President Bush, Fight Like You Mean It!

That's the message I would take back to the president after his veto of war funds.

Those of us who have been paying attention, know that at no time during the Iraq war have we had the number of troops in theater needed to win the war.

Those of us who have been paying attention, know that recruitment is down and that the military revised downward the yearly goal numbers for new recruits.

We also know that not only has the military resorted to "stop lossing," extended tours and many deployments of the same soldiers (decreasing the time at home between deployments that the military says a soldier needs to be able to fight), we are also recruiting those into the military who before we would have turned away (neo-nazis, militia, KKK, etc.) and keeping those on active duty that should be released (due to issues such as mental problems caused by this war).

Those of us who have been paying attention, know that at we sent troops to both Afghanistan and Iraq without the proper equipment and armor.

Those of us who have been paying attention, know that at we are sending new troops into Iraq without their full and necessary training.

Those of us who have been paying attention, know that we as a country, have never been placed on a war footing and as a result all the ordinance and equipment being used and used up in Iraq is not being replaced. We are weaker today than we were 9-11-2001.

The President and the White House are using the talking point that if Democrats really don’t like this war and thinks we shouldn’t be fighting it then we/they should just defund the war.

Democrats are smarter than to bite. They know that those who only watch Fox News, listen to only Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, etc. or who don’t really pay attention but lean to the right will believe that the Democrats are for leaving troops stranded and without bullets in Iraq. While those who are left of center, left leaning, progressive, liberal, etc. know that nothing is further from the truth, we know that Republicans are not above those despicable, untruthful and divisive tactics and talking points to stay in power.

So what should the answer be?

I believe the 30 second sound bite from Demcrats should be “If you believe the Iraq war is necessary then, President Bush, Fight Like You Mean It!”

But what does that mean?

• Give the troops the full rest they deserve before deploying them again.
  
• Give the new recruits the FULL training they need and deserve.
  
• End stop loss.
  
• Reinstate the draft.
  

Yes the draft.

How could I, who have never supported the war in Iraq, want the draft? Actually I don’t, but I do know 3 things.

1. Our troops are exhausted and our volunteer army doesn’t have enough recruits to replace those who need a rest.
   
   
   
2. By in large Americans have not been asked to be part of this war. As a result the war, it’s reasons and casualties happen to “someone else.” A draft will finally bring the realties home, once the majority of America has a loved one who will be put in harms way, they will pay attention.
   
   
   
3. Given number 2, the more attention paid the more chance it will bring an end to the war that much faster.
   

It’s sad, but it’s true. and the Bush administration knows it. That’s why this administration would rather abuse our service men and women and run them to pure exhaustion (and then refuse to deal with the life time physical and mental health issues that have and will happen because of this policy), then to fully fight this war. Instead of all Americans "in" this war and putting us on a war footing we've been told to “go shopping.”

It could be argued that I can be in favor of the draft because I know my 22 year old daughter, and 20 year old son will be somewhere around 4F in the call-up: My daughter due to a birth defect and my son due to an accident when he was 17 (but already an Army recruiter was ready to overlook the lifelong injury and get him into the uniform, so I'm not so sure about that). But you know what, I have two more sons (teen and pre-teen), and if this war lasts as long as Viet Nam (which I am afraid it will) they will be drafted.

The challenge issued in “President Bush, fight like you mean it!,” illustrates that Bush (Mr. Codpiece and Flight Suit) and his administration has NEVER fought this war to win.

They’ve gotten away with it because the majority of the American people aren’t really paying attention.

Americans need to, we must, and if the draft is the way to get it done, well it's what needs to be done. But more than that, if the Republicans REALLY support the troops than they must stop abusing them and reinstate the draft so that those who are fighting can rest, and those that are going to fight, have the time to be fully trained. The Bush administration and the Republicans will finally cease treating these Americans like facial tissue; something to be used (abused) and then thrown away - they will actually support the troops, by getting more men and women (maybe even finally their own children) serving.

My dream, my nightmare

Last night I had a dream. Oh, it wasn’t the type of dream Martin Luther King had. My dream wasn’t uplifting, it was anything but.

In my dream, no nightmare, the Dominionists (Christian Reconstructionists) had taken over this country. The Constitution and the Bill of Rights meant nothing any more.

Everyone in the US was Christian, either sincerely or by public adoption (thereby keeping their own lives) but lacking in a sincere conversion. There was no joy in the world, except for those who truly believed, those with questions or rejections either pasted a smile on their face and lived with the oppression, or doomed themselves by speaking out.

Homosexuality, non evangelical Christian sects, Catholics, all non-Christians (including Jews), dissent, idolatry and blasphemous behavior had been driven under ground. Those caught were executed.

In the dream I was banished once more to the home, property of my husband. Disallowed public discourse or to even to voice my own views because I was to speak only what my husband wished. I spoke for him and he was preeminent. I couldn’t even vote, women having lost the franchise.

My kids went to “public schools” but they were Christian Reconstructionist in scope and they learned only approved “science” and a revisionist history of the world. The only universities they could attend were Regents, Patrick Henry College, Liberty University, Pensacola Christian College (publishers of A-Beka school and homeschool material), Bob Jones University and any state university that the Dominion would approve as having the appropriate text and teachers of like mind.

Even the fields that they would go into had to have the hand of “Christian Reconstructionism” for approval. There was no escaping it for the Dominion had taken over every secular institution and non-complaint church and either changed it or closed it.

And in my dream a small group of us who could take it no more met in the middle of the snowy woods, speaking in a low voice we wondered when we lost “our” country. Someone said, just before we heard the snowmobiles coming toward us and the order to “RUN!” , that it was when Bush shredded the constitution and 150 Regent graduates had begun to remake the government as the Dominionists paln for control said they would, but no one listened. No one listened and no one looked to see how many more graduates of these universities were “in” government offices.

I woke up just as one snowmobile closed in on me as I ran to escape what would be my execution.

****

Now in my waking it is raining and I cannot loose the feeling of absolute oppression, in MY country no less. And I wonder why no one has really made the connection between the 150 Regent graduate DOJ employees and the Dominionists aims, plans, practices and goals.

****

Its most common form, Dominionism, represents one of the most extreme forms of Fundamentalist Christianity thought. Its followers, called Dominionists, are attempting to peacefully convert the laws of United States so that they match those of the Hebrew Scriptures. They intend to achieve this by using the freedom of religion in the US to train a generation of children in private Christian religious schools. Later, their graduates will be charged with the responsibility of creating a new Bible-based political, religious and social order. from Relious Tolerance . org

From Mainstream Baptist, a blog by Dr. Bruce Prescott

Monday, March 19, 2007
A Reconstructionist Takeover Video

In February 1990 I received an unsolicited video in the mail. The video came from a Dr. Stephen Hotze and was entitled "Restoring America: How You Can Impact Civil Government." Filmed at a church in my neighborhood, I recognized the actors as the pastor and congregants of an Independent Fundamental Baptist church (the Jerry Falwell kind). The video was a guide on how to 1) take over a Republican Party precinct meeting, 2) elect "Christian" delegates to the GOP District meeting, and 3) put planks supporting the theocratic agenda of Christian Reconstructionism into the party platform. . . .

. . . Along with his video tape, Hotze sent a written agenda and instructions for how to conduct a precinct meeting. He also suggested resolutions for the party's platform. Today, nearly all the planks that Hotze suggested can be found in the current platform of the Texas Republican Party.

Meanwhile, most of the country club Republicans who provide the funds for this theocratic juggernaut still seem to be sipping their cocktails in ignorant bliss.

Dominionists are patient revolutionaries. They work through the system to gain control. Then they work from within the system to change the system. The changes they are making are incremental. They have little respect for democracy and none for pluralism. They mean business and they already hold many of the mechanisms of power around the country.

