Leon Goes to Gomorrah

Leon Goes to Gomorrah

"I left God's country. They could use a bunch of people from Iowa to come here to show New Yorkers what life is all about, what being patriotic is all about, and what country is all about. I'm as confident about Bush being re-elected as I am that eggs are going to be in New York tomorrow morning."
--RNC delegate Leon Mosley of Waterloo, Iowa, co-chairman of his state party

Avert your eyes from the protesters on the street when you reach for the salt to put on those eggs this morning, Leon.
You might become one with the salt.

A topic missing from RNC speeches

A topic missing from
RNC speeches


I wouldn't talk about it if I were them, either.

New attacks on Kerry from well-known creep

New attacks on Kerry from well-known creep

From the Kerry campaign:

A new round of attacks on John Kerry comes from a familiar name -- Ted Sampley -- who has a long history of irrational public attacks against both John McCain and John Kerry. In 1992 Sampley created a fake photo of John Kerry shooting an American MIA. He has been jailed for starting a fight with John McCain's staff, and has called McCain the Manchurian Candidate, accusing him of being "brainwashed by the Vietnamese" and being a "KGB spy."

Ted Sampley is now the head of "Vietnam Veterans Against Kerry" and a supporter of "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth." He has been telling lies about John Kerry, and today he launched an extraordinarily false ad smearing John Kerry's military service.

To view this ad click here:

http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnkerry.org

Ted Sampley's group is also still attacking Senator McCain. To view this page click here:

http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnkerry.com/mccain_myth.htm

What can you do?
Please take a minute and call the Bush campaign at the Republican Convention tonight. Ask George Bush to specifically condemn this ugly smear.

Call now:
(212) 356-2300 or (212) 356-2004

Rudy Covers the Lies

Rudy Covers the Lies

I'd like to tell Rudy it was quite effective for Dubya Bush to have said the terrorists would 'hear from us' as he stood in the rubble of the World Trade Center with Bob the fire chief. That was a memorable moment.

Iraq had nothing to do with the bunch that took down the towers, though.
Rudy tends to forget that Saddam was on Dubya's hit list long before 9/11.

Bush exploited 9/11 and its victims for the purpose of taking out Saddam Hussein.

The Iraq war was never necessary.

We were misled to war and fellows like Rudy are willing to let the lies go as if they are meaningless.

We were misled by the Commander in Chief.
We can't trust him--not even as far as we can throw him.
We were misled toward a war of disastrous results to date.
Countless thousands have died, including nearly 1000 of our troops.
Jesus, couldn't we have found a decent way?
I know we could have. With many allies. With a decent leader.
We didn't have one.

No speech, regardless of how wonderful, will cover that big boy of a lie.

That elephant in the corner is too big to fit in Madison Square Garden.

Rudy was awfully good at calling all presidents before Dubya "appeasers", including Reagan and Bush 41. What he forgets is that no president before Dubya allowed something of this magnitude and complexity to happen on his watch.

Here's what is the saddest---all Dubya HAS to run on is 9/11.
How macabre and perverted.
He didn't do much of anything to protect us from it, but he's running on it.
Exploitation reigns in NYC this week.

Rudy belittled John Kerry...looking like a schmuck, I'm sure to the majority of voters who already support Kerry. He was the white Al Sharpton (but I'll bet the media will treat Rudy like a darling whereas they treated Al Sharpton like a dolt).

Bush is no Roosevelt, no Reagan, no Churchill.
He's a dull fool who's been given a job that's way over his head.

I want a President who's smarter and yes, perhaps even more ethical than I am. (And I'm quite intelligent and ethical).

Rudy might, but I surely do not thank God that George Bush is our president and I do not thank God that the devious and unethical Dick Cheney is my vice president.

I'm scared when Rudy says Bush has a vision for the next four years.
I shudder.
I've seen how he acts upon his delusions.
It kills people rather indiscriminately.

9/11 Families Trotted Out for Politics

9/11 Families Trotted Out for Politics

I found this to be very moving from the standpoint of their stories, albeit exploitative on the RNC's part. The tear-jerking tales had nothing to do with anything Democratic or Republican.

Daniel Rodriguez did a beautiful rendition of 'Amazing Grace'...a great lead-in for Roooody.

Who Is Bob Beckwith?

Who Is Bob Beckwith?

Any relation to my guest-blogger DK Beckwith?
Do you even recognize Bob Beckwith's name?

Heaven knows his memory is invoked time and time again.

If you don't know him, here's a chance.

He doesn't like to be 'used' for politics.

Who Is Zainab Al-Suwaij?

Who Is Zainab Al-Suwaij?

Zainab Al-Suwaij spoke at the RNC tonight. Good to see foreign nationals coming in to campaign for an American president.

In some nations, you could be arrested for that.

While I empathize with Al-Suwaij, I also am reminded, as an American, of our misleading President who lied to us so many times and in so many ways about why he wanted to overthrow the Hussein regime during the lead-up to the invasion. I've also recently heard him lie about how he went to the UN during early 2003 in "the hopes diplomacy would work." He never hoped diplomacy would work. He was amassing troops all around the borders of Iraq while lying to us as to why he was doing it.

Imminent threat?

Al-Suwaij said this in February, 2003: (and remember, our President had just invoked fear of mushroom clouds ands 16 words about imminent threat in the State of the Union speech just weeks before to get the public to accept the invasion):

INTERVIEWER: The peace marches in their millions, for example, throughout the world in recent weeks, what do you say to them?

ZAINAB AL-SUWAIJ: Well, I say it's about time to stop the war inside Iraq.
Saddam has been killing people, torturing people for more than 30 years and it's about time for them to gain back their freedom and to enjoy and liberate their own country.

Imminent threat, indeed.
This was a twelve-year-old vendetta--finishing what the first Bush didn't/couldn't/wouldn't.
Now this woman returns to bolster the president who sent our troops to free her while lying to his own people.

Excuse me for not being terribly emotional.

Does Bernard Kerik ever smile?

Does Bernard Kerik ever smile?

Just wondering.

Wilson Praises Troops' Courage in Face of Iraq Insecurity

Wilson Praises Troops' Courage in Face of Iraq Insecurity

At the RNC, Heather Wilson asked this question regarding our troops:

Where does the courage come from? Where do we find men and women like this? We find them in Carlsbad, New Mexico and Cleveland, Ohio. We find them in Colorado Springs, Colorado and Tampa, Florida, and Houston, Texas.

She forgot to add where and how those men and women are too often "found". The vision of Marine recruiters scouring the poorest parts of Flint, Michigan for places where a lone unfortunate-looking fellow--or two at most--might be found. This was a scene from the film 'Fahrenheit 9/11'.
Too often, an escape from impoverishment leads to the courage a man or woman never realized he or she could have possessed in the face of war.

Wherever it comes from, courage belongs to the individual who displays it.

The honor, indeed, belongs to them.

This is not to demean service to our nation. This is to remind you of the reality--most of the men and women fighting for us in Iraq are not children of privilege.

The fact that Bush has used our troops unwisely does not mean the troops' courage carries over to him.

GOP Focusing on Going Negative on Opponent

GOP Focusing on Going Negative on Opponent

It's no surprise the RNC speakers are going gonzo-negative on Kerry. They have nothing to boast about.

Bush Admin Unworthy Heirs to Republican Party

Bush Administration: Unworthy Heirs to Republican Party
Capital Times Editorial: GOP veers from its founding principles

When delegates to the Republican National Convention meet in New York City this week, they will pass a platform that is radically out of sync with the principles upon which the party was founded, and they will nominate a presidential and vice presidential ticket made up of two men who once would have been booed off the convention stage of a gathering of the Grand Old Party.

Bush says war on terror not winnable

Bush says war on terror not winnable

President Bush says the war on terror isn't the kind you can win.
Trust him-- it's not.
Not under his leadership.

He cannot imagine a day when we will know it's over.
It never will be.
Not under his leadership.

He tells his fans (only fans are allowed in to the rallies) that we're all safer and that terrorists hate us for what we have.
He never mentions they hate us for what we've done.

The way to win the war on terror is through the hearts and minds of those we wish to assist on their march toward freedom.
Our wrong-minded foreign policy has created the best farming system for new terrorists there ever could have been.

