Read this article that lists several great links that report on what our government is up to.
Tuesday, November 30, 2004
Thursday, November 25, 2004
Just Say No
I remember Nancy Reagan's famous words when she touted her cure for the millions of Americans using illegal drugs: "Just Say No".
Now, it seems the current administration is so convinced that Nancy's strategy worked they're willing to give it another try, except this time it's for everyone else who is practicing the "illegal" act of sex.
Backing off from teaching safe sex and the use of condoms if individuals wish to continue to have sex, this administration is saying we shouldn't be having it at all, unless we're married of course.
Not withstanding the mounting difficulties of getting birth control pills filled at the local pharmacy (see previous post), and the continued underfunding of Planned Parenthood, this administration is taking a hard stand against what they deem as immoral sexual practices. Unfortunately, they miss the issue of public health altogether.
Forget the risk for increases in the spread of communicable diseases and unwanted pregnancies, we should all just listen to the words of Nancy and simply say no to sex.
Who knows, they might even decide to pass the "Condom Stamp Act" making it illegal to manufacture condoms or any contraceptive without the permission of the federal government.
Now, it seems the current administration is so convinced that Nancy's strategy worked they're willing to give it another try, except this time it's for everyone else who is practicing the "illegal" act of sex.
Backing off from teaching safe sex and the use of condoms if individuals wish to continue to have sex, this administration is saying we shouldn't be having it at all, unless we're married of course.
Not withstanding the mounting difficulties of getting birth control pills filled at the local pharmacy (see previous post), and the continued underfunding of Planned Parenthood, this administration is taking a hard stand against what they deem as immoral sexual practices. Unfortunately, they miss the issue of public health altogether.
Forget the risk for increases in the spread of communicable diseases and unwanted pregnancies, we should all just listen to the words of Nancy and simply say no to sex.
Who knows, they might even decide to pass the "Condom Stamp Act" making it illegal to manufacture condoms or any contraceptive without the permission of the federal government.
A Troubling Picture: Past & Present Election Maps
Has our electorate really changed since the pre-civil war days?
It seems that this could be open to some additional debate.
It is entirely possible that our nation has come full circle yet again to those days of that once divided nation, and we are in peril of repeating the bloodiest episode of our nation's history.
The real difference this time is that our President is a southerner, and not from Illinois, so it would be the north that would cede from the southern states, or "Jesusland" as some have coined it.
It seems that this could be open to some additional debate.
It is entirely possible that our nation has come full circle yet again to those days of that once divided nation, and we are in peril of repeating the bloodiest episode of our nation's history.
The real difference this time is that our President is a southerner, and not from Illinois, so it would be the north that would cede from the southern states, or "Jesusland" as some have coined it.
Tuesday, November 16, 2004
Don't Give Up Website
"WE DO NOT CONCEDE Coalition urges you to continue to help get the word out - we are making a difference! Unite in your communities, protest in numbers, deliver petitions to your elected officials. Let your friends, family, email lists, and groups know about this growing coalition of concerned Americans who are questioning the results of the 2004 election. Write letters to the editor urging members of your community to NOT CONCEDE their votes. We must all do what we can to help get this issue out front and center in our communities! Check back here for continued updates and be prepared to take ACTION!"
Sunday, November 14, 2004
Hornets Nest in Fallujah
From all the accounts of rapid success in Fallujah, this is striking evidence that things aren't quite going as well as planned over there.
While numbers of the military dead are reaching the mainstream news, there hasn't been anything mentioned about our soldiers who have been seriously wounded in the operation (see link). Our temporary victory is a costly one. And as Fallujah continues to rage, other battles are being fought across Iraq, including bold new clashes throughout the city streets Baghdad, Mosul and elsewhere.
So while the small Shiite city may succumb to US pressure for the time being, it will certainly revert back to lawlessness, time and time again.
In a very real sense, we are the insurgents.
While numbers of the military dead are reaching the mainstream news, there hasn't been anything mentioned about our soldiers who have been seriously wounded in the operation (see link). Our temporary victory is a costly one. And as Fallujah continues to rage, other battles are being fought across Iraq, including bold new clashes throughout the city streets Baghdad, Mosul and elsewhere.
So while the small Shiite city may succumb to US pressure for the time being, it will certainly revert back to lawlessness, time and time again.
In a very real sense, we are the insurgents.
Saturday, November 13, 2004
November's Bitter Pill
What will happen in the next four year's with the Bush factor at the helm of American politics?
I was just considering this recently as a friend of mine had asked me last night when I stumbled upon one of my older blogs. The frightening thing is that parts of that post are already ringing true as the reference to the Artic National Wildlife piece shows.
