Virtual Bali

Obviously, I was very discouraged to hear that Al Gore did not want us to continue the draft movement, which is the primary reason why I haven't posted much lately.

But this is exciting! Using Second Life, OneClimate.net is providing the opportunity to participate or watch events at Bali through Virtual Bali. In fact, "Congressman Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Chairman of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, has linked up with OneWorld.net’s 'Virtual Bali' initiative to participate in the UN’s climate change negotiations currently underway in Bali, Indonesia." OneClimate dot net


This is very exciting! If you have Second Life, you can go right here to participate. I don't, yet, but it looks like I will be doing so ~~ my Christmas present to me!

enjoy!

John Nichols: Gore's fine resume needs one more entry

John Nichols has an opinion in the Capital Times this morning that stoked me up again. I go to bed each night with a prayer and some hope and wake up in the morning debating with myself as to whether Gore will run. Sometimes I think we should just leave it up to him and other times, like after reading Nichols, I know that we need to keep letting Mr. Gore know that we want him to be our next President.

Mr. Nichols said:

It is a velvet grip in which the peace prize winner finds himself.

Gore has arrived at the point that most politicians can only imagine in their wildest dreams. The entire world is asking him to be not merely a candidate but an ecological -- not to mention, ideological -- savior. And he is more viable than he has ever been.

Can Gore resist? Probably.

Should he resist? Probably not.

So let's keep our velvet gloves on, folks, and keep on rockin'

I have my first diary entry at dailykos on this topic.

Be prepared, and don't be surprised

I'm not saying this will happen, but if Cheny's history is any indication, then we need to get prepared sooner rather than later. At OpEdNews.com, you will find this article:

Dick Cheney & Vigilant Shield: Will a Missing Nuke from the B-52 Incident be used in a Simulated Terrorist Attack?

Be your own judge, but it doesn't hurt to be prepared for any catastrophe.

Right now my heart is aching for our country and anger at the people currently in charge.

Draft Gore campaign gets front page news at local paper

The Sarasota Herald Tribune's Saturday edition (today), carried the following article, interviewing little ol' me!

Push for an Al Gore White House bid grows after Nobel Prize award
By CAROL E. LEE
carol.lee@heraldtribune.com

Already an Oscar and an Emmy. Now the Nobel Peace Prize. In 2008, the presidency?

Such are the hopes of activists working to persuade Al Gore to run for commander in chief, again.

The push is particularly strong in Florida, where Draft Gore forces have planned a blitz of radio ads to air next week and are lobbying the state's Democratic Party chairwoman to put Gore on the ballot for the Jan. 29 primary.

Gore has stopped short of saying outright that he will not run, but he has expressed that he does not intend to and has reportedly told former President Jimmy Carter to stop calling him about it.
~~snip~~
The focus on Florida is largely driven by the state's symbolism since the 2000 presidential election, where many Democrats felt the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling to stop the vote recount unfairly handed George W. Bush the state's electoral votes, and, in turn, the presidency.

Draft Gore's radio ads -- "He won once. He can win again." -- will run on five to seven stations during morning and evening rush hour starting Wednesday, Ritchey said.
~~snip~~
"Here was his opportunity to put the draft movement to an end, and I think it is significant that he didn't," said Ritchey. "He did not close the door on a possible presidential run, and we are hitting the ground running."

Templeton, too, said she will continue doing her part in Sarasota to get Gore to enter the race: "Until he says, 'I'm not running.'"

Last modified: October 13. 2007 4:48AM

Draft Gore Now! Not only for us, but for the planet.

Draft Gore

Outrage ~~ Malkin&Co on the warpath

Several blogs have discussed the attacks by Michelle Malkin/Free Republic/Limbaugh, etc. on the Frost family (the boy who spoke at last week's Democratic reply to the President's radio address), and the true compassionates (blue to the core) are rightly disgusted. They (Malkin&Co) have posted this family's business and home address on the internet, they have harrassed them, they have encouraged others to harrass them, and they have attacked the very reasons why this family needs SCHIP. See firedoglake.com, dailykos.com for true-blue compassion. Think Progress has a very good commentary with links to the outrageous posts.

Malkin needs to be silenced. She and her cohorts yell to the heavens for protection of a full-grown man with general's stars on his shoulders, but a 12-year-old boy and his younger sister who have been injured severely in a car wreck are “fair game”.