The West is losing the war on terror. The unimaginative and unnecessary charade Bush led us to in Iraq has caused more instability than it has prevented. The most popular anti-American leader in the world today remains at large. Whether we shrink away at the thought or not, Bin Laden is as much of a political genius as Karl Rove. He can make people act as sheep, swallowing his propaganda and using Bush's ignorant "bring 'em on" attitude to inflame his would-be-followers. Bush's failures have emboldened this shadowy genius of a leader.

I am clearly and thoroughly dismayed by this thought, yet I believe it is true. Bush adamantly refuses to change course in Iraq and adjust/correct America's policies abroad. Muslim nations in that part of the world who were once moderate now lean toward the jihadists. We are not safer for having had this leader at this time in our nation's sordid, frightening, and sorrowful history.

Bush is finally on to something.
With him at the wheel, we're not going to be winning much of anything.
Ever.

Unless he flip-flops, of course.

There's always hope he has a touch of the flip-flopper in him.

He's proven that inflexibility kills.

Bush 41 calls NYC Protesters "Senseless; False Patriots"

Bush 41 calls NYC Protesters "Senseless; False Patriots"

I just watched George HW Bush (41st President) call the protesters in NYC "senseless" while speaking on the deck of the USS Intrepid. He also accused the protesters of being "false patriots".

He used the words of Major Butler in Najaf (words which allegedly appeared in a recent NY Times column) to assist him in denouncing the speech of the protestors.

While it is GWH Bush's right to blame protesters for his own's son's disastrous results in Iraq to date, I have the right to say I think he's simply finding a way to defend his son, which any of us parents might have a tendency to do where our children are concerned.

I think he's terribly mistaken to blame those who see his son's dreadful missteps for what they are.

No American should be intimidated by those who make the wars into believing they cause political failure in those wars (as opposed to recognizing the failure).

Major Butler, over in Iraq, may wish Americans would not speak for him when they protest American foreign policy.
We are not speaking for him.
We are speaking for ourselves.

Major Butler thinks the gifts we send to troops and the good will and prayers we offer up are "false support" if we've exercised our free speech along with the deal....if we don't fall in, like good soldiers, with misguided missions.
That's not in keeping with much of a spirit of gratitude or the American way, is it?

I wish Major Butler to know that I do support him and his right to believe as he wishes. I will not, however, ever stand for the Major calling someone like me a false patriot.

My family has shared in building and defending this country--all the way back to pre-Revolutionary times.

I certainly won't stand for the ones who plot and plan misguided wars and the familes who defend their sons' failures to call me a false patriot.

My views are every bit as important as any other American's.

Once again, nuance escapes the dull. Supporting your troops is not the same as silencing yourself when you see unnecessary danger to those troops.

If you care about them, you speak up.

John Kerry did it after he risked all in Viet Nam.
History proved John Kerry right, no matter how unpatriotic the Bushes try to paint him while they (and their shadowy Swift Boat liars) attempt to revise that history.

When critics of the war say their advocacy is on behalf of those of us risking our lives here, it's a type of false patriotism. I believe that when Americans say they "support our troops," it should include supporting our mission, not just sending us care packages. They don't have to believe in the cause as I do; but they should not denigrate it. That only aids the enemy in defeating us strategically.

Over Najaf, fighting for my hometown
Glen G. Butler NYT

All Hail President Catastrophe!

All Hail President Catastrophe!

Praising the Catastrophically Successful in the Big Apple

Fans of catastrophic success want to see four more years of it. Four more years of the likely possibility of charging blindly and without real provocation or real allies into yet another nation. Who will be next? Iran? Syria?

Not with our children, they don't. They're going to have to pry them out of our cold dead hands. We don't trust catastrophe wrapped up in fancy toilet paper and called "success".

We don't live in an alternate magical universe like these Bush idolizers.

We don't trust a leader who'd use a sneaky backdoor draft to avoid calling for a real one. Calling for a real draft would be the end of Bush politics as we know it. Poof. There would go the Bush charade as a moral leader of united people.

We don't trust a leader who finds it morally acceptable to lie their way into a needless war, then ignore and attempt to ban the political speech of the majority of the people of America when they call him on it.

Dishonorable success goes hand-in-hand with catastrophic success.

This election will be a referendum on the last four years. The question is: Will Americans see through this charade? Will they be capable of looking through the pretty Arnold and Rudy watercolors in order to see the political sewage stains that lie, in truth, underneath?

If the media doesn't do a good job over the next couple months, the truth could easily be hidden. Americans have very short attention spans.

Of course, the media will need help from the Democrats themselves. The Democrats could use a shot of Iron in getting the truth out. They are not going to win this election by assuming the media will do the honorable thing. They seldom do. In general, the media would rather appease the viewers' desire to 'see blood'. The sounding of recent mea culpas over Iraq misreporting and editing from major news outlets tells us something's terribly wrong.

Karl Rove has learned how to manipulate the worst in the crowd's desire for blood. He's a dishonorably successful man, make no mistake. Dishonorable success goes hand-in-hand with catastrophic success.

The media allowed themselves to be manipulated and failed us terribly in the lead-up to the Iraq invasion. Rove and the Bush mouth-machine can turn the legend of the catastrophic idiot G.W. Bush into public polls resulting in nearly half of potential voters still willing to give President Catastrophe another shot at messing things up.

When will we all wise up?

All Hail President Catastrophe!

Over 100,000 Today in NYC

Over 100,000 Today in NYC

"I’ll speak out! I have nothing to lose.
I have absolutely nothing to lose."
--Celeste Zappala

AP photo
More Than 100,000 Protest Bush in NYC
DemfromCT has rally stories at Kos. An open thread continues with more rally stories.


photo: Indymedia
This was the oldest person who was rallying today.


One woman stood out among the protesters in NYC.
Her name was Celeste Zappala.
Her son, Army Sgt. Sherwood R. Baker, was killed in Iraq.
These are her words.

Laura Bush: Swift Boat Attacks Are Fair

Laura Bush: Swift Boat Attacks Are Fair

TIME MAGAZINE:
Do you think these swift-boat ads are unfair to John Kerry?

MRS. BUSH
Do I think they're unfair? Not really. There have been millions of terrible ads against my husband.

Now there's a piece of great rationale from Laura Bush.
Two wrongs, according to Laura, make a right..well, maybe... sorta.

Quote of the Day-RNC Hypocrisy

Quote of the Day:
RNC Hypocrisy


"You can't craft a vicious, mean-spirited platform, then try to put lipstick on the pig by putting Rudy Giuliani and Arnold Schwarzenegger on in prime time."

--Christopher Barron, Activist with the Log Cabin Republicans

*my sincere aplogies to real pigs, who are actually lovely creatures.

Hillary will admit what Bush won't

Hillary will admit what Bush won't

On today's Meet the Press, Senator Hillary Clinton said to Tim Russert when she was asked to comment on John Kerry's "No" vote on the $87 billion Iraq funding:

"I think John, who understands war a heck of a lot better than I do..and has understood completely what it would mean for us to be on a wrong path in Iraq, was making the point that..by the time we had that vote, we needed to take a hard look at the policies of this administration."

My point?
Senator Clinton will admit that which Bush will never admit.
John Kerry understands war a heck of a lot better than either of them.

I admire Senator Clinton for saying so.

It might be easy for some people to forget that fact while cheap political lies are being hurled at them electronically, 24 hours a day, on cable news networks.

In Maureen Dowd's words, Bush was 'defending Texas from Oklahoma' while John Kerry faced the real test.

The extent of Bush's knowlege of war includes the stories his daddy told him, old John Wayne flicks, donning fake ribbons on his uniform, playing dress-up on an aircraft carrier, and toting fake turkeys around a military base after sneaking into Iraq in the dead of night and leaving as quickly and stealthily as he came.

[TRANSCRIPT HERE]

BOP Interviews Norman Mailer

BOP Interviews Norman Mailer

"Stupidity is a huge weapon."
--Norman Mailer

Don't miss Christopher Lydon's timely and exclusive interview with Norman Mailer at BOP.

Bush speaks in new Interview

Bush speaks in new interview

Thanks to Matt Drudge, I have a few quotes from the latest TIME magazine interview with George W. Bush.

Read a few of them and read my questions and comments to President Bush following each one.

On John Kerry: “His service was honorable, as far as I’m concerned....I can understand why Senator Kerry is upset with us. I wasn’t so pleased with the ads that were run about me. And my call is get rid of them all, now.

