Headlines

Headlines

It's Done.

..and "We Are F-f-f-f****d"

Gee, thanks, Democrats.


Kos: While Howard Dean is out raising money directly for the state parties and finally investing in the sort of infrastructure that Republicans spent decades building, the cowardly shots in the beltway press come from disaffected insider consultants who see their lucrative gigs in danger.

Exxon Mobil reported a quarterly profit of $10.7 billion, capping a year of record earnings dominated by surging oil and gas prices. The results pushed up Exxon's profit for the year to a staggering $36.13 billion -- bigger than the economies of 125 of the 184 countries ranked by the World Bank. Profit rose 42 percent from 2004. The company and its peers have come under fire for posting billions in profit while consumers struggle with high gasoline prices.

Raw Story: The second part of the Senate investigation into bungled pre-war Iraq intelligence is still being held up by an internal Pentagon investigation of Douglas Feith, one of the war's leading architects.

A supermarket chain pulled soup cans from the shelves of its stores in six states after a family reported finding a sewing needle in a sealed can of minestrone, officials said. The incident was the fourth report of needles or pins found in food purchased from stores in the Bethlehem, PA area in the past two weeks. The allegedly tampered can of Progresso Vegetable Classics Minestrone was purchased Saturday at a Giant Food Store in Wind Gap, PA.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson is planning a march this spring to protest post-hurricane policies he fears will marginalize the black community, the civil rights leader said Monday as he toured one of the city's hardest-hit areas.

Raw Story has Senate Minority leader Harry Reid's speech, called a pre-emptive broadside to Bush's SOTU speech.


Jill Carroll has appeared on a new video. She was crying. Her voice was not audible. The demand from her captors is still the same: the release all Iraqi women prisoners.

The United States and the other four permanent members of the U.N. Security Council reached surprising agreement Tuesday that Iran should be hauled before that powerful body over its disputed nuclear program.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday said he would meet soon with Hamas leaders about forming a new government.

Abbas stressed the importance of the continuation of financial and other types of support by the donor countries in order that the Palestinian institutions continue to function and the plan to build the independent Palestinian state is not disrupted or derailed.

Ayman invites George...to become a Muslim. {As if that will happen anytime soon.]

A maritime rescue is under way in the Channel between France and Britain after a chemical tanker collided with a bulk carrier ship overnight last night.

By the end of 2007, the overwhelming majority of the multinational forces will have left Iraq. The number of foreign soldiers in Iraq will fall below 100,000 by the end of the year, Iraq's national security adviser told The New York Times in a report posted at the NYT website yesterday.

Five months after Hurricane Katrina made landfall, toppling New Orleans' aging levees and submerging 80 percent of the city, only 55 representatives and 30 senators have visited the decimated city.

Karen Kwiatkowsi on Neoconservatives

Karen Kwiatkowsi on Neoconservatives

"Who benefits from this kind of foreign policy?"

- Karen Kwiatkowski

Karen Kwiatkowski is interviewed by Omar Khan of Dahr Jamail's Iraq Dispatches, where she characterizes neoconservatism as "a dead philosophy of anticommunism." She asks: Is it really democracy that [the neoconservatives] want, or is democracy simply a trojan horse?

She says, of neoconservatives:

You can’t just have a mere enemy; it has to be a monstrous enemy, something that can destroy us. They’ve found that in, or rather cultivated it, in what is called 'Islamic Fascism.’ Unfortunately this doesn’t exist. No one advocates it. No one articulates it. In the 1930s, Hitler had fascism and he talked about it. Islamic Fascism is a made up thing. . But it doesn’t matter: what matters is that it’s useful in generating fear, and serves that same larger purpose—providing a platform from which to operate.

If we can’t talk about it, then we shouldn’t be paying for it

..the 'grand plan’ is a Mideast transformation plan..Since we have this apocalyptic enemy, it’s either us or them. So in Iraq: the money goes for 'security’— American bases, and police power to defend those bases. The things we’ve destroyed we have not rebuilt or fixed. The things that we have protected have been the Oil Ministry and the Finance Ministry...Those bases in Iraq will be how we deal with (intimidate) the rest of the Middle East. Keep those other countries in line—politically, economically, and in every other way. This is clearly articulated, for example, in "A Clean Break: A New Strategy for Securing the Realm," actually written for Netanyahu: Iraq must first be changed, and from there we will be able to deal with our enemies—primarily, Syrians and Iranians. But this has nothing to do with America, or with American interests—in my opinion, anyway.

