Reality of It All

Is Iraq Full of Republicans?

2008-02-05T13:50:00.000-08:00

They waste time on nonsense while the country is falling down around them...

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's temporary new national flag was raised over the country's parliament for the first time on Tuesday, trumpeted by the government as a break with the past and a step towards reconciliation.

Fixing the violence, daily bombings, electicity, sewers, jobs, infastructure? Anybody? Nope didn't get it done but we got a new flag. Ridiculous.

White House Cites ‘Experience From September 11th’ To Justify Staying In Iraq

2007-04-10T14:00:00.000-07:00

In today’s White House press briefing, spokeswoman Dana Perino tried to justify President Bush’s escalation in Iraq by stating, “The terrorists that are seeking a safe haven in Iraq, if we were to leave, would find one, just like they had one in Afghanistan.” When reporter Helen Thomas asked how she knows that statement is true, Perino replied, “Well, based on experience from September 11th, that’s how we know it.”

Ms. Perino was probably not saying that Saddam Hussein’s Iraq had anything to do with 9/11. What I believe she means is that allowing a post-Saddam Iraq to become a haven for Al Qaeda-like terrorists, as Afghanistan was before 9/11, would pose a significant danger to the U.S. and the West.

OK...to the best of our knowledge that is WRONG. A new survey of military and diplomatic analysts concludes that “the likelihood that enemy combatants from Iraq might follow departing U.S. forces back to the United States is remote at best.”

But let's assume it is in the US interest to fight terrorism in Iraq and I believe it is as there were no terrorists to speak of before the US got there. It's sort of our responsibility to help.

The problem is that the US staying in Iraq is what is breeding more new terrorists by the day. Heck according to al Qaeda messing with Iraq in Gulf War I was a primary reason they gave for attacking on 9/11. So what Bush is doing is ass backwards as always.

Hillary Clinton's statements that as president she would keep **some** troops in Iraq to battle Al Qaeda if needed makes MUCH more sense. Removing most or all of the US troops would remove the reason the terrorists are in Iraq. There are very few terrorists in Iraq and most of the violence is due to civil war insurgents but if Iraq requested our help to limit the terrorism I see no reason not to grant them a reasonable level of assistance...but most of the US troops should be redeployed. It's hurting having US troops in Iraq, more than it is helping. If 9/11 taught us anything...it's that.

Apparently, the US Is NOT Occupying Iraq

2007-03-30T06:33:00.000-07:00

The Bush administration responded with shock to King Abdullah’s declaration that the U.S. is “illegitimately” occupying Iraq. “We were a little surprised to see those remarks,” said Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns. White House spokesman Dana Perino claimed, “It is not accurate to say that the United States is occupying Iraq.”

Hmmm...The US is not occupying Iraq. That's interesting. In related news.

Black is white.
Water isn't wet.
The sky isn't blue.
The sun rises in the west.
And you're not really reading this.

From the novel 1984:

The Ministry of Truth -- Minitrue, in Newspeak -- was startlingly different from any other object in sight. It was an enormous pyramidal structure of glittering white concrete, soaring up, terrace after terrace, 300 metres into the air. From where Winston stood it was just possible to read, picked out on its white face in elegant lettering, the three slogans of the Party:

WAR IS PEACE

FREEDOM IS SLAVERY

IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH

The Fox News "Mentality"

2007-03-24T17:50:00.000-07:00

There is a portion of America (sadly) that will not watch or read real news about things that actually effect them. These are unfortunately the same people that buy the National Enquirer, People magazine, and Cosmo every week religiously. They do this to escape reality which is very complicated sometimes. Reality and the need to actually think about the unpleasant, especially when it goes against their pre-conceived ideas, scares them. Fox news puts everything into a good and evil column without drumming up complicated concepts...so it attracts these same National Enquirer, People magazine, and Cosmo folks.The dumbing down of America is happening at an alarming rate.

Now back to something important that really effects my life...Next on Fox News a crazy astronaut lady pissed herself on the way to Florida to kill a romantic rival...

Another Bushbot Reality Bubble Moment

2007-03-19T10:07:00.001-07:00

Apparently the GOP assclowns that still support our White House disaster monkey think it's just dandy to fire US Attorneys because they are investigating members of their party, or because they aren't investigating enough people of the other party.

The rest of us call this obstruction of justice and abuse of power.

The Crows Moved And the Scam Went On

2007-03-14T08:06:00.000-07:00

Where I grew up there was a lot of development going on. New homes, businesses and roads were being put in. The fact they were being built mostly in an area that had been polluted with chemicals and garbage for the previous 70 years seemed to be well ignored by most. Heck as kids we used to throw pebbles at rocks close to the ground and watch it spark and the ground would burst into flames. I remember they tried to put up a fence to keep people out of the more polluted areas. They put up a fence alright...they put it up about 8 times by my count and each time the ground would eat through the metal fence posts and the fence would fall over.

Eventually they gave up.No one with any sense thought anyone would care about this land because it was essentially useless if you liked breathing and not glowing in the dark. But then came the politicians...

The land was cleaned up enough to make it look presentable. All the garbage heaps, old tires, and abandoned cars were removed but then they made the mistake of chopping the trees down. Crows had been living in this area of town pretty much undisturbed for decades. There were 10's of thousands of them.Sure roads and buildings are nice but the land is still polluted and NOW all these crows needed a home and they found one.

They went to Churchville, the next town over, they crapped everywhere, chased animals and people, ate out of and made a mess out of all the garbage cans in town and were a general nuisance. The people yelled, the mayor gave speeches, the town council met and they decided to hire a guy who handled situations like this by using dogs and small explosives to drive the crows away. It worked and the crows left.

They went to Waterville, the next town over, they crapped everywhere, chased animals and people, ate out of and made a mess out of all the garbage cans in town and were a general nuisance. The people yelled, the mayor gave speeches, the town council met and they decided to hire a guy who handled situations like this by using dogs and small explosives to drive the crows away. It worked.

They went to my town, they crapped everywhere, chased animals and people, ate out of and made a mess out of all the garbage cans in town and were a general nuisance. The people yelled, the mayor gave speeches, the town council met and they decided to hire a guy who handled situations like this by using dogs and small explosives to drive the crows away.

And so it went and still goes to this day. The crows every year from one town to the next and then back again.

Sometimes I think about the crows, my town, Waterville, and Churchville and the stupid politicians developing useless land when I see these "troop surges" to clean up towns of insurgents and I wonder how many years they'll be pushing crows around in Iraq. The people feel powerless, the mayors like it because they look like they're doing something, and the guy moving the crows around keeps making a fortune every year for something that's never going to end.

Was it all worth the money and aggravation that the crows caused? If only they thought about the long term problems before hand and not the short term $$$ the politicians put in their pockets, none of this ever would have happened. Sort of sounds like Iraq huh?

Anyone want to buy some vacant buildings on polluted land covered in crow shit? How about a $500 million embassy in the middle of a civil war torn nation? If so I know where you can go to get both.

Did the White House Send Reuters The Info For This Article?

2007-03-13T13:24:00.000-07:00

White House trades new weapons to support troops

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House plans to shift $3.2 billion in defense spending -- partly from new weapons like the Lockheed Martin Corp. F-35 Joint Strike Fighter -- to support troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, a trade publication reported on Monday.
In a letter to Congress detailing revised plans for its fiscal 2007 emergency wartime spending request, the White House said it would reduce spending on three aircraft programs by $923 million, freeing up money for armor kits and transport vehicles needed by U.S. troops.

What a crock of shit!!!

So let me get this straight either the assclowns that currently occupy the White House fucked up and didn't allocate enough funds for armor kits and transport vehicles in Iraq they should have KNEW they were going to need so they're shifting funds to cover their ass now OR they always intended to shift the funds and never buy the aircraft in the hopes some asshole reporter would be fooled by this obvious pandering for PR from the WH. God does it ever stop with this White House? They're nothing but friggin' low life scum.

Don't Get Fooled Again

2007-03-12T09:47:00.000-07:00

The really sad part of all this is that IF the neocons who pushed, exaggerated, manipulated and lied to get this war cared about their country in the LONG TERM and not just filling their pockets with $$$ in the SHORT TERM none of this would have happened. These are some very evil people who think of little more than making money no matter who or what they have to step on to do it. Morals, patriotism, and compassion for their fellow man are things they consider a weakness. Any one who supported or still supports this war basically supported making a bunch of super rich people more rich at the expense of themselves, their family, and their country. Some would say the aftermath of the invasion was poorly planned. I say the people who brought you this unnecessary war planned it out very well. The longer this "war" goes the richer they get. And in 20 or 30 years, when people forget, they'll try it again. Vietnam was essentially the same thing as Iraq. A waste for American tax payers that made a bunch of rich guys even richer. Don't get fooled again.

Priests to Purify Site After Bush Visit

2007-03-09T10:14:00.000-08:00

GUATEMALA CITY -- Mayan priests will purify a sacred archaeological site to eliminate "bad spirits" after President Bush visits next week, an official with close ties to the group said Thursday.

Can we get those guys to come to Washington DC? The Republicans would scatter like cockroaches when a light is turned on. Heck Dick Cheney would burst into flames, Ted Stevens would probably melt, and Karl Rove would probably fall to the ground, turn into a few hundred bats and fly away.

The Damage Done By Libby

2007-03-06T10:49:00.000-08:00

When Plame was outed, everyone associated with the Brewster Jennings cover was outed. This group was responsible for tracking weapons of mass destruction around the world, and may well have foiled a plot to smuggle WMDs into Iraq, North Korea, Iran, Mexico or even the US that could have been stopped.

This at best severely damaged CIA covert operations and national security and at worst did all that and got some agents killed.

Feel free to argue the trivia of legality but this did severe damage to our safety as a nation and the safety of all the other agents and their contacts under the Brewster Jennings cover. How any American can defend this is beyond my comprehension.

Libby got off light. He should be hanging from a rope IMO.

Ughhh!!! The Members of the Libby Jury Are a Bunch of Morons

2007-03-03T09:10:00.000-08:00

This might not bode well for justice being served...

The other day they requested a dictionary to look up the meaning of the term 'reasonable doubt.' The judge denied the request. The jury instructions they received included three whole pages explaining the concept in excruciating detail. This is why the judge denied the request. Exactly how dumb are these people? I guess the verdict will go a long way toward answering that question once and for all.

A dozen informed people, under oath, contradicted Libby's statements...this isn't that hard to figure out.

More Nonsense From BushCo

2007-02-21T11:30:00.000-08:00

Bush hails UK pullout as 'sign of success'

Tony Blair's announcement today that Britain is to withdraw about 1,600 troops from Iraq over the coming months shows that US-led operations in the country are succeeding, American leaders say.

President George W Bush views the plan to cut British forces to about 5,000 by the end of the summer as "a sign of success", according to a US National Security Council spokesman, Gordon Johndroe.

OK...If the UK's announcement of a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq is a "sign of success" why can't the announcement of a timetable for withdrawal by American troops be the same "success"???

