Diplomacy, trumped up charges, and a debate too late.

North Korea has agreed to dismantle its nuClEar plants and enrichment facilities as a result of the diplomatic efforts between them, the US and the neighboring countries in the region. What a novel idea, right? Maybe someday the United States will dismantle its own nuclear arsenal. It would probably take more than the $400 million dollars in aid that North Korea is getting. And imagine talking to neighboring countries in the region to get a "crazy" dictator to stop his nuCLEar Weapons program. Wasn't North Korea further along than even Iran in their nuCLEar program? Maybe we should bring Syria and Iran into talks. Maybe aid would work better than sanctions, but you know Iranians, they're "terrorists". Well maybe not the terrorists that hit us, but they all look the same right (I'm kidding) . They all have oil, that's for sure.

Instead of diplomatic negotiations with Iran, Our president and his secretary of defense would rather flaunt trumped up charges. Their "pretty good" evidence shows that Shiite militias (and Sunni insurgents) are using explosives like what has been used by Hamas. And those were most likely provided by Iran. Follow the logic? There are Iranian markings on some of the munitions used by those that want Us dead and/or out of Iraq. This logic reminds me of the old "gun manufacturer is responsible for gun deaths" argument that has been refuted by the very people that are using it now to start a war with Iran. A stockpile of Austrian rifles was seized from insurgents. Does that mean we're gonna blow up the airports, bridges and cities of Austria now? Hell, there's some of Our own arsenal being fired at us. And I've never heard of rogue agents of a government (foreign or domestic) acting illegally without the knowledge or consent of its leaders. Sounds like a show on fox, doesn't it? At least Iraq has a new "security plan". They plan to do something the United States has been unable to do, secure their country's border.

So as the 110th Congress debates a war the 109th Congress should have debated four years ago, it's no wonder the head republican is crying. It's no wonder that once the Libby trial began to expose the lead up to the war in Iraq, vice president dick, rover, and little lying libby decided not to testify. Are the Chicken hawks running from the fight? Maybe someday the workings of this administration and their war of choice will finally be brought to light. You can not blame this failure of an invasion and the fatally flawed foreign policy that lead to it on those who disagree with it, which now seems to be the only defense that the president's remaining pets in Congress have against those who are finally united in voicing their dissent.

In case you missed it, here are my favorite two bush quotes from his February 14th press conference:

"It's an interesting question. One of the problems, not specifically on this issue, just in general, that - let's put it this way: Money trumps peace, sometimes.
In other words, commercial interests are very powerful interests throughout the world. And part of the issue in convincing people to put sanctions on a specific country is to convince them that it's in the world's interest that they forego their own financial interest."

"It's hard for me living in this beautiful White House to give you an assessment, a first hand assessment. I haven't been there. You have, I haven't."

We the People: the rant

Former Presidential candidate, patrick buchanan, is right when he says that the 108th Congress (controlled by the Democratic Party) made the greatest mistake in Our history when it voted (minus 21 Democratic Senators) to pass a resolution with language, so vague, it gave the President of the United States "authority" to wage a new war in Iraq with only the most tenuous of connection to the "terrorists" for whom said resolution was meant. The "blank check" was given in good faith. The "blank check" was given with the proper respect due the Office of President of the United States of America. The "blank check" was given based on the understanding that the receiver knew what they hell he was doing. The "blank check" was given knowing that the President of the United States would Only use the power of the American Military as a DIRE and ACTUAL LAST RESORT. This, unfortunately for Us all, was not the case with george w. bush and this war in Iraq. More and more citizens, law makers, and former framers of this debacle are coming to realize that and speak out. Though there are still those in the Senate will continue to obstruct a debate on this most ill advised foreign policy. You know where I have stood on bushco.'s war from before we went in.

Five United States helicopters have been shot down since January 20th, Thirty Seven more soldiers died, and who knows how many civilians. It is getting worse. Blaming the president's appointees for bad decisions during and leading up to bush's war in Iraq is a start, but to be sure the buck stops firmly on the President of the United States desk. At least the hard questions are starting to move up the food chain a little.

The Constitution starts with the phrase "We the people". Who are the people? Are they the masses? The majority of people in this country? Or are they the richest people? Sometimes it seems that depends on your party affiliation. I speaking, of course, of their policy decisions and choice of legislation, and not of their personal wealth. There are plenty of rich democrats. In fact, it's tough to find a non rich (middle class, working class, or poor) in elected office at all. But it was not the Democrats who tried to block minimum wage. Agreeing only after adding another "owner class" tax break to the legislation. While Exxon Mobil made an all time high profit ($39.5 Billion) in 2006, they also received Federal tax breaks. You'd think with the help "We the People" are giving them, they would drop the price at the pump to pre-bush Gas prices.

This lack of compassion for those making under $100,000.00+ per year (and that's most of us) is almost matched by Our government's lack of foresight. Just take a look at bush's "energy policy" or lack thereof. Ford is "a wreck". GM isn't doing much better. Toyota is doing great. Why? Two words... Cheap and Green. Higher miles per gallon or "CAFE" standards is something this president has stayed far away from, and without giving automakers this push, via the "bully pulpit", he has helped to put them in the position they are in today. We are behind everyone, with the exception of China, on the Science and the policy to deal with Global Warming. A recent report by a group of 600 International Scientists, sanctioned by the United Nations, stated that it was 90% or "very likely" that humans have caused the rapid increase in greenhouse gases since 1950. There are those who say the UN is a liberal group conspiring against us. I always thought the left were the conspiracy theorists. People, like senator inhoffe, are so paranoid and delusional they think Weather Channel has a political agenda. To these people I say if someone doesn't agree with you on something they are not, necessarily out to get you, and everyone is wrong sometimes. If global warming was not real or not an issue why would the bush administration pressure scientists not to talk about it? The thing about the international scientific community is that they do not vote on decisions. Theories are tested, information and data is collected, and a conclusion based on that study is reached. That's why medicine works. That's how we can make plastic and twinkies. It's how the internet machine works (along with the funding that Al Gore was essential in securing). Science is essential. It is not an affront to any belief in God. Albert Einstein once said "Science without religion is lame. Religion without science is blind." They do not have to be mutually exclusive. We the people can believe and strive for what is good and right for ALL MANKIND, or we can continue to give Our leaders the blind faith of Our apathy as we have for way too long.

