Bush: Cowardice, No WMD, Nat'l Guard Updates

Bush: Guided By Moral Cowardice

From The Hill-
Bush’s National Guard years-
His moral cowardice has guided him all along
By Josh Marshall
The same sort of moral cowardice that led him to support the Vietnam War but decide it wasn’t for him, run companies into the ground and let others pay the bill, play gutter politics but run for the hills when someone asked him to say it to their face — those are the same qualities that led the president to lie the country into war, to fail to prepare for the aftermath and then to refuse to take responsibility for any of it when the bill started to come due.

Iraq Survey Group Verdict: No WMD

Nothing on their hands except...

The final [no WMD] verdict in the long-awaited report from the Iraq Survey Group will prove a great embarrassment for both leaders:
George W. Bush and Tony Blair.

National Guard Headlines

• Which is more cowardly? Bush's Alleged Service or Recently-Alleged Lack of Service?
• CBS convinced of 60 Minutes Guard document authenticity even though Bush campaign is trying hard to make it look like they're forgeries.
• Bush's Lost Year by James Fallows
• Now It's Bush's Turn to Squirm by Sidney Blumenthal
• Diagnosing Dubya-The president who mistook his wife for a hat by Timothy Noah
• Sen. John F. Kerry to Address National Guard Association Conference Sept 16
• Texas National Guard has first Iraq fatality

UPDATE:
• Daily Kos: TANG Typewriter Follies; Wingnuts Wrong
• The Moderate Voice: Were The CBS Documents On George Bush's Military Service Forged?
• At The Angry Liberal: A good summary of the latest articles
--C. Murphy Archibald, who worked on the Blount campaign, said that in the fall of 1972, Bush frequently was late for work on the Alabama campaign and often bragged about how much he drank the night before. (USA Today)

Kerry: Bush is No Good Samaritan

Kerry: Bush is No Good Samaritan

"Four years ago, George Bush came to office calling himself a compassionate conservative. Well, in the story of the Good Samaritan we are told of two men who pass by or cross to the other side of the street when they come upon a robbed and a beaten man.

They felt compassion, but there were no deeds. Then the Good Samaritan gave both his heart and his help.

It is clear: For four years, George W. Bush may have talked about compassion, but he's walked right by. He's seen people in need, but he's crossed over to the other side of the street."

--John Kerry, speaking today at the National Baptist Convention in New Orleans, LA

Dog Does WHAT?!?

Dog Does WHAT?!?



You've heard of 'dog bites man', but......click on this photo and you'll see what this dog did.

Bushes Attacked Nat'l Guard Service of Others

The Bushes Attacked National Guard Service of Others

From The Daily Mislead:
As reported in the August 23, 1988 Los Angeles Times, then Vice President George H.W. Bush's campaign co-chairman John Sununu went on national television to impugn an opponent's dealings with the National Guard during Vietnam. Sununu specifically claimed Sen. Lloyd Bentsen (D-TX) had improperly helped get his son into the Texas National Guard during Vietnam. Bentsen's son served in the very same National Guard unit at the very same time as George W. Bush. The Bush campaign's attacks came just days after Bush's allies on Capitol Hill launched a vicious attack on Gov. Michael Dukakis (D-MA) for receiving a draft deferment during the Korean War. At the time of the coordinated attack, George W. Bush was serving as a senior adviser to his father's campaign.

[A further irony is that Texas politician Ben Barnes now admits he helped both young men get into the Guard]

A Moral Course? NeoCons Willing to Overlook Terror

A Moral Course?
NeoCons Are Willing to
Overlook Terror

At TomPaine.com, Robert Dreyfuss details an incredibly hypocritical statement from semi-retired NeoCon Richard Pipes and a Guardian article pointing to the "American Committee for Peace in Chechnya" (ACPC), whose members include Richard Perle, Kenneth Adelman, Midge Decter, Frank Gaffney, Bruce Jackson, Michael Ledeen, James Woolsey, etc.

In both articles, we see Bush's Manichaean war of great moral consistency fall flat as a pancake.

In their rush to do as much damage as they can to Russia, these NeoCons are perfectly willing to look past the terror that killed hundreds of Beslan's babies last week. They're the blame-Russia-first crowd.

While it is a worthy cause to support liberty for the decent people of Chechnya, it is politically devastating to Bush's moral cause to use a double standard. After the past week's terror attacks on Russia, we can no longer look past the fact that their innocent people are being targeted by the same terror that is being practiced throughout the Middle East.

If we are Americans are a truly moral people, we will stand behind Putin in his time of weakness rather than proclaiming to the world that we wish to beat him down to nothing as everyday Russian citizens face the fiery trials of terror.

That would make us the most immoral poopyheads in the world.
That may be what the NeoCons want to be, but I don't think they are working in America's best interest, anyhow.

Allow me to say it loud and clear.
They are working in Israel's best interests.

We need to get them the hell out of OUR White House.

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

James Wolcott's new blog is a joy to read.
I'm so glad he's become a blogger:

"Podhoretz and his fellow neocons will not be satisfied until there are as many world wars as Police Academy sequels."

Mr. Wolcott's witty commentary on American culture and a Canadian NeoCon who plots wars for those tacky U.S. hominids:

"[David]Frum, Canadian, has little understanding of the manicured grasp [Kitty]Kelley has on the sordid imagination of America. He has spent too much time with his coauthor Richard Perle plotting to grease America into neverending war to understand what a destructive dynamo in a bouffant is Ms. Kelley.

Gee, Thanks, George Pataki

Gee, Thanks, George Pataki

N.Y. is the most heavily-taxed state in the Union.

Go Republicans.

We Are No Safer Today Than 9/11/01

We Are No Safer Today Than 9/11/01

The LA Times Editorial staff puts it bluntly.
(I love the LA Times' editorial attitude.)

Regardless of what we think of Dr. Horror's Dick Cheney's statement yesterday, there is one clear-as-a-bell truth that has popped up its head and is waving to us all.

That truth is a'ringing and singin' throughout all of political creation this morning:

We are no safer now than we were on 9/11/01.

Howard Dean got a lot of -gasps- when he bluntly stated, on the morning of December 14, 2003, that America was no safer with Saddam Hussein caught.

If Osama bin Laden is snatched up in the next few weeks, I'll be equally blunt in joining with Steven Simon, co-author of the new book, "The Age of Sacred Terror":

"bin Laden has successfully launched a global insurgency with franchises that operate autonomously. The cancer has metastasized and it's doing fine on its own. Osama bin Laden's done his job well."

Here's a challenge to any of you. Give me real and true examples of how America has been made safer since the dreaded day the towers fell. Give me something tangible...no idealistic visions of liberty sugarplums and freedom fairies.

Shall I repeat that in case someone didn't quite get it the first time?
Hello??
We are not safer now than we were on 9/11.

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

The NYT Editorial beats on Dr. Horror Dick Cheney for making the statement at all. I've got to say that I was not surprised at all to hear Cheney give strong voice to the threats that face America.

Threats of terror are real and Dick knows we'll be hit again. While Bush twiddled his thumbs in Texas, an overwhelming blow to America was planned, then executed without a hitch. While we got pretty color-coded threat levels, Osama bin Laden got hundreds of thousands of inspired recruits.

The Bush administration has not stemmed the tide of terror and I predict that Europe's stability will soon be rocked and devastated by terror right under our noses...while the president and vice-president tell us there should be no priority on treaties or global organizations. While Bush and Cheney tell us we should stay the course in Iraq, where we are losing more and more control by the day.

Rather than wringing our hands over Dr. Horror's Dick Cheney's words, we should be crying out for good-faith re-engagement with the world before it's too late for not only Europe, but for all civilized human beings.

This administration is hopeless.

Plainly and simply hopeless.

