Hmm...This is Interesting

I can't seem to get enough of yesterday's conspiracy theories, and this is a good one I'd have to admit. Click on the link above to read more about the alleged beginnings of the Bush Dynasty.

Bush Review on UN Speech

President Bush addressed world leaders September 23, 2004 during the annual opening of the United Nations General Assembly. Here is a sample of responses to his speech from other Member Nations.

Italy

"It was enough to observe the applause given Annan while he condemned the American war and the violation of the rule of law and compare it to the deadly silence that accompanied Bush's 30-minute speech to understand the incredible damage that this short-sighted and ideological presidency has inflicted on America's image."
-Vittorio Zucconi, La Republica, September 22, 2004

Germany

"Again, the U.S. president spoke at the United Nations, again he defended the Iraq war... but his speech and reality are separated by a deep trench. Chaos dominates in Iraq... and we cannot see a convincing strategy how to crush the revolt. George W. Bush and Iraq: the balance sheet is devastating. Those who doubt it should talk to intelligence experts, study intelligence dossiers or follow the news on a regular basis. The facts are available."
-Malte Lehming, Der Tagesspiegel, September 22, 2004

United Kingdom

"Mr. Bush's willful blindness to the mayhem his war has wrought may be most charitably dismissed as electioneering, especially as his Democrat opponent had finally come out fighting only the day before. But the UN General Assembly is not a forum for electioneering. It is, as the Secretary General showed in his exemplary address about the rule of law, a platform to the world. It offered Mr. Bush the chance to banish his image as a go-it-alone gun-slinger and admit in all humility that the U.S. needed help. Regrettably, it was an opportunity he chose not to grasp."
-The Independent, September 22, 2004

France

"By calling for respect of the right of law in his remarks, Annan proved to what extent the war in Iraq has poisoned international diplomatic relations.... As for President Bush's address, it elicited much skepticism on the part of the diplomats listening to him. The bitterness that dominated last year at the UN over the inability of multilateralism to prevail in Iraq has been replaced with concern over the chaos which is growing there.
-Luc de Barochez, Le Figaro, September 22, 2004

Denmark

"President Bush's motives for adopting a more conciliatory tone toward the United Nations are clear. He knows that the United Nations must become a real player in Iraq if the circle of violence is to have any chance of being replaced by the peaceful and democratic developments that are crucial to the history books' judgment on the Iraq war. And Bush is able to note that there is still not a single country that has offered troops for the special UN force that is a precondition if UN personnel are going to be able to return to Iraq in earnest and prepare the election which, it is planned, will be held in only four months."
-Ole Damkjaer, Berlingske Tidende, September 22, 2004


Sounds to me like someone isn't paying much attention to world opinion these days.

Nixon EPA Chief Rips Bush

If you didn't catch this, here's an enlightening piece from Madison, WI that demonstrates the division Bush has created within his own party. It's just hard to fathom how this administration could be more conservative than Nixon's.

Submit Your Story Or Just A Link

Thanks to everyone for the positive response in the short time this blog has been open. It's been work, but fun as well. Join in! Share your thoughts about politics and other important social issues with the rest of us. If you are interested, just drop me an e-mail and send me your post to: thedailygaff@yahoo.com.

My new home for this website is here at http://www.thedailygaff.com or you can click on the title above.

Stronger At Home

Tune in to what John Kerry has to say and take back America.

Being Held Accountable

If, as our current administration states, this war in Iraq, aptly named "Operation Iraqi Freedom", has so much support from the international community, then why has the UN declared it illegal? I have to admit at being a little surprised by this coming from UN President, Kofi Annan, because I had suspected for so long that he was just another White House crony.

The "Fair and Balanced" buzz has missed this story as well, but I gather the English are in a bit of hot water at the moment, (click on link above). Who knows if or when international outrage will rise to the point where it will make any difference here.

Homeland In-Security II

Now I haven't seen much information about this story in the mainstream media (Click on link above). It's possible that I'm missing it somewhere between watching endless updates on Michael Jackson's courtroom drama, and brave reporters standing outside in some Hurricane down south. But I think I'd remember hearing that while we're fighting the "war on terrorism" in Iraq, progress slows in protecting this country from another serious terrorist attack here at home.

