As the Foley scandal unfolds, it appears that his recently exposed misdeeds are just the tip of the iceberg. The cover-up apparently goes back several years, and involves GOP staffers in both houses who were involved in inappropriate sexual conduct with male pages. The leaks to ABC News may have come from individuals in the Justice Department and FBI who were frustrated by failure of both Ashcroft and Gonzales to address the matter.
From Wayne Madsen, " The Pagegate scandal also involves senior officials of the Republican National Committee, located near the House Office Buildings, according to our Capitol Hill sources." The head of the RNC, Ken Mehlman, has been confronted about his status as a closeted homosexual, but he has never officially confirmed his sexual orientation. Mehlman served as the campaign manager for Bush in 2004. The Washington Blade has more.
The Wayne Madsen Report also speaks to the involvement of Jeb Bush, who has known about Foley's misdeeds for quite some time, but has been sitting on the information to protect Charlie Crist, who is the GOP candidate for governor. Crist has reportedly attended gay parties with Foley, but positions himself as a consertive Christian who is anti-gay.
What a bunch of hypocrites.
From the Wayne Madsen Report:
October 3, 2006 -- WMR has learned from informed sources in the Justice Department that the salacious e-mails from Rep. Mark Foley were leaked to ABC News by career Justice Department prosecutors and FBI agents who are incensed that Attorneys General John Ashcroft and Alberto Gonzales covered up the House page scandal for political reasons. The back story of Pagegate is that there was a criminal conspiracy by the top political leadership of the Justice Department to cover up the predatory activities of Foley and other GOP members of Congress since at least 2003 and, likely, as early as 2001.
Other informed sources in the nation's capital report that Pagegate will soon implicate a number of GOP staffers in both the House and the Senate who intimidated and pressured male pages into inappropriate sexual relationships. One source confided that the staff members' contact with pages was "more egregious" than Foley's behavior.
The Pagegate scandal also involves senior officials of the Republican National Committee, located near the House Office Buildings, according to our Capitol Hill sources.
The bottom line is that the GOP is facing its worst political scandal since Watergate and the White House, already under assault from the revelations in Bob Woodward's insider account of the Bush presidency and the Iraq war, has told GOP members of Congress that they are on their own as far as Pagegate damage control is concerned.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Monday, October 02, 2006
Sheryl Crow On Breast Cancer Detection
October is breast cancer awareness month. Sheryl Crow tells her story here.
There are eight women in this generation of my extended family (sisters and first cousins). Seven of the eight of us have had breast, ovarian or thyroid cancer. The youngest age at diagnosis was 32, the oldest 53.
None of our mothers were ever diagnosed with cancer.
Please stay current with your check-ups.
There are eight women in this generation of my extended family (sisters and first cousins). Seven of the eight of us have had breast, ovarian or thyroid cancer. The youngest age at diagnosis was 32, the oldest 53.
None of our mothers were ever diagnosed with cancer.
Please stay current with your check-ups.
Sunday, October 01, 2006
God's Own Party Shields Pervert Congressman
The party of family values has failed to protect teenage pages serving in Congress by covering up inappropriate and criminal behavior by disgraced Congressman Foley (R-FL), who resigned his post last week.
Strangely enough, the legal age of consent in Washington D.C. is 16. Foley will likely be snared by the law that he co-sponsored, the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006.
Think Progress has the timline of events.
ABC News has the explicit and incriminating IM's between Foley and an unnamed page.
Strangely enough, the legal age of consent in Washington D.C. is 16. Foley will likely be snared by the law that he co-sponsored, the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006.
Think Progress has the timline of events.
ABC News has the explicit and incriminating IM's between Foley and an unnamed page.
The "Just Stay And Let American Kids Die" Plan
Media Matters reports that NBC alone noted the Democratic response to the President's September 28th attack on the Democrats as "the party of cut and run."
ABC, CBS and CNN all aired the president's remarks with no reference to the response of Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid.
As recounted on Slate.com, one Republican congressman who chose to remain anonymous in talking to a group of reporters, called President Bush's strategy in Iraq the "just stay and let American kids die" plan. The anonymous source said he and other GOP congressmen have expressed to the President their misgivings about the current state of affairs in Iraq, and have suggested a new course of action there. They are not speaking out publicly at this time because "they don't want to hurt the GOP's election chances by appearing to criticize the president."
Below you can read Senator Reid's response and link to the Democrat's Real Security Act of 2006.
Press Release of Senator Reid
REID: GEORGE BUSH HAS NO CREDIBILITY ON NATIONAL SECURITY
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Washington, DC — Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid issued the following statement on comments today by President Bush. A fact sheet on President Bush’s failed Iraq strategy is below.
“If George Bush is so confident that his national security policies are working, he should release the entire National Intelligence Estimate on terrorism and let the American people decide for themselves. The fact that he won't speaks volumes about how the failure of his policies has made the American people less safe.
“George Bush has no credibility left on national security. No matter how many stump speeches he gives on the campaign trail, the American people can see the damage his tough talk has done to America's safety. It's time to be tough and smart so we can change course and give Americans the real security they deserve.”
###
Bush Is Alone In Clinging to a Failed Iraq Strategy
DEMOCRATS’ NATIONAL SECURITY PLAN WOULD MAKE AMERICA MORE SECURE
Democrats’ Real Security Act of 2006 Offers Vision for Changing Course from Bush’s Failed Iraq Policies. The Real Security Act would:
Change course to a strategy for success in Iraq and refocus our resources on destroying Al Qaeda and tracking, hunting and killing terrorists like Osama bin Laden.
Increase the size of the military, double the Special Forces and properly fund equipment.
Screen 100% of containers and cargo bound for the U.S. in ships or airplanes at the point of origin and safeguard America's nuclear and chemical plants, and food and water supplies.
By 2010, secure loose nuclear materials that terrorists could use to build nuclear weapons or "dirty bombs."
Implement all the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.
EXPERTS ARE REJECTING BUSH REPUBLICAN NATIONAL SECURITY POLICIES AS FAILURES
A Congressional Analysis Tallies the Cost of Bush’s Failed Policies. U.S Taxpayers Pay $2 Billion per Week. “A new congressional analysis shows the Iraq war is now costing taxpayers almost $2 billion a week -- nearly twice as much as in the first year of the conflict three years ago and 20 percent more than last year -- as the Pentagon spends more on establishing regional bases to support the extended deployment and scrambles to fix or replace equipment damaged in combat.” [Boston Globe, 9/28/06]
The Intelligence Community Rejects Bush’s Failed Iraq Policy. N.I.E. Concludes Iraq is the “Cause Celebre” for Jihadists. “The Iraq conflict has become the ‘cause celebre’ for jihadists, breeding a deep resentment of US involvement in the Muslim world and cultivating supporters for the global jihadist movement.” [National Intelligence Estimate, 4/2006]
Military Experts Reject Bush’s Failed Iraq Policy. Major General John Batiste Says the U.S. Is Less Safe Now than It Was on 9/11. Batiste: “I believe that Rumsfeld and others in the administration did not tell the American people the truth for fear of losing support for the war in Iraq. Rumsfeld failed to address the full range of requirements for this effort and the result is one percent of the population shouldering the burdens, continued hemorrhaging of our national treasure in terms of blood and dollars, an Army and Marine Corps which will require tens of billions of dollars to reset after we withdraw from Iraq, the majority of our National Guard brigades no longer combat ready, a Veterans Administration which is under funded by over $3 billion, and America arguably less safe now than it was on 9/11. If we had seriously laid out and considered the full range of requirements for the war in Iraq, we would likely have taken a different course of action which would have maintained a clear focus on our main effort in Afghanistan, not fueled Islamic fundamentalism across the globe, and not created more enemies than there were insurgents.” [Democratic Policy Committee Testimony, 9/25/06]
Anonymous Republicans Reject Bush’s Failed Iraq Policy. When granted anonymity, Republican Congressman Calls Bush’s Iraq policy the “Just Stay and Let American Kids Die” Strategy. “Yesterday, I was one of a small group of reporters who ate lunch with a Republican congressman. He was thoughtful and blunt about the problems that face his party in the coming election—which is why I can't name him. He has criticized the conduct of the war in Iraq in public and to the president in private. He believes that if there is not a change in strategy soon, Americans will not support a war strategy that he characterized as "just stay and let American kids die." This member says many of his GOP colleagues have a similar view and privately articulate sharp criticisms and suggestions for new action. But they're not going to say anything in public now. Why? They don't want to hurt the GOP's election chances by appearing to criticize the president. "Reality has been suspended for a moment," says the member. "Republicans cannot speak out publicly on this issue right now." [Slate, 9/21/06]
Iraqis Resent Bush’s Failed Iraq Policy. Disturbingly, Iraqis Approve of Attacks on U.S. Troops. “A majority of Iraqis -- 61 percent -- say they approve of attacks on U.S. forces and 71 percent want their government to ask U.S. troops to leave within a year, according to a University of Maryland poll.” [Baltimore Sun, 9/27/06]
ABC, CBS and CNN all aired the president's remarks with no reference to the response of Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid.
As recounted on Slate.com, one Republican congressman who chose to remain anonymous in talking to a group of reporters, called President Bush's strategy in Iraq the "just stay and let American kids die" plan. The anonymous source said he and other GOP congressmen have expressed to the President their misgivings about the current state of affairs in Iraq, and have suggested a new course of action there. They are not speaking out publicly at this time because "they don't want to hurt the GOP's election chances by appearing to criticize the president."
Below you can read Senator Reid's response and link to the Democrat's Real Security Act of 2006.
Press Release of Senator Reid
REID: GEORGE BUSH HAS NO CREDIBILITY ON NATIONAL SECURITY
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Washington, DC — Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid issued the following statement on comments today by President Bush. A fact sheet on President Bush’s failed Iraq strategy is below.
“If George Bush is so confident that his national security policies are working, he should release the entire National Intelligence Estimate on terrorism and let the American people decide for themselves. The fact that he won't speaks volumes about how the failure of his policies has made the American people less safe.
“George Bush has no credibility left on national security. No matter how many stump speeches he gives on the campaign trail, the American people can see the damage his tough talk has done to America's safety. It's time to be tough and smart so we can change course and give Americans the real security they deserve.”
###
Bush Is Alone In Clinging to a Failed Iraq Strategy
DEMOCRATS’ NATIONAL SECURITY PLAN WOULD MAKE AMERICA MORE SECURE
Democrats’ Real Security Act of 2006 Offers Vision for Changing Course from Bush’s Failed Iraq Policies. The Real Security Act would:
Change course to a strategy for success in Iraq and refocus our resources on destroying Al Qaeda and tracking, hunting and killing terrorists like Osama bin Laden.
Increase the size of the military, double the Special Forces and properly fund equipment.
Screen 100% of containers and cargo bound for the U.S. in ships or airplanes at the point of origin and safeguard America's nuclear and chemical plants, and food and water supplies.
By 2010, secure loose nuclear materials that terrorists could use to build nuclear weapons or "dirty bombs."
Implement all the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.
EXPERTS ARE REJECTING BUSH REPUBLICAN NATIONAL SECURITY POLICIES AS FAILURES
A Congressional Analysis Tallies the Cost of Bush’s Failed Policies. U.S Taxpayers Pay $2 Billion per Week. “A new congressional analysis shows the Iraq war is now costing taxpayers almost $2 billion a week -- nearly twice as much as in the first year of the conflict three years ago and 20 percent more than last year -- as the Pentagon spends more on establishing regional bases to support the extended deployment and scrambles to fix or replace equipment damaged in combat.” [Boston Globe, 9/28/06]
The Intelligence Community Rejects Bush’s Failed Iraq Policy. N.I.E. Concludes Iraq is the “Cause Celebre” for Jihadists. “The Iraq conflict has become the ‘cause celebre’ for jihadists, breeding a deep resentment of US involvement in the Muslim world and cultivating supporters for the global jihadist movement.” [National Intelligence Estimate, 4/2006]
Military Experts Reject Bush’s Failed Iraq Policy. Major General John Batiste Says the U.S. Is Less Safe Now than It Was on 9/11. Batiste: “I believe that Rumsfeld and others in the administration did not tell the American people the truth for fear of losing support for the war in Iraq. Rumsfeld failed to address the full range of requirements for this effort and the result is one percent of the population shouldering the burdens, continued hemorrhaging of our national treasure in terms of blood and dollars, an Army and Marine Corps which will require tens of billions of dollars to reset after we withdraw from Iraq, the majority of our National Guard brigades no longer combat ready, a Veterans Administration which is under funded by over $3 billion, and America arguably less safe now than it was on 9/11. If we had seriously laid out and considered the full range of requirements for the war in Iraq, we would likely have taken a different course of action which would have maintained a clear focus on our main effort in Afghanistan, not fueled Islamic fundamentalism across the globe, and not created more enemies than there were insurgents.” [Democratic Policy Committee Testimony, 9/25/06]
Anonymous Republicans Reject Bush’s Failed Iraq Policy. When granted anonymity, Republican Congressman Calls Bush’s Iraq policy the “Just Stay and Let American Kids Die” Strategy. “Yesterday, I was one of a small group of reporters who ate lunch with a Republican congressman. He was thoughtful and blunt about the problems that face his party in the coming election—which is why I can't name him. He has criticized the conduct of the war in Iraq in public and to the president in private. He believes that if there is not a change in strategy soon, Americans will not support a war strategy that he characterized as "just stay and let American kids die." This member says many of his GOP colleagues have a similar view and privately articulate sharp criticisms and suggestions for new action. But they're not going to say anything in public now. Why? They don't want to hurt the GOP's election chances by appearing to criticize the president. "Reality has been suspended for a moment," says the member. "Republicans cannot speak out publicly on this issue right now." [Slate, 9/21/06]
Iraqis Resent Bush’s Failed Iraq Policy. Disturbingly, Iraqis Approve of Attacks on U.S. Troops. “A majority of Iraqis -- 61 percent -- say they approve of attacks on U.S. forces and 71 percent want their government to ask U.S. troops to leave within a year, according to a University of Maryland poll.” [Baltimore Sun, 9/27/06]
Friday, September 29, 2006
House Leadership Sits on Foley Info 10-11 Months
Another Republican pervert bites the dust.
According to the AP report, House leadership knew as long as 10-11 months ago of inappropriate e-mail exchanges between Foley and a 16 year old page, and did NOTHING.
From Josh Marshall at Talking Points Memo:
Here's the key passage from the AP article ...
"The page worked for Rep. Rodney Alexander, R-La., who said Friday that when he learned of the e-mail exchanges 10 to 11 months ago, he called the teen's parents. Alexander told the Ruston Daily Leader, "We also notified the House leadership that there might be a potential problem," a reference to the House's Republican leaders."
I assume that passage doesn't need much unpacking. But let's do it anyway.