I Can See Our Playgrounds Bleeding

I Can See Our
Playgrounds Bleeding

Our legislators have completely failed us.
The 10-year old federal assault weapons ban is set to expire.

Our president can push just about any part of his agenda through his puppet House of Representatives, but when Tom DeLay really wants payback, Bush gives it to him.

This time, Tom DeLay and George W. Bush will be responsible for more dead children in the halls and grounds of our schools.



Maybe a terrorist or two hiding right here in our nation will find it much easier to get hold of the Uzis that would take out as many of us out as possible at one time.

The Great Sniper of 2002 would have loved the news. I'll bet there's other perfectly insane and depraved folks out there that are waiting to be the next Sniper of the Year. With a fancy new sub machine-gun, he could have a field day.

Buy two weapons from Beretta and get two free 15-round magazines!



Disgruntled employees---just think of how many you could take out at one time with one of these babies.



Order one now from ArmaLite Inc. and get a bayonet to go with it!

Homeland Security is a joke to our legislators and our President.
They're enabling the heavily-armed and kicking our children's safety in the ass.



The power-team of Delay and Bush are proving what they think about public safety right before your eyes. I could be holding a dead child in my arms and some of you would still be in my face telling me it's all about your (godforsaken) freedom.

Ohio's Todd Schneider: Kerry In Akron/A Dem Weekend

Todd J. Schneider, Ohio Correspondent Checks In

A Democratic Labor Day Weekend in NE Ohio
John Kerry in Akron, Ohio

A 'loyalty-oath'-free 3 days was enjoyed by all Democrats this weekend in the land of John Brown!

It actually began early in the week, with a phenomenal job of preparation for a surprise visit (at least to most of us) to Akron by Senator John Kerry.

My family's involvement started on Tuesday, when I picked up 20 tickets. I am sad to say the person at the office didn't trust me to have this many - I think she thought I would waste them on no-shows. They were gone by Thursday, and every ticket given represented a body at Firestone Stadium in Akron on Saturday.

Friday evening was the volunteers' meeting for the rally, then Sat. at 6:30 the volunteers' arrival at the Stadium. After some waiting for the magnetometers to get set up, we finally got into the stadium to go to our assignments - ours being voter registration and absentee ballot applications. My apologies for this amount of boring detail, but for those who will have Senator Kerry or Edwards coming to their town, this is the formula, so you will know ahead of time.

The rally itself was a gathering to make every Democrat proud. In the crowd were Union folk, business men and women, the elderly and invalid, babies, their moms and grandmas, veterans, firefighters, teachers - in other words, America was there. And on the stage was a list of speakers that represented everything Democrats could hope for, and a group that while unique to Ohio, would register in the minds of Democrats across the nation. There were Representatives Sherrod Brown, Tim Ryan, Stephanie Tubbs-Jones and Dennis Kucinich. There was our beloved John and Annie Glenn, and the man who we are working to make another great U.S. Senator, Eric Fingerhut.

My personal favorite though, is Akron's Mayor Don Plusquellic, who is currently the President of The U.S. Conference of Mayors. Mayor Plusquellic and Rep. Tim Ryan breathe some fire, my friends. They call them as they see them, and every Democrat was on their feet while they slung some crap at our boy-king and his minions.

Senator Kerry was right on the money with all that he said, though every last one of the 12-15 thousand attendees not-so-secretly wished he would REALLY let 'what's-his-name' have it in the manner that the repubs dish it out. Taking the high road is not always easy to like. Even so, every person that we gave tickets to said they wouldn't have missed it for the world.

On Sunday, we had a nice gathering of Democrats in nearby Tallmadge, in the 'circle' (Northeasterners - the ancestors of us all in the Connecticut Western Reserve - will know this as a 'rotary'), ably put together by Pat, Lisa and Mike Carano and our independent Summit Dems group, led by John Cross.

Considering the energy-draining day we had the day before, we were very pleased by the attendance. It would be hard to gauge the exact number, but the eagerness to be there and the fellowship displayed made it seem like thousands. And let me say that it was a day that sprung from a meeting of 12 or 13 people in a Starbuck's back in February - a group of people that heard the clock ticking and wasn't going to wait for the Party apparatus to get moving. If ever the term 'grass roots' could be applied as a visual aid, this group would be the poster child.

The very same day (5 Sept.), The Cleveland Plain Dealer had an article that showcased our grass-roots organization, emphasizing the cross-section of life it represented, and the urgency with which it has acted. This author is blessed to have been some small part of this cadre, and I will treasure these past months forever.

On Labor Day (brought to you by our progressive ancestors), the anti-Bushite City of Barberton held it's annual parade, which according to Al Canfora (who gracefully answered my 14-year-old son's inquiries into his May 4 1970 bullet wound) was a rousing show of Democratic politics in this proud, yet depressed Ohio city. For me, our talk with Alan and Gwen was the icing on the cake of this Democratic weekend. It was a talk with an two courageous Democrat soldiers that gave us inspiration down the home stretch.

The Sunday before last, it was a glorious adventure with anti-Bushites from across the land in beloved NYC.

Last Sunday, it was more of the same with friends and family at home.

We are ready to defeat the tyrant here in NE Ohio.

Will you join us?

--Todd J. Schneider

Alan's Ditty

Jesus would vote for me, you fools!
Why won't you?--you know He rules!

I'm gonna be spankin' that slaveholder Obama
Get me Jesus on the Hotline, hoo-lawdie Mama!

-Alan

Dick Cheney: "D" stands for Dr. Horror

Dick Cheney:
"D" stands for Dr. Horror

David Corn writes about Dick Cheney's fear-mongering:
'Expect Worse Than This'.

"Vote for Kerry and die!"....it has a nice ring to it, don't you think?



If "W" stands for WRONG,
"D" stands for DR. HORROR
Mwuhahahaha--ha!.

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

James Wolcott describes Dr. Horror Cheney as a "broken down sidekick ready for a lawnsale".

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

Juan Cole's analysis of Dr. Horror's comments: 'Cheney seems to be saying that the reason there won't be another attack if he is reelected is because he will keep fighting "preemptive" wars. So, he is promising us more wars, folks. And he almost certainly has Iran foremost on his mind.'

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

At the WhyWeAreBack blog, Ron shows us How to Cheney Cheney.

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


This golden tidbit from Bill Maher was mined by Atrios. It's a must-see.

9/11 wasn't a triumph of the human spirit. It was a fuck-up by a guy on vacation.

Nothing But a Lie

Nothing But A Lie

"So bring them back, and make it soon
Before we lose one more
And tell us now what we can do
To end this needless war

We honor and respect our troops,
and hold our flag up high.
But please don't make them shed their blood
for nothing but a lie."

--Mona Abboud, writer of the song "Nothing But A Lie"

Ben Barnes Unfairly Characterized By White House

Ben Barnes Unfairly Characterized By White House

If you're wondering what the significance of THIS might be, I'll explain.
On 60 Minutes tonight, Ben Barnes will reveal how he got Bush into the National Guard.
As you might expect, the Bushites are ready and willing to trash Barnes.
Today, White House spokesman Scott McLellan said of Barnes’ comments: "It is not surprising coming from a longtime partisan Democrat. The allegation was discredited by the commanding officer. This was fully covered and addressed five years ago. It is nothing new."
Longtime partisan Democrat...hmmmm.....that's funny....

In 2002, Ben Barnes gave $10,000 to the GOP's own Carole Keeton Strayhorn's Texas campaign. (See that link again).

Oh---and by the way......

Carole Keeton Strayhorn is Scott McLellan's MOTHER!

James Carroll: The unwinnable war

The unwinnable war
By James Carroll

"..There is the single most troubling aspect of the war in Iraq. We launched it against the wicked Saddam Hussein, yet the majority of so-called "insurgents" against whom our forces are arrayed hated Hussein more than we did. We are killing people by the thousands who threaten absolutely nothing of ours....