A Poor Decision, the US Has Lost Its Way

2007-02-20T10:02:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON - Guantanamo Bay detainees may not challenge their detention in U.S. courts, a federal appeals court said Tuesday in a ruling upholding a key provision of a law at the center of President Bush's anti-terrorism plan.

I'm really disappointed in our justice system today. This court decision is completely wrong and goes against the very basic concepts of human rights and justice IMO.

Now I know the "conservatives" are going to be "thinking" terrorists shouldn't get the same rights as Americans. The problem is, the detainees at GITMO may or may not be terrorists...we don't know what they are...because they can't get a trial...everyone see the problem now?

Tony Snow Might Actually Have a Point

2007-02-19T13:24:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The White House on Sunday disagreed with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's claim that the Iraq war was "the worst foreign policy mistake" in U.S. history.

Tony Snow might have a point (and not just the one on his head).

Reducing forces in Afghanistan, encouraging the spread of nuclear weapons, driving much of Latin America into the Castro camp, walking away from peace negotiations with Israel and Palestine, encouraging and wallowing in the hatred of the rest of the world's nations, refusing to cooperate in international efforts to curb climate change, undercutting the Geneva Conventions, holding out on concessions to the North Koreans until after they tested a few nukes and then giving in....all of these are definitely in the running for the "worst".

Flying Saucers, a Flood, George W. Bush, and Iraq

2007-02-19T13:18:00.000-08:00

On December 20 1954, a woman known as Marion Keech gathered her followers in her garden in Lake City, Illinois, and waited for midnight, when flying saucers were supposed to land and save them from huge floods about to engulf the planet.

As dawn rose on December 21 with no flying saucer in sight, Keech had another revelation. Sananda told her that the group's advanced state of enlightenment had saved the entire planet. They rejoiced and called a press conference. "A man with a conviction is a hard man to change," wrote Festinger in his book on the cult, When Prophecy Fails. "Tell him you disagree and he turns away. Show him facts and figures and he questions your sources. Appeal to logic and he fails to see your point."

George Bush is a man of conviction and clearly a hard man to change. When reality confronts his plans he does not alter them but instead alters his understanding of reality. Like Keech and her crew, he stands with a tight band of followers, both deluded and determined, understanding each setback not as a sign to change course but as further proof that they must redouble their efforts to the original goal.

And here we sit and watch plans for an attack on Iran unfold even as the official narrative for the run-up to the Iraq war unravels.

Once George Bush has got hold of a bad idea he just can't let it go.

SIX Years Later

2007-02-17T15:05:00.000-08:00

AFTER health care premiums have risen 87% in six years...

Bush: fixing health care is "urgent priority"

Worst president ever.

Bush Tells 8% of the Truth and Protects His Saudi Oil Friends

2007-02-16T14:41:00.000-08:00

Only 8% of the GI's killed in Iraq have come about as a result of Iran supplying weapons to the Shiite Militias.

It's the Sunnis (you know Saddam Hussein's people) who are overwelming responsible for killing and wounding US Troops - and who supports the Sunnis?

Saudis reportedly funding Iraqi Sunni insurgents

CAIRO (AP) — Private Saudi citizens are giving millions of dollars to Sunni insurgents in Iraq and much of the money is used to buy weapons, including shoulder fired anti-aircraft missiles, according to key Iraqi officials and others familiar with the flow of cash.

Saudi government officials deny that any money from their country is being sent to Iraqis fighting the government and the U.S.-led coalition.

But the U.S. Iraq Study Group report said Saudis are a source of funding for Sunni Arab insurgents. Several truck drivers interviewed by The Associated Press described carrying boxes of cash from Saudi Arabia into Iraq, money they said was headed for insurgents

(thanks to red_state_mess on the HAL board for pointing this out. I hope someday he gets a blog. I'd read it daily.)

Soul, Conscience, & Principles...Things Most Religious ''Conservatives'' Don't Have

2007-02-16T07:03:00.000-08:00

On the escalation:

Those who say they attend religious services weekly were more supportive of the administration's move to increase U.S. troops levels in Iraq. But a majority still opposed that idea.

Attend church weekly: 46% favor troop increase, 53% oppose.
Nearly weekly/monthly: 35% favor, 62% oppose.
Seldom/never: 34% favor, 63% oppose.

Those who say they attend religious services weekly were the least likely to support the idea of Congress setting a timetable to bring U.S. forces home by the end of next year. But a majority still supported the proposal.

Attend church weekly: 56% support, 41% oppose.
Nearly weekly/monthly: 68% support, 31% oppose
Seldom/never: 65% support, 33% oppose

Just goes to show that going to church (you know the place where they preach "thou shalt not kill") doesn't give someone moral superiority over those that don't attend church. Giving up on the very principles of ones beliefs (in this case religious beliefs) shows how weak and unprincipled many of these people are.

I know...I know...some "conservative" is going to tell us "but we gots to kill them crazy murderous religious nuts for they get us and our kin".

Of course they never think there are people in Iraq targeting Americans saying "but we gots to kill them crazy murderous religious nuts for they get us and our kin".

The irony is overwelming.

Quote of the Day

2007-02-14T17:27:00.000-08:00

“The benefits were temporary, the bodybags were permanent.” — Rep. Ric Keller (R-FL), on past escalation efforts and why he’s opposing the current one.

''But It's OK 'Cuz We're the Good Guys''

2007-02-11T19:40:00.000-08:00

Tonight, I had an interesting but frustrating conversation with an acquaintance named Alan. I was having dinner with him and some other people and he had Fox Noise on (yuck) before we ate. The "reporters" were babbling about how insurgents were allegedly being armed with weapons from Iran and said they could tell from serial numbers, etc.

Alan said "We should nuke Iran and that would fix the problem"

I explained "That really isn't an option and you have to admit it's pretty crazy to suggest such a thing because you'd be paying $500 for a barrel of oil and you'd kill a lot of innocent people"

Alan said "Yeah you're right but we gotta do something because it's not right that they're arming our enemies."

I said "Well would you expect anything different? We did the EXACT SAME THING during the Iraq-Iran war by arming Iraq against Iran. Isn't Iran just doing what we did to them? Why is it right for us to arm their enemy but they can't arm ours? They're just doing what we did to them."

He said "Well yeah it's the same thing...but we're the good guys."

I said "Sometimes there aren't good guys and everything is sort of dark gray"

He let it drop after that but what bothers me is this guy is a fairly vocal born again Christian (ugh!). The born again thing sort of explains his immature, narrow minded, black and white world view but suggesting the nuking of another country would seem to go against all of his alleged "beliefs".

It amazes me how many followers there are in this world that don't ever bother to look at who and what they are following even when it goes against all their beliefs.

Bill Kristol Makes A Complete Ass Out of Himself And Doesn't Even Know It

2007-02-11T09:30:00.000-08:00

Kristol: Obama Is ‘The Opposite Of Lincoln,’ Would Have Been Pro-Slavery

Yesterday, Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) announced his candidacy for president in Springfield, IL, where Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous “House Divided” address. In his speech, Obama reiterated his call to redeploy U.S. forces out of Iraq by March 2008.

This morning on Fox News Sunday, Weekly Standard editor William Kristol attacked Obama’s Iraq policy, saying he wants to appease terrorists like pro-slavery politician Stephen Douglas tried to appease slave-owners. Kristol said, “Obama’s speech is a ‘can’t we get along’ speech — sort of the opposite of Lincoln. He would have been with Stephen Douglas in 1858.”

Stephen Douglas supported the Dred Scott Supreme Court decision of 1857, and took the pro-slavery position that each territory should decide whether or not to allow slave-owning.

Ooops!!! That might be the dumbest thing Kristol has ever said and he's about the biggest moron on Fox News although Kristol does have alot of competition.

Giuliani Waves Goodbye to the Independent Vote and Any Slim Chance He Had To Be President

2007-02-11T09:02:00.000-08:00

Praises Bush and Says His Ideas Come From God

Way to lose an election before you even start there Rudy...

(02-11) 04:00 PST Sacramento -- Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, arguing that America is in desperate need of a Ronald Reagan-style optimistic vision, told California Republicans on Saturday that he wants to be a president who will "win the world for a set of ideas ... that I believe come from God."

...

In his 45-minute address and in remarks to reporters afterward, Giuliani lavished praise on President Bush, insisting Bush will have "a very strong place in history," in part because of his "very brave and very wise" decision to go after al Qaeda in Afghanistan (WHICH HE SCREWED UP AND ABANDONED TO GO INTO IRAQ FOR NO REASON) after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

And please don't even get me started on McCain who already lost most of his independent backing.

Quote of the Day

2007-02-07T07:34:00.000-08:00

"They've lost the argument and they don't want to stop dumping all this pollution into the Earth's atmosphere. The only thing they have left is cash and now they're offering cash for so-called skeptics who will try to confuse people about what the science really say. But it's unethical because now the time has come when we have to act."

-- Al Gore, quoted by CNN, on how the American Enterprise Institute is paying scientists to dispute global warming.

How Convenient for Libby

2007-02-07T06:50:00.000-08:00

On grand jury audiotapes played at his trial yesterday, Scooter Libby claimed he learned about Valerie Plame’s CIA identity from Vice President Cheney, “forgot it, then learned it again from NBC News reporter Tim Russert a month later.”

Too bad none of the parade of reporters and government officials they've had on the stand agrees with that. Amazing that he was telling reporters this information weeks and days before he even spoke to Russert.

I think Libby just divulged another secret...the US apparently has a working time machine. It's the only way for Libby to learn something and tell all these people about Plame before he allegedly knew it...well either that or he committed perjury.

The US Press Is So Incompetent and Lazy

2007-02-07T06:47:00.000-08:00

One of the main headlines on Yahoo/Reuters today...

U.S. Sent Pallets of Cash to Baghdad

This is NOT news. It's history and has been widely reported for quite sometime. Here's my blog entry from TWO YEARS ago.

Why in the Hell are they making a big stink about it now...other than the fact that we now have actual government oversight with the Democrats in charge of Congress. I guess the government finally got around to telling the US press about something that happened FOUR YEARS ago. Whatever happened to investigative journalism. Apparently the press is still free, they're just incredibly LAZY.

The Definition of Insanity

2007-01-26T08:23:00.000-08:00

...Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result...

“Because I told them it had to.”

“He’s tried this two times — it’s failed twice,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) says of President Bush’s escalation plan. “I asked him at the White House, ‘Mr. President, why do you think this time it’s going to work?’ And he said, ‘Because I told them it had to.‘” Pelosi reportedly then asked, “Why didn’t you tell them that the other two times?“

SOTU Coming Up This Tuesday

2007-01-21T22:18:00.000-08:00

Personally, I wouldn't miss it. It's like watching Tommy Flanagan (played by John Lovitz) from the old Pathological Liars Society skits on Saturday Night Live. With Bush telling outrageous lies and making promises he won't even try to keep it's just pure entertainment...as long as you aren't stupid enough to actually believe anything he says.

Two of my favorites from past SOTU's.