Upon further reflection though, there are probably a few things I may have left out, or overlooked. November's bitter pill is more than just something hard to swallow for us anymore. Worldwide attention to the U.S. election has never been so great, indicating the true impact this presidency has had in the last four years, not only in this country, but in virtually every corner of the globe.
Other developing countries, especially emerging democracies in eastern Europe see our election as justification for rigging their own. Sure you can call it a democracy, but it certainly doesn't look like one. The once pristine image of American Democracy is fading in the eyes of the world and people are understanding that you can still rig elections to maintain power.
The divided EU, whose economy and currency continue to gain momentum since November, will tear at the heart of the NATO alliance, and between eastern and western Europe. The imperial nations of the past can once again resume their colonial land-grabs in developing countries rich in natural resources. Tension across the Atlantic will only continue to weaken the U.S. as Europe will be seen as the more stable bet worldwide.
Powell's resignation signals a more conservative direction for American interests worldwide. Make no mistake, Condi Rice will be what Colin could never be; George W.'s yes man, or woman. This pattern of replacing moderate conservatives throughout the administration will just further divide our nation and those whom we come into contact with in the next four years.
This leaves just two possible scenarios for the international community. Complete subordination, or a combined resilient response to our contempt of the modern global community.
American's could soon be tried for War Crimes by an international court. "In recent months, there have been other indications that the international community is taking a harder line toward U.S. behavior.
At last July's Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, a resolution was passed condemning the use of torture in the U.S.-led global war on terrorism. The assembly called on all participating states to follow international commitments laid out in the Geneva Conventions and the UN Convention Against Torture.
Around the same time, the UN Security Council refused to extend the exemption from prosecution in the International Criminal Court for U.S. forces. Previously, U.S. forces were left exempt from prosecution in any UN-authorized mission. But after the torture scandal at Abu Ghraib prison, the UN Security Council let the exemption lapse, despite heavy lobbying by the United States.
Also in July, the International Court of Justice ruled that the wall being built by Israel and supported by the U.S. violates international law because it cuts into Palestinian land as determined by the 1967 borders between Israel and Palestine.
Perhaps seeking to capitalize on the momentum of the ICJ ruling on the Israeli wall, a group of 41 British members of parliament sent a letter to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on July 20, asking him to seek an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on whether the war on Iraq was legal.
Hungary, Poland, and even England are beginning to turn away from us. Not just in terms of military support but also politically. The United States will continue to erode its respect to the rest of the world and stand even more isolated.
This general anti-American feeling will continue to spread into the commercial markets eventually lowering the dollar with respect the the Yen and Euro making it more difficult to repay even the interest on our national debt. The significance of this effect on the stock market could only be replaced with the privatization of Social Security.
But I wouldn't expect the EU to be very divided for long. Eastern-block nations will quickly seek to align themselves with their stronger neighbors politically. In fact, I would suspect that virtually the only nation to continue its full-support of US foreign policy would be Israel.
"Exactly how international relations will play out over the next four years may not be easy to predict. But it is clear that many nations won't tolerate what many consider the continued lawlessness of the United States. "
I was just considering this recently as a friend of mine had asked me last night when I stumbled upon one of my older blogs. The frightening thing is that parts of that post are already ringing true as the reference to the Artic National Wildlife piece shows.
Upon further reflection though, there are probably a few things I may have left out, or overlooked. November's bitter pill is more than just something hard to swallow for us anymore. Worldwide attention to the U.S. election has never been so great, indicating the true impact this presidency has had in the last four years, not only in this country, but in virtually every corner of the globe.
Other developing countries, especially emerging democracies in eastern Europe see our election as justification for rigging their own. Sure you can call it a democracy, but it certainly doesn't look like one. The once pristine image of American Democracy is fading in the eyes of the world and people are understanding that you can still rig elections to maintain power.
The divided EU, whose economy and currency continue to gain momentum since November, will tear at the heart of the NATO alliance, and between eastern and western Europe. The imperial nations of the past can once again resume their colonial land-grabs in developing countries rich in natural resources. Tension across the Atlantic will only continue to weaken the U.S. as Europe will be seen as the more stable bet worldwide.
Powell's resignation signals a more conservative direction for American interests worldwide. Make no mistake, Condi Rice will be what Colin could never be; George W.'s yes man, or woman. This pattern of replacing moderate conservatives throughout the administration will just further divide our nation and those whom we come into contact with in the next four years.
This leaves just two possible scenarios for the international community. Complete subordination, or a combined resilient response to our contempt of the modern global community.
