch counters, drinking from his water fountains, swimming in his public pools, living in his neighborhoods, why then he'd never make common cause with his black brothers and sisters in poverty to fight for a better life.”

The whole idea of the KKK was simply to keep the poor, undereducated white folk too busy acting “better than” to ever become aware of their own disenfranchisement. Look at that black man looking at a white woman not at what the real Boss is doing to his pocket book. It seems that simple minds, courtesy of our public school system, has been well worth the money for the ruling class. The same can be said for the Religious (sounding) Reich, point to someone worshipping God differently, instant distraction from the shrinking paycheck. Best of all, you can do it in a 30 second sound bite. In America, the only history that doesn’t start with Monday morning’s New York Times, is the bigotry that lives in too many hearts.

A quick aside. Thanks to Jon Steward and Steven Colber(t) I can get through all this political bile. Tim Robbin’s appearance on Steve’s show tonight had me not just laughing out loud but actually clapping for his performance, while sitting alone at home! We’re going to need our humor in the Halliburton Camps if they manage to steal this next election also.


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My First Clue

My first clue, that something odd was going on? The lack of interceptor aircraft accompanying the second plane. Everything after that was just a technically impressive piece of propaganda to panic the Sheeple into going to war. Even before the Resident was anointed, in every political discussion I had, I only had two points if Republicans were to gain the Presidency: Average people would get economically screwed; We’d be at war within the first year. Only later was I able to more concisely define what happened that Autumn day. It was the original “Shock and Awe” campaign.

Unlike so many of my fellow citizens, I remember reading about how prohibitively expensive asbestos removal from the Towers was going to be. My memory includes reading about electrolysis problems where aluminum met steel and how expensive it was going to be to rectify that problem. There was also some discussion as to how deconstruction would be more than double the construction costs. Talk about two birds with one stone. To learn that building 7 housed the records of on going SEC investigations explains that bit of stagecraft.

The final seal on the deal was that the anthrax attacks were targeted at Democrats opposed to the (un)Patriot Act.


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My Latest Nightmare

My latest nightmare, at first glance,
Might seem a reversal to my previous stance,
But the cretins in control
Have a very different goal
It’s a much more complicated dance.

Don’t be fooled because the dunce
Fooled us thrice and not just once
In the stealing of elections
Using wholesale indiscretions
Among their illegal stunts.

Oh, but this next time, I fear,
More insidious and drear,
They’ll allow the votes unfettered
To proceed, then claim it’s bettered
By the use of electronic gear.

So, they loose some seats in congress,
They don’t care, it’s much too ponderous
To contain the crooks that run things
And the laws in place that fear brings.
No, their plan is much more onerous.

“See how fair and so convenient,
E-machines are so expedient
That from now ALL votes will be
Made electronically.”
Making re-counts a missing ingredient.

The constitution says our government
Should above all be transparent.
But the liars that do lead now
Work in secret to conceal how
Little is apparent.

Paper trails are too restrictive.
Elimination is explicative.
They will stop at nothing less
Than control by corporate mess.
To prove our crying “Wolf” may be their missive.

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Big Brother goes to School

Once again Cris Floyd is connecting some dots. Thanks to the new law (thank you, yellow bellied minions on the congressional dole) signed into existence last Tuesday, on the Residence's whim any individual He deems a threat to "National Security" can be picked up, whisked off to some undisclosable location, and interrogated (terrorized) without benefit of legal representation. Since He knows that at least 60% of us disagree with at least one of his policies, He needs a new tool to find out who among his subjects dare to print dissent. As this would require way too much reading for an illiterate, the guvment has hired four schools of higher education to devise a software program to do the reading for him.

Big Bro intends not only that the trains be gonna running on time, who gets tickets to the camps will be determined by software. Won't even be needing any Eichmanns this time. Just hire a bunch of college kids to write a program ("I didn't think they would misuse it," I can hear their future proclamations as they get caught up in a program run amok), as the Resident proclaims he is doing his job of "Keeping Americans safe." Funny me, I thought his job was to Protect and Defend the Constitution. Looks like half the population is going to end up guarding the incarcerated other half.

In local news, a nearby town recently armed their five man police force with fully automatic rifles. The bull here in Texas is getting more dangerous on a daily basis.

In national news the Dow broke 1200, whoopie, of course adjusted for inflation, it just caught up to the value it had in 1967.

Oh, in case this has been too subtle for the software, this is dissent with both fact and opinion.

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Terror, Terror, Terror

With out doubt the propaganda's been successful, in congress at least. The Resident is now Cowboy King George. Pre Magna Carta, above the law and below contempt. The laughable 32%, quaking in fear and whom congress, for some ungodly reason, desires to impress have driven our country into some freaky semblance of a dictatorship ruled by a dry drunk.

His shining star, the Iraq war. The "War on Terror" a simple side note simply enacted to consolidate power. Every action by the rabble in power have had only one aim in mind. The creation of an Imperial Presence. Oh, they call it an Unitary Executive, but them's just fancy words. what they want is unchecked power, beholden to none. Drooling with the idea of a big daddy strong man giving them permission to fullfill their wildest fantasies and sickest dreams.

Now, since our(?) congress has given them free rein, our only hope is the collapse of our army in Iraq. The growing resistance to that illegal (a fact quite often overlooked) war by the men and women fighting there might bring the whole fiasco to a grinding halt and throwing public light on the hell hole of a mess that passes for public office in these modern times, jar the sombulant population into action. After all, this experiment we call the U.S.A. is supposed to be directed by "WE THE PEOPLE."

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Indian Wars

In honor of the five year anniversary of the invasion of Afghanistan and the Five hundred and fourteenth Anniversary of the invasion of the Western Hemisphere:

A weekend framed in celebration
Of a process flamed by insinuation
Easily explained as continuation
Of the Glorious Indian War.

Columbus came to expand the slave trade
Casting blame, breaking promises made.
Creating shame is blatantly played
In the Glorious Indian War.

Don’t teach your children how to think
They’ll only grow despondent
Indoctrinate and teach them hate
Then join them being sombulent.

All hail the famed red, white, blue nation
Conquering lamed by inducing starvation
More of the same through indoctrination
For the Glorious Indian War.

Let us pray and continue our situation
Of conquering prey and domination
Ignore the way we have entered stagnation
With the Glorious Indian War.

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Remember: It's not just pedophiles and their enablers.

Regarding the GOP (Guardians Of Pedophiles) scandal now filling the minds of the media and public, if it serves to remove the Resident's enablers is a good thing. That damage, though real, only affected a certain number of teens. Let us not lose sight of the real damage that Congress did to this country last week. That damage was done to each and every one of us:

Yale Law Professor Bruce Ackerman states in the L.A. Times, "The compromise legislation....authorizes the president to seize American citizens as enemy combatants, even if they have never left the United States. And once thrown into military prison, they cannot expect a trial by their peers or any other of the normal protections of the Bill of Rights."