SOTU 2003: President Bush Spoke of Providing All Americans with Affordable Health Care. "We must work toward a system in which all Americans have a good insurance policy, choose their own doctors, and seniors and low-income Americans receive the help they need."

But Health Care Premiums Have Increased by Over 80 Percent. (U.S. Census Bureau, 8/29/06)

SOTU 2002: Bush Said Energy Must Be Made More Affordable. In 2002, President Bush said, "Good jobs also depend on reliable and affordable energy. This Congress must act to encourage conservation, promote technology, build infrastructure, and it must act to increase energy production at home so America is less dependent on foreign oil."

But Under Bush Prices Have Climbed. Heating Costs Have Increased 64 Percent. Gas Prices 86% Higher.

The SOTU is merely an exercise in Bush making more outrageous lies and promises every year in an attempt to top himself from the year before.

It's True: Bush Proclaims Sunday "National Sanctity of Human Life Day"

2007-01-20T08:59:00.000-08:00

From Bob Geiger:

I swear, I'm not making this up.

In a formal White House proclamation issued Friday, George W. Bush declared January 21 National Sanctity of Human Life Day, 2007.

"America was founded on the principle that we are all endowed by our Creator with the right to life and that every individual has dignity and worth," reads the stirring proclamation. "National Sanctity of Human Life Day helps foster a culture of life and reinforces our commitment to building a compassionate society that respects the value of every human being."

And here's the real kicker: "Among the most basic duties of Government is to defend the unalienable right to life, and my Administration is committed to protecting our society's most vulnerable members," says the hypocritical statement.

Bush then goes on to brag about all the steps his administration has taken to promote his famed "culture of life" saying "we are helping to make our country a more hopeful place."

Naturally, this doesn't take into account the many safety-net programs that have suffered under the Bush administration or that his party has blockaded a minimum wage increase for the last 10 years. What about so many elderly and disabled who have had to do without home heating assistance with Bush's crew running the Congress?

I guess there's also no point in talking about the fact that, since Bush became president, almost eight million more Americans have no medical coverage of any kind or that his refusal to even acknowledge a health care crisis has left millions of elderly Americans and children with no ability to stay healthy. But, hey, once that little cell becomes a child, the GOP's obligation to care seems to cease, doesn't it?

But on he goes...

"National Sanctity of Human Life Day serves as a reminder that we must value human life in all forms, not just those considered healthy, wanted, or convenient. Together, we can work toward a day when the dignity and humanity of every person is respected."

And, of course, the saddest and most profound hypocrisy is that Bush's little proclamation comes too late for the 3,030 U.S. military dead in Iraq, the thousands of troops who have come home maimed and bearing the scars of Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome or the untold number of Iraqis killed in the name of Bush's life-affirming effort in Iraq.

"I call upon all Americans to recognize this day with appropriate ceremonies and to underscore our commitment to respecting and protecting the life and dignity of every human being," Bush's proclamation ends.

I call upon this sorry excuse for a president to quit issuing proclamations.

We Need an Attorney General That Actually Knows The Law

2007-01-19T12:35:00.000-08:00

(Like I said last year)

Yesterday, during Senate Judiciary Committee hearings, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales claimed there is no express right to habeas corpus in the U.S. Constitution. Gonzales was debating Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) about whether the Supreme Court’s ruling on Guantanamo detainees last year cited the constitutional right to habeas corpus. Gonzales claimed the Court did not cite such a right, then added, “There is no express grant of habeas in the Constitution.”

Specter pushed back. “Wait a minute. The constitution says you can’t take it away, except in the case of rebellion or invasion. Doesn’t that mean you have the right of habeas corpus, unless there is an invasion or rebellion?” Specter told Gonzales, “You may be treading on your interdiction and violating common sense, Mr. Attorney General.”

As has been noted by many, the right of habeas corpus is clear in Article I, Section 9, Clause 2 of the Contitution: “The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.”

Just Because the President Refuses to Listen...

2007-01-13T17:27:00.000-08:00

...doesn’t mean people aren’t speaking.

dailykos:

From Bush’s defensive radio address this morning:

Members of Congress have a right to express their views, and express them forcefully. But those who refuse to give this plan a chance to work have an obligation to offer an alternative that has a better chance for success. To oppose everything while proposing nothing is irresponsible.

All righty, then. I’ll play. Off the top of my head, here are just two examples of what "proposing nothing" looks like, starting with: John Murtha’s plan:

To immediately redeploy U.S. troops consistent with the safety of U.S. forces.
To create a quick reaction force in the region.
To create an over- the- horizon presence of Marines.
To diplomatically pursue security and stability in Iraq.

Then there’s the Iraq Study Group report, first commissioned by the president, then ignored by the president, then the choice to actively pursue the precisely opposite suggestions is made ... by the president:

Our most important recommendations call for new and enhanced diplomatic and political efforts in Iraq and the region, and a change in the primary mission of U.S. forces in Iraq that will enable the United States to begin to move its combat forces out of Iraq responsibly.

...Given the ability of Iran and Syria to influence events within Iraq and their interest in avoiding chaos in Iraq, the United States should try to engage them constructively.

... The primary mission of U.S. forces in Iraq should evolve to one of supporting the Iraqi army, which would take over primary responsibility for combat operations. By the first quarter of 2008, subject to unexpected developments in the security situation on the ground, all combat brigades not necessary for force protection could be out of Iraq.... The United States must not make an openended commitment to keep large numbers of American troops deployed in Iraq.

Now we can collectively play with Google all the live-long day to find a couple hundred non-bone-headed alternatives to Bush’s troop escalation and "scare the living shit out of Iran" strategy. But really, why is the burden on us? Or on Congress? Newly elected Congressional representative Chris Murphy said it best during his campaign last August:

"It is like dropping a raw egg and asking me what my plans are for putting it back together."

This is your omelet, Mr. Bush. Unstuff your ears, do some research on what many, many military experts and Congressional leaders have recommended, and figure out how to re-shell your own damn egg. And quit whining in your radio addresses that other people won’t clean up the mess you and you alone have made of the world.

Another Foolish, Unqualified Bush Appointee

2007-01-12T09:02:00.000-08:00

...but then again is there any other kind?

“I would confess I’m no expert on Iraq.” – Defense Secretary Robert Gates, during congressional hearings yesterday. “Later, asked about reaching the right balance between American and Iraqi forces, he told the panel he was ‘no expert on military matters.‘”

Feeling confident in this man's abilities? Yeah...me neither. Reminds me of "Heckuva job Brownie".

FLASHBACK: Bush Says Sending More Troops To Iraq Would ‘Undermine Our Strategy’

2007-01-09T20:47:00.000-08:00

From Think Progress:

On Wednesday night, President Bush is expected to announce plans to escalate the war in Iraq by sending more U.S. troops. On June 28, 2005 — just 18 months ago — Bush said that sending more troops to Iraq would “undermine our strategy of encouraging Iraqis to take the lead” and “suggest that we intend to stay forever.”

Bush prefaced his comments by saying that, “If our commanders on the ground say we need more troops, I will send them.” Last month, Gen. Abizaid revealed that he asked all the commanders on the ground and none of them wanted more troops. Shortly thereafter, Abizaid was replaced.

White House Declares Visitor Logs Top Secret

2007-01-07T08:16:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON — The White House and the Secret Service quietly signed an agreement last spring in the midst of the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal declaring that records identifying visitors to the White House are not open to the public.

But they think it's OK to open our mail and and listen to our phone calls.

I think we (the people) have a right to know who has access to our government officials.

These aren't nuclear launch codes, aircraft carrier coordinates or anything else with national security implications.

It's simply a list of people who drove down a public street, turned into a public driveway and walked into a public building to meet with a publicly elected official.

The government can know every movie I've ever rented, every book I've ever read. But what they do while representing us is top secret????

Why does the Bush Administration behave like a common banana republic tin pot dictator, instead of the leader of the free world?

Bush: Congress Must Limit Pork Spending

2007-01-05T16:47:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON - President Bush said Wednesday he'll submit a proposal to balance the budget in five years and exhorted Congress to "end the dead of night process" of quietly tucking expensive pet projects into spending bills.

Well OK, putting aside the fact that the Democrats ALREADY pledged to do this where the Hell was Bush for the last SIX YEARS when the GOP was setting records for pork? Sheesh!!!

I don't want to use the word liar yet again when referring to Bush but in 2000, the Bush-Cheney campaign website said that to "restore confidence in government," President Bush would "attack pork-barrel spending." You be the judge of how truthful that statement was...

Number of Pork Projects in Federal Spending Bills (GOP running things)

2005 - 13,997
2004 - 10,656
2003 - 9,362
2002 - 8,341
2001 - 6,333
2000 - 4,326
1999 - 2,838
1998 - 2100
1997 - 1,596
1996 - 958
1995 - 1439

It is almost laughable how out of control this is until you realize you and I are paying for this. But NOW that the Democrats are in charge Bush wants to do something about this. What a hypocritical fool.

ABC News Survey: 33 Senators Say They Were Wrong To Vote For War In Iraq

2007-01-05T11:57:00.000-08:00

In Oct. 2002, 77 senators voted to give President Bush authorization to go to war in Iraq. Just 23 senators voted against it.

But according to a new ABC News survey, 33 out of the original 77 senators “indicated they would vote differently knowing then what they know now.” Five senators — including three Republicans — said that in retrospect, the intelligence was so wrong that the matter should never have even been brought to a vote. These results would mean that a vote to authorize war in Iraq today would be 43-57, and the resolution would fail.

ABC News senior political correspondent Jake Tapper presented the survey results today on Good Morning America, noting that the survey of the senators was “a stunning repudiation of their own votes, the prewar intelligence, and the war itself.”

According to a December CBS News poll, just 39 percent of the American public now believes that the “United States did the right thing in taking military action against Iraq.”

Un-Curious George Learns a Lesson

2007-01-05T09:09:00.000-08:00

"No back rubs."

-- President Bush, quoted by the Washington Wire, at the end of a joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Bush grabbed the headlines last summer after giving Merkel an awkward back rub at a summit.

McCain Claims He Knew Iraq War Would Be ‘Long And Hard And Tough,’ Contradicting Pre-War Statements

2007-01-05T09:04:00.000-08:00

Today on MSNBC, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) claimed that he knew the Iraq war was “probably going to be long and hard and tough,” and that he was “sorry” for those who voted for the war believing it would be “some kind of an easy task.” “Maybe they didn’t know what they were voting for,” McCain said.

In fact, during the run-up to war in 2002 and 2003, McCain repeatedly described the prospects of war in the rosiest terms, declaring the U.S. would “win easily”:

“Because I know that as successful as I believe we will be, and I believe that the success will be fairly easy, we will still lose some American young men or women.” [CNN, 9/24/02]

“We’re not going to get into house-to-house fighting in Baghdad. We may have to take out buildings, but we’re not going to have a bloodletting of trading American bodies for Iraqi bodies.” [CNN, 9/29/02]

“But the point is that, one, we will win this conflict. We will win it easily.” [MSNBC, 1/22/03]

Lott: I May Oppose Troop Escalation

2007-01-05T08:50:00.000-08:00

Yesterday on MSNBC, Trent Lott (R-MS), the second ranking Republican in the Senate, said that he may oppose troop escalation in Iraq.