I leave you with this from the last column of Molly Ivins, who died last week. She will certainly be missed. She was the first to call him "Shrub".

"We are the people who run this country. We are the deciders. And every single day, every single one of us needs to step outside and take some action to help stop this war. Raise hell. Think of something to make the ridiculous look ridiculous. Make our troops know we're for them and trying to get them out of there."

Isn't it Ironic?

"Independent" republican joe "I work for Israel" lieberman says that disagreeing, publically and officially, with bush's latest plan will "encourage the enemy". I wonder if he thinks the last four years of incompetence and mistakes by bushco in their war in Iraq "encourages the enemy". Does this chicken hawk think that not being able to secure a capital city after four years "encourages the enemy"? Do not blame the outcome on those who are starting to think of ways to get us the hell out of the policing of a civil war that BUSH instigated with his invasion of Iraq. LIEberman should know what encourages the enemy. Just look at his last days as a "Democrat" and his first days as an "Independent" and you can see how he "encouraged" the republicans.

Another great talking point concerning bush's war of choice in Iraq is that anyone who is against the "surge" and/or the war in general is from the "fringe Left". Senator John Warner, Senator Chuck Hagel, and the all but about 20 of their republican colleagues who are against the surge, are not on the "fringe Left". Representative John Murtha is not from the "fringe Left". Generals Abizaid and Casey are not on the "fringe Left". I wish that the almost 62% of the US citizens, who polled against the "surge", were on the "fringe Left". They are not, yet. When the Senate votes on the, albeit non-binding, resolution against bush's "surge", maybe all this broad brushed crazy peacenik left talk will stop, and once again we will be able to take our rightful place on the "we were right about bush's war in Iraq from the start" mantle all by our "fringe Left"-selves.

Speaking of pinko, hippy, commies, the March on Washington that took place last Saturday seems to have been made up of more than just the normal "protest for the love of protest", dread locked, unfocused, Mumia liberating, anarchists that the mainstream media, as well as blogland, informed Us made up the millions that protested this war in Iraq before it started. Young urban professionals (who really aren't the easiest to motivate), soldiers and their families, and union workers showed up to protest the war in greater numbers than has been reported before. Some even carried and waved the American flag. Damn flag burnin' Liberals!

According to the free dictionary ironic is defined as:

1. Characterized by or constituting irony.

2. Given to the use of irony.

3. Poignantly contrary to what was expected or intended

Just something to think about while you're listening to "sanctity of life"/war monger-in-chief talk about tax breaks to help citizens afford health care, even though most of the people who can't afford it don't make enough money to pay taxes. The blinding irony of scarlet macaws (red parrots), like faux news anchor brit hume, talking about how prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald over stepped his bounds in investigating the administration's disclosure of Classified information concerning our National Security. I wonder what the "do as we say now and not what we did then" crowd thought of investigator starr, who was sent to investigate a real estate case the Clintons were involved in BEFORE HE WAS PRESIDENT only to start asking the questions of the President's marital fidelity (obviously essential to our National Security). In case you forgot, here's what republicans used to think about the rule of law.

Next week Iran and what we've done to the region of South West Asia that we call the Middle East, as well as "global climate change", and maybe even an update on the scooter libby trial. So far ex-bush mouthpiece, ari fleischer, testified that scooter lied, libby has testified that vice president dick told him to do it, and rove and bartlett (counselor to the president) have been subpoenaed.

Show me What Democracy Looks Like!

This is What Democracy Looks Like!

A Hundred Thousand People (soldiers, celebrities, and members of Congress included) rally and March on Washington.
You have my Full Support. I'll see you on March 17th.

Shout along, it's on C-SPAN!

WE WANT PEACE!
STOP THE WAR!
IMPEACH CHENEY, then BUSH!

20 questions: Iraq Edition

Inspired by the Timeline of the Iraq War at Think Progress
1. What happened to all of your other plans, like the last Strategy for Victory?
2. Have we "turned the corner" yet in Iraq?
3. Is the "insurgency" in its "last throes"?
4. Is the "mission accomplished"?
5. Are there just "pockets of dead enders" left?
6. How many fake turkeys will it take to keep troop morale up?
7. How many jokes by the president about there being no WMD's will it take to soften the blow to Our country that was abu ghraib?
8. Are we still "going to war with the army that we have"?
9. When will rumsfeld receive his Medal of Freedom?
10. Why is Baghdad so much more important than New Orleans, or Afghanistan for that matter?
11. If "we are not winning" are we losing, or does it depend on what the meaning of losing is?
12. If "clear, hold, and build" is our new strategy, what the hell have we been doing for the last four years?
13. Is the parroting of "We're not planning on invading Iran." supposed to remind us of your Run up to your getting rid of UN inspectors and going to war unilaterally in Iraq?
14. How can you have a "national sanctity of life day" while you send more men and women to kill and die?
15. How many chances do you think someone should get?
16. When did your watch start, before or after September 11, 2001?
17. What's worse lying about cheating on your wife or starting an illegal war?
18. What's wrong with having three co-equal branches of government?
19. When will Iraqi oil revenue start paying for this war of choice in Iraq?
20. What type of "sweets and flowers" were we greeted with when we invaded Iraq on your orders? Were they cherry?

The adults are starting to speak.

Senator Chuck Hagel (R) of Nebraska challenged his colleagues to do their duty to their Country and Countrymen (and women) or "go sell shoes". I'm with you Senator Hagel! I'm with you Senator Feingold! I'm with you Senator Warner! Eat it lieberman!

These bastards (and bitches) have taken debate concerning the largest and most important issue we, as a Country, face, and made it a bad and unpatriotic thing. Debate on war, and all things concerning and of interest to the United States of America, is a neccesary and obligatory function of a Democratic society. It's about damn time Congress did something, said something, and stood for something.

Will the real leaders Please Stand up.

the state of the union

The thumped little prince took the stage to give us his laundry list of repeated promises from energy independence to health care. Once again, he connected terrorism to Iraq, which his foreign policy has now made true. And now a "plan", which Wesley Clark has called "stay the course", Presidential hopeful John Edwards has dubbed the "McCain Doctrine", and what one presidential hopeful who is tied to bush's war in Iraq and "surge" more than any other , senator john mccain, calls "our last chance".