American's could soon be tried for War Crimes by an international court. "In recent months, there have been other indications that the international community is taking a harder line toward U.S. behavior.
At last July's Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, a resolution was passed condemning the use of torture in the U.S.-led global war on terrorism. The assembly called on all participating states to follow international commitments laid out in the Geneva Conventions and the UN Convention Against Torture.
Around the same time, the UN Security Council refused to extend the exemption from prosecution in the International Criminal Court for U.S. forces. Previously, U.S. forces were left exempt from prosecution in any UN-authorized mission. But after the torture scandal at Abu Ghraib prison, the UN Security Council let the exemption lapse, despite heavy lobbying by the United States.
Also in July, the International Court of Justice ruled that the wall being built by Israel and supported by the U.S. violates international law because it cuts into Palestinian land as determined by the 1967 borders between Israel and Palestine.
Perhaps seeking to capitalize on the momentum of the ICJ ruling on the Israeli wall, a group of 41 British members of parliament sent a letter to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on July 20, asking him to seek an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on whether the war on Iraq was legal.
Hungary, Poland, and even England are beginning to turn away from us. Not just in terms of military support but also politically. The United States will continue to erode its respect to the rest of the world and stand even more isolated.
This general anti-American feeling will continue to spread into the commercial markets eventually lowering the dollar with respect the the Yen and Euro making it more difficult to repay even the interest on our national debt. The significance of this effect on the stock market could only be replaced with the privatization of Social Security.
But I wouldn't expect the EU to be very divided for long. Eastern-block nations will quickly seek to align themselves with their stronger neighbors politically. In fact, I would suspect that virtually the only nation to continue its full-support of US foreign policy would be Israel.
"Exactly how international relations will play out over the next four years may not be easy to predict. But it is clear that many nations won't tolerate what many consider the continued lawlessness of the United States. "
Friday, November 12, 2004
Cartographic Election Map Shows a Different Picture
Maps and cartograms of the 2004 US presidential election results as created by Michael Gastner, Cosma Shalizi, and Mark Newman University of Michigan.
Alaska: On The Chopping Block Again
Pity we have to destroy what's left of our pristine world to make way for progress. Looks like the animals are on their own this time.
The Coalition of the Willing: To Die
Here's a great idea to increase the combat readiness of our military. Instead of inviting other countries to join our "Coalition of the Willing", we can outsource the job to poor people all over the world. Those eager enough to become Americans can by proving that they're willing to die for it.
The actual numbers of foreign enlistees are probably quite small now, but I would bet this portion will certainly grow given the difficulties with Homeland recruiting efforts.
Have to admit, it's pretty tough of us to let other people die for our problems. If we're really lucky, this process of training and supplying foreigners in the US military might create another Manuel Noriega, sinking the world further into chaos.
Last I heard, the School of the Americas was still open for business. Here's some interesting information about the US Army School of Americas (SOA). Based in Fort Benning, Georgia, this large base trains Latin American soldiers in combat, counter-insurgency, and counter-narcotics. SOA graduates are responsible for some of the worst human rights abuses in Latin America. In 1996 the Pentagon was forced to release training manuals used at the school that advocated torture, extortion and execution. Among the SOA's nearly 60,000 graduates are notorious dictators Manuel Noriega and Omar Torrijos of Panama, Leopoldo Galtieri and Roberto Viola of Argentina, Juan Velasco Alvarado of Peru, Guillermo Rodriguez of Ecuador, and Hugo Banzer Suarez of Bolivia. Lower-level SOA graduates have participated in human rights abuses that include the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero and the El Mozote Massacre of 900 civilians.
I can just picture a graduation day ceremony where the commander addresses his class saying, "now the time has come for you to go back to your countries and fight for this country."
You can bet, we're doing our part to grease the wheel.
The actual numbers of foreign enlistees are probably quite small now, but I would bet this portion will certainly grow given the difficulties with Homeland recruiting efforts.
Have to admit, it's pretty tough of us to let other people die for our problems. If we're really lucky, this process of training and supplying foreigners in the US military might create another Manuel Noriega, sinking the world further into chaos.
Last I heard, the School of the Americas was still open for business. Here's some interesting information about the US Army School of Americas (SOA). Based in Fort Benning, Georgia, this large base trains Latin American soldiers in combat, counter-insurgency, and counter-narcotics. SOA graduates are responsible for some of the worst human rights abuses in Latin America. In 1996 the Pentagon was forced to release training manuals used at the school that advocated torture, extortion and execution. Among the SOA's nearly 60,000 graduates are notorious dictators Manuel Noriega and Omar Torrijos of Panama, Leopoldo Galtieri and Roberto Viola of Argentina, Juan Velasco Alvarado of Peru, Guillermo Rodriguez of Ecuador, and Hugo Banzer Suarez of Bolivia. Lower-level SOA graduates have participated in human rights abuses that include the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero and the El Mozote Massacre of 900 civilians.