Transcript:

Matthews: Is there a chance you’ll say no to the surge?

Lott: There is.

Lott’s comments are particularly significant because, as the Minority Whip, he’s responsible for bringing his caucus in line with the Senate leadership’s position. If he’s not for escalation in Iraq, it’s unlikely there will be any serious effort in the Senate to get other members of his caucus to support it.

Bush Says Government Can Now Open Your Mail Without a Warrant

2007-01-04T08:49:00.000-08:00

“President Bush has quietly claimed sweeping new powers to open Americans’ mail without a judge’s warrant,” the New York Daily News reports. “The President asserted his new authority when he signed a postal reform bill into law on Dec. 20. Bush then issued a ’signing statement’ that declared his right to open people’s mail under emergency conditions.”

Bush Ignores Law, Fails To Appoint Policy Coordinator For North Korea

2007-01-04T08:41:00.000-08:00

From Think Progress:

Since President Bush has been in office, North Korea has developed 10-11 bombs worth of plutonium, suitable for use in nuclear weapons, and conducted its first nuclear weapons test. All of the administration’s efforts to control North Korea’s nuclear program have failed.

Congress decided something had to be done. On Sept. 30, 2006, Congress passed the 2007 National Defense Authorization Act, which required the President to appoint a Coordinator of Policy on North Korea to “provide policy direction and leadership for negotiations with North Korea relating to nuclear weapons.”

Bush signed the act into law on Oct. 17, 2006. The law required Bush to make the appointment within 60 days.

The 60 days were up on Dec. 16, 2006, which was 19 days ago. The situation in North Korea continues to deteriorate, but Bush still won’t act.

Iraq Civil War Update

2007-01-04T08:37:00.000-08:00

Six months ago, U.S. forces in Diyala province “hoped security would improve” with the death of Abu Musab Zarqawi. “Instead, security has collapsed” in the area and “attacks have more than doubled in the last year.” “Violence has devastated the provincial police force and brought reconstruction to a virtual standstill.”

Ummm Hasn't Bush Been In Office for SIX years?

2007-01-04T08:31:00.000-08:00

Bush aims to balance budget by 2012

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush said on Wednesday the budget he presents to Congress next month will aim to balance the budget by 2012 and make lower tax rates permanent.

Why the hell didn't he submit this proposal in 2001 when he came into office...before he ran up 3 TRILLION in debt? ...when he had a GOP led Congress? ...when he could have balanced the budget WHILE IN OFFICE?

The sheer gaul and ignorance of this moron is awe inspiring.

How to Cut Foreign Oil Useage By 20%

2006-07-14T07:50:00.000-07:00

Number of barrels of oil saved if automakers updated mileage standards to "real world" driving conditions, according to a new report: 710 million

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/15023946.htm

Political Party Agendas Summarized

2006-07-13T13:25:00.000-07:00

Democratic Agenda: Help me help you

Republican Agenda: Help me fuck you

Bush Celebrates Fourth Largest Deficit In History

2006-07-11T07:40:00.000-07:00

Today, the Office of Management Budget projected a $296 billion federal deficit for fiscal year 2006. Bush held a press conference arguing that this is a vindication of his economic policies.

Actually, it would be the fourth largest deficit of all time. Here’s the top five:

1. 2004 (George W. Bush) $413 billion
2. 2003 (George W. Bush) $378 billion
3. 2005 (George W. Bush) $318 billion
4. 2006 (George W. Bush) $296 billion (projected)
5. 1992 (Geroge H. W. Bush) $290 billion

When President Bush came into office, he inherited a surplus of $284 Billion. At that time, the Bush administration predicted a $516 billion surplus for 2006.

The fact that Bush now considers a $296 billion deficit an occasion to celebrate shows how far we’ve fallen.

Of course this $296 billion number is complete bunk. The unified budget deficit was projected by the CBO to be $336 billion this year. Now they say it will be $296 billion.

There will be a projected $180 billion surplus in Social Security this year that they will "borrow" that doesn't count against the deficit number, meaning the CBO projected on-budget deficit is actually around $480 billion.

The supplemental request this year is around $107 billion. That pushes the real deficit to around $587 billion -- which is around what Bush and the Republicans have averaged since they got a lock on power, leading to $2.6 trillion in new debt so far. This, after we were running actual, on-budget surpluses which were reducing the debt.

And Bush is proud of this???

What a fool.

The Illogical Midset Of George W. Bush

2006-07-08T15:19:00.000-07:00

George W. Bush on Larry King Live:

"It's easy to lose resolve if you made decisions based upon polls. If you make decisions based upon what you believe in your heart of hearts, you stay resolved. And what we're doing is hard. But what we're doing is going to make this country more secure. And what we're doing is going to lay that foundation for peace."

Check out that false dichotomy: choices based on polls or choices based on beliefs. It's a rather amazing reflection of this guy's mindset that he never even bothers to try to assert that he makes decisions based on facts...probably because he NEVER does.

Does Anyone Else See The Irony??

2006-07-04T11:48:00.000-07:00

Does anyone else see the irony of President Bush declaring every Memorial Day as a day of prayer for permanent peace after he involved the US in an unnecessary war in Iraq based on lies with no exit plan and he refuses to even discuss the criteria for when the war will actually end.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/05/20060516-5.html

Bush: Osama who??

2006-07-04T10:10:00.000-07:00

The CIA unit dedicated to hunting Osama Bin Laden was closed late last year. “Michael Scheuer, a former senior C.I.A. official who was the first head of the unit, said the move reflected a view within the agency that Mr. bin Laden was no longer the threat he once was. Mr. Scheuer said that view was mistaken.”

The Do Nothing GOP Congress

2006-06-28T10:00:00.000-07:00

The House will vote on a conservative-backed resolution “today or Thursday” that is expected to attack The New York Times for its recent disclosure of the government’s secret monitoring of Americans’ bank transactions.

And...

On the Senate floor yesterday, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) said there was nothing the Senate could be doing that was more important than banning flag burning.

Really???

How's that immigration bill coming?

Terrorism has quadupled. Any useful thoughts on curbing that?

The investigation into the use of Iraq intel we've waited 3 years for?

Relief from high gas prices during this energy crisis?

How about the rising deficits?

Any headway on helping solve global warming?

Perhaps you could tell us what you're doing about 45 million Americans without health insurance?

How about the 37 million Americans living in poverty?

Any progress on fixing the chaos in Iraq?

How about inadequate cargo inspection?

Nope. Didn't have time to get to any of these because of the "important issues" of the day like flag burning, gay marriage, and attacking freedom of the press because the press FINALLY figured out Bush is a unqualified, dangerous fool.

Vote the GOP out in November 2006. They obviously aren't up to the job of governing this nation.

Cheney Makes a Fool of Himself AGAIN

2006-06-26T08:30:00.000-07:00

"Withdrawing troops by a certain deadline -- a Democratic proposal knocked down in the Senate [last] Thursday -- is a 'terrible idea,' [Vice President Dick] Cheney said."
-- Chicago Sun-Times, 6/24/06

VERSUS

"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."
-- New York Times, 6/25/06

U.S. Senate votes: stay the course

2006-06-22T10:59:00.000-07:00

The GOP warmongers are in for an awful surprise in November.

U.S. Senate votes: stay the course. The Senate has voted 60-39 against an amendment to begin redeploying U.S. forces out of Iraq by the end of 2006. See how your senators voted.

Grouped By Vote Position YEAs ---39
Akaka (D-HI)
Baucus (D-MT)
Bayh (D-IN)
Biden (D-DE)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Boxer (D-CA)
Byrd (D-WV)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Carper (D-DE)
Chafee (R-RI)
Clinton (D-NY)
Conrad (D-ND)
Dodd (D-CT)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feingold (D-WI)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Harkin (D-IA)
Inouye (D-HI)
Jeffords (I-VT)
Johnson (D-SD)
Kennedy (D-MA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Kohl (D-WI)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Levin (D-MI)
Lincoln (D-AR)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murray (D-WA)
Obama (D-IL)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Salazar (D-CO)
Sarbanes (D-MD)
Schumer (D-NY)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Wyden (D-OR)

NAYs ---60
Alexander (R-TN)
Allard (R-CO)
Allen (R-VA)
Bennett (R-UT)
Bond (R-MO)
Brownback (R-KS)
Bunning (R-KY)
Burns (R-MT)
Burr (R-NC)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Coburn (R-OK)
Cochran (R-MS)
Coleman (R-MN)
Collins (R-ME)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Craig (R-ID)
Crapo (R-ID)
Dayton (D-MN)
DeMint (R-SC)
DeWine (R-OH)
Dole (R-NC)
Domenici (R-NM)
Ensign (R-NV)
Enzi (R-WY)
Frist (R-TN)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hagel (R-NE)
Hatch (R-UT)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Isakson (R-GA)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Lieberman (D-CT)
Lott (R-MS)
Lugar (R-IN)
Martinez (R-FL)
McCain (R-AZ)
McConnell (R-KY)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Pryor (D-AR)
Roberts (R-KS)
Santorum (R-PA)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Smith (R-OR)
Snowe (R-ME)
Specter (R-PA)
Stevens (R-AK)
Sununu (R-NH)
Talent (R-MO)
Thomas (R-WY)
Thune (R-SD)
Vitter (R-LA)
Voinovich (R-OH)
Warner (R-VA)

Not Voting - 1
Rockefeller (D-WV)

http://senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congres s=109&session=2&vote=00182

Dubai Still Controls American Ports

2006-06-20T08:14:00.000-07:00

CNN reports that Dubai is still controlling 22 US ports, and that Congress silently killed legislation that would have helped ensure the ports stay American-owned. Lou Dobbs thinks the Republican Congress and the Bush White House have played a fast one on the American people. Lou is right.

Dubai is one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Let's look at the UAE record on terrorism shall we:

The UAE was one of three countries in the world to recognize the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan.

The UAE has been a key transfer point for illegal shipments of nuclear components to Iran, North Korea and Lybia.

According to the FBI, money was transferred to the 9/11 hijackers through the UAE banking system.

After 9/11, the Treasury Department reported that the UAE was not cooperating in efforts to track down Osama Bin Laden's bank accounts.

We bomb Iraq which had nothing to do with 9/11, yet we hand UAE the keys to our ports.

That's the Bush Administration in action.

Bush Made North Korea the Problem It is Today

2006-06-16T07:37:00.000-07:00

Bush's yee-hah foreign policy, where he shoots first and askes questions 3 years later, has made North Korea the mess it is now.

Jan. 29, 2002: Bush labels North Korea, Iran and Iraq an "axis of evil" in his State of the Union address. "By seeking weapons of mass destruction, these regimes pose a grave and growing danger," he says.