...Even though the war on terrorism is indeed, as the president said, a "crusade," it has nothing real to do with Islam.....although Islam is surely its target. Not Islam as it actually exists in dozens of different settings and cultures across the globe, but an imagined Islam that exists only in the troubled minds of a people who project "evil" outward and then attack it. Alas, it is an old Christian habit.."

Please read this article.

Bush Service Questioned In 'Texans For Truth' Ad

Bush Service Questioned In 'Texans For Truth' Ad

A new group, Texans for Truth, are claiming that George W. Bush dodged his military responsibilities during the Vietnam war.

A timeline of Bush's National Guard service is here.

You can watch the group's new TV ad online.

There was an article about the group and its ad in USA Today.

Texans for Truth plans to spend $100,000 to $250,000 to run the ad for a week in closely contested states that are home to large numbers of families of U.S. troops killed in Iraq. Such states include Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Oregon and Arizona.


If The Texans for Truth don't have enough information for a super-sleuth like you to read through, you always have the option of going to AWOLBush.com

At ChangeForAmerica, Adam Mordecai is a wee bit skeptical about what could have happened to all those records that the dog ate; or that were burned or wrecked; or just plain got lost or "don't exist".

Was the Terror Attack on Russia International?

Today America told Russia to negotiate with their terrorists.
What happened to "No surrender to Terror"?

Was Terror Attack on Russia International?

"These are not "freedom fighters.
Would you talk with Osama Bin Laden?"

Vladimir Putin

Who Are They?
Where Do They Come From?

The Korean Embassy in Moscow has learned that at least some of the terrorists involved in the recent hostage drama in the Russia republic of North Ossetia were Korean. Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported that the terrorist group involved in the hostage taking was the most international ever -- it included Chechens, Dagestanis, Tatars, Kazakhs and even Koreans. LINK

From The Korea Times-

--The South Korean government is employing all possible means to confirm the report that ethnic Koreans were involved in last week's school hostage siege in Russia.

Koreans known as the "Kareiski" were people of the Choson Kingdom who moved to the far-eastern part of Russia during the period from the mid-19th century to the early 20th century. They were forced to move to Central Asia by Joseph Stalin in 1937 and now about 470,000 are estimated to live in Russia and the CIS, including in the states of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. They are basically Russian nationals, not Koreans. LINK

Who's who on the side of Chechnya?
As you can see, it gets a bit confusing as the group of terrorists expands out to people from various nations of the Caucasus and beyond.


Is the Focus of War Against A Tactic Without Meaningful International Cooperation Causing the Modern West to Lose Ground to Islamic Fundamentalism?

I see the West losing the war on the tactic known as terror, and if we're going to insist on fighting a tactic, no one will be safer until we understand that the secret to beating international terrorism is making our own nation's fight an integral part of a strong, unshakable international effort.

Is the Russian problem the same as America's?
In a political sense, yes and no.
We know Russia has been bombing Chechnya into submission for quite some time now.
We understand the conflict.
Yet, what we've seen in Russia over the past two weeks with the downing of two planes and now the Beslan suicide attack....it's all too eerily familiar.

Tony Blair has called the Beslan atrocity "Terrorism without limits".

This is where the Bush administration's Manichaean philosophy about terror falls flat as a pancake.
If Russia's problem is not our problem, then Russia's problem must not be a form of Islamic terror.
Right?
Well, wrong.

Terror is terror.
What occurred in Beslan last week was one of the most repulsive acts of terror I've ever seen.
There's no question it was an act of heinous terror.

So how do we morally square off with this, from our nation's standpoint?
We tell Russia to negotiate.

Negotiate--really?
With terrorists?


Are Chechens Lone Copy-Cats Or Are They Internationalizing?
How long before they attack American oil interests in the Caucasus region?

I've never been impressed with the fact that President Bush designed the war in which our nation is engaged as a war on a tactic. It takes political reality out of the picture. It takes a chance for alternative political solutions out of the realm of possibility.

The knowlege that the Chechens are some of the most active groups using Islamist/al Qaeda tactics against innocent civilians strengthens my case that the war on the tactic known as terror may have had a totally different (far more successful) face had Bush understood the importance of true international diplomacy and political reality before he barreled headlong into Iraq.

The Beslan disaster underscores the focus of Bush's quest against the tactic of terrorism--a tactic--which Russian President Vladimir Putin also recognizes.

Putin also recognizes the hypocrisy of Bush to expect him to bow down and negotiate with Muslim terror when Bush would never advocate that for his own nation's people.
Putin is admitting his nation is weak against the tactics employed by terrorists.

This begs the question: Has Bush has become so obsessed with his vision of a Manichaean conflict between good and evil that he has lost touch with political reality altogether? Chechnya obviously is becoming a stronger base--if not for international Islamic revolution, then at least employing the same tactics learned in Islamic training camps.

I wonder..how many Islamic moderates have turned and will turn to hard-line fundamentalists as the Islamic world spirals downward into hopelessness with the West's priority of beating down a tactic?

Have Chechen rebels decided to join forces with international terrorists? Have international terrorists decided to join forces with them? Either way, we've got ourselves a hell of a problem in Washington, D.C. and I can't see how applying a double standard to Russia is going to make our moral case against terror stronger. It's only a matter of time before these rebels begin to attack American oil and gas interests in the Caucasus region.


War on a Tactic Reveals Hypocrisy
If we'd taken wiser and clearer steps, our nation and its economic interests would be more safe and secure today

How could Bush or leaders of other Western nations possibly reconcile the expectation that Putin would ever negotiate with terrorists; especially Bush--given his own narrow focus on terror and decscription of that which constitutes a terrorist?

I think our own President Bush has approached this war from the wrong angle from the start.

War against a tactic won't stand up to the test of time or moral efficacy. How could it? The course of this war against Islamic terror must change. Hope not only leans upon the success of military force; hope for Islamic modernity depends upon changing hearts and minds--and that will depend upon a change of course.

Those of us who recognize terror will never see Russia's battle with Chechnya the same way.
Not after Beslan.


What becomes of liberty when a war against a tactic becomes the one blinding priority?

Last week, President Bush said that the war on terror isn't actully one that's ever going to be clearly won.
What happens if Putin, under political pressure, decides to fall in line with the virtually unwinnable war against a tactic?
What happens to the many good and decent people who have only desired liberty in Chechnya? (Make no mistake, there are many decent people in Chechnya even though we only hear about the worst). They are calling on the international community to step in and help bring peace to both Chechnya and to Russia. To date, international ears and eyes remain closed.

Is their hope as dead as the victims of Beslan?


LEARN MORE:

The Painting of Nikolai Sergeevich Shin

Anger rising in volatile Caucasus

Timeline: History of Chechnya

Evening of surprises with a hospitable president

--On Beslan, Putin Looks Beyond Chechnya, Sees International Terror

Bush and Putin: We're Not Girlie-Men

PINR: "Chechnya: Russia's Second Afghanistan"

Toronto Star op-ed: It's easy -- but wrong -- to dismiss (or justify) Beslan as simply a problem for Russia in its continuing struggle with Chechnya.

Limerick and Rhyme

Limerick and Rhyme

Mad Kane inspired me to write a limerick about Zell Miller.

ZELL

At the place where
elephants yell
We all heard a chorus swell
When Zell got to the podium
We reached for Imodium
'Cause he stirred up the
bowels of hell.

TROLLS

Never teach a troll to sing
It's really not a pretty thing
It wastes your time; annoys the troll
And wears away the human soul
Instead, teach talking points to
each fink
With which to drive the libs to drink.

Liberal Ladies Are Busy Blogging

Liberal Ladies Are Busy Blogging

Progressive Women Bloggers is a new ring on the web.