A few more candidates have entered the 2008 Presidential race or at least have formed exploratory committees (the primaries are over a year away). The big one, of course, is Senator Hillary Clinton, but personally I was more interested in Governor Bill Richardson's hat getting thrown into the ring. Now I'm not one to be racialist, but you tell me which party is more inclusive. The Democrats have a White woman, an African-American guy, a Latino guy, and 5 White guys. The republicans have 7 White guys, to be fair one is the first Mormon to run for President. That's a minority, right.

So as Speaker Pelosi, who along with her Democratic House passed their "First 100 Hour" agenda with 30+ hours to spare, smiled behind lil' bush as he talked to a country that likes him as much as they liked Nixon after Watergate, I thought about what this man and his minions have already done to Our country and it's reputation. Try to remember how many different reasons he has given us for going into his unnecessary war in Iraq. A war that claimed 27 American Soldiers last weekend as well as 100 Iraq people and how many of those reasons have turned out false. Remember that he has touted a new energy policy and conservation in every State of the Union and has done nothing.

The New Democratic House has already passed legislation that stops big oil tax breaks, cuts the interest on student loans, raises the minimum wage. The Democratic Senate has passed massive ETHICS reform, even after the Republicans tried to stop it. It's nice to see the failure-in-chief flip flop on his domestic spying program, which now has to go through the FISA court, again. It's nice that his administration is finally checking and editing the no fly list. But with all due respect (to your office) Mr. president, it is too little, too late, as is the 21,500 soldiers you've already started to send. Even though high ranking members of your own party havee submitted a resolution to the Senate against it. You chose this war. It is your legacy. It is your Presidency, that and maybe your pathetic and anemic response to the worst natural disaster in our nation's history (which you neglected to mention in your State of the Union).

We can't change the past. It is Our mess to clean up. But your "new " plan disregards the opinion of the American public, the United States Congress, The James Baker/Lee Hamilton Iraq Study Group, General Abizaid, General Casey, and on and on and on. It has to stop and you and all those connected to you have got to go. Maybe the I. Scooter Libby trial will bring the latter starting with vice president d!ck cheney. Seeing Gonzales squirm under oath was a start, as well.

Next time Global Warming (or as bush calls it Global Climate Change), China shoots down a satellite, and the irony of bush and the religious right's "National sanctity of human life" day.

"Six years ago, we held off [saying anything negative about the administration]. But considering what's happened, I think we're owed an apology. Anyone with a rational mind and a sense of decency is being positioned as a lefty by the extreme right. I believe in the tenets of democracy, and when they get pushed, it pisses me off."

- Robert Redford, at the opening of the Sundance Film Festival on Thursday

What a difference two weeks can make.

I first started this blog entry with Speaker Pelosi's quote "Today we make history. Today we change the direction of our country,". Little did I know the newly elected Democratic House of Representatives would have already passed legislation that Enact 9/11 Commission Recommendations, Increase Minimum Wage, Expand Stem Cell Research, and Negotiate for Lower Prescription Drug Prices, leading a GOP hold over from the do nothing 109th Congress to admit that his party is "low on ideas". Imagine a Congress banning meals, travel, hotels, gifts, or future employment opportunities allowed from lobbyists.

Conservative pundits called for the assassination of members of Congress, and republican Congressmen whined about a "minority bill of rights" (actually written by Pelosi in 2004 and was, of course, ignored by the reds) as the 110th Congress was sworn in (one congressman with a Koran owned by Thomas Jefferson). Making Nancy Pelosi the first female Speaker of the House in US History. Sure lil' bush says he'll work with Democratic leaders now that he has to. We'll have to see how he works with people like Congressman Murtha who has already said that he "will be recommending extensive hearings that will address accountability, military readiness, intelligence oversight and the activities of private contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan."

Of course the biggest issue is still bush's war of choice in Iraq. 70 people died there Tuesday, and the UN estimates that over 34,000 Iraqis have died last year alone (saddam was hung for killing under 200). Speaking of saddam, there has been another botched hanging of one of his officials. This time a Sunni baathist was decapitated. It's so bad that now Saudi Arabia is saying they will send troops to help. An influx of Sunni Arab military? What do you think the Shiite military of Syria and Iran will do? No wonder the Iraqi Prime Minister wants to quit.

So let the "man" who smiled and laughed through questions on the war in Iraq during his 60 minutes interview shuffle the chairs on the titanic yet again, switching John Negroponte from the recently created Director of National Intelligence to Deputy Secretary of State, sending the UN Ambassador to Iraq (a practicing Muslim, oh my) to the UN, harriet myers resigning as White House counsel and perhaps most importantly, those Commanders on the ground lil' george was always "listening" to are being fired/resigning, coincidentally just after the top man General Abizaid disagreed with bushco. on the "surge" the little prince spoke about last week.

21,000 troops over two and a half years will not win this war. We had 20,000 more troops in there in 2005. It didn't work then. The idea is to secure the capital city of Baghdad now that we've been there for four years. The question is "Can we stop this civil/sectarian war and is it our to stop?" . We started it. Lil' bush and his cronies put these people in this horrible position. All that bush/mccain "surge" over the next two years is going to do is get "withdrawal" off of bush's table and on to the next president's. Saddam is dead (a point bush missed in his speech on Iraq which shows you just how fouled up it was). That's the only mission that has been accomplished. That and proving saddam right. There were no Weapons of Mass Destruction. Iraq posed no "urgent", "immediate", or "imminent" threat to the United States, but the terrorists/america haters bush has created do.

Stories since last we spoke that I couldn't fit in:
Funniest story : Senator Charles Rangel got cheney kicked out of his Capitol Hill office.
Scariest story: bushco. writes a signing statement allowing him or those in his charge to read the US mail, your mail if he deems it neccesary.
And in Entertainment: Congrats Sasha Baron Cohen, Martin Scorcese, and Prince on your drunken awards show statuettes.

Happy 2007 and the last big story of 2006

Happy New Year! That's what we all yelled Sunday night. And let's hope to hell it is.