Dec. 12 2002: North Korea reactivates nuclear facilities at Yongbyon that were frozen under the 1994 deal with the United States.

Dec. 13 2002: North Korea asks the U.N. nuclear watchdog to remove monitoring seals and cameras from its nuclear facilities.

Dec. 14 2002: The U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency urges North Korea to retract its decision to reactivate its nuclear facilities and abide by its obligations under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.

Dec. 21 2002: North Korea removes monitoring seals and cameras from its nuclear facilities

So there you go the cameras were in place the nuclear facilities were shut down, N. Korea was being monitored and everything was fine when CLINTON was dealing with this.

THEN Dubya comes along and starts shooting his mouth off like the arrogant ass he is and suddenly the nuclear facilities are reactivated, the cameras are removed and N. Korea is no longer being monitored.

Then of course he sent another arrogant ass with a big mouth to try to bully the North Koreans named JOHN BOLTON who insulted the N. Koreans so much he had to be pulled from the talks. That guy ias now our main "diplomat" at the United Nations...imagine that??

Let’s review the progress of North Korea’s nuclear program during the last three administrations:

1. George H. W. Bush: one to two bombs’ worth of plutonium

2. Bill Clinton: zero plutonium

3. George W. Bush: 4-6 nuclear weapons’ worth of plutonium

Anyone else see a pattern?

Another Big Difference

2006-06-16T07:03:00.000-07:00

When DeLay was indicted the GOP changed the rules so that he could stay on all his committees. Previously, by law anyone under indictment could not sit on committees. The Democrats actually deal with their members when corruption arises. The GOP just encourages more corruption.

The House Democratic caucus voted tonight to strip Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA) of his seat on the Ways & Means Committee. Jefferson is currently under criminal investigation for allegedly accepting bribes to help a technology company win several contracts and business deals. He had been asked to voluntarily give up the seat but refused.

And the Worst Comparison of the Day....

2006-06-15T14:07:00.000-07:00

goes to House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL), encouraging his colleagues to vote for the sham Iraq resolution during today’s debate on the Iraq war:

"We in this Congress must show the same steely resolve as those men and women on United flight 93, the same sense of duty as the first responders who headed up the stairs of the Twin Towers. We must stand firm in our commitment to fight terrorism and the evil it inflicts around the world."

Gheesh...Talk about an inflated sense of self importance. I'm surprised he didn't hurt his back kissing his own ass like that.

Idiot of the Day: Ben Roethlisberger

2006-06-12T11:55:00.000-07:00

If you are a professional athlete why would you be so stupid as to ride a motorcycle???

Roethlisberger
Winslow
Williams

On the positive side, if Roethlisberger got brain damage in the crash he could be a future GOP presidential candidate.

So let me get this straight....

2006-06-09T08:51:00.000-07:00

There was enough money (let's all pretend the deficit doesn't exist la la la la la) to give a massive tax cut to the children of MILLIONAIRES inheriting money they didn't earn but there isn't even a fraction of what that would cost to keep Sesame Street on the air to educate everyone's children?

“House Republicans yesterday revived their efforts to slash funding for public broadcasting, as a key committee approved a $115 million reduction in the budget for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting that could force the elimination of some popular PBS and NPR programs,” the Boston Globe reports.

That's some "logic" the GOP has got there.

Well...On to the next non-issue

2006-06-07T10:41:00.000-07:00

Now that the Marriage Amendment is dead...again, the Republican Senate is now free to move on to other hot button social issues in its valiant attempt to avoid talking about rising deficits, global warming, chaos in Iraq, inadequate cargo inspection, and the other burning issues of the day that Republicans are incapable of confronting. Speaking of burning, the next non-issue Republicans will raise to distract voters is likely to be a recycled attempt to amend the Constitution to prohibit flag burning. Have you seen much flag burning in the U.S. lately?

I'm still waiting for someone to explain this...

2006-06-01T09:46:00.001-07:00

US, Spain caught in Libya missile mixup
By Tito Drago

MADRID - The US government needs to explain why the missile shipment on a vessel intercepted a year ago on the high seas by the Spanish navy ended up in Libya, a spokesman from Spain's Defense Ministry said this week.

The official was referring to declarations made by sources from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to the Madrid daily El Mundo that claim 15 complete Scud missiles, a set of conventional warheads and 85 containers of chemical products - some 20 holding nitric acid - were ultimately delivered to Libya under a Washington decision.

The episode began on December 5, 2002, when US intelligence services informed Madrid about the route of a freighter named So San, which they suspected of trafficking weapons and which was, at the time, crossing a zone under Spain's authority in the Indian Ocean. Four days later, a Spanish frigate and warship intercepted the So San after ordering the captain to halt and firing warning shots. The vessel was found to be sailing under the Cambodian flag.

The weapons and chemicals came from North Korea and did not appear on the ship's manifest, which showed only that the merchant vessel was carrying bags of cement. After intercepting the freighter, Spain then handed the ship over to the US Navy. Immediate official explanations out of Washington and Madrid said the missiles might have been headed for the al-Qaeda network, which the US government holds responsible for the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. However, just hours later, the US administration took Spain by surprise by turning the So San over to Yemen, explaining that the cargo was actually a legal shipment of weapons purchased from North Korea by the Yemini government.

The handover was preceded by a telephone conversation between US Vice President Dick Cheney and Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh. When that conversation was made public, the White House justified the move by calling Yemen a friendly nation. So what initially came off as a brilliant Spanish military operation to prevent illegal trade in weapons of mass destruction was reduced to a suspected manipulation directed from Washington, with Madrid in the role of receiving and carrying out orders that were not very clear in their purpose.

The NATO sources cited in El Mundo said that at the time the shipment was intercepted, the United States was secretly negotiating the possibility that Libya would accept Saddam Hussein, then still president of Iraq, in exile. And Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who played the role of go-between during the Gulf War in 1991 by assisting in Iraq's withdrawal from Kuwait, had hopes of gaining access to the weapons.

"Gaddafi wanted the missiles and Yemen acted as intermediary. In the context of gestures with Libya, it was decided to look the other way, given that there was no international regulation that impeded it," said the newspaper, citing sources from the Pentagon.

Today, as it was a year ago, Madrid's reaction of disappointment regarding the United States' handling of the shipment was immediate, but not very explicit, because Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar continues to be a staunch, unconditional supporter of the policies of his US counterpart, President George W Bush.

As a result, the opposition United Left (IU) has announced that it will petition Defense Minister Federico Trillo to inform parliament about the country's participation, "past and present", in relation to the case of the weapons shipment. Madrid's handling of the issue "is one more demonstration of [Aznar's] erratic foreign policy and his troubling submission and total dependence on the policy marked by the US," IU general coordinator Gaspar Llamazares said. "The IU is highly concerned that Spain is extending political and commercial ties to a country that does not provide any democratic guarantees," such as Libya, he added.

Neither the Spanish government nor the opposition and civil-society organizations categorize the Gaddafi regime as terrorist and they agree on the need to facilitate his integration into the international community. In fact, Spain has not drawn up a list of countries it considers terrorist, noted a Foreign Ministry spokesperson, but the United States has, and Libya, which figures on that list, is subject to a commercial and military embargo. No US company is authorized to sell weapons to Libya directly or indirectly, nor to facilitate the delivery of arms.

When the United Nations Security Council lifted sanctions against Libya, then-US ambassador James Cunningham abstained from the vote, stating that Washington did not want to give the idea that it believed Libya had done an about-face, because, said the ambassador, the country continued to try to obtain weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles. But things appear to have changed radically, given that the weapons shipment intercepted by Spain, and which ended up in Libya, includes such arms.

Why was the US involved in brokering a deal to get WMD to Libya in 2002?

Why would Libya then turn around and give up these same weapons in 2003?

Seems awful strange that the US is involved in a weapons deal that allows WMD to go to Libya via Yemen and then 3 months later begins brokering a deal to eliminate WMD in Libya. We essentially provide them with WMD to take them away???!!!!

What an Amazing ''Coincidence''

2006-05-26T11:45:00.000-07:00

HOUSTON, United States (AFP) - Former Enron chiefs Kenneth Lay and Jeffrey Skilling faced spending the rest of their lives in prison after a jury found them guilty of fraud and conspiracy in the collapse of the energy giant.

The verdicts delivered Thursday at the end of a 108-day trial drew a line under an era of corporate mega scandals in which Enron, Worldcom and Tyco collapsed under tens of billions of dollars of debt.

Prosecutors accused Lay, 64, and Skilling, 52, of setting up an elaborate scheme to deceive investors over Enron's crumbling finances prior to what was then the largest corporate bankruptcy in US history.

Skilling was found guilty of 19 of 28 counts of fraud and conspiracy and faces a maximum penalty of 185 years in jail.

Lay, 64, a prominent Republican fund raiser, was found guilty of six fraud and conspiracy charges, and federal bank fraud charges in a separate trial. He faces a maximum of 165 years in jail.

They will be sentenced on September 11.

I'm sure it's just a "coincidence" that Lay and Skilling will be sentenced on 9/11/2006, the five year anniversary of 9-11.

Some other coincidences of note:

1) Halliburton has made a shit load of money with their Ex-CEO in the White House.

2) Diebold machines that had errors usually had errors in George Bush's favor.

3) George Bush Sr. was meeting with Osama bin Laden's brother, Shafig bin Laden, in the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Washington, on the morning of 9/11.

4) The RNC convention was held just miles from Ground Zero.

Tax Cuts For The Rich

2006-05-26T11:31:00.000-07:00

I love these people that still try to justify tax cuts for the rich because they say the rich pay most of the taxes and the poor pay no income tax. So? EVERYONE pays taxes.

Take a guy who is making $20,000 a year and needs 90% of his gross income to survive (rent, food, medicine, gas, etc.)

Now, take another guy who is making $2,000,000 a year and needs 1% of his gross income to survive (rent, food, medicine, gas, etc.)

If each of them pays 15% in taxes the one guy has to give up basic things needed to survive to make up for that 5% he can't afford.

The other guy is using 16% of his total gross salary for survival and taxes and still has approximately $1.7 million in disposable income. That sound like the America you want? It seem to me preventing one of my fellow citizens from having to eat out of a garbage is much more important than a millionaire having 84% of his income be disposable. Maybe that makes be a bleeding heart...but at least I have a heart.

Believe whatever you want but...

2006-05-26T11:17:00.000-07:00

Historically low job growth, a declining labor participation rate, declining wages, rising poverty and the worst deterioration in our fiscal situation in history is hardly proof that current fiscal policies are working or should be continued.

Interesting: Take a Look at the Map

2006-05-26T09:38:00.000-07:00

MAP

Before I was Just Pissed Off

2006-04-27T11:55:00.000-07:00

...now I'm offended.

Senate Republicans proposed a $100 rebate check for millions of taxpayers Thursday to counter high gasoline costs, but linked the assistance to drilling in an Alaska wildlife refuge, assuring the measure would face stiff opposition from most Democrats.