It is long past time for Americans who love democracy to acknowledge what is at stake and start facing the challenge that these patient theocratic revolutionaries represent. . .

Right Now - I'm Getting Ready for the Weekend and Putting Bumper Stickers on My Car

With thanks to Randi Rhodes for playing this as a bump a few minutes ago.

A little observation about Imus and Conservatives

I think it is really interesting how conservatives get all exercised by a little nipple shown by a possible "wardrobe malfunction" (which you really had to Tivo it and run it back and forth many times to see) but have no problem with hate speech.

What you never knew Mr. Vonnegut

This morning when I found out Kurt Vonnegut had died I was not only deeply saddened, but I knew how this news would effect one of his biggest fans, my 20 year old son.

I confess I enjoyed listening to Vonnegut's interviews but I never read his books. In fact up until 2 years ago I don't think we had any book of his but "Slaughter House Five." That was until a summer reading course my son took.

My eldest son hadn't been doing well in school. A kid with enormous potential, who preferred to watch the History Channel, the Discovery Channel and anything to do with building, fixing and restoring cars, he just couldn't seem to put it together for school. Due to his dyslexia he was a very slow reader but refused to have an IEP done because he didn't want to be labeled a "Sped."

He was a wiz in auto shop, loved history, but got bad grades because he'd "forget" to hand in his homework. Ditto for psychology. As the years went on he went from wanting to go to college and become a history teacher, to wanting to go to trade school and become a mechanic (we were fine with this) to not having a clue or seemingly even caring how he ended up.

That was until the summer before his senior year and a reading class he took that was sponsered by the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. All of a sudden he was reading faster, comprehending and enjoying what he was reading. Among the samples that they read in class and for class was Vonnegut. He was hooked. He read more and more, and most of the books he read were Vonnegut.

He returned for his last year in high school and his preformance in his classes stunned everyone. Here was the student everyone knew was in there, but no one seemed to have the ability to draw out. Here was someone passionate about learning, forming and sharing well thought out ideas. Teachers who had had him before in their class were both over joyed at this new engaged person entering their classroom, and lamenting that he hadn't been this way for his entire high school career.

He's now in community college working to cancel his bad high school record so that he can go on to a four year university. His plans/his dreams, include not one but two PhDs in History and Sociology. His step-Dad, his grandparents and I could only be happier if he accomplishes all his dreams, but he is off to a good start.

And all it took was one summer reading class and an author named Kurt Vonnegut.

For that Mr. Vonnegut, I thank you.


Side note: My son had hoped to one day met Kurt Vonnegut, he was and is deeplyu saddened by this news. In one of his recent college papers, that he finished this week, he was quoting Slaughter House Five. His dog eared, slightly rumpled copy is sitting here at my computer.

Update: I just found out that it is my middle son (14 years old) who is reading Slaughter House Five.

Do you really want to fly when there's only one person in the tower?

Planes wait while controller takes potty break
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Two airliners had to circle for 18 minutes and a plane ferrying human lungs for transplant was briefly delayed Friday while an airport's lone air traffic controller took a bathroom break, the controller's union said.

The union on Tuesday cited the Friday incident at the Manchester, New Hampshire, airport as evidence that air traffic control facilities are understaffed.

"There should never be one person in the tower, because it's not safe," said Doug Church, spokesman for the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. "It's just added proof that the system is stretched to its limits, and these are the type of things that are happening."

Federal Aviation Administration officials responded that staffing is sufficient, that the bathroom break was handled in accordance with policy, and that travelers were not endangered or unduly inconvenienced.

While drawing vastly different conclusions about the significance of the event, the FAA and the union gave details that generally matched.

. . .

"It's the FAA's position that the staffing that was present at Manchester was sufficient to safely handle arrivals and departures at that time of the evening," Peters said. "He was only gone for 12 minutes, so while there may have been a slight delay in the aircraft landing, certainly the controller did what he had to do."

. . .

The FAA and the controllers' union have skirmished repeatedly in recent months about staffing levels at airports.

The union says controllers are often forced to work overtime, contributing to fatigue, which results in safety lapses. But the FAA says most overtime is voluntary and said instances of involuntary overtime are rare.
CNN

First off I know an air traffic controller who just retired, he wanted to "get out" before it got any worse. His wife says that they are stressed to their limit, understaffed and suffer from tremedous fatique (they also get to fly down to Florida every year for a hell of a family vacation, but that's neither here nor there).

I have been to the Manchester airport. In fact my two oldest children flew out of there for what would be their last visit with their father before he died. While it is not as busy as Logan, it certainly isn't as slow as the Wichita airport.

Additionally, having Logan's air controllers double up and take on Manchester's flights for 18 minutes is not comforting at all. These people, we've entrusted with our safety, don't need any more flights dropped in their lap. Logan is a very busy airport.

So what happens when more flights are allowed onto the schedule and the skys become more crowded? Bush administration wants to do that, at the expense of our safety. We've already seen more mining disasters in the past 6 years than we had for the 12 -15 years before that. Due in large part to weaken unions, embolden companies, lax safety and absent enforcement (have you heard that OSHA is pretty much a joke now).

And really with the policticizing of all government agencies, including the CDC, do you really believe anything that comes from the FAA?

Republicans = Dark Ages

We can put a man on the moon but we can't have a universal remote, with recharagable battery, AND location pager

Honestly! This would seem like the easiest thing in the world, and much needed too! I am so tired of hearing my sons demand to know where the remote is or where new batteries are.

We had television remotes before we had cordless phones. Someone saw the wisdom of putting a locator pager for cordless phones but how many times have you lost the television remote. You need to have a locating pager especially if you have kids.

But NOOOOOOOOOO - television remote makers must think it's funny to have to tear up the whole house looking for the darned remote so that you can use the DVR, watch pay perview, program parental controls, etc.

Representative Republic or a Dominion - (Blog Against Theocracy)

Back in the 1960’s my mother took an interesting stand, she said that she did not want prayer in the public school. She reasoned that the person leading the prayer might not have the same interpretation of the church she was raising her daughters in. The maverick she was/is (she’s listed in the 1963 volume of “Who’s Who of American Women”) did not want her daughters exposed to any doctrine that made them servants to men.

She was not Madalyn Murray O'Hair, heck she is a United Methodist, and this is probably the only instance that the two would ever agree. But in that instance my sister and I learned about respecting differences in religious belief. “What prayer and whose prayer?” she would ask, some what rhetorically, about prayer in schools.

While some of my cousins learned that women should not lead, the church I was raised in had female ministers. While some of my cousins learned that evolution was a lie, science was suspect and that the Bible was paramount, we learn not to take the Bible literally and that the way to understand God’s creation was through science.

I learned a very “social gospel.” take care of your brother, take care of the planet, practice random acts of kindness, never bear false witness, always do the right thing, always be a stand up person, write your own personal code, have morals, never wish harm on anyone, and to never carry your faith on your sleeve. I have always sought to do these things, be this person.

It wasn’t until I left Christianity itself (after trying on my mother’s church, my father’s church, Assemblies of God, Episcopalians etc.) that I realized that these aren’t just the directives of a Christian but those of humanity as well. Jesus was just one of many who knew these truths and not only taught them, but lived them as well. But these truths are not what I am seeing of Christianity today and it pains me to admit that I now have a knee jerk, gut level revulsion whenever I hear about the Christian faith.