I can just picture a graduation day ceremony where the commander addresses his class saying, "now the time has come for you to go back to your countries and fight for this country."
You can bet, we're doing our part to grease the wheel.
No Child Left Alive Act
This article about the governments new ability to comb through the private information of secondary students as authorized by the No Child Left Behind Act not only subverts the whole intent and purpose of this bill, but it also sheds some light on the continuing problems of getting people to participate in this pre-emptive military action.
I served for 6 years in the USAR, having enlisted during the First Gulf War. A part of me was simply needing some money to complete college, but there was also a part of me that wanted to serve my country. At one time, I had pondered the idea of serving as an officer. Another time, I was also considering returning to the Reserves, mainly to do what I had been doing in my previous term, which was office work for the commander.
In retrospect, there were probably two main reasons that kept me from continuing my service.
Number one, it was too divided on a cultural level. White people were mainly non-inclusive, and generally displayed militaristic/aggressive characteristics. African Americans and Latinos, who comprised half of the divisions roster, wanted nothing to do with the majority of white people because of this, kept to themselves, and simply waited for the end of the weekend. Surprisingly, or not, I felt it was the latter group who were generally more equipped to serve effectively if the need should arise to activate our unit.
The mess hall was split right down the center during chow, with whites on one side and everyone else on the other. This always made it hard for me to know where I was going to eat being a white-ish outsider recently coming from another country. It wasn't until a year or so had passed that I felt comfortable enough to sit with anyone I chose, but it always amazed me that while we live in a free country, there is still such a long way for our nation to come. Evidentially even though the "Whites Only" sign came down, there are plenty of people who still live as if it where hanging right there in plain sight above the chow hall doors.
We were generally not prepared to serve. I have to admit, when signing my name on that dotted line there was a moment of fear. My life was now in the governments hands. What if they called me up and I had to go fight for my country? Would I ever make it back to the rest of my life? No one can ever know the answer to questions like that, and neither could our government, but when my drill instructor confidently told us that this is the best military in the world, I wasn't convinced.
The other privates around me, could hardly read and write let alone keep cadence. Shit, half of them were scared out of their minds just being in basic training. I felt slightly depressed knowing that my unit wasn't more like the ones I had grown up watching on TV and that this small snapshot taken at bootcamp was more common throughout the military.
In the reserves, equipment shortages were frequent, and training, especially combat, was minimal. At one point, our company was given an on-the-spot drug test, but 60 percent failed, so they just threw everything away. Two years later, it was disbanded under Clinton.
So when the time came to re-up, I decided to play it safe. Figuring that, in the event of a real war, this was too serious a combination to be comfortable betting my life upon.
Back to the beginning. Coming to finish off my secondary education in the US, I was excited to see how patriotic and energized most of the students were there. It was an urban middle/working class district where a large percentage of young men would volunteer. General Douglas McAurthur grew up in this neighborhood. When I came to live there, my dad made sure to drive me by his house showing where he used to live before West Point and before WWII.
The high school quarterback went off into the Army. Most of the wrestling team joined the marines, and virtually half of the guys, it seemed, had already completed basic training by their senior year, or were getting ready to go as soon as graduation day passed.
It has been more than ten years since then, and I suspect things aren't the same back there now. Neither is this country.
I served for 6 years in the USAR, having enlisted during the First Gulf War. A part of me was simply needing some money to complete college, but there was also a part of me that wanted to serve my country. At one time, I had pondered the idea of serving as an officer. Another time, I was also considering returning to the Reserves, mainly to do what I had been doing in my previous term, which was office work for the commander.
In retrospect, there were probably two main reasons that kept me from continuing my service.
Number one, it was too divided on a cultural level. White people were mainly non-inclusive, and generally displayed militaristic/aggressive characteristics. African Americans and Latinos, who comprised half of the divisions roster, wanted nothing to do with the majority of white people because of this, kept to themselves, and simply waited for the end of the weekend. Surprisingly, or not, I felt it was the latter group who were generally more equipped to serve effectively if the need should arise to activate our unit.