So Rep. Alexander knew about this 10 or 11 months ago. And he says he notified the House leadership. That means Hastert and (at the time) either Tom DeLay or Rep. Blunt (R-MO). We don't know it was either of those three men yet. But that's what Alexander means when he says he "notified the House leadership." They're the House leadership.
If I'm understanding this correctly, that means that the leaders of the House Republican caucus have known for almost a year that a member of their caucus was having cybersex with an underage congressional page. And apparently they did nothing about it.
I think this story is about to get a lot bigger.
Their inaction is criminal and downright pathetic. Foley was the chairman of the House Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children.
According to the AP report, House leadership knew as long as 10-11 months ago of inappropriate e-mail exchanges between Foley and a 16 year old page, and did NOTHING.
From Josh Marshall at Talking Points Memo:
Here's the key passage from the AP article ...
"The page worked for Rep. Rodney Alexander, R-La., who said Friday that when he learned of the e-mail exchanges 10 to 11 months ago, he called the teen's parents. Alexander told the Ruston Daily Leader, "We also notified the House leadership that there might be a potential problem," a reference to the House's Republican leaders."
I assume that passage doesn't need much unpacking. But let's do it anyway.
So Rep. Alexander knew about this 10 or 11 months ago. And he says he notified the House leadership. That means Hastert and (at the time) either Tom DeLay or Rep. Blunt (R-MO). We don't know it was either of those three men yet. But that's what Alexander means when he says he "notified the House leadership." They're the House leadership.
If I'm understanding this correctly, that means that the leaders of the House Republican caucus have known for almost a year that a member of their caucus was having cybersex with an underage congressional page. And apparently they did nothing about it.
I think this story is about to get a lot bigger.
Their inaction is criminal and downright pathetic. Foley was the chairman of the House Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children.
Wal-Mart Voter Education May Backfire
Wal-Mart has begun a voter education program that is a thinly disguised attempt to steer employees to vote Republican. Many feel pressured and may vote Democratic instead. From Lisa Featherstone at The Nation:
In other Wal-Mart news, the company is trying to counter its political troubles -- from site fights to "Fair Share" laws to living wage ordinances -- through "voter education" within its own workforce. Of course the company insists that the information it's giving workers is nonpartisan, but in fact, very few of the politicians that publicly criticize the company are Republican, and the company is clearly responding to recent attacks by Democrats hoping to rally their base. A Wal-Mart department manager -- who wished to remain anonymous -- told me the other day that it might backfire. "Oh, of course they want us to vote Republican," she explains, "but you know, I have been talking to some associates and just the mere fact that Wal-Mart is trying to coerce them... is making them vote the other way."
In other Wal-Mart news, the company is trying to counter its political troubles -- from site fights to "Fair Share" laws to living wage ordinances -- through "voter education" within its own workforce. Of course the company insists that the information it's giving workers is nonpartisan, but in fact, very few of the politicians that publicly criticize the company are Republican, and the company is clearly responding to recent attacks by Democrats hoping to rally their base. A Wal-Mart department manager -- who wished to remain anonymous -- told me the other day that it might backfire. "Oh, of course they want us to vote Republican," she explains, "but you know, I have been talking to some associates and just the mere fact that Wal-Mart is trying to coerce them... is making them vote the other way."
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
N.Y. Post Jests About Terrorist Threat
Keith Olbermann was the recipient of a letter containing a white powder yesterday. The incident, which is still under investigation by the FBI, was flippantly reported in an account riddled with error in today's New York Post:
POWDER PUFF SPOOKS KEITH
September 27, 2006 -- MSNBC loudmouth Keith Olbermann flipped out when he opened his home mail yesterday. The acerbic host of "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" was terrified when he opened a suspicious-looking letter with a California postmark and a batch of white powder poured out. A note inside warned Olbermann, who's a frequent critic of President Bush's policies, that it was payback for some of his on-air shtick. The caustic commentator panicked and frantically called 911 at about 12:30 a.m., sources told The Post's Philip Messing. An NYPD HazMat unit rushed to Olbermann's pad on Central Park South, but preliminary tests indicated the substance was harmless soap powder. However, that wasn't enough to satisfy Olbermann, who insisted on a checkup. He asked to be taken to St. Luke's Hospital, where doctors looked him over and sent him home. Whether they gave him a lollipop on the way out isn't known. Olbermann had no comment.
On tonight's Countdown broadcast Olbermann disputes this telling of the event, and questions how the N.Y. Post was able to learn of the incident.
"It's interesting too that Murdoch's paper was able to get a jump on this story so quickly -- nearly as quickly, as if they'd known it was coming."
The FBI has asked that details of the threat to Olbermann not be revealed pending investigation.
Olbermann reminds us in his comments this evening, that NBC along with other news outlets, had complied with a request from Fox News to downplay the recent kidnapping of a Fox reporter and photographer. Their safe return may have been partly the result of the kidnappers not realizing that their targets had face recognition.
N.Y. Post and Fox Network are both owned by Rupert Murdoch, whose media outlets are slanted and biased to present the agenda of the Republican Reich.
POWDER PUFF SPOOKS KEITH
September 27, 2006 -- MSNBC loudmouth Keith Olbermann flipped out when he opened his home mail yesterday. The acerbic host of "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" was terrified when he opened a suspicious-looking letter with a California postmark and a batch of white powder poured out. A note inside warned Olbermann, who's a frequent critic of President Bush's policies, that it was payback for some of his on-air shtick. The caustic commentator panicked and frantically called 911 at about 12:30 a.m., sources told The Post's Philip Messing. An NYPD HazMat unit rushed to Olbermann's pad on Central Park South, but preliminary tests indicated the substance was harmless soap powder. However, that wasn't enough to satisfy Olbermann, who insisted on a checkup. He asked to be taken to St. Luke's Hospital, where doctors looked him over and sent him home. Whether they gave him a lollipop on the way out isn't known. Olbermann had no comment.
On tonight's Countdown broadcast Olbermann disputes this telling of the event, and questions how the N.Y. Post was able to learn of the incident.
"It's interesting too that Murdoch's paper was able to get a jump on this story so quickly -- nearly as quickly, as if they'd known it was coming."
The FBI has asked that details of the threat to Olbermann not be revealed pending investigation.
Olbermann reminds us in his comments this evening, that NBC along with other news outlets, had complied with a request from Fox News to downplay the recent kidnapping of a Fox reporter and photographer. Their safe return may have been partly the result of the kidnappers not realizing that their targets had face recognition.
N.Y. Post and Fox Network are both owned by Rupert Murdoch, whose media outlets are slanted and biased to present the agenda of the Republican Reich.
Minimum Wage and the Caste System
The conservative fight against increasing the minimum wage shows their disdain for the working class, as evidenced by this study from the Employment Policies Institute. Part of their rationale for not raising the minimum wage says:
-- 86% of employees that will benefit from the hike either live with their parents, are part of a dual earning household, or don’t have a family to support...
This does not take into account that:
-- 86% of employees that will benefit from the hike either live with their parents, are part of a dual earning household, or don’t have a family to support...
This does not take into account that:
- A student living at home, and trying to finance a college degree is facing huge increases in tuition, books and transportation expenses during the last ten years.
- A dual earning household of low wage earners is still struggling just to put food on the table, a roof over the head and other basic expenses which increase each year.
- Single people who earn the minimum wage cannot support themselves on $206 per week.
If the conservatives are against a living wage, they should give back their own gains in salary and perks from the last ten years, and it should go to homeless shelters to help the dispossessed.
The Forbes list of the 400 richest people in the U.S. was released recently. " This year, for the first time, everyone on The Forbes 400 has at least $1 billion. The collective net worth of the nation’s wealthiest climbed $120 billion, to $1.25 trillion." From the MSNBC report:
THE TOP 10
1. William Henry Gates III: $53 billion
2. Warren Edward Buffett: $46 billion
3. Sheldon Adelson: $20.5 billion
4. Lawrence Joseph Ellison: $19.5 billion
5. Paul Gardner Allen: $16 billion
6. Jim C Walton: $15.7 billion
7. Christy Walton & family: $15.6 billion
7. S Robson Walton: $15.6 billion
9. Michael Dell: $15.5 billion
9. Alice L Walton: $15.5 billion
The Walton family alone are sitting on a pot of gold totaling more than $60 billion dollars, while they systematically dismantle the fabric of the small business community in every town where they are allowed to do business. They thwart their employees attempts to unionize and pay them low wages and benefits. Wal-Mart is now the largest employer in the state of Missouri. Most of their employees make more than the minimum wage, but many do not have full-time positions and do not have benefits.
We are creating a caste system of workers who must take jobs with low wages and no benefits. This caste system is being fueled by the millions of economic refugees flooding across our southern borders who are willing to work for a low wage, with no shortage of businesses willing to hire them to improve their bottom line. Our manufacturing jobs have been sent to China, and now we buy low wage goods produced by people who make 10-30 cents per hour and labor 12-14 hours a day as virtual slaves.
We need to raise the minimum wage now, and restore the esteem for the working class. A system where the rich get richer while standing on the backs of the poor should not be tolerated.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Keith Olbermann Kicks Butt
I'm too cheap to pay for expanded cable, so I don't get MSNBC. Just recently I've been clicking on links leading me to expanded comments by Keith Olbermann the anchor of Countdown.
He provides such an eloquent and impassioned progressive voice, I wish he were on a network that gets more viewers. His analysis of the aftermath of the Clinton/Wallace interview just kicked the butt of Bush and the NeoCons who thwarted Clinton at every turn, and did NOTHING to stop Bin Ladin and terrorist organizations after they finessed the election of a GOP Pinocchio to the presidency.
We need a news channel solely dedicated to the progressive/liberal viewpoint, with people like Olbermann on center stage, to counterbalance the malignancy that is FOX News.
He provides such an eloquent and impassioned progressive voice, I wish he were on a network that gets more viewers. His analysis of the aftermath of the Clinton/Wallace interview just kicked the butt of Bush and the NeoCons who thwarted Clinton at every turn, and did NOTHING to stop Bin Ladin and terrorist organizations after they finessed the election of a GOP Pinocchio to the presidency.
We need a news channel solely dedicated to the progressive/liberal viewpoint, with people like Olbermann on center stage, to counterbalance the malignancy that is FOX News.
Monday, September 25, 2006
Afghanistan Lost to Jihadists
From Newsweek, the Oct 2 issue has a long article on the Taliban resurgence in Afghanistan. They alternately refer to it as "Jihadistan" and an emerging narco-state.
Of particular interest is the Cover photo, which in Europe, Asia and Latin America features a Taliban fighter with a rocket launcher and the caption LOSING AFGHANISTAN. The U.S. version features a benign cover of Annie Liebovitz.
Of particular interest is the Cover photo, which in Europe, Asia and Latin America features a Taliban fighter with a rocket launcher and the caption LOSING AFGHANISTAN. The U.S. version features a benign cover of Annie Liebovitz.
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Bush Licks Bottom of Clinton's Shoe
Breaking News:
President Bush invited former President Bill Clinton to lunch at the White House yesterday.
During a stroll in the rose garden, where they chatted about the global warming crisis, a black cloud materialized overhead and God struck George Bush with a small thunderbolt and spoke to him in a clear, resonant voice. All nearby attendants and secret service agents were witness to the remarkable event.
God instructed Bush to lick the bottom of Clinton's shoe as an act of contrition for installing the minions of Satan as advisors (Cheney, Rove, Rumsfeld), and loosing the dogs of Hell (Savage, Hannity, Coulter, Malkin) upon the American public.
As further punishment, for waging a war of agression on the basis of fabricated intelligence, the Lord fashioned a belt of thorns from the roses for Bush to wear fastened around his thigh for the remainder of his term in office.
Then, a small knotted whip dropped from the cloud, which was accompanied by a letter written on parchment and addressed to Laura Bush. In summary, she was instructed to give George 40 lashes each evening before bedtime, while he recited the names of the 3,000 U.S. military troops sacrificed in this illicit war.
Furthermore, the letter continued, Bush was to light a candle each morning for the rest of his life, in remembrance of the 30,000 plus nameless Iraqi civilians needlessly slaughtered.
The Lord asked Bush why he had invited the moneychangers into the temple of government, instead of making needed reforms. He assured him that the Pearly Gates would be closed to him, if he did not chart a different course and publicly confess his subterfuge.
A cold wind arose suddenly and rose petals swirled around the garden. As the wind subsided, the cloud was gone leaving Bush with a stunned look on his face and a rose petal stuck to his nose.
During a press conference later, that afternoon, Tony Snow announced that the White House dog would be sent to the ranch in Crawford, and that the First Lady would be choosing several cats from local shelters to be installed as First Pets.
The alarm went off, and I woke up with a startled blink of the eyes. It was just a dream. But a small, still voice was whispering--vote blue, vote blue, vote blue.
Betty B.
Friday, September 22, 2006
Fox News Interviews President Clinton
Think Progress has the full transcript of the taped Chris Wallace interview with President Bill Clinton to be aired Sunday on Fox News.
The focus was to be his fund raising efforts to combat the global warming crisis, but Wallace shifted to an accusatory query about why the Clinton administration did not get Bin Laden, repeating the misinformation in the Path to 9/11 movie recently aired on ABC.
Clinton set the record straight in no uncertain terms. Made my day.
The focus was to be his fund raising efforts to combat the global warming crisis, but Wallace shifted to an accusatory query about why the Clinton administration did not get Bin Laden, repeating the misinformation in the Path to 9/11 movie recently aired on ABC.
Clinton set the record straight in no uncertain terms. Made my day.
Media Matters Holds Bill O'Reilly's Feet To The Fire
Bill O'Reilly's new book Culture Warrior hits the stores September 25, but don't rush out to buy it. Instead, read the lengthy review by the staff of Media Matters, who have ably dissected every fallacious statement.
Bill O. has an acrimonious history with the Media Matters crew, and had boasted that his publisher denied their request for a review copy. Being a crafty and resourceful group, they manifested their copy and chewed it up.
The book purports to "expose the secular-progressive movement in our country for exactly what it is, to explain why it is so harmful for America, and to identify the movement's top leaders..."
I always felt the abandonment of the word liberal was silly. The wacko, perverts like Bill (the story of) O. will just use whatever subsitute word we choose and attack it.
Strangely enough, Bill characterizes himself as an independent, and has two conservatives on his list--Ann Coulter and Michael Savage, admittedly the wackiest of the right-wing personalities.
Ann Coulter has been a guest on the "Factor," but Bill refuses to invite Media Matters, despite their repeated requests to appear.
Bill O. has an acrimonious history with the Media Matters crew, and had boasted that his publisher denied their request for a review copy. Being a crafty and resourceful group, they manifested their copy and chewed it up.