Mahablog has a great rundown on the latest from Paul Krugman and E.J. Dionne.

At BOP, Ellen Dana Nagler talks about the latest from Bozo the Prez: "Too many OB-GYNs are unable to practice their love with women all across this country."

In a post titled September 11, 2001, Dawn Summers at Clarified wryly begins: "No wonder George W. Bush wants another term. It seems like in the last four years, he only got to be President for one day."

Nora Ui Dhuibhir at Wilson's Almanac showcases a funny piece on bin Laden by Borowitz.

Today is Elayne Riggs' 2nd Blogiversary. Be sure to go and wish her a happy one.

Welcome back to Trish Wilson, who just returned from WorldCon. Trish has been meeting some other ladies of Blogdom.

Rivka of Respectful of Otters, who also attended WorldCon, talks about the shameful fact that, in the mainstream news, the Bush propaganda events seem to be working well.

Shaula Evans leads you to a story about a GOP delegate who could not, in good conscience, ever vote for Bush again.

Carla at Preemptive Karma asks: Where's Journalism?

Shari at An Old Soul proclaims: "We don't need your parenting, Dubya."

Echidne of the Snakes has a piece on the so-called "decadent left".

If you don't know who June Brashares, Rox Populi can help you out.

Let Us Not Forget Iraq

Let Us Not Forget Iraq

I know you aren't hearing as much about the news on Iraq as you once did on mainstream media.
The presidential campaign seems to suck all the relevance away from the land where our troops are supporting Iraq... and dying.
Eleven today--and my heart and my prayers are with the families of each one.

When it comes to keeping us informed on Iraq, noboby does it better than Juan Cole.

These are the latest headlines at Professor Cole's site:

September 3:

• The CEO Test for Bush
• 7 Dead in Latifiyah
• Qaradawi Calls for Attacks on Americans in Iraq

September 4:

• Iraq War Continues into Month 17; Dozens Killed, nearly 100 wounded in Multiple Clashes, Bombings
• AIPAC Spy Case Update
• Sullivan on Cole
• Two US Soldiers Wounded; Demonstration at Fallujah

September 5:

• National Council Elects 4 Vice-Chairmen
• Iraqi Government Extends Ban on al-Jazeerah
• Najaf: The Aftermath as Viewed by Iraqis

September 6:

• Bombing Near Fallujah, Clashes in Najaf
• Fighting in Tal Afar, Latifiyah; 1100 US Troops Wounded in August

Dear John Kerry: Turn your scars into stars

"The Vietnam Vets are vital in the fight for America to reclaim its soul."

Dear John Kerry: Turn your scars into stars

Patty Ann Smith of Hope4America has a theory and I think it should be discussed across the blogdom--and beyond.

This is Patty Ann's "Turn your scars into stars" theory:

• The symbolism of revisiting the Vietnam War as a means of choosing our next President may simply come down to Divine Providence.

• The Vietnam Vets...and John Kerry is one of them...who tell the truth about Vietnam are here to liberate America from over 30 years of lies.

• This country has been built more and more on lies ever since then.

• The Vietnam Vets are vital in the fight for America to reclaim its soul.

• A vote for John Kerry for President is a vote for us, as a nation, to have closure from a past filled with lies.

• John Kerry's Mission will not be completed until America is free from those lies that have continued since the Vietnam War right up to today and the War in Iraq.

God Challenges Zell to a Duel

God Challenges Zell to a Duel

God doesn't like lies and He's showing it.

Seeing that one His servants, Zell Miller, took the opportunity to use His name in vain at the Republican National Convention last week, God is sending a mighty glove with which to slap Zell across the cheek.

The glove, in the form of a hurricane named Frances, will wallop Zell's hometown of Young Harris, GA this week.

Sounds like a challenge to an almighty duel.

You don't mess with God.

The Big Guy's sending a woman to tell Zell a holy what-for.
He might send Ivan next.

I wonder, when will God get out of Zell's face?




*That's h-u-r-r-i-c-a-n-e.
Not to be confused with Zell's preferred weapons of choice:
b-a-n-j-o and b-u-s-h.

Zell Humor From Mad Kane

Mad Kane presents Zell Haiku:

Zell betrayed the Dems,
Slurred Kerry for GOP.
He's Rove's problem now.


Mad Kane introduces a new Zell limerick:

Ode to the "Zellot"
By Madeleine Begun Kane

There once was a turncoat named Zell,
Whose soul to George Bush he did sell.
Gave a speech so insane,
That Dub's love for him waned,
So Karl sent the man packing pell-mell.



Care to add any of your own?
See the comments section below!

Why Were Lies and Physical Violence Accepted at RNC?

Why Were Lies and Physical Violence Accepted at RNC?

"This election has become a test of whether reality still means anything to the American people, whether this country has moved to essentially a new form of government in which one side is free to lie about everything while a paid “amen corner” of ideological media drowns out any serious public debate... LINK

_________________________________________________



Last week's bitter RNC attacks coming from the stage, stocked with many hyperbolic lies, demonstrated that Karl Rove and Company wish to destroy the reputation of anyone who dares question the Bushites.
They made it clear.
Any politician who tries to strike up a meaningful debate which could possibly result in Americans taking up a view which opposes the Bushites will suffer stinging rhetorical negativity based upon sheer lies, if need be.
As things progress, Americans who believe something totally independent of the GOP talking points-- and dare to speak out about it-- are apparently going to be at increased risk of physical harm from Republicans.

For example, the Satanic look on Zell Miller's face at the RNC podium last week matched the attitude of a young Republican when he consciously chose to kick a female protester after ripping the sign from her hands and knocking her to the ground.
It looked like 1930s Italy.
The only thing this nasty excuse for a decent human being was missing was his Mussolini Black Shirt.

I wonder---was the physical attack upon this non-violent protester an embodiment of the GOP's will?

Did Zell Miller's madman rantings or Dick Cheney's machismo hatespeak at the podium legitimize violence in this young Republican mind?

If so, this nation is in dire trouble, dear readers.

See for yourself.

Talk Left's Jeralyn has more on the Blackshirt unnamed young Republican male.

Advice, advice..Everyone Has Advice for Kerry

Advice, advice..Everyone Has Advice for Kerry

Adam Nagourney and Jodi Wilgoren write in Sunday's N.Y.Times about various Democrats' reactions to the recent state of the presidential race.

Advice, advice, advice.
Everyone's got advice for John Kerry.

I was screaming for someone to listen to my advice a year ago. The secretive misleaders in the Bush administration, from the time they took the Oval Office, were never showcased in a completely truthful journalistic light and now the media's incomplete details lead to more complicated lies about Bush's "strength" in Foreign Policy and National Security today.

Why should Bush's focus on terror be considered a strength when he's been a lying failure?
I'll tell you why.
Warped media has been doling out misinformation to the public.
Bush has been honeymooned from the day he got into office by the media and reporters have been intimidated into writing propaganda these past three years.
Bush has also been strangely protected by DLC skunks concerned only about their re-election chances.

Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana has said that John Kerry has 'spent too much time talking about national security, including his own views on the Iraq war, and overplayed his Vietnam war experience', inviting the attacks that have dominated debate in recent weeks.

Can I be honest?
I think Evan Bayh is a snooze and a dead skunk.
I think he's wrong and I think he's a wimp of a politician.
No one invites attacks from the Bushites.
They're junkyard dogs and you have to be tough to keep up with them.
Trust me.
No one will ever win taking Evan Bayh's advice.

Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm of Michigan has it right when she says, "I think it is very critical that you don't answer a tuba with a piccolo. If he's hit, and he will be, he needs to stand up and fight."

National security is the A-One priority issue for Americans come November.
John Kerry can't slip it in his back pocket and change the subject.
No, no, no, no, no.

If he does, the Bush team will squish him like a bug.