With Conyers, Waxman, and Pelosi at the ready, and Obama, Clinton, Edwards, and Vilsack steppin' up to the batter's box, looks like 2007 might be pretty good. Pretty good for minimum wage earners. Pretty good for kids without healthcare. Pretty good for parents struggling to send their kids to college. Pretty good for applying the breaks to old "stay the course", "surge" george. And it may very well turn out to be good for defense lawyers specializing in the government. We'll just have to wait and see.

The last big story of 2006 took place in Iraq, or should I say is still taking place in Iraq. First, there's the execution of saddam hussein. The debate, among most, concerning this hanging boiled down to whether or not you believe in the death penalty, or so I thought, but the Iraqi government couldn't even get the execution of enemy #1 right. Instead of having uniformed government soldiers or police execute the former dictator, the American backed Iraqi government had al sadr supporters dressed in jeans and leather jackets with sky masks pulled over their faces like street thug militia men do it. The hanging has been broadcast on the net, and is linked to the likes of the drudge report. The cellphone video taken by a witness looks more like a terrorist video then the act of a sovereign government that We support. I 'm not saying saddam hussein deserved confort. I am saying that the execution of the former dictator Breaks Iraqi Law. Shouting support for the leader of the Mahdi militia while they executed saddam sent a clear sectarian signal from the shiite militia to the sunnis of Iraq. Not good. Of course Bush praised the "fair trial" saddam was given. A "fair trial" that bushco. refuses to give to people the United States has captured and continue to detain. It begs the question, what have we created in Iraq and what have we become ourselves?

The rush of the Iraqi government to kill saddam, once they were granted custody by the United States, also sends a sign that the Iraqi Government is moving without the control of bushco. A friday night, on New Year's weekend, with a presidential funeral, a funky funeral, and college football? The campaigner in chief couldn't have liked that. Hell, he had to provide a "statement" from Crawford.

Unfortuantely, the first big story of 2007 is the breaking of the 3,000 mark in American Troops Killed in bush's war in Iraq. There has got to be a way out of there, and it needs to be with the support of the country, with the support of military, and with the support of the world, including those countries in the region and I'm not just talking about Israel.

So Happy New Year!

I leave you with this from Governor Spitzer's Inaugural Address.
"It will require a new brand of politics — a break from the days when progress was measured by the partisan points scored or the opponents defeated. No longer can we afford merely to tinker at the margins of the status quo or play the politics of pitting one group against another. We must replace delay and diversion with energy and purpose in the halls of our capital."

Two figures in American History

Yesterday from 1:00 - 8:00 PM at the Apollo Theater in Harlem the Hardest working man in show business, Soul Brother #1, Mr. Dynamite, The Minister of the New New Super Heavy Funk, Mr. Please Please Please, The Boss, The Godfather of Soul, Mr. James Brown will be viewed by thousands of friends, family, and fans one last time. One of the most influential musicians of the twentieth century, James Brown's R&B in the sixties and the funk of the seventies has influenced so much of American music. His music is the foudation of hip hop, taught Prince how to dance, Sly Stone how to shout and Marvin Gaye to croon . The consumate entertainer was still on tour, at age 73, when he died. James Brown lead his super tight band for decades. But he didn't stop there. He was politically and socially active and outspoken. "Say it Loud! I'm Black and I'm Proud!" He will be missed and will be remembered as one of the largest and most influential musical and cultural American icons. Alas, there will be no cape for him to throw off tonight.

Another American figure has left us in these last days of 2006. President Gerald Ford has died at age 93. His funeral began today. President Ford took over for the most notorious president in modern times, richard nixon, after nixon resigned in disgrace. Stating in his Inaugural Address "My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over." President Ford presided over the final withdrawl of US troops from Vietnam and some would say healed this nation from the anger and sadness that seemed to engulf it during the end of sixties and early seventies. Ford may be remembered by most as the man that granted "a full, free, and absolute pardon unto Richard Nixon for all offenses against the United States which he, Richard Nixon, has committed or may have committed or taken part in" before nixon was even tried. It is interesting that here we are in a time where it is not completely unthinkable for the current president to resign in disgrace. We too are a nation angered and saddened by war and scandal. Who would be our Ford? And how about all of the old photos of President Ford with his staff, including a young dick cheney, a young don rumsfeld, and a young james baker. Seems the last three (four counting Jr.) republican presidencies were run by the same guys. If their faces have remained the same over the years, who should be blamed for the current failure. But that's not for today. Today we remember two figures in American History. Thank you both for all you've done for Our Country and its culture.

"I don't think, if I had been president, on the basis of the facts as I saw them publicly," he said, "I don't think I would have ordered the Iraq war. I would have maximized our effort through sanctions, through restrictions, whatever, to find another answer."
"I just don't think we should go hellfire damnation around the globe freeing people, unless it is directly related to our own national security."
-President Gerald Ford July 2004

"We gotta love each other again."
-James Brown

'Tis the Season or so they say

'Tis the season or so they say, but if it's a cute christmas greeting, funny holiday photoshopping, or a special last minute X-Mas coupon you're lookin' for, then you should probably just hit delete now.

Despite the fact that Marijuana is officially the biggest cash crop of the United States (watch for the crackdown, hippies), Our country is not run by the peaceniks. The failure in chief and senator mccain (currently the only red that stands a chance in '08) are both "pushing" for an additional United States troops to be sent to Iraq and not just into the 10 hours or less a day electrified capital city. The Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US Military (the top generals in Our Country) have come out against the idea, not that lil' bush will listen to his generals this time either. The top general, General Abizaid, disagrees so viamently that he's retiring. It's interesting to watch past supporters of Our "delusional" president jump ship. Maybe they're realizing that the ill conceived quagmire that their choice chose to get Our Country into is going so dreadfully wrong. The violence in Iraq is at levels probably unseen even during saddam's reign and is increasing every day. Maybe that's why the Pentagon is asking for $99,700,000,000.00 more for the war that even bush now admits "we are not winning" of course adding "we're not losing" to which everyone's favorite funny man replied "Are we covering the spread?". It just makes me sick to see the failure in chief and his fox news press "man" talking about a "listening tour" that he should have been on before he rushed us into this mess. It makes me sick to see headlines like "Iraqi Army Plans for Wider Role" What the hell was the plan before? There are 960 attacks a week in Iraq. The violence is at new record levels. And we can't even seem to get up to speed. Looking for a reason for impeachment? How about the inability to lead a country in time of war?