The book purports to "expose the secular-progressive movement in our country for exactly what it is, to explain why it is so harmful for America, and to identify the movement's top leaders..."
I always felt the abandonment of the word liberal was silly. The wacko, perverts like Bill (the story of) O. will just use whatever subsitute word we choose and attack it.
Strangely enough, Bill characterizes himself as an independent, and has two conservatives on his list--Ann Coulter and Michael Savage, admittedly the wackiest of the right-wing personalities.
Ann Coulter has been a guest on the "Factor," but Bill refuses to invite Media Matters, despite their repeated requests to appear.
Nation Analyzes Telecom Giveaway Bill
The Nation has a look at the issue of net neutrality and the telecom bill that will restructure the internet, which if passed would extract fees from net users for activities that are currently free and unregulated.
Despite growing opposition, Alaska Republican Senator Ted Stevens appears determined to pass his telecom giveaway bill this year. But, if Stevens and his pals in the telecom and cable industries prevail, writes Jeffrey Chester in a new Nation online exclusive, expect the free flow of online content to be replaced by corporate infotainment like Anheuser-Busch's lowbrow broadband Bud TV.
Stevens is using his considerable political clout to get at least sixty senators to agree to bring the flawed measure to the floor. Stevens has acknowledged that his rewrite of the 1934 Communications Act now faces an uphill battle, primarily due to the controversy generated by public-interest groups over network neutrality, the guiding principle of the Internet, which guarantees all users have equal access to content and services.
Read the entire article written by Jeffrey Chester here.
Despite growing opposition, Alaska Republican Senator Ted Stevens appears determined to pass his telecom giveaway bill this year. But, if Stevens and his pals in the telecom and cable industries prevail, writes Jeffrey Chester in a new Nation online exclusive, expect the free flow of online content to be replaced by corporate infotainment like Anheuser-Busch's lowbrow broadband Bud TV.
Stevens is using his considerable political clout to get at least sixty senators to agree to bring the flawed measure to the floor. Stevens has acknowledged that his rewrite of the 1934 Communications Act now faces an uphill battle, primarily due to the controversy generated by public-interest groups over network neutrality, the guiding principle of the Internet, which guarantees all users have equal access to content and services.
Read the entire article written by Jeffrey Chester here.
Wal-Mart's $4 Plan Has Double Silver Lining
Wal-Mart announced a plan to offer a long list of generic drugs at the low cost of $4 beginning with a test market in Florida. The TV news coverage has focused mostly on Mr. & Mrs. Average American, talking about how much they will save. Generic drugs generally retail at $10-$30.
It is unclear if Wal-Mart has negotiated a lower price with it's suppliers, or if this is a loss leader to clean up it's tarnished image and bring more customers to it's pharmacies.
Little attention has been paid to the effect this will have on Wal-Mart's competitors. Many independent pharmacies, who are hanging on by a thread, will likely suffer from this move if it is instituted across the country.
The Washington Post reports immediate repercussions for chain pharmacies:
Wal-Mart's announcement roiled the retail drug industry. Shares of Walgreen Co. and CVS Corp., two large drugstore companies, fell more than 7 percent and 8 percent, respectively.
The end result of such a program could be to drive the majority of pharmacy competitors out of business, thus making Wal-Mart the supreme retailer. Has a nice ring, doesn't it?
It is unclear if Wal-Mart has negotiated a lower price with it's suppliers, or if this is a loss leader to clean up it's tarnished image and bring more customers to it's pharmacies.
Little attention has been paid to the effect this will have on Wal-Mart's competitors. Many independent pharmacies, who are hanging on by a thread, will likely suffer from this move if it is instituted across the country.
The Washington Post reports immediate repercussions for chain pharmacies:
Wal-Mart's announcement roiled the retail drug industry. Shares of Walgreen Co. and CVS Corp., two large drugstore companies, fell more than 7 percent and 8 percent, respectively.
The end result of such a program could be to drive the majority of pharmacy competitors out of business, thus making Wal-Mart the supreme retailer. Has a nice ring, doesn't it?
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Kansas Attorney General Memo Outlines Plan For Church Involvement In Campaign
From Talk To Action, a memo from Kansas Republican Attorney General Phill Kline to his re-election campaign staff was recently leaked to the press. The memo details how they are to work with church groups and pastors to steer church goers to campaign receptions following church services, and instructions on getting church members involved in various aspects of his campaign. Tips on getting around IRS restrictions are outlined. Please go to the Talk To Action report for a link to the text of the original memo.
The memo was publicized in a press release from the Interfaith Alliance:
Immediate Release
The Interfaith Alliance
September 12, 2006
Contact: Don Parker, 202.639.6370, ext. 111
Kansas Attorney General Advises Churches to Skirt the Law
Washington, September 12 – In response to a leaked memo from Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline to his re-election campaign staff, detailing a strategy for collecting money and volunteer support from churches, pastors, and church members, The Interfaith Alliance released the following statements from the Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, president of the nonpartisan grassroots organization, and from Michael Bayouth, chair of Wichita MAINstream, an Affiliate of The Interfaith Alliance:
A "church effort" memo from Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline has outlined one of the most blatant and aggressive strategies to use religion in a political campaign that I have ever seen. As the senior pastor of a Baptist congregation in Louisiana myself, I can assure you this outrageous elaboration of a campaign strategy for involving churches in a partisan electoral effort offends me beyond measure and evokes from me the strongest level of condemnation. The candidate admits that churches that show his campaign video must not deny opposing candidates an opportunity to show their own videos but coyly tells churches that they do not have to invite other candidates to visit with them. Counsel on how to get away with being politically partisan in a house of worship raises serious ethical, legal and spiritual questions. Kline demonstrates no reticence about manipulating houses of worship—indeed he calls for the organization of "church lay committees" to win votes—or about jeopardizing the reputations and legal standing of religious leaders, some of whom he cites by name, and the houses of worship in which they minister. This memo also raises questions about whether the chief law enforcement officer of Kansas takes a wink-wink, nod-nod view of the law. I also think that this memo would raise as many concerns about legality for the IRS as it does about spirituality for those of us concerned about the integrity of religion in relation to politics.
C. Welton Gaddy
President
The Interfaith Alliance
This memo affords a blatant disregard for the integrity of the separation of religion and government by one of our highest elected officials. Kline's strategy toys with the tax-exempt status of churches for his own political ambitions, with little consideration for the church, religion, people of faith."
Michael Bayouth,
Chair of Wichita MAINstream, an Affiliate of The Interfaith Alliance
The Interfaith Alliance (TIA) is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to promoting the positive and healing role of religion in the life of the nation and challenging those who manipulate religion to promote a narrow, divisive agenda. With more than 185,000 members drawn from more than 75 faith traditions and 75 local activist groups throughout America, TIA promotes compassion, civility and mutual respect for human dignity in our increasingly diverse society.
www.interfaithalliance.org
The memo was publicized in a press release from the Interfaith Alliance:
Immediate Release
The Interfaith Alliance
September 12, 2006
Contact: Don Parker, 202.639.6370, ext. 111
Kansas Attorney General Advises Churches to Skirt the Law
Washington, September 12 – In response to a leaked memo from Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline to his re-election campaign staff, detailing a strategy for collecting money and volunteer support from churches, pastors, and church members, The Interfaith Alliance released the following statements from the Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, president of the nonpartisan grassroots organization, and from Michael Bayouth, chair of Wichita MAINstream, an Affiliate of The Interfaith Alliance:
A "church effort" memo from Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline has outlined one of the most blatant and aggressive strategies to use religion in a political campaign that I have ever seen. As the senior pastor of a Baptist congregation in Louisiana myself, I can assure you this outrageous elaboration of a campaign strategy for involving churches in a partisan electoral effort offends me beyond measure and evokes from me the strongest level of condemnation. The candidate admits that churches that show his campaign video must not deny opposing candidates an opportunity to show their own videos but coyly tells churches that they do not have to invite other candidates to visit with them. Counsel on how to get away with being politically partisan in a house of worship raises serious ethical, legal and spiritual questions. Kline demonstrates no reticence about manipulating houses of worship—indeed he calls for the organization of "church lay committees" to win votes—or about jeopardizing the reputations and legal standing of religious leaders, some of whom he cites by name, and the houses of worship in which they minister. This memo also raises questions about whether the chief law enforcement officer of Kansas takes a wink-wink, nod-nod view of the law. I also think that this memo would raise as many concerns about legality for the IRS as it does about spirituality for those of us concerned about the integrity of religion in relation to politics.
C. Welton Gaddy
President
The Interfaith Alliance
This memo affords a blatant disregard for the integrity of the separation of religion and government by one of our highest elected officials. Kline's strategy toys with the tax-exempt status of churches for his own political ambitions, with little consideration for the church, religion, people of faith."
Michael Bayouth,
Chair of Wichita MAINstream, an Affiliate of The Interfaith Alliance
The Interfaith Alliance (TIA) is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to promoting the positive and healing role of religion in the life of the nation and challenging those who manipulate religion to promote a narrow, divisive agenda. With more than 185,000 members drawn from more than 75 faith traditions and 75 local activist groups throughout America, TIA promotes compassion, civility and mutual respect for human dignity in our increasingly diverse society.
www.interfaithalliance.org
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
The Let America Vote Act
From www.bradblog.com - pass it on.
BLOGGED BY Brad ON 9/19/2006 12:41PM
THE LET AMERICA VOTE ACT!
CALL ON CONGRESS TO PASS 'EMERGENCY PAPER BALLOT LEGISLATION' NOW!
Every Registered American Voter Must Be Allowed to Vote This November!
Given this year's primary election meltdowns and train wrecks that we've been reporting since March 7th of this year, in which electronic voting machines have failed to start up and thousands of American voters have been turned away from the polls when they came to vote, but couldn't…
Given the fact that one such meltdown occurred last Tuesday in Maryland, where many of the DC media and politicos live…
Given VelvetRevolution's new Princeton Diebold Virus Hack report demonstrating conclusively that electronic voting machines may be hacked in a minute's time resulting in flipped elections without a trace left behind…
Giving that American democracy and the right to vote in that democracy ought to be a beacon to the world…
It is NOW time for Emergency Paper Ballot Legislation to be brought and passed immediately by both houses of the U.S. Congress, in order to at least mitigate the coming train wreck this November 7th.
Call it the Let America Vote Act (LAVA) of 2006…Let democracy flow!
The legislation can, and should be, as short as a single paragraph so that it can be read and passed quickly by every U.S. Congress member. It can apply only to this November's general election, if that is needed to get it passed and signed quickly.
It should read something like this…
LET AMERICA VOTE ACT(EMERGENCY PAPER BALLOT MANDATE OF 2006)
Emergency paper ballots shall be made available at every voting jurisdiction in the United States during the November 7th, 2006 General Election. These paper ballots shall be available in sufficient numbers for optional use by voters who prefer to use them, and by all voters in the event of voting machine failure or unavailability. These paper ballots are not to be provisional ballots, but regular paper ballots that shall be counted immediately upon the close of polls on election night along with all other votes cast by properly registered voters.
Note: At this point, I don't give a damn how the Emergency Paper Ballots will be counted; by hand, by optical scanner, whatever. So long as voters are not disenfranchised by the millions — as thousands have already been so far in this year's primary elections across the country — by showing up to the polling place only to be told they can't vote at all, or by being told they must vote provisionally (provisional ballots are not counted on election night, and frequently not at all) because the new voting machines are broken or otherwise unavailable.
States such as Texas, Arkansas and other have already had to do this this year when Secretaries of State put out emergency notices to Elections Administrators to create such Emergency Paper Ballots after the voting machine companies failed to provide programmed ballots or working machines.
All states are already required by the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) to have such paper ballots available at every polling place as Provisional Ballots, so those can be copied NOW if need be for use as Emergency Paper Ballots (which is better than the scraps of paper some counties reportedly have tried to use in emergency situations so far this year!)
BOTTOM LINE: With the passage of this Emergency Legislation, at least properly registered American citizens will be able to vote on Election Day if they choose to!
Feel free to call it the "Hail Mary Emergency Election Protection Act" if you want. I don't much care, so long as it's passed by Congress in time to ensure that voters can actually vote this November!
I've spoken with a number of people on the Hill and within the Election Integrity movement…scientists, activists, politicians, in DC and around the country, and they have all been in favor of this legislation and have pledged their support.
I am attemping to find sponsorship for this bill in Congress, and I'm calling on all Election Integrity organizations and concerned citizens who may have better connections than I to help find such Congressional sponsorship immediately.
I am calling on these same people to then call on Congress to pass this legislation immediately!
I am hoping to have an official version/wording of the bill posted shortly. It will, of course, be available as a new item here at The BRAD BLOG no later than tomorrow. It will spell out, in official "bill-like" language, precisely what I've posted above.
Democracy is at stake. After at least two years of reporting in exhaustive details on these matters, and at this late stage of the game, I believe the above "reform" is, unfortunately, the most we can likely hope for in time to have any real impact in mitigating a full-on train wreck during this November's crucial excercise of the rite of democracy.
Please forward this item to everybody you know, cross-post it or link to it as you see fit (this is the URL: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=3495)…And please contact your Congress person and ask them to support and/or sponsor this initiative today!
BLOGGED BY Brad ON 9/19/2006 12:41PM
THE LET AMERICA VOTE ACT!
CALL ON CONGRESS TO PASS 'EMERGENCY PAPER BALLOT LEGISLATION' NOW!
Every Registered American Voter Must Be Allowed to Vote This November!
Given this year's primary election meltdowns and train wrecks that we've been reporting since March 7th of this year, in which electronic voting machines have failed to start up and thousands of American voters have been turned away from the polls when they came to vote, but couldn't…
Given the fact that one such meltdown occurred last Tuesday in Maryland, where many of the DC media and politicos live…
Given VelvetRevolution's new Princeton Diebold Virus Hack report demonstrating conclusively that electronic voting machines may be hacked in a minute's time resulting in flipped elections without a trace left behind…
Giving that American democracy and the right to vote in that democracy ought to be a beacon to the world…
It is NOW time for Emergency Paper Ballot Legislation to be brought and passed immediately by both houses of the U.S. Congress, in order to at least mitigate the coming train wreck this November 7th.
Call it the Let America Vote Act (LAVA) of 2006…Let democracy flow!
The legislation can, and should be, as short as a single paragraph so that it can be read and passed quickly by every U.S. Congress member. It can apply only to this November's general election, if that is needed to get it passed and signed quickly.
It should read something like this…
LET AMERICA VOTE ACT(EMERGENCY PAPER BALLOT MANDATE OF 2006)
Emergency paper ballots shall be made available at every voting jurisdiction in the United States during the November 7th, 2006 General Election. These paper ballots shall be available in sufficient numbers for optional use by voters who prefer to use them, and by all voters in the event of voting machine failure or unavailability. These paper ballots are not to be provisional ballots, but regular paper ballots that shall be counted immediately upon the close of polls on election night along with all other votes cast by properly registered voters.
