We're Israel's Allies - Not Their Attack Dogs

We're Israel's Allies - Not Their Attack Dogs

There was discussion among world leaders and foreign policy experts about Iran's defiant nuclear stance and talk about the option of the use of force against Tehran during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland this week. From Reuters -

Kenneth Pollack, an expert on Iran at the Brookings Institution, a U.S. think-tank, said the military option was ''sub-optimal,'' but not impossible.

Although Israel has reserved the option of military force, Pollack said the United States would be the only country with the air power to carry out the ``hundreds of sorties a day'' required, possibly for weeks, to knock out Iran's air defenses and destroy anywhere between several dozen and several hundred facilities linked to its nuclear program.

"It would mean going to war with Iran and I think it's fair to figure that the Iranians would not sit by idly," he said.

"We've had some Iranian leaders say very explicitly that they would strike back...at a time and place of their own choosing, and that time and place would likely be soonish in Iraq and Afghanistan."

"If you think it's bad now (in Iraq), imagine 6,000 Iranian Revolutionary Guards and intelligence agents joining in the insurgency."

I have a good idea, American political leaders:
Let's not act as Israel's little attack dogs.
We recognize them as good allies, but that shouldn't mean you can sell the souls of our young men and women to them in their haste to use force against their enemy du jour.
Israel's itchy - but it's OUR trigger that their fingers want to be on.
You 'big boys' are playing with our American sons and daughters' lives when you're talking U.S. military intervention. We've watched Bush botch Iraq. We're watching you ever so closely now.

Military Volunteerism Hurt by Stop-Loss Policy

Military Volunteerism Hurt by
Stop-Loss Policy

It's really no wonder that Military recruitment is suffering. When the service for which a person volunteers has to repeatedly resort to compelling the retention of those who want to leave, especially in a war that we now know was never necessary, volunteerism is bound to become a markedly less popular notion. The U.S. Army has forced about 50,000 soldiers to continue serving after their voluntary stints ended, and according to a Reuters report, court challenges to the "stop-loss" policy have fallen flat.

Hamas Win Shows U.S. Foreign Policy is a Lemon

"We're interested in peace."

- G.W. Bush

Are we?

Hamas Win Shows U.S. Foreign Policy is a Lemon
It's the near-perfect recipe for unmanageable instability in the Middle East
Nice job with your Post 9/11 strategy, Karl Rove.




Bush doesn't care quite as much about the new democracy in Palestine as he cares about PEACE.

Bush doesn't care quite as much about PEACE in Iraq as he does about the new democracy.

Is it any wonder that Bush's Middle East foreign policy is a loser?

Brit Hume called Palestine's free and fair elections "interesting" this morning on Fox News Sunday.

Interesting?

You have to admit, that's quite a contrast to Hume's glowing claptrap about the direct, sudden, and magical connection between voting and "liberty":

"Everybody saw on Al-Jazeera, among the Arabs, the free elections in Iraq under American auspices. It showed that we were sincere in the invasion in not being after oil or hegemony, but in bringing liberty."

Bottom line, Anthony Cordesman, military analyist and Iraq expert for the Center for Strategic and International Studies was right when he told Fox News,

"Merely having people go to the polls can always be claimed to be a success. And I'm sure the [Bush] administration will claim just that, while a good part of the Arab world will claim it's a failure."

And now we see the opposite happening in Palestine. Bush decries the rise of Hamas, at the willing and free hands of the Pelestinian purple-fingered people, as a failure of liberty.

It leaves you to wonder just what "liberty" means to George W. Bush and his administration. It has little to do with freedom. It reduces any consistent form of logic behind his lofty rhetoric (a la Inauguration speech 2005) to tepid publum.

What hypocrisy.

Insisting that the Iraq war was "a necessity" after all of America can see that it was not, Seanate majority leader Bill Frist said today, to Tim Russert on Meet the Press, that he would have conducted the war differently, knowing what he knows today. When asked about the surprising victory of Hamas in the Palestinian elections, Frist said that democracy was still valued - that it is important for voters to have freedom to choose. He said that it increases transparency.

What is transparent - as clear as a bell - is that our foreign policy has driven the Palestinians straight to Hamas - and nearly every Middle Eastern election straight to the hardest lines. Anyone who would deny that fact is clearly not living in the real world, for you'd have to be blind, deaf, dumb, or dead to have not yet noticed our current presence as occupiers in a major Middle Eastern nation.

We've spent over almost $2 billion since 1993 for aid to Palestine - and got no political bang for the buck. We've lost hearts and minds in the Middle East because of Iraq. We are embarrassed. We have to now look tough, because of the Bush doctrine, and totally withdraw our support for the people of Palestine in order to punish their government, which we have deemed as a terrorist organization. The immorality of this very thought - the known suffering that the Palestinian people will have to endure because they dared to exercise, through free elections, their option toward their own freedom and democracy drives home what I've been saying here for three years. Bush is the wrong president to have had at this crucial time. Fatah was no hippie tree-hugging peace organization, either.

We should voice our strong support for Israel's right to exist - and for the people of Israel. We should also remember that Israel has a major stock of weaponry, inculding 200-400 nukes, and we don't have to coddle them - they are perfectly capable of defending themselves. We certainly don't have to BE a de facto Israel. I want heavy neoconservative thought out of our White House (their warped minds are far more dangerous than Monica Lewinsky's lips), but I see that we'll have to wait at least three years before that will ever have a chance of happening. George W has shown, by his every action, that he is one of them. The attitude projected in his post Palestinian election rhetoric is telling America that all hope for peace is lost in the Middle East - and that kind of total abandonment of hope is NOT indicative of good leadership.

Congress members and political leaders - you'd be smart to pick up the football where the President has dropped it. Speak with some reason, some moral leadership, and some integrity now - or I fear we can only expect more violence and instability of which our Military is clearly not capable of handling at the present time. Nations will start to line up against nations.

If I didn't know better, I'd swear Bush was gunning for a WWIII.
Worst leader in American history.

Bob Woodruff Seriously Injured in Iraq

Bob Woodruff Seriously Injured in Iraq

ABC's Bob Woodruff is a high-profile journalist and co-anchor of ABC's "News World Tonight." His serious injury by a roadside IED about 12 miles north of Baghdad while embedded with the 4th Infantry will surely send shockwaves throughout the nation. The overall tone of ABC's reporting on Iraq, and perhaps other cable news reporting (the incredibly tilted FOX News notwithstanding), is inevitably bound to change toward something far more somber. ABC cameraman Doug Vogt was also seriously injured in the incident.


My prayers are with Bob, Doug, and their families.

Update: 1:30 pm - Both men in stable condition following surgery The U.S. military plans to medevac them to medical facilities in Landstuhl, Germany, probably overnight tonight.

Eliot Spitzer and David Paterson in Syracuse

Eliot Spitzer and David Paterson in Syracuse


Eliot Spitzer spoke at the Sheetmetal Workers Hall on Pulaski Street in Syracuse on Satuday. Syracuse was Spitzer's third stop of the day. He also made visits to Buffalo, Rochester and Westchester County.


Changing the status quo is what Eliot Spitzer is about, and it is what this campaign is about. His choice for running mate is David Paterson, D-Manhattan, who Spitzer hopes will be a lieutenant governor who will take the lead for him on many of the important challenges facing our state. Mr. Paterson is the quick-on-his feet Senate Democrat leader who has engineered a party comeback in the Republican-controlled chamber. Here's more about the way Attorney General Spitzer came to his decision about Mr. Paterson.