Disgusting, and not the least bit humane, compassionate, or human!

The Saffron Road to Freedom

I am saddened by the plight of the people in Burma but heartened by their bravery and desire for democracy.

From Air America's Lionel show's blog, the link to Democratic Voice of Burma, and the comments on this article moved me to post some of them here:

Commenter:

The world is rightly outraged by the oppression and suffering imposed on the Burmese people by a violent, heartless regime. Who are we? Will we stand back and watch this, or will we by our actions declare that we are all one and that this is intolerable. When a people are violated and oppressed as here, love does not claim that this is an internal matter. The whole world should move to stop this. Right now.
Brinick
(France)
09/28/2007

My sentiments exactly:

This is the clearest defining moment of who we are as the "human race", our values, our beliefs, and what is sacred, and if we looked into the mirror tomorrow can we hold our head up and pride in being a human being. This is it! People! Young people the world over! You want a cause to believe in? Where are you now? Where is your voice?
Chung
(Taiwan)
09/28/2007

Want to do something, anything? Sign the Petition to Stand with Burma.

Important information from another poster:

EVERYBODY ALERT!!!!!!!! Now, the government is trying to make a diversion. They give 10,000 kyats (around $7) & a set of Thin Gan(yellow robe) to "Swan Arr Shin"(like USDA which the form as a group that to crash down violently to protester) team and make them to pretend as Monks. Then, command to destroy the Islamic Mosque. This intends to become a fight between Buddhisms & Islams. So, if u hear or see the news that the monks are destroying the Mosque, these are not real monks. They are just fakes. As u all know, the real monks have no intention like that. So, give this information to Islams who u know and tell them From Ko Htike web site http://ko-htike.blogspot.com/ News from Burma
Fellow
(Singapore)
09/28/2007

Here is Dawn's page (a Burma blogger).

A little slice of hope

Maybe the Dems can get something positive done this year. An unsigned editorial in today's NY Times gave me a little hope that they are trying to roll back some of the outrageous powers Bush has drawn unto himself. From A Step Away From the Imperial Presidency:

Fortunately, the prospects are better for undoing a lesser-known example of presidential overreaching. The defense budget bill heading for Senate passage contains a bipartisan measure to repeal wording that made it easier for a president to override local control of the National Guard and declare martial law. That language was slipped into last year’s defense bill.

The revision is sponsored by Senators Patrick Leahy, Democrat of Vermont, and Christopher Bond, Republican of Missouri, and is backed unanimously by the nation’s governors. It repeals a major weakening of two protective doctrines of liberty. One of them, called posse comitatus, was enacted after the Civil War to bar military forces, including a federalized National Guard, from engaging in domestic law enforcement.

The other, the Insurrection Act of 1807, long contained a limited exception to posse comitatus for putting down lawlessness, insurrection and rebellion, where a state is violating federal law or depriving people of constitutional rights. Under last year’s revision, the exception was unnecessarily broadened to allow the president to use military troops as a domestic police force in response to a natural disaster, a disease outbreak, terrorist attack or to any “other condition.”

Now, if they can only get a veto-proof majority on these important issues, this country might yet be able to outlast Bush's regime. I second the sentiment that ends the article:

For democracy’s sake, there will need to be many more.

Inadvertent Broadcast on c-span3 today

I don't know where this is coming from, either a person's cam that is inadvertently being sent to c-span 3's streaming, or perhaps gov't spying? Anyway, I captured a shot of it, just so I know I'm not crazy. The television is showing the regular c-span show.

Here's the sleeping man:

Not that Biden!

I watched Biden in Iowa this week, in someone's living room, talking about the issues as he sees them. I watched him on Charlie Rose this week too, and thought he made some sense (about Iraq). I wasn't really considering him as "my" candidate, but I want to be informed, so I gave him some of my time.

As I learned about another infraction by this current administration (I'm new on the scene of the reality-based community), notably the repeal of the Posse Comitatus Act in 2006, in conjunction with the news about clergy aiding and abetting the Federal Government (h/t prisonplanet) in corraling the sheep, I found another good article (thirdworldtraveler) about the Act, that included this tidbit:

One of the most hawkish congressional enthusiasts for Bush's plans to send U.S. troops to the streets of Baghdad is Joseph Biden, Democrat of Delaware. Apparently he wants to see the same troops on the streets of U.S. cities. Interviewed on Fox News on July 21[2002], he strongly endorsed giving power of arrest to U.S. soldiers. Posse Comitatus, said Biden "has to be amended." Even Mr. Homeland Security Tom Ridge begged to differ.