Why did you make a slip of the tongue to say Kerry is upset with you? Are you directly involved in the Swift Boat lies, George?
Why can't you be a real man and say these Swift Boat tales were obvious, brazen lies and a political revision of settled history?
Why does the question always come down to your avoiding a denouncing of the ads and making it "all about you"... attempting to make illegal the opportunity for political free speech which the "527 ads" provide?


On Iraq: ‘Had we had to do it over again, we would look at the consequences of catastrophic success—being so successful so fast that an enemy that should have surrendered or been done in escaped and lived to fight another day’

"Catastrophic success": Being so successful that you lose.
Good one, George.


On Iraq: "I couldn’t have sat down and said to you, By the way, we’re going to be so victorious so quickly that we’ll end up having to fight another third of the Baathists over the next year in order to bring liberty to the country. There’s an idea that you can chew on."

Chew on this, George. I'm embarrassed for you.
That is the most twisted philosophy I've ever heard.
"We're gonna win so fast we'll lose for a spell."
In 'The Art of War', Moral Law is laid down as an imperative to a state's success in war. It causes the people to be in complete accord with their ruler, so that they will follow him regardless of their lives, undismayed by any danger.
You have divided your nation and you are breaking your military.
You have no clue how to be a Commander-in-Chief.
Sun Tzu would be delirious with disbelief.
Had almost 1000 of our brave, loyal and strong troops not already died, I would laugh.


On Iraq: 'We’re dealing in a part of the world where our policy was, O.K., we’ll kind of tolerate the lack of liberty for other reasons and just hope it gets better.'

George, let's talk about liberty right here in the old U.S.A.
Do you expect Americans to tolerate your attempts to gag their liberty and free speech by eliminating all 527 ads because there are a few powerful organizations amongst them who expose too many of your lies? DO you think we'll just keep "hoping it gets better?"


On Washington DC: 'Washington is a much more bitter, ugly place, dominated by special interests, than I ever envisioned. I was surprised’

Oh, you poor innocent baby (who just happened to govern over one of the States with the heaviest special interest of all---Texas Oil).
Is the Washington scene more bitter, ugly and dominated by special interests than THIS place, George?


On Forcing Imperialistic Ambition Upon the American Middle-Class Taxpayer: “If the United States is willing to lead and never waver in our belief that liberty can change the habits of people, never blink, be kind and compassionate, generous with our money—which we are—but resolute in our belief in liberty, Iraq will end up being a free country. It doesn’t have to look like America, by the way. That’s one of the great myths—that all of a sudden, these countries must look like America.”

George, you are quick to be "generous" in committing our hard-earned tax dollars to your imperialistic ambitions. You are just as quick to be "generous" to your base--the top 1%--by giving them hefty tax cuts while burdening the middle class with your war expenses (while stealing their overtime pay). You are quick to be "generous" with our troops' lives-- committing many of the troops with a back-door draft to a dangerous place with no proper planning or intelligence. Iraq will look like America sooner than you think, because under your administration, we become less free and more poor with each passing day. Our jobs are going. You've "compassionately" and "generously" offered our "liberty" to third world labor at our middle-class expense. The greatest myth, George, is your delusion of greatness. "Compassion" is a big word and I am convinced, after living under your administration's rule these past four years, that you have absolutely no understanding of the meaning of the word.

While you make history, history will dispel delusion.

They'll say George W. Bush was a dangerous fool.

Media Shame: Cooperation with Lies

Media Shame:
Cooperation with Lies

The Palm Beach Post ombudsman has some thoughts about the Swift Boat liars and their free pass for the first couple weeks of their swill-campaign. Karl Rove, who's no idiot, is playing the media for the idiocy he has come to expect from them.
I wonder when the media will finally learn the lesson that there are not always two sides to every story?

The media reported on the Swift Boat liars' immoral attack on John Kerry's war record (and settled history) as if there were actualy "two sides". In doing so, they indulged a fantasy of fact and a fantasy of Karl Rove's. Buying into such lies exposes us all to a form of magical thinking that works to destroy the truth and health of American democracy.

Having nothing positive of their own record to boast about, the Bushites love the big Swift Boat lie because they think it will bolster their ability to eke out a pathetic win in November. How low in character. Politics are known to produce some unethical results, but the peddling of lies with an expectation that a malleable media will cooperate turns us to think about Germany circa 1939.

The Bush-Cheney campaign is betting that Americans will swallow another big lie, that outlawing '527s' will be positive for the furtherance of democratic truth in American politics. It's "Goebbels-on-speed" propaganda to tell good Americans that the 527s are being eliminated for their freedom. In reality, it's swallowing away their free speech with a tremendous radical-right gulp.

The real fair and balanced media (as in "not FOX") had best get going with some factual information. Too many good Americans get their education from the idiot box in the corner of their living rooms and the big headlines on the front pages of their newspapers.

Why not start with this one?

"John Kerry's war record is the truth; the attack on it is a lie."

"Democrat" Zell Miller Hates Democrats

"Democrat" Zell Miller
Hates Democrats

Zell Miller, with the help of Chris Wallace, wound up looking like a nasty little hypocrite today on FOX News Sunday. He expressed nothing but regret for the way he sees the Democratic party has progressed and blames them, 100%, for not supporting George Bush's radically right-skewed misleadership these past four years.

Many talk about what they call "Bush-hating". At the RNC podium, Zell Miller will be representing the ultimate in hatred--the hatred of his own party.

English poet/critic Samuel Johnson said that "No man is a hypocrite in his pleasures". Zell Miller, if not a hypocrite, is taking pleasure in supporting the worst president in our nation's history at the expense of the members of the party to which he claims to belong.

Political writer Michael Crowley recently referred to Miller as "a cartoonish GOP partisan" and I think he's right on the money.

Zell Miller's betrayal of the Democratic party cannot be anything but a personal vendetta. I believe he's let his pride and ego become far more important than the party to which he says he belongs. He obviously detests anyone or anything remotely connected with the word "liberal".
He's feeling slighted...alone.
He is alone, for all intents and purposes.
He will be alone at the podium of the RNC this week.

New Southern Democrats have come to take their place in a South that has progressed while Zell was still living in the South where, if you didn't want a black fellow hanging out in your establishment, you'd take a baseball bat and whack him about the head.

I find him to be a disgusting political creature.
True to nothing, easily discarded.

I'm sorry, Mr. Miller, it's time.
Time for you to get out of the way and let the new South breathe.

Get the hell out of our party if you hate it.

RNC News

RNC Convention News

I will update this post daily (until the start of the RNC convention).

--William Rivers Pitt- For Those About to Rock
---Dan Payne/Boston Globe- Questions, and more questions, on the eve of the RNC

--CBS News- The RNC-A User's Manual
--PoynterOnline- Editors Preview Plans for RNC Coverage
--ABC News- Bush Crams in Trips to Key States Before Heading to New York for GOP Convention

--From the Village Voice-
-Where are an estimated 215,000 protesters supposed to go?
-Coming to a Convention Near You: Scary Anarchist II New York papers way, way lose their cool over protest of the Republican confab
Elements of Style: Radical Chic: What to Wear on Sunday
Events: Stand Up and Be Counted: Marching to Defend Democracy
Rebel Yells Lost highway: The road to destruction
Rebel Yells Firing up Tompkins Square's radical roots
Elephants in our Living Room


--Radio Free Europe- Bush's Tumultuous First Term Divides Nation
--N.Y.Times- Air of "special intimacy" to be an added ingredient to the carefully scripted Bush convention speech
--FrontPage.com- Libel? Front page magazine calling John Sellers a "terrorist".
--LA Times- Pirate radio to moor at Republican convention
--Democracy Now- The Revolution Starts Now: Steve Earle on the Republican Convention
--Reuters- Republicans have promised they will not capitalize on the 9/11 attacks.
--MTV News- NYC may be a "close third" to Sodom and Gomorrah for green RNC delegates.
--LA Times- GOP Platform Draft Toes Bush Administration Line
--Texas Triangle- Cheney/Bush flip-flop fighting on Gay issue
--RNC- CJs: Five Convention Jockeys Will Highlight Events Inside-the-Garden (Christine Iverson, Mercedes Viana Schlapp, former Katherine Harris spokeswoman Rori Patrise Smith, Don King-fan Tara Wall, and Yohana de la Torre).


GOOGLE: RNC Convention

GOOGLE: GOP Convention

GOOGLE: Republican convention

Do you remember the days in November...

Do you remember
the days in November...