The mess hall was split right down the center during chow, with whites on one side and everyone else on the other. This always made it hard for me to know where I was going to eat being a white-ish outsider recently coming from another country. It wasn't until a year or so had passed that I felt comfortable enough to sit with anyone I chose, but it always amazed me that while we live in a free country, there is still such a long way for our nation to come. Evidentially even though the "Whites Only" sign came down, there are plenty of people who still live as if it where hanging right there in plain sight above the chow hall doors.
We were generally not prepared to serve. I have to admit, when signing my name on that dotted line there was a moment of fear. My life was now in the governments hands. What if they called me up and I had to go fight for my country? Would I ever make it back to the rest of my life? No one can ever know the answer to questions like that, and neither could our government, but when my drill instructor confidently told us that this is the best military in the world, I wasn't convinced.
The other privates around me, could hardly read and write let alone keep cadence. Shit, half of them were scared out of their minds just being in basic training. I felt slightly depressed knowing that my unit wasn't more like the ones I had grown up watching on TV and that this small snapshot taken at bootcamp was more common throughout the military.
In the reserves, equipment shortages were frequent, and training, especially combat, was minimal. At one point, our company was given an on-the-spot drug test, but 60 percent failed, so they just threw everything away. Two years later, it was disbanded under Clinton.
So when the time came to re-up, I decided to play it safe. Figuring that, in the event of a real war, this was too serious a combination to be comfortable betting my life upon.
Back to the beginning. Coming to finish off my secondary education in the US, I was excited to see how patriotic and energized most of the students were there. It was an urban middle/working class district where a large percentage of young men would volunteer. General Douglas McAurthur grew up in this neighborhood. When I came to live there, my dad made sure to drive me by his house showing where he used to live before West Point and before WWII.
The high school quarterback went off into the Army. Most of the wrestling team joined the marines, and virtually half of the guys, it seemed, had already completed basic training by their senior year, or were getting ready to go as soon as graduation day passed.
It has been more than ten years since then, and I suspect things aren't the same back there now. Neither is this country.
Thursday, November 11, 2004
We're Very Sorry (for Bush) Website
I'm sure there must be plenty of ex-presidents rolling in their graves.
We are and we're NOT DEAD YET!
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
Lynn's Got Some Voting Issues
Lynn Investigates ... sheds new light on the continuing loss of our right to vote, and have it be counted.
True but Hard to Believe: Pro-Life Druggists?
I swear that if this ever happens to me, (although it probably won't since I'm not a woman) I'll march right over grab a pack of smokes from behind the counter and make her ring that up too.
Such hypocrisy in everyday life is shocking. I mean, college educated chemists can't actually have this sort of belief system can they? Wouldn't that be similar to a NASA scientist saying the world is flat or something? This exclusive version of "anti-discrimination discrimination ", for lack of a better term, is quite similar to what people like Anne Coulter are all about these days.
She has consistently said on national talk shows, etc. that the term racism only refers to African-Americans, to which group she still refers to as Blacks. Someone must have written a whole set of stupid-people rules that I haven't got my hands on yet.
When I get my hands on a copy, I'll be sure to use it to conk the next stupid druggist I encounter who refuses to fill a prescription order for birth control pills based upon their personal belief system.
Such hypocrisy in everyday life is shocking. I mean, college educated chemists can't actually have this sort of belief system can they? Wouldn't that be similar to a NASA scientist saying the world is flat or something? This exclusive version of "anti-discrimination discrimination ", for lack of a better term, is quite similar to what people like Anne Coulter are all about these days.
She has consistently said on national talk shows, etc. that the term racism only refers to African-Americans, to which group she still refers to as Blacks. Someone must have written a whole set of stupid-people rules that I haven't got my hands on yet.
When I get my hands on a copy, I'll be sure to use it to conk the next stupid druggist I encounter who refuses to fill a prescription order for birth control pills based upon their personal belief system.
"Fuck the South" Website
This is some hard hitting anger, but he does have his points.
Elections put people into office successfully when based upon performance measures and standards (the issues), not morality. This website might trumpet some tough standards on our Republican counterparts, however it's totally lacking any, well ... Caution: Foul language ahead.
Elections put people into office successfully when based upon performance measures and standards (the issues), not morality. This website might trumpet some tough standards on our Republican counterparts, however it's totally lacking any, well ... Caution: Foul language ahead.
Monday, November 08, 2004
Revolving Troop Door May Close
The problem: No one wants to fight in this war anymore, so we can either pack our bags and go home soon, or there will be a draft.
Our "all-volunteer" forces, if you can really call it that because of the continuing back-door draft currently being exercised, aren't volunteering anymore. But the war continues, and this trend in declining enlistment levels in spite of huge incentives, becomes more significant. As troop morale declines, a greater percentage of those currently serving will not re-up when given the chance. Recruiting levels are also way down especially for the Army which is greatest in need.
