Meeting Open Thread
We're streaming the meeting this morning live here.
Comments (253) «
"a new low"? The Republican party KNOWS no lows. There is nothing that is beneath them. Looks like Rove hit the ground running in his new position, Slime King !
"The National Republican Congressional Committee released a television ad in San Diego today that is filled with outright lies and a blatant disregard for the truth that is breathtaking even for the Republican Party.
The ad represents a new low for a party that had pretty much plumbed the depths of sleazy political dirty tricks. Unlike 2004's Swift Boat attacks on John Kerry, this ad comes directly from the Republican Party. This ad couldn't have hit the air in San Diego without the approval of county Republican leader, Ron Nehring.
Thank you, Josh, for this, for writing yesterday from the bus, "The destruction is one thing -- the fact that you had no idea just how bad it is is an experience in and of itself."
Thanks to all of you for the clean up work. Just think, the residents could have been doing this work for pay or as volunteers, organized by FEMA, instead of what we ended up with - more privatizing, corruption and greed by the Republicans.
Republicans can't govern because they don't like governance. Democrats are good at governing because we believe in the good that governing can do. Like cleaning up New Orleans neighborhoods and building lives. We are the government and we want to help each other. Republicans just look for the main chance and the devastated coast was just another opportunity for them to make a buck.
Looks like Whistle blowers about illegal secret prisons gets thrown in prison:
Washington - The Central Intelligence Agency has dismissed a senior career officer for disclosing classified information to reporters, including material for Pulitzer Prize-winning articles in The Washington Post about the agency's secret overseas prisons for terror suspects, intelligence officials said Friday.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/042206Z.shtml
BUT Rice can spill any kind of defense information !!!!
Alexandria, Virginia - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice leaked national defense information to a pro-Israel lobbyist in the same manner that landed a lower-level Pentagon official a 12-year prison sentence, the lobbyist's lawyer said Friday
Posted by PamB on April 22, 2006 at 10:31 AM
I wouldn't worry about ads in San Diego.
The Democrat's OWN California and that's not changing anytime soon.
Clarence/Reuben,
Why did you change your name?
Everyone on this blog knows it is you.
And why are you always posting on this blog?
Is it because you secretly support the Democrats
because you really don't have any Republican friends?
Hola! {{Pammayyyyyyy}}
I've missed reading you!
btw, our buddy Dewey has a great rant going over at his blog spot. If anyone else is interested.
Happy Rainy Saturday to all!
Clarence/Reuben,
Do the Republicans bully you around?
Are you here just because Democrats are the only ones who will accept you because of who you are?
...because the Republicans don't tolerate you?
...and the Democrats are the party of tolerance?
Clarence/Reuben,
The Democrats don't mind if you blog here because...
The Democrats believe in freedom of speech.
The Democrats believe in freedom of expression.
That is why you can post your opinions, no matter who controversial they are.
I wouldn't be surprised if the average Republican couldn,t care less about you, Clarence/Reuben, or your opinion for that matter.
Reuben is looking forward to adaloscence so maybe they will let him eat at the table with the big kids.
Benji
this troll has been coming here for about 3 yrs.
I don't believe he is either dem or pug
I think he is a punk with no life that gets OFF (with his right hand) while he gets reactions with his left.
I think he's been kicked OFF his own blog because all he likes to do is argue and wreak havoc.
If you ignore it - it WONT go away but it will maybe take the headache off you a bit!
The owners of this blog don't spend enough time reading here or he'd have been gone a long time ago. Either that or they the way he fights. Like how SOME will drive real slow by an accident in hopes of seeing some blood on the road.
It's kinda sick but they allow it.
I don't think any "regular" working class PUG would put up with it. Ya know come to think of it now that ZELL Miller is out of work I bet it's HIM!!! (just imagining) LOL
Clarence/Reuben,
You keep posting your outlandish right-wing Republican opinions here all you want.
The Democrats (they might not like to admit it) actually benefit from knowing the type of mentality they are up against.
But there is no escaping the fact, the Democrats care about your opinion more than the Republicans do.
The CIA whistleblower, Mary something or other I think, should get a medal for letting the American people know how our government, founded paying lip service to principles of human dignity, justice, and due process once again demonstrates to the world that many times it is just this lip service and bs that we promote.
If we think we can claim any moral superiority on the Germans of the 30's and 40's we are kidding ourselves.
correction
I think the LIKE him! And the way he fights.