Desperate Republicans have been upset because Eliot Spitzer has been tough on their special interests - the big businesses that have been systematically robbing everyday New Yorkers.

He said that we need to see decency, fairness, and openness in government - and apply them to health care, education, etc. We have seen enough of the ever-growing gap between the haves and have nots in New York State.
We shouldn't be shy about speaking up about how we feel.
We need to do something different.
We have to rattle the cages.
You don't change the world by whispering.
You'll never change the status quo by accepting it.
We will not succeed unless we reform our state government


Eliot Spitzer says that what the people care about - and what we have to focus on - is improving the lives of our kids, so they'll stay here, they'll put down their roots, they'll buy homes, and become part of the community.

Filibuster

Please do, Democrats.

Me - A Long Time Ago

Me - A Long Time Ago

How do you like my toy box?

How's Your Heart Health?

How's Your Heart Health?


Are you at risk for heart disease? Click on the preview to see a video with Katie Couric and Dr Lori Mosca, author of Heart to Heart : A Personal Plan for Creating a Heart - Healthy Family [see at Amazon.com].


Dr. Mosca
A recent national study conducted by the American Heart Association showed that fewer than 50% of American women know that heart disease is their leading killer.


The Nagurney's circa 1972 - when we didn't have to worry about our hearts ;)

A special note: Prayers go out to Dr. Mosca's Aunt Sandy, who had to have emergency surgery here in Syracuse this week. Sandy - we all love you and are pulling for you.

Joan Bokaer: Megachurches & Canadian Shift to Right

Joan Bokaer: Megachurches & Canadian Shift to Right

Theocracy Watch's Joan Bokaer has wriiten a thought-provoking story [TalkToAction] about the "Toronto Blessing" and how political organizing by congregants of megachurches may be affecting Canadian politics.

To be fair, the new Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, came across as a moderate conservative, studiously avoiding discussion of social issues during the campaign, but then so did Bush in 2000. I hope that our Canadian friends wake up in time to stop their Religious Right from winning a strong majority in Parliament.

Parham:Amos and Zechariah's SOTU Speech

Amos and Zechariah's SOTU Speech
by Robert Parham, executive director of the Baptist Center for Ethics

If a biblical prophet gave the 2006 State of the Union address, what would the message be?

Tar Heel Tavern #49

Tar Heel Tavern #49

The Tar Heel Tavern is up (in two parts) at Blue NC.

Part One
Part Two

Third Estate Sunday Review

"It's as though the spirit of dissent is silenced from Bully Boy's ass to Joe Lieberman's mouth and then throughout the rest of the party."

- Third Sunday Estate

Third Estate Sunday Review on Dems
Third Estate Sunday Review (Jim, Dona, Jess, Ty, "Ava" - five students enrolled in the same journalism program) on the state of the Democratic party.

They say that even Howard Dean seems like he's taking heavy doses of Lithium these days.

I agree with their thoughts on Al Gore. He is a strong voice for the Democrats - an accomplished orator, a patriot in the truest sense of the word - a realist - and trustworthy.

I hope Jim, Dona, Jess, Ty, and "Ava" have heard Senator John Edwards out there fighting for labor and the working poor, while engaging young Americans to get involved with service and advocacy... admitting that his IWR resolution was a mistake and calling Bush "the worst president in our lifetime." You can extend hope and be a realist at the same time, it's a damned tough line to toe in life, and I think that's what we need so desperately in a leader. It's important to remember that these people aren't Gods - they are all too human. When we hear one talking to us and it strikes a familiar and important chord in our gut, I think we owe it to them to listen and not hold them to an overly idealistic standard. When we hear them saying something we sense is totally wrong, we also need to speak out - at lightning speed. Politics is like the shark - hungry - survival its only concern - ready to strike at what is easily overcome - waiting for no man or woman. What makes a great leader is the soul that miraculously survives the survival instinct.

Blind Bush supporters are guilty of false idol worship. Howard Dean's probably tired. The mainstream media is slow to wake up and he's had an uphill battle all the way - being nearly eaten by his own while being pulverized by the Right. Lord - wouldn't anyone feel like they'd need lithium by now if they were Howard? He's still got balls, he's just learning how to squeeze them into the places where he can put them to best use.

Bush: The Old Law's No Good

Bush: The Old Law's No Good


" I said, 'Look, is it possible to conduct this program under the old law?'
And people said, 'It doesn't work in order to be able do the job we expect to us do.' "

Bush Wants Other Countries' Nuclear Waste

Bush Wants Other Countries' Nuclear Waste
Our own nuclear storage problems aren't enough - Bush wants to adopt everyone else's nuclear waste for Big Energy to play with. Who stands to be enriched by this scheme? Does the American public stand to be endangered?

At American Street, I asked this question today:

Why Do We Want Foreign Nuclear Waste? The Bush administration is working on a civilian nuclear energy plan that would reprocess spent nuclear fuel from other countries in a break from long-standing U.S. policy.

Will our GOP-majority "rubber stamp" Congress debate the issue of lifting the moratorium on the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel in the US? I'd like to know, because in a dangerous world of nuclear proliferation, the process that our President is promoting would result in the production of material that could be used in nuclear weapons. One scientist has said that, even with all the promised safeguards, it would not prevent a suicidal terrorist from handling the material. Other scientists warn us that it's not a good idea to lift the moratorium at this time - until technology has improved.

How desperate are we that we’d need to do this now?

Another Honeymoon Offer From Tom to George

Another Honeymoon Offer From Tom to George
Mmmmwaaaah - barf!

On Tuesday President Bush will deliver his State of the Union address and map out priorities for his last three years. The direction in which America needs to go is obvious: toward energy independence. If Mr. Bush steps up to that challenge, this speech could be a new beginning for his presidency. If he doesn't, you can stick a fork in this administration. It will be done —

- Thomas Friedman

Oh Oh! Oh! Tom! Tom! Tom! It was over long ago! Why do you give this honeymoon offer over and over again? How many times will you let the man abuse you before you leave him, Tom? Please, someone - explain to Mr. Friedman that the fork was stuck in this administration once the pin had popped the balloon on every rationale for war and Americans were knifed in the heart by all the disapppointments with every partisan spoon-fed lie we were told.
THE HONEYMOON IS OVER.
It's love on the rocks.
All our bags are packed - we're ready to go.
He don't bring us flowers anymore.
There's a tear in our beer.
Our D-I-V-O-R-C-E becomes final today.
We will survive - as long as we love democracy we know we'll stay alive.

Ditch the guy, Tom.
There'll someday be another who'll be good to you.
This one's a cad.

Thanks to OAC

Thanks to OAC


My thanks to OAC for making Iddybud a Featured Blog at the One America website.

A Great Country Tune

A Great Country Tune

As people who know me will tell you, I love bluegrass and country music. I have never appreciated the Nashville record industry's attitude as war-huggers. After so many country stations nixed the Dixie Chicks, I avoided any artist who had even one pro-Iraq song in their discography. I found this one by surfing the net. It's called "I'm Taking My Country Back" and for a country fan who prefers the steel guitar and the fiddle without pseudo-patriotic war revelry, it's sponsored by Music Row Democrats, and it's great! The lyrics are here.

I hear that Tim McGraw's a Democrat. How cool is that?