"She is exactly what
everyone wants in a civil servant."
---Sid Dinerstein, chairman of the Palm Beach County Republican Party, speaking about Palm Beach County elections ballot-designer Theresa LePore



If Election 2000 voters
in Palm Beach County are not presently senile
(no thanks to stunted stem cell research), they will
remember that they didn't vote for good old Pat Buchanan.

Republicans aren't any more senile than they were in 2000.
They are still every bit as much in love with
Theresa (Butterfly-ballot) LePore
as they were back then.
Sigh.

Peaceful Protesters Already Being Treated Shabbily in NYC

Peaceful Protesters Already Being Treated Shabbily in NYC


Photo: N.Y.Times

Helmeted officers dragged netting across Seventh Avenue and 14th Street to block the ride.


Disorderly bastards!


"....it was very
clear the police were upset
at how well the ride went."
--Bill DiPaola, executive director of
'Time's Up!', an environmental group

"The cops said,
'Get out of here!' and I was
trying to get out and I was cuffed."
--Keith from Brooklyn

"I think (the arrests were)
ridiculous because no one was doing anything
malicious and there wasn't any violence from the bike-riders."
--Stephanie Law, Richmond, VA

Seattle Times Endorses Kerry

Seattle Times Endorses Kerry

The election of Kerry would sweep away neoconservative war intellectuals who drive policy at the White House and Pentagon. It would end the back-door draft of American reservists and the use of American soldiers as imperial police. It would also provide a chance to repair America's overseas relationships, both with governments and people, particularly in the world of Islam....

....he is head and shoulders above the incumbent.
[LINK]

Talk about....

Talk about...

"Oye. If the Jew hadn't spied, I wouldn't have planned the war on Iraq, already."
--Fake quote from Douglas Feith, NeoCon/OSP

Talk about redundant.
Who needs Israeli spies when you've already got NeoCons?

Talk about obvious.
Who needs confessions about miscalculations and "unintended by-products" when everyone has already known for over a year?

Talk about false remedy.
Who needs a quick and cheap lawsuit to gag American free speech when an appeal to truth and honor hasn't even been honestly attempted?

Talk about a real challenge.
Who needs a serious weekly discussion about America's future when you can keep dredging up lies about John Kerry's past?

Talk about depressing.
*......*

My War: Soldier CB's Blog Has Been Gagged

My War: Has Soldier CB's Blog Been Gagged?

Soldiers fighting for free speech are silenced themselves.

I went to CB's My War blog today only to find the name was changed to "Over and Out" and to see that everything's gone except a quote from Johnny Rotten:

Ever Get the Feeling You've Been Cheated?"
-last words Johnny Rotten spit
onstage at the Sex Pistols
last gig in 1978.

I'm shocked. CB's serving our country--risking his life in Iraq for our freedom-- and this talented writer has been gagged.

While a young soldier who only wanted to tell you "how it felt while it was happening" is stopped from having free speech, old liars spread filth about what they say happened when they served almost 40 years ago.

I don't see anyone gagging them.

Fay Report Criticizes Gen Sanchez

Fay Report Criticizes Gen Sanchez

According to classified parts of the report by three Army generals on the abuses at Abu Ghraib prison, General Ricardo Sanchez is facing the fire for a series of orders he and his aides issued in Fall, 2003. It appears the memorandum, while not authorizing abuse, effectively opened the way, through the creation of "confused doctrine and policy" at Abu Ghraib last fall, for interrogation techniques that Pentagon investigators have characterized as abusive. Interestingly, the Fay report (as it is often called) has not addressed whether General Sanchez was authorized to designate detainees in Iraq as unlawful combatants, as the administration has treated prisoners in Afghanistan. General Sanchez and his aides have always maintained that the only approaches they authorized for use in Iraq were consistent with the Geneva Conventions. Somehow, I don't believe using dogs as an interrogation tool fits in too nicely with the spirit of the Geneva Conventions.

The Palm Beach Post editorial for today is indicative of the suspicion and likelihood that many Americans are not settled with the fact that the Pentagon has been left completely out of the Schlesinger and Fay reports for their accountability.

Excerpt:

....although it finds fault with Gen. Sanchez, it also stops well short of recommending discipline for him or anyone else very far up the command chain.

Although the Schlesinger panel purports to be "independent," Mr. Rumsfeld appointed its members. For a "friendly" report, it is surprisingly harsh toward him. Like other reports originating too close to the Pentagon, however, it is inadequate. Abu Ghraib still needs an independent investigation that can question everyone in the Pentagon, the CIA and in the private companies who took up the slack when the number of troops fell so short.

When lines of responsibility go to the top, yet no discipline is recommended above fairly low levels, the reports lead to one more conclusion: not enough accountability.

Books For Soldiers

Books For Soldiers



Books For Soldiers is a soldier support site that ships books, DVDs and supplies to deployed soliders and soldiers in VA hospitals, via a large volunteer network.

If you have old, but usuable paperback books sitting around, collecting dust, why not send them to a solider for a big morale boost?

Bloggers- you can help to spread the word about BFS by adding one of BFS' buttons to your blog.

"Bush on the Couch" review

Book review: "Bush on the Couch"
by Justin A Frank M.D.



In case you've missed it, you can read my review of "Bush on the Couch" at DKosopedia Book Reviews/Daily Kos.

Tony Blair to be impeached over Iraq mess?

Tony Blair to be impeached over Iraq mess?

In the Guardian, David Hencke reports that a document is being drawn up by the chambers of Tony Blair's own wife Chrie Booth to impeach Blair. Blair will allegedly be impeached for "high crimes and misdemeanours" in the run up to the war against Iraq. This is an ancient parliamentary procedure and hasn't been used for 156 years.
A deputy high court judge who recently brought a case arguing that the Iraq war breached international law is one of the parties drawing up the document.
Another is a professor of human rights at the London School of Economics.
Adam Price, the Plaid Cymru MP, initiated the process.
Altogther, 12 MPs are involved in the impeachment.

In a season where the American president is in a struggle to keep his position for the next four years and hangs nearly every hope on the war he initiated in Iraq, this will not be support for any of his insistence that the war was particularly good for any human being's safety....American or otherwise.

The Tank/Cosmopolity during RNC Convention

The Tank:
Republican National Convention Blog

Information on activities during the Republican National Convention at the Tank, 432 West 42nd St, and around New York City.

A summary of the latest blogposts from RNC bloggers.
Organizations in NYC
Counter GOP Concention events.
The UnConvention.
Imagine Festival
Drinking Liberally.

RNC Credentialed Bloggers

Credentialed RNC Bloggers

RNC Bloggers

Here is list of credentialed bloggers for the Republican National Convention:



Kevin Aylward, WizBang
Dean Esmay, Dean's World
Blogs For Bush
Matt Margolis of Blogs For Bush
Captain Ed, Captain's Quarters and Blogs For Bush
Scott Sala, Slant Point
John H. Hinderaker, Power Line
Karol, Dean's World and Spot On,
Bill, INDC Journal (was a disinvited blogger from DNCC)
Tom Bevan, RealClear Politics
Ben Domenech, Red State
Tacitus
Roger L. Simon
Brian Reich, Campaign Web Review
David Adesnik from OxBlog
Hugh Hewitt

Unofficially blogging:

Travis LaFrance
Jerome Armstrong, MyDD
Ana Marie Cox, Wonkette
Taegan D. Goddard, Political Wire
Allen Larson, LarsonReport.com
Joshua Micah Marshall, Talking Points Memo
Christopher Rabb, Afro-Netizen
Jay Rosen, Knight Ridder's Sky Box
Bill Scher, LiberalOasis
Cameron Scott, Centerfield
Matt Welch, Tim Blair, Julian Sanchez, Reason.com/Conventions
Markos Zuniga, DailyKos

WSJ- "MEET THE RNC BLOGGERS" (see their photos)

RNC bloggers more privileged than delegates?

The Bloggers' Invitation (difficult to read)

GOP Convention Media Walk-Through

RNC.org blog

GOP Convention Speakers

GOP Convention Speakers

Here is the Official Prime Time list of speakers for the 2004 Republican Convention:

Monday, Aug 30:
Michael Bloomberg, Rudy Guiliani, John McCain

Tuesday, Aug 31:
Laura Bush, Rod Paige, Arnold Schwarzenegger

Wednesday, Sept 1:
Lynne Cheney, Dick Cheney, Zell Miller

Thursday, Sept 2:
George Pataki, George Bush

Others: Senator Bill Frist, Senator Elizabeth Dole, Senator Rick Santorum, Senator Sam Brownback, Rep. Dennis Hastert, Lt. Gov. Michael Steele-MD, Rep. Heather Wilson-MD, Rep. Anne Northup-KY, Erika Harold(Miss America 2003).