OMG! It's bad enough that the Dems cave time after time, but Biden's endorsement is beyond my comprehension. Now he is definitely off my list, and I won't listen to him again. Obviously, he would not only NOT roll back Presidential powers, but would continue to expand them.

We live in scary times, folks. When, oh when, do we take to the streets????

Glenn Greenwald at YearlyKos

For my own sake, so I don't have to search for it, I am posting the clip of Greenwald at Yearlykos because I admire his direct address of the issues relating to our sickened media.

The US is in tatters

The Iraq War profiteers: all in the name of capitalism."

Today I watched Robert Greenwald's Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers which caused me great heartache and anger. All the cowchips are piling up and I pray that the military-industrial complex set up by the Bush family, Cheney and Rumsfeld comes tumbling down one day, preferably in an International Crimes Court. Every single one of them.

After watching the video, I went to the website's blog, found jessehaff's post about DynCorp, looked them up, and found this July 18, 2007 Washington Post article: Zinni Takes Full-Time Position With DynCorp. Okay, you might think this is old news, but lo and behold, there is a comment posted by one "DynCorp Employee 10 Years" on 08.08.07 that is quite revealing. Needless to say, I also posted a comment.

Then I started crying. I'm angry, I've been getting angrier and angrier each time another rock is turned over and more creepy crawly things squirm in the light. When we all say "Enough is enough!" ???

But now my anger is manifesting in uncontrollable tears. Where is the country I was so proud of? Where are the protestors? Are you all so comfortable with your lives that you don't see, or don't care, what the hell is going on? The robber-baron war profiteers are making billions off of our hard-earned wages. Wake up, America!

Redecorating - Pubs curtains choices way back when

Thanks to blogger demwinz (blog located at The Young Turks), a journey through recent history brings some quotes that the Dems should be using today. Every time they hear Clinton's name, they should come back with one of these quotes and the question, if it was okay to say this then, why not now? Guess I'll be firing off this very idea to a few CongressCritters today. I think I'll even take a ride to Vern Buchanan's office this weekend and slide a copy under the door. Unless he's there, then I'll hand it to him.

VERBATIM QUOTES
KY's Senior Senator Mitch McConnell said during a speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate
"Domestic terrorism is not a cause we have to fight or a project we need to fund. We are not interested in capturing bin Laden. Even though he has been offered to us. We are not the world's policemen. It's not our job to clean up other countries messes or arrest it's bad guys."


WHEN CLINTON WAS COMMITTING TROOPS TO BOSNIA:
"You can support the troops but not the president."--Rep Tom Delay (R-TX)
"Well, I just think it's a bad idea. What's going to happen is they're going to be over there for 10, 15, maybe 20 years."--Joe Scarborough (R-FL)

"Explain to the mothers and fathers of American servicemen that may come home in body bags why their son or daughter have to give up their life?"--Sean Hannity, Fox News, 4/6/99

"[The] President . . . is once again releasing American military might on a foreign country with an ill-defined objective and no exit strategy. He has yet to tell the Congress how much this operation will cost. And he has not informed our nation's armed forces about how long they will be away from home. These strikes do not make for a sound foreign policy."--Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA)"

American foreign policy is now one huge big mystery. Simply put, the administration is trying to lead the world with a feel-good foreign policy."--Rep Tom Delay (R-TX)

"If we are going to commit American troops, we must be certain they have a clear mission, an achievable goal and an exit strategy."
--Karen Hughes, speaking on behalf of George W Bush

"I had doubts about the bombing campaign from the beginning . . I didn't think we had done enough in the diplomatic area."--Senator Trent Lott (R-MS)

"I cannot support a failed foreign policy. History teaches us that it is often easier to make war than peace. This administration is just learning that lesson right now. The President began this mission with very vague objectives and lots of unanswered questions. A month later, these questions are still unanswered. There are no clarified rules of engagement. There is no timetable. There is no legitimate definition of victory. There is no contingency plan for mission creep. There is no clear funding program. There is no agenda to bolster our over-extended military. There is no explanation defining what vital national interests are at stake. There was no strategic plan for war when the President started this thing, and there still is no plan today"--Rep Tom Delay (R-TX)

"Victory means exit strategy, and it's important for the President to explain to us what the exit strategy is."-- Governor George W. Bush (R)-TX

Noise Machine

I am totally perplexed by the mainstream media screaming that media is "liberal" but those of us who are liberal see crystal-clearly that the MSM is quite non-liberal.