I know a few that used to come on here liked to fight with him. Maybe it was the only way they could get their juices flowing each day.
who knows
If you ignore it - it WONT go away but it will maybe take the headache off you a bit!
Posted by Dawnie on April 22, 2006 at 11:55 AM
Dawnie,
No offense,
but it takes more than THIS GUY to give me a headache.
as a matter of fact, It takes more than the Republicans all put together to give me a headache.
If the owners of this blog decided to censure posts because of dissenting views, no matter how immature they may be, then I would be dissapointed more than relieved.
If you don't want to acknowledge Clarence/Reuben that's up to you.
I am happy making my own choices, thank you.
That is why you can post your opinions, no matter who controversial they are.
I wouldn't be surprised if the average Republican couldn,t care less about you, Clarence/Reuben, or your opinion for that matter.
Posted by Benji on April 22, 2006 at 11:47 AM
The blog moderators are away, that is why the troll sneaks out and posts to his heart content. BUT come Monday, they will block him and erase him, like he never existed! That is why the change of name, btw. system refuses to let his use same name twice.
You see, although the Dems believe in Freedom of speech, sick, vicious offensive and inflammatory posts are not tolerated here, not any other liberal blog. We have an Congress to take back in 200 days, and we cannot waste time paying attention to that last 30% who refuse to admit they made a Big mistake voting for Bush.
Benji
I was only giving you some history.
Make your own choices for sure.
And trust me, he's been pretty disgusting. If you had not noticed. And this is the DNC Kick Ass Blog so I guess someone should hold the title. Go for it.
waste time paying attention to that last 30% who refuse to admit they made a Big mistake voting for Bush.
Posted by PamB on April 22, 2006 at 12:03 PM
Exactly Pam! Waste of good oxygen! Indeed.
Posted by PamB on April 22, 2006 at 12:03 PM
PamB,
So the name Reuben is now on the do not post list?
Who says Clarence/Reuben voted for Bush?
Who says he even voted at all?
America's problems aren't just the fact that the Republicans are in office.
America's problems are because there is such a great polorizing divide between the right and the left.
The Republicans have certainly shown an apathy towards understanding the left.
Do the Democrats have that same apathy towards that same demographic on the right?
Dawnie and PamB,
To truly solve a problem...
You have to understand it first...
Benji
what the frick are you talking about?
I'm not at all worried about solving a problem with Sally. It's not worth it.
Closing your eyes and not listening to your ears never makes the problem disappear.
I think I was trying to help YOU better understand the troll.
apparently you are someone who has been here longer than I suspected. What did you used to go by in here? I might have known you?
I understand plenty. But if you KNEW me you KNOW that!
Benji
think about it
if your left leg is bleeding and you find a hang nail on your right hand.............. I think the bleeding would get all the attention and understanding and the hang nail would be TOTALLY IGNORED!!
it's a zit on the ass of a cow and not worth fixing at this point! OTHER things are much more important!
so Pam
What is going on with your efforts to keep Lieberdouche from being re-elected this Fall?
Nationalize Big: Oil – Pharmaceuticals – Healthcare – Airlines – Utilities
We subsidize them so we may as well own them.
PamB
I think a few are blowing off steam because "it" got the first post of the new thread.
There is a value to having some one like Clarence (Analoculosis) online. It shows us the level of intelligence that makes up the rank and file of young Republicans.
After all, we need a strategy for dealing with the small mind of the miniture-elephant.
When addressing this suffer of analoculosis try to use small words only.
zero value imo as we don't KNOW this kid is even old enough to vote!
Posted by Tom_Terrific on April 22, 2006 at 12:22 PM
The first post is mighty insignicant compared to the understanding of an extreme right wing agenda.
The extreme right wing agenda is the problem and solving it has just as much to do with understanding it.
But by all means, Blow of steam when you have it.
Dawnie and PamB,
My sincere apologies for raising your ire so early in the morning.
the "extremists" are down to about 20 percent and have become pretty "insignificant" themselves actually!
Don't under estimate the extremists.
That's how Bush got elected in the first place.
I forgot to add
THANK THE GODDESS!!!
my ire is fine, no need to apologize
I made the first mistake in trying to explain the dirty trolls history. Racist remarks over and over tend to make a permanent mark in my mind to NEVER bother with them again.
It seems all the troubles lately in America are centered in Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma and the extremists are inbred homegrown RED loving white boys!
cannibals, shoot up the schools, etc!