Geoff Davis is a late addition.

Kerry way ahead in MSNBC Online Poll

Kerry way ahead in MSNBC Online Poll

I just took this on-line poll at MSNBC.com:

If the presidential election were held this week, who would you vote for?
* 336,202 responses so far *

George W. Bush
41%

John Kerry
57%

Ralph Nader
2%

Curiously, the title of MSNBC's article which accompanies the poll is:

"Swift Boat defense costs Kerry
Bush squeaks into the lead in wake of controversial ads"

It appears this must be a joke.
Right?!


At Democrats.com, they comment on the same article:

MSNBC Tries to Help Shore Bush Up with Astoundingly Bad Propaganda

We were taking bets a few days back as to when MSNBC would crank out a new "poll" or set of "facts" showing that Bush has gained ground against Kerry as a way to offset the Swift boat fiasco. So here it is, and what a piece of badly written propaganda it is, too! First the headline says: "Swift Boat Defense Costs Kerry: Bush Squeaks into the Lead..." But if you read this rambling, barely coherent piece, you will find aboiut 2/3 thru that Kerry has, in fact not lost ground to Bush in polls! The headline, i.e., is false. In fact, if you check out the poll right on the same page as the article, you will discover that Bush trails Kerry 41% to 57%. And then, the remainder of the article is a gushing groupie puff piece on Cheney. This is journalism?

Morning-After-Election Headlines

National Hall of Flame
Morning-After-Election Headlines
by Dylan Thomas

• KERRY KICKS BUSH GLASSWARE
• BUSH TRACKED, HI-JACKED, SMACKED, CRACKED, PACKED, STACKED, SHELLACKED
• BUSH DAD HAD, SAD, MAD
• RALPH REED’S PANTS PEED
• KAREN HUGHES UNAMUSED
• “SLEEZZY LEEZZY CON” RICE DICED
• “SEMICOLON” POWELL HOWLING
• RUMSFAILED “CHUMMY RUMMY” CRUMMY
• SCREECHWRITER DAVE “AXIS OF EVIL” FRUM GLUM
• TOM “CHICKEN LITTLE” RIDGE OFF BRIDGE
• JOHN “TORQUEMADA” ASHCROFT ALOFT

• FAILED IMPEACHER HENRY HYDE FRIED
• DOUG FEITH NOT BLITHE
• PEGGY NOONAN SWOONAN
• JAMES INHOFE SCOFFED
• MIKE SAVAGE RAVAGED
• PHIL GRAMM SLAMMED
• BILL FRIST IN TWIST
• RICK PERLE ASWIRL
• ANDY CARD JARRED
• GARY BAUER SOUR

• MCCAIN SLAIN
• NEWT MUTE
• KEMP LIMP
• BUSH HANDLER MATTHEW DOWD COWED
• TOM DELAYED, SPLAYED, SPAYED, DISMAYED
• TURNCOAT MORRIS DICK: BIC WON’T CLICK
• GEN. “ALLAH IS SATAN” BOYKIN BROYKEN
• RABBI SHMULEY BOTEACH WRECKED
• KRAUTHAMMER SNOUT HAMMERED
• HOROWITZ HORROR-FRITZED

• RICH $CAIFE $TRAFED
• GIULIANI ROODY MOODY
• “GESTAPO DICK” CHENEY RAINY
• BILL “LYING LIAR” O’REILLY NO LONGER SMILEY
• G. FELON LIDDY HALF PAST GIDDY
• DRUGGY LIMBAUGH RUSH CRUSHED
• NUTTY LIMBAUGH DAVE STAVED
• BUSH HANDLER KARL “POLL TROLL” ROVE STOVED
• CARLSON TUCKER SUCKERED
• SCARBOROUGH JOE SNOWED

• MOWBRAY JOEL IMPALED ON OWN POLE
• GOP SEN DICK LUGAR CHEWED BY COUGAR
• WILLIAM SCHNEIDER BRUNCHED BY SPIDER
• CHRISTOPHER HITCHENS STILL A-BITCHEN
• FAILED IMPEACHER HASTERT DEN DISCOVERS ZEN
• BOB DOLE LOSES SOUL
• LINDA TRIPP LOSES GRIP
• STEVE FORBES LOSES ORBS
• BARNES FRED BRAIN DEAD
• “LAS VEGAS BILL” BENNETT: NO LONGER IN IT

• SWIFT BOAT VET FOR UNTRUTH CHENOWETH JACK WHACKED
• SWIFT BOAT VET FOR UNTRUTH ELLIOTT GEORGE MEMORY FORGED
• SWIFT BOAT VET FOR UNTRUTH ADRIAN LONSDALE: FROM CONSDALE
• SWIFT BOAT VET FOR UNTRUTH THURLOW LARRY WEDS TOOTH FAIRY
• SWIFT BOAT VET FOR UNTRUTH O’NEILL JOHN E. COPS PLEA
• SWIFT BOAT VET FOR UNTRUTH DICK PEES: FLEES ON KNEES
• SWIFT BOAT VET FOR UNTRUTH WILLIAM E. FRANKE: HIS BOAT SANK
• SWIFT BOAT VET FOR UNTRUTH LANNOM BILL: GOP SHILL
• SWIFT BOAT VET FOR UNTRUTH HOFFMAN ROY: GOP TOY
• SWIFT BOAT VET FOR UNTRUTH PONDER JOE: GOP HO
• SWIFT BOAT VET FOR UNTRUTH CORDIER KEN GOP SPIN
• SWIFT BOAT VET FOR UNTRUTH ALVIN A. HORNE: PURE PORN
• SWIFT BOAT VET FOR UNTRUTH PLUMLEY CAPT CHARLEY: 200 PROOF BARLEY
• SWIFT BOAT VET FOR UNTRUTH WEYMOUTH SYMMES STILL SLIMES
• SWIFT BOAT VET FOR UNTRUTH MARK HYMAN STILL A-SLIMIN’

• BROOKS DAVY: BRAINWAVY
• PHYLLIS SCHLAFLY AWFULLY WAFFLY
• MORT KONDRACKE: WHACKY
• BUCKLEY JR: EVEN LOONIER
• SEAN HANNITY: INSANITY
• ALAN KEYES: PUHLEEEEEZE!
• “KENNY BOY” LAY TAKEN AWAY
• SANTORUM GOP SEN RICK: OIL SLICK
• GLENN BECK: TRAIN WRECK
• WHITE HOUSE COM DIR DAN BARTLETT: WARTLET

• JOHN O’NEILL: NO APPEAL
• WALT SHAPIRO NO HERO
• ROBERT KAGAN NOOOOOOO RON REAGAN
• FALWELL: “SCARY JERRY” VEEEERY WARY
• GINGRICH: “PHILANDERIN’ NEWT” SNOT IN SNOOT
• GINGRICH: “ZOOT SUIT NEWT” SNOOT IN SNIT
• COULTER: “SLANDERIN’ ANN” HITS THE FAN
• WOLFOWITZ: “WOLF WOLF” PAUL HITS THE WALL
• “LEAKY BOB” NOVAK SACKED
• “LEAKY LIBBY” SCOOTER NOOTERED

• WILLIAM SAFIRE CONDITION DIRE
• MATT “ALL SLUDGE” DRUDGE WHOLE NEW GRUDGE
• BOB JONES GROANS
• BOORTZ NEAL REELS
• “ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MAN” WOODWARD BOB SOBS
• GOLDBERG JONAH PULLS A BONAH
• MIKEY MEDVED WETS HIS BED-BED
• “UNFAIR AND UNBALANCED” BRIT HUME FACES DOOM
• GEORGE F. WILL POPS POISON PILL
• HANSON VIC DAVE SPINS IN GRAVE

• GOP REP DICK ARMEY FAAAAADES AWAY
• CHUCK COLSON BACK TO FOLSOM
• “BALLOT FRAUD KATHARINE” HARRIS OFF TO PARIS
• “MARRIED TO THE ENEMY” MATALIN STAYS A-BATTALIN
• “BILLY THE KID” KRISTOL PACKS A PISTOL
• “PORN KEN” STARR DRAAAAAINS BAR
• PRAGER DENNIS SPONGES GUINNESS
• HUNTER GOP REP DUNCAN DRUNKAN
• MAYOR ED KOCH SCOTCHED, DEBAUCHED
• DR. THOMAS SOWELL THROWS IN TOWEL