Similarly, law Professor Marty Lederman explains: "this [subsection (ii) of the definition of 'unlawful enemy combatant'] means that if the Pentagon says you're an unlawful enemy combatant -- using whatever criteria they wish -- then as far as Congress, and U.S. law, is concerned, you are one, whether or not you have had any connection to 'hostilities' at all."

As we (Paul Joseph Watson) reported on Friday, the bill also contains a definition of "wrongfully aiding the enemy" which labels all American citizens who breach their "allegiance" to President Bush and the actions of his government as terrorists subject to possible arrest, torture and conviction in front of a military tribunal.

Other facts we need to not forget: War in Afghanistan/Iraq/Iran; Paper ballots; Education; And all the other Rights not labeled in the Constitution, but referred to in the Tenth Amendment.

Each, every, and any moral action that returns control to WE THE PEOPLE and removes the reigns of power from the cretins in Washington is a blessing from God (no matter how or even if you worship him/her/it).

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Pages of pages to Pages

What in the ____ is the fuss all about?
The pages went up the Hill
To learn how our Government operates
And bends to the People’s will.

They learned well how the people in power
React to the threat to their station.
Or rather the lack of proper response
And their self serving, quiet, inaction.

Well, the lesson, it seems, continues apace
I hope everyone understands.
True power resides, not in powerful lies,
But by citizen’s voicing demands.

From the very beginning of the National Creed
The voices cried out for protection of speech
Demanding Amendments before ratifying
Constitutional limits on government’s reach.

So the masses are stirring
Protesters speak out
True power in action
Is what the fuss is about.

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Points to Ponder

The Congress voted for secret Torture
You have no right to remain silent
No attorney will be present.
Arrested on suspicion of the President
That you are a Terrorist.
Meanwhile on prime time
Commercials are pushing
Viagra and sugar and sleep aids
Get busy. Quit thinking. Go back to sleep.

Get with the program they said,
“Let us lead.” And over a cliff they proceed.
Do you really want to follow
That dark path they have embarqued?
Wanting to know everything about everyone
While working in secret themselves.
There is a word for that, “Totalitarian.”

Most of your taxes now feed the war machine
Instead of feeding or schooling our children.
The Government backed a coup in Venezuela
To benefit multinational business.
Now they claim a coup that overthrew
A corrupted congress in Thailand was wrong.
So, shut up, eat your sugar, and turn on the TV.
Until you fall asleep again.

There is a call for new harsher laws on immigration
Having not enforced the ones already written.
The drive to ban all abortions
Now includes banning all contraception.
In a country founded on freedom, the government wants to control every aspect of our lives.
And when truth is inconvenient to “Our Leaders“, they conveniently tells lies.

A religion founded on charity and forgiveness
Has become a weapon to justify killing and plunder.
The Speaker of the House covers for a pedophile Preaches Christian values while in Hubris the A.G. tells the Courts to be humble.
The President says his job is not to protect and defend as he swore in his induction.
His job, he says, is to protect us, keep us safe, even if it means destroying the Constitution.

No one claims to know the Republican’s largest contributor as the “Contract for America” became “The Contract on America.”
The ideological drive to remove “Liberals” from Congress becomes driven by greed.
The driving force of office holders is to stay in office long enough to earn a pension.
The total lack of values and concern for citizens drives belief into suspension.

Watch Bill Moyers on PBS Wednesday for the Tip of an Iceburg.

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October Surprises

Statements like this from "The Committee on the Present Danger" scare me:

The Hon. Henry Cooper

Director, Strategic Defense Initiative, 1990–93
Chief U.S. Negotiator, Geneva Defense and Space Talks with the Soviet Union, 1987–89
Deputy Negotiator, Geneva Defense and Space Talks with the Soviet Union, 1985–87

"Terrorism poses as potent a threat to our freedom as did communism – preserving our liberty while winning the war on terrorism may be more difficult than was ending the 'evil empire.' "

The Battle Carrier Group Eisenhower deploys this week for the Persian Gulf instead of docking as scheduled for maintenance. It is due off the coast of Iran on or about October 21. This info comes via Ray McGovern (27 year veteran of the CIA, retired 1990).

On October 7 a large Emergency Responders Training Exercise is scheduled to occur in several major cities. The last time there was a training exercise this large was September 11, 2001. If an other "Terrorist" attack occurs Bush will have free reign (by the sleep walking American public) to launch an attack on Iran.

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Woodward's Woeful Words

An eloquently crafted tale,
The masses with which to regale,
Lay the blame away from Bush
And save his sorry, little tush.
Now, to the rescue does Woodward sail.

It’s Cheney’s, Rumsfeld’s, Brenner’s fault,
The officers won’t say what’s what.
Intelligence too flawed and worse
Connecting dots is such a curse.
Short of Bush, the buck must stop!

No harm must touch this Christian King
His praise on high his minions sing.
The blame away from him must shine,
Bush cries, “The fault is never mine!
Dad, a Savior to me bring!”

Daddy Bush can’t help it, see,
He does what Barbra does decree
To once again from failure save,
(He’ll do this till he’s in his grave),
Responds at once to Georgie’s plea.

And, daddy calls his long time friend,
“Dear Woody, use your words to bend
The truth enough to save my child.
I fear he’s gone a little wild.”
So, Woodward puts to work his pen.

This oft told tale of privileged claim
Plays out again and plays the same.
Time after time, the mess is cleaned
By daddy going to extremes
To misdirect the mark of shame.

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Too sad to be Original Today

Five major problems with the legislation passed by congress.

• Grants unprecedented and unchecked authority to the Executive Branch to label as "unlawful enemy combatants" and detain an overly broad range of people, including U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents inside the United States
  
• Denies any independent judicial review of these detentions
  
• Seeks to eliminate accountability for past violations of the law
  
• Permits evidence obtained through coercion
  
• Gives the Secretary of Defense authority to deviate from time-tested military justice standards for fair trials.

Five qoutes for the times:

"The first sign of corruption in a society that is still alive is that the end justifies the means.": Georges Bernanos


“So let us regard this as settled: what is morally wrong can never be advantageous, even when it enables you to make some gain that you believe to be to your advantage. The mere act of believing that some wrongful course of action constitutes an advantage is pernicious.” Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 B.C.)