Nothing but white boys. There in lies the trouble! RAcists raising racists raising more racists! ALL centering around the CENTER of the dark RED states!
Regardless,
A Happy Day to...
The Democrats,
The Leftie Looneys,
And the malicious trolls.
There are tomatoes in my garden saying "Pick me. Pick me."
P.S. I would wish the Republicans a Happy Day if their website didn't suck so much.
First an asside: Dawnie, did you get my comment from last night? You were signing off at the time. Anyway, go to www.hunterdouglas.com for the answers.
For any interested in what W is up to this weekend, give a look at www.thedesertsun.com, he is out here to raise some money and visit the Marines at 29 Palms. Actually, visiting the Marines is the excuse to charge the cost to the govt. so he could raise money for Rep. Bono (R-Palm Springs) Meantime, gas here is $3.12 per gal. for unleaded regular.
Well I just woke up, went to check my email, and stopped by for a peak. I'm not ready for this yet today.
I usually don't smoke a cigar this early but right now I need an El Ray Del Mundo Suprema Robusto and a cup of almond and choclate coffee. I hate to grind the beans but I love the flavor.
See y'all later in the day.
Well I just woke up, went to check my email, and stopped by for a peak. I'm not ready for this yet today.
I usually don't smoke a cigar this early but right now I need an El Ray Del Mundo Suprema Robusto and a cup of almond and chocolate coffee. I hate to grind the beans but I love the flavor.
See y'all later in the day.
Turkish Army Sends 40,000 Troops to Southeast:
Reuters
Fri, 21 Apr 2006
Turkey has sent nearly 40,000 troops to the southeast to prepare for an expected rise in Kurdish rebel incursions from northern Iraq, a senior military official said on April 20.
The official, who declined to be named, said more troops would arrive from central and western Turkey to back up security forces fighting Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) guerrillas in the mountainous provinces Hakkari, Van and Sirnak.
"The Kurdistan Workers Party is trying to send half of its 4,900 militants (based) in northern Iraq here and preparing for attacks in Turkey’s cities," the official told Reuters.
Dozens of guerrillas and members of Turkey’s security forces have been killed in clashes and mine attacks in recent months, and a string of bomb attacks has hit Istanbul, some of them claimed by a group linked to the PKK.
Street clashes in March and April between Kurdish protestors and security forces, in which 17 people died, also contributed to concerns that violence could escalate to levels seen in the 1990s, the peak of the PKK’s campaign for a Kurdish homeland.
Ankara has repeatedly called on the United States to crack down on PKK rebels based in northern Iraq but slipping across the mountainous border to attack security forces.
//www.defencetalk.com/news/publish/
article_005652.php
Forget about the civil war in Iraq, our troops will be having to ward off the Turks, our allies, soon.
Hey Aaron, Bye Tom and Benji,
I am just in a constant state of amazement that everyone keeps blaming everyone else for the troubles that are begun at home with most of these people.
And I'm white (and German). Wholey ashamed of MOST of the white boys lately and their bleach blonde bimbo headed stepford wives as well!
It's my own problem with my OWN race and people like Karl Rove and GW Douche only make it more apparent!
If I could change races I would. That's how sick I am of it all.
Posted by MaryinSeattle on April 22, 2006 at 10:34 AM
That's a very thoughtful post. Why did we allow our fellow countrymen to be sent away as refugees instead of finding ways for them to stay and rebuild their lives and their city?
The DNC is meeting in New Orleans this week. When Hurricance Katrina struck, the President said that he wanted the people of the Gulf coast to know that "the federal government is prepared to help them." He went on to say "the challenges that we face on the ground are unprecedented....but I'm confident that, with time, you'll get your life back in order, new communities will flourish, the great city of New Orleans will be back on its feet and America will be the stronger place for it."
We now know that was all a lie. Although, we should have been warned by the phrase, "you'll get your life back in order," that help from the federal government would be scant. Moreover, if we called him on his supposed promise now, he'd likely just shift the responsibility to the Congress to explain why, seven months later, visitors like the DNC are still needed to help clean up the debris left by the hurricane and the flood.
Blaming the Congress might not be fair, but it is incontrovertible that the current Congress has enabled this President to shirk the responsiblities of his office.
So, if they don't want to be associated with this miserable failure of an administration, both the incumbents and whoever is wanting to replace them have an opportunity right now to step up to the bar and "show us the money." And it doesn't even have to be their own money.