Is it true we live in the cold, hard reality of a corporate war? Unfortunately, As global oil supply reaches a plateau, demand increases making continued government funding for a long-term occupation in Iraq seem certain. Justified behind the veil of international terrorism, our commercial interests in controlling oil production continue unabated in that country. While more countries, like China, modernize making the control of this diminishing natural resource critical, the noose around Iraq's neck tightens. In a sense, the gas from the cars we drive just might be paid for with American blood.

Meanwhile, money that is spent for the war in Iraq is diverted from Homeland Security coffers, and the needed work to protect this nation from real terrorist threats. Is there really a link between the two? I'd say yes. Between the number of defeated bills designed to protect Americans at home, and the quantity of no-bid private contracts being awarded by the military, it's clear that, "Conservatives in the Senate are failing to protect Americans here at home." 

Here Comes The Draft

At least I know who I won't be voting for ... (Click on the link above to find out about the current administrations plans to start the draft).

This One Made Me Laugh

One of my friends just got back from a trip to Canada recently and told me a great story about his uncle who had a tough time getting back into the country because he misplaced his passport.

The powers that be had their doubts about the authenticity of his claims as an American citizen, and was denied entry. Unable to successfully repeat the Star Spangled Banner problems soon arose as to the true nature of his national origin. Sadly, the poor sod did eventually make it in after being brought before the American Consulate some time later.

Hopefully, they found another method to use that was a little more effective, like asking him to sing the opening theme for, “King of the Hill”.

Are you an American? Find out for yourself, if you were ever doubting that fact, and start with, "O say, can you see". The complete version is linked to the title if you get lost.

Hmmm. Wouldn't it have been better to just ask for a social security number, or something like that?

I Must Be A Communist

If you're not sure where your political leanings are based upon the issues, feel free to take this quiz, (click on the link above). It might be able to shed some light on the question.

To my amazement, and probably yours too, I am not a communist!

A Spark to Start the Fire

I just can't help think that when Iran begins to flex her nuclear-powered muscle in that region how truly unstable it will become. Not only is she being sandwiched between two raging wars spearheaded by the US and her staunch allies, but it's also quickly contributing to the growing instability of that region. A region that spans three continents: Eurasia, India and Africa.

Continuing terrorist insurgencies throughout southern Russia touch northern Iran's borders, jarring the Soviet nation into military-style action, and further inflaming the need for the EU's political involvement.

If that isn't enough, there is also the recent entry of another nuclear nation in the region, Pakistan. A stones throw away is its nuclear nemesis, India. Just two short years ago, over 1 million soldiers were massed along their mutual borders preparing for another war, the first of which was prevented through the logic of "Mutually Assured Destruction." Love the acronym.

Israel's short proximity also warrants a larger regional interest. Being the first in the Middle East to have nuclear capability, they are not about to let any rogue nation, led by a conservative group of Muslim clerics come close to testing the MAD theory upon them. Well, enough of that.

Let's just hope this theory won't play out anytime soon. As a boy scout, I'm sure at one point someone would have said to me, "Now you just need a little spark to get those flames going an' make a fire." I don't want to see how big those flames could get. Who knows, there just might be the possibility of the draft, should Bush win a second term and things continue to get worse over there.

Homeland In-Security: Are We Really Prepared?

Homeland Security Director, Tom Ridge, has been doing an excellent job pacifying the masses with color coding threat levels on national TV, yet somehow I still feel certain that something like 911 will happen again. This time, we'll be just as unprepared as before. I'm sure my growing sense of doom doesn't relate to the overwhelming flurry of actual information spouting from that office.

This excerpt from a September 2 speech entitled, "Information Sharing a Key to Nation's Security", Secretary Tom Ridge said the following to the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.  

"Part of our mission is to turn information into courses of action which we can then communicate to those who can immediately ramp up security.  As the 9-11 Commission so rightly framed it, 'The need to know has been replaced by the need to share.'  Widespread information sharing is the hallmark of the nation's new approach to homeland security.  That is why we have developed new tools for communication that reach horizontally across federal departments and vertically to our partners at the state, local, territorial, and tribal levels as well as out to the private sector as well."

More all-inclusive (English only) content designed to make you feel better can be found at, The Office of Homeland Security Website: http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/

So that all sounds very good, but I'm just wondering how prepared we really are to cope with a serious terrorist, or even natural disaster.