Elizabeth Edwards Has More Spine Than Most Democrats

"Are you a reporter?" the silver-haired lady next to me wants to know. I laugh and say, no, I'm a soccer mom from nearby Cary, but I'm going to write up the event tonight for a blog called Daily Kos and its spin-off, Street Prophets."

- There's a question with which most bloggers can identify, from Deborah Brown, from her diary about a recent speech given by Elizabeth Edwards

Elizabeth Edwards Has More Spine Than Most Democrats

If you read Deborah Brown's Daily Kos diary about her experience at an event where Elizabeth Edwards, wife of Senator John Edwards, was speaking, you will begin to understand what I already believe about this amazing woman. She doesn't pull any punches. She made a clear point that as frustrated as she was at the Bush administration's posturing, deflecting, and story-changing, she was just as frustrated about the Democrats' inability to stand up together.

She urged Democrats to stop watering down our message. We need to say things to the American people in a clear way--that the current Republicans have created a "culture of corruption."

We need to say to the American people that your votes and your needs don't count--because your politicians are for sale. The symbiosis that used to happen between the American people & their leaders is now happening between politicians and their lobbyists.

Read the rest of Deborah's diary HERE

Speaking of SPINE, the NYT is wondering if the Democrats have one anymore.

The Wrong Democracy Win in Palestine

The Wrong Democracy Win in Palestine
Oh, my! Purple Fingers Don't Lie!

What's with the Washington Times? Their headline today, from the Washington Times Insider, is nothing less than bizarre.
It reads: Fatah edges Hamas in polls.




The first paragraph reads

..."Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party eked out a narrow victory over the militant movement Hamas in parliamentary elections yesterday.."

Hello? I don't think so.


Other headlines about the same election read:

- Hamas Wins Landslide 76 Seats

- Peace call to Hamas after shock poll win

- Arabs jubilant at Hamas victory

-Official PLC elections results: Hamas 76, Fatah 43

Bibi's Gonna Be Bigger

I am sorry to say that I believe that, with the unfortunate illness of Ariel Sharon and the rise of Hamas, Benjamin Netanyahu, leader of the opposition Likud Party, will likely be more popular with Israelis in their upcoming election. Fear has a potent affect on the populace of any nation. It is the near-perfect recipe for assured and continued instability in the Middle East. Netanyahu condemned the Palestinians' democratic vote today, saying that "Today Hamastan was formed." Here's a beauty of a statement from Bibi about the Palestinian election outcome:

"This is a new and dangerous situation. Sharon said he wouldn't let Palestinians in Jerusalem vote. Olmert let them."

Using Jerusalem to show that democracy is a WRONG and DANGEROUS idea for some while a great concept and lofty aim for others?! How many of us watched Iraqi expatriates voting here in the United States?

President Bush couldn't say a whole lot about the outcome because he's the champion of democracy - but this time it seems like Mr. Bush thinks it's the wrong democracy. So is democracy the goal in the Middle East - and if it isn't, then what is?



The Western Word for Today: "WRONG"

Anonymoses points to the hypocrisy of the lofty Bush rhetoric about democracy (look for the hidden "W" - and decide whether he means "Dubya" or "Wrong" - or maybe the "Washington Times" ):

Tora Bora Redux

Tora Bora Redux

Another Big Fish story.

Freedom of Speech and the Kurds' Jailing of Qadir

Freedom of Speech and the Kurds' Jailing of Dr. Qadir

A journalist was condemned last October by a KDP (Kurdistan Democratic Party) court to 30 years imprisonment for two articles that were published on a Kurdish internet site. He received 15 years for each article. Imagine yourself - locked up for blogging something critical regarding the government. Look at the KDP website - how its logo boasts of "freedom."

I wrote about this case on January 12. The KDP has locked up the Austrian journalist Kamal Sayid Qadir because he criticized the Barzani government, accusing them of corruption. Whether or not he "defamed" the government is a point we all know too well to be politically subjective. In the U.S., we've enjoyed a society where journalists are free to be be critical. The Kurdish government is the one closest and friendliest to Western interests in all of Iraq. Unfortunately, though, freedom of speech is not a value that currently is shared between the KDP and the West. Mr. Qadir has credited the Voice of America for possibly saving his life.

The senior official of the K.D.P., which controls western Kurdistan, said that Mr. Qadir's sentence would be reduced to one year and that his family would be permitted to bail him out. The senior official said a court would make the ruling in the next few weeks.

But Mr. Qadir still could face serious criminal jeopardy from complaints yet to be prosecuted, said Ismael Khalil Shakeeb, the presiding criminal court judge in Erbil and one of the judges who sentenced him last month. "He has insulted many other people," he said.

Mr. Qadir, 48, credits a statement issued by the United States over the Voice of America for possibly saving his life. An American official in Baghdad said Washington had discussed the case with Kurdish officials. Delegations including Austrian officials have paid prison visits, he says, adding pressure that greatly improved his living conditions.

Dr Qadir’s case is a political issue, related to freedom of expression and it should have not been a legal case. So says Judge Qubadi Jelilzade, a well-respected Kurdish judge. He stated it in an "open letter to the judges of Kurdistan" that was published on a Kurdish website dengekan.com on 24 January 2006. [KurdMedia.com]

I am still very curious as to why the Washington DC lobbyists Barbour, Griffth, and Rogers (who have extremely strong ties to the Republican party) have been retained by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) - the same party that has jailed this journalist? Who are they lobbying (in D.C.) on behalf of the Kurdish political party that the President and his administration are criticizing? What are the interests that coincide with the U.S. government and the KDP? Bear in mind that our soldiers are being killed while defending Iraqis, and these Iraqis are battling one another because of the power vacuum that was created in the wake of the U.S. forced removal of Saddam Hussein. I can only assume that these lobbyists are looking to have an effect on political outcomes in Iraq because of their own personal interests - isn't that why they are in business? This may not be anything illegal - but how ethical is it to look out for your own pockets by representing a foreign political interest in a place where American boys and girls are still shedding their blood? It sure as hell isn't patriotic. Frankly, the thought is reviling to me.

I'm an American citizen. I want to know where my tax dollars have gone in Iraq. I want to know why Washington DC lobbyists are representing the KDP - and what that might have to do with the Republican party. I'm curious to know where the money that was given to the KDP from the now-defunct Coalition Provisional Authority went. So much of our tax dollars have gone unaccounted for in this dirty little war. All of the gloryspeak about freedom and democracy in President Bush's second inaugural speech has flown out the window of truth.

Read Dr Kemal Sayid Qadir and Plato’s Cave by Nergiz Duhoki/KurdishMedia

The sisters of the jailed journalist have spoken out on his behalf.

..the purpose of this article is not to analyse the significance of Kamal Sayid Qadir’s phenomenon. The story is not over yet and the historical function of his timely intervention has just become active. My purpose is to draw attention to the other aspects of the break unleashed by Kamal’s saga: hundreds of intellectuals, especially those in the Diaspora, raising their voices in support of free expression and against corrupt and criminal power practices in Kurdistan. This has been unprecedented in Kurdish history.

This is a story that should be important to Americans because we are being told that the war for democracy in Iraq is our lofty aim - and that is necessary to strengthen our national security. There is suspected corruption in the KDP, some Washington lobbyists are representing their party, and journalists are being jailed for talking about their suspicions.

Chris Trapper at the Redhouse

Chris Trapper at the Redhouse

Chris Trapper at the Redhouse
Syracuse N.Y. 24 January 2006

You haven't lived
until you've heard Chris play the lead-in to
Roundabout on his ukelele.