So that they can stay on the right (not to mean correct) side of issues, the MSM accuses itself of being liberal. What a conundrum!

(im)Peaches

Having received an email today from The Pen, I added the following comments to the Impeach Them All letter they will send to my representatives.

The reason polls show that We the People are disgusted with Congress is because you have not done ENOUGH to stop the Bush Administration from further damage to our Constitution, our foreign policy, our international relations, and our civil rights.

For those of you who wish to point to Clinton, consider this notice that that does not work anymore. This Administration has committed more high crimes and misdemeanors that (1) would have not been tolerated by the Republicans in a Democratic President, (2) have been enabled by Congress, and (3) is totally intolerable to your constituents.

In case you aren't aware, if you don't move in the direction advised by your constituents, there is a major movement among us: we will be looking to replace each and every incumbent with a person who will listen to us.

It's time to clean up Washington, and either you're with us or you're against us!

This last sentence is my new mantra, and I think it would make a great bumper sticker.

Pelosi: wrapped in red, white & blue striped curtains

Tim Grieve posts at Salon.com the statement by Speaker Nancy Pelosi regarding impeachment. She again admonishes the very thought of curtailing these criminals from further damaging our country and our Constitution. Several commenters to that article state that impeachment would be a waste of time because we won't get it past the Senate. Others argue, correctly, that it doesn't matter if they aren't indicted because at least it would send a message that this behavior is unacceptable. I argue that there is a good chance that indictment would come once the sweeping executive privilege is unwrapped from around the box of shit.

I sent an email to Pelosi, using an excerpt from C.Mosby's post at the above Salon article (kudos, Mosby). I would like to repeat that comment here for my own posterity's sake (I'd probably forget where I heard it, read it, saw it at some future date):

Where’s Barbara Jordan, now that we REALLY need her?
This shouldn’t be about vote counts in the Senate or concerns about being perceived as politically motivated whining Democrats. Any acceptance of that rationale by this congress, regardless of party affiliation, suggests that witnessing the current relentless dismantling of the Constitution and the erosion of balance crucial to effective government presumed in the theory of separation of powers is secondary to party control of the runaway dictatorship that’s left in place.

What good is control of any constitutional leg of this government if the Constitution is eventually rendered irrelevant? It’s incredible that no one in congress seems to see that. But perhaps they all do. The cynical side of me acknowledges that the appeal of the Rovian philosophy of single party control and de facto, eventually de ju-re, dictatorship may be tempting to venal politicians of either stripe. After all, governing is hard work (to quote a folksy prominent politician). Why not make it easy?

That, in fact, may be what we are all witnessing here. There is little doubt that the degree to which corporations, big money lobbyists and other special interests control “The Honorable (fill in the blank)” of either party is the only meaningful variable about their allegiances. What may be left is simply jockeying and political maneuvering for who gets the reins on this horse Mr. Rove has been creating. Certainly, the MSM and a distracted, brainwashed or disinterested “electorate” represent no credible deterrents.

No one knows what Harry Reid is thinking; but the problem is not with Harry Reid or the Senate. Impeachment is initiated in the House. The power to impeach is reserved explicitly by the constitution (temporarily, it now seems), for the House of Representatives. Unfortunately, right after the election of November 2006, for political expediency and perhaps, wishful thinking, Nancy Pelosi said: “I have said it before and I will say it again: Impeachment is off the table,” Democrats “are not about getting even” with Republicans. In the context of those statements, she also said:

“Democrats pledge civility and bipartisanship in the conduct of the work here and we pledge partnerships with Congress and the Republicans in Congress, and the president — not partisanship.”

How’s that working out for you, Madame speaker?