The Jerry Falwell’s, Pat Robertson’s, James Dobson’s and Franklin Graham’s, etc. are not the Christianity I grew up in and respect. The effects of their onerous diatribes and open contempt for immigrants, non-Christians (and as we learned this month James Dobson doesn’t consider the church I was raise in to be Christian), gays, evolution, science, women, respect for others and their beliefs, the principals that have made this nation a great nation, etc., have created a negative association within many people, including me. I don’t even see the values I grew up with, all I see is an ugly public face that divides rather than unites, seeks war over being the peacemakers, seeks wealth over service, etc. This public Christianity seeks to undermine and eviscerate that which made this nation great, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

A few years ago I sat with my son in a synagogue while he watched his friend's Bat-mitzvah. Many of their class was there; they were Jews, Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Drus and even atheists, all invited and all witnessing and sharing their friends event. All I could think was what a wonderful country, that what divides others could unite, coexist and be celebrated here.

That is the face I want my children to see of their country. That is what I want them to know of the greatness we are capable of. But that's not what the Dobsons, Falwells, et. al. want. Sadly the shining example displayed in that synagoge is not what my children see from powerful Christians. These powerful Christians who have the microphone, the air time, who have been made all the more powerful by faith based initiatives that blur the line between separation of church and state, display a theology diametrically opposed to their grandmother's. This theology, has been made powerful by receiving the lions share of faith based initiative moneys which has so embolden them that you can ne’er escape their message.

But instead of being a message of hope, reconciliation, respect, inclusion, unity and peace, or light, it is one that uses anything, including our government to further it’s own ends. And the question that needs to be asked is; “Will our Representative Republic survive, or will it become a Dominion."

See also:
Religious Tolerance - Dominionism
Theocracy Watch - Dominionism and Dominion Theology
Wikipeadia - Christian Right , Dominionism

READ MORE in the Blogswarm - Blog Against Theocracy

Blog Against Theocracy

I'll be participating and I'm hoping Dr. Dentene will send me a post - since he and I do talk about this on various occassions. In fact it any of my friends who read this blog, but do not have one of their own wants to add a post, please email it to me (along with the alias you want used, if you want to use one) and I'll post it.

More information can be found here.

First Freedom First

Some more subtext of Bush's speech today

"I believe that the American people want to eat cake."

FLASH! President Bush just confirmed he can't do math

In President Bush's press conference today he spoke of carbon/environmental offsets and that China will put so much greenhouse gas into the air as to nullify gains we do in limiting our own output of greenhouse gases.

But wait a minute if we put 1 pound of greenhouse gases into the air and China puts 1 pound of greenhouse gases into the air that's 2 pounds. 1+1=2

But if we put no greenhouse gas into the air and China still puts 1 pound into the air that is only 1 pound of gas into the air. 0+1=1

So, uh, wait, that's only 1 pound greenhouse of gas if we limit of do not produce greenhouse gas vs. 2 pounds of greenhouse gases if we do nothing. And yet some how China's production of greenhouse gases will nullify all our gains. So in Bush's world 1 = 2

So if we 30 pounds in the air last year and only put 15 pound of greenhouse gases in the air, and China still puts 30 pounds into the air . . . that's still a loss of 15 pounds into the air, that's not nullifying. 30+30=60 vs 15+30=45

Maybe Dubbya needs to go back to school . . . we have that nifty "No Child Left Behind Now."

Conservatives hate the FREE market of ideas

Conservatives love to say that they are in the market place of ideas. But how can it be a market or a free market, if there is no choice? They say progressive radio is doesn't sell, but even streaming on the web (DC station because we lost our station in Boston) I've noticed a whole bunch of commercials; a whole range of local commercials we never heard in Boston . "Beecause we know progressives in Boston and our "metro area," don't eat, don't go grocery or car shopping, don't go to shows( like monster truck rallies), don't shop for prom wear or any clothes for that matter, don't take our family to fun places. . . etc.

In reality conservatives don't like a real open/free market, because if they did they would be meeting the talk radio needs of half the nation. They don't want to have a real competition - and they need to be challenged every time they spout the marketplace of ideas and that progressive radio doesn't sell. They are saying, by default, that they can only win in that marketplace when the cards are all stacked in their favor. (NPR isn't a commerical radio network and cannot be used to compare commerical to commerical radio)

I'm fired up, I am tired of watching progressive radio stations fall. If it is truly an ownership issue and radio stations are expensive to buy we need to have progressives donating to the cause of buying station and progressives with deep pockets helping to buy stations.

Progressive talk was a large part of the reason for the 2006 Democratic talk over of the house and senate. And conservative power brokers know it. The loss of more and more progressive stations also confirms this - without progressive talk we may loose the gains we have gotten and 2008.

In Boston we can't hear Kennedy's wonderful speeches on the Senate floor, Ohio can't hear Sherrod Brown. If the average joe can't hear our message, if the Republican's get to define who and what we are on their unchallenged talk radio stations, how do we truly compete? How do we get our message out? How do we keep our gains and get more?

This liberal media bias is a specious argument. Back in the day when it was only newspapers many large communities had two newspapers, one newspaper was known to be conservative and one was liberal. Everyone accepted that. If you wanted both sides, you read both newspapers. Now many places have lost one of their newspapers, once liberal newspapers like the LA Times are owned and controlled by conservatives and their bias is there.

We don't have radio balance. Some how we've allowed the conservatives to make a liberal bias in the media a bad thing instead of what it was when we had choice in media (two newspapers, etc.) a normal accepted thing BECAUSE both the conservative and liberal bias were represented in the choice of newspaper/media.

And if progressive radio can't sell, why are three (3) progressive talkers (Ed Schultz, Stephanie Miller, and Randi Rhodes) listed in the top 15 in Talkers magazine. That's even more impressive when you realize that they are on less radio stations than the other 12 are.

Examples of what was two newspaper ideology representation:
Denver Post (used to be considered Liberal) and the Rocky Mountain News (conservative)
Boston Globe (liberal) and the Boston Herald (conservative)
NY Times (liberal) and the NY Post (conservative)
etc.

(Donate to Non-Stop Radio where ever you are to keep us on in every city in the nation)

Bad, Bad, Evil George Soros, it's all YOUR Fault, again

I just visited Paul Shanklin's site. He's a neo-conservative political satrist. Rush Limbaugh (who regularly plays his stuff) calls Shanklin the "man of many voices." Okay so we have the awesome Jim Ward, among others, as a voice diety.

I was looking for something they had done on Hillary 6 to 10 years ago. While there looking for this bit that was done on Rush about Hillary (it's not there or under a title I don't remember, EIB may have done the parody themselves) I happened to listen to a clip from Shanklin's latest "American Spastic", entitled Big Oil. And I guess I shouldn't have been shocked but despite what we KNOW about Dick Cheney having secret meetings with big oil and allowing them to write enviromental and oil policy, Bill Clinton, Ted Kennedy, Jimmy Carter, George Soros, Democrats, etc. are to blame for gas being as high priced as it is.

And the poor whittle oil companies are only earning $0.09 a gallon.

Yeah right.

No wonder dittoheader blame the Iraqi war failures on "Democrats," and their supposed "lack of support and not letting the generals run the war the way they want (ie bomb everything, always) and not where the blame lies; Rumsfled's policies, lack of troops, lack of armor, lack of knowledge of the enemy (Sun Tzu is shaking his head right now), etc. etc. etc.

Would you be for a federal tax increase?

Would you be for a federal tax increase if it was for real and verifiable increased boarder patrol, increased board security, enough staffing so that all cargo containers coming into the United States can be physically searched and inspected, upgarded air traffic control equipment and fully 24/7 staffed control towers?

Or is this kind of tax increease, for your safety, your children's safety and the safety of the nation still too much for you to pay?

Is public safety and security a function of the local, state and federal government or not?

An estimated 5,000 web sites are devoted to the spread of Islamic extremism.

But how many were there BEFORE we invaded Iraq? Jihad On-line



We alrady know that the war in Iraq and Bush's policies have increase terrorist attacks and increased recruitment. So it's not hard to to come to the conculsion (absent numbers) that they weren't even half. Infact Bush's War and Rehetoric might have been and continue to be the best thing that ever happened to and for Al Qaeda.