• THOMAS CAL JOINS QAEDA AL
• ROBERTSON “CRYPTO-NAZI PAT” DRATS STATS
• DOBSON “CRYPTO-FASCIST JAMES” NAMES NAMES
• BUSH “HMO JEB” GOES REB
• CANNED ‘BAMA JUSTICE ROY MOORE STARTS WAR

*my favorite:

• DEM SEN MILLER ZELL TOASTS IN HELL

McCain's looking mighty hypocritical

McCain's looking mighty hypocritical

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"527s - I think these ought to be outlawed. I think they should have been outlawed a year ago. We have billionaires writing checks, large checks, to influence the outcome of the election."
--President G.W. Bush 8-26-04

"What an impressive crowd: the haves, and the have-mores. Some people call you the elite, I call you my base."
--President G. W. Bush at a fundraising event, as seen in "Fahrenheit 9/11"

"He has condemned the 527's, which I'm pleased that he did. I'd like to see him go further....
I must and have put anything disagreeable concerning the 2000 campaign behind me. Americans don't like a sore loser."
--Sen John McCain 8-25-04

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The Kerry campaign has yanked this ad per John McCain's wishes.

What has the Kerry campaign gotten in return?

Not much.

McCain says he thinks Bush has gone far enough in condemning the Swift Boat ad accusations.

I don't think Bush has gone far enough. All Bush has done is to blame 527s entirely (rather than denounce the liars who support and work with his campaign).

The White House has announced that Bush will join forces with McCain in a legal action to "crack down" on political ads aired by the 527s because of a section of the tax code that covers them. If the court action doesn't work, Bush would be willing to cram his plan to gag our free speech down our throats by pursuing legislative bully-action with McCain.

None of us should stand for this.

I'm respecting McCain less and less these days. We know what the Bush campaign did to him in 2000. He condemned the Swift Boat liars, and then gave Bush a free pass when Bush stubbornly refused to firmly denounce the ads himself.

Worse yet, he fully supports Bush's reelection and will assist the President in gagging our free speech.

Howard Dean's internet-based fund-raising campaign showed the GOP that Progressives could learn how to play the same fund-raising game better than the GOP themselves had ever learned. Suddenly, Conservatives become the imitators who lag behind. Little voices, yours and mine, have found their way to a large audience. We've discovered how we can work together. Dean's campaign awakened and inspired enough of us to take part by making our small contributions. We've learned how we would be able to opt out of the system-- because the system was broken.

The power must remain in the hands of the American people. Only the American people have the power to honestly change this broken political system. It is every citizen's duty to ensure our new-found power is not crushed by the likes of G.W.Bush and John McCain.

Swift boat smear: Why would you believe it?

Swift boat smear: Why would you believe it?

On the face of everything that has ever made common sense to you, why would you choose to believe this group of political thugs?

"...many of the veterans now accusing Kerry of being more of a poltroon than Barney Fife were supporters of the candidate, some as recently as a year ago....Hustings thugs created a blatant special interest group that exploits Vietnam veterans who served with distinction, and who may well have a fair beef with Kerry over his antiwar activities, simply to advance the political career of a candidate who used the war himself as little more than a glorified dental plan.."
--Daniel Ruth

"George Bush has two silver dental fillings in his teeth to show what he did during the Vietnam War. John Kerry has a Silver Star, a Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts. You wouldn't want to be there for four hours or four minutes. John Kerry went above and beyond the call of duty, sticking his nose into enemy fire. Not everybody liked that because some were just intent on survival. But until recently, nobody ever said he did not serve honorably. John Kerry should not be alive today," He was aggressive -- more aggressive than the rest of us. That was his nature, and everybody who was there knows it."
--Rich Baker, former Navy lieutenant and Swift boat commander in Vietnam

Your comments would be appreciated.

Tell me lies about Vietnam

Tell me lies about Vietnam
Adrian Mitchell

Listening to all the Bush-supporting Swift Boat veteran's lies-- hearing these men attempt to erase settlesd (unsettling) history--- I am reminded of a poem by Adrian Mitchell...

I was run over by the truth one day.
Ever since the accident I've walked this way
So stick my legs in plaster
Tell me lies about Vietnam.

Heard the alarm clock screaming with pain,
Couldn't find myself so I went back to sleep again
So fill my ears with silver
Stick my legs in plaster
Tell me lies about Vietnam.

Every time I shut my eyes all I see is flames
Made a marble phone book and I carved all the names
So coat my eyes with butter
Fill my ears with silver
Stick my legs in plaster
Tell me lies about Vietnam.

I smell something burning, hope it's just my brains.
They're only dropping peppermints and daisy-chains
So stuff my nose with garlic
Coat my eyes with butter
Fill my ears with silver
Stick my legs in plaster
Tell me lies about Vietnam.

Where were you at the time of the crime?
Down by the Cenotaph* drinking slime
So chain my tongue with whisky
Stuff my nose with garlic
Coat my eyes with butter
Fill my ears with silver
Stick my legs in plaster
Tell me lies about Vietnam.

You put your bombers in, you put your conscience out,
You take the human being and you twist it all about
So scrub my skin with women,
Chain my tongue with whisky
Stuff my nose with garlic
Coat my eyes with butter
Fill my ears with silver
Stick my legs in plaster
Tell me lies about Vietnam

*Cenotaph - war memorial in London

First read out in Trafalgar Square in 1964. Read again Saturday 13 October 2001 at the Anti-War demonstration in London.

Mr. Cleland Goes to Crawford

Mr. Cleland Goes to Crawford


Mr. Cleland goes to Crawford.

Bush hides behind the shades.

Bushites run on nothing but negativity

Bushites run on nothing but negativity

Poor things. It's really all they've got

Tucker Carlson was on CNN today saying that Kerry has no message.

This is all the Bushites have to run on, my friends.

Sheer negativity.

They can claim no positive American progress of their own.
There is no badge of honor for them to wear so instead they create, in their own fantasy world, a banner of shame to try to place on Senator Kerry's chest.

The funny thing is, every time Paul Begala tried to talk about the past four years, Tucker Carlson would loudly whine over Begala's points.

The past four years will bring Bush down in November, no matter how much his campaign tries to change the subject.

That's precisely what "Anybody But Bush" is all about.
It's a steamroller of a movement.

I'm sure John Kerry won't mind a bit when "Anybody but Bush" translates to "President Kerry" on November 3rd.

Eliminating 527s would limit free speech

Eliminating 527s would limit free speech

No wonder the Bush team wants to do away with them. Bushites aim to limit public opinion just like they screen Bush rally attendees.

Marc Racicot was seen today on CNN with Judy Woodruff saying it's a "complete fabrication" that there is any connection between the Bush campaign and the Swift Boat ads. He takes a lot of Americans for complete idiots, I guess.

Racicot casts the red herring--appealing to the Kerry campaign to denounce all 527 ads---to do away with them altogether.

Once again, we see the Bushites stepping on the toes of citizen's 1st Amendment protections for their own selfish political relief.
They want to hide from 527-attacks on Bush's actual record, which is the very dismal thing they wish to keep out of the public eye in this campaign.

Supporting 527s would expose the cracks in his terrible record and his flimsy logic.
Eliminating 527s would gag U.S. citizens.

What is more important to Bush?
Hiding the record or protecting citizens' rights?

I don't have to tell you.
You're no dummy.
You already know the answer.

Using near-psychotic control-tactics on the American public in the name of politics, the Bush campaign is holding the further spreading of complete slander over Senator Kerry's head unless he agrees to get in bed with them on the idea of eliminating the free speech that the 527-option provides.

Bush wants to limit the great American discussion.

This is evil, my friends...pure and simple.

Kerry to Bush: Time to Take Charge

Kerry to Bush: Time to Take Charge

John Kerry believed Donald Rumsfeld should have resigned from his position long ago.
From what we can glean from Kerry's latest comments, he wonders when the hell Bush will take charge as an intelligently decisive Commander-in-Chief.
(They aren't Kerry's words, but it isn't hard to get his stately drift).
U. S. soldiers in the lower ranks have been scapegoated in the Abu Ghraib scandal and the public knows it.
Kerry recommends a chartered Congressional demand for an Independent Commisssion because of the simple fact that accountability for Abu Ghraib runs through the civilian command, and it is absolutely left out of the Schlesinger and Maj. Gen. George Fay reports.
Bush's campaign spokesman says Kerry will say anything that's politically advantageous.
While that may be a natural consequnce of a political campaign, no one could argue (unless they were politically defensive), that Senator Kerry is making sense.