Working in the hurricane-isolated region of the Midwest, it might be hard to imagine what personal impact Ivan will have to the residents of the Gulf Coast, but even here the effects are already felt. As oil and natural gas facilities are forced to close, the price of energy rises accordingly, slowing productivity and growth. Consumer prices rise, and the economy slows.

Florida, already hard hit, will need over 5 billion in Federal aid in order to recover. Tax time. Like the power grid that cris-crosses this nation, labor capacity lost due to these natural disasters is quickly rerouted to other areas outside the danger zone. Overtime.

At least, we won’t have to suffer the loss of personal property, direct income, and possibly the lives of loved ones.

When I think of what Homeland Security would mean to me, part of that would contain a good plan for action. The, "What People Would Do When Things Got Bad To Make Things Better" plan. This plan would be a swell plan too. Everyone could use it, follow it when needed, and probably make it out OK. Everyone could read the book, and in this book, there would also be some really great tips and techniques that individual people could use, if someday the possibility arose. Stuff like: Tip #784 - If you think the building is going to collapse, whatever you do, DON’T run up the stairs.

It might have to be a pretty big book in order to make sure all the good ideas made it in though, because this is not a time for skimmin' on the details, right? Anyway I think it might be lost, so if anyone out there knows where is, please let me know and I'll feel allot better.

Those living in the Gulf Coast area might be able to use some of this information: http://www.Ready.gov/

Specific hurricane-related information is available here: http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/hurricanes.shtm

Noting the tone coming from the second half of the news article though, I would have to say that there are certainly several people who would benefit from this information, including someone in government who can help those trapped people before Ivan hits.

"They said get out, but I can't change my flight, so I figure I might as well enjoy myself," said George Senton, of Newark, N.J., who listened to the music. "At least I'll have had some good coffee and some good music before it gets me."

Personally, if something similar happened to me, I'd hate to be the one saying that.

With more than 100,000 people trapped inside New Orleans city limits alone, and waves potentially cresting past the flooding limit of 10 feet, the situation doesn’t look promising.

... Send a good thought to those of us who are going through these tough times.

Running on Empty

(click on link above)
With the quagmire in Iraq still burning up our limited reserves in terms of lives, money and international prestige, it seems that Bush & Co. have already identified their next target for war, Iran. The problem is we're a little late in the game to do much, if anything, about it.

In all probability, Iran is a just few short months away from testing their own nuclear weapons.

If George W. Bush did win November's election, would Americans agree to wage a third war in the Middle East? Most probably, the answer is no, but who cares what the American people want anyway. After all, public sentiment hasn't seemed to bother the current administration in the past. International public opinion would certainly be even more suspicious, and potentially hostile, to the idea of yet another pre-emptive war, but the President seems to care even less about the opinions of the international community.

Ironically, the biggest deterrent in the decision to wage a full-scale invasion may come from the Pentagon itself. Reasoning that a catastrophic collapse in capability, in terms of manpower and military resources to successfully conduct the initial invasion and subsequent occupation, would be far too compromising, military planners may balk at the idea. Besides, they haven’t finished with Iraq, or Afghanistan yet.

Before the blundered mission in Iraq, Iran’s populace might have accepted US occupation and become reasonably adept in creating some sort of pro-western democracy. They've been holding democratic-style elections for a few years, and most citizens are eager for political representation. The problem is, our credibility to bring about any real reform has taken a nose-dive in recent months, especially among Muslim nations. Who can blame them for not trusting our true intentions.

Iran's leadership doesn't seem to fear military reprisal either. Last week, Iran made it clear to the EU that nuclear capability would be achieved within the next few months, and with a UN Security Council vote condemning their militarism approaching, Iran stands defiant. Their intentions are clear, and no one seems able to do anything about it. Obviously, politics isn't the answer.

So, what options does the West have? One plausible idea would be to attempt something similar to the Israeli solution when Iraq was a few months away from having their own nuclear capability back in the late 80s: Conduct a strategic air-strike against vital nuclear targets. Again, there are problems with this option as well, but it may be the only real alternative we have left. If the US does attempt a small-scale surgical strike of this nature, there would certainly be considerable international backlash. There may even be the possibility of devastating contamination if the reactors, etc. are already operable.