Read more. . .

iRack and iRan

My sons told me about this last night. My 14 year old even said, "It'll be on Youtube soon." How about less than 12 hours. . .

Sung 30 years ago, still true today

Edwin Starr-War (30 years ago)


Recently


Lyrics:
War! huh-yeah
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Uh-huh

War! huh-yeah
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Say it again y'all

War! huh good God
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me?

Ohhh? War! I despise
Because it means destruction?
Of innocent lives

War means tears
to thousands of mothers eyes
When their sons go to fight
and lose their lives

I said - War! Huh Good God y'all
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Say it again

War! Whoa, Lord ...
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me?

War! It ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
War! Friend only to the undertaker
War! It's an enemy to all mankind
The thought of war blows my mind

War has caused unrest in the younger generation
Induction then destruction-
Who wants to die?

Ohhh? War Good God y'all
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Say it, Say it, Say it

War! Uh-huh Yeah - Huh!
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me?

War! It ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
War! It's got one friend, that's the undertaker
War has shattered many a young mans dreams
Made him disabled bitter and mean
Life is much to precious to spend fighting wars these days
War can't give life, it can only take it away

War! Huh Good God y'all
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Say it again

War! Whoa, Lord ...
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me?

War! It ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
War! Friend only to the undertaker
Peace Love and Understanding;
tell me, is there no place for them today?
They say we must fight to keep our freedom
But Lord knows there's got to be a better way

War! Huh Good God y'all
What is it good for?
You tell me
Say it, Say it, Say it

War! Huh Good God y'all
What is it good for?
Stand up and shout it.
Nothing!

We've done soooo much to help women internationally.

Tomorrow, March 8 2007, is International Women's Day ( also here, and here.)

Here's a small snippet

1918 - 1999
Since its birth in the socialist movement, International Women's Day has grown to become a global day of recognition and celebration across developed and developing countries alike. For decades, IWD has grown from strength to strength annually. For many years the United Nations has held an annual IWD conference to coordinate international efforts for women's rights and participation in social, political and economic processes. 1975 was designated as 'International Women’s Year' by the United Nations. Women's organisations and governments around the world have also observed IWD annually on 8 March by holding large-scale events that honour women's advancement and while diligently reminding of the continued vigilance and action required to ensure that women's equality is gained and maintained in all aspects of life.

2000 - 2007
IWD is now an official holiday in Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. The tradition sees men honouring their mothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues, etc with flowers and small gifts. In some countries IWD has the equivalent status of Mother's Day where children give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers. . .

. . . Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate their achievements. While there are many large-scale initiatives, a rich and diverse fabric of local activity connects women from all around the world ranging from political rallies, business conferences, government activities and networking events through to local women's craft markets, theatric performances, fashion parades and more. . .

. . . So make a difference, think globally and act locally !! Make everyday International Women's Day. Do your bit to ensure that the future for girls is bright, equal, safe and rewarding.

So what have we, as a nation, done to advance women's lives throughout the world?

1. Despite the initial elation of the Taliban being overthrown in Afghanistan and women and girls being able to return to public life, go to school, get health care, etc. Due to our stupidity in not securing the country and giving it a year of two stable start, before starting anything with Iraq, the Taliban is once again gaining ground, retaking areas and resubjugating women.

2. We removed Saddam Hussein. No matter how much of a bastard he was, and he was, no matter how much he needed to be removed, and he did, he at least
allowed women to go to school, kept them in public life and left the burkha and the veil up to them.

Now with the emergence of hard line religionist women are being forced to adopt the burkha, chaddor and/or veil and to become less visible in public life, and even schooling is iffy.

3. We keep information on birth control/condoms out of the hands of the poor women in Africa and they are now suffering an up tick in deaths due to AIDS leaving many orphaned children.

Yes we as a nation have done so much to help the women of the world.

Here's how you can help turn it around:
Feminist Majority Foundation
CARE
Women for Women International
Aschiana
Malalai Hospital project of RAWA

In Savage's litmus test would Mary Cheney and Heather Poe be guilty of child abuse?

-
"married gay couples' raising of children amounts to "child abuse." - Michael Savage

One would have to reason that if a couple gay or lesbian were not married but raising children together, in Michael's world that would not be child abuse. Because according to what he said "married" is an important factor. So all the gay and lesiban couples raising children but not living in a state where gay marriage is legal, you can breath a sigh of relief, Michael Savage does not feel that you've committed child abuse.

But let's, for the sake of argument, define Savage's use of "married" to mean "committed couple" well then doesn't Mary Cheney and Heather Poe fall into Savage's disgust, contempt and (soon to be) definition of child abusers? Does Mary have anything to say, especially in defense of Melissa Etheridge, about whom those vile comments were made?

Or does Mary Cheney stay quiet, claiming the political spotlight when is suits her and telling others to go f themselves when they then discuss her because she opened the door. She stays quiet of course, being the hushed "inconvenient truth" for her party.

Pam's House Blend talks about it but there has been little else.

Why doesn't Michael Savage go after Mary like he goes after liberals/progressive? He does fancy himself a tin plated dictator who is thinking about running for office. . . will she have anything to say then?

We need to label her for what she is

Well, gee, it's been along time since I posted. Sorry, life just got in the way, along with about a week spent in the hospital. Nothing serious and I'm alright now.

There seems to be, and rightly so, growing furor over Ann Coulter's comments when she spoke to the CPAC convention over the weekend. AmericaBlog and Crooks and Liars, DailyKos etc. are regularly posting updates. I don't have the time and the stomach to read the major right wing blogs. But I have heard that many of them are not happy with her either.

Today Crooks and Liars posted Countdown's interview with Rachel Maddow about Coulter's comments. It's so nice to hear Rachel again. Since we lost our progressive talk radio in Boston and I'm behind the wheel during Rachel's show, I don't get to hear her much any more.

Rachel is so good on on pointe with analysis, I wish she were commenting more on tv.

Today on Stephanie Miller's radio show her guest host (because she's on vacation), Elaine Bosler, suggested that we on the left start prefacing anything we say about Coulter with the words "Republican Spokesperson." Combined that sentiment with Rachel's analysis and there is a great reason for doing this. Coulter, according to Maddow, is a Replubican/Conservatve rock star. She is one of their best selling authors, no matter how horrible and outrageous we find her comments through the years, they constantly give her a platform (even when they give lip service to how horrible what she said was), they like to hear from her, ergo she must be speaking for them, so let them "wear" her.

I hope that progressive blogs do adopt referring to Coulter as "Republican Spokesman (person) Ann Coulter."

On another note:

Please sign our petition to get progressive talk radio back in Boston.

Thanks!

Forget Al-Fakey we have another! It's called Al-Bombee

The headline says Pentagon blames Iran for 170 US deaths. Okay that's possible, just about anything in this world is possible.

But then you look at the pictures of the supposed ordience and things jump out at you. Like why in a country that is very proud of it's national language is the lettering AND the numbering in English characters?

Farsi numbering looks like this:

Numbering in the Arabic language looks like this:

Farsi and Arabic numerals, like letters and words are read right to left.

Moreover, why are the "Iranians" using the Christian year? On the Islamic calendar the year is 1428 (A.H. = After Hijra) not 2006.

Hopefully, this set up is so obvious that Middle America Red State Republicans can figure it out.

~~

Update 2/13/07

Last night I was told that the reason bombs are marked in English is due to international treaty. Okay, but how do we know that Iran is compling with this treaty? Why would they, so that the American government can futher it's case against them? And haven't they been scoffing at these treaties anyway? .

Further there is nothing to say that ONLY English marking can appear on a bomb.