At least Congress can start off cleaner in 2007, now that the red lead, do nothing 109th has cleared it's leadership of any failings while one of their own preyed upon the underage/barely legal page boys in his care over the last few years. They also, more grudgingly I'm sure, have cleared incoming Senate Majority Harry Reid of all corruption charges. I can't until old 28% approval has to play nice with the likes or Conyers, Waxman, Leahy, Pelosi, and Reid. And don't mind the red ambulance chasers, Senator Johnson will be fine and will be back. The Democrats will lead Congress.

So as the "decider" decides that his decision on Iraq can wait until the new year, the region is getting hotter and hotter. Palestians are fighting themselves, as Israel admits to the world that they are a nuCLEar power. The Saudis (whose ambassador to the US quit very abruptly) has said they will support the Sunnis in Iraq against the Shiites, and is against the US talking to Iran. Anyone else starting to get scared by the kerosine bushco. has thrown on this centuries old fire. Osama bin laden is a Saudi. It should be said that, much to the failure's dismay, Senators are starting to meet with non "allies" in the region to figure out how everyone can work to avoid absolute catastrophe.

As the new year is greeted with rising, inflation like, costs wrapping the stagnant waged with debt, like the debt grounding Delta Airlines, at least we are reassured that American citizens are allowed under Our Constitution to protest in the streets of New York.

So cut down an old evergreen, make paper out of a couple more, light as many strands of twinkling lights as your outlets can handle and down some doused eggnog. 'Tis the season everybody, ENJOY! Have a great Winter Solstice! However you celebrate it.

Peace on Earth.
Goodwill towards Men (and Women).

What's that smell?

Could it be change?

Whether in the Defense Department, the United States Congress, or bush's war of choice in Iraq, it's seems that there's a whiff of change in the air.

Former member of the Iraq Study Group, former Head of the CIA under poppa bush, and most recently former President of Texas A&M, Robert Gates has been appointed, with overwhelming support, to the postition of Secretary of Defense, leaving rumsfeld time for possible future court battles. One point that everyone is keyed in on from his hearings was his difference in opinion with the lame duck prince on whether we are winning in Iraq. Senator John McCain asked "We are not winning the war in Iraq. Is that correct?" Mr. Gates replied "That is my view, yes, sir." Then mccain followed with "And therefore, the status quo is not acceptable?" to which Gates answered "That is correct, sir." A vast departure to the president's "Absolutely, we’re winning." To be fair, he did say that all the way back in October of 2006. Words and phrases like fresh, a different set of eyes, all options are on the table, pepper Gates's congressional testimony. Hopefully this isn't all just wrapping paper to gain the bipartisan support of Congress. We shall see.

Speaking of Congress, yesterday marked the red leadership's last day. Can you see the smile on my face? (Sorry, I'm really trying to be bipartisan, I swear). The incoming Democratic Leadership has been doing a lot of talking about their "First 100 Hours" in power, and the changes in governmnent that will be made once they take their seats in January. One of my favorites is the incoming ChairWoman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works , Barbara Boxer. She had this to say. "Any kind of weakening of environmental laws or secrecy or changes in the dead of night it's over," Boxer said. "We're going to for once, finally, make this committee an environment committee, not an anti-environment committee. … This is a sea change that is coming to this committee." Not to be outdone, soon to be House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer came out with the new congressional work schedule. Can you imagine an actual 5 day work week for Congress? Currently they are working from Tuesday to Thursday afternoon. Maybe that's what the reds meant by "small government". Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.), who typically flies home on Thursdays and returns to Washington on Tuesdays had this to say “Marriages suffer. The Democrats could care less about families — that’s what this says.” You must be kidding! Give us all three day work weeks! You know, for our families.

And finally the Iraq Study Group has come out with its report. The grim assessment of what's happening presently in Iraq starts at the top of the "Executive Summary" with "The situation in Iraq is grave and deteriorating". And even though they admit in the first line of the report "There is no magic formula to solve the problems of Iraq" they put together a 150+ page plan to try. Of course it was not in their charter to look into the what, who, and how we got into what Al "An Inconvenient Truth" Gore has called "the worst strategy mistake in the history of the United States". There are two major points the Iraq Study Group make that stick out to me at this point (I haven't read the whole thing yet). First, the countries in the region, including Iran and Syria, need to be brought to the table to help settle the crisis in Iraq. No one will be served by all out chaos in Iraq, why not try to negotiate with the most powerful nations in the region. The second explains how the commitment of United States combat troops must not be open ended. The Iraqi government needs to know that US troops will not be there forever, and will leave them to chaos if progress is not made. No one is sure how the president will handle the 79 recommendations the comission has presented, but one thing is for sure. This report is another rebuke of the way this war is being executed, much like the last election was. There needs to be a change in policy in Iraq that discusses what is best for Our country and not just what's better for Halliburton or bush's legacy. This "study group" was really a political think tank made up of 5 big reds and five big democrats. They were not military experts, or middle east experts for that matter. They have given real thoughtful observations and suggestions and have started the ball rolling on this essential discussion. If only this discussion had happened three years ago.

Better late the never, I guess.

Oh and Bye Rummy. See you in the funny papers!

Go Big, Go Long, or Go Home

There's been a new sloganization of the bushco.'s war of choice in Iraq, and it's even more repulsive than "stay the course" and "cut and run" . Now we have "go big, go long, or go home". This is the slogan that insiders have come away from the Pentagon with.

Go Big. The idea is that we send in tens of thousands of additional soldiers in to stop the Growing violence, and take control of at least the capital which we shocked and awed almost 4 years ago. More soldiers are already going in to Baghdad via the "stop loss" program that will keep soldiers on after they've served their year in. Now it may be true that if we went in with an overwhelming ground force of 200,000+ we may have squashed this violence before it had time to ferment. Changing the leadership while maintaining the existing Iraqi army may have also helped. We can not go back in time. This war has not been executed properly nor was it planned for adequately. It may be too late for an additional 20, 000 or so to make any real change in the violence that has grown in strength and precision over the past four years.