The best advice:
Let John Kerry be John Kerry.

Osama October Surprise Would Be Too Obvious

Osama October Surprise Would
Be Far Too Obvious
And the Bushites are so bold they are indifferent to public distrust


I am not aware of who wrote the following article. I do know that I agree with the content:

Osama bin Laden - What makes US counter-terrorism so confident?
(Sept 5, 2004)
LINK

Cofer Black, State Department coordinator for counter-terrorism, has stated "Programs are in place and what I tell people is I would be surprised but not necessarily shocked if we wake up tomorrow and he (Osama bin Laden) has been caught along with all his lieutenants"

He has also been quoted as saying "Success against people that you know about, Osama, could happen tomorrow, could happen the day after, a week from now, or a month from now"

We find it interesting that his comment does not seem to stretch beyond one month and George Bush has been heard saying that he "guarantees" that Osama bin Laden will be caught!

There seems to be a lot of confidence out there and his "capture" could very well be announced in October?

Our earlier article reported that Osama bin Laden had already been caught (4 weeks ago, according to our sources) and that this was going to be officially announced in October (see here).

The report, which can not be confirmed, made no reference as to who might conceal such information (if anyone) and we can only make guesses as to who and why.

There is no doubt at all that George Bush would benefit from the announcement of his "capture", if it was made just a few weeks before the election and the timing would be a remarkable coincidence. Especially as the US have been looking for him for almost 3 years.

But politics are full of "surprises" and you can never be sure what to believe. For his supporters it probably makes no difference if bin Laden has been waiting around somewhere for the "right time".

This election campaign (no matter who wins) will be remembered as been very "dirty" and some of the tactics that have been employed do not belong in a country like America.
But perhaps the saddest part is the inability of some to see it and the eager acceptance of others who can.
The golden days of America, it would seem, may soon be coming to an end.
This may not be so obvious to those who will support this course in November, but it will be later.
Please don't complain about it afterwards!

Please see my history of blogposts about the alleged surrounding of Bin Laden last January...then watch as it drops off the media's radar.

• January 23, 2004--Bin Laden Captured?
• January 29, 2004--Hmmmmmm....they are apparently"sure"of where Osama is now...why not go and grab him?
• February 4, 2004--Grassley oddly confident about catching bin Laden "before November 2nd election
• February 21, 2004--Bin Laden Found?
• February 25, 2004--Osama In the House?

Also see my own comments from March 15, 2004 titled How the capture of Osama Bin Laden may turn out to be a meaningless symbol

The capture of Bin Laden will surely happen, but the songs of joy will ring hollow as we see the disease which he caused to spread..the fires he lit...spread thousands and thousands of miles out ahead of him... coming closer to us by the moment.

If we love our own children and the children of this world, it's time to find a real and meaningful way to cooperate with the nations of the world and give the utmost respect to the rule of law.
It is the only thing that separates us from the terrorists, you see.
For God's sake, let's put an end to this madness....together.

Like Dorothy's ruby slippers, Bush has held the awesome power of the rule of law all the time..and I don't think he ever realized it.
I pray this nation finds its way.

Jude

Kerry Needs to Paint Clear Path to Iraq Security

Kerry Needs to Paint Clear Path to Iraq Security



Unless we pick up the pace of progress substantially--something that neither President Bush nor Sen. John F. Kerry has convincingly explained how to do--Iraq is unlikely to become a peaceful democracy in the near future..

..those who suffered from Hussein's atrocities need fear him no more. That is no small accomplishment. But unless current trends change substantially, the administration's goals of making Iraq a beacon of democracy, stability and prosperity in the Middle East appear increasingly out of reach.

-Michael O'Hanlon and Adriana Lins de Albuquerque
LA Times, Sept 5, 2004
LINK

The Path Ahead

Last week Mr. Kerry laid out a strong and mostly convincing critique of all that Mr. Bush had done wrong in Iraq, from failing to deploy enough troops to refusing to internationalize the occupation. None of these failings were acknowledged in Mr. Bush's account. But Mr. Kerry's own plan boils down to enlisting allies who can "reduce the cost" to American taxpayers and soldiers--an unlikely prospect. He says he will "get the job done and bring our troops home," perhaps many of them within six months. But what is "the job?"
Washington Post Editorial, 9-5-04

Key Questions: Why Kerry Is Far Wiser Than Bush

Key Questions: Why Kerry Is Far Wiser Than Bush

"The soldier above all other people prays for peace, for he must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war."

-General Douglas MacArthur

From today's Washington Post:

Did Bush Miss Vietnam's Lessons?
By Jeffrey H. Smith
Former general counsel of the CIA
LINK

• Kerry, who first criticized the Vietnam War in 1971, should also ask a more relevant question. What was the view of Air Force National Guard Lt. George W. Bush on the Vietnam War in 1971?

• Did he, like Navy Lt. John F. Kerry, realize it was a folly?

• Did he have the wisdom and foresight to understand that the United States had gotten itself in a terrible quagmire and lacked the fortitude and leadership to get out without further useless loss of life?

• What is the record of the young George Bush's view of Vietnam?

• Former defense secretary Robert S. McNamara has recently written that "we could have ended the war as early as 1962, and not later than 1967, without any significant loss in our strategic position." A young Kerry recognized that in 1971. Did a young Bush?

• [In Iraq], we did not find weapons of mass destruction, and we have generated a deep and pervasive hatred of the United States that will take generations to overcome. That makes us less safe, not more. Kerry recognizes that. Does Bush?

• It takes a special courage to speak out against a cause for which you were once prepared to die -- a cause that, as a combat leader, you asked others to be prepared to die for. Kerry has that kind of courage. Does Bush?

• The debates of 1971 have echoes in our current one. We have gotten deeply involved in a region that we do not understand, and we have unleashed forces we cannot control. We must have a president who can recognize our strengths and our shortcomings, who will ask hard questions and who will challenge advice, even intelligence information that is presented to him. Did Bush ask those hard questions before making the decision to send our forces to war?

• Who is better equipped to lead us: Bush, who rigidly insists that he is right, or Kerry, who has charted a new direction?

Censored: 10 Stories Media Has Ignored

Censored!
The 10 big stories the
national news media ignore

• 1. Wealth inequality in 21st century threatens economy and democracy

• 2. Ashcroft versus human rights law that holds corporations accountable

• 3. Bush administration manipulates science and censors scientists

• 4. High uranium levels found in troops and civilians

• 5. Wholesale giveaway of our natural resources

• 6. Sale of electoral politics

• 7. Conservative organization drives judicial appointments

• 8. Secrets of Cheney's energy task force come to light

• 9. Widow brings RICO case against U.S. government for 9/11

• 10. New nuke plants: taxpayers support, industry profits

[LINK-SFBayGuardian]

323 Dead -America's Future is Tied to Russia's

323 Dead-America's Future is Tied to Russia's

Ossetians search for loved ones on a hostage list at Beslan's hospital. Photograph: Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP

323 dead in Russia.
This story is almost impossible for me to wrap my mind around. The culmination of collective sorrow is almost too much to bear.
Couldn't there have been another way to deal with the situation? (This isn't a criticism, it's just a question).
If you ask me, the Russian authorities let the terrorists win.
You don't think the terrorists went into that school building expecting to come out alive, did you?
Every death they could chalk up was to their advantage.

You may say terror in Russia is not our problem. It's internal political strife.
To that, I would say to you: Why are we in Iraq? Why are we in Afghanistan?
I'll tell you why.
American liberty.
The governments of Iraq and Afghanistan could not handle the terror that was killing off our business interests.

You may say that Russia doesn't require or desire our assistance.
To that, I'd tell you that we will need to be able to do some convincing. We will need to seek their cooperation as the U.S. moves further and further into the Caucasus region with our international business interests. Progress marches on. We are citizens of the globe no matter how the Bush administration cares to step around the subject. We must act as citizens.
It won't be long before the Chechen problem becomes our problem, too.
Remember, the Chechen terror is only one airplane ticket away from America.