It would seem to me that in a country whose written language is not based on the same alphabet English, Spanish, French, German, etc. is based on and a country very proud of it's theocracy, would at least agument it's "stamping" of the bomb with either Arabic or Frasi.

I still don't buy that this came from Iran or that the Iranians made it. It seems more "aluminum tubey" to me.

The Letter I Sent to Senator Jim Webb

To The Honorable Jim Webb
January 25, 2007

Dear Sir,

Thank you.

My ex-husband, was a Vietnam Era Vet, though he never served in country, he did serve on a mission that is still classified. He is the father of my two oldest children and he died in a motorcycle accident last summer.

After the war he was able to start his life due to the GI Bill. I know that he would be very pleased to know that these new vets will be able to start their life with help from a new GI Bill.

Unfortunately he also had two things that these new vets will suffer and are suffering from. While on that classified mission he suffered a head injury, which left him in a coma. He awoke half a world away at Wilford Hall in San Antonio. Decades later, this hospital is where he died.

He also had PTSD. Had it been treated effectively and vigorously when he came home, I believe his life would not have been so troubled.

It is my hope that you and other Senators and Congresspersons who have served, especially in war, will make sure that these service persons will have full and abundant “after” services and therapy when they come home and rejoin our communities.

Veterans from every war have needed these services. In wars past many took to self medicating, becoming alcoholics, crippled by depression or violent toward their families. While we did not know then what we know now about PTSD, trauma, shock, etc. there is no excuse for us to withhold, deny or under fund these necessary services to those who have given and sacrificed so much, just because their country asked them to. We owe them.

Thank you for your service then and now, and please thank your son for me.

For the 1st Time DAVOS May be Right About the USA

Liz Alderman: Davos Debates "Whether The US Faces A Slow But Inevitable Decline. . .

This year's overarching theme at Davos -- the "shifting power equation" -- apparently means many things to the throngs gathered here. For some, it crystallized a growing concern that established institutions are losing power. Rogue states and nonstate actors threaten disorder on the global stage, which could take the form of weapons proliferation, terrorism or the spread of AIDS and other deadly diseases. These threats "create an environment in which the things we treasure cannot prosper," Richard N. Haas, the president of the Council on Foreign Relations, said in a panel Wednesday called "The Shifting Power Equation: Geopolitics."

For others at this year's World Economic Forum, the theme sparked a debate about whether the United States faces a slow but inevitable decline. Will its dominance be sapped by challenges to its Iraq policy and by the rapid rise of China? Pei Minxin, a senior associate and director of the China program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, sharply disputed this notion.
-- DealBook on HuffPo

For the first time in my life (and I'm well over 40) I feel that this country has been so broken by the last 6 years that it cannot be fixed.

• China holds our debt, the highest in history.
  
  
  
• Countries are now banking on the Euro instead of the US dollar. Remember when the Euro was a joke's punchline? But more over does the average US citizen undrerstand what this means to our economy, interests rates and inflation? Shouldn't someone in the media be explaining this to them, instead of letting it sit as a two paragraph news story on the bottom of page 17?
  
  
  
• We are no longer looked at as a beacon to the rest of the world.
  
  
  
• One half of our own citizenry fear their government, a fear that we were warned about by Thomas Jefferson.
  
  
  
• Our government has shredded the constitution. The very document that made us a great nation.
  
  
  
• The middle class is fighting for it's life.
  
  
  
• The new robber barrons, aristocracy without check, have the poor scared, unprotected and feeling more and more like pawns. Whatever happened to protecting the weak, the poor and the down trodden?
  
  
  
• NOLA has been allowed to die.
  
  
  
• Big business seems to have a freer hand to abuse its workers. Ever remember a time in the last 20 years when we've have so many mining accidents?
  
  
  
• We have had no oversight for years, just a rubber stamp congress for whatever the president wills (until 1/2007).
  
  
  
• Now in a cynical move the president is firing prosecutors to put in operatives which will further erode the since of equal justice the people of this nation USED to have, or atleast have the hope would prevail.
  
  
  
• We have abandoned science and rights in favor of one religion and have a brain drain because of it. Other nations will take the lead on scientific, technological, medical, etc. advances.
  
  
  
• We have lost all credibility abroad.
  
  
  
• We are a mess at home.
  
  
  
• We are divided and maybe irreversibly so. These wounds are deep, for those on the left have been called Un-American and an "Enemy of the State" for 6 years just because they disagree with the president over the Iraq war, and the disappearance of rights at home. If one listens to the Republican talking heads call you every foul name in the book, it's very hard on the left to feel a sense of charity to those on the right. For those on the right that have subscribed and still subscribe to these divisive diatribes, even those the right to dissent - even in a time of war- is patriotic, they may feel no charity toward the half of the population they view as traitors. Our divisions run so deep now and may not be able to be healed. Lincoln's warning about "a house divided" may come to pass.
  

As sorry as I am to say it, or even think it, for the first time Davos may be right.

I am in awe of this man

and this speech. . .

Quite A Little Harem

In June of 2006 I postulated that Harriet Miers and Pres Bush may have something going on considering how she gushed and giggled like one in love about and around him. Then the Condi and Bush possible affair came to light and my postulation seemed even more plausible.


Plus there were the rumors of both Condi and Harriet being gay or at least bi.

Since the election we have learned that Harriet is leaving the staff of the president. And last night during the State of the Union speech Condi looked pissed.


After the speech we were witness to Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) touching President Bush for a rather long time. No secret service to break it up, and no seeming irritation from the Pres. This has left many to wonder if there is something going on between Bush and Bachman and another possible explaination of why Condi looked so angry last night.

So I decided to redo the original graphic. From this:



















to this

No Child's Behind Left

From Bush's "state of the union" speech

"On the importance of strengthening and re-authorizing No Child Left Behind this year:
"Five years ago, we rose above partisan differences to pass the No Child Left Behind Act…And because we acted, students are performing better in reading and math, and minority students are closing the achievement gap."

"Now the task is to build on this success, without watering down standards .... without taking control from local communities ... and without backsliding and calling it reform…And we can make sure our children are prepared for the jobs of the future, and our country is more competitive, by strengthening math and science skills."


Excuse me while I finish retching. . .

Our drop out rate is higher and growing since kids feel that they cannot pass due to high stakes testing. Teacher's are teaching for the test and there is no REAL learning going on, only regurgitation. Control was already taken from local communities.

We have fallen behind in math and sciences because NCLB does NOT encourage learning NOR take the time to teach them and it has NEVER been funded fully or properly. (How much $$ from Bush's war should having gone into education? We are having a science brain drain because we are now perceived in the world, thanks to the anti intellectual and no curiosity president and the “intelligent design” farce that he encouraged we are behind where we were before NCLB.

Teachers cannot apply their craft- they are merely automatons for the state and federal government and bad teachers are still bad teachers and good and great teachers can't be good and great.

Our children are suffering from lack of social time in school, recess given up for NCLB, etc.

Hell if the presnit was serious about our children and their education he'd

1. He would either scrap NCLB or fully fund it
2. He would require music education in all grades and fully fund it
23 He would include of seek for inclusion requiring gym class to be a five day a week mandatory class, to help combat our epidemic of childhood obesity. And he would make sure it is fully funded.

Hillary's handlers are already failing her

Now I am willing to admit that I may be irritated about this ad soley because of James Carville and Paul Begala. I do not like them and I find this ad of arrogant and annoying

I mean really, was the conversation not already in progress before Hillary threw her hat into the ring? Haven't we in netroots and the grassroots(readers, bloggers, and activists) been discussing the future of our country already?

"Let the conversation begin"???? Hillary's stances on the war, etc. have made her late to the party. She's playing catch up. This is where her handlers are going to mess up her campaign and maybe our chance at the presidency. Democrats are too willing to give this a pass, no knowing or understanding that is it this very framing of words that gives the Republican's power to paint her as an aloof, uncaring, arrogant, shrew.