Sadly, as we continue to consume increasing amounts of energy worldwide, the need to remain in Iraq is clear. If we cannot change, and most of us don't want to it appears, war and occupation are certain by-products.
Other stronger "Allies" such as France could start cashing their "Risk cards" in the next few years with the knowledge that we're over-extended and morally suspect. Making world politics drift further into the murky waters of Imperialism. In fact, they are already experimenting with the Ivory Coast, which also holds vast amounts of untapped oil reserves.
Seems to me this sort of thing was tried before and it didn't really work that well.
Our "all-volunteer" forces, if you can really call it that because of the continuing back-door draft currently being exercised, aren't volunteering anymore. But the war continues, and this trend in declining enlistment levels in spite of huge incentives, becomes more significant. As troop morale declines, a greater percentage of those currently serving will not re-up when given the chance. Recruiting levels are also way down especially for the Army which is greatest in need.
Sadly, as we continue to consume increasing amounts of energy worldwide, the need to remain in Iraq is clear. If we cannot change, and most of us don't want to it appears, war and occupation are certain by-products.
Other stronger "Allies" such as France could start cashing their "Risk cards" in the next few years with the knowledge that we're over-extended and morally suspect. Making world politics drift further into the murky waters of Imperialism. In fact, they are already experimenting with the Ivory Coast, which also holds vast amounts of untapped oil reserves.
Seems to me this sort of thing was tried before and it didn't really work that well.
Political Comics by the Great Dr. Seuss
"Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel, 1904-1991) was a life-long cartoonist: in high school in Springfield, Massachusetts; in college at Dartmouth (Class of 1925); as an adman in New York City before World War II; in his many children's books, beginning with To Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street (1937). Because of the fame of his children's books (and because we often misunderstand these books) and because his political cartoons have remained largely unknown, we do not think of Dr. Seuss as a political cartoonist. But for two years, 1941-1943, he was the chief editorial cartoonist for the New York newspaper PM (1940-1948), and for that journal he drew over 400 editorial cartoons." (Click on the link above for the complete Dr. Seuss collection of political comics.)
Sunday, November 07, 2004
Numbers Just Don't Add Up
Alex Satanovsky has some interesting observations on the 2004 election results.
I hear this matter is being brought before Congress. Unfortunately, this probably ranks far below the importance of an improper blow job or two for this lot, and the only group Alex's information will resonate with is the rest of us powerless lefties.
I hear this matter is being brought before Congress. Unfortunately, this probably ranks far below the importance of an improper blow job or two for this lot, and the only group Alex's information will resonate with is the rest of us powerless lefties.
Saturday, November 06, 2004
Marry An American Website
I cannot tell a lie ... yes, I have witnessed people around me openly playing with the idea of moving to Canada.
Now, I haven't really thought about it much myself. Mainly because I'm pretty comfortable enough where I am at the moment, besides, isn't Canada colder than Wisconsin anyway?
I read somewhere that after the election, Canada's immigration wesbite took on an additional 200,000 hits from the US. I think some of us who might be more serious about this idea are finding out how hard this process can really be.
Here's the solution. Just marry a Canadian, and you're in! You won't even have to find a job either.
Check out the link above, I think it's pretty funny myself.
Now, I haven't really thought about it much myself. Mainly because I'm pretty comfortable enough where I am at the moment, besides, isn't Canada colder than Wisconsin anyway?
I read somewhere that after the election, Canada's immigration wesbite took on an additional 200,000 hits from the US. I think some of us who might be more serious about this idea are finding out how hard this process can really be.
Here's the solution. Just marry a Canadian, and you're in! You won't even have to find a job either.
Check out the link above, I think it's pretty funny myself.
American Coalition: Hungary Withdraws Troops
Our coalition continues to weaken as foreign casualties rise and the concept of security is only a meager state of mind.
We are certainly going to be in a sad state of affairs if the only troops that will replace ours are Iraqi citizens. I'd bet that there is a sizable majority of rebels that used to serve in the real Iraqi army that was conveniently disbanded with the fall of Bahgdad.
Flipping through the cable channels the other day, I was shocked to hear one Republican commentator when he said that if everything got really bad we could just protect the oil wells. We would certainly have enough troops for that he reasoned. Now that really is blood for oil isn't it?
May be Chevron and company could foot all the medical bills for the wounded?
We are certainly going to be in a sad state of affairs if the only troops that will replace ours are Iraqi citizens. I'd bet that there is a sizable majority of rebels that used to serve in the real Iraqi army that was conveniently disbanded with the fall of Bahgdad.