Note: At this point, I don't give a damn how the Emergency Paper Ballots will be counted; by hand, by optical scanner, whatever. So long as voters are not disenfranchised by the millions — as thousands have already been so far in this year's primary elections across the country — by showing up to the polling place only to be told they can't vote at all, or by being told they must vote provisionally (provisional ballots are not counted on election night, and frequently not at all) because the new voting machines are broken or otherwise unavailable.
States such as Texas, Arkansas and other have already had to do this this year when Secretaries of State put out emergency notices to Elections Administrators to create such Emergency Paper Ballots after the voting machine companies failed to provide programmed ballots or working machines.
All states are already required by the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) to have such paper ballots available at every polling place as Provisional Ballots, so those can be copied NOW if need be for use as Emergency Paper Ballots (which is better than the scraps of paper some counties reportedly have tried to use in emergency situations so far this year!)
BOTTOM LINE: With the passage of this Emergency Legislation, at least properly registered American citizens will be able to vote on Election Day if they choose to!
Feel free to call it the "Hail Mary Emergency Election Protection Act" if you want. I don't much care, so long as it's passed by Congress in time to ensure that voters can actually vote this November!
I've spoken with a number of people on the Hill and within the Election Integrity movement…scientists, activists, politicians, in DC and around the country, and they have all been in favor of this legislation and have pledged their support.
I am attemping to find sponsorship for this bill in Congress, and I'm calling on all Election Integrity organizations and concerned citizens who may have better connections than I to help find such Congressional sponsorship immediately.
I am calling on these same people to then call on Congress to pass this legislation immediately!
I am hoping to have an official version/wording of the bill posted shortly. It will, of course, be available as a new item here at The BRAD BLOG no later than tomorrow. It will spell out, in official "bill-like" language, precisely what I've posted above.
Democracy is at stake. After at least two years of reporting in exhaustive details on these matters, and at this late stage of the game, I believe the above "reform" is, unfortunately, the most we can likely hope for in time to have any real impact in mitigating a full-on train wreck during this November's crucial excercise of the rite of democracy.
Please forward this item to everybody you know, cross-post it or link to it as you see fit (this is the URL: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=3495)…And please contact your Congress person and ask them to support and/or sponsor this initiative today!
Monday, September 18, 2006
Bush Hobnobs With Hate Radio Hosts
From Media Matters:
President Bush summoned several hate radio talk show hosts to the White House this past Friday for a 90 minute off-the-record chat. According to Neil Boortz, " the subject matter ranged through domestic policy, immigration, the war on terror, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and Jordan. President Bush talked of the leaders of countries ranging from Great Britain to China to Japan to Iran."
Also in attendance were Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, Mike Gallagher and Michael Medved. Rush Limbaugh was invited, but was unable to attend.
From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
"Though he said this session was supposed to be off the record, Gallagher described it at some length, including Bush’s observation to the right-wing radio jocks that the War on Terror has to be about right versus wrong, “because if it’s about Christianity versus Islam, we’ll lose."
These hate-mongers are the key mouthpieces for presenting the radical right agenda in a manner that would be officially inappropriate. During a campaign period, with the GOP dominance of congress hanging in the balance, this little chat will motivate them to new lows in whipping up their brainwashed listeners.
President Bush summoned several hate radio talk show hosts to the White House this past Friday for a 90 minute off-the-record chat. According to Neil Boortz, " the subject matter ranged through domestic policy, immigration, the war on terror, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and Jordan. President Bush talked of the leaders of countries ranging from Great Britain to China to Japan to Iran."
Also in attendance were Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, Mike Gallagher and Michael Medved. Rush Limbaugh was invited, but was unable to attend.
From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
"Though he said this session was supposed to be off the record, Gallagher described it at some length, including Bush’s observation to the right-wing radio jocks that the War on Terror has to be about right versus wrong, “because if it’s about Christianity versus Islam, we’ll lose."
These hate-mongers are the key mouthpieces for presenting the radical right agenda in a manner that would be officially inappropriate. During a campaign period, with the GOP dominance of congress hanging in the balance, this little chat will motivate them to new lows in whipping up their brainwashed listeners.
KOLR News at 11 Misleads on Voter ID
KOLR News had misleading information concerning the law requiring photo ID for voters, recently struck down by the court. Hopefully, they will correct this information for future broadcasts. Below is a copy of my e-mail to them, and their reply to me stating the information was from the Dept of Revenue.
Their official statement gives the impression that the voter still needs a photo ID to vote.
Your News today at 11 had misleading information about the photo ID for voters.
Since the voter ID has been struck down, all the voter needs is their voter registration card to present at the polling place, as usual.
Your broadcast stated that the state would now charge $11 for a photo ID for voter registration. That $11 fee would be for a non-drivers photo ID card, that the state of Missouri issues to non-drivers for identification should they desire one.
Please clarify the information on your broadcast for those already confused about this matter
KOLR replied to my e-mail :
Hello,We checked our information, and this comes directly from the Missouri Dept. ofRevenue. Thanks for watching.PVD
Here is the information from the Department of Revenue web site:
For Immediate ReleaseDate: September 15, 2006Contact: Maura BrowningPhone: (573) 751-8222
Court's Order Forces Department of Revenue to Suspend Photo ID Work
JEFFERSON CITY – The Missouri Department of Revenue is suspending its implementation of the Missouri Voter Protection Act, as required by Thursday’s Court Order issued by the Cole County Circuit Court. Effective on Monday, non-driver licenses for voting purposes will cost $11 at contract offices, and the Department is temporarily suspending mobile unit visits to nursing homes, senior centers, and other facilities.
Director Trish Vincent has contacted the Attorney General, requesting that the Court amend its Judgment to permit free non-driver licenses for voting purposes and mobile unit visits pending appeal. Should that occur, the Department is ready to immediately restart mobile visits and issue non-driver licenses for voting purposes at no cost.
“I am disappointed that the Court’s Order is so broad that it enjoins ‘all employees’ of the state -- including Revenue’s -- from implementing this good law,” said Director Trish Vincent. “We have citizens eagerly awaiting mobile unit visits who will be disappointed and inconvenienced. I hope we will soon be permitted to continue our important work pending appeal.”
Before the Court’s Order, the Department had issued 2,074 free non-driver licenses for voting purposes. Sixty-six confirmed visits to nursing homes and other facilities are on hold due to the Court’s Order.
Their official statement gives the impression that the voter still needs a photo ID to vote.
Your News today at 11 had misleading information about the photo ID for voters.
Since the voter ID has been struck down, all the voter needs is their voter registration card to present at the polling place, as usual.
Your broadcast stated that the state would now charge $11 for a photo ID for voter registration. That $11 fee would be for a non-drivers photo ID card, that the state of Missouri issues to non-drivers for identification should they desire one.
Please clarify the information on your broadcast for those already confused about this matter
KOLR replied to my e-mail :
Hello,We checked our information, and this comes directly from the Missouri Dept. ofRevenue. Thanks for watching.PVD
Here is the information from the Department of Revenue web site:
For Immediate ReleaseDate: September 15, 2006Contact: Maura BrowningPhone: (573) 751-8222
Court's Order Forces Department of Revenue to Suspend Photo ID Work
JEFFERSON CITY – The Missouri Department of Revenue is suspending its implementation of the Missouri Voter Protection Act, as required by Thursday’s Court Order issued by the Cole County Circuit Court. Effective on Monday, non-driver licenses for voting purposes will cost $11 at contract offices, and the Department is temporarily suspending mobile unit visits to nursing homes, senior centers, and other facilities.
Director Trish Vincent has contacted the Attorney General, requesting that the Court amend its Judgment to permit free non-driver licenses for voting purposes and mobile unit visits pending appeal. Should that occur, the Department is ready to immediately restart mobile visits and issue non-driver licenses for voting purposes at no cost.
“I am disappointed that the Court’s Order is so broad that it enjoins ‘all employees’ of the state -- including Revenue’s -- from implementing this good law,” said Director Trish Vincent. “We have citizens eagerly awaiting mobile unit visits who will be disappointed and inconvenienced. I hope we will soon be permitted to continue our important work pending appeal.”
Before the Court’s Order, the Department had issued 2,074 free non-driver licenses for voting purposes. Sixty-six confirmed visits to nursing homes and other facilities are on hold due to the Court’s Order.
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Those Satanic Baptists
There is ongoing coverage at The Turner Report on the series of charges involving ritual sexual abuse brought against several members of the Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church and the Grandview Baptist Church North, located in Newton and McDonald Counties in SW Missouri. Charged are Rev. George Otis Johnston, Johnston's nephew Rev. Raymond Lambert, his wife Patty Lambert and her brothers, Paul Epling and Tom Epling.
Neighbors report that those charged have fled the state, and it remains to be seen if they will actually appear at upcoming court dates.
More information is available on an informational website at www.grandvalleybaptistchurch.blogspot.com, and the Neosho Daily News has comments on their blog.
We moved to Springfield in 1955, and some time thereafter my parents conducted a search for a church home for our family. They decided on Grant Avenue Baptist Church, and my parents, my three sisters and I began attending regularly. After a year or so, a huge scandal erupted in which it was discovered that the very personable and handsome minister had been having intercourse with the young engaged women he had been counseling prior to their weddings. Many of the the young women were getting engagement rings while still in high school, with the wedding date scheduled the summer after graduation. Needless to say, the church was devastated. My family stopped attending along with many others.
I'm not sure about the exact timeline for these events, and do not recall if the minister faced criminal charges. Back in those days, it was common to blame the victim- a practice that, sadly, has not gone by the wayside completely.
Cover-up of such incidents is common within church organizations, the most notable example being the disgrace of Cardinal Bernard Law, formerly the bishop in the SW Missouri region, for covering up sexual abuse by priests and enabling their behavior by transferring them to other parishes. He should have been charged with this crime.
A comment by Mrs Thurston Howell on Chatter the other day reminded us that
"...the frequency of child abuse in SW MO was five times greater than the rest of the state!"
More information on child abuse in SW Missouri can be found on the Good Community web site.
Concerned child advocates, parents, educators and church leaders should come together in addressing abuse of children by adults who hold authoritative positions in churches, schools and other organizations, and those who commit these offenses should be sentenced to long terms in prison.
Neighbors report that those charged have fled the state, and it remains to be seen if they will actually appear at upcoming court dates.
More information is available on an informational website at www.grandvalleybaptistchurch.blogspot.com, and the Neosho Daily News has comments on their blog.
We moved to Springfield in 1955, and some time thereafter my parents conducted a search for a church home for our family. They decided on Grant Avenue Baptist Church, and my parents, my three sisters and I began attending regularly. After a year or so, a huge scandal erupted in which it was discovered that the very personable and handsome minister had been having intercourse with the young engaged women he had been counseling prior to their weddings. Many of the the young women were getting engagement rings while still in high school, with the wedding date scheduled the summer after graduation. Needless to say, the church was devastated. My family stopped attending along with many others.
I'm not sure about the exact timeline for these events, and do not recall if the minister faced criminal charges. Back in those days, it was common to blame the victim- a practice that, sadly, has not gone by the wayside completely.
Cover-up of such incidents is common within church organizations, the most notable example being the disgrace of Cardinal Bernard Law, formerly the bishop in the SW Missouri region, for covering up sexual abuse by priests and enabling their behavior by transferring them to other parishes. He should have been charged with this crime.
A comment by Mrs Thurston Howell on Chatter the other day reminded us that
"...the frequency of child abuse in SW MO was five times greater than the rest of the state!"
More information on child abuse in SW Missouri can be found on the Good Community web site.
Concerned child advocates, parents, educators and church leaders should come together in addressing abuse of children by adults who hold authoritative positions in churches, schools and other organizations, and those who commit these offenses should be sentenced to long terms in prison.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Claire 7, Talent 0
Claire scored a touchdown today in St. Louis. Her campaign bought 100 tickets for the Rams season opener and gave them away to students at Clyde C. Miller Career Academy High School, which garnered her a lot of press attention and a multitude of thanks. Her last minute purchase helped the game to a sellout, and as a result, it will be televised locally Sunday on KMOV-TV, Channel 4 in the St. Louis area.
Daily Kos has the story.
Daily Kos has the story.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Repubicans Dig Deep for Dirt
How low will the GOP go in their quest for fuel to feed negative ad campaigns? With a large budget and the will to dig, the Republicans plan a flood of negative ads against Democratic candidates before the November election.
From the 9/10/06 Washington Post:
The National Republican Congressional Committee, which this year dispatched a half-dozen operatives to comb through tax, court and other records looking for damaging information on Democratic candidates, plans to spend more than 90 percent of its $50 million-plus advertising budget on what officials described as negative ads.
The KY3 Politcal Blog reported on a push poll being conducted in Lawrence County spreading lies and disinformation about conservative Democratic Rep. Charley Dake (#132). Dr. Dake is a well-liked and respected veterinarian, and it will be interesting to see if voters respond to such tactics, or if they will ignore the crapola and give him another term.
From the 9/10/06 Washington Post:
The National Republican Congressional Committee, which this year dispatched a half-dozen operatives to comb through tax, court and other records looking for damaging information on Democratic candidates, plans to spend more than 90 percent of its $50 million-plus advertising budget on what officials described as negative ads.
The KY3 Politcal Blog reported on a push poll being conducted in Lawrence County spreading lies and disinformation about conservative Democratic Rep. Charley Dake (#132). Dr. Dake is a well-liked and respected veterinarian, and it will be interesting to see if voters respond to such tactics, or if they will ignore the crapola and give him another term.
Homeland Insecurity
President Bush has said that he isn't concerned with finding Bin Laden, and the CIA unit dedicated to apprehending him has been disbanded. Reported in today's New York Times, our Homeland Security director tells us that Al Qaeda/Bin Laden want to bankrupt the country, therefore we can't protect ourselves against terrorists on the home front.
What about the estimated $2,000,000,000,000 (yes, that's trillion) dollars that the war in Iraq is currently estimated to eventually cost us? That would go a long way toward boosting our security at home, securing our ports under U.S. supervision and charting a course to energy independence, with enough left over to find Bin Laden and quell terrorist cells around the world.
Will the U.S. voters wake up, and refuse to send Republican incumbents back to Washington, or will they buy into this nonsense?
From Today's New York Times
WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 — Congress and the American public must accept that the government cannot protect every possible target against attack if it wants to avoid fulfilling Al Qaeda’s goal of bankrupting the nation, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff told a Senate committee Tuesday.
Osama bin Laden, Mr. Chertoff said, has made it clear that scaring the United States into an unsustainable spending spree is one of his aims. In a 2004 video, Mr. bin Laden, the Qaeda leader, spoke of “bleeding America to the point of bankruptcy.”