Who benefits from this kind of foreign policy? This needs to become a topic that can be publicly discussed. If we can’t talk about it, then we shouldn’t be paying for it.

Why We Fight - Jarecki documentary

Why We Fight - Jarecki documentary

"...people have begun to feel that mainstream journalism has been corrupted by forces for whom the truth is inconvenient."

- Eugene Jarecki

See the trailer from the new documentary "Why We Fight" by Eugene Jarecki. An Indiewire review is here. "Why We Fight" premiered at Sundance last January and won the Documentary Grand Jury Prize. According to the Boston Globe, Jarecki "lays out a historical through-line for American military involvement that stretches from Dwight Eisenhower's famous farewell speech naming the military-industrial complex 45 years ago this month to today."

The Boston Globe's Ty Burr says:

"...this is very much the movie "Fahrenheit 9/11" should have been, and an experience audiences of every political conviction need to contend with."

David Erlich of the Spectator writes that former President Dwight D. Eisenhower's speech that became such a formative moment for Jarecki was even more prescient than most realize, as the complex of which President Eisenmhower spoke has become "both the means and the ends to America’s militaristic policies the world over."

Erlich adds:

[Jarecki's] work is perhaps the most successful attempt at unmasking the contraption with images as indelibly as Noam Chomsky has with words. The self-perpetuating and intangible transition from nation to empire demands an independent interpreter, a role Jarecki assumes without the arrogance that might taint his message. Acutely attuned to the complex’s evolving anatomy, Jarecki founded academic initiative The Eisenhower Institute as a means to monitor the forces shaping American foreign and defense policy. His voice demands to be heard, as the aural manifestation of political altruism can be found in the selflessness of his words and unflaggingly smooth affectation with which he delivers them.

An interview with the director can be read here at IFC.

Tim Kaine's Going To Do Just Fine

Tim Kaine's Going To Do Just Fine
Let's Talk About Things That Really Matter

I really don't understand the big fuss over Virginia governor Tim Kaine being
asked to voice the SOTU Democratic rebuttal. I don't believe it deserves to have rated such big headlines (see Jim VandeHei's article in the WaPo). I think that the Democrats should show Kaine off proudly for the nation to see. The consummate anti-fake political character, Kaine won Virginia's gubernatorial race by not being ashamed of telling people who he was.

Katrina Vanden Heuvel doesn't quite get the hype, either. There are many more important issues about which we could be truly concerned.

I think that Mr. Vandehei has missed something very important in his article - and I know about it because I - and many other bloggers - been a part of it. He speaks about the liberal bloggers who were dismayed when the Democratic establishment ate Howard Dean for lunch. Yeah, I understand. I was undoubtedly one of the most vocal of those disgusted bloggers.

There's a quote from James Boyce (Huffington Post) in the WaPo article about John Kerry becoming the big link between Democratic leadership and the liberal blogging community. This is where I need to step in and remind you that, for the past two solid years, Howard Dean's Democracy for America has been doing some amazing grassroots promotion of fresh new Democratic talent on the net. Moreover, where I'm personally involved is with former Senator and Vice Presidential candidate John Edwards' One America Committee website. From last November until early January, Senator Edwards' One America Committee had given me, an unpaid citizen blogger, the opportunity to lead an ongoing debate over the role of religion in politics through the OAC website's Book Club, where we discussed the book "God's Politics" by Jim Wallis. Not only did I see a lot of interested discussion from the public, but Senator Edwards, his wife Elizabeth, and Jim Wallis participated directly by contributing a two-part Podcast discussion of the role of religion in politics. National Journal has recently named Senator Edwards' blog as the best candidate's blog. Edwards' direct involvement is being well received by the liberal blogging community.

I don't want to slight General Wesley Clark, either. For quite a while now, I've seen a tremendous internet response to his blogging efforts. I appreciate Senator John Kerry's recent attempts to reach out directly to the blogging community at Daily Kos and Huffington Post. Let's not pretend candidate involvement is something new, however. I think Senator Kerry is a good Senator and an ethical and intelligent man - but he tends to trail a step behind in creativity and innovation - perhaps a bit too cautious about what's blowing in the political winds. He was far too snail-like to defend himself from accusations made by the filthy Swift Boat attack machine. I suspect that his slow step and lack of clarity is what cost him the last election (along with some downright dubious electoral shenanigans in Ohio).