She is reportedly a very warn, caring, and genuine individual. If her handlers are going to continue with these kind of statement of the presumptive heir, well it's lost before it's begun.

But then again, it may just be me who is totally put off by this ad.

Dear Ms. Hillary Rodham-Clinton

Dear Ms. Hillary Rodham-Clinton,

I am writing you this open letter because you have now formed an exploratory committee for the office of the President of the United States.

I wish you well, however from this side of the aisle I want to make something clear.

I fully believe and blame our loss of the House and Senate 12 years ago, and the loss of the Presidency 6 years ago on your husband and his campaign administration, this includes James Carville and Paul Begala. Triangulation is only good for one campaign cycle and then is can’t be used again for a generation.

It can only be used once, after that it allows your opponents (and they have radio stations and microphones) to define what you are and your party is, without being effectively and locally challenged. People remember being "snubbed" and ignored. This allowed Limbaugh and the like to use the term “fly over country” to make the populace feel unimportant to your husband and his administration. It allowed those who are diametrically opposed to Democrats to paint the party as elitist and people who only believe that certain places were important. Your husband administration did nothing to counter that.

Howard Dean (who Carville and Bagala have maligned), however, believes that we must be on the ground in every state and hamlet letting people know who we are and that we must define ourselves. His vision is combined with our upsurge in recognizing that we also must have the platform of talk radio are major reasons we now have the House and Senate. He’s the one who brought us to the dance, and I believe you need to remember that.

Forgetting that you seem to be the darling Democratic candidate of the right, which I am highly suspicious of, getting advice from any of those I and many progressive Americans feel are the reasons we lost the House, the Senate and the White House will cause great alarm and re-evaluation.

If you do get the nomination and if there is any hint of the business and triangulation used in your husband’s campaigns. I will do something that I said I would never do, vote for an independent candidate. I’m not alone in my feelings about this and I believe the netroots would do and endorse something similar.

You carry the baggage of your husband’s failures; please do not make the same mistakes.

Only Neocons May Apply

Last night I was watching Deep Impact" the 1998 movie about a large comment heading for earth. So large that it is classified an E.L.E. or extinction level event. To save humanity nations were building under ground cities to be inhabited for 2 years. These cities also included a (hopefully) mating pair of many different species of animals. The name of the USA cave was "Ark II." The movie starred, among others; Robert Duvall, Téa Leoni, Elijah Wood and Morgan Freeman as President Tom Beck.

The US cave would house 1 million people; 1/5 or two hundred thousand (200,000) of those would be "pre-chosen" scientists, artists, soldiers, doctors, politicians and other officials. The other 4/5 (or 800,000) spaces would go to Americans chosen by lottery through their Social Security Number and no one over the age of 50 would be eligible for the lottery.

While watching I began to compare and contrast my feelings from the movie to how I felt the same situation with the same E.L.E. survival conclusion with the present US government. Besides the fact that listening to Morgan Freeman (whom I have listened to since 4th grade as "Easy Reader") is far more pleasurable and assuring that listening to President G. W. Bush, I knew that the lottery wouldn't really be a "lottery" with everyone under 50 years having an equal chance.

No, given this administration's record on cronyism and the poisonous neocon ideology, only those who were rich, or registered as Republican could get in, with a small (maybe 50,000 to 100,000) poor and middle class to clean and make sure the joint runs correctly. In fact they'd probably privatize it so the only way you could get you and your family in is to buy their way in, and there would be no age restriction on that. The mega churches would probably buy the way in for thousands of their leaders and members, Jews would be allowed to buy their way in (though secretly they'd probably have a quota) but any Muslim (unless they were of course connected to the Saudi Royal family), Hindus, Wiccans, Pagans, Gnostics, Sikhs, Zoroastrians, Buddhists, etc. need not apply. The poor "white trash" who goes to an Evangelical church, can do the clean up.

And then, just like in New Orleans, the neocons could repopulate the US with like minded souls.

Q.Do I really feel this way?
A.Yes, unfortunately I do.

Q.Did I feel this way in 1998?
A.No I did feel that things would be egalitarian.

Q. Do you think you can trust any US government administration in the future would be egalitarian with a real lottery selection process?
A. No, because for me, the Office of the President, has lost credibility. As Keith Olberman put it in a Special Comment directed to Bush; ". . . you are loosing the credibility, of not just your presidency sir, but more importantly of your office itself"

But this is a neocon tactic, and even knowing this, I still couldn't keep it from happening in my own mind.

About Global Warming; Scientists and Evangelical Christian Leaders CAN Get Along

Yes I know that Rich Cizik might be seen as their Joe Lieberman, but . . . .

from Yahoo

In February 2006, 86 evangelical leaders signed a statement to fight global warming, saying that human-induced climate change is real, that its consequences will hit the poor the hardest, and that Christian moral convictions demand an urgent response.

They argued that governments, businesses, churches and individuals all have a role to play. Signatories included presidents of evangelical colleges, aid groups, churches and pastors of megachurches.

The powerful National Association of Evangelicals, however, did not join the initiative. It is unclear whether Cizik's involvement in the new campaign will lead the organization to adopt the environment as a central part of its agenda.

Evangelicals and scientists previously failed to launch a large-scale joint initiative, partly because of differences between evolutionary science and a literal interpretation of the Bible — a rift that dates back to Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection.

Those who met in Georgia, however, are expected to argue that the threat to life on Earth is too great to let the rift prevent them from working together to combat greenhouse emissions.

I wonder if Frosty "No Condoms or Gore" Hardison is available for comment.

I hope the Seattle Post-Intelligencer does a followup story/interview with this new information, especially for the sake of the kids in Federal Way, WA.

Honor Martin Luther King Jr. By Speaking Up

Listen to John Edwards at Riverside Church
johnedwards.com

Sign the petition
No Funding for Escalation

I Have a Dream Speech

Words that can be applied today, MLK Day

We yearn for more men like this today



h/t Crooks and Liars



Keep watching



And for my children

My Summary of What President Bush Said Tonight (last night)

Good evening. Tonight in Iraq, the Armed Forces of the United States are engaged in a struggle that will determine the direction of the global war on terror ... blah, blah , blah, blah, blah

Same old shit, blah, blah, blah, blah

more sacrifice of yours but not mine, blah, blah, blah, blah,
oh yeah, I messed up, blah, blah, blah, blah,
I'm ignoring everyone I "heard" these last few weeks," blah, blah, blah, blah,
new name, same shit, hope they don't notice, blah, blah, blah, blah

Kill more and have more be killed so that the first ones killed will not have died in vain,
blah, blah, blah, blah, syrupy closing. Thank you and good night.


(at least he didn't say "God Bless Amreeka")

Answer Mr. Bush!

Call the White House and tell him "NO"
Call your Senators and Congresspersons and tell them "NO"
Print out Cindy Sheehan's quote and put it in your car window (or home window)

De-escalate
Investigate
Troops Home NOW!


Or :

No Gulf of Tonkin
Not Another Viet Nam
Stop the Insanity
Mr. Bush, Be GONE!

Two Thoughts/Reactions about the President's Speech Tonight

1. Go "sacrifice" your own Mr. Bush, and those of your class.
No more " sacrifice " of the poor and middle class kids
while your and your class bear none of the same risks and fear!

2. In the words of my newest heroine, Cindy Sheehan:

"De-escalate"
"Investigate"
"Troops Home NOW!"

Ella NOW has a stamp!

This is great! I was always a fan, literally growing up listening to her music. Though my biggest memories are of her in thick glasses and as a Scat signer, I hope this stamp introduces a new generation to her music!





By the way the TV show "Mythbusters" did prove that Ella could have really broken that glass!