Bush Attorney Benjamin Ginsberg Resigns Too Late

Bush Attorney Benjamin Ginsberg Resigns Too Late

We already know what he's done, in cahoots with the Bushites.
He joins retired Air Force Col. Ken Cordier in the Bush campaign's Hall of Shame.
Another Bush connection confirmed.
How very ugly.

It's too late for the resignation to mean anything at all.

He may as well have stayed because anyone who believes the Bushites were unaware would have to be an imbecile.

Swift Boat Vendetta-The Real Reason

Swift Boat Vendetta-The Real Reason

The right-wing mouth machine got through to their parrot Matt Drudge and we ascertain a glimpse of truth about the reason for the bitter Swift Boat lie-attacks facilitated and given a free ride by the Bushites and the malleable ("we have to present two sides of a story regardless of ethics") press:

KERRY: "Why are all these swift boat guys opposed to me?"

BRANT: "You should know what you said when you came back, the impact it had on the young sailors and how it was disrespectful of our guys that were killed over there."
______________

Has anyone read Four Hours in My Lai? The My Lai massacre was 'Abu Ghraib on speed'. The book should be required reading for every American who enters a voting booth before judging Kerry based on the dishonest political contortions of John O'Neill and Company. No yellow ribbon or Purple Heart or delusions or Swift Boat liar will ever conceal the truth of the war crimes that took place in Viet Nam.

I spent an entire afternoon just listening to A Viet Nam vet a few years ago. He was a cashier at a dollar store. Business was terribly slow. I was making a purchase and the book I was buying caught his eye. We began to talk and the conversation drifted to war. He began to talk about his own life and his experiences as a young soldier in the Viet Nam war. The memory of a young Vietnamese girl haunted him. She sold trinkets and doodads by the side of the road and the Vet's Army transportation vehicle would pass by the sweet, friendly girl nearly every morning. She would smile brightly and wave and the soldiers in the truck would all wave back. It was their routine. One morning as they passed the spot where they'd normally see the girl and wave, they noticed she wasn't there. As their truck came closer, the horror of seeing that little girl's entrails spilling out into the dusty road had poisoned the Vet's mind forever. She'd been killed for someone's amusement...or perhaps someone's frustration or anger.

Do the Swift Boat Vets wish to conceal the truth of the horrors of the VietNam conflict? The Sixties protests didn't happen for no reason. People knew the truth.

Self-examination is a healthy American value. The green and gangly Lt. John Kerry gave us a healthy dose of it when he returned from the war.

Our souls will wither if we fail to examine our conscience. Casting away inquiry will numb us to the pertinence of civility and law.

Whither goest our souls when memory faileth?

Whither goest thou, America?

My War- A Soldier's Blog

My War- A Soldier's Blog

At night here in Mosul, all you can hear the faint barking of loathsome stray dogs coming from the city, and every now and then, all at the same time, this somewhat creepy recording in Arabic is blasted from all these shitty radio shack quality speakers mounted on various mosques scattered randomly throughout Mosul. Its kinda eerie hearing these recordings, which is some guy speaking Arabic, in a monotone voice, versus and parts from the Koran.



It's one of those sounds and you'll experiences here in this country that you will never forget. Every time I hear those recordings being played from those mosque speakers, it completely hits me with the realization that I'm on the other side of the planet far away from home, and that I'm stranger in a really strange land....

This is a great new blog written by a soldier who is serving in Iraq.

What you hear on CNN is not the whole story.

Step into this soldier's boots for a while.

God is not Republican or Democrat

God is not a Republican..
..or a Democrat

Full text of ad here

People are beginning to talk.

Democratic Underground is talking about it.
The Common Good movement has contributed to it.

...sincere Christians and other people of faith can choose to vote for President Bush or Senator Kerry - for reasons deeply rooted in their faith.

We believe all candidates should be examined by measuring their policies against the complete range of Christian ethics and values.

We will measure the candidates by whether they enhance human life, human dignity, and human rights; whether they strengthen family life and protect children; whether they promote racial reconciliation and support gender equality; whether they serve peace and social justice; and whether they advance the common good rather than only individual, national, and special interests.

Sojourners feels so strongly about it that they've taken out full-page ads.
Freepers are talking about it.

God is not a Republican...or a Democrat.

We believe that poverty - caring for the poor and vulnerable - is a religious issue. Do the candidates' budget and tax policies reward the rich or show compassion for poor families? Do their foreign policies include fair trade and debt cancellation for the poorest countries? (Matthew 25:35-40, Isaiah 10:1-2)

We believe that the environment - caring for God's earth - is a religious issue. Do the candidates' policies protect the creation or serve corporate interests that damage it? (Genesis 2:15, Psalm 24:1)

We believe that war - and our call to be peacemakers - is a religious issue. Do the candidates' policies pursue "wars of choice" or respect international law and cooperation in responding to real global threats? (Matthew 5:9)

We believe that truth-telling is a religious issue. Do the candidates tell the truth in justifying war and in other foreign and domestic policies? (John 8:32)

We believe that human rights - respecting the image of God in every person - is a religious issue. How do the candidates propose to change the attitudes and policies that led to the abuse and torture of Iraqi prisoners? (Genesis 1:27)

We believe that our response to terrorism is a religious issue. Do the candidates adopt the dangerous language of righteous empire in the war on terrorism and confuse the roles of God, church, and nation? Do the candidates see evil only in our enemies but never in our own policies? (Matthew 6:33, Proverbs 8:12-13 )

We believe that a consistent ethic of human life is a religious issue. Do the candidates' positions on abortion, capital punishment, euthanasia, weapons of mass destruction, HIV/AIDS-and other pandemics-and genocide around the world obey the biblical injunction to choose life? (Deuteronomy 30:19)

Catholics are talking about it.

Blogger Chuck Currie's talking about it.

We also admonish both parties and candidates to avoid the exploitation of religion or our congregations for partisan political purposes.

The topic is of great interest to Independent voters.

Now I am talking about it.

When Bush regrets 527s, he regrets freedom

When Bush regrets 527s,
he regrets freedom

Joe Gandelman posted today that President Bush has denounced the Swift Boat Vet ads, but continues to tie that in to a call to do away with 527s (which are, in reality, representative of free speech).

Joe quotes Bush:

" 'That ad and every other ad' run by such groups [527s] have no place in the campaign."

If we choose to lean toward freedom, the freedom of 527s must be kept intact.

I do not regret that the Swift Boat Vets have employed the rights and priveleges enveloped by our nation's First Amendment protections.

I do regret dishonorable opportunism when it comes to a politically calculated revision of settled history.

The president also reissued his call for Kerry to echo his statement about such ads.

I would be very upset with John Kerry if he denounced 527s.

I would be pleased to hear Kerry admit that any deliberate and reckless lie is never acceptable in political advertising, especially when it so blatantly dishonors the service of any veteran.

A Commander-in-chief worth an ounce of honor would have denounced the Swift Boat ads "day one".