“He understood that one tool he had in waging war against the United States was to drive us crazy, into bankruptcy, trying to defend ourselves against every conceivable threat,” Mr. Chertoff said at a hearing of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. “We have to be realistic about what we expect and what we do. We do have limits, and we do have choices to make.”
What about the estimated $2,000,000,000,000 (yes, that's trillion) dollars that the war in Iraq is currently estimated to eventually cost us? That would go a long way toward boosting our security at home, securing our ports under U.S. supervision and charting a course to energy independence, with enough left over to find Bin Laden and quell terrorist cells around the world.
Will the U.S. voters wake up, and refuse to send Republican incumbents back to Washington, or will they buy into this nonsense?
From Today's New York Times
WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 — Congress and the American public must accept that the government cannot protect every possible target against attack if it wants to avoid fulfilling Al Qaeda’s goal of bankrupting the nation, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff told a Senate committee Tuesday.
Osama bin Laden, Mr. Chertoff said, has made it clear that scaring the United States into an unsustainable spending spree is one of his aims. In a 2004 video, Mr. bin Laden, the Qaeda leader, spoke of “bleeding America to the point of bankruptcy.”
“He understood that one tool he had in waging war against the United States was to drive us crazy, into bankruptcy, trying to defend ourselves against every conceivable threat,” Mr. Chertoff said at a hearing of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. “We have to be realistic about what we expect and what we do. We do have limits, and we do have choices to make.”
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Eric Alterman Fired From MSNBC
After 10 years of penning the Altercation blog at MSNBC, Eric Alterman has been canned. He will move the Altercation blog to Media Matters beginning September 18.
From his blog yesterday, he speculates on reasons for his dismissal:
I have never even spoken with the Web site’s current editor-in-chief, nor has anyone communicated with me beyond my immediate circle of editors. Outspoken liberals in the MSM have long been an endangered species. (From the beginning, a Wall Street Journal editorial page writer attacked the site for "conferring mainstream legitimacy on Eric Alterman.”) Even less common, I suppose, are Web sites that feel free to criticize their corporate parents, the pollution they cause, the lying, incompetent, ideologically extremist and corrupt presidents they coddle, and perhaps most especially, the all-but incomprehensible choices they make when doling out cable TV news programs. It would surprise no one if this site caused some discomfort at 30 Rock, if and when they happen to notice it.
Alterman will continue to write for the Nation and the Center For American Progress. He is also professor of English at City University of New York.
From his blog yesterday, he speculates on reasons for his dismissal:
I have never even spoken with the Web site’s current editor-in-chief, nor has anyone communicated with me beyond my immediate circle of editors. Outspoken liberals in the MSM have long been an endangered species. (From the beginning, a Wall Street Journal editorial page writer attacked the site for "conferring mainstream legitimacy on Eric Alterman.”) Even less common, I suppose, are Web sites that feel free to criticize their corporate parents, the pollution they cause, the lying, incompetent, ideologically extremist and corrupt presidents they coddle, and perhaps most especially, the all-but incomprehensible choices they make when doling out cable TV news programs. It would surprise no one if this site caused some discomfort at 30 Rock, if and when they happen to notice it.
Alterman will continue to write for the Nation and the Center For American Progress. He is also professor of English at City University of New York.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Katie Couric, Rush Limbaugh, Free Speech and the Fairness Doctrine
As I tuned in last week to see Katie Couric in her new role as anchor on the CBS evening news, I was favorably impressed. She is skilled at doing interviews, and I like her more relaxed demeanor.
Watching Rush Limbaugh on the Free Speech segment, as he once again lambasted those who want to "cut and run" as unpatriotic, I pondered the decision to give air time to someone who daily spouts lies, half-truths and inaccuracies. Seldom does a dissenting caller get through on the Rush Limbaugh show, and if they do, their remarks are cut short and a derisive, hateful rant ensues, belittling them for disagreeing with the Rush party line.
Wasn't Dan Rather recently ushered out of the anchor chair because he and his team were accused of sloppy research on the evidence for Bush's failure to show up for his National Guard duty? Why do we not hold people like Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter to the same exacting standards? If we did, they would be escorted out of the studio after utterance of the first sentence, and that would be that.
In my reading, recently I came across a reference to the Fairness Doctrine:
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
The Fairness Doctrine is a former policy of the United States's Federal Communications Commission. It required broadcast licensees to present controversial issues of public importance, and to present such issues in an honest, equal and balanced manner.
The Fairness doctrine was repealed during the Reagan adminstration, paving the way for sycophants like Limbaugh to take over the entire programming of radio stations (and now TV's Fox News Channel) with their sloppy, slanted and hate-filled rhetoric. Before that time, people like Coulter and Limbaugh had the right to spout their dishonest rhetoric, but they couldn't do it on the air waves in the way they do at present.
So it seems that the CBS news crew does not have to give inaccurate hate speech air time, and if we hold up Dan Rather's example they are bound not to or risk a swift boot out the door.
I'm not a journalist, so I don't know if I'm seeing this issue clearly. I would love to see Ron Davis or Andy Cline and his journalism students do a more informed and in-depth analysis.
Watching Rush Limbaugh on the Free Speech segment, as he once again lambasted those who want to "cut and run" as unpatriotic, I pondered the decision to give air time to someone who daily spouts lies, half-truths and inaccuracies. Seldom does a dissenting caller get through on the Rush Limbaugh show, and if they do, their remarks are cut short and a derisive, hateful rant ensues, belittling them for disagreeing with the Rush party line.
Wasn't Dan Rather recently ushered out of the anchor chair because he and his team were accused of sloppy research on the evidence for Bush's failure to show up for his National Guard duty? Why do we not hold people like Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter to the same exacting standards? If we did, they would be escorted out of the studio after utterance of the first sentence, and that would be that.
In my reading, recently I came across a reference to the Fairness Doctrine:
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
The Fairness Doctrine is a former policy of the United States's Federal Communications Commission. It required broadcast licensees to present controversial issues of public importance, and to present such issues in an honest, equal and balanced manner.
The Fairness doctrine was repealed during the Reagan adminstration, paving the way for sycophants like Limbaugh to take over the entire programming of radio stations (and now TV's Fox News Channel) with their sloppy, slanted and hate-filled rhetoric. Before that time, people like Coulter and Limbaugh had the right to spout their dishonest rhetoric, but they couldn't do it on the air waves in the way they do at present.
So it seems that the CBS news crew does not have to give inaccurate hate speech air time, and if we hold up Dan Rather's example they are bound not to or risk a swift boot out the door.
I'm not a journalist, so I don't know if I'm seeing this issue clearly. I would love to see Ron Davis or Andy Cline and his journalism students do a more informed and in-depth analysis.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Pakistan Flip Flops on Bin Laden Sanctuary
Pakistan says they will give Bin Laden sanctuary 9/5, then changes their tune 9/6, according to ABC News. Pakistan has withdrawn from areas of North Waziristan and given control to the Taliban and Al Quaeda terrorists. Pakistani forces have suffered defeats in this tribal area, so they have ceded the region to the Taliban in a "peace" agreement, despite accepting $3 billion (over the last five years) from the **future** U.S. taxpayer to conduct operations against terrorists in Pakistan.
The ruling Bush triumvirate, Cheney-Rove-Rumsfeld, are bankrupting the country with deficit spending on this fiasco of a war on "terror". When will the U.S. voter wake up and remove Republicans from control of the purse strings?
Do reports like this make you feel safer? Do you feel confident that your borders and ports have been made more secure? I think our money is being poured down a rat hole, and the rats are multiplying exponentially.
The voter has the power to send incumbent Republicans home in November. Will they put two and two together, and figure out that the U.S. taxpayer is being duped and robbed?
Daily Kos reports on the story here, and TruthOut.org has the ABC and AP account here.
If he is in Pakistan, bin Laden "would not be taken into custody," Major General Shaukat Sultan Khan told ABC News in a telephone interview, "as long as one is being like a peaceful citizen." – ABC News, Sept. 5, 2006.
Pakistan Denies Bin Laden Gets a Pass
ABC News, September 06, 2006 6:20 AM
Brian Ross Reports:
The government of Pakistan today denied it would allow Osama bin Laden to avoid capture under terms of a peace agreement it signed with Taliban leaders in the country's North Waziristan area.
"If he is in Pakistan, today or any time later, he will be taken into custody and brought to justice," the Pakistani ambassador to the United States, Mahmud Ali Durrani, said in a statement.
The ambassador said a Pakistani military spokesman, Major General Shaukat Sultan, had been "grossly misquoted" when he told ABC News Tuesday that bin Laden would not be taken into custody "as long as one is being like a peaceful citizen." The comments were recorded in a telephone interview with ABC News.
Q. ABC News: If bin Laden or Zawahiri were there, they could stay?
A. Gen. Sultan: No one of that kind can stay. If someone is there he will have to surrender, he will have to live like a good citizen, his whereabouts, exit travel would be known to the authorities.
"If someone is found there, we will see what is to be done," General Sultan said today. "Pakistan is committed to the war on terror, and of course we will go after any terrorist found to be operating here," he said.
Under the terms of the peace agreement, the Pakistani Army promised to cease action in the area and to return captured Taliban weapons and soldiers.
Former White House counter-terrorism czar Richard Clarke, an ABC News consultant, said "What this means is that the Taliban and al Queida leadership have effectively carved out a sanctuary inside Pakistan."
General Sultan said today he "rejected" the idea that Pakistan had created a safe haven for terrorists.
Gen. John Abizaid, commander of the U.S. Central Command, said militants are using Pakistan as a base to infiltrate into Afghanistan, but he said the Pakistani government is not conspiring with them.
"I think that Pakistan has done an awful lot in going after al-Qaida and it's important that they don't let the Taliban groups be organized in the Pakistani side of the border," he said in Bagram, where the main U.S. military base in Afghanistan is located.
Abizaid said he does not believe accusations of collusion between Pakistan's government and the resurgent Taliban rebels or oth
Today:
er extremists.Miranshah: Pro Taliban militants and the Pakistani government signed a peace deal on Tuesday, according to Pakistani negotiators.
The militants said they would stop attacks in Pakistan and across the Afghan border on the condition that the Pakistani government stop air and ground operations in the Waziristan region and dismantle newly built checkposts.
People arrested during military operations will also be released under the agreement and confiscated property, including weapons, would be returned.
This is the best part of the deal:
The peace agreement means that there will be no more free movement for tribes to enter into Afghanistan.
"Except for trade, people will not be allowed to go to Afghanistan to launch attacks," said Nek Zaman, a member of the tribal council who is also a member of the Pakistani parliament.
I'm sure they all got a chuckle after "agreeing" on that part of the deal. With no Pakistani Army or checkpoints in the region, who is supposed to enforce that?
So was Abizaid lying, or was he blindsided by our supposed "allies" in Pakistan? And congratulations to Bush, who was just played the fool by Musharraf, who is cashing in U.S. checks to the tune of $3 billion over five years and was supposedly assisting US efforts on the "war on terror".
That's Bush's allies in action. He's allienated our real allies, and made friends with thugs and despots. Why would we expect anything less?
The ruling Bush triumvirate, Cheney-Rove-Rumsfeld, are bankrupting the country with deficit spending on this fiasco of a war on "terror". When will the U.S. voter wake up and remove Republicans from control of the purse strings?
Do reports like this make you feel safer? Do you feel confident that your borders and ports have been made more secure? I think our money is being poured down a rat hole, and the rats are multiplying exponentially.
The voter has the power to send incumbent Republicans home in November. Will they put two and two together, and figure out that the U.S. taxpayer is being duped and robbed?
Daily Kos reports on the story here, and TruthOut.org has the ABC and AP account here.
If he is in Pakistan, bin Laden "would not be taken into custody," Major General Shaukat Sultan Khan told ABC News in a telephone interview, "as long as one is being like a peaceful citizen." – ABC News, Sept. 5, 2006.
Pakistan Denies Bin Laden Gets a Pass
ABC News, September 06, 2006 6:20 AM
Brian Ross Reports:
The government of Pakistan today denied it would allow Osama bin Laden to avoid capture under terms of a peace agreement it signed with Taliban leaders in the country's North Waziristan area.
"If he is in Pakistan, today or any time later, he will be taken into custody and brought to justice," the Pakistani ambassador to the United States, Mahmud Ali Durrani, said in a statement.
The ambassador said a Pakistani military spokesman, Major General Shaukat Sultan, had been "grossly misquoted" when he told ABC News Tuesday that bin Laden would not be taken into custody "as long as one is being like a peaceful citizen." The comments were recorded in a telephone interview with ABC News.
Q. ABC News: If bin Laden or Zawahiri were there, they could stay?
A. Gen. Sultan: No one of that kind can stay. If someone is there he will have to surrender, he will have to live like a good citizen, his whereabouts, exit travel would be known to the authorities.
Q. ABC News: So, he wouldn't be taken into custody? He would stay there?
A. Gen. Sultan: No, as long as one is staying like a peaceful citizen, one would not be taken into custody. One has to stay like a peaceful citizen and not allowed to participate in any kind of terrorist activity.
General Sultan said today it was "hair splitting" to speculate whether troops would be sent in if bin Laden was found in North Waziristan.
"
"If someone is found there, we will see what is to be done," General Sultan said today. "Pakistan is committed to the war on terror, and of course we will go after any terrorist found to be operating here," he said.
Under the terms of the peace agreement, the Pakistani Army promised to cease action in the area and to return captured Taliban weapons and soldiers.
Former White House counter-terrorism czar Richard Clarke, an ABC News consultant, said "What this means is that the Taliban and al Queida leadership have effectively carved out a sanctuary inside Pakistan."
General Sultan said today he "rejected" the idea that Pakistan had created a safe haven for terrorists.
Gen. John Abizaid, commander of the U.S. Central Command, said militants are using Pakistan as a base to infiltrate into Afghanistan, but he said the Pakistani government is not conspiring with them.
"I think that Pakistan has done an awful lot in going after al-Qaida and it's important that they don't let the Taliban groups be organized in the Pakistani side of the border," he said in Bagram, where the main U.S. military base in Afghanistan is located.
Abizaid said he does not believe accusations of collusion between Pakistan's government and the resurgent Taliban rebels or oth
Today:
er extremists.Miranshah: Pro Taliban militants and the Pakistani government signed a peace deal on Tuesday, according to Pakistani negotiators.
The militants said they would stop attacks in Pakistan and across the Afghan border on the condition that the Pakistani government stop air and ground operations in the Waziristan region and dismantle newly built checkposts.
People arrested during military operations will also be released under the agreement and confiscated property, including weapons, would be returned.