Flipping through the cable channels the other day, I was shocked to hear one Republican commentator when he said that if everything got really bad we could just protect the oil wells. We would certainly have enough troops for that he reasoned. Now that really is blood for oil isn't it?
May be Chevron and company could foot all the medical bills for the wounded?
Stolen Election 2004 Website
"In Election 2000, the Bush regime stole the election and got away with it. Now, in Election 2004, there is new evidence that Bush and the Republicans have stolen the 2004 election by electronic voting fraud in states with E-Voting without paper trails, scrubbing the voter rolls of Democratic voters, and destruction of paper ballots in heavily Democratic areas." This site has some interesting information, links to related sites, and its own blog.
News continues to trickle forward about a few thousand votes here, another few thousand votes there going to Bush and not Kerry. North Carolina may have to hold their state elections again because of widespread problems with their machines. Just seems increasingly clear to me that while the Democrats may have won the ground war bringing in record voters, the Republicans won the ground war when it came to rigging the elections on all levels.
Even the money pouring into the 527's that Bush and Co. kept calling attention to as being "Bad for America" was tapped into much more than their defeated counterparts, who coincidentally took most of the blame for having created this election "loophole" in the first place.
Will historians look back at this period and talk about it as America's experiment with Aristocracy? I guess we'll all have to wait and see if Jeb gets the nod next.
In the meantime, can someone PLEASE FIX THOSE STUPID MACHINES!
News continues to trickle forward about a few thousand votes here, another few thousand votes there going to Bush and not Kerry. North Carolina may have to hold their state elections again because of widespread problems with their machines. Just seems increasingly clear to me that while the Democrats may have won the ground war bringing in record voters, the Republicans won the ground war when it came to rigging the elections on all levels.
Even the money pouring into the 527's that Bush and Co. kept calling attention to as being "Bad for America" was tapped into much more than their defeated counterparts, who coincidentally took most of the blame for having created this election "loophole" in the first place.
Will historians look back at this period and talk about it as America's experiment with Aristocracy? I guess we'll all have to wait and see if Jeb gets the nod next.
In the meantime, can someone PLEASE FIX THOSE STUPID MACHINES!
Impending Financial Disaster
"Bush Administration's Mounting Fiscal Disaster"
November 5, 2004
Daily Talking Points is a product of the American Progress Action Fund.
November 5, 2004
President Bush said yesterday, "I earned capital in the campaign, political
capital, and now I intend to spend it." Translation: President Bush
and congressional conservatives plan to drive the country into severe economic
distress by permanently extending supply-side tax cuts for the wealthy,
privatizing Social Security, and giving more handouts to corporations with no
means to pay for these schemes. All of this domestic spending will come on top
of potentially hundreds of billions of dollars that will be spent in Iraq and
Afghanistan.
* President Bush and congressional
conservatives have promised trillions of dollars in corporate kickbacks and tax
cuts for the wealthy. Over the past four years, conservatives spent
lavishly on a faulty Medicare drug program, corporate tax subsidies, a bloated
farm bill, and multiple rounds of tax handouts to the rich. Now they want
to gut Social Security by opening a $2 trillion hole in the retirement program
and ensuring billions in handouts to the financial services sector.
* They have no intention of paying for these schemes. The days of
conservative fiscal hawks are long gone. The current crop of conservative
leaders believes it's their duty to capture government resources to dole out as
they see fit. They care little if the government falls into bankruptcy or
the American economy grinds to a halt. The current situation makes it
impossible to properly prepare for the retirement of the baby boom retirement,
yet the president has offered no viable solutions to our longer-term fiscal
challenges.
* The president's corporate backers will be laughing all
the way to the bank while American taxpayers will be forced to clean up the
mess. Who wins in this scheme? Energy companies, the pharmaceutical
industry, health insurers, and the financial services sector all paid lavishly
to elect Bush and his cohorts and now expect a return on their investment. But
generations of American taxpayers will have to pay to clean up this fiscal
disaster long after the president has retired to the ranch."
Daily Talking Points is a product of the American Progress Action Fund.
Contempt for Cloture Rules
By the slimist of margins, House Democrats will still be able to block any bad legislation brought before the floor if they can all manage to stick together, but it seems that Bush and Co. have plans to do away with this inconvenient constitutional provision designed to prevent wide-scale abuse of power.
According to Joshua Micah Marshall (link above), these Cloture Rules could simply be overlooked pending a mandate coming from the White House.
"Then we have the incident we noted yesterday in which Sen. Frist may, at the president's say-so, change the cloture rules which require 60 votes to push through legislation.