Boston Globe

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Republican Senators: Please Vote No on Alito

Republican Senators: Please Vote No on Alito

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has said that Supreme Court candidate Samuel Alito is "exceptionally qualified," and we understand that he is, indeed, perfectly qualified to set our nation back many years on our hard road toward progress.

I beg you to examine your conscience as our elected representatives as you hear the ongoing debate.

Please vote NO on Samuel Alito. Our President has made his own intentions crystal clear and there is every indication that a SCOTUS Justice Alito would turn back the clock on our hard-won freedoms.

Republican Chairman Arlen Specter said he would be "sorry" to see a party-line vote but it looks like that's what there will be.

I am dismayed that the Republican Senators would feel compelled to be nothing more than a rubber stamp for the President's agenda. The current Congress has the lowest public poll ratings in history because you have relinquished your duty to the people.

I believe you will suffer at the polls, Republican senators, if you act, once again, as a body without deliberations of true individual conscience - a rubber stamp for the Executive. I vow to personally work to see that you are not re-elected if you continue to fail to fulfill your individual and sworn duty to serve Americans where they are found at the center of the political spectrum. Alito is radically to the right. We all know this - and we are watching each of you.

Tim Johnson and Robert Byrd - I am ashamed of you.

Pope Benedict XVI Calls For Political Change Toward Social Justice

"Love is free; it is not practiced as a way of achieving other ends."

- Pope Benedict XVI

Pope Benedict XVI Calls For Political Change Toward Social Justice
Directs more responsibility for social justice directly to the state

Good news for social progressives from the leader of the Roman Catholic church.

There is a new 71-page encyclical called "God is Love" which characterizes Pope Benedict XVI's early pontificate as "one in which he seeks to return to the basics of Christianity with a relatively uncontroversial meditation on love and the need for greater works of charity in an unjust world." [NYT]

I hope that our elected representatives will hear the words of Pope Benedict XVI, and take them seriously. He's stepping out of the realm of the church's responsibility and telling us, in no uncertain terms, that we are responsible, politically, for social justice. The Pope's words take the biblical message found in Matthew 25 and, setting respectful parameters for the church's involvement in political life, he calls upon the State to "stimulate greater insight into the requirements of justice as well as greater readiness to act accordingly, even when this might involve conflict with situations of personal interest." In other words, when making public policy, stop being concerned with lining the pockets of those who can bestow favor upon you (or your re-election) and think about the spiritually and economically poorest in our society.

From a NYT/AP article:

"There will always be suffering which cries out for consolation and help. There will always be loneliness. There will always be situations of material need where help in the form of concrete love of neighbor is indispensable," he said.

Benedict stressed that the state alone is responsible for creating that just society, not the church. [my emphasis] "As a political task, this cannot be the church's immediate responsibility," he said.

However, he said the church wants to be involved in political life by helping to "form consciences in political life and stimulate greater insight into the authentic requirements of justice as well as greater readiness to act accordingly, even when this might involve conflict with situations of personal interest."

He said the church was "duty-bound" to offer such a contribution, and that the lay faithful, who as citizens of the state, are duty-bound to carry it out through works of charity.

While stressing that the church has no direct political role, he did offer a prescription for what the state should do. He stressed the church's charity workers must never use their work to proselytize or push a particular political ideology.

"We do not need a state which regulates and controls everything, but a state which, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, generously acknowledges and supports initiatives arising from the different social forces and combines spontaneity with closeness to those in need," he wrote.[my emphasis]

The Pope criticizes the Marxist political model, in which the state tries to provide for every social need. (And, mind you, American social democracy is far more in line with the principles of subsidiarity). While Marxism responded to the plight of the poor faster than even the church did during the Industrial Revolution, it did not succeed in creating the Utopian society that it had set its aims upon. Freedom is an all-important component to any form of politics with lasting social justice as its aim. The Pope reminds us, in a way that we can all understand, that even in the most just societies, charity will always be necessary. I am relieved to hear that the Pope, in many ways, is supportive of governments reducing corruption within their own systems while supporting the continuation of a vibrant political debate from people of faith.

This is not a Republican or Democratic statement - but I can see that it is a Progressive statement, and I'm grateful that we have our spiritual leaders speaking, out of agape love, on behalf of the poorest in our society.

* A Note on the principle of subsidiarity
(sounds like political progressive centrism):
The principle of subsidiarity was developed in the encyclical Rerum Novarum of 1891 by Pope Leo XIII, as an attempt to articulate a middle course between the perceived excesses of laissez-faire capitalism on the one hand and the various forms of totalitarianism, which subordinate the individual to the state, on the other.

Santorum: Patriotic Heroes Do Bumper Stickers

Santorum: Patriotic Heroes Do Bumper Stickers

"Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country."

-Words from the inaugural address of President John F. Kennedy, delivered in 1961

Young John Murtha, Max Cleland, and John Kerry went to the Viet Nam war in the days when these words were spoken.

They've been blasted by right wingers - portrayed as cowards - we saw purple bandaids worn on cheeks at the Republican National convention, swift boat style attack ads - and Republican leaders say nothing in Murtha, Cleland, or Kerry's strong defense because of political stinginess.

Yet, according to Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, any American who would put a friggen Rick Santorum bumper sticker on their car is a patriotic hero. (Don't believe me? See the video.)

What a FAR CRY from JFK's plea for service.

What's next?
Medals of Freedom for the best Dem Vet-attack ads?

GIVE ME A BREAK, ALREADY!

World Doesn't See US as Honest Brokers of Diplomacy

World Doesn't See US as Honest Brokers of Diplomacy

Seen at Captain's Quarters today, regarding the latest EJ Dionne column:

Ed says -

Suddenly with Iran, the Democratic front-runner claims that allowing Europe a significant role in negotiations amounts to "outsourcing" America's responsibilities, and they scream that George Bush hasn't been unilateral enough.

Interesting point, Ed. There's no sense in screaming about the fact that President Bush is very lucky to have Jack Straw "representing". (along with other diplomats from Germany and France).

Yet, EJ Dionne is right in his column - what is so hot about Bush's post-9/11 strategy to begin with? Why are Democrats not talking about the aftermath of this so-called successful strategy? Is there life after all the post-9/11 misleadings, failures and power grabs?

Because of the Bush administration's post-9/11 strategy, with unilateralism and arrogance as its unfortunate hallmark, our President has all but eliminated America's chance of being seen as a respected nation with an offering of trustworthy international diplomacy that works. And now we are faced with the determination of Iran's leadership to resume nuclear research.

In the aftermath of the Bush preventive war doctrine (and whether or not it's been said 'on the record'), many world leaders see him as a naked aggressor with neocon wonks behind his every act of so-called "diplomacy". They believe he has ulterior motives, including a quick resort to brutal military intervention. Why shouldn't they? The very nature of his new doctrine would inform them that he would invade any nation he suspected of any (unproven - think Iraq) belief about their possession of WMD.

World leaders still give Great Britain the benefit of the doubt, and I'm glad that they do. The Bush administration understands this. The outsourcing of diplomacy must happen because we are no longer trusted. We should be very grateful that Tony Blair has stepped in to offer up Jack Straw do our diplomatic bidding. Blair is looking more like the leader of the free world these days, which is quite embarrassing for our once-respected nation.