The jaws of power are always open to devour, and her arm is always stretched out, if possible, to destroy the freedom of thinking, speaking, and writing: John Adams

So long as the people do not care to exercise their freedom, those who wish to tyrannize will do so; for tyrants are active and ardent, and will devote themselves in the name of any number of gods, religious and otherwise, to put shackles upon sleeping men: Voltaire. François Marie Arouet (1694-1778)

How you can win the population for war: At first, the statesman will invent cheap lying, that impute the guilt of the attacked nation, and each person will be happy over this deceit, that calm the conscience. It will study it detailed and refuse to test arguments of the other opinion. So he will convince step for step even therefrom that the war is just and thank God, that he, after this process of grotesque even deceit, can sleep better: Mark Twain

I couldn't have said it any better. Thanks to Jill Savage at Human Rights First and Tom Feely at ICH.

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A Pre 9-11 Mindset

In the early 13th Century, Genghis Kan outlawed torture. In 2006, Congress reinstated torture as an interrogation policy. Early in the Thirteenth Century, the King was stripped of his ability to detain a person with out charges being brought. In 2006, Congress voted to restore that power to the State. A truly pre 9/11 mindset.

65 to 34 and 253 to 168 the US went from being a Banana Republic , Tin-Pot Dictatorship to a pre-middle ages Authoritarian Despotism. Good bye Magna Carta. It only applies to foreigners, we’re told. If you believe that, I’ve got a bridge in Brooklyn you aught to buy from me. The Resident can declare you an enemy combatant, send you to Guantanamo, deny you a lawyer, not tell you what the charges are, keep secret the evidence against you, and torture you for the names of other “Guilty” people. That is what Habeas Corpus no longer applying means.

Yesterday, 300 people were denied their First Amendment Right to peacefully assemble and protest. Under the new rules, they could be charged with threatening the material interests’ of businesses and thereby becoming an Enemy Non-Combatant. Have you ever donated to an umbrella type Charitable organization? If they then take a portion of that money and distribute it to an other charity that the government later proclaims aids “Terrorists,” surprise, you are now, an Enemy Non-Combatant. Off to Guantanamo! I am not exaggerating. At least 34 Senators and 168 Representatives agree with me as does a coalition of hundreds of Constitutional Scholars and Lawyers and over 30 newly retired military officers and over 100 retired analysts from the CIA, NSA, and FBI.

John Christensen , of the third century church said,

“He or she, who is not angry when there is cause for anger, sins. Anger looks to the good of Justice. If you can look at in-justice without anger, then you are unjust.”

Unreasoned patience is what occurred in the 1930s. As people were being carted off, held with out charges, and tried and convicted in secret courts, good God fearing and otherwise intelligent German people remained silent. Are we too busy watching TV, cheering our favorite sports team, to do the right thing? As Dante’ warned us,

“The hottest places in Hell are reserved for those who remain neutral in times of crisis.”

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Speaking About Elections

The signs and portents do abound
The price of gas is going down
The factor of fear is on the rise
The Terror flag waves in front of our eyes
Elections must be coming around.

What fools the sheep of Americans be
Erzast "Leaders" they are following blindly
Trusting the lies of the media spin
That disregard truths that don't fit in
To the Propaganda that passes for the News we see.

Our Nation devolving to a torturous State
Critics accused of a political slate
Changing the Laws to protect the guilty
Innocent people detained in pepetuity
Politics driven by fear and hate.

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Electronic Voting Machines

In just a little bit more than a month, I will be asked to cast my vote, for the second time, on a machine that has no paper record. A machine made by a company that also makes ATMs, which, weather you ask for a receipt or not, create a paper copy of every transaction. In addition, the programs that both the ES&S machines, which record the votes, and Diebold machines, which tabulate the totals, are programmed using a program similar to Windows as the basic operating system. If you have used Windows as long as I have, since Windows 3.1 in 1991, you can be certain of two constants: At some point, the system will crash (it seems nearly always at a critical juncture); Windows' operating systems have always been extremely vulnerable to malicious manipulation.

The reason that systems like Windows tend to fail is that they are written by a limited number of people and not peer reviewed during the creation process. The public then tests it by practical application and the problems then become apparent. Programs like Linux are created by 10s of thousands critiquing, evaluating, and improving the stability and security until consensus is reached that a viable system has been created. After release, continued evaluation is not just allowed, it is encouraged. Owners of proprietary systems actively seek to keep the inner workings secret.

I can state this as a fact because I've purchased each Windows upgrade for two reasons. Exploring its weaknesses and playing computer games (to test the strength). Voting is not a game nor should it be done on a system long noted for its frailty. I use an operating system call Linux for all computer activities that require security such as on-line transactions and surfing the web. I also print a paper record of every transaction I make with my computer. This has proved very helpful in resolving disputes with both my telephone company and a credit card provider. My vote is as important and should have a paper record of every vote made in order to resolve disputes should the need arise.

The machines have the capacity to attach a printer and the operating system is capable of creating a paper record. The only excuse my elected officials have given me for not having a paper record is the expense. Surely the integrity and validity of our vote is worth the few extra dollars required to ensure this.

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Sunday Morning (coming down)

“Sunday morning coming down,” comes from a Chris Kristofferson song and the only way it doesn’t apply is that this down has been building up since Carter used his piety to get elected. A militant Christian for President. I ain’t saying he’s not a good man, I’m saying that the obvious contradictions between being a Christian (a follower of Christ’s teachings) and being the commander of the worlds largest killing machine is the embodiment of an oxymoron. I had gotten to the point of accepting his atonement by building homes for the poor and then I heard him say (about three years ago when a nuclear submarine was named after him), “This is the proudest day of my life.” Peace through war is the essence of an unobtainable goal.

What’s that got to do with the here and now? McCain (previously a victim of torture) has given the Resident Carte Blanque to redefine torture anyway he sees fit. Held to account only if he publishes a technique deemed inappropriate by which ever oversight committee isn’t overseeing that aspect of government. This to establish half the credentials needed to become a candidate for the highest office in our nation. Now he has to convince the minions of his pious religiosity (of a Christian nature, of course) in order to fulfill the two absolute basics that are needed to qualify for the job. So sad to see that his journey is through the Rresident’s alimentary canal, working from the bottom up. More simply put: He’s got his head up the Resident’s as… A good discription of the "Compromise".

If the Sunday morning talking (dick)heads could understand Spanish they might not be railing lamely about Chavez’s speech at the U.N. If you can’t take a joke… Anyway, it was much less offensive than the Resident’s “Axis of Evil” or “Islamo-Fascists” rhetoric. Or as toxic as Preacher Robert’s, (as Christians) let’s assassinate any one we don’t like type statements.

I would say, “Lord forgive them for they know not what they do,” except that I believe they know full well what they do and why.

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This is my country?