We still pay for high gasoline, except we'll pay for it through our income tax and deficit. This $100 for millions of people has to come from somewhere.

Now if you really think about it they are bribing you with your own money to allow the oil companies, that bribe them, to drill on public land. Oh and the oil companies that are gouging you don't have to cough up one red cent. And the GOP plan doesn't even go after wholesale gougers.

They must really think American voters are stupid...half of you did foolishly vote for Bush...so maybe they have a point.

Why The Price of Oil is High In The US

2006-04-26T13:06:00.000-07:00

I've heard a number of very uninformed people insisting this is a supply and demand issue and saying that if we open ANWR, get OPEC to pump more, or drill off shore where it is currently banned we can fix the issue and that's just NOT true. Crude oil supplies are at 8 year highs and demand is average for this time of year.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12280570/from/RL.3/

The problem has many causes but the monetary policy, refined supply and gouging are the main causes.

The monetary policy of the Bush administration has more to do with the high price of gas and oil than anything else. In other words the value of a dollar is the main cause of high gas and oil prices. Record defecits lead to inflation, lower currency valuations, and higher commodity prices.

Oil prices in dollars rose by 162 percent from their low point in January 2002, they climbed by less than half that rate measured in euros, 77 percent. At that rate, oil prices would have only risen to $34 per barrel in October 2004, instead of the actual $52, without changes in the dollar’s value.

A picture, as they say, is worth a thousand words.

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=USDEUR=X&t=5y

As far as refined supply goes, you can pump your brains out but if you don't have the capacity to refine it, pumping more oil is meaningless. If that piece of garbage, corporate welfare, Energy Bill had fixed the refinery BOTTLENECK then this would be a short term problem. Since the GOP decided to take 4 years to create energy legislation that did NOTHING to fix the issue but instead gave energy companies HUGE tax breaks at a time they're making record profits NOTHING got done to fix the bottleneck in refining. A bunch of oil guys did get even richer though.

Anyone who voted for that piece of shit legislation should be voted out of office. Here are their names....

http://realityofitall.blogspot.com/2005/10/corporate-welfare-energy-bill-see-who.html

And yes, the oil companies are price gouging. You'd have to be pretty naive or awful foolish to believe otherwise.

i.e.
Valero Energy Net Profit 2003 = $617 MILLION
Valero Energy Net Profit 2005 = $3.6 BILLION

Exxon Mobil Net Profit 2003 = $21.5 BILLION
Exxon Mobil Net Profit 2005 = $36.1 BILLION

"When speaking to lawmakers and the general public, the oil industry highlights the small profit margins (typically around 8 to 10 percent) that are measured by comparing profits with total revenues. But when oil companies communicate with Wall Street and shareholders, they use a different measurement."

"For example, ExxonMobil's annual report states: 'ExxonMobil believes that return on average capital employed is the most relevant metric for measuring financial performance in a capital-intensive industry' such as petroleum. In 2004, ExxonMobil's global return on average capital employed was 24 percent; its U.S. profit margin for oil drilling was 37 percent and the company's American refining sector enjoyed a 29 percent profit margin. This shows that the company's biggest profits came in the American market, and provides sound footing to implement a windfall profits tax."

http://www.accuracy.org/newsrelease.php?articleId=1214

More demand in the last few years from China and India, oil speculation and of course the matter of a little war in Iraq destabalizing the middle east are some other more minor contributors to high oil and gas prices.

Fox News Anchor to Become White House Press Secretary?

2006-04-25T06:25:00.000-07:00

The White House press office is about to become more fair and balanced. CNN’s Suzanne Malveaux reported last night that “Fox anchor Tony Snow is likely to accept the job as White House press secretary, succeeding Scott McClellan.” Malveaux added that Snow would announce his move “perhaps as early as within the next few days.”

Now let me get this straight...they're hiring a guy from FOX News to say whatever the president wants him to say.

[sarcasm on]
Gee, I wonder if he'll be able to get used to this "new" job.
[sarcasm off]

Fixing Illegal Immigration Is Easy

2006-04-24T20:07:00.000-07:00

Put employers in jail for hiring illegals. Deport illegals one at a time as you catch them. No need to round up all 11-15 million all at once. Hire more folks as needed to catch offenders, use local law enforcement, IRS resources, Homeland Security and volunteers like the Minutemen. Impose heavy fines on any employer caught hiring illegals and make the law breaking employers pay the full price of deporting their illegal employees (on top of the fines) that way it won't cost the taxpayers (i.e. you and me) one red cent.

Also, put up rewards for turning these people in, paid out as a percentage of the mandatory fines collected from the employer. That should bring in bounty hunters which would easily remove the main offenders at little cost.

Also, no public assistance of any kind (except emergency medical care) without proper immigration papers. That includes putting children in public or private school. If emergency medical care is needed it should be granted but the medical staff should be required to verify citizenship within 24 hours for anyone not presenting a valid healthcare card. If the medical staff fails to do so they face fines and 30 days in jail for each violation. The hospital can verify your insurance within 24 hours so they should be able to verify legal status for those without insurance as well. It won't catch everyone but it will catch some.

Problem solved. No jobs, no illegals, no benefits for illegals, and no extra taxpayer dollars needed to fix the issue. It makes perfect sense and that's why the scum in Washington, D.C. will never do it.

Feel free to build fences if enough people think it's necessary with the $$$ produced from the fines. But if there are no jobs this problem is going to be very manageable with or without fences.

For Those Who Still Think Iraq Was A Good Idea

2006-04-21T11:09:00.000-07:00

Annual war spending in Iraq is set to double since the U.S. invasion, having risen from $48 billion in 2003 to $59 billion in 2004 to $81 billion in 2005 to an anticipated $94 billion in 2006. The administration is now spending nearly $10 billion a month in Iraq and Afghanistan, up from $8.2 billion a year ago.

And while the US pisses money down a rathole...

Terrorism is increasing worldwide. “The number of terrorist attacks documented by U.S. intelligence agencies jumped sharply in 2005, crossing the 10,000 mark for the first time,” up from 3,192 attacks in 2004.

Who is Bush Trying to Fool?

2006-04-18T11:59:00.000-07:00

No one with an ounce of sense can possibly believe this (so Bush Supporters definitely believe it.)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush said on Tuesday he is "concerned" about high gasoline prices, and pledged that the U.S. government will keep a close watch out for profiteering.

"I'm concerned about higher gasoline prices," Bush said at a Rose Garden news conference to name new staff appointments.

"The government has the responsibility to make sure that we watch very carefully and investigate possible price-gouging, and we will do just that," Bush said in unprompted remarks about energy prices.

****MEANWHILE...

Exxon Mobil made a record $36.1-billion profit last year but Bush can't for the life him see anyone profiteering off of oil.

Someone save us from this moron.

Bush & GOP Obviously Have No Answers

2006-04-13T13:40:00.000-07:00

The goal of the administration always seems to be to change the American public's perceptions of an issue, rather than to acknowledge reality and change what's actually happening. That is a sure sign these people have no answers to the problems that face this nation, they just don't give a damn, or both.

Iraq, Deficits, Medicare, Terrorism, Ports Deal, Bankruptcy Bill, Jobs, Katrina, Poverty, etc. etc. etc.

It's just one PR campaign after another, one failure after another. These people just don't want to deal with reality. Ignoring facts doesn't make them less true and the one fact that stands out most is Bush has failed to lead this nation in the right direction.

Ask yourself, in what way is the US better off today than before Bush and the GOP came to power?

Honestly, in what way?

Fiscally --- No, the government owes MUCH more money.

Foreign Relations --- No, most countries have a worse view of the US due to the torture, illegal wars, and arrogant US policies.

Environment --- No, Pollution controls have been weakened.

Healthcare --- No, we spend more than any other country in the world and by most measures we've fallen behind.

Border Security --- No, 11 to 15 million undocumented people walking around this country. The unsecured ports, chemical plants, and nuclear facilities compound this issue to one of poor safety and failed national security as well.

Wages --- No, real wages have declined.

Energy --- No, energy costs have skyrocketed.

Moral Values --- No, 81% of the people surveyed in a recent Gallup poll say things are getting worse.

Seriously how are we as a nation better off? What positive things have been achieved here with Bush and the GOP Congress? It looks to me like the GOP (you know the guys allegedly in charge) have FAILED the American people. The results and the 29% approval ratings speak for themselves.

Dust off the GOP Election Plan

2006-04-12T09:06:00.000-07:00

There's an election coming up and it's the same old tired nonsense...

1) War Monger - We can't wait for a mushroom cloud with Iran.

Iran is NO THREAT and even thinking about a war with them is just plain foolishness. There's no money, no troops, and no support for such an action. Dubya used all his chips on Iraq and lost.

2) Divide by Fear - A bunch of brown people are going to take your job.

The GOP has been in control of the federal government for 10 years and it's been almost 5 years since 9/11 and they haven't done shit to control the ports and border but now that it's an election year, the GOP has approval ratings in the 20's and we're suddenly supposed to believe this is a priority for them...even after they went on vacation leaving the immigration bill to collect dust?

And let's face it, the immigration bill with amnesty and a guest worker program is a ridiculous piece of legislation that will ensure further wage erosion for AMERICANS and legal immigrants. Put employers in jail for hiring illegals and fine them heavily. Problem solved. If there are no jobs there will be no illegals.

3) Paint the Minority Party as Obstructionist - We can't get anything done because of the Democrats.

Having seen the results of the bad ideas Dubya and the GOP have gotten through (Energy Bill, Medicare Bill, Iraq, Deficits, etc.), anyone that can save America from GOP incompetence should be praised...

But let's face it folks the majority party (GOP) can do pretty much anything they want because they have the votes. The guys allegedly in charge (the GOP) blaming the minority party (Democrats) for the GOP's inability to govern effectively is just sad and ridiculous.

4) Support Nonsense Issues to Pander to the Right Wing Base

Let's not forget such "important" issues as flag burning and gay marriage being made the primary issues...yet again...in an election year. The GOP has got to pander to that right wing base that NEVER gets what they're promised by the GOP but the right wing base keeps falling for the same trick every election. How many times can these people be lied to before they catch on?

Most Who Voted For Bush in 2004 Were Actually Not ''Stupid''

2006-04-11T10:19:00.000-07:00

I've actually given this phenomenon quite a bit of thought. Stupidity is just a small part of the reason for the election results in 2004. When people do strange and ridiculous things from my point of view I attempt to understand their point of view so I can answer the hardest of all questions "WHY?"

There is a fairly significant portion of the population that doesn't care about REAL issues that effect them (Jobs, economy, crime, immigration, fiscal responsibility, etc) and only care that gays can't get married and women can't get abortions (code named: "moral values"). To these "moral values" people, this is all that an election is: And it is both sad and tragic that these "moral values" people are so VERY concerned about such things that have NO EFFECT on their lives but virtually ignore the things that DO effect their lives. Once you understand that you start to understand 2004 a bit better. I wrote about it in my blog and if you check out polling report you can see the numbers.

http://realityofitall.blogspot.com/2005/11/what-was-and-what-shall-be.html

http://www.pollingreport.com/2004.htm

There are some scary stupid people living in this country, there is no doubt, but there are even more of our fellow citizens that have their priorities so screwed up by religious dogma, willful ignorance, bigotry, generational voting habits, lack of intellectual curiosity, stubborn close-mindedness, uninformed selfishness, misinformed greed, black and white world views, or some combination of the above they vote against their own personal interests without ever a moment of reflection to re-evaluate their obviously bad choices.