Source:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070109/ap_on_go_ot/ella_fitzgerald_stamp

Ending the Slave Trade coming into the US

From NPR:

"The legislation would also require that all cargo containers entering the United States be scanned for nuclear materials and other potential weapons.

Many lawmakers say that scanning everything that comes into American ports is just not practical. But this isn't the final version of the bill; the Senate Homeland Security Committee takes up its ideas later this month."

One thing that hasn't been discussed or even hinted at when discussing scanning all containers coming into American ports, is that it would discourage and/or end the trafficing of workers for the sweat shops and sexual slave trade. Human beings (mostly women) are loaded into containers, like cattle, like cargo, at other ports and and shipped here to the US, where they are off loaded to work in an underground economy here on American shores.

IF sweat shop and sexual slave trade can move people via cargo containers, why not a couple hundred terrorists? The functional lines or this mode of “travel” have already been well established and well known in many countries. It seems that all any aspiring terrorist would need is a way to grease some palms and to pay for passage. (That thought not only terrifies me by enrages me.)

But I guess hoping that those lawmakers (read Republicans) who have supported and not outraged by the goings on in the Northern Marianas Islands, it is too much to expect them to be outraged by people herded into cargo containers like cattle, to work in sweat shops and the slave trade here on the main land.

Searching all the containers would also leave the Republicans without avenue for the boogey man to get into this country AND end another item they could try to pin on the progressives and democrats of this country.

So much for the "Party of Lincoln!"

Let's hope the Democrats do NOT back down!

sources:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6768727
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Mariana_Islands

Mitt following ever more surely in Republican ways

January 6m 2007 many newspapers around the Commonwealth reported that incoming Massachusetts Govenor, Deval Patrick, warned that the state has a 1 billion dollar shortfall caused by the ". . . patches and plugs and games and gimmicks that were played by the previous administration." The previous administration being that of now presidential cadidate Mitt Romany.

In his defense Romney spokesman, Eric P. Fehrnstrom, said that the out going administration left Patrick with a blueprint for a balanced budget for the 2008 fiscal year. The the short fall for 2007 only appears because "Patrick restored $383 million in cuts Romney made in November to balance this fiscal year's budget."

Patrick explained his decision to restore the money saying that "many state agencies and people made spending plans based on the $383 million after it was approved by the Legislature in July; some agencies had already spent the money before it was slashed by Romney at the very end of his administration."

Fehrnstrom, also said that "the challenge with the budget is overspending by Democrats in the Legislature."

Right, tell that to the teachers in the Commonwealth's colleges and universities who have done with out raises for the last few years. Tell that to the state colleges and univeristies, who are the jewell in the Commonweatlth's crown, doing without. It is an industry that was once known for it's quality, standards. It was "the" place to go if someone wanted the best education by a state higher education system.

This is another fine example of Mitt following in Republican ways, and their distain for public education, look at how those rankings have dropped under the "fine" leadership of Mitt Romney.

Mitt Romney, Bush III?

http://www.masslive.com/living/republican/index.ssf?/base/living-1/1168333639226020.xml&coll=1&thispage=1
http://www3.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO39099/
http://www.eagletribune.com/local/local_story_362064525?keyword=topstory

Can we finally see the flag draped caskets?

Can we finally see the flag draped caskets?
Can we finally honor our service men and women the way they deserve to be honored?
Can a local newspaper finally show the flag draped casket of those who served and died for this war. This lie.

Can the reality and finality of the cost of this war, this lie be fully felt by the members the community that produced what now turns out to be Bush's cannon fodder. The flower, the bravery of the next generation deserves more from us for their noble and great sacrifice than what we are allowed to give.

Are you afraid of a few pictures Mr. Bush? You aren't afraid to make us fear, why are you afraid to let us mourn.

These families who have given so much to this nation deserve for their loss to be front page above the fold. Pictures of the casket coming home with an inset portrait of the serviceperson. Pictures of the casket passing by flags and yellow ribbons as the way is made to the church, synagogue, mosque, temple, etc. -- pictures and thoughts to say "You aren't alone in your grief, we share and which ever side of this we are on, we grieve with you."

No pictures, no story. Solitary sacrifice, solitary grief, solitary morning.

Go shopping Mr. Bush.

Red vs Blue is nothing new for the USA

Reading other blogs got me to thinking. . .

One of the blogs recorded the truth that the USA was founded on progressive ideas. Well, yeah, freedom of religion, everyone has the same rights, that men don't need a sovereign to be governed or to have a government at all. The people can and should chose. (Okay that idea wasn't new many ancient societies had that. In Rome pre empire there evolved a system where by all the people, rich and poor, chose who would lead for a set period of time - and it's kind of chilling when look at parallels from their government at that time and the aristocracy wresting back their control and apply it to what has been happening in the last 6 years with the Republicans in charge)

Anyway that germ of an intellectual gem triggered something and I realized that red vs blue is nothing new in this country. And that maybe by Divine Hand blue was also the color of progressive thought and ideals that created this country.

Viola:

The Battle of Lexington(MA), April 19th. 1775.

The RED coats (British) vs the Continental Army whose uniform was BLUE . ......
.......
.......
.......

So it would seem that even in history the color blue and progressive thought go together.

Hmmmmm, interesting.

You too can grow up to be President

In the 1960's a groups of eager first graders were told that if they worked hard enough, that anything was possible in the US, they could even become president! This mantra was repeated many times during the 60's maybe even the 70's, might have been in the 80's and I have no clue about the 90's and after.

What they should have said to us is that you have a chance of being president as long as you aren't African-American, Latino, Chinese-American, Japanese-American, Somali-American, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Wiccan, Pagan, Buddhist, Sikh, female, transgendered, gay, etc. etc. etc.

Basically little first graders if your not white, male and Christian, you need not apply.

Well it's 2007 and it's gotten better, women and non-white born Americans have a better chance at being president. Many countries developed, western, and developing beat us at having a more diverse pantheon of leaders than we do. We now have Jews, African-Americans, Japanese-Americans, Latinos, gays and women in the House and Senate (how Henry Ford and others must be spinning in their graves)

But the presidency and vice presidency are still prizes only for the white, Christian males.

But we are still making progress, or so we thought when Minnesota elected the first Muslim, Keith Ellison (D-MN), to congress. Apparently if Keith had been a "good quiet ni_ _ er" and just went along, everything would have been fine. But he had the audacity to want to have his ceremonial picture taken with the Qur'an instead of the Bible.

The right wing fear mongers have gone nuts. Of course they only needed an excuse and Keith probably gave them this to get it over with. But still, only days away till the new congress convenes, one wonders how http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/02/goode-ellison-911/ hysterical Rep. Virgil Goode (R-VA) will deal with his colleague.

Maybe Mr. "Goode" should go to the 10 Islamic schools in VA and look into the face of the children going to school and tell them that they may pay taxes, be good citizens of this country, contribute to society in a meaningful way, BUT because they are Muslim they may not participate in the government, except for voting (and we'll try and make sure your precinct doesn't get enough ballots).

Maybe he should do a tour of the mosques in VA too and tell those parents NOT to fill their children's heads with the idea of equality, the Bill of Rights, the Constitution, etc. Those, after all, are only for Christians and Jews.

Keep in mind that Rep. Keith Ellison is risking more for this country than Mr. Goode is and probably ever will. It is not just his professional and political life on the line, but the lives of himself and his family. He has to watch himself from every direction. From those who honestly feel that Virgil Goode is a hero and that they need to protect the country from an "Islamic take over, " taking Keith out in their minds be the first step in protecting this country and its institutions.

Keith also is in danger from the very extremist who join Al-Qeada and in whom Goode is very afraid. They view Keith Ellison as at best and Uncle Tom and at worst an apostate worthy of termination with extreme prejudice.