I keep wondering--what if we'd already banded with the Russians in a genuinely international war on terror? Would the outcome have been different? Would there have been more international pressure put on Putin to settle the Chechnyan crisis? Would these children still be alive? Would we already have had a system of international support devised to handle situations like this?

Would the world be a different place today if we'd had a leader who was capable of embracing the entirety of the world (as Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Bush 41, and Ronald Reagan showed they were capable)?

The stakes are high in the war against terror.
When it comes to a president's strategy, this should be all about the United States. I don't argue with Bush there, but he's totally missed the boat in denying the world, through his ignorance, sheer greed, and disingenuousness, a willing invitation to fully cooperate.

Russia still doesn't trust us as far as they can throw us.
The feeling is obviously mutual if you examine Bush's actions these past few years (and not his false words).
We can either proceed with our unilateral war on terror and push US/Russian relations toward a new cold war or we can start offering some genuine diplomacy.

Our leader's rigid ethnocentricity when it comes to diplomacy has caused us to turn many a blind eye.

People are dying.

It wasn't an American elementary school the terrorists chose to enter this time.

What if it happened here? Do you see it as being out of the realm of possibility? If you do, God help you.

God help the souls that were lost.

I'd like America to be seen as a people of the world; for the world.
If we are a truly moral people, it should be so.

Every one of our actions should be geared for the strength of America in pure harmony with a caring for liberty and justice for all throughout our world.

Ask yourself who will lead us to the strongest and truly safer America when you vote on November 2.
Is it the man who cuts down and mocks international alliances or the man who promises to restore and strengthen them?

Campaign Truth Project

Campaign Truth Project

The Truth Laid Bear creator N.Z. has created a new internet project called "Campaign Truth".

Political bloggers are all welcome to participate.

N.Z. states:

The intent of Campaign Truth is to provide a portal where bloggers and other interested folk can gather links to information which sheds light on where the candidates stand on issues in the 2004 Presidential Campaign. By harnessing the collaborative power of bloggers that has been proven by sites such as The Command Post and by the influence of the blogosphere itself, Campaign Truth will provide a place where voters can come to get past the story-of-the-moment in the media, and dig deep into candidates' true positions on the issues that matter to them most.

There are pages set up for:

--Kerry-Edwards
--Bush-Cheney
--News

I'll be participating and I hope you will, too.

People In Crowd at Bush Rally Oooed/Booed Clinton

People in Crowd at Bush Rally Oooed/Booed Clinton

It's not so much that these were boos or ooos, it's the curious way Matt Drudge scurries to cover himself.

Over at the Drudge Report, Matt is working unusually hard to minimize the fact that Bush has bred hatred and partisan division enough in his followers to densensitize them to their fellow man's misery. At the same time, Drudge is covering for his own usual haste in reporting the first trash he sees with little regard for its verity.

Matt Drudge appears to be struggling to cover up the fact that people at a Bush rally audience booed (or "oooed", whatever) today when Bush told them Bill Clinton had to be hospitalized.

Whenever the slightest "boo" is heard and it's aimed at a Democrat, Drudge pastes it on his site like the God of the internet gossip he is.
His popular website wears it like a badge of honor.

But in this tacky, scummy situation where there's the slightest chance people "booed" a president when he was seriously ill, we see Matt curiously scrambling to cover the boos (or ooos, whatever) with an audio excerpt from what sounds like FOX News, with the same kind of audio technology that covered the crowd noise when Howard Dean screamed.
You wind up not hearing anything except the applause that followed the ooos/boos (whatever) and the result is that you never hear the ooos (or the booos) at all.

You've got to wonder--who's Matt Drudge's daddy?

I'll bet anything that somebody got to this Associated Press writer and the story is being suppressed for fear the Bushites will attack. AP reporters don't make up stories like that without expecting to put their profession on the line.

Being that every member of a Bush rally is required to be one of his robot-loyal-devotees, chances are we may not ever know the truth. (Unless another reporter had a recorder and isn't afraid of losing their job).

Were they ooos or boos? A combination of both?
Why would the writer report such a thing if it wasn't true?

Here's the story in full (in case it disappears soon):


Audience boos as Bush offers best wishes for Clinton's recovery
By Associated Press, 9/3/2004 13:57

WEST ALLIS, Wis. (AP) President Bush on Friday wished Bill Clinton "best wishes for a swift and speedy recovery."

"He's is in our thoughts and prayers," Bush said at a campaign rally.

Bush's audience of thousands in West Allis, Wis., booed. Bush did nothing to stop them.

Bush offered his wishes while campaigning one day after accepting the presidential nomination at the Republican National Convention in New York. Clinton was hospitalized in New York after complaining of mild chest pain and shortness of breath.

Bush recently praised Clinton when the former president went to the White House for the unveiling of his official portrait. He lauded Clinton for his knowledge, compassion and "the forward-looking spirit that Americans like in a president."

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


Drudge has this at his site:

THEN RETRACTS: [BC-Bush-Clinton, 1st Ld-Writethru,150 Bush offers best wishes for Clinton's recovery Eds: SUBS lead to include reference to surgery. DELETES 3rd graf previous, Bush's audience, because of uncertainty about crowd reaction.]... 'APPLAUSE' NOTED BY LOCAL MEDIA FOR EX-PREZ... AUDIO... DEVELOPING...

*The audio seems to be a FOX News audio. It sounds like Carl Cameron's voice. Drudge doesn't specify.

There's a good follow-up story here.

One Year Ago-How Things Haven't Changed

One Year Ago-How Things Haven't Changed

At least I've been consistent in my opinions.

We're told Iraq will have their election in January. Will the UN return to oversee and facilitate these elections or will the insecurity on the ground make it too unsafe?

How can we trust President Bush to get Iraq's security under control when he's shown himself to be a failure to date?

How can I trust what he says when he's misled us to war in Iraq?

How could I possibly believe he'll get the nations of this world to join us when I saw how he belittled the importance of the U.N. and other international alliances at his party's convention because it would draw cheers from his base supporters?

God help us if this guy gets elected in November.

My Thoughts on the RNC

Mission Accomplished?

My Thoughts on the RNC


Part One
Ringing the Hypocrite Bell for Bush...
..or: "Hollywood is not a strategy":

**"One of my movies was called "True Lies." It's what the Democrats should have called their convention."

- Hollywood star-turned-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger


**"Ronald Reagan believed in the power of truth in the conduct of world affairs..he showed what a President should be, he also showed us what a man should be."

-President George W. Bush in remarks made at the funeral of former President Ronald Reagan, who was a Hollywood star.

Here's the Bushit:

"If you say the heart and soul of America is found in Hollywood, I'm afraid you are not the candidate of conservative values."

-George W. Bush RNC Speech

_____________________________________________

Part Two
Quote of the Day:

"Only in an election year ruled by fiction could a sissy who used Daddy's connections to escape Vietnam turn an actual war hero into a girlie-man."

--Frank Rich

_______________________________________________

Part Three
My Thoughts on the RNC

'Fulfilling America's Promise: Building a Safer World and a More Hopeful America'?

Did the RNC accomplish their mission this week?
Did they succeed in pulling in some moderates while keeping their fundie-Con base interested?
I wonder.

After all is said and done, I think the main focus of the RNC was to take the heat off George W. Bush's dismal record and twist it all around to their hope that the November election will be a referendum on Kerry instead of it being a referendum on Bush.


The People the GOP Brought Out
*whether boldly or clandestinely

The RNC boldly displayed their Hollywood Governator expounding on the main object of his Republican inspiration--Richard Nixon. Meanwhile, Bush insulted Schwarzenegger by hypocritically averring that anyone from the evil Hollywood couldn't be 'one of them'.*wink*.