I'm betting that every one of the 435 members of the House and the 33 Senators whose seats will be on the ballot come November are busy collecting campaign donations from every corner of this great nation. So, what I suggest is that, instead of handing those dollars over to TV stations for ads that are bound to irritate us anyway, they just donate a chunk to the Louisiana Disaster Recovery Fund or some other outfit that's prepared to do good.
If public officials can donate the money they shouldn't have accepted from PACs to charitable enterprise, then they should certainly be able to hand over fifty percent of their campaign coffers to make up for what their federal budget process doesn't accommodate. And it certainly won't hurt firt-time candidates to get used to the idea of putting dollars where they claim their priorities lie.
The press loves those FEC numbers. Let's see if we can't affect where those dollars are actually spent. Frankly, I'm salivating at the prospect of seeing Senator Clinton send seven million smackers down NOLA's way.
Posted by PamB on April 22, 2006 at 10:47 AM
Pam, it's OK for them to declassify anything for political reasons. It's just another illustration of the abuse of power this administration exercises.
Dawnie,
If it makes you feel better some of my dearest friends in the world are of German heritage.
And now to those tomatoes.
And Rueben/Clarence/Humpty/Anke,
whatever. (eyes rolling)
Posted by monicasmith on April 22, 2006 at 12:48 PM
Hey Monica, good idea! Is Hill really doing that? How great!
Posted by Benji on April 22, 2006 at 12:51 PM
thanks
oo time for Jack Cafferty on CNN
bbl
Peace everyone!
Being one of those "less decernable" minorities, I have said for many years that bigotry is alive and well in the US. Much of it today hides below the surface, but it is there, nevertheless. Witness the events in New Orleans, the lack of progress in bringing up education levels in the inner city. The ratio of minorities in the prison system. Even the arguments on immigration are hidden racist leanings. "Don't ask, don't tell" in reality, applies to more than sexual orientation. Keep the dirty little secret concealed and it doesn't exist. Like we can't tell.
Well, that's all for now. Got some things to do. Catch ya'll later.
Monica, that's a nice idea, but I don't see anyone facing re-election this year doing it. The stakes are too high.
We need massive infusions of resources and forceful leadership to turn things around in NOLA. Our efforts should be more on the line of a Marshall Plan.
I am cheered every time I hear about a church group or college students volunteering during spring break to clean up and restore what can be. But there needs to be an effort to remake and modernize the levies and neighborhoods.
A real President would be able to mobilize such an effort. We will have to wait until we get back control of Congress. Then real pressure can be exerted on the executive branch to do what is morally and economically right for NOLA and the nation. I'm afraid (as George Bush himself has already pointed out about the Iraqi occupation) that we wll have to wait for the next President to deal with this challenge, too.
I agree with you that something has to be done about the excessive amount of money being raised for political campaigns and how it is wasted in druming up negative television ads not postitive responses by voters.
Posted by AaronM on April 22, 2006 at 12:57 PM
Aaron, you are so right. Just witness how the religious right have used racism to gather power. Whether its immigration or gay marriage, this country is still consumed by a racist element who will manipulate the greater good whenever it is feasible.
It's good some are willing to speak out as you are. Only be acknowledging the problem can progress be made toward stopping it from diverting attention from the real problems.
Bigoty is alive and well here!
Intolerance of opposing views and opinions is often met with personal attacks and derision.
But for the most part, most of the intelligent and mature posters handle opposing views quite well.
Kyrgyz Leader Threatens to Expel US Troops
By KADYR TOKTOGULOV
Kyrgyzstan's president threatened Wednesday to expel U.S. troops if the United States does not agree by June 1 to pay more for stationing forces in the Central Asian nation.
About 1,000 troops are stationed at an air base set up in December 2001 at Kyrgyzstan's main civilian airport near the capital, Bishkek. Most are American but there are also small French and Spanish contingents.
The facility is used as a transit point for troops going to or coming from Afghanistan and is a base for tanker planes that refuel military craft in Afghanistan.
"Kyrgyzstan reserves the right to consider ending the agreement" on the deployment of U.S. forces in the ex-Soviet republic, where they are based for operations in nearby Afghanistan, President Kurmanbek Bakiyev said on state television.
He said the government could terminate the agreement if talks on new financial terms of the U.S. military deployment do not end successfully before June 1.
The U.S. Embassy had no immediate comment.
Bakiyev's statement sends a worrying signal to Washington, which lost its other base in former Soviet Central Asia last year when Uzbekistan expelled U.S. troops following Western criticism of the government's bloody May 2005 crackdown on demonstrators.