If you ask someone why they voted for a candidate and you don't have to sit down to hear their answer because it is so short...they're very likely one of these "moral values" people and no matter what you say, no matter what evidence you give, no matter what irrefutable facts you give them you'll usually find you can't change their mind. Sometimes it's just the inability on some people's parts to admit a mistake or admit their own ignorance other times it's just because they don't care enough (apathy) about this county to try to do what is right for the country. It's ALWAYS worth trying to persuade them to try to re-examine their views but it can be as frustrating as Hell.

http://realityofitall.blogspot.com/2005/09/like-talking-to-wall.html

An Interesting Question

2006-04-10T13:57:00.000-07:00

I had someone ask today: Why is it that the media in the United States is so afraid of Bush?

This was in response to the fact I pointed out that the press sat on their ass for 2 months in regards to Libby telling people Cheney and Bush authorized him to leak information in regards to Plamegate.

I wrote about this in February but really nothing much was reported in the main stream media until April.

So my reply to his question of: Why is it that the media in the United States is so afraid of Bush?...

The main stream media actually isn't afraid of Bush. The main stream media is working with Bush. Take a look at who owns the main stream media. It's owned by a handful of very big, very rich and very powerful companies. (i.e. the big three TV networks ABC, NBC, and CBS are owned and operated by Disney, General Electric, and Viacom.) Every piece of major legislation put forth by Bush has HURT Main Street to HELP Wall Street. Bush IS the CORPORATE PRESIDENT. From the day he was elected he has ALWAYS put CORPORATE interests above those of "the people".

Corporations are getting huge benefits from having Bush in power so why would they turn the main stream media they own loose on him? Do you think it was a coincidence that Colin Powell's son was put in charge of the FCC and they immediately passed legislation removing limits on the amount of media one company can own in a market. The press is now "controlled" because there are a handful of corporation that own and control it whether anyone wants to acknowledge that or not.

For Instance: If the FACT that the NY Times knew well BEFORE the 2004 election that Bush was authorizing illegal warrantless wiretaps and sat on the story for A WHOLE YEAR before reporting it doesn't make one question who exactly it is the media is looking out for then there is really no help for that person.

Without DeLay

2006-04-04T18:21:00.000-07:00

Please take note of the 63 members of the House Republican Conference who confirmed voting in November 2004 to rewrite the rules to allow Tom DeLay to remain in leadership after being indicted by a grand jury.

Remember their names on election day and vote them OUT OF OFFICE.

Robert B Aderholt AL
Joe Barton TX
Bob Beauprez CO
Marsha Blackburn
Roy Blunt MO
Henry Bonilla TX
Jo Bonner AL
John Boozman AR
Kevin Brady TX
Henry E Brown Jr SC
Dave Camp MI
Eric Cantor VA
John R Carter TX
Tom J Cole OK
Ander Crenshaw
John Abney Culberson TX
Randy "Duke" Cunningham CA **IN PRISON**
Jim DeMint SC
Tom Feeney FL
Mike Ferguson NJ
Vito Fossella NY
Trent Franks AZ
E Scott Garrett NJ
James W Gerlach PA
Wayne T Gilchrest MD
John Phillip Gingrey GA
Kay Granger TX
Sam Graves MO
Mark Green WI
Melissa A Hart PA
J Dennis Hastert
Wally Herger CA
Darrell E Issa CA
Sue W Kelly NY
Peter T King NY
John Kline MN
Jerry Lewis CA
Frank A LoBiondo
Frank D Lucas OK
Thaddeus G McCotter MI
Howard P "Buck" McKeon CA
John L Mica FL
Anne M Northup KY
Ron Paul TX
Thomas E Petri WI
Jon Porter Sr NV
Adam H Putnam FL
George Radanovich
Ralph Regula OH
Michael Dennis Rogers AL
Dana Rohrabacher CA
Jim Ryun KS
Jim Saxton NJ
Pete Sessions TX
Lamar S Smith TX
Mark Souder IN
John E Sweeney NY
Thomas G Tancredo CO
William M Thomas CA
James T Walsh NY
Dave Weldon FL
Gerald C Weller IL
Don Young AK

Can You Say Delusional??

2006-03-29T08:59:00.000-08:00

"This is a man, I believe, God has appointed ... to represent righteousness in government,"

Rev. Rick Scarborough speaking about Tom DeLay

Evidentially, ol' Reverend Ricky thinks God has a tail, hooves, horns, carries a pitch fork, and listens to the screams of the damned on his iPod.

Oh Hypocrisy, Oh Irony, Thou Art Glorious

2006-03-29T08:06:00.000-08:00

A federal appeals court ordered Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA) to pay House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) $700,000 "for leaking an illegally taped phone conversation between Boehner and then-Speaker Newt Gingrich," the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

IMAGINE, the head of the GOP is upset because HE was illegally wiretapped. LOL!!!

Has he been paying attention to what HIS president is doing???

Oh hypocrisy, oh irony, thou art glorious.

For Those That STILL Haven't Figured It Out...

2006-03-27T18:33:00.000-08:00

The Iraq occupation was never about WMD, Democracy, or human rights. It was and is all about who controls the Iraqi oil fields. Not a revelation to those of us that have been paying attention I grant you but there are still people who haven't seen the obvious truth. I know...that hardly seems possible but they do exist.

The United Nations inspectors were lurking about Iraq in early 2003 and within the next six months they were going to declare Iraq WMD free. That OBVIOUSLY makes sense because as we "all" KNOW there were no WMD in Iraq. Once Iraq was cleared, UN sanctions would be lifted within a year or two and then the Chinese, French and Russians would be able to begin developing the second largest oil reserves in the world. The US oil companies like Exxon that are having a more difficult time finding "easy oil" absolutely couldn't have THAT.

Fast forward to Bush kicking out the UN weapon inspectors and an unnecessary invasion of Iraq by the United States and Britain and presto chango those contracts that Chinese, Russian and French oil companies agreed on with Iraq long before the invasion are null and void. If you take a quick Goggle of the situation now you'll see US and British oil companies have rights to those oil fields NOW. Oh and while you're at it look up Executive Order 13303 that provides absolute legal protection for US interests in Iraqi oil. They can do whatever they want and they are above the law.

Bottom line is that this whole Iraq fiasco is about who controls the oil and that's now the US and British oil companies. The Bush/Republican agenda has NEVER been to do what's good for America. Their agenda has and always will be to do what is good for their very elite constituency composed largely of "Big Oil".

Babs Bush's Katrina ''Donation''

2006-03-23T13:08:00.000-08:00

Remember Dubya's mom? The woman who said of Katrina victims:

"And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this -- this [she chuckles slightly] is working very well for them."

Well she made a hefty donation today to the Katrina fund. Nice jesture you say? Nope. Not if you look at where it was specifically earmarked for....

The Houston Chronicle reported that the donation Barbara Bush made to the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund was 'earmarked' for the educational software company Ignite! As some of you probably know that's the junk company owned by her ne'er-do-well son Neil Bush.

So Babs gets to give money to her other idiot son free and clear and she gets a nice tax writeoff to boot...the Bushs, a family of scumbags I tell ya.

Bush Passing the Devalued Buck AGAIN

2006-03-21T08:45:00.000-08:00

"The American people did not place us in office to pass on problems to future generations and future Presidents and future Congresses." – President Bush, 3/12/05

VERSUS

At this morning’s press conference, President Bush said that U.S. troops would remain in Iraq through the end of his presidency. According to Bush, the question of whether U.S. troops will ever leave Iraq will be one for “future presidents.”

Bush Obviously Has No Answers

2006-03-20T09:04:00.000-08:00

The goal of the administration always seems to be to change the American public's perceptions of an issue, rather than to change what's actually happening. That is a sure sign these people have no answers to the problems that face this nation, they just don't give a damn, or both.

Iraq, Deficits, Medicare, Terrorism, Ports Deal, Bankruptcy Bill, Jobs, Katrina, Poverty, etc. etc. etc.

It's just one PR campaign after another, one failure after another. These people just don't want to deal with reality. Ignoring facts doesn't make them less true and the one fact that stands out most is Bush has failed to lead this nation in the right direction.

Sometimes ol' Dubya makes it too easy...

2006-03-17T12:50:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON - President Bush delivered a partisan pep talk Thursday night to Republicans who may be jittery about midterm elections while his approval rating is at an all-time low.

"We don't fear the future," Bush told donors who contributed $8 million Thursday night to support Republican House candidates. "We welcome it."

Yep, the rest of us welcome the future too...

President Bush's approval rate is just 39%, with 58% disapproving of his performance.

Democrats have "an historic" 15 point edge, 52% to 37%, in the generic congressional ballot.

Bring on the future!!!!

Then the coked out retard said...

"I can stand up here and tell you that we have delivered results for the American people, and we've got an agenda to continue to do so," Bush said.

Yep ol' incompetent Dubya sure did deliver results, of course 99% of the results were BAD results, thus the poor ratings and coming GOP slaughter in the 2006 elections.

Quote of the Day

2006-03-17T08:39:00.000-08:00

"The more we hear about what Allen is accused of, the less it sounds like kleptomania and the more it sounds like an application of Bush economic policy."

Jacob Weisberg, referring to Claude Allen, former Bush White House aide caught in a shoplifting scheme

Insane Bush Can't Admit His Mistakes...

2006-03-16T11:23:00.000-08:00

so he will NEVER LEARN from them.

Bush Will Reissue Declaration of Preemptive War

President Bush plans to issue a new national security strategy today reaffirming his doctrine of preemptive war against terrorists and hostile states with chemical, biological or nuclear weapons, despite the troubled experience in Iraq.

The definition of insanity is, “Doing the same thing over and over again expecting the outcome to change”.

Bush Delivers

2006-03-13T10:26:00.000-08:00

...29% approval ratings, huge deficits, incompetence, death, torture, no accountablity for anything on any level, dangerously open borders, White House press passes to a gay male prostitute, cronyism, an outrageously expensive poorly working medicare drug bill he lied about the cost of, outsourcing of our sea ports and security to potential enemies, our nuclear secrets to foreign countries that have not signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, illegal invasions, hyped/manufactured evidence, corruption, high gas/oil prices, out of control medical costs, no bid contracts, exporting of American jobs, an energy bill that does nothing to reduce foreign dependence or bring fuel prices down, illegal wiretaps, no WMD, no Osama, no anthrax mailer, QUADRUPLE the terrorism since he started his "war on terror", corporate welfare, stagnant real wages, nation building, environmentally negative legislation, outting of CIA agents, bungled Katrina response, government intervention in private matters, increased poverty every year of his presidency, cover ups, deceit, propaganda, lame excuses, lies, and long presidential vacations.