There are so many grounds for impeachment of these people that there is no need to enumerate them here. What is desperately needed now, is more people like former Texas congressional representative Barbara Jordan in the house.

Quoting the late Ms. Jordan during the Nixon years….

B.J.: "If the impeachment provision in the Constitution of the United States will not reach the offenses charged here, then perhaps that 18th-century Constitution should be abandoned to a 20th-century paper shredder."

That statement is, at the very least, equally relevant today.

B.J.: "My faith in the Constitution is whole; it is complete; it is total. And I am not going to sit here and be an idle spectator to the diminution, the subversion, the destruction, of the Constitution."

Therein lies the problem with this congress, more specifically, the problem in this House of Representatives.

Do Ms. Jordan’s sentiments ring any bells, Madame speaker? You may think you were elected primarily to be “civil” and partner up with noble Republicans; but you should be reminded that your oath is to the constitution.

A truly responsible congress would recognize that this case MUST be brought, regardless of the outcome. At least, an intervention process would have been attempted and presented to the American people. It may be hopeless; but at least they would have had the opportunity to see what is happening to their government as it is transcending to a new American “ism” that their forebears would not recognize and, surely, could not support.

If presented properly, they may even be persuaded to put enough pressure on their elected representatives to overcome the influence of their true owners. Otherwise, it is truly hopeless.

Somebody has to step up, or recognize they are simply plugging in the shredder while pretending not to marvel at its efficiency of operation.

-- C. Mosby

Is Congress ignoring the tattered curtains?

Could it be possible that Congress is complicit in aiding and abetting this corrupt administration? I wrote the following today to the Senate and House Judiciary Committees.

Is the Judiciary Committee aware of this? If so, I expect you to do something about it. If not, well, I doubt that. But I am determined, as an aware citizen of this country, to do everything possible to bring our Congress to the point where they are ready to impeach the Bush Administration. How much more will it take? This is outrageous, and I want you to ask Gonzales about it.

Dead, fired attorneys’ Medicare fraud probe linked to White House

Senator McCaskill knew about dead attorneys before Senate Gonzales hearing.

President Bush’s first cousin Jonathan Bush is CEO of Athena Health in Watertown, Massachusetts, the developer of Novation’s “CodeRyte” software program that “runs on an algorithm built into the system,” which “can read the data entry, find any required associations and automatically contact on-staff coders who can read the work and determine the appropriate code.”

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush’s association with Novation’s Tenet Healthcare comes after Tenet was audited in 2004 by the California Department of Health Services after overcharging the state’s Medicaid program, Medi-Cal, by $11.9 million at Redding Medical Center, linked to a Tenet probe by fired San Diego U.S. Attorney Carol Lam, a 45-agent FBI raid and multiple subpoenas signed by a Dallas assistant U.S. attorney found dead the day before Senate healthcare anti-trust hearings.

San Diego and Memphis papers reported that Tenet Healthcare Corporation of Dallas has agreed to pay $21 million as part of a civil settlement with the federal government over allegations of kickbacks to doctors. The settlement also requires Tenet to close or sell the hospital where the kickbacks allegedly took place, Alvarado Hospital Medical Center in San Diego.

Senate Judiciary obstruction of justice

The Senate Judiciary Committee failed to question Attorney General Gonzales about the two suspicious deaths and three abrupt departures of assistant U.S. attorneys at the Dallas-Fort Worth U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) offices all within 90 days during an $84 billion Medicare fraud probe.

California’s Redding Medical Center is one of thousands of U.S. hospitals, nursing homes and clinics subject to the far-reaching Justice Department Medicare fraud probe researched by Fort Worth Civil Enforcement Head Thelma Colbert which resulted in multiple subpoenas signed by her boss, Dallas U.S. Attorney’s office Criminal Chief Shannon Ross—after which Ross was found dead on September 13, 2004, the day before Senate hearings on healthcare anti-trust violations—and just 55 days after Colbert turned up dead in her swimming pool on July 20, 2004.

The Senate Judiciary Committee also failed to interrogate Gonzales about circumstances involving the quick departures (35 days after Ross’ death) of three assistant U.S. attorneys in Colbert’s Fort Worth office—Leonard Senerote, Michael Uhl and Michael Snipes—and whether the Attorney General had them fired, forced them to resign or they were intimidated by the deaths of Colbert and Ross.