It also comes amid Russian concern about the U.S. presence in Central Asia. Kyrgyzstan also hosts a Russian air base, 12 miles east of Bishkek, and last summer a regional security body led by Russia and China called for the United States and its allies to set a date for the withdrawal of their forces from Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan...
//www.forbes.com/entrepreneurs/feeds/
ap/2006/04/19/ap2682604.html
This is another reason to fired Rumsfeld. He set up these military bases with these ruthless Soviet dictators who are now trying to blackmail us.
Good Afternoon everyone!
Well this day will go down as perhaps one of the best for me. It started this morning. I got up and got ready and decided to head out to meet with the people who are striking Vincent Bach, a musical making company in Elkhart who has been making instruments for 80 years. It seems the CEO wants the Union to take a major hit in wages. The Union said no - the company is now threating to move it's plant to China, leaving 230 people out of work.
They are a strong group. As I made my way up to the group of about 20 - 30, I didn't know if they would welcome me. Boy was I wrong. They took me in with open arms...glad that someone from the party was there to show support. Another mile stone for me.
We talked about the strike and how painful it was for many of them. Many have worked for the company for over 30 years! Let's all pray they will come through this ok.
Then - only hours from now, I will be traveling to Columbia City Indiana where we will be having our 3rd District Dinner and ---- I finally get to meet Colleen. For some of you who don't know who she is, she was a regular here from the get go. We met here and found out she is from the county just below mine in northern Indiana.
We'll have a lot to talk about and PamB - you know you're name will come up. I hope to have pictures on the blog sometime tomorrow.
Until then -
Keep on rockn'
We'll have a lot to talk about and PamB - you know you're name will come up. I hope to have pictures on the blog sometime tomorrow.
make sure you both have a drink in your hands when you do!!! And I will be looking for those pictures of you two, good looking, hard working Indiana Gals! :))
This is what happems when voters decide to stand by their man instead of their country. We have our generals making lame excuses for the failures of a public official who has done irreputible harm to our armed forces:
Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, offered the most feeble defense of his boss: “He does his homework. He works weekends; he works nights. People can question my judgment or his judgment, but they should never question the dedication, the patriotism and the work ethic of Secretary Rumsfeld.” Nobody has questioned his work ethic, let alone his patriotism (a tactic most often abused by Republicans and not against them). What the flag officers have questioned are his spectacular incompetence and his catastrophic arrogance.
Bush hears voices
But does he listen?
Joe Conason
The New York Observer
04.21.06
//www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?
itemid=20683
Girl - you can take that to the bank - the drink thingy....
Colleen and I have always said that when we get together, if we ever got together, that we would have one in your honor and we certainly wouldn't want to disappoint you Pam!
Got to run - I need to do a few things before we leave..
Good afternoon fellow dems,I got a chance to watch the DNC meetings on C-Span and i have to say i couldn't have been more proud of what Dean did today with his speech. What a leader.
He hit on every single topic that was right on cue values,voting reform,iraq,a change in america,etc everything he said was picture perfect.
I'm so proud that this brave man is our chairman and i hope he continues the good fight for the people,for our country,for justice and democracy.
Keep up the good fight Howard and keep on going after those mean republicans that have been screwing this country for so many years and hopefully we will take congress back in November and bring real change for america.
Thank you Howard and fellow dems.
Bribery is the Republican way of doing business and now it's caught up with the border crisis:
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Border Corruption Runs Amok: New cash for border cops should go to Internal Affairs
The pattern is obvious to anyone paying attention, but I seldom hear public officials discuss it. Police corruption has cropped up along the Texas-Mexico border at a head-spinning pace in recent months. Here are a few cases on the US side that caught Grits' attention:
* McAllen, October 2005: Immigration Customs Enforcement inspector arrested for allegedly taking bribes to let drug shipments through his lane at a border checkpoint.
* McAllen, October 2005: Three Rio Grande Valley City cops arrested for allegedly taking bribes to escort drug runners through their jurisdiction.
* Brownsville, December 2005: Cameron County Sheriff convicted of accepting bribes and using deputies to escort drug runners through the county.
* Laredo, March 2006: Senior Border Patrol Agent and his brother sentenced to 20 and 17-1/2 years respectively for accepting bribes to allow drugs through a border checkpoint.
* Harlingen, March 2006: A state corrections officer (prison guard) was caught at a border patrol checkpoint with 21 pounds of marijuana in his spare tire.