So, the three maveric? Republicans make a big show about bucking the Resident and with their tails between their legs mealy mouth how they are supporting article 3 of Geneva. NOT. BS lies for mainstream distribution to give them security cover. And the sheeple will suck it up hook, line, and sinker. The CIA will continue their torture. And innocent people will continue to languish in dark holes while the nations collective leaders keep their heads up the Resident's as...
Or better said:

What we have seen today is no "grand compromise," no "great debate," no "act of principle" and certainly no "preservation" of the Geneva Conventions. What we have seen instead is a small group of rich, cynical, power-hungry old bastards belch forth lies in the service of torture and tyranny. And if you're not angry about that, if you're not "shrill" about that, then by God you are one piss-poor American citizen. You shame every man and woman who have fought and died and marched and worked and dreamed for our freedoms.

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Quiet! It's in the Interest of National Security

Like good little soldiers we're to silently comply
And pay for the growth of security.

Take for example the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), yet another sprawling, ill-organized, inefficient bureaucracy established after 9/11 and not likely to do anything but grow in our lifetimes. Around it has sprung into existence an anti-terrorism homeland-security industry (thank you, Osama bin Laden!) of staggering proportions. "Seven years ago," writes Paul Harris of the British Guardian, "there were nine companies with federal homeland security contracts. By 2003 it was 3,512. Now there are 33,890."

That one department of seventeen is and all grow
How big and how fast you don't need to know
Just pay your taxes and bask in safety.

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Rewriting the Geneva Convention Article 3

First he broke the law, then came on TV and proudly proclaimed it, now he's beginning to run scared and is asking the congress to retroactively legalize his actions. This is the clarity he wants to lay claim to:

SEC. 6. SATISFACTION OF TREATY OBLIGATIONS…

(b) RIGHTS NOT JUDICIALLY ENFORCEABLE.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—No person in any habeas action or any other action may invoke the Geneva Conventions or any protocols thereto as a source of rights, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose in any court of the United States or its States or territories.

SEC. 9. RETROACTIVE APPLICATION.

This Act shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply retroactively, including to any aspect of the detention, treatment, or trial of any person detained at any time since September 11, 2001, and to any claim or cause of action pending on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

This crap should make it obvious. The Resident is not only a liar and a coward, he wants to legalize torture. His justification:

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

(6) The use of military commissions is particularly important in this context because other alternatives, such as the use of courts-martial, generally are impracticable. The terrorists with whom the United States is engaged in armed conflict have demonstrated a commitment to the destruction of the United States and its people, to the violation of the law of war, and to the abuse of American legal
processes. In a time of ongoing armed conflict, it generally is neither practicable nor appropriate for combatants like al Qaeda terrorists to be tried before tribunals that include all of the procedures associated with courts-martial.

He has decided they are guilty as charged and Al-Qaeda, therefor they don't qualify as human beings and deserving of human rights. Never mind that of the thousand or so non-combatants, they are down to fourteen. I thank God that the Tribunals haven't been operating up to now or there would be a classified number of people (from teenagers to seventy-years-old) in classified locations suffering classified interrogations all for the satisfaction of the large ego of this little man.

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Six Years In

“I’m ashamed to say, I voted for Bush,” A direct quote from one Flea-market vendor. I truly enjoy the wide variety of people I can converse with at this monthly gathering of citizens. While the above mentioned quote was one man’s statement, his sentiment expressed a growing opinion of the people I meet there. My disability (I’m paraplegic, my legs are paralyzed) coupled with my obvious independence and my sunny disposition seem to encourage questions ranging from practical, “How do you ___ (insert an action), “How can I get ___(a plea for instruction), ”Where can I ___(a plea for direction),” to personal, “How did it happen (motorcycle accident)? Did it hurt (it still does)? Why (my favorite) are you always so happy? About five minutes after the accident happened, when I got past feeling sorry for myself, I made the decision that, with the Lord’s help, I would not allow my physical change to overwhelm me or change my personality. While I may be a cynic (realist?) as far as politics are concerned, personally, I'm a rock solid optimist. Sorry about the diversion, now back to the topic. Having answered their questions I feel free to ask questions of my own. Six years ago it was, “With Bush, as Governor, having plunged Texas into debt, against State constitutional dictates, how could you have voted for him for President?” The most common answer was,"He’s a Christian. That always befuddled me for Gore is also a Christian and besides that seemed to be a rather minimal requirement for the office of the Presidency. Four years on it became either I trust him, I agree with his Christian values (again Kerry is a Christian), or we’re at war and I don’t think we should change our leader.

Six years in and now I hear disappointment. While we cannot change the President, I try to inform those people I talk to that what we can do is restore the check and balance that our national Constitution allows us by putting more Democrats back in Congress. For those who say that then nothing will get done. I like to quote Will Rogers,” This country has come to feel the same when Congress is in session as when the baby gets hold of a hammer.” Lately I feel safer when Congress is not creating ever larger bureaucracies, more draconian laws and further restrictions on our liberties.

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Fear Tactics as policy of Government and the GOP

In all fairness, I must confess that I've taken words from an excellent article by Brent Budowsky that I read on Buzzflash.com. Hopefully I haven't been overly plagiaristic in my endevour or am forgiven if I have been. The following is the context of a Letter to the Editor of my local Right Wing Newspaper

As I reread our Constitution, which this week is set aside to honor, and ponder on how those patriots were so willing to give their very lives to create the situation where that document could take root, I am disappointed in the current crop of Americans.
Casually, fearfully, timidly, and meekly Americans are surrendering freedoms acquired by the blood of American heroes. Public policy driven by fear is taking away our freedoms bit by bit. These are the very freedoms that President Bush says the Islamo-Fascists hate us for. When he said that he is doing everything possible to keep us safe, I didn’t realize that would include removing the freedoms our enemies hate.

President George Bush implores us to be afraid, and wants us to think: we may not be comfortable with a President who claims the unilateral power to abrogate the Bill of Rights and violate Federal Law at will with a signing statement, but he makes us feel a little bit safer, so it's ok. And so it happened. President George Washington, having actually fought with his troops, rallied his followers with bravery, for a cause greater than themselves, their lives, greater even than the Nation they created and the times they lived in. Shall we sit in fear in front of our TVs, leaving home only to go shopping, while our government continues to chip away at the freedoms which our Constitution so eloquently endowed us?

On the bank of the Delaware, George Washington quoted Thomas Paine,

"These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of this country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like Hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly".

President George Bush wants us to sacrifice nothing except our courage, our freedom to criticize government policies, and freedom from government intrusion of our private affairs. The fact that I have nothing to hide does not mean I am willing to have it exposed for any reason that does not comply with the rights given to me by the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution.

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Residential Insanity

The Resident is ill and lack of public awareness is leading us down a dark, dark path. Paul Levey correctly lays the blame on "WE THE PEOPLE."