No U.S. legal entity has questioned whether McCaskill or Leahy obstructed justice in the Senate’s Gonzales hearing under 18 United States Code 4 guidelines for reporting federal crimes, or whether meritorious evidence that the White House purposely quashed the Texas fraud case was also covered up, despite deaths and firings within a compact timeline.

Maybe Chairman John Conyers will actually ask Gonzales what he knows about the five dead and fired U.S. attorneys probing Medicare fraud in Dallas Fort Worth and perhaps he will attempt to get to the bottom of Sam Lipari’s case.

http://tomflocco.com/fs/FiredAttorneysFraudProbe.htm

Thank you. Please, don't stop asking questions and getting to the bottom of this rotten apple barrel!

Bush's Burqa

Bush has thrown another thick curtain around his cabal, a virtual burqa now, with the insistence that he can forbid the DOJ to issue Contempt of Congress citations. This virtually eliminates one branch of government, Judiciary, when people like David B. Rifkin, who worked in the Justice Department and White House counsel's office under presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, says, "U.S. attorneys are emanations of a president's will." And in constitutional terms, he said, "the president has decided, by virtue of invoking executive privilege, that is the correct policy for the entire executive branch." Washington Post 7/19/2007

I have written another letter today, this time to my Republican Senator (he's heard from me many times recently). It's one thing to write to Democratic Senators, which is like preaching to the choir. I'm ready to take on the Republicans and let them know that over-reaching by this President has gone far enough.

Senator Martinez,
Don't you think it is quite dangerous to our country and the Constitution to allow President Bush to assert that he doesn't have to comply with Congressional requests? He is saying he is above the law!

If you are endeared to the American belief in the rule of law, then it is time for you to take a stand to save our country.

Don't you think that it's quite suspicious that the Executive Branch is extracting so much power, wresting the checks and balances away from both the Judiciary and Congress? It is time to get this administration under control. I want you to be one of the Senators to stand up and say so.

I'm afraid that if you don't, then Congress will be the next group that the President has executive privilege over and he may just send every one of you home.

This is of the utmost importance and your attention to this matter is at the very heart of what our country stands for. No one, even the President, is above the law.

Thank you.

I've started posting my letters here, just in case the ykw police come knocking on my door, or I get put on the no-fly list, or some such thing. Of course, Glenn Greenwald is still furiously banging away at the keyboard, and his post today prompted me to write to Martinez. So, I'm just adding my voice to the others online. I am deeply grateful for Glenn's heartfelt concern for the direction our country is going.

Oh, I think I'll send the same letter to Senator Nelson.

Pentagon Propaganda: Throwing Mud

I am disgusted with the Bush Administration using government agencies to push their political agenda. The public announcement by Under Secretary of Defense Eric Edelman regarding Senator Clinton's stance on Iraq War policy is the latest example.

As an American citizen who has decided to quit screaming at the television and make some efforts to let others know that I am not falling for the propaganda, I have sent the following letter to the Pentagon (via http://www.defenselink.mil/faq/comment.html).

I believe We the People have the sense that the Pentagon is out of line with Under Secretary of Defense Eric Edelman's comments about Senator Clinton's questioning of Iraq War policy. This is an implication that ANY American asking questions about the Iraq War will come under your scrutiny. That is so very UN-American of you.

The Bush Administration's stance (and yours, by extension) that the people who want a draw-down of troops are aiding the enemy is bunk. I believe most Americans understand that Iraq cannot be abandoned completely, that bringing troops home must be done over a responsible period of time. There is nothing "precipitous" about redeployment!

Instead, General Pace is talking about sending more troops?!

I, for one American, am not interested in hearing the Pentagon spout the very rhetoric that the Bush Administration wants to use to influence the political arena. And if it isn't politics, then why would Edelman mention just Senator Clinton? There are many people, public figures and common citizens, who are speaking out in the same manner.

I'm sure that Under Secretary of Defense Edelman has much more important things to do than make silly comments about an American citizen's position on the war. Please, just do your job and stay out of politics.

Thank you.

Rips in the opaque curtains of the White House

Yes! Finally, the MSM is starting to reveal much of what is going on with this outrageous "war" and the Bush administration.