Go Long. The idea is that we stay there, as a major force, for the next five to ten years, if not longer. With the biggest, most expensive US "embassy" being built in Baghdad, there's no doubt that there will be troops in Iraq for a long, long time. The question is what troop level will remain and will they still be standing in front and in charge of Iraqi forces. The citizens of both the United States and Iraq are already calling for the United States military to leave, what will they be saying ten years from now. Not to mention where will the troops come from and how will we continue paying for bushco.'s war of choice.

Which brings us to Go Home. First reports on the Baker-Hamilton commission's final report seem to show the Iraq Study Group suggesting a gradual troop reduction starting "as early" as next year. The democrats suggest a redeployment in the "region". Unfortunately this administration had no exit strategy for this war of choice, except for cleaning off the "sweets and flowers", and parading home under a big banner reading "mission accomplished". Colin Powell recently has said the administration needs to be realistic and call what's going on in Iraq what it is "a civil war". Whatever the terminology we use, it's bad in Iraq, and getting worse. The question is will violence escalate, remain the same or worsen if we leave in major numbers. Frustrated Iraqis have been waiting for steady electricity, clean water, and jobs for the four years since bushco. invaded, defeating a defiant WMD-less dictator and leaving chaos for Iraqis to figure out. The president demanding a plan from maliki to end the sectarian violence seems a little like passing the buck to me. It was bush and his minions of neocons that forced and created this situation. How do we build a nation in Our image, in a region where the only nation that really comes close was appointed by the US and Europe fifty years ago? I'm glad to see that countries in the region, including Iran, Syria, and Jordan, may finally be asked to the table, despite what bush has to say about it. Iran may be the biggest winner in all of this, loosing an adversary in saddam hussein, and gaining a nation ruled by Shiites to maybe one day battle the Saudis' Sunnis for the world's oil (minus the oil Chavez, who was just re-elected by a landslide, wants to give America's poor for cheap).

The quelling of looting and lawlessness or as rumsfeld put it "stuff" in the beginning of the invasion may have instilled a little more faith than 4 years without steady power, water, sanitation, or security, which is what Iraqis have gotten so far. That and a government citizens are currently throwing rocks at. The dangerous rift forming between muqtada al-sadr and the maliki government may be a way to give maliki the cover of saying to bush that he can't push too hard for fear of his government falling apart. But even if this conspiracy theory is true, it's not a good sign for the US if two major parties in Iraq are conspiring to fool us. If it is not a political ploy, then the Shiite al sadr follower walk outs spell real trouble.

I'm not usually a big proponent of the papacy, but Our government needs to follow Pope Benedict's lead. The Pope's recent trip to Turkey, praying toward Mecca, embracing other viewpoints and trying to open the discussion should be praised. Like Senator Chuck Hagel said on "Meet the Press" Syria and Iran will "respond in their own self-interest" if brought to the table, and "it’s not in the interest of Syria or Jordan or Iran to have a failed state that would be a complete mess for the middle east." Even rumsfeld knew, claiming in a memo two days before his resignation “"Clearly, what U.S. forces are currently doing in Iraq is not working well enough or fast enough."” Who knows, maybe that's the same reason bolton has resigned from the UN.

I am Thankful.

I am thankful for both my arms and legs (as I am for the rest of my body unravaged by IED's, mortar shells, or anything else being hurled at Our soldiers , their soldiers, and everybody else in war).

I'm thankful for living here in the United States and not in Iraq, where civilian casualties are at new highs.

I'm thankful the lights turn on when I flip the switch, though candlelight might be nice.

Thankful for the stocked shelves at vegetable markets, bodegas, and supermarkets. (It would be nice if it didn't turn up in the trash quite so much)

I'm thankful for the roof over my head, and for the opportunities, to earn the money to pay the rent, given to me as a white guy from a middle class background.

I'm thankful for friends and family, who put up with me and all of my ranting.

I'm thankful that there is at least the prospect of checks and balances offered by a legislative branch of government now that the Democrats won Congress.

Thankful for the Freedom to say that bush is a turkey of a president, who people seem to like less than they did his father.

I'm thankful for those willing to stand up against Goliath, whatever form he may take.

I'm thankful that Thanksgiving still exists depite the fact that department stores, easy listening radio, and surbuban lawns everywhere are already on Christmas.

Thankful for the internet machine, keeping us connected and servin' as the new millenium soapbox.

I'm thankful for you all.

Have a Happy Turkey Day!

For a little darker meat check out Burroughs's 1986Thanksgiving Prayer -

Accountability and Governance

The Democrats have a heckuva job cut out for them starting in January. The job has two fronts, accountability and governance. The people who were responsible for the false evidence (i.e. forged Niger doc's) and its dissemination, misleading the public during the administration's rush to war in Iraq, need to be held accountable. The people responsible for the millions, if not billions, of dollars missing and/or handed out in no bid and unfinished contracts for the rebuilding of Iraq need to be held accountable. The government officials that have committed crimes, abused their power, or covered for their colleagues' actions need to be held accountable. The people who allowed "energy"companies to write "energy" policy and "drug" companies to write the prescription drug bill need to be held accountable. For these lapses in judgment and others, there needs to be hearings and investigations that have teeth and put officials, including the president and vice president, UNDER OATH. For most of these transgressions, the buck should stop squarely at the Oval Office. That is not to say that Articles of Impeachment should be presented to the House right away, but if the hearings necessary to re instill trust in Our government lead to the president or those he has appointed, then impeachment or censure may follow.

It is important however for the Democrats to be bigger than the republicans have been for the past 6 years. Not only do they need to investigate who fouled up, lied, and misled us, but they have to do so while finding solutions to the mess the president and his minions have gotten us into. They are going to need to be open to discussion among their own party and across the aisle (something the reds refused to do). The "you're either with us or you're against" attitude must be put to bed, as should the un-American "a vote for their party is a vote for the terrorists".

On Iraq, "Cut and run" was never a solution put out by the Democrats. It was just another fear mongering catch phrase from the propagandists who brought you "Mission Accomplished", "Shock and Awe", and "Stay the Course". The Baker-Hamilton Iraq Group, who met with the president on Monday, will more than likely give options that Washington will wrap themselves around, much like the 911 Commission that Hamilton co-chaired (a commission whose recommendations may actually be fully implemented now that the Democrats run Congress). A unified democratic government in Iraq does not seem feasible at this point. Some are suggesting that it be split up into three ethnic divisions with a national government overseeing and dividing up the oil revenue. That may be all we can hope for at this point, though it may not solve the sectarian clashes we see more and more everyday. I do think it is a better option than Senator McCain's "send 20,000 more troops".