If we fail to act, there is the strong possibility that fearing an inevitable attack, Israel would attempt to do this their own, without consulting anyone beforehand. If the US, UN or the EU fail to make any sort of progress in this area soon, I would bet that Israel would certainly take matters into their own hands. In all probability, they are already training for such a scenario right now. Even Ronald Reagan’s administration was left in the dark when the Israelis bombed Iraq. Considering how close our relationship was with Israel at that time, it seems very likely that the US would find out about such a scenario along with everyone else, afterwards.

Finally the price of full-scale retribution from North Korea, including an invasion of South Korea should Iran suffer from an attack, has to be a serious consideration. So, there is the possibility that even if the United States decides to do nothing about the problem of Iran’s nuclear proliferation, we could still suffer dire consequences.

This could certainly be one hot political potato in the weeks and months before the election, but most likely nothing will be done before November. Of course, when it comes to waging the War on Terror, Iran has always been more of a threat than Iraq. Remember, it was the US who supported Iraq's 10 year war with Iran by generously supplying them with weapons of mass destruction amongst other things.

To be certain, no matter who wins the fall elections, this problem will elicit considerable tension inside the White House for some time. This is the issue of international terrorism that our nation should have focused upon from the very beginning, and we place ourselves in certain jeopardy if we fail to address Iran and North Korea now.

Unfortunately, we are already running on empty.

Learning E-voting from the Aussies

Well at least there is someone out there doing the right thing (check out the link above).

Who’s Flip-flopping Now?

The real signs are there for us all to see (click on link above). First there was the claims of weapons of mass destruction, followed by “Mission Accomplished”, and now the silent passing of the assault weapons ban which he pledged to enforce when the President took office.

I would certainly be surprised if anyone was still looking for the smoking gun in Iraq that points to Saddam’s proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. We could have let the inspectors come up with something before the invasion, but time was of the essence. After all, who knows when we would be attacked by Iraq again, right?

So, with the full support of the international community, we justifiably liberate the poor defenseless people of that country while at the same time make our great nation all the safer for it. To date, over 1,000 service men and women as well as 20,000 civilians have been killed since the occupation. Maybe the sign should have read, “Invasion Accomplished”.

Still, just two weeks ago, assuring the American people President George W. himself admitted that the War on Terror could not be won (statement quickly rescinded of course). I’m not entirely sure, but I don’t think anyone pointed out to him that what’s happening in Iraq really has nothing to do with the events surrounding 911.

Regardless of what’s being said by the mainstream media about the quiet death of the assault weapons ban, (at least until there is another tragic Columbine-like incident), it will be a cold day in hell before they chalk this one down as George W.’s “mistake”. With there being no impetus to bring this forward on the legislative agenda, it looks like we’ll be using a lot of chalk.

Congress has far more important issues to tackle, like amending the Constitution banning same-sex marriage, or passing legislation outlawing the burning of the flag. How about spending even more valuable time debating whether or not to keep the words Under God in our Pledge of Allegiance. Yes, this is what the White House has decided we should spend our valuable time and resources on now.

Ahh, to be a right-wing card carrying member of the NRA just for a day. Somehow life would be so much simpler. Thank you Santa, this Christmas daddy wants a MAC10.

I guess to some happiness really is a warm gun.

The 2004 Presidential Elections: Brought to you by Diebold, Inc.

Reading this article, I can only wonder if it was due to another no bid contract handed down by our “trusted” friends in the White house.

One can only guess as to where this might lead us. Apart from altering the outcome of our national election this fall, couldn’t it also alter the results of future referendums, etc.

Considering the fact that the bulk of legislation is handed to government on a silver corporate platter, would it be such a leap of faith to think that come election day, these same interests would also supercede our own?

At least this time, we know where the Supreme Court will stand on the issue.

A Special Anniversary

Why does it seem so strange that we are all drawn to be creatures of habit, each seemingly needing to come back to the place where we once came from? Do we choose to reflect upon our lives, or do we selectively remember out of habit?

These marks on our calendars are a fundamental part of who we are, and yet each time something has changed since we were there last. Just like the animals who roam this earth, we are creatures of habit. Migratory birds circle the earth thousands of miles each year on their annual mating and feeding cycles. Whales, without the benefit of decent eyesight, span the murky ocean depths returning to the same hunting grounds without fail.