Jack Straw has commented about his part in the diplomatic negotiations:

"British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw ruled out imminent military action against Iran, but has left the door wide open Tuesday to referring Teheran to the United Nations.
Speaking in Parliament in London, Straw reiterated “profound concern” at Iran’s resumption of nuclear research, adding, “Military action is not on our agenda, and I don’t believe it’s on anyone else’s agenda”, he said, pre-empting speculation that Israel or the United States might attempt a military strike.

Two differing views...one from our former (and very much respected) Secretary of State - the other from a sabre-rattling neocon wonk who'd likely love to see (our gravely overstretched) American might utilized to quell the Iranian crisis.

Jasper Gerrard on Colin Powell:

..the irony that Iran is a greater threat than Iraq but after the political deception and military stalemate there is no appetite for aggro this time? [Gen Powell:] “Even if there hadn’t been Iraq I do not believe there would have been an immediate leap from anyone for military action. I’m fascinated everyone here wants to talk about military options: just slow down. Iran is some years off a nuclear weapon. One of the papers said ‘if they had the material they could (make bombs in a couple of months’; well, they don’t. If I had the material, so could I.”

Clifford May -

"...military options — particularly those aimed at destroying as many of Iran's nuclear facilities as possible — must remain on the table.

"To say under no circumstances would we exercise a military option," McCain noted, "that would be crazy." He added: "There is only one thing worse than the United States exercising a military option — that is a nuclear-armed Iran."

I'm with Powell on this one. Sen McCain has had incredibly unimaginative and impractical ideas for Iraq - and I can't imagine a scenario where I'd trust him on Iran.

Bottom line, the Bush admin knows it's better for them to stay out of diplomatic negotiations with Iran, and they're hoping that they will be able to exercise stringent options by Great Britain acting as our defacto State representative. (see Geoffrey Adams - a new name on the Brtits' horizon on Iran. Mr. Adams was the consul-general for the UK in Jerusalem who led the negotiations with Arafat that helped to end the Bethlehem seige in 2002.)

Going back to EJ Dionne's WaPo column, I believe that we are at this weakened point in the international community because of our post-9/11 strategy - and Democrats will drive that point home if they're smart. You can support our nation and be critical in the face of the recognition that we have lost something very crucial to our nation's security when we lost the international community's trust in our integrity as leaders. I always hope we will work our way back to being the strong AND respected nation we have always been - until Iraq. I honestly believe it will take an entirely new U.S. Executive administration (and a distinct turn away from the influence of the neocon set) to convince the world community that we are honest brokers of diplomacy.

__________

Colonel Jerry, USMC (a retired Marine fighter pilot) gives real-life options on Iran at Chicago Boyz, responding to a post by Michael Hiteshew and a lively discussion following.

Iran is mountainous, full of hardened underground sites. Surgical anything is out. Conventional would be bad/really bad. Nuclear would be really really bad. Doing nothing would also be really really bad.

Take your pick...................

War or nothing - isn't that a false choice? Didn't we see those extremely limited options placed before us as we plunged headlong into Iraq without a winning strategy? Is this a serious problem? Of course. Does it mean believing that war is the only option? Dear God, no. Lets open up the discussion and lay every option out on the table instead of employing fear to move us closer to any unnecessary violence. I'm not a total pacifist - my family has a rich history of military fighters. But a soldier who's been there knows that you only go there when it's a last resort.

It's Official: Bush Admin Had Advance Warning on Katrina

"I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees. They did anticipate a serious storm."

- President Bush said in a Sept. 1 interview on ABC's "Good Morning America."

It's Official: Bush Admin Had Advance Warning on Katrina

Adding insult to injury, the Washington Post reveals that the White House Got Early Warning on Katrina. President Bush, in a televised interview three days after Katrina hit, suggested that the scale of the flooding in New Orleans was unexpected. We know now that this is so very far from the truth that it is hard not to feel slapped in the face by this misleading President.

The White House declined to comment yesterday on the specifics of the reports but noted that the president has repeatedly acknowledged his displeasure with preparations for Katrina.

No kidding. Heckuva job, Leader.

EJ Dionne on Dems and Karl Rove

EJ Dionne on Dems and Karl Rove

E.J. Dionne makes the same point I made last Sunday.
What's so hot about Bush's post 9-11 strategy, anyhow?

Mr. Dionne shows how Karl Rove takes his Joe Lieberman "I'm Tough" doll and holds it up as a weapon against any Democrat who disagrees with Bush's failure to reduce the threat of terror. In reality, with each civilian killed in Iraq, we've likely created five more terrorists to take their place. Hello? These people are froth-at-the-mouth failures.

Don't be shy, Democrats. We can do much better with National Security. Let's communicate that to Americans.

On a lighter note, blogger Anonymoses wants to talk with us about Post-Post 9/11:

Sen. McCain - Offer Something Statesmanlike or Just Clam Up

Sen. McCain - Offer Something Statesmanlike or Just Clam Up

I just love the way certain American political leaders toss stupid insults around and piss off leaders of foreign countries who control considerable amounts of the oil supply that heats our homes and fuels our automobiles.

Today, Venezuela's vice president told Senator John McCain he could "go to hell" for suggesting that "wackos" were governing Venezuela. "Maybe he has got nothing to do over there in the United States," Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel said.

Does Senator McCain figure that, if he becomes the Big Cheese, he will just invade Venezuela pre-emptively - or help to stage a coup if Hugo gets too uppity with us? (Didn't we try that once and fail?) Was Senator McCain just in the mood for being GOP Macho-man and mocking the Venezuelan government? Does he realize that he's winding up looking like a chump to every one in the U.S. who pays more and more at the pump by the day? This is no laughing matter to us.

Hey, Senator McCain - just clam up and come up with some better ideas - and show some success with your own party in legislating those ideas. Hugo's got you all over a barrel. We have to pay for the stuff since your party has ignored the need for alternative energy ideas in a world competing viciously for oil. Your record on Energy is pretty good - but where's the beef? Republicans have been in control of the Senate for years. Why didn't you support the United Nations Kyoto Conference treaty regarding global climate change? We have to pay out the ass for the stuff because your party has an energy policy that favors the pockets of Big Oil over the dire needs of the people. Your party has initiated a totally unnecessary war that caused the Middle East to jack up OPEC oil costs (and you totally supported the miserable venture).

Keep up the good work on protecting the environment. Reconsider your stance on Kyoto. If you have nothing constructive or statesmanlike to offer on foreign policy...

Just - clam - up.

Your party's done enough damage already. You don't have to act like Bush on Fox News Sunday to impress us. Impress us by showing how a statesman keeps his cool in the most trying of circumstances. If you were Howard Dean, the entire media would be at your throat for making such incendiary and aggressive political comments.

Mary McElveen is a columnist with the independent foreign-based news site known as VHeadline.com, which is committed to democracy in Venezuela and is not tied to any political faction. Listen to what Ms. MsElveen has to say about this McCain situation - and about John Edwards, who she thinks is a dignified potential candidate for 2008.

UPDATE: "High level name-calling won't help. It's just another form of wasted energy." - Jeffrey Shaffer, Christian Science Monitor

New Survey: 29% of Gen Y believes God Caused Hurricanes

New Survey: 29% of Gen Y believes God Caused Hurricanes
44% totally trust government to protect them from expected terror attacks

I was not surprised to read that many young people do not obsess about natural disasters taking their lives or livelihoods. We all tend to think, "It couldn't happen to me."