The Democratic party is diverse, from "blue dogs" to progressives. Some are trying to spin the election as a victory for only conservative and moderate democrats, but to be a party of the people means you have to have the differing voices of a diverse American public. We saw what making policies for only a "base" has done over the past six years. That time is over. For those of us still calling for blood immediately, why not focus solely on hacks like coulter and limbaugh, or on fox news, whose recently leaked memo shows a REAL BIAS in the media.

I smile at the spin of the November 7th losers who are trying their best to convince Democrats of Democrat infighting. It's important not to give them any credence. It has only been nine days since the election, and there is going to be a lot of discussion on a variety of issues from party leadership to Iraq to ethics reform. Some issues like the drilling in ANWR and the privatizing of Social Security, are most likely off the table all together, while issues like raising the federal minimum wage from $5.15 per hour are on. Regardless of the issue, once in power, the Democrats need to do what the republicans in Congress have not done for the past six years. They need to govern, and govern for the common good. It's time to put policy before politics, and people before party. The smallest of nudges in this direction would make last Tuesday worth it, beyond just putting the breaks on an out of control executive and its soon to be ex-rubber stamp legislative branch.

For those of us on the winning side of the election, Hells Yeah! We kicked their asses. The Democrats did not lose one, democratically held or open, governorship, seat in the House, or seat in the Senate to the republican side. And to the deflated reds, here's a message from Michael Moore titled "A Liberal's Pledge to Disheartened Conservatives".

And the Good News Keeps on Coming!

The good news for the Democrats just keeps on coming, as Allen concedes Virginia, giving the Democrats control (by one and with two Independents caucusing with them) of The United States Senate.

More thoughts on what this means and what the Democrats can and should do with their new found power later.

For now, Have a Great Weekend and GO RUTGERS!!!!

Can you hear the dissent, Mr. President?

Or do you want us to turn it.... Up?

Tuesday's vote was a clear and unmistakable message from the people of the United States of America that a new direction for Our Country is needed, that the president needs to be held in check and accountable for his policies and actions, and that the supposed "genius" of karl rove, the robo calling and other election day malfesance of republicans, and the "your vote doesn't matter" attitude can all be overcome by the power of the people. Through the hard work of people like Howard Dean, Rahm Emanuel, bloggers, netrooters, and countless people who texted, emailed, canvassed, and called people to get out the vote on election day, a voice was heard round the world. And that voice was Ours. Not only did the Democrats win the House, at least tie the Senate, and expand their majorities among Governors and state legislatures, but they also knocked out ten and twelve term incumbents in the process. The abortion ban in South Dakota was defeated. The ban on same sex marriage in Arizona was defeated, and Missouri voted to back stem cell research (thank you rush limbaugh). The number three red in the Senate was knocked on his "man on dog" ass in Pennsylvania. The exiled tom delay's seat went Democrat. Page lover Foley's seat went democrat, and for the first time in a long time there are Democratic Governors in Ohio and Massachusetts. It was a referendum on Iraq, on corruption, and on fear mongering. The red clouds parted to reveal a blue sky (sorry, i'm still a little giddy).

The first one under the bus is rumsfeld, who resigned today. Rumsfeld has presided over bush's failed policies in the execution of the neo-con war of choice in Iraq. This is a major concession for the president who does not admit mistakes, because of an arrogance, which seems to be shared by all the yes men and women he surrounds himself with. The rejection he feels today must be overwhelming. It is a major reality check for a president and party who felt it unneccesary to even consult the minority party. A party so focused on the base that it lost its moderates. A wake up call for an administration who thought that slandering the messenger and stifling dissent were the only ways to deal with those who disagree with them. Now they must deal with the opposition if they want to get anything done. Now they have to be bi-partisan. What karl rove once called the "permanent republican majority" is gone. In its place, possible Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Chairman of Goverment Reform Henry Waxman, Chairman of the Appropriations Committee John Murtha and Chairman of the Judiciary Committee John Conyers. What a difference an election makes.

The new buzz word from the White House..... bipartisan, only this time they're gonna have to mean it.

Holy Crap!!!!

Well the Blue Wave claimed 27 House seats that once were red, claiming the House of Representatives for the first time in 12 years. As of right now (1:15pm, 11/8) the Democrats have taken 5 formerly red Senate seats to tie the Senate, with only Virginia to be recounted (the latest count has Democrat Jim Webb ahead). Six Governor seats were picked up by Democrats to increase their majority (Massachusetts has its first Dem. Governor in over ten years), not to mention the State legislatures across the country that went blue. My favorite victory was Senator-Elect Casey's win over Uber-bush backing conservative rick santorum in Pennsylvania. Kenneth blackwell's defeat for Governor of Ohio was pretty sweet too, as was Senator-Elect Brown victory over soon to be ex-senator dewine. Blackwell was the secretary of state in Ohio that called 2004 for bush as that campaign started.

And now RUMSFELD RESIGNS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Goose Bumps. Singin' in the Rain. Can't stop smiling. More on this all later when I come down off of cloud nine!

Tomorrow is Election Day!

There are 435 House races, 33 Senate races, and a slew for Governer tomorrow. The Democrats need to pick up 15 House seats and 6 Senate seats from the republicans to win back both Houses of Congress and begin to re-establish the legislative branch as an equal branch the of Our goverment.

If you don't know for sure where your polling place is check here. For New Jersey, specifically, check here. Make sure you use the address you are REGISTERED as a voter at.

If you're not sure if you're registered (it's a little late now) you can call your County Registrar to check.

Bring your ID/Driver's License to the polls tomorrow. Just in case.

If you want to "do more than vote" tomorrow to help the Democrats' cause, go here.

Don't forget to Vote! It's the only thing we got, and some question even that.

Bring a friend, call/text everyone in your cell phone, email your address book and tell them to vote. We still are a DEMOCRATIC republic. Let's keep it that way.

Voting. It's the "patriotic" thing to do.

Vote These Rubbersatmp Bums Out!!!!!

"Let us Begin" - JFK

Get Ready, Get Set....