This is the best part of the deal:
The peace agreement means that there will be no more free movement for tribes to enter into Afghanistan.
"Except for trade, people will not be allowed to go to Afghanistan to launch attacks," said Nek Zaman, a member of the tribal council who is also a member of the Pakistani parliament.
I'm sure they all got a chuckle after "agreeing" on that part of the deal. With no Pakistani Army or checkpoints in the region, who is supposed to enforce that?
So was Abizaid lying, or was he blindsided by our supposed "allies" in Pakistan? And congratulations to Bush, who was just played the fool by Musharraf, who is cashing in U.S. checks to the tune of $3 billion over five years and was supposedly assisting US efforts on the "war on terror".
That's Bush's allies in action. He's allienated our real allies, and made friends with thugs and despots. Why would we expect anything less?
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Good News For Heroin Addicts
The recent harvest of the opium poppy crop in Afghanistan was up 60% from last years total, reported in today's BuzzFlash editorial. The poppy harvest will translate to 610 tons of heroin (world demand is at 450 tons). Just reporting the good news for heroin addicts of the world. U.S. addicts will be particularly happy to have an alternative to the fentanyl-laced Mexican heroin which has been responsible for numerous deaths.
Now for the bad news. The opium trade is financing warlords and insurgents in Afghanistan, including the recently deposed Taliban, threatening the stability of the fragile democracy established at the expense of American lives and (mega)millions of our tax dollars.
Way to go Dubya. Mission accomplished?
Now for the bad news. The opium trade is financing warlords and insurgents in Afghanistan, including the recently deposed Taliban, threatening the stability of the fragile democracy established at the expense of American lives and (mega)millions of our tax dollars.
Way to go Dubya. Mission accomplished?
Saturday, September 02, 2006
The Decider Farts for Fun
If you are wondering what, oh what, our Decider is doing while not vacationing, this may provide the answer.
By way of BuzzFlash the 8/20/06 U.S. News & World Report in a Washington insider piece by Paul Bedard:
Animal House in the West Wing
He loves to cuss, gets a jolly when a mountain biker wipes out trying to keep up with him, and now we're learning that the first frat boy loves flatulence jokes. A top insider let that slip when explaining why President Bush is paranoid around women, always worried about his behavior. But he's still a funny, earthy guy who, for example, can't get enough of fart jokes. He's also known to cut a few for laughs, especially when greeting new young aides, but forget about getting people to gas about that.
As an aside, Thank You, to USNews.com for allowing me to listen to my one millionth erectile dysfuntion ad while scanning this piece.
By way of BuzzFlash the 8/20/06 U.S. News & World Report in a Washington insider piece by Paul Bedard:
Animal House in the West Wing
He loves to cuss, gets a jolly when a mountain biker wipes out trying to keep up with him, and now we're learning that the first frat boy loves flatulence jokes. A top insider let that slip when explaining why President Bush is paranoid around women, always worried about his behavior. But he's still a funny, earthy guy who, for example, can't get enough of fart jokes. He's also known to cut a few for laughs, especially when greeting new young aides, but forget about getting people to gas about that.
As an aside, Thank You, to USNews.com for allowing me to listen to my one millionth erectile dysfuntion ad while scanning this piece.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Herbal Remedies Anyone?
I talked with a friend today who was depressed and desperate. He had come from his Doctor's office with prescriptions that would cost him $1500 per month, more than his monthly income. He is looking for information about herbal remedies to substitute for pharmaceuticals, as a cost saving move. I counseled him that might be ill-advised, considering the seriousness of his ailments.
U.S. government figures show that medical care costs have spiked since 2000, with total spending on prescriptions nearly doubling.
The quote above is from AlterNet, a story by Holly Dressell, Yes! Magazine contrasting our health care system with that of Canada. She makes a good case for universal publicly funded health care.
As I veg in front of the TV for awhile, seems most of the commercials are touting some drug or other, followed by ads from law firms soliciting clients for class-action suits against drug companies.
Medical treatment gone awry (iatrogenic) is now one of the leading causes of death.
in 1995, a report in JAMA said that:
"Over a million patients are injured in U.S. hospitals each year, and approximately 280,000 die annually as a result of these injuries. Therefore, the iatrogenic death rate dwarfs the annual automobile accident mortality rate of 45,000 and accounts for more deaths than all other accidents combined." quote from ourcivilization.com
This is another damn sorry state of affairs, all fueled by the greed of the pharmaceutical industry and insurance companies; then neatly wrapped up in ribbons and bows and delivered to the U.S. citizens by the providers of health care.
A bumper sticker caught my eye the other day that said:
If You're Not Outraged, You're Not Paying Attention
I'll leave you with that thought.
U.S. government figures show that medical care costs have spiked since 2000, with total spending on prescriptions nearly doubling.
The quote above is from AlterNet, a story by Holly Dressell, Yes! Magazine contrasting our health care system with that of Canada. She makes a good case for universal publicly funded health care.
As I veg in front of the TV for awhile, seems most of the commercials are touting some drug or other, followed by ads from law firms soliciting clients for class-action suits against drug companies.
Medical treatment gone awry (iatrogenic) is now one of the leading causes of death.
in 1995, a report in JAMA said that:
"Over a million patients are injured in U.S. hospitals each year, and approximately 280,000 die annually as a result of these injuries. Therefore, the iatrogenic death rate dwarfs the annual automobile accident mortality rate of 45,000 and accounts for more deaths than all other accidents combined." quote from ourcivilization.com
This is another damn sorry state of affairs, all fueled by the greed of the pharmaceutical industry and insurance companies; then neatly wrapped up in ribbons and bows and delivered to the U.S. citizens by the providers of health care.
A bumper sticker caught my eye the other day that said:
If You're Not Outraged, You're Not Paying Attention
I'll leave you with that thought.
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Right Back At Ya--WRONG
Will Durst posted comments on the recent Presidential press conference on AlterNet. He identifies a new buzz word in the GOP lexicon-- Wrong.
Dubyah introduced the new official buzz phrase of the Iraqi occupation: the word "wrong." Cutting and running is "wrong." The Democrats are patriotic but "wrong."
So, here's it comes, Bush administration, right back at ya-
Wrong to ignore intel warnings and continue your brush-cutting vacation
Wrong to mislead Congress, the nation and U.N. about WMD
Wrong about "shock & awe"
Wrong about the Iraqis welcoming us with open arms
Wrong about "collateral damage" and the loss of thousands of innocent civilian lives
Wrong to send our troops in with inadequate equipment resulting in unnecessary loss of life and limb
Wrong about the number of troops needed to secure Iraq
Wrong to not anticipate the influx of terrorist insurgents in Iraq
Wrong about nation building in Iraq and anywhere else for that matter
Wrong about leaving your mess for the next president to clean up
Wrong to put the needs of Haliburton before the needs of Americans
Wrong to allow record profits for your friends in Big Oil, at the cost of
the precious lives of our military forces
Wrong to squander the nations' resources in record-breaking deficit spending
Wrong to squelch and slant media coverage of your administration's pathetic
policies
Wrong about conducting illegal surveillance of U.S. citizens without a warrant
Wrong about the environmental crisis
Wrong about diverting to Iraq, Louisiana National Guard personnel and equipment needed to rescue Gulf Coast residents from the
devastation of hurricanes and floods, resulting in lives lost
Wrong to cripple FEMA and put an unqualified person in charge
Wrong to condone the outing of a CIA agent for your own political gain
Wrong to label your critics as traitors and unpatriotic for the last six years, only now to change your mind and make like Mr. Nice Guy
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
Readers, you fill in the blanks. This list could go on forever and a day.
Dubyah introduced the new official buzz phrase of the Iraqi occupation: the word "wrong." Cutting and running is "wrong." The Democrats are patriotic but "wrong."
So, here's it comes, Bush administration, right back at ya-
Wrong to ignore intel warnings and continue your brush-cutting vacation
Wrong to mislead Congress, the nation and U.N. about WMD
Wrong about "shock & awe"
Wrong about the Iraqis welcoming us with open arms
Wrong about "collateral damage" and the loss of thousands of innocent civilian lives
Wrong to send our troops in with inadequate equipment resulting in unnecessary loss of life and limb
Wrong about the number of troops needed to secure Iraq
Wrong to not anticipate the influx of terrorist insurgents in Iraq
Wrong about nation building in Iraq and anywhere else for that matter
Wrong about leaving your mess for the next president to clean up
Wrong to put the needs of Haliburton before the needs of Americans
Wrong to allow record profits for your friends in Big Oil, at the cost of
the precious lives of our military forces
Wrong to squander the nations' resources in record-breaking deficit spending
Wrong to squelch and slant media coverage of your administration's pathetic
policies
Wrong about conducting illegal surveillance of U.S. citizens without a warrant
Wrong about the environmental crisis
Wrong about diverting to Iraq, Louisiana National Guard personnel and equipment needed to rescue Gulf Coast residents from the
devastation of hurricanes and floods, resulting in lives lost
Wrong to cripple FEMA and put an unqualified person in charge
Wrong to condone the outing of a CIA agent for your own political gain
Wrong to label your critics as traitors and unpatriotic for the last six years, only now to change your mind and make like Mr. Nice Guy
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
Wrong
Readers, you fill in the blanks. This list could go on forever and a day.
What Would You Do If You Were President?
This is the title of a post I have borrowed from Rock at Truth, a conservative blog that I visit regularly. He asks readers to list five things they would do if they were President, right now. For me, this assumes that I am playing the fantasy role of Commander In Chief (picture Geena Davis), after W has been impeached and imprisoned for crimes committed while in office. I couldn't do it in five, but I have hit the high points in this Twelve Point Plan. So here goes.
1. I would convene a summit of all the nations in the Middle East, including Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Iran, Syria, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and all the other vital players in the region, plus a representative from Palestine. The summit would be ongoing until satisfactory compromise was reached between all players, for a plan to restore peace and prosperity . It's framework would be left in place, to deal with future problems in the region.
A plan for withdrawal of our troops from Iraq would be first on the agenda.
2. A push for clean, alternative energy sources would be the priority for domestic policy, giving a boost to the economy, and freeing us from all oil terrorists, both corporate (ours) and unfriendly oil producing nations (theirs).
3. A campaign finance reform initiative, with financing for primary campaigns *only* by indiviual donations capped at $1,000. General elections would be financed by the federal government using funds formerly used for corporate welfare handouts, in addition to individual donations, again capped at $1,000. Candidates would be guaranteed air time on public access TV, in which civility would be adhered to.
Lawmakers would be prohibited from taking any perks from lobbyists, or face jail time and ineligibility for future government service.
4. A balanced budget would be adhered to, and the tax code would be simplified, giving tax relief to lower income taxpayers and closing loopholes and offshore tax schemes for corporations and the wealthy. Money put into non-profit foundations, by wealthy m(b)illionaires would be taxed first. Social Security funds would be invested and kept separate (Al Gore's lockbox) to be used for future retirement benefits, rather than looted and squandered.
5. An equitable immigration plan would be formulated to deal with the millions of economic refugees who have illegally entered the U.S. Heavy fines would be imposed on employers who hire those without proper documentation. All guest workers would be given work visas and ID by thumbprint database (or some other high-tech system) used to track entry and exit into the U.S.
6. Free trade would be abandoned. A Fair Trade policy would be implemented that gives U.S. workers well-paid jobs and benefits, and gives U.S. companies a level playing field on which to compete. SBA loans and support for small business would be increased. The WalMartization of the U.S. would be curtailed.
7. Healthcare would be made available to all U.S. citizens. Primary Care Doctors and Nurse Practitioners would be held in the highest esteem, and given educational priority and financial incentive. Every public school would have an adequate nursing staff, and health, nutrition and physical fitness education would be required for all students.
8. Public education assistance would be given to states with equal emphasis given to pre-school, elementary, secondary and higher education. All qualifying students desiring training beyond high school would be given access to college or vocational training, through a combination of grants and loans, or scholarship for lower income families. Salaries for teacher will be increased commensurate with educational status and importance of the vocation. Vouchers for people who want religious or private instruction for their children will not be considered as a viable option.
9. Poverty is addressed with emphasis on giving shelter and assistance to the homeless and disabled. Able bodied families are given assistance in job training, transportation to work/school, and child care issues solved by pre-school programs attached to every elementary school.
10. Separation of church and state will be adhered to, giving religious freedom to all, and favoritism to none. Tax exempt status will be granted only to church buildings and educational institutions; business enterprises run by churches will be taxed. Non-profit charitable organizations who give a religious sermon with their aid will not be eligible for government funds.
11. Workers would be guaranteed the right to organize and unionize to advocate for their working conditions, wages and benefits. Any interference with these rights would be met with enforcement of fines and jail time for offenders.
12. Our honor and status in the international community would be restored with an increased emphasis on diplomacy and dialogue. Support for and participation with the United Nations to address corruption within that organization, peacekeeping efforts, human rights abuse and global environmental issues that affect us all. Support for Peace Studies programs in every college and university would be initiated, plus a strengthened Peace Corps, and humanitarian aid programs to combat famine and disease.
There are a few other areas of concern that would be high priorities, including free and fair elections, equal rights for all citizens, rational homeland security, restoring FEMA's independent status to deal with aid in disaster relief, an approach that works to the drug problems that are so hurtful to our country, and a reform of the prison system focusing on rehabilitation to break the cycle of violence that we are experiencing. Maintenance of a strong military would be accomplished by a doubling of National Guard units who would be willing to be activated in times of national threat or emergency. Military and civilian lives would not be sacrificed needlessly in pre-emptive wars or military action, and all-out diplomacy would be used to address any external threat before force is considered.
I would invite all bloggers to pay it forward and formulate their own presidential scenario. I've had it with reality, let's create the platform for a new golden age.
With hope and optimism for the future,
Betty B.
1. I would convene a summit of all the nations in the Middle East, including Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Iran, Syria, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and all the other vital players in the region, plus a representative from Palestine. The summit would be ongoing until satisfactory compromise was reached between all players, for a plan to restore peace and prosperity . It's framework would be left in place, to deal with future problems in the region.
A plan for withdrawal of our troops from Iraq would be first on the agenda.
2. A push for clean, alternative energy sources would be the priority for domestic policy, giving a boost to the economy, and freeing us from all oil terrorists, both corporate (ours) and unfriendly oil producing nations (theirs).
3. A campaign finance reform initiative, with financing for primary campaigns *only* by indiviual donations capped at $1,000. General elections would be financed by the federal government using funds formerly used for corporate welfare handouts, in addition to individual donations, again capped at $1,000. Candidates would be guaranteed air time on public access TV, in which civility would be adhered to.
Lawmakers would be prohibited from taking any perks from lobbyists, or face jail time and ineligibility for future government service.
