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?