The situation is very analogous to when seemingly good, normal, loving Germans supported Hitler, believing he was a good leader trying to help them. The German people didn't realize that the virulent pathogen malignant egophrenia had taken possession of Hitler and was incarnating itself through him. By not seeing this and supporting Hitler, they became agents used by this non-local, deadly disease to propagate itself. This was a collective psychosis, and this is what is taking place in our country right now.

So easy to blame someone else, but each of us who remains silent or acquiescent is culpable and responsible. The Author bases his writings from the point of view that all is a manifestation of a collective dream and by conscious dreaming we can start to correct the nightmare we find ourselves living in.

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In Defense of Torture

The Resident wants to CHA,
And to shelter the thugs at the CIA
By changing the laws to cover the lies
That blatantly counter observant eyes
Defended by Hadley of the NSA.

Their sole defense is that torture works
You can trust the answers that halt the hurts
And it all plays into Republicans’ addendum
To keep fear in the front of the voters’ agenda
While downplaying all their personal quirks.

The real unspoken, diabolical plan
Is to keep us at war anyway they can
There’s gold in selling those bombs and guns
And chemical ways to kill them young ones
So shut up and follow dictates of the Man.

Sadly the “Man” is simply a shell
Within which nothing but demons dwell
And the Resident’s trying to keep on the fast track
Blindly forward and no looking back
On the straight and narrow directly to Hell.

The cover is Christ the philosopher king
Distorting the message of the peace He would bring
Claiming He leads an Army that kills
And any dissenter, they better head for the hills
If we follow the path the “Decider” does sing.

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Iran=No Nukes Kazakhstan=No to No Nukes

Found this in the comments section of the above linked post which tells the tale of the treaty between Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan which created the first nuclear-weapons free zone in the Northern Hemisphere (New Zealand led the southern):

BREAKING NEWS BREAKING NEWS BREAKING NEWS BREAKING NEWS BREAKING NEWS

Terrorist School Teacher Arrested, as reported first on CNN

NEW YORK- A public school teacher was arrested today at John F. Kennedy International Airport as he attempted to board a flight while in possession of a ruler, a protractor,a set square, a slide rule and a calculator.

At a morning press conference, Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez said he
believes the man is member of the notorious Al-gebra movement. He did
not identify the man, who has been charged by the FBI with carrying weapons of mathinstruction.

"Al-gebra is a problem for us," Gonzalez said. "They desire solutions by
means and extremes, and sometimes go off on tangents in search of absolute value. They use secret code names like 'x' and 'y' and refer to
themselves as 'unknowns', but we have determined they belong to a common denominator of the axis of medieval with coordinates in every country. As the Greek philanderer Isosceles used to say, "There are 3 sides to every triangle."

When asked to comment on the arrest, President Bush said, "If God had wanted us to have better weapons of math instruction, He would have
given us more fingers and toes."
Sadjid | 09.15.06 - 3:21 pm | #

So glad to see that humor at least still survives in these sad times. While it might not be original, I seem to remember it from early on in the Residents first term, it deserves to be recycled.

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Longing for September 10 while crying about Iraq

Been hearing a lot of people saying, "Oh, how I wish it was like Sep. 10, 2001, again." I doubt they remember the lead on CBS news that night. Robert J. Lieberman of the GAO had come before Congress and admitted that the Pentagon had "lost" $2.4 TRILLION the previous year. And $1.4 TRILLION the year before that. A total of $7.2 TRILLION has been "lost" without a paper trail. LOST?

Meanwhile the Resident compares bin Laden to Hitler and then says he's really not interested in him anymore?

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Talking Points Vs Political Dialogs

I try to spend some AM time each day listening to C-Span. I get my take on what’s at stake and where the players come from. The level of schooling, or lack there of, is readily apparent. Democrats and Independents offer a wide ranging plate of opinions, usually with facts on hand. Republicans bring their daily, dictated from the top, talking points based on fear.

For five years now, the main complaint emanating from the Republican side is Democrats don’t march in lock-step. As if a homogenous, single opinion can represent 300 million people. Cracks are beginning to open inside the Republican legislative bodies, but the rank and file haven’t noticed. Today’s talking point seems to be that Democrats are obstructionists (and the “Liberal Media” is showing it’s stripes by laying out facts instead of backing the Resident and actually covering what Democrats are saying and not just what Republicans say Democrats stand for) and the US will go to Hell in a hand basket if Democrats take control of Congress.

Republicans facing tough re-elections are co-opting Progressive positions. The White House is backing a Senator who publicly proclaimed that he didn’t vote for Bush in ‘04. Rep. Wilson (R-NM) resisted attempts by the Bush appeasers to give Carte Blank to government wiretaps. Rep. Shays (R-Con) is looking for ways to get troops out of Iraq. All the while he’s talking about how great we’re doing in training Iraqi troops. Not so much in the last six months, maybe, but really great overall. Of course if you criticize what the Resident does it’s because you hate him.

Like the moc-umetry “Path to 9-11,” it seems to me that the only way for Republicans to explain the monumental mess they’ve made is to revise history and blame everything on Clinton. Meanwhile on the world’s stage, ”More than 100 other nations are pushing to broaden the world's definition of "terrorism" to include the U.S. occupation of Iraq and the Israeli invasion of Lebanon.”

Some entertainment for your education!

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TruthOut on 9-11

Marc Ash gives a good breakdown on Official response to 9-11

"...the Bush administration used the power of the executive branch for months after the attacks of 9/11 to block the creation of any official investigation into the action of the US government. Further, such resistance by the Bush administration to an official investigation continued in the face of repeated demands by the families of the victims of the attacks. It was, in fact, that very pressure from the victims' families that forced the Bush administration to reverse their position and negotiate the creation of investigative body. However, during those negotiations, the Bush administration refused - again - to cooperate, until two demands were met: The 9/11 Commission must agree not to investigate the executive branch, and the Bush administration itself must be allowed to appoint - without review - the chairman of the commission."

Robert Scheer states some of what's missing: Five years out from the attacks, why do we still know so little about what really happened that day?

The Resident admitted that Iraq had nothing to do with 9-11, but Dick(head) on TV today still sings the old sad song (for his drooling base). He didn't bother to read the bi-partizan congressional report (reckon the Residents reading habits are contagous) and stated he'd of invaded Iraq even if he'd known there were no WMDs. Finally some truth he speaks.

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The Omnipresent Enemy

Too often we hear from the profits of fear how the proof of repressive agendas, in making us safe is the fact that as yet there have been no attacks on our Homeland, but:

Summary: Despite all the ominous warnings of wily terrorists and imminent attacks, there has been neither a successful strike nor a close call in the United States since 9/11. The reasonable -- but rarely heard -- explanation is that there are no terrorists within the United States, and few have the means or the inclination to strike from abroad.