They've trotted out once-maverick (now dead skunk in the middle of the road) Senator John McCain, who fell in line with Bushism in order to further his political career.
Dead skunks are sooo over in today's dogfight-style-campaigning.
He lost himself some fans with that speech...and probably lost more than he gained.
When I saw McCain belittle Michael Moore from the podium, I smelled red meat desperation from "McMaverick".
I thought about him trying to steal away my political speech by bully-pushing legislation against 527s ads.
This is no maverick, my dear readers.
This is a caged political animal.

The RNC made a bitter and fanatical Zell Miller, the cartoonish GOP partisan in Democrat's clothing, the showpiece of their Convention.
That's just pathetic, people.

There was a negative-attack speech from VP Dick Cheney, who most American loathe for his shadowy governing techniques.
Meanwhile, 200 Swift Boat Liars hide in the dark behind Dick's stinging personal attacks on Bush's opponent.

There was the amiable-but-goofy Governor Pataki from N.Y. who not only fails his heavily-taxed State every year in getting a budget passed in a timely manner, but who's also been up the tail of Bush for too long.
Do you recall seeing him fly to Florida in 2000 to do his part to stop the vote-counting? I was ashamed of his obvious ambition during that regretful period.

Tommy Franks and Rudy G were the only credible speakers. Rudy's the gritty, honest hero of 9/11 that Bush never was. I think Rudy's full of hot air (aren't all politicians?), but I respect his heroism.
I might forgive Rudy for lowering himself to the crap-can level by mocking John Kerry at the RNC. Ask me next year when Kerry's president.

General Franks is believable in his service to our country and his political independence.
Tommy Franks agrees with me that Douglas Feith is the "f**ing stupidest guy on the face of the earth".
Well, I'm thinking Feith is maybe number two.
That's where Tommy and I have a divergence of opinion.
For me, Bush is numero uno on that list.


BUSH'S WORDS

Speaking of Bush, I have not yet commented on his speech.
The political injury he has done to so many millions of Americans has already been done.
His words cannot cover his action.
Words alone will never change our hearts.
John Kerry's phrase "All hat, no cattle" summed up my feelings about the Bush speech.
I don't trust the man and I don't trust his administration.
They screwed my nation and quite honestly, I'm angry to the core.
You're smart people--I'm sure you've figured this out already. *wink*

I shared blogger Anonymoses HyperLincoln's thoughts on the topic of 'expanding liberty':

"Lies about expanding liberty in an expanding circle. Imperialism. 'We will extend the frontiers of freedom'...meaning look out world, we are coming to take over."

Bush is on a mission from God. I see him getting all teary when speaking about sensitive topics such a the death of the troops he has sent on his crusade.
I think, for the leader of the free world, this is an indication of a form of delusion--calling into question the President's mental fitness.
I'm not joking.
Dr. Justin Franks's warning about Bush's mental health comes to my mind.

When Bush speaks, I barely listen anymore. It's like listening to a broken record that I'd thrown against a wall and shattered long ago because the words it contained were not only meaningless, they were untrue and unrecognizable to my American soul.

My fellow blogger Frogsdong summed it up well: "My contempt has leveled out. I have such absolute contempt for Bush, I cannot feel more contemptuous. I wouldn't piss on him if he were on fire."


We discovered who and what the Bush Campaign represent this week

The RNC laid down the gauntlet and this campaign is surely to be an alley-cat spat.
I've had a chance to get to know some of them this week. I think some behind the GOP campaign are filthy and immature scum who bring out the worst in American unity.

They're betting the instant recall of the days following 9/11 will bring back the sheep they've lost in the field while they squandered away our trust these many days and left us politically unattended.

It doesn't work that way in reality.
If you don't tend to the entire flock, you're going to lose most of them.


Mockery Ruled and Guided the RNC

And the mockery--oh, the mockery.
This is supposed to be a successful tactic, I guess.
It was ugly.
Over half of Americans got 'mocked out' like First-graders during the RNC because the GOP could not gracefully accept the fact that so many of us totally disagree with their leadership.
I've counseled my own child that, when he's "mocked out" on the playground, it is not truly his problem. Mockery usually comes from a person who is hiding some insecurity themselves.
So it is with the GOP. They wish to hide behind the insecurity of their poor performance over the past four years, thus they lash out at their critics.

This, to me, might sound like a great debating tactic if you have the force of truth on your side.
The problem with the Bushites is that they don't.
Truth is mightier, in the long run, than the words we use to cover our inadequacies.

Millions of Floridians miss Bush Speech

Millions of Floridians miss Bush Speech
Is this a sign from God?

Hurricane Frances barrels toward Zell who reaped the whirlwind

First things first...
Fuggetabbadit!!!!!!!!

NOTES ON BUSH SPEECH

Bla bla bla...I know nice people.
Lies about Medicare and Medical benefits.
Lies about releasing energy with tax relief.
"Nothing will hold us back" is the tagline so far.
Hyperbole about terror not happening on his watch.
More compassionate conservative bullshit.
Lies about offering clear and steady leadership.
He looks like he is on drugs.
Lies about expanding liberty in an expanding circle.
Imperialism.
"We will extend the frontiers of freedom"...meaning look out world, we are coming to take over.

Workers...suck it up.

Threatens to take away social security, etc. Old Europe, as it were.
Licking business' ass.
Reduce regulation.
Make tax relief permanent.
Bla bla bla
Stealing Kerry's idea about empowerment zones.
Bla bla bla
Sticking it to lawyers.
Plagiarized Al Gore line about doctors and patients having say so instead of:
BUSH: Government
GORE: HMOs.

"Ownership Society."
[see: Cain means Ownership]

Empty promise to America's schools.

Local people in charge of their schools.

Screw the moderates.

I'm reminded of what David Ogilvy once said:
YOU CAN'T BORE SOMEONE INTO BUYING YOUR PRODUCT...

What else is on...


MAJOR DISRUPTION!!!!!

ABC MISSES IT!!!!

ANOTHER DISRUPTION!!

PBS seems more reliable in coverage.

Bla bla bla...lies about Kerry and coalition.

Get this boring man out of my white house!

Sorry, but this man really sucks.
What was his name?

God damn what a long speech...
Freedom indeed!

-------------------------
COMMENTS

Zhoodah : i've never seen such UGLY women in my life

Kerry Gonna Come At the Witching Hour

Sneak Preview: Kerry Gonna Come At the Witching Hour

From Washington Irving's "Legend of Sleepy Hollow"-

...every sound of nature, at that witching hour, fluttered his excited imagination...the moan of the whip-poor-will from the hillside, the boding cry of the tree toad, that harbinger of storm, the dreary hooting of the screech owl, to the sudden rustling in the thicket of birds frightened from their roost.....

...to the cheers of hundreds at the Ohio Midnight rally!

Here's a sneak preview of what John Kerry will be saying:

"The Vice President even called me unfit for office last night. I guess I'll leave it up to the voters whether five deferments makes someone more qualified to defend this nation than two tours of duty."

"Let me tell you what I think makes someone unfit for duty. Misleading our nation into war in Iraq makes you unfit to lead this nation. Doing nothing while this nation loses millions of jobs makes you unfit to lead this nation. Letting 45 million Americans go without healthcare makes you unfit to lead this nation...."

RNC Goes to Zell

RNC Goes to Zell

Johnny-rosin up your bow and play your
fiddle hard
'Cause Zell's broke loose from Georgia
And the devil deals the cards
And if you win you get this Oval Office
made of gold
But if you lose the devil gets our soul.