And we signify various times in our lives bringing ourselves back to that singular moment designated as a birth, a death, or some pivotal moment forever ingrained, “lest we forget”.

In the past, I’ve often heard remarks from those who claimed they knew where they were and what they were doing the day John F. Kennedy was shot, or when Neil Armstrong landed on the Moon, but for some reason I had my doubts. Lacking a significant event in my own history to compare it with, now I understand what a single event can do to change ones life. Three years later, I can still remember where I was and how I felt the moment it happened. 911 will forever be ingrained into my soul as a day of terror. Still there are lingering doubts. Are we really so different from a flock of gulls?

I’m not worried if I will forget the gripping moments while I watched in disturbed horror as civilization seemed so vulnerable, but now looking back as time moves on, one has to wonder how this event will be interpreted collectively in the years that follow.

Unlike animals, people have the luxury of insight and adaptation. Our species is so adept in meeting new challenges that change is expected, anticipated. And so we move on to new paths in our own lives and collectively as a culture.

But I can only wonder what will happen if we fail to understand the importance of what 911 really is to this generation. Sadly, I am left feeling that we have already been caught in the misrepresentation of its significance. Just like World War One, we are caught in the potential trap of having not only to endure a terrible beginning, but having to repeat it again in a more horrible way because we cannot remember past mistakes. With the Armistice of the Great War, the United States government witnessed in dismay as the French and English sought and won alarmingly punitive compensation from their defeated enemies, and occupied vital industrial/agricultural regions critical to their survival. Just as we were once brushed aside by the European victors written off as inexperienced in the complexities of world affairs, it is our turn to repay the favor with Iraq. What will be the cost this time?

Can we endure another election cycle of costly political mistakes that don’t take into account the importance of history past? Are we truly prepared for the revenge our enemies will wage against us for our brutal and arrogant treatment?

One has to ask, do we choose to remember, or are we destined to repeat? Let us all only hope it isn’t the latter.

The First Blog Post

It may have been a long time in coming, but I have finally decided to add yet another voice to the stream of bloggers on the net. In recent months and years, I have spent more and more of my free time reading and enjoying the posts of others. And there are quite a few talented bloggers out there, so it does seem a little intimidating especially if one aspires to today's true standard of reporting excellence. But a voice, even if it is scattered amongst a sea of screaming people is still a voice, and I hope to add mine to the shrill of those who are ever more concerned about the state of the world as it has become.

Nothing comes to mind at present about the depth and focus this blog, but I hope to add some insight to the lives of others interested in life outside the mainstream media madness.

A little about myself first. I grew up innocently believing that you could honestly trust others, and the world in which we live is only enhanced by the wonders man provides. I thought that when I grew up, life would be as easy to live in as it was when I was a child. Everyone would have a job we liked and we would all have an equal say in the world and how it is governed. Just a little too optimistic.

The facts are that these musings of a young child, and I'm sure there are quite a few of us who at some point in our lives at least hoped for a similar vision, couldn't be farther from the truth. As the new Millennium came and went my hopes for the chance emergence of an "enlightened world" were somehow dashed after the rigged national election that November, the catastrophic attack almost one year later and then our collective gut reaction in response to it.

Now four years later, I cannot help to feel that no matter who wins the election this time around nothing that much will really change anyway. Should George W. prevail and win yet another term, then we're really back to the status quo. To be quite sure though, if Kerry were to win, Republicans would be out for blood, so either way it is the people who will loose this election no matter who wins. And to be quite honest, we only have ourselves to blame for it. Time, it seems, might be running out on us sooner than we'd like to think.

If only there could be some sort of magical solution to all of our problems; a sort of modern day penicillin or something. The Republicans will still control both the House and Senate, and they in turn will still be controlled by the special interests that have come to dominate the very pulse of this country.

Beginning Monday morning it should be quite possible for me to purchase an AK47 without a problem, yet I won't be able to check out a book at the local library without being monitored by the FBI as a potential terrorist.

The truth of the matter may only rest within ourselves as we continue to debate, argue or simply choose to ignore these daily reminders that we as citizens are not the ones with the loudest voices anymore.

Until the next time.