Oh, but such a rational discourse would not sell pork and perks, of course, so politicians loudly shout that terror is what life's about and more money, guns, and war will fix the problem.

What I preceive, what I beleive is "Terror" plays in Prime Time and since our "News" are corporate owned, they tow the party line.


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Bill Maher's Take on the latest #2

And an other # 2 bites the dust. I reckon the #3's aren't exciting enough. And never mind that this #2 bought it back in June, "We're making progress!"

As a commenter on his blog noted, seems that ABC is trying to rewrite history and blame 9-11 on President Clinton. Ignoring The Resident's ignoring thePDB's and taking vacations instead.

"ABC Path to 911 debunked by 1996 CNN article

President wants Senate to hurry with new anti-terrorism laws
July 30, 1996
Web posted at: 8:40 p.m. EDT

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Clinton urged Congress Tuesday to act swiftly in developing anti-terrorism legislation before its August recess. (1.6 MB AIFF or WAV sound)

"We need to keep this country together right now. We need to focus on this terrorism issue," Clinton said during a White House news conference.

But while the president pushed for quick legislation, Republican lawmakers hardened their stance against some of the proposed anti-terrorism measures.

Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Mississippi, doubted that the Senate would rush to action before they recess this weekend. The Senate needs to study all the options, he said, and trying to get it done in the next three days would be tough.

One key GOP senator was more critical, calling a proposed study of chemical markers in explosives "a phony issue."

Taggants value disputed

Clinton said he knew there was Republican opposition to his proposal on explosive taggants, but it should not be allowed to block the provisions on which both parties agree.

"What I urge them to do is to be explicit about their disagreement, but don't let it overcome the areas of agreement," he said.

The president emphasized coming to terms on specific areas of disagreement would help move the legislation along. The president stressed it's important to get the legislation out before the weekend's recess, especially following the bombing of Centennial Olympic Park and the crash of TWA Flight 800.

"The most important thing right now is that they get the best, strongest bill they can out -- that they give us as much help as they can," he said.

Hatch blasts 'phony' issues

Republican leaders earlier met with White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta for about an hour in response to the president's call for "the very best ideas" for fighting terrorism.

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, emerged from the meeting and said, "These are very controversial provisions that the White House wants. Some they're not going to get."

Hatch called Clinton's proposed study of taggants -- chemical markers in explosives that could help track terrorists -- "a phony issue."

"If they want to, they can study the thing" already, Hatch asserted. He also said he had some problems with the president's proposals to expand wiretapping.

Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-South Dakota, said it is a mistake if Congress leaves town without addressing anti-terrorism legislation. Daschle is expected to hold a special meeting on the matter Wednesday with Congressional leaders.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.


Related stories:
• Congress passes anti-terrorism bill - April 18, 1996
• Congress reached compromise on anti-terrorism bill - April 16, 1996

© 1996 Cable News Network, Inc.
All Rights Reserved."

Of course 30 to 50% of the common folk will be spewing this ABC history as factual on all the Reiht-Wing Talk Shows! As far as they go, history changes on a daily basis according to the needs of the Resident. And the Demo's are soft on terror. I'm getting tired of being disgusted. Sorry for the long qoute, but it needs to be circulated.

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Stolen Presidential Elections

I reckon the difference must be that we've only had two Presidential elections stolen and Mexico has suffered pretty much from the git go. Sadly, for Calderon, the presumptive winner, he was aided by the Bush team. They were as incompetent there as they are here.

The federal elections board in Mexico recounted 9% of the votes (from Calderon's districts no less) and had to subtract about 6000 of the 244,000 Calderon supposedly won by. Juxtapose that error to the other 91% and you get Obredor winning by 301,000. No wonder they don't want to count all the votes.

Well, the general population down South, as opposed to our nation of couch potatoes, don't seem willing to accept the official lie, I mean line! They are out in mass, mad as hell, and they are just not going to take it any more.

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Much Ado about Food

The 2007 Farm Bill is coming up for consideration this year and it bothers me that true to form it will probably end up subsidizing corn and soybeans and cattle and hog agribusiness. As Wendell Berry so succiently states,

"It is enormously destructive of farmland, farm communities and farmers. It wastes soil, water, energy and life. It is highly centralized, genetically impoverished and dependent on cheap fossil fuels, on long-distance hauling and on consumers' ignorance."

The corn, (more and more of it genetically modified), becomes the sugar added to almost every thing we eat. The soy becomes the fat additive in processed foods. This as our nation suffers growing problems with increasing obesity and fewer family farms.

In a related matter, the House has passed and the Senate is to consider a bill to minimize the labeling information on the food we buy. As citizens, our job is to inform ourselves and guide our government. It seems our government keeps trying to make that more difficult. The corporations get the benefits and we get the privilege of bearing the costs. As Jim Hightower has written,

"In the very short span of about fifty years, we've allowed our politicians to do something remarkably stupid: turn America's food-policy decisions over to corporate lobbyists, lawyers and economists. These are people who could not run a watermelon stand if we gave them the melons and had the Highway Patrol flag down the customers for them - yet, they have taken charge of the decisions that direct everything from how and where food is grown to what our children eat in school.”

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A True Patriot

While Rumsy, Rize, and the Resident were spewing their babble of staying the course
Salt Lake Mayor Rocky countered with an eloquent discourse.
You do not show your honor by blindly saying, "RAH!"
And following the dictates or singing, "Kume ba ya!"
You have to speak the Truth with no remorse.

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Finally finding it on line

Afganistan never was a fight in the War on Terror.

If you take the government's conspiracy theory that 19 men flew four airplanes into the Towers, the Pentagon, and the ground, well most of them came from Saudi Arabia. The rest from Pakistan and Egypt. I never understood why every one was so gung ho to bomb the rubble of Afganistan. To this day the F.B.I. admits that they cannot tie Bin Ladin to the crime. Anything to keep the war machine and all those taxpayers employed, I reckon.

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Where is the Lost & Found?

My latest "Letter to the Editor," which in all likely events will not get published:

Where is the lost and found? I want my Texas back. You know, that Texas that didn’t get frightened every time somebody says, “Boo!” The Texas that wouldn’t react in fear just because some young men in England had a fantasy about mixing liquids in flight to blow up airplanes. Yes, fantasies. If our schools taught better chemistry then the public would know that the explosives they dreamed about making are extremely difficult to create even in a laboratory at sea level. Gloves and masks and air conditioning are highly recommended. Bouncing around in an airplane at ever decreasing pressures would be a fool’s errand. Heck, when they uncapped the main ingredient the smell alone would have drawn every ones attention.