Kudos to:

• Olbermann for his Special Comments on July 3rd;
  
• ABC's Nightline coverage of "Inside the Surge" (done by BBC's embedded reporter);
  
• Paul Craig Roberts (www.counterpunch.org) chats with Thom Hartmann (AirAmerica, 7/19/07), saying that unless congress immediately impeaches Bush and Cheney - a year from now the US could be a dictatorial police state at war with Iran;
  
• and of course, Glenn Greenwald is always on the ball with his commentary on the state of the media in their collusion with the Bush Administration.

Note that the military is speaking out against Bush as their Commander-in-Chief, and will do so with their votes, if we get a chance to vote (see Paul Craig Roberts above). One of the biggest problems we face, as a nation, is that if they aren't impeached immediately, Bush's Directive #51 will allow him to dismiss Congress, cancel the 2008 elections, and take over government UNTIL HE DECIDES the country is ready for government again. He may think he is the Decider, and he said he was the Uniter ~~ well, he's definitely uniting many of us: AGAINST him!

See Military Favors Ron Paul over McCain.

Support Our Troops?? Not the Republicans!

I am sick and tired of the Republicans shouting about supporting our troops and that if we are against the war, we are not supporting them. Bah! I say, Bah! Let's rip apart this curtain of lies: Forty-six of them voted AGAINST allowing the troops down time, away from battle, to recoup! Alas, my own very red Senator was one of them, so I sent the following message to him.

Senator Martinez,
I am extremely disappointed that you voted nay on the amendment to allow our soldiers and National Guard and Reserves some leave time away from battle. You and the Republicans repeat the meme "Support Our Troops" but you vote against everything that actually supports the troops in real ways.
These brave men and women deserve better, and you have let them down, again. I am going to write to each one from Florida that I know and let them know that you voted against giving them time away from battle.
It's no wonder recruitment numbers are down. I would advise any youth considering the armed services or National Guard against joining because the Republicans don't do as they say. There was absolutely no reason to block this admendment if you truly cared about these brave souls.
The polls that show lack of confidence in Congress is because We the People are disgusted with exactly these type of votes. Are you so interested in supporting the President that you won't support the troops in the areas where they really need it? Are you part of the 26% of this country that still thinks he's doing a good job? Are you willing to fight this fight until all of our armed forces are too exhausted or killed?
Let's get real about supporting our troops! I will watch every one of your votes for or against troop support and I will inform everybody I know how you vote. Your response is expected and appreciated.

"Red" = authoritarian/totalitarian
Screw the needs of the troops -- keep 'em fighting, down to the last one dragging ass in Iraq.

2007 Declaration of Independence

If we want to remove the wizard behind the curtain (and disallow any future wizards), We the People will have to re-unite and actively work towards a new democracy in the United States. This is Ron McCallie's fight for democracy. Check it out.

http://myfightfordemocracy.blogspot.com/

Stealing Elections: Past and Future

What's behind the election curtain? Our government is working diligently to make sure this curtain is opaque to the people. If the past major elections are any indication, We the People are in big trouble.

I think many Americans felt that something was seriously wrong in both the 2000 and 2004 Presidential elections. The Supreme Court stepped in for us in 2000 (Florida) and Diebold stepped in for us in 2004 (Ohio). I was one American wondering why in the hell was Ohio taking so long to post its results. Now we know.

Take an hour out of your day to review this video:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-365586126885215066&q=hacking+democracy&total=65&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=1

If you want to save your vote, as do I, then We the People MUST make our voices heard NOW.
Please contact your Congressional Representatives about H.R. 811 (text: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c110:1:./temp/~c1108fZ0PX::)
and S. 559 (text: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:S.559:),
because "these bills allow government insiders to count votes in secret and prohibit us from either watching our votes get counted or even obtaining any information after the fact about how they were counted. " (Bev Harris, Blackboxvoting.org)

The inherent problems of HR 811 are:
1) The proposed legislation codifies secret vote counting
2) The proposed legislation cements control of secret vote counting to the executive branch
3) The proposed legislation provides sets the scene for unlimited litigation on election challenges.
4) The proposed legislation has many big ticket items that are unfunded.
5) The proposed legislation will not provide relief for 2008.
(Nancy Tobi, quoted on Blackboxvoting.org)

If you want to celebrate our democracy this 4th of July, 2007, then do something to protect your right to vote to keep our democracy!