2005 Deficit Actually $760 Billion

2006-03-02T10:55:00.000-08:00

CongressDaily reported today, "A little-noticed Treasury Department report sent to congressional leaders in December paints a bleaker picture of the nation's finances than is widely accepted and is beginning to attract attention as lawmakers prepare for election-year budget battles." The report puts the fiscal year 2005 deficit at $760 billion by "using generally accepted accounting principles that private businesses must use to present their finances." The larger figure contrasts strongly with the $319 billion figure typically cited. According to the report, standard deficit calculations give "a potentially unrealistic and misleading picture of the federal government’s overall performance, financial condition, and future fiscal outlook." Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN) complained that Congress was not sufficiently notified about the report. "We got more notification on the NSA domestic surveillance thing," Cooper said.

Bush Caught on Tape LYING AGAIN!!!

2006-03-02T07:59:00.000-08:00

Bush caught on tape being warned that Hurricane Katrina “could breach levees, risk lives in the New Orleans Superdome and overwhelm rescuers.”

VERSUS

“I don’t think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees.” -George W. Bush, Sept. 1, 2005

By definition, that would make him a liar.

On the UAE Port Deal

2006-02-25T09:44:00.000-08:00

It doesn't matter what foreign country we are talking about (UAE, Canada, UK, Iran, etc), no foreign country should ever have control of our sea ports, airports, nuclear facilities, or any other area of national security interest. It's absolutely unacceptable.

Only 5% of all shipping containers are inspected that come into this country and air freight is really NEVER inspected. Think about that.

Bush likes to say "9/11 changed everything". Not from where I sit. Whether the UAE "gets" these ports or not we'll have the same criminally negligent port security we've always had and that's the REAL problem.

While we're told we're supposed to invade countries without cause, torture prisoners, surrender civil liberties, and get spied on illegally by our government, all in the name of "national security", Bush and his GOP cronies don't think pesky things such as "national security" should get in the way of commerce. Especially with some of Bush's best Middle Eastern pals who have links to terrorism.

Our current government is FAILING miserably on the issue of national security (and every other issue I can think of) to make a quick buck and something needs to be done. Getting rid of the GOP Congress in '06, that sat on their ass doing nothing about this issue for 10 years, would be a good start.

Some Thoughts on How to Address the Poverty Issue in This Country

2006-02-24T10:22:00.000-08:00

There are many steps that can be taken to cure the ills of poverty. Some of them that quickly come to mind are:

Raising the minimum wage and at the very least keep raises in the minimum wage tied to inflation. (even though that number is usually wrong) The US minimum wage hasn't been raised in over a decade and even then it wasn't keeping up with inflation. Our goal shouldn't be to push people to minimum wage jobs but for those that need them they should be able to reasonably live on such a wage. There is little incentive for someone to drive to work if it costs more in gas to get to work than you make in wages when you get there.

Something like "work-centric (bank?) accounts" could be created that match the savings of low-income families THAT ARE WORKING. Folks on Welfare would lose so much in benefits by TRYING to work that there is no incentive to try. For instance taking a minimum wage job and losing all your health benefits when you have children is dangerous for the kids and in the end a foolish decision. And that shouldn't be the case. Incentive to work and not punishing those that do is essential.

Government funding could be provided to high school graduates for college tuition and books as long as the students agree to work while in college. Many that make it to college are on a work program already. A government matching of their salaries or even a FICA and/or tax exemption would help these kids tremendously and would reap benefits for the society as a whole down the road. Sure these are tax cuts, but they are tax cuts that HELP the poor and the lower middle class, NOT the rich...who don't "need" the money.

Education, incentivizing people to work, and making a culture of work ethic will put this country on the right track again. The fact is poverty has gotten worse EVERY YEAR of the Bush presidency because education is becoming less affordable, there is less incentive to work, wages have stagnated/dropped, and more people have been given less an incentive to work.

Bush Making Facts Based on Decisions

2006-02-23T10:04:00.000-08:00

President Bush likes to sell his tax cuts for the rich by saying, “We want our families to have more money in their pocket.”

And the White House reported in August 2004, “Real after-tax incomes are up 11 percent since December 2000.”

But Bush’s economic statistics have no basis in reality. The Federal Reserve Board reported today that the “average income of American families, after adjusting for inflation, declined 2.3% in 2004 compared with 2001.”

I'm gonna get me some o' them French fried taters mmm hmm...

2006-02-22T09:32:00.000-08:00

Too Many Lies...

2006-02-16T09:21:00.000-08:00

"None in the hunting party was drinking alcohol, said the owner, Katharine Armstrong. 'No, zero, zippo and I don’t drink at all,' she said. 'No one was drinking.'"
-- Scripps Howard News Service, 2/13/06

VERSUS

"[Armstrong] says she was not sure if there were beers in the coolers but wasn't ready to rule it out: 'There may be a beer or two in there, but remember not everyone in the party was shooting,' she told NBC News."
-- MSNBC, 2/14/06

VERSUS

"Armstrong had told CNN she never saw Cheney or Whittington 'drink at all on the day of the shooting until after the accident occurred, when the vice president fixed himself a cocktail back at the house.'"
-- Editor and Publisher, 2/15/06

Bush's Oil Giveaway to Obscenely Cash-Rich Oil Companies

2006-02-13T20:19:00.000-08:00

Yes everyone it's really happening...AGAIN. A HUGE giveaway to the oil companies at the taxpayers' expense.

The federal government is on the verge of one of the biggest giveaways of oil and gas in American history, worth an estimated $7 billion over five years.

New projections, buried in the Interior Department's just-published budget plan, anticipate that the government will let companies pump about $65 billion worth of oil and natural gas from federal territory over the next five years without paying any royalties to the government.

Based on the administration figures, the government will give up more than $7 billion in payments between now and 2011. The companies are expected to get the largest, known as royalty relief, even though the administration assumes that oil prices will remain above $50 a barrel throughout that period.

Hmm, the "9-11 changed everything" excuse won't fly here. I wonder what they'll try instead. What will our OIL president say when asked about this other than the obvious "ummmmmmm...uh...err..."?

Remember when you're filling up the gas tank of your car next time, you paid for that gasoline TWICE.

Bush is Such an Arrogant Fool

2006-02-11T09:49:00.000-08:00

Seven-year cost of private Social Security accounts, which President Bush slipped into the 2007 budget this week: $712 billion

What gaul! What a friggin sneak! The American people and the Congress already gave a resounding NO to this "plan". Maybe he missed the standing ovation Congress gave the sinking of that scheme during his State of the Union speech?

Imagine trying AGAIN to tell people you're going to be spending $700 billion of their dollars to cut their SS benefits when they already said no.

I don't think that's going to fly too well do you?

I believe the American people are going to tell ol' Dubya to fuck off and don't stop fucking off for quite some time...AGAIN.

Worst President EVER.

There Are No Excuses....

2006-02-11T08:46:00.000-08:00

left for supporting the Bush administration.

Court documents filed by special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald reveal that I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, "told a grand jury that he was authorized by his 'superiors' to disclose classified information to reporters."

hmmmm...superiors with an "S" at the end. Now if you think about it Libby (the ex-chief of staff of the VP) only had TWO superiors...Cheney...and Bush.

The great protectors of our country were so concerned about covering their lies about Iraq they were willing to pass out ***highly classified*** information to reporters. This is a major news story.

You would have had to be profoundly foolish and naive to be supporting the Bush administration BEFORE this. Now? If you're still supporting these people now you're absolutely retarded.

Gonzales is as Stupid as His Boss

2006-02-08T13:38:00.000-08:00

"President Washington, President Lincoln, President Wilson, President Roosevelt have all authorized electronic surveillance on a far broader scale."

Alberto Gonzales 2/6/06

Really? Electronic surveillance? President Washington?

Everyone feel free to make their own joke. Many of you obviously elected one for the White House and Dubya obviously appointed one for Attorney General.

Bush Continues to Fail on Terrorism

2006-02-08T06:54:00.000-08:00

...like he does on just about every other issue.

President Bush continues to talk tough on terrorism, but more than four years after the 9/11 attacks, what does he have to show for all of his talk?

– Global terrorist attacks have tripled on President Bush’s watch.

– The Bush administration has received failing and mediocre grades on fighting terrorists by the 9/11 Commission.

– By invading Iraq without a plan to stabilize the country, President Bush created a new haven and terrorist training ground for Al Qaeda.

– The Bush administration let top Al Qaeda leaders slip away in the early days of the war in Afghanistan.

The Bush failures in the fight against terrorism keep piling up, and Americans are less safe because of them.

Senator Feingold Hits One Out of the Park

2006-02-08T06:53:00.000-08:00

"This administration reacts to anyone who questions this illegal program by saying that those of us who demand the truth and stand up for our rights and freedoms somehow has a pre-9/11 world view. In fact, the President has a pre-1776 world view. Our government has three branches, not one. And no one, not even the President, is above the law."

Sen. Feingold

Is John Snow High or Just Retarded?

2006-02-07T10:43:00.000-08:00

Reuters:

Snow said Bush's budget and his push to make permanent tax cuts on income from dividends and capital gains, which are set to expire at the end of 2008, are consistent with long-term goals of reducing the deficit, which the administration projects to reach $423 billion in 2006.

"Lower tax rates are good for the economy and a growing economy is good for Treasury receipts," he said.

YOU'VE GOT RECORD DEFICITS EVERY YEAR!!!!!!! The Treasury is EMPTY...except for the IOUs and Bush's footprints...and you can NOT pay the country's bills without borrowing more money from the Japanese and Chinese. Tax Cuts caused this. That's been proven time and time again. WAKE THE HELL UP!!!!

Sure You Haven't...

2006-02-03T09:01:00.000-08:00

"Yes, I am cozy with lobbyists, but I have never done anything unethical."
—new House Majority Leader Rep. John Boehner

VERSUS

"One day last summer Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio, chairman of the House Republican Conference, decided to play Santa Claus. … In any event, Mr. Boehner took it upon himself to begin handing out money from tobacco lobbyists to certain of his colleagues on the House floor."

Boehner stopped handing out the checks only "after being questioned about the practice by two freshmen who’d heard about the handoff on the House floor" [Charleston Gazette, 5/11/96]

Bush On Corruption

2006-01-27T10:01:00.000-08:00

Amazing how Bush always seems to be on the positive end of the double standard he sets for himself huh??

"If there is corruption, I'm not surprised that people say, let's get rid of corruption. If government hadn't been responsive, I'm not the least bit surprised that people said, I want government to be responsive."
-- President Bush, 1/26/06, on corruption in the Palestinian territories

VERSUS

"President Bush today dismissed the significance of photographs showing him with disgraced Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff and indicated that the White House would continue to oppose releasing the photos, which he said are irrelevant to a federal investigation."
-- President Bush, 1/26/06, on corruption in the United States