As a Texan, I have a strong belief in the rule of law. Therefore, when I hear and read statements like, “I have nothing to hide, the government can listen to my phone calls and look at my bank records all it wants,” I feel they are missing the issue. The law says get a warrant. As I try to be law abiding, I want every person in my government to do the same. Go ahead and listen to my phone calls and check my finances, I have nothing to hide. Just follow the Law and get a warrant first.

I miss the Texas I grew up in. Where our porches and cafe's were filled with talk about politics and different points of view were encouraged. Where politics was everybody's business and not just the job of politicians. Where people running for office had to tell us their positions on issues, not just how bad the other guy is. Where the schools had us read the Constitution and not just inform that there is one. Where television gave equal time to all sides of an issue. Where newspapers demanded that politicians verify the veracity of their statements. I miss my Texas.

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"The Rant" by Tom Degan: Fascism American Style

"The Rant" by Tom Degan: Fascism American Style

Believe it or not I haven't read this post, yet. Will, as soon as I finish posting this one. I got to him through Alternet and read his post comparing Christ Vs Conservatives and he's a man after my own heart. Not only do Christian Rightist seldom know the 10 commandments, but they never seem to take the "Sermon on the Mount" as their guide.

What really sold me though is the last two sentences in his breif bio at the end:

"AND ADVOCATING IMPEACHMENT OF THE MOST DISGUSTING PIECE OF SHIT EVER TO SLEEP IN THE WHITE HOUSE. Have a lovely day!"

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Why we need Clean Elections in Texas

It’s well past time for clean elections
Our freedom is at stake.
Lobbyists and corporations
Our rules and laws now make.

SBC (now AT&T)
Last year spent seven million
To tell our State how to legislate.
Think they listen to your opinion?

At three million plus, in place number two.
An electrical revelation.
Helping write the rules is TXU
Check your bills for confirmation.

Do your medical costs continue to rise
While you buy less with your labors compensation?
Third largest donor
Texas Medical Association.

Saddest of all is your tax dollar pays
Those lobbyist’s generous bills.
They deduct their expenses of writing our laws
And usurping our rights and our will.

The list goes on, as could I,
And I hope you are paying attention.
Publicly financed electoral campaigns
Is a viable solution.

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A Nightmare in Progress

A government built on a simple idea:
The citizens shall be in control.
Open up schools, give the reigns to the people
Allow them to gather, let free speech grow.

Four two hundred years the experiment stumbled
And staggered and strained and expanded the base.
Slaves gained their freedom and women the vote
The simple idea was showing its grace.

Yet, hidden in shadows and driven by greed
And a total devotion to gaining more
Lying and scheming and bleeding this country.
A cabal of cretins corrupt to their core.

The people seem willing to give up their birthright
Surrender the reigns to a powerful few
To cower in fear in front of their TVs
Too lazy to learn, too complacent to stew.

The experiment ends not with a bang
With a whimper, a drooling demise.
We may have become the most powerful nation
One thing we are not is wise.


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Merrily off to Iran

Title leads to a Christian article about the Residents proclivities, but the story I'll tell is a march into hell and the price that our country will pay. The Republican aim is to light up the flames of the fearful to get them to vote. Regardless of how the election turns out, the neo-con ache is for war. Iran is the plan, even congress can balk, cause the Resident said he don't listen. Excepting to God who selected his bod to Crusade in the lands of the east. Not in person of course, that would cause him remorse, and he's never been game for the fighting. He'd rather direct safely snug in his fortress surrounded by yes men. Let other men bleed, the country has need of a strong leader leading the amens. New tales tell that his insanity is in his blood. I welcome any explanation. I simply wish to be informed as our country slides into damnation.

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The Once Great USA

As the Resident spills the military's blood on the sands of Iraq, he spills the nation's monetary treasure into the pockets of the multi-national corporations and the coffers of the Military-Industrial complex.
From an unusually large surplus to a bankrupting deficit, the biggest bully on the block may soon find that it didn't win the cold war after all.

In another sign that the United States is rapidly drifting into "Third World" status as a major world debtor nation, Russia has announced that it has paid off its $31.1 billion debt to foreign countries incurred during Soviet times. Russia paid off its debt largely as a result of the increase in the price of oil -- a major Russian export. Not only has the ruble been made fully convertible but Russia is now attracting major investments and its bond rating has improved.

Russia's economic turnaround has also increased its clout at the expense of Bush's neo-con strategists. Russia has forgiven about two thirds of Syria's $13 billion debt and has initiated port development schemes in the ports of Tartus and Latakia, old Soviet naval bases. Russia's strong financial and military support for Syria checked neo-con plans to militarily attack Syria.

You may not like the messenger (Aug. 23, 2006), but it doesn't change the facts. The Resident has made the USA a debter nation and we may/will soon lose the ability to purchase the oil needed to run our military monster. I've heard the Res called dumb, an idiot, a buffoon, and while I do not disagree, I'm begining to think an important new discription is: Suicidal.

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The Grab for Power continues

The incompetance of the Resident is glaringly obvious and yet congress continues to try to give him more power with almost every bill it writes. The latest appropreations for the military has a provision in the fine print that gives the Resident the power to nationalize the Guard under any "emergency." The Peter Principle is in overdrive.

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Must See TV

Marty Kaplan has a video on Huffingtonpost.com that needs to be seen by every voter using a Diebold Voting Machine, especially by any Republican who cries,"Sour grapes," when the validity of the past three elections is called into question.

As for the progress on the Resident...Let's see, Afghanistan is being retaken by the Taliban while the Warlords are busy growing Opium poppies, Iraq, in the midst of a civil war, unites in opposition to US policy towards Hiz'bola, and he's pushing Israel into war with Syria and Iran. That will give him an excuse to invade those countries with the backing on a congress that bows to one master: AIPAC. I say excuse for his reason is apolitical it's apocalyptic
MEANWHILE THE SHEEPLE ARE DUTIFULLY SWALLOWING THE LIES. Belief in the non-existent WMD's in Iraq has grown from the Resident's rabid 30% to 48% thanks to the MSM. FORGET THE FACTS, GIVE ME ANYTHING TO KEEP ME FROM FEELING GUILTY!

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More History not taught in the US

The Revolution was all about "No Taxation without Representation."
Book TV on C-Span2 on Sundays led me to the following book:
NPR : Schama's Revolutionary Tale: 'Rough Crossings'
I'm sure it's available on ebay, it's here at Amazom, and probably at a local library (or should be.)

Slavery was becoming illegal (oh, those activist courts) in England and they were offering freedom to any slaves in the Americas to fight against the rebels. The got their freedom (and then the shaft, of course) and then went on to practice democracy in Africa. The survivors anyway.