Nevermind the war games going on in Iran this week, did you hear 2004's biggest loser botched a bad joke? How about the morally corrupt President of the National Association of Evangelicals resigning over monthly relations with a gay prostitute? Is that what the evangelical gwb is talking about? Is he talking about Iraq? Working families? The rising cost of living? Stagnant wages? Health Care? No the campaigner in chief is out there telling us that voting for democrats is voting for terrorists. How incredibly UN-AMERICAN. How completely proposterous. This "let's break it so we have to fix and pay for it" administration is as incompetent in its prosecution of its own unneccesary war as it was in it's four days late reponse to Katrina. Bush played guitar as people drowned. Condi bought shoes. Bush left vacation for the Terry Schiavo fiasco, but stayed while the poor Louisianans scrawled "Help Us" on their rooftops.

As Keith Olbermann again so eloquently put it "Mr. Bush, you are not the United States of America" when joining the call for the president to apologize to the troops for putting them in harm's way without even so much as an exit strategy, not to mention actual hard evidence warranting an invasion. I guess he'll apologize when the republican Senate Majority Leader, who blamed the generals on the ground while defending the fantastic job of donald rumsfeld, does.

The United States of America has chance to show the president how real Mr. Olbermann's sentiment is. The election on Tuesday is a National one. In 1996 and 2000 I could argue all night, the reasons behind a non vote or a vote for a candidate more particularly in line with my progressive beliefs. This election is about ensuring that there are checks and balances on the executive branch of Our THREE BRANCH government. This administration has aggressively trimmed the once equal legislative and judicial branches. The rubber stamp republicans have given the executive a blank check to use the strength of Our military at his and only his discretion, doing away with Declarations of War. A person can be jailed, treated in any inhumane way attorney general gonzales sees fit, for as long as the administration wants to detain them, all on the bush created distinction of "enemy combatant" that the president can bestow as he sees fit. Think about it, you get put on a list by mistake or say the wrong thing in the wrong place, and boom. When can you defend yourself, when will you see the now admittable hearsay evidence they "have" against you? This is not American. They question my partiotism, as the Rude Pundit recently put it "Fuck Them". Keep in mind Sunday's Saddam verdict/November surprise. You think bushco. had a hand in that timetable? Maybe it was a trade off for the Iraqi government forcing US troops to leave a soldier behind in Sadr City, Iraq. Oh Iraq, what a mess.

Now I don't know if the popular vote matters (Democrats in congress already represent more people than republicans), I don't know about all these glitches they are already finding in voting machines, and I know they cheated/gerrymandered their way to victory in the past. But the public's sentiment is changing. They are starting to feel betrayed, lied to, and fed up with an unending war and an economy strong with the "investor class" and weak on the "working class", not to mention the poor. There is a reason that Democrats are using images of bush in their ads and republicans aren't. There is a reason Democrats are talking about Iraq in their ads and the republicans aren't. The republicans have failed. All they have to campaign on is fear and false claims.

On Tuesday November 7, Vote for a check on this out of control executive branch. Vote out the rubber stamp of a republican led congress that are afraid to question the president. Vote for a new vision. Vote for the Common Good. Vote Democrat right down the line. We'll clean Our House after we start cleaning theirs.

Feel free to reproduce and distribute this wherever and to whomever you want.

Scandals and Responsibility

As the foley scandal's cover up gets closer and closer to the Speaker of the House, it's hard to pay attention to anything else. And now, with today's guilty plea, you can add soon to be ex-congressman bob ney (r) of Ohio to the ever growing republican scandal sheet or as some like to call it the republican "culture of corruption". Who can pay attention to the fact that North Korea is said to have tested a nuCLEar weapon? (Though there is no hard evidence of it yet)

While republicans in Congress are being accused of "inappropriately" touching young asses. Generals are saying that violence in Iraq is at an "all time high". John Hopkins University calculates that there have been 655,000 people killed in Iraq. And master polls-man John Zogby says the data is 95% accurate. The CHIEF OF THE BRITISH ARMY said that the presence of British troops has exacerbated the violence in Iraq and and Blair seems to agree. This British sentiment has nothing to do with the British cameraman US Troops shot and killed.

So out comes this president to, as Jon Stewart told David Letterman "answer questions like an 8 yr. old who didn't read the book", informing us that "the stakes are high", and that the president of the United States can not pronounce "peninsula".

Responsible has a few definitions. One of which is "chargeable with being the author, cause, or occasion of something (usually fol. by for): Termites were responsible for the damage." The disgraced republican congressman bob ney distributed a statement to reporters today after his plea and in it he said “I accept responsibility for my actions, and I am prepared to face the consequences of what I have done,” When someone is responsible for something they must face the consequences. It takes more than the speaker of the house just saying he takes responsibility for the foley scandal and cover up. It takes more than the president just saying he was responsible for the federal (lack of) response to hurricane katrina. There needs to be consequences. The only way that is going to happen is if we vote for people that will hold them accountable, that will ask hard questions and enforce tough consequences. The Democrats will question.

NSFW, but fine for Congress

Maf54 (7:46:33 PM): did any girl give you a haand job this weekend

Maf54 (7:48:00 PM): did you spank it this weekend yourself

Maf54 (7:58:37 PM): well I have aa totally stiff wood now

Maf54 (8:01:21 PM): i am hard as a rock..so tell me when your reaches rock

Maf54 (8:08:31 PM): get a ruler and measure it for me
(Maf54 = red ex-Congressman Mark Foley)

This is just a sample of the sick emails and instant messages sent to teenage pageboys by ex-republican congressman foley, who is avoiding interviews, press conferences, etc. by checking himself into alchohol rehab. These are just a few lines of what republican Speaker of the House dennis hastert called "overly friendly" emails. Turns out dennis and other red congressional leaders KNEW about foley's emails and instant messages for MONTHS and did nothing. Pages were warned about foley for years and he still remained chairman of the House Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children. Maybe the offices of foley, hastert, and boehner should be raided like congressman jefferson's was. And what does the evangelical christian,socially conservative bush administration call a grown man writing emails to underage boys regarding jerking off and hand jobs... "simply naughty emails" SIMPLY NAUGHTY EMAILS?!?!?! What would Dateline have to say about that?

It's disgusting!