4. A balanced budget would be adhered to, and the tax code would be simplified, giving tax relief to lower income taxpayers and closing loopholes and offshore tax schemes for corporations and the wealthy. Money put into non-profit foundations, by wealthy m(b)illionaires would be taxed first. Social Security funds would be invested and kept separate (Al Gore's lockbox) to be used for future retirement benefits, rather than looted and squandered.
5. An equitable immigration plan would be formulated to deal with the millions of economic refugees who have illegally entered the U.S. Heavy fines would be imposed on employers who hire those without proper documentation. All guest workers would be given work visas and ID by thumbprint database (or some other high-tech system) used to track entry and exit into the U.S.
6. Free trade would be abandoned. A Fair Trade policy would be implemented that gives U.S. workers well-paid jobs and benefits, and gives U.S. companies a level playing field on which to compete. SBA loans and support for small business would be increased. The WalMartization of the U.S. would be curtailed.
7. Healthcare would be made available to all U.S. citizens. Primary Care Doctors and Nurse Practitioners would be held in the highest esteem, and given educational priority and financial incentive. Every public school would have an adequate nursing staff, and health, nutrition and physical fitness education would be required for all students.
8. Public education assistance would be given to states with equal emphasis given to pre-school, elementary, secondary and higher education. All qualifying students desiring training beyond high school would be given access to college or vocational training, through a combination of grants and loans, or scholarship for lower income families. Salaries for teacher will be increased commensurate with educational status and importance of the vocation. Vouchers for people who want religious or private instruction for their children will not be considered as a viable option.
9. Poverty is addressed with emphasis on giving shelter and assistance to the homeless and disabled. Able bodied families are given assistance in job training, transportation to work/school, and child care issues solved by pre-school programs attached to every elementary school.
10. Separation of church and state will be adhered to, giving religious freedom to all, and favoritism to none. Tax exempt status will be granted only to church buildings and educational institutions; business enterprises run by churches will be taxed. Non-profit charitable organizations who give a religious sermon with their aid will not be eligible for government funds.
11. Workers would be guaranteed the right to organize and unionize to advocate for their working conditions, wages and benefits. Any interference with these rights would be met with enforcement of fines and jail time for offenders.
12. Our honor and status in the international community would be restored with an increased emphasis on diplomacy and dialogue. Support for and participation with the United Nations to address corruption within that organization, peacekeeping efforts, human rights abuse and global environmental issues that affect us all. Support for Peace Studies programs in every college and university would be initiated, plus a strengthened Peace Corps, and humanitarian aid programs to combat famine and disease.
There are a few other areas of concern that would be high priorities, including free and fair elections, equal rights for all citizens, rational homeland security, restoring FEMA's independent status to deal with aid in disaster relief, an approach that works to the drug problems that are so hurtful to our country, and a reform of the prison system focusing on rehabilitation to break the cycle of violence that we are experiencing. Maintenance of a strong military would be accomplished by a doubling of National Guard units who would be willing to be activated in times of national threat or emergency. Military and civilian lives would not be sacrificed needlessly in pre-emptive wars or military action, and all-out diplomacy would be used to address any external threat before force is considered.
I would invite all bloggers to pay it forward and formulate their own presidential scenario. I've had it with reality, let's create the platform for a new golden age.
With hope and optimism for the future,
Betty B.
Friday, August 18, 2006
Savage Nation Hallucinates
On the way home from work this evening, I caught a bit of Hate Radio's Michael Savage ( Savage Nation) introducing apocalyptic evangelical John Hagee. Hagee is on a promotional tour for his book, Jerusalem Countdown: A Warning To The World. Hagee jumped right into his assertion that a nuclear showdown in the Middle East is alluded to in the old testatment Prophecy of Zacharias, quoting chapter and verse.
Some say that Hagee has the ear of the White House. Media Matters reports yesterday, that Neil Cavuto, host of Fox News' Your World, interviewed Hagee August 15, 2006, soliciting his view on Middle East policy, while conveniently omitting reference to his apocalyptic hallucination.
Some say that Hagee has the ear of the White House. Media Matters reports yesterday, that Neil Cavuto, host of Fox News' Your World, interviewed Hagee August 15, 2006, soliciting his view on Middle East policy, while conveniently omitting reference to his apocalyptic hallucination.
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Thoughts on Propaganda and Brainwashing
According to Jás Elsner, in Imperial Rome and Christian Triumph (1998), "Power is a far more complex and mysterious quality than any apparently simple manifestation of it would appear. It is as much a matter of impression, of theatre, of persuading those over whom authority is wielded to collude in their subjugation".
Just a bit of reflection on Doc Larry's post today on the use of hate speech by Pres. Bush in a recent campaign stop in PA. Every word of this hate speech is carefully crafted by the RRR (Radical Religious Right) linguistic experts to have the desired effect on Republican voters, with the added bonus of infuriating those of us who disagree with the current administration.
d r i f t g l a s s, one of my favorite bloggers, pens long poetic rants like his recent Plan Asinine which perfectly outlines my frustration. But at the end of it I'm usually a bit depressed, and feeling like I need some version of a Democrat's Take Back The Night rally to get me headed back in the right direction.
I've been reading the Frank Luntz Republican Playbook which outlines strategy for the 2006 campaign. The tone and language of Talent's ads suggest that his managers have studied this handy little booklet like the Bible. Luntz sells his services to corporations, as well as politicians, staying mostly within the conservative arena, which appears to mirror his own belief system. Luntz clones (wink!) are replicating his clever lines in RRR speak everywhere. We liberals are internalizing it, often without conscious realization that we are using Luntz terminology.
George Lakoff talks about the concept of framing for the progressive viewpoint in Don't Think of an Elephant, 1994. His language suggestions should be considered by every progressive candidate running for office in '06, and also by those of us who want to wash Frank Luntz out of our brains.
Just a bit of reflection on Doc Larry's post today on the use of hate speech by Pres. Bush in a recent campaign stop in PA. Every word of this hate speech is carefully crafted by the RRR (Radical Religious Right) linguistic experts to have the desired effect on Republican voters, with the added bonus of infuriating those of us who disagree with the current administration.
d r i f t g l a s s, one of my favorite bloggers, pens long poetic rants like his recent Plan Asinine which perfectly outlines my frustration. But at the end of it I'm usually a bit depressed, and feeling like I need some version of a Democrat's Take Back The Night rally to get me headed back in the right direction.
I've been reading the Frank Luntz Republican Playbook which outlines strategy for the 2006 campaign. The tone and language of Talent's ads suggest that his managers have studied this handy little booklet like the Bible. Luntz sells his services to corporations, as well as politicians, staying mostly within the conservative arena, which appears to mirror his own belief system. Luntz clones (wink!) are replicating his clever lines in RRR speak everywhere. We liberals are internalizing it, often without conscious realization that we are using Luntz terminology.
George Lakoff talks about the concept of framing for the progressive viewpoint in Don't Think of an Elephant, 1994. His language suggestions should be considered by every progressive candidate running for office in '06, and also by those of us who want to wash Frank Luntz out of our brains.
Monday, August 14, 2006
Voter Suppression in Missouri
Today's edition of Fired Up Missouri has a link to the Washington Post's Op-Ed columnist and Missouri native Jabari Asim criticizing Matt Blunt's signing of the Voter ID law.
Salon.com also highlights the Missouri Voter ID dilemma today in Salon's Shameful Six, which has details of voter suppression schemes in five addtional states.
The Voter ID law, according to Salon, could disenfranchise as many as 200,000 voters, most of them black, poor, Democratic voters from the urban areas. It also points out that many of these voters are the same people affected by Blunt's cuts in Medic-Aid benefits to poor and disabled Missourians. This would most likely assure Jim "Bi-Partisan" Talent an easy win over Claire McKaskill.
A similar law was struck down by the courts in Georgia, but upheld in Indiana (appeal pending). Missouri courts have the matter under consideration. Let's hope they see the light, and throw it out.
Salon.com also highlights the Missouri Voter ID dilemma today in Salon's Shameful Six, which has details of voter suppression schemes in five addtional states.
The Voter ID law, according to Salon, could disenfranchise as many as 200,000 voters, most of them black, poor, Democratic voters from the urban areas. It also points out that many of these voters are the same people affected by Blunt's cuts in Medic-Aid benefits to poor and disabled Missourians. This would most likely assure Jim "Bi-Partisan" Talent an easy win over Claire McKaskill.
A similar law was struck down by the courts in Georgia, but upheld in Indiana (appeal pending). Missouri courts have the matter under consideration. Let's hope they see the light, and throw it out.
I Dream of Sinkholes
When the sinkhole in Barry County formed last year, I followed the story with fascination. Underground Ozarks has a picture posted of the end result, a pond about the size of a football field.
The Nixa sinkhole began to form Sunday morning, with no forewarning. The resident had just come home from shopping and was reading the Sunday paper. He heard a rumble that he thought was a tornado, and took refuge in the bathtub. A few moments later, another rumble, and he realized that something else was afoot. He went outside to find his garage, car inside, a goner.
My friend, who lives two blocks from the sinkhole, says the end is not in sight and that neighbors have brought lawn chairs to watch as the rest of the house slowly topples inward. Another smaller sinkhole at the north end of the Nixa city park also appeared recently, which city employees have been attempting to fill, but to no avail.
There is a huge sinkhole near where my Mother grew up in Webster County. They called it the Devil's Den, and she told us the bottom had never been found. You could look way down in it and see debris floating around. She said a team of horses and a wagon were lost in it long ago, and stories circulated that the mob disposed of their dirty business there. Great material for a bad dream.
The Nixa sinkhole began to form Sunday morning, with no forewarning. The resident had just come home from shopping and was reading the Sunday paper. He heard a rumble that he thought was a tornado, and took refuge in the bathtub. A few moments later, another rumble, and he realized that something else was afoot. He went outside to find his garage, car inside, a goner.
My friend, who lives two blocks from the sinkhole, says the end is not in sight and that neighbors have brought lawn chairs to watch as the rest of the house slowly topples inward. Another smaller sinkhole at the north end of the Nixa city park also appeared recently, which city employees have been attempting to fill, but to no avail.
There is a huge sinkhole near where my Mother grew up in Webster County. They called it the Devil's Den, and she told us the bottom had never been found. You could look way down in it and see debris floating around. She said a team of horses and a wagon were lost in it long ago, and stories circulated that the mob disposed of their dirty business there. Great material for a bad dream.
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Avoided Military Service
I'm currently reading 50 Simple Things You Can Do To Fight The Right, by Earthworks Action. Their list of Radical Right talk show hosts and prominent Republicans who did not serve in the military bears repeating, and gives pause for reflection.
MEDIA PERSONALITIES:
George Will: Did not serve
Bill O'Reilly: Did not serve
Paul Gigot: Did not serve
Bill Bennett: Did not serve
Pat Buchanan: Did not serve
Michael Savage: Did not serve
Bill Kristol: Did not serve
Sean Hannity: Did not serve
Rush Limbaugh: Did not serve (4-F with a "pilonidal cyst")
PROMINENT REPUBLICANS
Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert: Avoided draft, did not serve
Former House Majority Leader Tom Delay: Avoided draft, did not serve
House Majority Whip Our Very Own Roy Blunt: Did not serve
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-KY): Did not serve
Senate Majority Whip Mitch McConnell (R-KY): Did not serve
Former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS): Avoided draft, did not serve
Rick Santorum (R-PA) third-ranking Republican in the Senate: Did not serve
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (R-GA): Avoided draft, did not serve
Jeb Bush, Governer (R-FL): Did not serve
VP Dick Cheney: Several deferments--the last by marriage (in his own words "had other priorities than military service"). He really could have benefited from the firearms training!
Karl Rove: Avoided draft, did not serve
MEDIA PERSONALITIES:
George Will: Did not serve
Bill O'Reilly: Did not serve
Paul Gigot: Did not serve
Bill Bennett: Did not serve
Pat Buchanan: Did not serve
Michael Savage: Did not serve
Bill Kristol: Did not serve
Sean Hannity: Did not serve
Rush Limbaugh: Did not serve (4-F with a "pilonidal cyst")
PROMINENT REPUBLICANS
Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert: Avoided draft, did not serve
Former House Majority Leader Tom Delay: Avoided draft, did not serve
House Majority Whip Our Very Own Roy Blunt: Did not serve
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-KY): Did not serve
Senate Majority Whip Mitch McConnell (R-KY): Did not serve
Former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS): Avoided draft, did not serve
Rick Santorum (R-PA) third-ranking Republican in the Senate: Did not serve
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (R-GA): Avoided draft, did not serve
Jeb Bush, Governer (R-FL): Did not serve
VP Dick Cheney: Several deferments--the last by marriage (in his own words "had other priorities than military service"). He really could have benefited from the firearms training!
Karl Rove: Avoided draft, did not serve
Friday, August 11, 2006
Voter Registration--Voter ID
Often, I ask friends, relatives and even total strangers if they are registered to vote. If the answer is no, I try to steer them to the nearest place to get registered.
Now, the task is two-fold, because for the first time this November, Missouri voters must have a VALID photo ID card. Many people I know are having a difficult time getting the paperwork together to renew their driver's license.
Every candidate's web site should have Voter Registration and Voter ID information.
Nancy Hagan has a great page on Voter Registration. In Greene County, all branches of the Springfield-Greene County Library have voter registration forms.
For Voter ID requirements scan this page on the Secretary of State's website. In order to get your ID you will need social security card, birth certificate and marriage license or supporting evidence if you have had a name change. These must be official documents, copies will not do. All branches of the Friends of Matt Blunt Revenue Department should have this information, and help with problems you encounter.
It remains to be seen what effect this will have on the November election, but it has the potential to prevent many of the chronically disorganized from voting.
Please ask the people close to you if they will be eligible to vote and help them through this process should they need assistance. Time is of the essence.
Thank You In Advance,
Betty
Now, the task is two-fold, because for the first time this November, Missouri voters must have a VALID photo ID card. Many people I know are having a difficult time getting the paperwork together to renew their driver's license.
Every candidate's web site should have Voter Registration and Voter ID information.
Nancy Hagan has a great page on Voter Registration. In Greene County, all branches of the Springfield-Greene County Library have voter registration forms.
For Voter ID requirements scan this page on the Secretary of State's website. In order to get your ID you will need social security card, birth certificate and marriage license or supporting evidence if you have had a name change. These must be official documents, copies will not do. All branches of the Friends of Matt Blunt Revenue Department should have this information, and help with problems you encounter.
It remains to be seen what effect this will have on the November election, but it has the potential to prevent many of the chronically disorganized from voting.
Please ask the people close to you if they will be eligible to vote and help them through this process should they need assistance. Time is of the essence.
Thank You In Advance,
Betty
Thursday, August 10, 2006
ABC's of Iraq
Like most working people today, I get the news in small bits and pieces , a few minutes here and there. Everything swirls around in my head and it eventually forms my opinion on the situation.