Sen. Chafee Votes His Individual Conscience

Sen. Chafee Votes His Individual Conscience

According to developing news at Raw Story, Senator Lincoln Chafee (R-RI)will vote NO on Alito. I deeply respect seeing him carrying out his duty to vote along with the conscience of his constituents in the face of the wicked political pressure I know he faces.

Lincoln rocks.

Ebadi/Sahimi on Iran

Ebadi/Sahimi on Iran

I am placing this column here in its entirety, which is something I do not generally do. These voices are very important ones. I hope our political leaders will pay close attention to them and act accordingly.

Contra Costa Times
Sunday, Jauary 29, 2006

What to do about Iran?
Diffusing problem with democracy
United States will not level Iran's nuclear energy program with military strikes, sanctions; another approach must be taken
By Shirin Ebadi and Muhammad Sahimi

LOST IN THE international fury over Iran's partial restart of its nuclear energy program, and the deplorable statements by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad regarding Israel, has been the fact that respect for human rights and a democratic political system are the most effective deterrents against the threat that any aspiring nuclear power, including Iran, may pose to the world.

When the United States and its allies encouraged the shah in the 1970s to start Iran's nuclear energy program, they helped create the Frankenstein that has become so controversial today. If, instead, they had pressed the shah to undertake political reforms, respect human rights and release Iran's political prisoners, history could have been very different.

In the three decades since, India, South Africa, North Korea, Israel and Pakistan have joined the nuclear club -- and most people would acknowledge that the democracies among them are viewed today as the least threatening. In the 1980s, South Africa's apartheid regime made several nuclear bombs, but the democratic government of Nelson Mandela dismantled them. India has a nuclear arsenal, but few perceive the world's largest democracy as a global threat. Nor is Israel considered likely to be the first in the Middle East to use nuclear weapons in a conflict.

But North Korea's nuclear program is a threat because its regime is secretive, its leader a recluse. The nuclear arsenal of Pakistan is dangerous because the military, which runs the country and is populated by Islamic extremists, helped create the Taliban and allowed Abdul Qadeer Khan to freely operate a nuclear supermarket.

Iran's nuclear program began accelerating around 1997 when the reform-minded Mohammad Khatami was elected president -- just as Iran was developing an independent press, and just before a reformist parliament was elected in 2000. The reformists supported the nuclear program but wanted it to be fully transparent and in compliance with Iran's international obligations. These were reassuring signs that it would not get out of control.

But instead of backing Iran's fledgling democratic movement, which would have led to nuclear transparency, the U.S. undercut it by demonizing Iran.

While Khatami proposed people-to-people dialogue between Americans and Iranians, Washington chose to block Iranian scholars, artists and authors from visiting the United States. Although Khatami helped the United States in Afghanistan, President Bush designated Iran a member of the "axis of evil."

By 2003, when it became clear that Khatami's reforms had stalled, the world started paying closer attention to Iran's nuclear program. So, what had demonizing Iran achieved?

The United States will not solve the nuclear problem by threatening military strikes or by dragging Iran before the U.N. Security Council. Although a vast majority of Iranians despise the country's hard-liners and wish for their downfall, they also support its nuclear program because it has become a source of pride for an old nation with a glorious history.

A military attack would only inflame nationalist sentiments. Iran is not Iraq. Given Iranians' fierce nationalism and the Shiites' tradition of martyrdom, any military move would provoke a response that would engulf the entire region, resulting in countless deaths and a ruined economy, not only for the region but for the world.

Imposing U.N. sanctions on Iran would also be counterproductive, prompting Tehran to leave the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and its "additional protocol." Is the world ready to live with such prospects?

So, what can the West do? Western nations should help the U.N. appoint a special human rights monitor for Iran. It would remind the General Assembly of Iran's human rights record annually, and strongly condemn it if the record keeps deteriorating. Contrary to the general perception, Iran's clerics are sensitive to outside criticism.

The World Bank should stop providing Iran with loans and, instead, work with nongovernmental organizations and the private sector to strengthen civil society. The West should support Iran's human-rights and democracy advocates, nominate jailed leaders for international awards and keep the cause in the public eye. Western nationsshould downgrade diplomatic relations if Iran continues violating basic human rights.