Past presidents have usually had to deal with Majority Leaders who were much more solicitous of their chamber's independence and institutional preogatives. But then again, President Bush all but appointed Frist to his post. So this should not surprise us.
In an article at Foxnews.com on possible Supreme Court nominations, C. Boyden Gray, former counsel to the first President Bush said the following about the filibuster rules in the Senate ...
As it stands today [Democrats] can block [a nominee] ... But I also believe that the president and majority leader may well decide to change the rules given the elections ... The president has a very strong political support, potential support, for asking for and getting this change."
Now, even the smallest amount of control the Democrats may have left could disappear as well. So much for our experiment with a three, or even a two-party government.
According to Joshua Micah Marshall (link above), these Cloture Rules could simply be overlooked pending a mandate coming from the White House.
"Then we have the incident we noted yesterday in which Sen. Frist may, at the president's say-so, change the cloture rules which require 60 votes to push through legislation.
Past presidents have usually had to deal with Majority Leaders who were much more solicitous of their chamber's independence and institutional preogatives. But then again, President Bush all but appointed Frist to his post. So this should not surprise us.
In an article at Foxnews.com on possible Supreme Court nominations, C. Boyden Gray, former counsel to the first President Bush said the following about the filibuster rules in the Senate ...
As it stands today [Democrats] can block [a nominee] ... But I also believe that the president and majority leader may well decide to change the rules given the elections ... The president has a very strong political support, potential support, for asking for and getting this change."
Now, even the smallest amount of control the Democrats may have left could disappear as well. So much for our experiment with a three, or even a two-party government.
Wednesday, November 03, 2004
Another Four Years
The country has spoken (again) and Bush will continue his stint in the White House for another four years.
Republicans essentially constitute the Christian right, card carrying members of the NRA, NASCAR Dads and Soccer Moms, those upper-class corporate jingos, and people driving those gas guzzling SUVs because they just feel safer - to name a few. The sheer stupidity of these individuals truly make up today's (modern) American culture.
What is stupid really? It's looking at all the evidence presented before you and totally making the wrong choice, for a second time. For example, in response to the question, "If everyone jumped off a cliff, would you?" Those would actually have to think about that question would probably have voted for Bush this time around.
What will another four years of this White House bring us? ...
The Arctic National Wildlife refuge will again come into question time and time again until they get what they want.
A lasting control over the Supreme Court with the ability to overturn Roe Vs. Wade and a wide range of other sensible legislation will come back under the microscope, or be simply overturned on a whim.
We may be the only western country to repeal abortion, as well as slap a constitutional ban on gay unions, or marriage.
Environmental standards will continue to erode. Worker rights established for so long will also be diminished.
Social Security will become privatized.
Medicare will continue to sap the people in favor of large drug companies.
The Patriot Act could again be expanded to include everyone who may have a different opinion.
Freedom of Speech will continue to be trampled, along with us.
The FBI probe into illegal activities by Dick Cheney will vanish into thin air.
The war in Iraq will only get worse, but we won't really hear much about that.
The situation in Iran slide into a deep hole.
Tension across the world will increase causing an even greater rift between us and them.
Republicans essentially constitute the Christian right, card carrying members of the NRA, NASCAR Dads and Soccer Moms, those upper-class corporate jingos, and people driving those gas guzzling SUVs because they just feel safer - to name a few. The sheer stupidity of these individuals truly make up today's (modern) American culture.
What is stupid really? It's looking at all the evidence presented before you and totally making the wrong choice, for a second time. For example, in response to the question, "If everyone jumped off a cliff, would you?" Those would actually have to think about that question would probably have voted for Bush this time around.
What will another four years of this White House bring us? ...
The Arctic National Wildlife refuge will again come into question time and time again until they get what they want.
A lasting control over the Supreme Court with the ability to overturn Roe Vs. Wade and a wide range of other sensible legislation will come back under the microscope, or be simply overturned on a whim.
We may be the only western country to repeal abortion, as well as slap a constitutional ban on gay unions, or marriage.
Environmental standards will continue to erode. Worker rights established for so long will also be diminished.
Social Security will become privatized.
Medicare will continue to sap the people in favor of large drug companies.
The Patriot Act could again be expanded to include everyone who may have a different opinion.
Freedom of Speech will continue to be trampled, along with us.
The FBI probe into illegal activities by Dick Cheney will vanish into thin air.
The war in Iraq will only get worse, but we won't really hear much about that.
The situation in Iran slide into a deep hole.
Tension across the world will increase causing an even greater rift between us and them.
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