* El Paso, March 2006: US authorities announced they will extradite rather than prosecute an informant who murdered 12 people in Juarez while working for Immigration Customs Enforcement.
* Zapata County, April 2006: Deputy commander of the Laredo Multi-Agency Narcotics Task force was indicted for allegedly directing agents away from trafficking routes, helping smugglers store drugs, and giving out confidential police information.
* El Paso, April 2006: Former Special Agent in Charge of the entire El Paso FBI division (2001-2003) indicted for allegedly taking bribes from a cartel-affiliated Juarez racetrack owner who was his informant.
* Edinburg, April 2006: Five brothers including one current Edinburg police officer and a former McAllen police officer arrested on drug trafficking charges.
On the Mexican side, 1/3 of the Nuevo Laredo Police Department was fired last year for corruption, and the NL police chief (the last one was assassinated), just quit his job after eight months citing high stress. No kidding! They've had more than 70 murders already in Nuevo Laredo this year, including cops. Elements of state and local Mexican police and even the military have fallen under control of the Mexican drug cartels, who are openly feuding over control of the prime distribution routes.
On both sides of the border, drug traffickers have corrupted law enforcement officials from small-town cops all the way up the head of an FBI division. Maybe this much corruption always existed and authorities are only now investigating it - one hopes things are getting better. But on the assumption there's more where that came from, it's safe to say from these examples that drug traffickers have successfully purchased influence at every level of US law enforcement on the Texas-Mexico border.
So how will throwing more money at those same agencies help the problem? Until police corruption is under control, new spending on border law enforcement agencies like Operation Linebacker should start with money for Internal Affairs units, not foolhardy immigration raids.
//gritsforbreakfast.blogspot.com/2006/04/
border-corruption-runs-amok-new-cash.html
Gee, I wonder how much money is exchanging hands for ignoring human cargo in the back of vans as they go through those same checkpoints?
There are so many stories I want to read today. I can't believe that people aren't better informed. It's so easy to use the internet to keep abreast of what's going on in the world. I'll share the links of the best later.
Have a great Saturday afternoon. later.
Who said Bush didn't take New Orleans seriously?
Bush in New Orleans
We've got a primary election coming up here in Ohio in less than two weeks. Most, if not all of the races on the Democratic side are uncontested. The race for Attorney General *is* contested, and this race is important enough to me that I dedicated several hours on a *gorgeous* Saturday afternoon to writing up a blog entry about it. Unlike previous entries, this one is written specifically for a national audience:
Why the Ohio Attorney General race matters: Honest elections
Posted by Renee_in_Ohio on April 22, 2006 at 02:26 PM
Interesting essay.
Can someone tell me in plain english what in the "hell" is going on in Ohio?
The only thing I know about Ohio is that the Browns and Indians are horrible.
What about their attorney general?
Afternoon All.
Happy Earth Day!
Don't forget to catch Pink's video Dear Mr. President
Lyrics:
Dear Mr. President
Come take a walk with me
Let's pretend we're just two people and
You're not better than me
I'd like to ask you some questions if we can speak honestly
What do you feel when you see all the homeless on the street
Who do you pray for at night before you go to sleep
What do you feel when you look in the mirror
Are you proud
How do you sleep while the rest of us cry
How do you dream when a mother has no chance to say goodbye
How do you walk with your head held high
Can you even look me in the eye
And tell me why
Dear Mr. President
Were you a lonely boy
Are you a lonely boy
Are you a lonely boy
How can you say
No child is left behind
We're not dumb and we're not blind
They're all sitting in your cells
While you pave the road to hell
What kind of father would take his own daughter's rights away
And what kind of father might hate his own daughter if she were gay
I can only imagine what the first lady has to say
You've come a long way from whiskey and cocaine
Lizzybeth:
Jinx! I was just listening to that video on talkleft! ESP, I guess
Oh this really hits me smack in the heart.
May they have finally found the peace, they did not have on this Earth.
hello dear dems!
gorgeous day here, doing yard work, cleaning garage fun fun!
jimmy v. george compare and contrast
Pammie,
I thought she did an extraordinary job, the more I see her sing, the more I like her.
OT: Although it appears that China is wondering...
In Hu's Visit to the U.S., Small Gaffes May Overshadow Small Gains
The Chinese Embassy in Washington sent a delegation to the White House on Friday to demand a detailed explanation of how an adherent of the Falun Gong spiritual sect, which is banned in China, managed to infiltrate the welcome ceremony for Mr. Hu on the South Lawn of the White House on Thursday and heckle Mr. Hu for several minutes before being escorted away.