Iran is at least six to 10 years away from a nuclear bomb, by most estimates. The crisis is not even a crisis. There is ample time for political reform before Iran ever develops the bomb.

Meanwhile, the West should permit Iran a limited uranium enrichment program (as allowed under the nonproliferation treaty) under strict safeguards by the International Atomic Energy Agency -- but only when Tehran undertakes meaningful reforms, including freeing political prisoners and holding free and fair elections.

Lastly, the United States and Iran should enter direct negotiations. It is simply absurd for the United States and the most important nation in the Middle East not to communicate directly. The Bush administration should not be seduced by exile groups with no support in Iran. Developing democracy is an internal affair.

Democracy, in the end, will provide the ultimate safeguard against nuclear disaster, because a truly democratic Iran, backed by a majority of Iranians, would feel secure enough not to pursue dangerous military adventures.


Ebadi, a human rights advocate, was awarded the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize. Sahimi is a professor of chemical engineering at the University of Southern California

Political Cartoon

Soros is Back With Dreadful News

Soros is Back With Dreadful News

Who said this?

"U.S. power and influence has declined precipitously because of Iraq and the war on terror and that creates an incentive for anyone who wants to make trouble to go ahead and make it."

None other than George Soros, the man who offered (and spent) a considerable amount of his own money to try to convince American voters to defeat Bush in the 2004 election. If only he'd succeeded.

He's absolutely correct in saying that our influence has waned because of Iraq.

We now live in a dangerous and bizarre world, thanks to the utter failure of Bush to work respectfully with the world after 911. His idea of working well with others is convincing Senator Robert Byrd to vote for SCOTUS nominee Samuel Alito while Democratic citizens who believe that he's wrong for the job are sending a shitstorm of "NO" pleas to their Senators.

What's wrong with Democrats in the Senate? They seem to have lost their backbone, forgotten their duty to their constituents, and lost their will to politically survive. When will the $%$%$%#s come alive?

Let me tell you, it's bizarre out here.

A mother of a young soldier killed in Iraq is hugging Hugo.

The majority of voters in Palestine are happy with Hamas.

In Iraq, the insurgents are wreaking holy havoc.

The cost of US light crude is highest since the hurricanes.

Iran's leader is hosting a Holocaust hootenany and he's not hiding his hope to harbor nuclear horrors.

It's a f!@king nightmare out here - and the once-successful dirty campaigner (now reduced to harping clown) Karl Rove is telling us how great the post-911 world is, thanks to Bush.

Isn't that a friggen hoot?


We're being told, by reliable investors, that oil may go up to as high as $262 a barrel. I'm not kidding.

262 dollars a barrel.

For all who've been mocking the Jimmy Carter presidency, weep now - because you will see that he did what he had to do, even though unpopular, when faced with his own oil crisis. Bush is too afraid of pissing off his cronies and losing Republican votes in an election year to do the right thing about this crisis. If he pulls his usual Bushit move, he'll do nothing but tell us to wear a g*d&$#*&d sweater while old folks freeze to death in their apartments. It's no surprise. It's clear that Bush's political party and the richest Americans mean more to him than the welfare of the people ever has.

I know that the President will give plenty of lip service to alternative energy sources in his SOTU speech because he thinks it will save his political ass, but I guarantee you that he won't boast too loudly about his oh-so-strong commitment to build as many new nuclear power plants as possible, paying back his pals in Big Energy and insuring that our children and the planet they'll inherit will face increased risk of disaster and disease. He won't talk too loudly about the nuclear waste he wants to buy from countries all around the world in order to recycle the dangerous material - as if we don't already have so much that we don't know where to put it anymore. I guess we haven't seen enough of our loved ones eaten away by cancer yet.

George Soros is back - saying "I told you so." Is it too late for crash conservation efforts? Will Bush even call for any? Has this mess of a President burned too many bridges and wasted too many of his days on his perpetual Republican campaign - on our tax dollars? Has he reduced the solid strength of our Military to a cracking veneer?

This is the worst President in American history, and I believe that we now have the weakest Congress to match. They are about to confirm a SCOTUS nominee who will complement the rot that is eating away at our nation's core. They are all failing us.

I'll see you in the mile-long line at the pumps soon - if you can afford it. If your sweater didn't do the trick and you've frozen to death like a lifeless human popsicle in your heatless apartment, maybe I'll catch you on the other side. If you make it through to the great recession, that'll be cool (literally and figuratively).

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.