A new survey of Generation Y-ers by the latest Greenberg Quinlan Rosner/Polimetrix Youth Monitor shows that the main concerns about the future of the Generation Y-ers are focused more on everyday things:

- not having enough money to retire
- the possibility of identity theft
- the possibility of dying of cancer
- getting the education needed for a good job


I'd say that these young people have their priorities straight.

Something's really bugging me about this survey, though. We cannot neglect the issue of Values reflected in this survey.

29 percent of the Gen-Y crowd believe that 'God' played a role in the hurricanes which battered America last season. I found it to be unsettling to know that one in five (19 percent) of Gen Y-ers believe these tragedies are a sign of the end of the world.

I think, when we allow Nature to cause us to lose hope because of a God that we see as leading our world's heart to stop pulsing - and when we favor hiding in fear behind that professed form of faith, that we become apathetic. When we let apathy allow our democracy to atrophy, we are not really acting out of our faith. Instead, we fail to act for the public good - all as a result of our own human fear and imagined helplessness.

It's easier to fall into a state of apathy when we feel helpless. When we toss hope aside for fearful or apathetic resignation, I believe that our hopelessness indicates an absence of true faith.

I'd love to see a future survey where every Gen Y-er will choose the fullness of hope over their fearful End Time prohecies.

I'd love to hear young people say that none of them believe that God brought a hurricane to their doorstep of out Apocalyptic vengeance, and that although they expected natural disasters to happen, they had faith that their government would be there for them to assist in a meaningful way after the natural disaster had done its damage. But that's clearly not what they are saying.

We should lead our children to trust absolutely no one who would tell us that fear is the heart of love and faith - or of politics. We should encourage our children to work for better government - a government whose public servants would not employ the politics of fear or hold back public assistance and opportunity with the anti-public politics of greed (enrichment of the richest) and deliberate ignorance of scientific fact.

The political Christian Right has been given a powerful voice in the Republican party, and I have found that the politics of fear and helplessness run true in the storylines of both the End-Timers and the far right-wing. People under the spell of end-time prophecies can't be expected to care about the environment, and the Republican party who coddles them promotes an agenda reflecting that End Time apathy. Why would we care about the earth when hurricanes brought on by God are signs of a great Apocalypse foretold in the Bible? (Mayor Nagin of New Orleans apologized for saying as much - and I'm glad that he thought twice about his ridiculous comment). Why bother to do anything about global warming when you will believe you'll be lifted up in the Rapture? As long as we have a political party that harbors and supports this kind of thinking, they will remain willing apathetic governors over the helpless, fearful, and uncaring.

I find it odd to know, although 29% of these Gen Y-ers believe that God will send natural disasters to us because it is His will, that a large 44% of Gen Y-ers "totally trust" that their government will protect them from another terrorist attack. Isn't this putting more faith in government to protect you than in God Himself? I would fiercely argue that that is not the common value that most Christians share.

It is no wonder we have people who are putting stock in a National theology that bears little resemblance to actual religious ideology. This National theology (as seen with Dominionism) twists an angry God up in a nice political package with the far right Republican ideology. It is a knife to the heart of true freedom. It supports no democratic ideology - only the Angry-God Triumphalism of this National theology.

While it's great to discuss our spiritual values in the public square and talk about how those values intersect respectfully with the common values of all Americans, the apathy that comes from the fear of an angry God will only make our world a place where hopelessness and injustice will reign.

How can we reach Gen Y-ers today and help them to understand that what they can do for their fellow man is far more in line with their faith, freedom and opportunity than the politics of fear and the the hopelessness of the apathetic?

A good start is the Center for Promise and Opportunity, where thousands of young people have been encouraged to get involved in their communities and advocate policies that expand opportunity for their generation's future.

Another good beginning is Generation Engage - a non-partisan effort aimed at raising the political profile of young adults which claims that a broad political apathy among them weakens the nation as a whole. Generation Engage bypasses candidates, campaigns, and partisan onslaughts, and engages young people at the local level, providing the knowledge, the organization, and the voice they need to shape the future they will inherit.

See U.S. losing edge in world market, Edwards says at poverty forum:

[Sen. John Edwards].. urged college students to advocate for the poor.

"This is an opportunity for young people to engage again," Edwards said. "You can be their champions."

He encouraged them to volunteer or work on such issues as raising the minimum wage.

Goldberg Advocates Murder. Lies, and Dishonor

Goldberg Advocates Murder. Lies, and Dishonor

"I have sworn, upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man."

- Thomas Jefferson

Mark Kleiman:

Jonah Goldberg suggests that Bush murder Osama bin Laden under a false flag of truce. No conservative steps up to disagree. Since when did "conservatives" think so little of the national honor?

I wonder if any of those conservatives would have been "amused" at Fort William Henry at Lake George, N.Y. during the French and Indian War when, under the false flag of protection under surrender terms, the French victors watched their allies - the Hurons - slaughter and pillage at least 100 of the trusting British parolees who had no means of self defense.

Osama and his gang have succeeded at turning little chickenhawks into advocates for savagery, lies, and dishonor under an American ruler with absolute power.

If this fails to ring warning bells for any American who has ever studied American history, then we didn't pay attention in class.

We cannot allow these cowardly fools to reduce our nation to a ball of defeated meaninglessness and dishonor under a tyranny of capitalist interest disguised as freedom. We are so much better than this. We deserve much better.

If no right-winger can see the potential fatality of our nation's Founding ideals in Goldberg's hideous idea, we need to shout their error and omission of criticism from our virtual rooftops. We should be winning hearts and minds by offering security to a world who can clearly see that our ideas are the right ones. Goldberg wants to expose us as liars, murderers, and cheats.

James Madison quote

An elective despotism was not the government we fought for; but one which should not only be founded on free principles, but in which the powers of government should be so divided and balanced among several bodies of magistracy, as that no one could transcend their legal limits, without being effectually checked and restrained by the others.

James Madison, Federalist No. 48, February 1, 1788

Democrats: Show 'em a Better Way

Democrats: Show 'em a Better Way

Democrats shouldn't be shy about getting tougher and defending themselves much better when it comes to diluting the inevitably negative media effects of partisan spin. For instance, they need to press the fact that Karl Rove, on the offensive in order to make his party look stronger, is deliberately dividing Americans on the issue of the war about which a majority of the public believe is a disaster.

No Democrat should be afraid to say that, a few short years after WWII had begun, Hitler was committing suicide in his bunker because he knew, thanks to the brilliance and tenacity of America and its allies, that the game was over. His ideas were dead in the water.

Where are our allies today? Many have left the coalition in Iraq - and most declined to join us from the beginning. Italy's troops will be gone from Iraq by the end of the year. It won't be long before we find ourselves alone. What kind of leadership does that scene portray? I'd venture to say that it portrays the worst leadership in America's history.

Blogger Kevin Hayden recently asked what being a leader actually means. Kevin comments that "our terribly incompetent and ineffective commander-in-chief finds it necessary to play one-upsmanship spin games every time the serial killer (Bin Laden) speaks on tape."

He says:

Anti-Americanism across the globe - not just in Muslim countries - has increased in five years of his leadership to levels not seen in nearly half a century. If we're putting terrorists out of business - as Scott McClellan claimed - why has terrorism multiplied in the past five years, faster than at any time in modern history?

Rather than becoming despondent like Adolph Hitler, the weak-kidneyed sack of hatred Osama bin Laden seems to be basking in his glory and taunting his enemies, knowing he has sparked many copy cats around the globe to attack Westerners at every opportunity.

Gee, thanks, Bush administration. GREAT JOB!