He is laying a lot on the line for this great country. I wonder if this country, the people of this country are aware of what he is doing. We need to, in turn, help watch over him and his family so that nothing happens to them.

Al-Masri, Al-Fakey?

I was listening to Air America Radio this morning. Rachel Maddow was commenting on the photo that the US military had of Abu Ayyub al-Masri, alias Sheikh Abu Hamza al-Muhajir (the new al-Qaida leader in Iraq).

She felt that al-Masri (al-Muhajir) had been invented because, no expert in terrorists from Egypt had ever heard of him. She felt that Bush administration and military leaders believe we need a bad guy to rally against, so they invented him. The photo of "him" she contends, has been through "Photo Shop."

So I looked at the photo myself. . . Shazzam! It looks like the left side of the face is from a completely different person than the right side!

Seriously, the right eyebrow, moustache and beard is bushier and thicker than the left side. In fact the left eyebrow looks sculpted (think tweezing or waxing). The "mono" brow protion looks off too.

And if that weren't enough the left nostral is far smaller than the right.

hmmm Rachel may have something!

The Need for Unions Explained

Re: Haditha, et. al

The problem isn't our troops;
the problem IS our leadership!

Condi and Bush?? My hunch about Harriet may have been right afterall!

June 1, 2006 -- UPDATED -- Rocky shoals for Bush marriage? Informed sources Inside the Beltway report that First Lady Laura Bush has established temporary residence in the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC as a result of a tiff with President Bush over an extramarital relationship involving her husband. Mr. Bush's tryst is said to involve Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. It is not known how long Mrs. Bush plans to remain at the Mayflower, however, her security detail has been present at the hotel during hours when the First Lady would normally be residing in the White House. While she was National Security Adviser, Rice, who has never been married, referred to George W. Bush as "my husband" before she corrected herself and said, "President. Bush" Rice was speaking at a dinner hosted by New York Times bureau chief Philip Taubman when she made her "husband" remarks.

WMR is tracking the Laura Bush story.


June 2, 2006 -- A White House source, speaking on background, vehemently denied to WMR that there are marital problems between President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush over a reported extramarital affair between Mr. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. However, two mainstream media sources have confirmed that their sources also have reported an ongoing affair between Mr. Bush and Rice.

The mainstream media is hamstrung in reporting stories about Bush's personal life. For example, in 2001, the media highlighted Bush's comments about his passing out from choking on a pretzel while watching a football game in the White House. In reality, Bush, who claims he gave up drinking years ago, passed out from being inebriated. Washington's movers and shakers knew the story about Bush's drinking but the media studiously avoided it. Wayne Madsen Report

Oh, really? One can only hope there's a blue dress some where!

When Harriet Miers was nominated for Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court, we got to read and listen to her gush, and gush over "W" and how brilliant he was.

I made the comment on Americablog that because all of Mier's eye batting, gushing, etc. I thought that Bush and Miers were having or had an affair. Hmmm, maybe that wasn't idle speculation. . .

See also
Harriet Miers and Condi Rice

3 Fast Issues

1. WOW! How about that! The Dixie Chicks are #1! Mr. O'Reilly, how do you like your crow cooked? Not only are they number one on Billboard and Amazon.com, but they are also the most popular group on Rhapsody.

2. I've been thinking . . . wouldn't it be something to have a "National Sing-a-Long" protest? On a given day people meet at their various state capitals and sing these protest songs, including "Dear Mr. President" (Pink), "Lives In the Balance" (Jackson Browne), "Asshole" (Jim's Big Ego), and "Not Ready to Make Nice" (Dixie Chicks), no speeches, just songs, sort of like a Flash Mob. And these four songs a singable by many voices, neither too high or too low.

3. A few weeks ago, now, my ex-husband, a Vietnam Vet, had a motorcycle accident. His wife, who was on the bike with him, just broke her leg. He on the other hand, well, he is lying in a coma, and not expected to ever wake.

Now I have written about the PTSD he suffered as a result of his tour on Americablog comments. I have written about the violence in marriage, also on Americablog comments. What I haven't written is that he and I reconciled last year.

Even without the domestic abuse, we would probably have never made it. What we each wanted out of life was irreconcilable. The directions were almost diametrically opposed. In divorce and our subsequent marriages to others we both got what we wanted.

Now he lies in a hospital bed on full life support. I play a supporting role to my 2 kids from that marriage, now adults. I also am trying to support his wife. While there is a living will there is also hesitance based on what one thinks that they are seeing. Thoughts of the Terry Schiavo battle have often come to mind and his wife, his biological children, step children, sister and brother all weigh their emotions, reality and dreams and hopes that they are not ready to give up yet.

And I mourn. It feels kind of strange, there is no manual on how an ex is supposed to mourn their one time spouse. Yes, I have an understanding spouse who knew that I would mourn, even more than I thought I would. But I’m in a margins, my kids, his wife and that family are the ones in the spotlight, on the hot seat and making decisions that I hope I never have to make. Being in the background has curses, and it’s blessings.

It's a strange time.

KS has it's collective fingers stuck in it's collective ears, re: Science

Kansas has been in the news for the past few months because it seems it would teach religion in Science class than Science. Red State Rabble chronicles all of this.

I keep waiting for all the other religions in the USA who have creation stories different than the Christian Creation Story repackaged, camouflaged and perfumed with Rosewater, Intelligent Design, to demand equal time in KS science classrooms. The way the decision is written ALL creation stories must be taught in the science classroom. So far the only religion to demand that their beliefs be taught along side ID in KS classrooms is FSM.

The idea to get all religions represented in KS science classrooms is not to totally remove any hint of science, but to have the whole thing either:

1. Crash under it's own weight; there-by bringing back science into science classrooms

2. Or, if a religion creation story is excluded in from the KS science classroom, those sponsoring would file to show cause. This will probably legally show the Christofasict bias and intent of putting ID in the classroom. It would then be struck down by legal challenges.

What maybe even greater evidence of how Kansas, in tornado alley, wants to ignore science and stick it's collective fingers in it's collective ears, there is still only one place in KS that is showing "An Inconvenient Truth"

Olathe is in the eastern part of the state, a suburb of Kansas City, KS (also Kansas City, MO). Not even Wichita, which is in central Kansas, and who used science to convict BTK (and this), is showing "An Inconvenient Truth," at the time of this writing.

Makes one want to drop a giant cup of coffee over the whole state.

May 23 is Tuesday - Get Out and Buy the Dixie Chicks CD!

Once again those who are anti-war and/or progressives to step up to the plate. (Been doing this a lot late, I know) We need to make sure that the new CD from the Dixie Chicks, Taking the Long Way, is a huge seller.

We need to do this for several reasons:

• To provide a true, concrete support for Natalie and the Dixie Chicks. A large and fast selling CD will be written about and part of the historical record just like what Natalie said and the reaction to it. Whenever she/they may feel alone and "under siege" all she/they needs to do is look a the sale numbers for this CD.



• To show the Toby Keith's of the USA that the chicks are even more popular today.
  
  
• Lastly to watch O"Reilly eat crow. Even if he won't, we will know that he publically should. He said the the boycott has hurt the Dixie Chicks and he predicts that they will only sell 2 million units. (Only part of his comments are texted on Fox site, you need to click the video link)

I plan on buying two. One for myself and on pre-ordered (ala Harry Potter) from Amazon for my daughter's birthday, which is in June.

Support the Dixie Chicks, buy their CD, as many as you can, on Tuesday!

If the CD does go past 2 million units, it would be great to have people call into Billy's radio show or email him with just these words, "Caw, caw, caw" to remind him of the crow he should be eating.

See also

• Newshounds


• Interesting Times


• CMT


• Media Matters


• Wade's World, -- He doesn't get it.