Tommy Franks Was Not Endorsing Bush August 9th

Tommy Franks Was Not Endorsing Bush August 9th

It must have been an awfully tough decision for retired General Tommy Franks.
On August 9th, he said that the Swift Boat Liars' criticism of John Kerry's war record was political hyperbole and Kerry is "absolutely" qualified to be commander-in- chief.

Tonight, about three weeks later, he said America must make a choice.
He decided on Bush.
I respect him and trust that he's been independent and thoughtful about that decision.

I think about another general...Colin Powell.
As a key civilian Cabinet member, he was poorly used by the Bushites.

Tommy Franks left his command of the Iraq invasion mid-stream to retire.
I don't blame him a bit. He's done a wonderful service for this country.

Colin Powell's not coming back if there's a 'next term'. He tried to do a wonderful job for this country for these past four years, but the power-struggle among the Bushites made him politically impotent. What a damned shame.

The way I see it, both of the generals got out before it all comes down on top of the Bushites....the culmination of failed policy.

I don't think we've seen the worst of it yet. If the Bushites pull out a win, each and every failure can be covered by Karl Rove for only so long.

George W. Bush's Words

Bush's Words at Jon Stewart/Daily Show

I promised Anonymoses I would find this video for him. I saw it on the Daily Show last night and thought it was the perfect Vote-For-John-Kerry ad.

You have to go HERE to find the video.

Scroll down to "Indecision 2004 Videos" and go to "BUSH'S WORDS".

It looks like this

It's a must-see.

Ohio to NYC: A Day in the Life

Ohio to NYC
A Day in the Life
31 Aug., 2004
By Todd J. Schneider

Todd J. Schneider is a political activist from the Akron, Ohio area.
Not only is he a heartful activist, T.J.S. is also a gifted writer.
Let him tell you about A Day in the Life of an Ohio Activist in NYC.

"It was another act of defiance with new friends and old. It was a chance for me to stand against the exploitation of my home of long ago. It was a family memory to last forever. It was the day in the life of a family, a city, and a country." --Todd J. Schneider

Another chance to speak our minds

I had looked forward to this day for nearly a year. From the moment it was announced that the Bushite junta would exploit the good people of New York one more time in order to extract the last drop of political blood from their tragedy, I knew I would be on the streets there to stand against them.

You see, New York was once my home. It was long ago, and indeed a time of personal struggle and heartbreak for this author. But my love for this place was firmly and forever established. This is the capital of the world. It is a land of constant wonder. It is a place piled high with the things of the world, and as a natural-born internationalist, its ethnic diversity serves to enrich rather than frighten my Anglo-Saxon heritage. Though I lived there but a short while, and long ago, New York welcomes me any time I return. So, with this adoration for the Grand Dame of American cities, a loathing of fascism and an equal helping of fraternity with the disloyal opposition, the die was cast in a heartbeat. I would be going home again.

Looking back on the year. Looking forward to the next battle.

The last year has seemed a lifetime - with all the political battles to be fought, then the primaries and regrouping afterwards. There were protests to attend, media consolidation to be fought, picket lines to be manned. History seemed to be being made all around us here in Akron, Ohio, and we lost no time in marshaling forces to face all the upcoming battles. My wife and friend of 28 years picked up the banner like never before, and our 14 year old had come into his own as a real political force in his own right. We formed a terrific independent group of Democrats back in February to work for the legal removal of our despised leader, and hundreds of friendships were made and a like number of dollars exchanged toward that goal. But all the sudden, it was late July and time for planning what we hoped would be the bloodless battle of defiance over the exploitation of New York City by the Republican Party, and whatever it is they claim to stand for.

We have a wonderful chapter of the American Friends Service Committee here in Akron that serves the downtrodden of the world every day. With them, I became involved in the committee to plan our part in the defiance; my part being to make sure our posse got in and out of New York without a hitch - or as close to that as possible. Any reader of this humble script who has done the 'battle by bus' thing in the anti-war movement knows the story. A parking lot in the middle of the night; the signing of the passenger list and the taking of cell phone numbers. The 8 hour bus ride and the impossibility of sleep. The half hour stops at the truck stop for fuel, food, a smoke and some anti-fascist talk. On this count, nothing would be very different.

On the way

This time there were other elements that made this trip unique. First, the response was overwhelming. In the last 7 of these trips, I had never seen such an early and enthusiastic desire to be counted. We ended up taking 3 buses from Akron and Cleveland - split fifty-fifty from each town, and sadly had to turn people away. Another element was the gymnastics routine performed by the Bloomberg/Rove administration - a routine worthy of the olympics, and designed purely to brace up the charade that nobody opposes this administration.

We really had no idea what awaited us in New York, right up to the very last moment. But the most important element for me was personal. I would be taking my our 14 year-old son Eric (his second such trip), and our 22 year-old son Andy would be taking the Chinatown to Chinatown down from Boston to yell some shit at republicans with his little brother and his old man. Though there was to be some chance of danger, this was a moment in history that I didn't want my boys to miss.

A memory a family will forever share in praise of love for their country

No words can ever express the value of this half-day we spent together. We marched together, laughed, talked about the city's part in our family's history over two centuries, and stepped on soil where our ancestors trod.

When it came time to part, there was the hug from me to my son in the tunnel of the PATH station at 14th & 6th Ave. that said 'I love you, be careful, and I will miss you'. If you know love, you know this moment - the hope, the pain of parting. These are memories never forgotten, and are the stuff that makes the world right.

By the grace of God, and the good work of UFPJ, the protest was a total and peaceful success. We returned to Akron at 2:30 am Monday morning, having left only 2 people from our bus behind. One of the buses stayed in New Jersey to wait for them, and hopefully achieved that goal. For me, it was 'back to work' at 7 am for 9 hours in the machine shop; for others it was classes at Akron U and Kent State. But it was also more. It was another act of defiance with new friends and old. It was a chance for me to stand against the exploitation of my home of long ago. It was a family memory to last forever. It was the day in the life of a family, a city, and a country.

--Todd J. Schneider

Blair's 'Silent' Endorsement of John Kerry

Tony Blair's 'Silent Endorsement'
of John Kerry

John Kerry supporters in America have been told by Peter Hain that Downing Street is hoping the Democratic candidate wins the US presidential election in November.

Which America Does Bush Represent?

Which America Does Bush Represent?

One. And it's not my America.
He's never represented me.
I've paid close attention.

On NPR today, I heard Bill Frist talking about John Kerry's "flip-flopping" in the context of "two Americas".

Frist begged the question: Does John Kerry really see two Americas and is he trying to say he will represent them both?

The way I see it, the answer is simple.

John Kerry probably does see a division in America, although the "two-America" subject was primarily showcased in John Edwards' primary speeches; not John Kerry's.

If any reader here doesn't understand the nation is polarized, then I'm sorry. You must be brain-dead.

There's a 'moderate America' and the 'Dittohead/Fox News America'.
There is the top-1% "Haves"-in-America and the "Have-nots"-in-America.
Of course, there are many in the (squeezed) middle class who might tell you they can see three Americas.

Although he recognizes the polarization, Kerry will try to represent all of us as one America, unlike the radical agenda Bush has tried to push down the throats of middle-class America for the benefit of his mammonite "base".

Arnold Schwarzenegger, who ideologically represents something vastly different than the right-wing agenda for which the Bush administration has stood, said in his RNC speech that our soldiers are fighting for one America.

Arnold was right and I apprerciate him for stating the fact.

"We are one America."

John Kerry will represent America as one.

Goerge W. Bush has divided us and dwelled on only one of those Americas we all clearly see.

Who do these Republicasn think they're fooling?

I heard the shameless Bush on Rush Limbaugh's radio show the other day. That is Bush's element, you see. Dubya doesn't know how to talk to "the other America", and I don't think he cares to talk to them.

Bush only cares politically about the fundamentalists, right-wingnuts, and the top 1%, no matter how many Americas you care to count.