Wasn't it just nice to see what $1 trillion dollar in debt can do?
How many of you saw bush, the decider, decide to apologize to a communist leader, forsake a peace activist, for the warm hug of a banker who owns $1 trillion of our debt?
American middleclass should note that hug was the hug of death for any hope left for american jobs in USA, bush just gave it away to cover his debt, a $46 trillion dollar debt!
Hi Jen,
If Past Is Prologue, George Bush Is Becoming An Increasingly Dangerous President
President George W. Bush's presidency is a disaster - one that's still unfolding.
I agree!!
Thanks John Dean!
uh benji? you wanna be a little more specific?
if you wanna know what the current attorney general has been up to?
ohio atty genl
jim petro
jim petro in the news
Lizzybeth,
I had never heard her sing before, and I was impressed.
Looks like this is another good one:
Review: Neil Young's 'Living With War' is 'one MFer of a protest album'
Let's get one thing out of the way right now: this album rocks. It's post '80s electric Neil Young at his grunge best, and of the 10 cuts on Living With War, the first eight are mostly uptempo rockers. In fact, this may be the 60-year-old Young's most crossover-worthy album yet, since many of the songs should appeal to fans of bands as diverse as Green Day and Pearl Jam and will likely be embraced on campuses across America.
In fact, Living With War may just be the Fahrenheit 9/11 of rock.
I don't like Stamford during Basketball season, but Hot Dang, those kids make me proud!!!!!
Protesters force Bush to move Stanford meeting
President Bush's visit to Stanford University's Hoover Institution was quickly moved to another location after more than 1,000 protesters converged around the Hoover tower.
The White House said the protesters blocked the only road into the central areaof the campus where Hoover is located, which forced a meeting with several Hoover fellows to be moved to the campus home of former Secretary of State George Shultz, a Hoover fellow who organized the gathering.
Think Progress has a great post up about The Architects of War: Where they are now.
I remember reading this but I thought it was worth re-posting.
the former president of reprise's blog downwithtyranny has good stuff about neil young's newest too.
i can't wait to get it.
There is a value to having some one like Clarence (Analoculosis) online. It shows us the level of intelligence that makes up the rank and file of young Republicans. Posted by Tom_Terrific on April 22, 2006 at 12:22 PM
Trouble is, he's not "a young Republican". He's a sixty year old man. Well, he's been calling himself 58 for the past two years, so you do the math.
Posted by jen on April 22, 2006 at 03:44 PM
no...
google...
ha...
ha...
ha...
thanks.
$46 trillion debt on the books,
$46 trillion debt,
Apology to one banker,
$47 trillion debt on the books.
$47 trillion debt on the books,
$47 trillion debt,
Kiss an ass on cheeks,
$48 trillion debt on the books.
$48 trillion debt on the books,
$48 trillion debt.
Give a port way to Dubai,
$49 trillion debt on the books.
$49 trillion debt on the books,
$49 trilliin debt,
Start a war sell some guns,
$50 trillion debt on the books.
Lizzy it's so sad, such a terrible waste, those spirits and young lives that Bush ruined and killed.
$50 trillion debt on the books,
$50 trillion debt,
Pass a tax cut for the rich,
Party on with $51 trillion in debt.
Lizzy,I had trouble getting the Pink video, So I went to Windows Media player Typed in Dear Mr. President, and the song came with this site 'Old American Century' "Today's Headlines
CIA fires whistleblower: The CIA fired a top intelligence analyst who admitted leaking classified information that led to a Pulitzer Prize-winning story about a network of secret CIA prisons 4-22
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice leaked national defense information to a pro-Israel lobbyist in the same manner that landed a lower-level Pentagon official a 12-year prison sentence, the lobbyist's lawyer said Friday. 4-22"Then I found this on Downloads, Really informative video,Everyone should watch this.http://oldamericancentury.org/tribecatrailer.mov http://oldamericancentury.org/index.htm
$51 trillion debt on the books,
$51 trillion debt,
Sell the national forest land,
Foreigner have $52 trillion in loans.
$52 trillion debt on the books,
$52 trillion debt,
Our national language is Arabic,
$53 trillion debt on the books.
Jen and Pam, it was great. 1000 protestors stopped the president. Just think what a 100,000 could do. Or a 1,000,000 could do.