Talk about your whining politicians, this is the FEC complaint Bush-Cheney made against 527s (against our freedom) last March.
~~~~~~~~~

Speaking of dishonorable opportunism, Joe comments, in the same post, that he believes Bob Dole's recent comments are truly reprehensible.

I couldn't help but notice, while Bob Dole made those comments, he did so with his eyes continually cast down to the ground, indicative of a man who may have felt some shame in what he was saying about a fellow citizen who gave honorable service to America.
Shame on Bob Dole.
________________________________

At Crooked Timber, I caught a discussion about 527s:

Uggabugga links to a list of 527s and asks, “Why does the Bush campaign object to ads that the Oregon Grocery Association might run? What are they doing that is objectionable?”

Sorry to keep harping on this, but it’s pretty incredible that a serious candidate would talk like this. I doubt that five people in a hundred would agree with Bush’s position if it was presented in a cooler-headed context. The right of people to organize and speak out is right at the heart of the First Amendment.

Mr. Bush should realize this is a bipartisan issue and that he isn't fooling those of us (on either side of the ideological fence) who truly respect freedom.

Credentialed RNC Bloggers

Credentialed RNC Bloggers

RNC Bloggers

Here is list of credentialed bloggers for the Republican National Convention:



Kevin Aylward, WizBang
Dean Esmay, Dean's World
Blogs For Bush
Matt Margolis of Blogs For Bush
Captain Ed, Captain's Quarters and Blogs For Bush
Scott Sala, Slant Point
John H. Hinderaker, Power Line
Karol, Dean's World and Spot On,
Bill, INDC Journal (was a disinvited blogger from DNCC)
Tom Bevan, RealClear Politics
Ben Domenech, Red State
Tacitus
Roger L. Simon
Brian Reich, Campaign Web Review
David Adesnik from OxBlog
Hugh Hewitt

Unofficially blogging:

Travis LaFrance



RNC bloggers more privileged than delegates?

The Bloggers' Invitation (difficult to read)

GOP Convention Media Walk-Through

RNC.org blog

Convention musical entertainment
Includes: Brooks and Dunn, Lee Ann Womack, Third Day, Jaci Velasquez, Darryl Worley, Dexter Freebish, Gracie Rosenberger, Donnie McClurkin, Michael W. Smith, Daniel Rodriquez, Daize Shayne, Ron Silver, the Gatlin Brothers, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Sara Evans and Dana Glover.
________________________________________________________

Top GOP Convention FAQs:

1. When is the Republican National Convention?

The Official Convention Period runs from Monday, August 30 thru Thursday, September 2, 2004.

2. Where is the Republican National Convention 2004 being held?

Madison Square Garden will be the main site. MSG is located in Manhattan, New York, USA and is bordered by Seventh and Eighth Avenues, 31st and 33rd Streets.

3. What street, subway, LIRR, business, and transportation closings and restrictions are expected?

Traffic, Transportation, closings, restrictions roundup. MTA-LIRR closings, Penn Station entrance closings map. Latest Penn Station closings, Republican Convention street closing map one, this map represents the first days street closings and the less extensive closing conditions that will apply for off hours. Republican Convention street closing map two, this map represents the more extensive street closing rules that will apply when the convention is in session. The Official NYC RNC street closings press release, with full details. Latest press Release For Penn Station, subway, business, pedestrian closings.

4. Who will speak at the RNC 2004? Updated RNC speakers list.

Here is the Official Prime Time list of speakers for the 2004 Republican Convention:

Monday, Aug 30:
Michael Bloomberg, Rudy Guiliani, John McCain

Tuesday, Aug 31:
Laura Bush, Rod Paige, Arnold Schwarzenegger

Wednesday, Sept 1:
Lynne Cheney, Dick Cheney, Zell Miller

Thursday, Sept 2:
George Pataki, George Bush

Others: Senator Bill Frist, Senator Elizabeth Dole, Senator Rick Santorum, Senator Sam Brownback, Rep. Dennis Hastert, Lt. Gov. Michael Steele-MD, Rep. Heather Wilson-MD, Rep. Anne Northup-KY, Erika Harold(Miss America 2003).

5. What Security is being enacted for the 2004 Republican National Convention?

This is a question with many aspects, here we will catalogue a few. Latest security updates, airspace security, airport security, Security Cost, Federal Task Force, NYC Security, MSG Penn Station security, federal RNC waterside security, NYPD convention harbor security, bio-tech security.


6. To whom/where should permit applications be submitted?

Applications for march permits or sound device permits should be made with the Office of the Chief of Department, room 1300, One Police Plaza, New York, NY 10038.

7. Who handles applications for parkland use?

Permit requests to use parklands are handled separately by the New York City Parks Department.

8. How many delegates will attend the 2004 Republican National Convention?

2,509 delegates and 2,344 alternates.

9. How are delegates for the 2004 Republican National Convention chosen?

Delegates are chosen by a primary election, a caucus[closed political meeting], or a combination of the two. The selection process varies depending on the state's, territory's or District of Columbia's rules. state delegations to the 2004 republican national convention.

11. Who founded the Republican party?

The Free Soil Party and The Conscience Whigs [Whig Party Northerners] founded the Republican Party in Jackson Michigan July 6, 1854.

Kerry documentary: Brothers In Arms

Brothers In Arms


The documentary by Paul Alexander.
Produced in 2003.
To be released September 7. Get it here.

Howard Kurtz is off the mark

Howard Kurtz is off the mark

Since when is cooperating with liars a requirement to winning public office?

Howard Kurtz writes that the Kerry campaign's new ad reflects "anxiety and astonishment" over the Swift Boat Veterans ad. [LINK]

Are you kidding?
This is what is called 'fighting back'.
It's what Al Gore failed to do in 2000.

It never ceases to amaze me when I see the media crediting the Bush crowd for political genius on these Swift Boat lie-ads when all the public sees are a bunch of well-funded Bush-supporting vets doing anything they can to revise history for their preferred candidate's sake (calling "black" what is truly "white"--- even when your eyes can clearly see it's white).
This takes nuance to a whole new level.

Perhaps crediting scum is considered to be apropos in the world of politics.
Perhaps I'm naive to think Americans care about having a shred of decency regarding all activities in which they choose to participate--including politics.

Perhaps a lot of people will stay home on election day.
That is what the Bush team is praying for.
Our political pundits further propel the chance for lowered voter turnout by disgusting the public-at-large, playing directly into manipulative hands.

Perhaps our political pundits truly believe a candidate must "cooperate
with indecency" without fighting back or they risk political failure.
Would you put up with the line of thinking in your life?
That line of thinking is exactly what we're hearing from many in the land of professional punditry.

Perhaps our political pundits truly believe
a candidate must "cooperate with indecency" without fighting back or they risk political failure.

Would you put up with the line of thinking
in your life?

Perhaps this contributes to a world where unnecessary wars are started by the same lying techniques. Meanwhile, we say a loving goodnight to our 16-year olds and look forward to the day the draft letter comes for the next wrong-minded, barely-planned military event. Mission accomplished.

If we expect the world to change, politics is going to have to change.

The pundits must stand up for common sense, decency, and honesty...even in politics.

This swift boat garbage is not only causing a rift in the media..it's causing a rift amongst our great protectors---the military.

There's a young man or woman facing enemy fire in Najaf today. If he/she eventually runs for public office, who will be questioning his/or/her bravery or honesty in 35 years?

Tom Oliphant gives weight to the (common) sense of decency-in-politics in his observation that the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth may backfire and end up hurting George Bush rather than John Kerry.

ABC Political Note disappointment

ABC Political Note disappointment

I was reading ABC's Political Note today and I was not particularly impressed by some of the sections of political analysis I was seeing.

First of all, they write:

—The traditional media has shown no capacity to resist the story — for a week and counting this stuff has been the dominant narrative of the presidential race.

I submit to you, dear readers, that these analysts are speaking as if they are not writing to you from one of the biggest players in the traditional media. They are the ones showing no capacity to resist the story themselves. It's much like an alcoholic calling another guy a sot.


Another point of analysis that had me tearing at my hair for lack of meaningful comparative contrast was this one:

—There is no evidence that the Bush campaign is orchestrating the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, and the known ties between them are significantly less close than between John Kerry's campaign and the 527s supporting him.

First of all, the analyst makes a definitive statement: "There is no evidence..".
No evidence? According to whom? (Howard Kurtz, apparently. Why are they using Kurtz as the definitive font of wisdom?) Has there been an end-all news story I haven't heard about?
When you work for a power player like ABC, either you must be more careful of definitive statements like these or risk being seen as a Bush-coddler or, at best, a news network who doesn't care to investigate further because they "already know".

Then we have: "..the known ties between them [SwiftBoatVets and Bush] are significantly less close than between John Kerry's campaign and the 527s supporting him.."

Once again, where's the beef?
Where's the investigation and the end-all proof?

Most importantly, why are we pointing fingers at the 527s?
This is sick, my dear readers.
Sick, sick, sick.
The 527s are representing our freedom of speech.

It isn't Freedom to Lie.

Thankfully, slander and libel are still remedied by American justice. (That is, until our rights to sue are removed by the radical right-wing--look what's happening with Overtime Rules today for a taste of the slow death of justice and freedom in America).

Why would ABC political analysts drive the public to blame the 527s and not the deliberate and outright lies presented in the Swift Boat ads?

Would ABC analysts recommend that 527s be outlawed by the FEC?

Dear God, some bastion for defense of the First Amendment they're turning out to be if that's true.
James Madison would spin like chicken rotisserie in his grave.

Needless to say, I'm disappointed. I thought I trusted these folks.