If that is what Karl Rove or Scott McClellan believes is the great new Republican post-9-11 thinking, we're in BIG trouble.

It's time to talk about what happens after the many Bush administration
post-9-11 failures.

I'd like to see Democratic leaders out there in the media speaking out about the Democrats and their ideas about national security; better ideas for a stronger and safer America.

Democrats should explain that they won't sink to Osama bin Laden's level and play the war games by his rules. The Bush administration has left Osama on the gameboard for too long now. We can do so much better, and we Democrats should show America that we have a better idea.

As Molly Ivins said in her latest column:

What kind of courage does it take, for mercy's sake? The majority of the American people (55 percent) think the war in Iraq is a mistake and that we should get out....WHO ARE YOU AFRAID OF?

Let's show America that we have a better idea. Now is the time to be bold. Karl Rove is talking as if his party is strong and right, while in reality, they're walking disasters.

Tar Heel Tavern #48

Tar Heel Tavern #48



The theme for this week’s Tavern is HUMOR. For those of you who sent your submissions to me, and for all others who visit my blog this week, I proudly present to you the 48th edition of the Tarheel Tavern. I only had a few submissions, so I decided to do an Editor's choice, going out to some of the regular Tar Heel Tavern blogs in search of some light material.


I'll start by asking - What's on Your Fridge?


When chipper meets bitter, it's not the prettiest scene. You know you must be sick when you use "incessantly" and "sex" in the same sentence. Jon Lowder's blogpost has it all - cursed routes and business suits; chatty gals and rest room tales. (Here's hoping he's feeling better).



Scrambling eggs in bed, hungry chicks in the bathtub, dreaming about being plucked bare while swimming in grease. Billy, Billy, Billy. That's the hottest poem about chickens I've ever read. Whew.



Mandie's pal is sniffing around for some good blogposts.

A Reminder:
Mandie still has one of her prints available on eBay, with 10% going to the NC Coastal Land Trust. LINK


My own contribution here at Iddybud lends you some advice about being careful about what you give away for free.


Answer this question: Just what, pray tell, is a woman who faithfully performs her Kegel exercises supposed to do with 250 tampons and 100 Centrum Silver vitamins? And what led this lovely lady to an afternoon of fast-food garbage-picking? Don't ask me. Only Dear Jane can explain. A real-life must-read for any parent - or anyone thinking about becoming a parent and betting you'll still be sane by the time the kids go to college. (Rotsa ruck).

ZhaK shows us that form and function have little to do with a certain turquoise leather slim-cut skirt - even when it has a puffy jacket to match. ZhaK shares 40 years worth of something extremely personal with you in this blogpost. She may inspire you to open your closet door and take a good hard look at what you've been showing and telling the world about yourself.



Who do you think was the biggest wuss of 2005? Anonymoses is taking nominations for the first annual Wuss Awards.

Did you know that Bora is now a Blooker? He'll be finalizing his first Blook this weekend (and we wish him luck). He explains that he tends to blog about a wide variety of topics and that his eclectic taste leads him to reading a wide variety of blogs. He asks his readers to tell him why they come to his blog - and what they enjoy reading about.

Seen at Scrutiny Hooligans: If the leader of the free world went on Jeopardy..

Say 'Hello' to the adorable Squirt and Lucy at Slowly She Turned.

On a serious note, prayers and healing thoughts go out to our own Ron Hudson, whose mom has been in the hospital (on and off) since late December with cardiopulmonary issues. He's had to temporarily stop writing his blog, but he wanted to send his greetings to everyone. He says that he hopes to be back soon.

I'll end this edition of the Tar Heel Tavern with a link to a website that never fails to make me smile: Crying While Eating. I'm thinking about making my own Crying While Eating video. What will I eat? What will I choose to cry about? What will I wear? (Maybe Zhak can help me plan my wardrobe!)

My Mom's Act of Generosity

My Mom's Act of Generosity




One August day my mother decided to be generous. She'd had an extra-bountiful harvest from her gardening efforts. Plump tomatoes and zucchini were bursting forth from their many green stems. She wasn't in the mood for canning. We'd already eaten enough zucchini to make us sick that season. Zucchini bread, fried zucchini, zucchini in our pasta, zucchini in our soup - what was next? Zucchini milk shakes? The zucchini had to go, but my mother did not believe in wasting a thing.

She decided to share with complete strangers. The neighbors had already accepted more zucchini than they could handle. We couldn't possibly ask them to accept more of the big green gifts. No - it would have to be strangers who would be the recipients of Mom's generosity this time.

"How can I carry out this kind and generous deed?" she wondered. She tore some cardboard off of a box in our garage and created a sign with black magic marker.

It read:

"Please take - FREE!"

Proud of herself, she went into the back yard and dragged one of her picnic benches all the way to the front yard - to the street. We lived on more of a rural highway than a street. Cars would whizz by at about 50 mph on the average. I'm not sure how she expected anyone to be able to see her little sign and stop in time.

She enlisted me to help her carry the bounty of tomatoes and zucchini out to the bench, and when we were done, we looked proudly at our display. Mother was teaching me a lesson about sharing.

Back inside the house, we waited for a time at the front window with proud anticipation. Cars sped by - no one stopped.

The morning wore on and we got tired and just a bit disappointed. At one point, I recall someone finally stopping and taking many of the vegetables, leaving a few behind.

We lost track after a while - forgetting about the display.

Evening fell - and when Mom went out to retrieve the picnic bench, it was gone.

For the longest time, we scratched our heads and wondered what could have happened to it - and we laughed when we realized what had probably happened.

We found nothing but her cardboard sign laying on the ground.

Someone must have come along and taken the last of the vegetables - and left the sign propped up on the empty picnic bench - the one that had read:

"Please take - FREE!"

So someone took the bench!

It was the last time we shared that way.

High Energy Costs Stunting Economic Growth

High Energy Costs Stunting Economic Growth

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 1.96 percent yesterday, erasing its gains for the year. It was the sharpest one-day decline since May 2003. Stocks tumbled after crude oil surged past $68 a barrel and several corporate giants reported disappointing earnings. Shares of Google fell 8.5 percent, their biggest decline ever, after the company said it would fight federal prosecutors' demands for records on Internet users' search queries.

For investors, who just two weeks ago were celebrating the Dow's climb above 11,000, there has been a marked shift in mood. The earlier optimism, fed by expectations that profit growth would remain strong as the Federal Reserve put the brakes on interest rate increases, has eroded in recent days. - NY Times, 21 January 2006

Even though the war machinery has pumped the pedal that moves the wheels of the American market in the past, the uncertainty in Iraq is markedly hurting our economy.

As the standoff between Iran and Western nations drags on, the concern among oil experts is that a diplomatic or military confrontation with a major Middle East oil producer will curb oil supplies at a time when all other producers are pumping at their maximum capacity. - NY Times, 21 Jan 2006

The most frightening part is that the people hurt the most and hit the hardest are not even the market investors. It is the average American whose pockets are being picked by Big Oil; and Big Oil cannot stay above water without gouging the customers because of the Bush administration, who thought they could enrich Big Oil (and the RNC coffers) by showing American dominance in Iraq...all the while telling the public they were 'spreading democracy' and 'keeping us safe.'

Now, analysts fear that oil prices could surge much higher - even beyond $100 a barrel - if the UN Security Council imposes trade sanctions on Iran over its nuclear activities.

It appears that they've failed everyone.