I saw on the news the other day, a General explaining to his troops that their year long tour of duty in Iraq was being extended for four more months in order to re-secure Baghdad. My heart goes out to these men and women, as I know how fatigued they are and how much they need time at home with family.
I recall reading somewhere that the majority of soldiers going into Iraq in the beginning, believed that Iraq/Saddam was directly involved in the 9-11 attacks and was actively supporting Al-Quaeda. Then, recently I read that more than half of American voters still believe this falsehood that was so widely promoted by the Radical Right media.
Then I catch another bit of news, that the new Iraq government is considering a partition of Iraq into Kurd, Shiite and Sunni sections in an attempt to halt the civil war that has erupted.
I see that we have blasted Iraq (which in history classes we called the Cradle of Civilization) to smithereens. And now we are obligated to rebuild it, by means of funneling billions of dollars into the pockets of Dick Cheney's buddies at Haliburton, and a few more billions that have just disappeared. We have basically bankrupted the country in financing this war without allied support, and according to reports it will take billions more to refit our military and National Guard after the conflict is over.
The Al-Quaeda terrorists do not reside in Iraq. They have not all travelled to Iraq to fight against us there. They have small cells throughout the world, and are patiently planning their next act or terror. They wish to destroy the infidels, especially Americans, because we support Israel as a Jewish state in the midst of Islamic nations. (I think Israel has a right to exist, but deplore the continual violence that goes on there)
Also noted is the disbanding in late 2005 of the CIA unit dedicated to the apprehension of Osama Bin Laden. I was in favor of using all resources at our disposal to find Bin Laden and destroy his network of terrorist training camps, so this has me a bit puzzled. Do we have him on ice somewhere?
Then we have the matter of the vacationing George Bush, who surpassed Reagan's 8 year record total of Presidential vacation time in 2005 with 3 1/2 years left to go. I have to ask, who is really in charge of running the country?
Cheney, Rove and Rumsfeld, the Old Boys With War Toys, and billions of (dollars worth of ) reasons to make war?
I'm sure that some of the complexities of the situation have escaped me, but I was never in favor of the war in Iraq, not from day one. Shock and Awe did not impress me. I do not think we are "making the terrorists come to us (in Iraq)", I do not think we have improved the lives of the Iraqi people, and I do not think the world is a safer place because of the war.
My family has a long history of patriotism and service to country. My father was in the Navy and was at Pearl Harbor when it was bombed. He survived and served through the end of WW II. My brother-in-law was a Marine and served two tours in Vietnam, receiving the Navy Cross for heroism. My nephew was Air Force and served in Desert Storm. Please do not call me a traitor or say that I don't love America.
In the Vietnam war we had 50,000 body bags. The Iraq war has its 2,500+ flag draped caskets (which we aren't supposed to photograph) and its thousands of deaths due to "collateral damage".
It is time to formulate an exit strategy for this ill-thought-out war and bring our troops home.
I saw on the news the other day, a General explaining to his troops that their year long tour of duty in Iraq was being extended for four more months in order to re-secure Baghdad. My heart goes out to these men and women, as I know how fatigued they are and how much they need time at home with family.
I recall reading somewhere that the majority of soldiers going into Iraq in the beginning, believed that Iraq/Saddam was directly involved in the 9-11 attacks and was actively supporting Al-Quaeda. Then, recently I read that more than half of American voters still believe this falsehood that was so widely promoted by the Radical Right media.
Then I catch another bit of news, that the new Iraq government is considering a partition of Iraq into Kurd, Shiite and Sunni sections in an attempt to halt the civil war that has erupted.
I see that we have blasted Iraq (which in history classes we called the Cradle of Civilization) to smithereens. And now we are obligated to rebuild it, by means of funneling billions of dollars into the pockets of Dick Cheney's buddies at Haliburton, and a few more billions that have just disappeared. We have basically bankrupted the country in financing this war without allied support, and according to reports it will take billions more to refit our military and National Guard after the conflict is over.
The Al-Quaeda terrorists do not reside in Iraq. They have not all travelled to Iraq to fight against us there. They have small cells throughout the world, and are patiently planning their next act or terror. They wish to destroy the infidels, especially Americans, because we support Israel as a Jewish state in the midst of Islamic nations. (I think Israel has a right to exist, but deplore the continual violence that goes on there)
Also noted is the disbanding in late 2005 of the CIA unit dedicated to the apprehension of Osama Bin Laden. I was in favor of using all resources at our disposal to find Bin Laden and destroy his network of terrorist training camps, so this has me a bit puzzled. Do we have him on ice somewhere?
Then we have the matter of the vacationing George Bush, who surpassed Reagan's 8 year record total of Presidential vacation time in 2005 with 3 1/2 years left to go. I have to ask, who is really in charge of running the country?
Cheney, Rove and Rumsfeld, the Old Boys With War Toys, and billions of (dollars worth of ) reasons to make war?
I'm sure that some of the complexities of the situation have escaped me, but I was never in favor of the war in Iraq, not from day one. Shock and Awe did not impress me. I do not think we are "making the terrorists come to us (in Iraq)", I do not think we have improved the lives of the Iraqi people, and I do not think the world is a safer place because of the war.
My family has a long history of patriotism and service to country. My father was in the Navy and was at Pearl Harbor when it was bombed. He survived and served through the end of WW II. My brother-in-law was a Marine and served two tours in Vietnam, receiving the Navy Cross for heroism. My nephew was Air Force and served in Desert Storm. Please do not call me a traitor or say that I don't love America.
In the Vietnam war we had 50,000 body bags. The Iraq war has its 2,500+ flag draped caskets (which we aren't supposed to photograph) and its thousands of deaths due to "collateral damage".
It is time to formulate an exit strategy for this ill-thought-out war and bring our troops home.
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Ann Coulter: Demagogue
I watched the Ann Coulter presentation, with rapt attention focused on her preternaturally long neck and the bobbing adam's apple I've heard so much about. She did not disappoint, mentioning kindergarteners, fisting and anal sex in the same sentence. Liberals she says, are like roaches who run when you shine the light on them--yada, yada, yada, same old hate speech we hear every day. Her audience was a group of bright young college women who listened adoringly, none of whom hard-questioned the load of crap that had just been heaped upon them.
About a third of her new book "godless..." she tells us, is devoted to debunking the Darwiniacs. That must make for scintillating reading. I should have taken better notes about the rest of her remarks, but I was feeling like a lefty fly caught in the web of her clever radical right machination.
Ann joked about how she is often compared to Hitler. I pondered this awhile, and then I did discern the slightest bit of family resemblance. Hitler, according to the Wikipedia definition of demagogue, is the quintessential example of a demagogue, rising to power by appealing to the fears and prejudices of the German people. Like the demagogue, Ann has mastered a variety of methods of influence including half truths, false dilemma (the liberals are not in agreement with us, therefore they are with the terrorists), demonization and scapegoating, straw man arguments, loaded questions in a carefully practiced and witty manner. She effectively uses emotional appeal (they compare pathetically skinny and wasted moi to Hitler) and tops it off with non-stop personal attacks of liberals in particular and the left in general.
I can imagine Ann, laughing all the way to the bank (probably more at the sweet little girls who have bought her books, than at the liberals snared in her game plan) because they have made Ms. Demagogue very rich.
Picture Betty and Ann in the ring... Ann is down for the count...
About a third of her new book "godless..." she tells us, is devoted to debunking the Darwiniacs. That must make for scintillating reading. I should have taken better notes about the rest of her remarks, but I was feeling like a lefty fly caught in the web of her clever radical right machination.
Ann joked about how she is often compared to Hitler. I pondered this awhile, and then I did discern the slightest bit of family resemblance. Hitler, according to the Wikipedia definition of demagogue, is the quintessential example of a demagogue, rising to power by appealing to the fears and prejudices of the German people. Like the demagogue, Ann has mastered a variety of methods of influence including half truths, false dilemma (the liberals are not in agreement with us, therefore they are with the terrorists), demonization and scapegoating, straw man arguments, loaded questions in a carefully practiced and witty manner. She effectively uses emotional appeal (they compare pathetically skinny and wasted moi to Hitler) and tops it off with non-stop personal attacks of liberals in particular and the left in general.
I can imagine Ann, laughing all the way to the bank (probably more at the sweet little girls who have bought her books, than at the liberals snared in her game plan) because they have made Ms. Demagogue very rich.
Picture Betty and Ann in the ring... Ann is down for the count...
Ann Coulter on C-Span Book TV
Ann Coulter will appear on C-Span Book TV this evening at 6:00 PM.
Yesterday radical right talk show host Kevin McCullough was on the Book TV channel, discussing his book MUSCLEHEAD REVOLUTION with a group of young people. He intimated that he and Ann Coulter were good friends, and she had confided to him that when her current book GODLESS: THE CHURCH OF LIBERALISM (a further demonizing of liberals and the liberal viewpoint) was released, that liberals did not respond or protest in any meaningful way.
I did not buy the book, because I do not wish to contribute to making this woman even one dime richer. I'll try to check it out at the library. You can watch Book TV on streaming video if you don't have it on your TV programming.
Every one of us who sees the erosions of the freedoms that make this country great needs to speak up in defense of liberal/progressive values which are the real middle class values. Put on the boxing gloves and score a few points for ultimate common sense.
And while you're at it, get out your checkbook and support the candidate of your choice.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.
Yesterday radical right talk show host Kevin McCullough was on the Book TV channel, discussing his book MUSCLEHEAD REVOLUTION with a group of young people. He intimated that he and Ann Coulter were good friends, and she had confided to him that when her current book GODLESS: THE CHURCH OF LIBERALISM (a further demonizing of liberals and the liberal viewpoint) was released, that liberals did not respond or protest in any meaningful way.
I did not buy the book, because I do not wish to contribute to making this woman even one dime richer. I'll try to check it out at the library. You can watch Book TV on streaming video if you don't have it on your TV programming.
Every one of us who sees the erosions of the freedoms that make this country great needs to speak up in defense of liberal/progressive values which are the real middle class values. Put on the boxing gloves and score a few points for ultimate common sense.
And while you're at it, get out your checkbook and support the candidate of your choice.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Saturday To Do List
1. Send a check to Doug Harpool
2. Send a check to Claire McCaskill
3. Buy a Dixie Chicks CD
4. Send a check to Emily's List
5. Buy five copies of CONFESSIONS OF A FORMER DITTOHEAD to give to certain friends
2. Send a check to Claire McCaskill
3. Buy a Dixie Chicks CD
4. Send a check to Emily's List
5. Buy five copies of CONFESSIONS OF A FORMER DITTOHEAD to give to certain friends
Friday, August 04, 2006
Hillary Versus Rumsfeld
Hillary questioned Rumsfeld before an open Senate hearing yesterday. I thought she did rather a nice job.
Is the situation in Iraq F.U.B.A.R or a Fiasco? Take your pick. It's time to retire the old boys with war toys, and get someone on the job who can clean up the mess they've made.
Is the situation in Iraq F.U.B.A.R or a Fiasco? Take your pick. It's time to retire the old boys with war toys, and get someone on the job who can clean up the mess they've made.
Thursday, August 03, 2006
GOP Funds Green Party in PA Senate Race
This interesting little tidbit from http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/001256.php exposing GOP supporters as the major donors to the Green Party's senatorial candidate who would oppose Rick Santorum in Pennsylvania this fall. Of $66,000 in contributions, apparently only $30 came from a Green Party supporter.
It is disheartening to see the Green Party stoop so low and take this money. In a close race, a few votes for the Green Party could send Rick Santorum back to Washington for six more long years. Third parties should not allow themselves to be pawns in Rove-style tricky maneuvering.
It is disheartening to see the Green Party stoop so low and take this money. In a close race, a few votes for the Green Party could send Rick Santorum back to Washington for six more long years. Third parties should not allow themselves to be pawns in Rove-style tricky maneuvering.
Net Neutrality Update
I don't want to be a nag about net neutrality, but we really need to weigh in on this issue. This from www.mydd.com " Ted Stevens wants his bill, and he's pushing like crazy to get it. It's going to be very hard for him to lobby Senators during the August recess, so he's looking to sign up 60 Senators who will commit to cloture during the lame duck session before the recess starts. In case you're wondering, that's unusual and somewhat sleazy."
The internet could have a new world order before you know it. In this case, that means funneling megabucks from the pockets of internet users into the pockets of phone and cable internet providers, and the possiblity of interferring with content
Please go to http://www.mydd.com/story/2006/8/1/131923/7460 for a list of senators who have not committed. Jim Talent is among them.
The internet could have a new world order before you know it. In this case, that means funneling megabucks from the pockets of internet users into the pockets of phone and cable internet providers, and the possiblity of interferring with content
Please go to http://www.mydd.com/story/2006/8/1/131923/7460 for a list of senators who have not committed. Jim Talent is among them.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Solar Power to the People
The world's largest laundromat, located in Chicago is solar powered. Why can't we begin to retrofit homes and businesses to use solar power? If solar is viable in Chicago, it would work almost anywhere in the U.S. It would give a boost to the economy and solve our problem of dependence on terrorist nations for our "oil addiction". An elegant solution. During the oil crisis of the 70's, one of my friends in Connecticut installed a solar hot water system with partial tax credits. Reagan dismantled that incentive program as not being cost effective. Just think where we would be now if that program had been given wings and we had continued with solar development at that time. At some point in the near future we will be forced to abandon fossil fuels.
We just voted to spend $700 million on another coal fired power plant for Springfield. (Well, as you might expect, I voted no.) Imagine that money spent on solar power, and the energy independence that could have given us. The technology will improve over time, but only if we begin to seriously invest in it.
We just voted to spend $700 million on another coal fired power plant for Springfield. (Well, as you might expect, I voted no.) Imagine that money spent on solar power, and the energy independence that could have given us. The technology will improve over time, but only if we begin to seriously invest in it.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Chatter Stirs Up A Little Blogstorm
When Ron Davis copied my Boycott Hate Radio Sponsors suggestion over at CHATTER, unleashed a flurry of emotional responses. A boycott seems like a most reasonable and civilized response to hate radio. The ability to look at both sides of an issue, and express our viewpoint without having attack dogs loosed on us, is what sets us apart (or used to) from the totalitarian regimes we have battled in two world wars and the focus of our current war on "terror".
To quote Gandhi "Let us not become the evil that we deplore".
To quote Gandhi "Let us not become the evil that we deplore".
Oil Drilling in the Gulf of Mexico
The senate is considering expanding oil drilling permits in the Gulf of Mexico. Perhaps they could just drill in the "dead zone" which now covers an ominous 6,662 square miles, an area the size of Connecticut and Rhode Island combined. Read more at CBSnews.com.
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