"Whichever route he had taken, and whatever the trials he was presently enduring, British Freedom's choice of name proclaims something startling: a belief that it was the British monarchy rather than the new American republic that was more likely to deliver Africans from slavery. Although Thomas Jefferson, in the Declaration of Independence, had blamed "the Christian King" George III for the institution of slavery in America, blacks like British Freedom did not see the king that way at all. On the contrary, he was their enemy's enemy and thus their friend, emancipator and guardian."

It wasn't about freedom, like ever since, it was all about money.

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Not covered by the MSM

NEWS YOU WON'T FIND ON CNN

[HAVE TO GIVE KUDO"S TO AN EXCELLENT SOURCE]

Bush Has Killed More Americans Than Were Slaughtered On 9/11 9/11 Total American's Killed 2,740 Bush Total Of U.S. Military Personnel Killed Iraq 2554 Afghanistan 319 Total 2873 In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. Information Clearing House has no affiliation whatsoever with the originator of this article nor is Information ClearingHouse endorsed or sponsored by the originator.) Join our Daily News Headlines Email Digest Fill out your emailaddress to receive our newsletter! SubscribeUnsubscribe Powered by YourMailinglistProvider.com HOME COPYRIGHT NOTICE

Open your eyes to why we're at war

I appreciate when someone goes out and does the research:

"The Bush White House is a wholey owned subsidiary of Weapons R Us. The National Institute for Public Policy, which hired several so-called thinkers from weapons makers has three alumni in the Bush Administration. The Center for Security Policy, which has 8 weapons executives on its board, has 22 former board members or associates in the Bush Cheney gang. Thirty-two major appointees in the Bush Administration are former executives, consultants, or significant shareholders of weapons companies. Seven members of the Bush Administration came from Northrop Grumman and eight from Lockheed Martin - on whose board Dick Cheney's wife served until 2001, receiving a half a million dollars for whatever it was she did."

David Swanson has done an excellent job of research into why we've been at war since before my birth and if we don't get an independent media, long after our bones are dust. While he places the obvious connections to the current andministration, this pattern was in play long before Eisenhower gave us his closing act warning. Our culture has long been a lifelong indoctrination into the rah, rah, defense of the flag with some current evil we have to conquer from the heathens at our founding to the almost omnipotent "terarists" of today.
I really like his renaming of our war department from "Department of Defense" to "Department of Attack."

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A slaughter of innocents

25 Israelites have been killed and 13 were civilians…240 Lebanese have been killed and 14 were not civilians.

The MSM (thank you: Link TV & FreeSpeech TV), taking advantage of American ignorance, lack of curiosity, and inability to connect the dots, begins each report with the statement of the Israeli “response” to the Arabic “attack.” Never do they remember that the Arabic “attack” was in response to an Israeli action. This latest incident bears witness in that it actually began with the killing of a Palestinian family on a beach in Gaza as pertains to that local and the abduction of a Doctor and his son from Lebanon a few days prior to the taking of the two soldiers at that border.

France, England, and every other country with tourists there have managed, quite quickly, to evacuate their citizens. The US? Truly Katrina like in appearance, lacking. Sacrificial lambs, offered by the Resident, to give an excuse to involve our military, in reality. Any excuse to keep our world at war. Hey, at the least, Israel has to replace all those missiles and bombs! War profits drive the economy! At least they fill the pockets of the Resident's buddies.


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Vacation?

I haven't been posting. Too despondent. Link to video below got me in the mood once again. My own little spark against the lightening and thunder of the MSM.

I know the Resident is supposed to be dealing with worldly matters at the G8, but it looks to me he's taking an early vacation. The world is exploding and all he can get his mind around is dinner. Meanwhile our political parties are chomping at the bit, as exemplified by Gingrich and Biden on "Meet the Press," to take the US into war on the behest of Isreal.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, this video is worth a million. Or, a whole lot more than any thing oozing from the lips of the Resident.

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Net Nutrality

Two Reps from Texas Abstained from voting on the two votes on the COPE act last week. On the overall bill, two voted against it. On the amendment it was 100% against Net Nutrality

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Bad Propaganda leaves too many questions

If this is all the damage two 500 lb bombs can do, we've been fleeced once again .

IDed by Tattoos? They are forbidded to Muslims.
[correction (6/16/06): OK, he was a thug before he became a muslim.]

Who really benefits by his death? Four US soldiers also died yesterday.

Ideas are so difficult argue and hold that the government gives us figureheads to hate. Whoopee! We killed the head of Al-Qaeda in Iraq. Of course with the same two bombs they created a new martyr. Besides, the job vacancy will soon be filled. Zarqawi was created by the Pentagon and when his death became more useful to the interests of the war machine he was killed.

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A New King is Dead

“The King is Dead! The King is Dead! Long live ______ (don’t worry, the propaganda arm of the Resident’s handlers will soon fill in the blank), the new King!”
“We got him! We got him! The most dangerous man in Iraq! We got him!”
Of course nothing on the ground will change, other than a new Martyr has been created.

Meanwhile, the most dangerous man in America is First Lt. Ehren Watada, the first commissioned officer to declare his refusal to serve in Iraq. He justifies his refusal to deploy to Iraq based on constitutional and legal grounds. The danger he poses is not to America, but to the government currently in power. Or rather, the cabal holding the reins. Vietnam ended not when the protesters entered the streets, but when the soldiers refused to enter the fight. The power structure doesn’t recognize the grunts, they are cannon fodder. The officers are a different matter, they are part of the ruling class. Wait, America is a classless society! Yeah, right. If you believe that, there’s this nice little bridge in Brooklyn.

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Time to Bash Gay Marrige or something

Found this, along with song lyrics from a lead on IN YOUR FACE RADIO.net

Picture is posted on Huffington Post.

When you got nothing else to offer and fear isn't working, try hate.

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Bitching on the Blogs

As I peruse the Blogs one sad item of note re-occurs quite too often. A diarist on “Daily Kos,” was ranting on how the tin-foil-demagoguery of Wayne Madsen was trying to miss-lead his readers as to the source of the $90 K found in the Rep.’s freezer. Reading said blog I realized that the ranter had miss-read the lead sentence. WM stated that,” the story of the 90 K,” was linked to Nigerian oil. The DK kid didn’t read the second word leading to his incorrect assessment as to the meaning of that sentence.

Seems to me that before you lambast a mote, you check the alignment of your own beam. I say let's focus the electrons on the fact that this is one Democrat as opposed to how many Republicans? THAT AND THE LEGALLITY OF THE SEARCH. FORGET ABOUT THE SEPERATION OF POWERS, WHAT ABOUT THE RIGHT OF DEFENSE TO HAVE COUNCIL PRESENT WHEN A WARRENT IS SERVED?

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