On a very much-related note, the witty Molly Ivins is serious. She is sick of fear, timidity, and hypocrisy among the Democrats. She's gone as far as to say that she won't support Senator Clinton for President.

What kind of courage does it take, for mercy's sake? The majority of the American people (55 percent) think the war in Iraq is a mistake and that we should get out....The majority (87 percent) thinks big oil companies are gouging consumers and would support a windfall profits tax. That is the center, you fools. WHO ARE YOU AFRAID OF? [CNN]

Kosovo's President Rugova is Dead

Kosovo's President Rugova is Dead

According to Fisnik Abrashi of the Associated Press, Kosovo President Ibrahim Rugova's death leaves the province's political scene in disarray at the most sensitive time since the end of the 1998-99 war between Yugoslav government forces and Kosovo Liberation Army.

A New York Times article reminds us that Rugova's popularity was not universal, but that he was regarded by many as the "father" of Kosovo. He'd drawn criticism for meeting with former Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic in Belgrade at the height of the 78-day NATO bombing campaign and appeared on Serbian television to call for a "political solution."

The feud that ensued between his party and the Kosovo Liberation Army, which had broad support of the ethnic Albanian population, led some analysts to conclude his political career was over, but his party regained support when the United Nations and NATO moved in to administer the province and the Kosovo Liberation Army was disbanded. - NY Times, 22 Jan 2006

Regardless of past criticism, Rugova was regarded as an international icon of the Kosovo-Albanian struggle for independence. His death leaves the future of Kosovo in questionable balance. Negotiations between ethnic Albanians and Serbs over the future of the province were set to start in Vienna, Austria this Wednesday, when it will be decided whether Kosovo’s majority ethnic Albanians will win the outright independence they've wanted. It's a great loss at a very important and sensitive time.

The head of parliament, Nexhat Daci, is expected to be named acting president until the parliament chooses a new leader.

Dennis Anderson Pays Tribute To Jill Carroll

Dennis Anderson Pays Tribute To Jill Carroll

Journalist Dennis Anderson, a two-time embed in Iraq, has written what I consider to be a lovely tribute to kidnapped journalist Jill Carroll. He brings to mind what I know as agape love - the love for God and mankind, and all of creation in the human heart. It's the spirit that draws special people like Jill Carroll and the late freelance journalist Steven Vincent to dangerous places like Iraq. It's what drives the soldier on to defend his brothers-in-arms, regardless of who sent him on his mission. It's the quality that enables a person to face all danger with self-command, with strength, and resolution. It is everything that politics, for the sake of politics, is not.

Mr Anderson employs symbolism in the form of the mythic unicorn, "rare creatures, who should be celebrated and revered, not hunted down," to frame the sorrow of Jill Carroll's current plight:

It’s a shame, and shameful. It is not that the journalists are stupid or lack sense. More, it is a comment on the murderous and thuggish nature of the terrorists and criminal swine who want to pull Iraq back into the pit of medieval tyranny from which it is emerging.

So, Jill Carroll was not foolhardy. She answered the call of the brave. Idealists, people of generous spirit and brave nature do this work because they believe it serves a higher purpose.

They want to feed or comfort the afflicted. They want to be peacemakers. They want the world to have a full and fair report of the sufferings of others. And for this there is great risk, and for this the thankless reward is that the ultimate price of that pure intention might be a horrifying death. The military who are serving in Iraq should be respected for the work they do, trying to restore sufficient safety so the unicorns will no longer be hunted and killed.

Why did Jill Carroll want to go to Iraq in the first place? She tells you in her own words.

What do we do at a time when we feel that we can do little else? We hope.
And we pray.

Italian Election is Reason for Troop Pullout from Iraq

Italian Election is Reason for Troop Pullout from Iraq

Listen to this meaningless mumbo-jumbo from Italy's Defense Minister Antonio Martino. [Toronto Star] His announcement to withdraw Italian troops from Iraq by the end of this year was made to a parliamentary commission yesterday:

Martino in his speech to the commission said the pullout, by year's end, "will achieve a worthy conclusion to an operation crowned by success...It will be a dignified re-entry, without any concession to the requests for immediate withdrawal, backed by positions of misunderstood pacifism and by presumptuous anti-Americanism," Martino said.

Crowned by what?! Has this guy read the news - or does Berlusconi depend upon his lackeys to read him selected headlines a la George W. Bush?

No concessions to the peaceniks or U.S.-haters? If that were the case, they wouldn't be admitting to pulling out the troops at the very same moment that Osama bin Laden is offering a truce.

The Italian emporer's been caught without his clothes.

The naked truth is, Berlusconi has an election to win this Spring, and by God, he's certainly not going to win it by ignoring the peaceniks and the U.S.-haters.

Chris Matthews Was Out of Line with Moore Comment

Chris Matthews Was Out of Line with Moore Comment

Listen to MSNBC's Chris Matthews spit out, in his usual machine-gun-style of speaking, this incredibly insulting and unfair comment about the controversial Eagle Scout/documentarian with a passion for justice and democracy, Michael Moore.

Mr. Matthews' flippant slander of Mr. Moore, comparing him to the murderous Isamic fundamentalist Osama bin Laden is so close to Freeperdom that it is beginning to scare me. In a rush to segue to his usual hyperbole, Senator Joe Biden's sickening cackle and wide chiclet-toothed smile after Matthews made the disgusting comment was a wink and a nod to the slander that is all too easily wielded by pundits in the mainstream media.

Crooks and Liars has the video.

Kos makes the point that it's not liberal who are in power. He says, "It's been George Bush and his neocon pals. It is THEY who have failed to capture or kill Bin Laden. It is they who have made our country less safe, and created a world in which terrorist attacks have increased. It is they who are making a mess out of the war in Iraq.."

"Mr. Matthews was out of line.
In essence, what he did was to tell every one of us that when we give any critical thought to the ways in which our government is conducting our business, that we are all Osama bin Ladens."

Kos provides other links to the story out in the blogosphere, including one by Peter Daou at Salon.com.

Chris Matthews needs to apologize to Mr. Moore and to all of us - if he wants to restore public confidence in him and in MSNBC as objective television journalists.

Mr. Matthews was out of line. In essence, what he did was to tell every one of us that when we give any critical thought to the ways in which our government is conducting our business, that we are all Osama bin Ladens.

_______






UPDATE - There's more to the MSNBC scandal of idiot pundits calling Democrats "Osama bin Ladens".

See Sarahlane and Grand Moff Texan's diaries at Daily Kos.

"We need to hear more Democratic leaders speaking to this issue and demanding action from MSNBC"

Senator John Kerry has spoken out on this, and I credit him for it. We need to hear more Democratic leaders speaking to this issue and demanding action from MSNBC, unless MSNBC wants to remain being seen as the dirty Republican-hugging pigs they appear to be right now.

Clean Up Washington

Clean Up Washington


Forty-three percent of members of Congress who left office since 1998 and were eligible to lobby have become lobbyists, indicating that Congress has increasingly become a way station on the path to the lucrative influence-peddling industry.

A list of Pioneers and Rangers painfully shows the hypocrisy of President Bush condemning the influence of Special Interests while he accepted at least $6.5 million bundled by lobbyists in 2003.

It's time to Clean Up Washington.

See the new Clean Up Washington website here.

What Do You Think These Folks Are Doing?

What Do You Think These
Folks Are Doing?



Nope, it's not an episode of CSI or Grey's Anatomy.
Click on the photo to find out what the heck is going on.