Also...Bush's bike ride Saturday was no Earth Day stunt. The president rides on most weekend mornings, but made the special detour to overnight in St. Helena just to get in a picturesque ride through wine country. He had no official events there.
"I can't wait," Bush told his San Jose audience. "I'll be plugged into an iPod."
So he made a detour on Earth Day and wasted fuel and then he says he is going to talk about alternative fuel. Unbelievable.
Does this make sense to anyone? Because I am missing it.
seriously benji, if you read some of the articles, you'll get a better idea.
Lizzy, of course it doesn't make sense. It's Bush. Nice catch though. I wonder how many other Americans noticed the contradiction?
Poor people who do not have control of their debt do not have security!
What is homeland security doing about security?
It is authorizing the sale of our park service lands and companies to foreigners holding US debt!!
PamB, here's a link to a webpage about Thomas Dodd, Chris Dodd's "conservative Democrat" father. Why can't we get "real Democrats" over there in Connecticut?
Senate 1970: Threading The Needle
Sorry about that Diana...Well in honor of the fool riding his bike and getting plugged...I am downloading Dear Mr. President to my iPod.
Today it is raining, but I will ride tomorrow and listen to it. Ugh!
and Pam, I gave away one of the JOE MUST BUTTONS today, to a couple from Connecticut who came to our Fundraising Event today. It was the least I could do since they were helping out New York.
Jen...wiping my brow, I thought I was missing something there with the wasting of fuel.
Posted by jen on April 22, 2006 at 04:00 PM
Who says I'm not reading?
It's a lot to read, and like I said, the only thing I know about Ohio is the Browns and Indians are horrible.
Benji, I didn't say you weren't reading. What do you expect, the history of Ohio? I mean, ask me some questions. I'm in Ohio. Are you aware that our state government is run by corrupt Republicans? and that the 2004 presidential election was tampered with?
HybridFuel on April 22, 2006 at 04:02 PM
yep HF, it's very sad. Instead of paying off our debts, we selling off our assets. Pretty soon we'll own nothing here.
E-Mails Link Abramoff, Bush Official
A batch of 278 e-mails between lobbyist Jack Abramoff and a Bush administration official show a highly inappropriate relationship where gifts and business interests mixed freely and frequently, federal prosecutors said Friday.
The prosecutors hope to use the e-mails in the criminal case against David Safavian, who is accused of lying and obstruction of justice in connection with investigations of an Abramoff-sponsored golf outing to Scotland in August 2002.
The e-mails show that Abramoff and Safavian, then chief of staff at the General Services Administration, were in frequent contact, played golf often and traded workplace gossip. Abramoff showered Safavian with offers of meals, invitations to parties as well as the trip to the fabled St. Andrew's golf course in Scotland.
One message from Abramoff, sent July 23, 2002, asks Safavian, "golf Friday? golf Sunday? golf Monday? golf, golf, golf!!"
At the same time, Abramoff is peppering Safavian with questions and requests for his help on a variety of projects, including obtaining parcels of federal land that were managed by GSA for Abramoff's charitable groups.
So he made a detour on Earth Day and wasted fuel and then he says he is going to talk about alternative fuel. Unbelievable.
Does this make sense to anyone? Because I am missing it.
Posted by PeppermintLizzy on April 22, 2006 at 04:00 PM / Hmmm...No, That's why I wanted to check this out.'It's hard to know the degree to which this initiative by the Bush administration is simply a cynical ploy and the degree to which it is honestly misguided. It would estimate that the ratio is about 80:20.
The DEVIL is in the details;http://www.culturechange.org/hydrogen.htm 'The National Hydrogen Energy Roadmap is available on the internet in pdf form. This roadmap glows with positive energy. In all areas of production, delivery, storage, conversion and applications, the document beams about what we can achieve if we put our minds to it, but inevitably winds up by saying that we have a long way to go in order to make it a reality.
The document does mention the various challenges to each area of fuel cell development, but makes little of the obstacles and instead comes off sounding like a pep talk. Buried in the text, they admit "The transition to a hydrogen economy... could take several decades to achieve."
First off, because hydrogen is the simplest element, it will leak from any container, no mater how strong and no matter how well insulated. For this reason, hydrogen in storage tanks will always evaporate, at a rate of at least 1.7 percent per day. Hydrogen is very reactive. When hydrogen gas comes into contact with metal surfaces it decomposes into hydrogen atoms, which are so very small that they can penetrate metal. This causes structural changes that make the metal brittle.
Perhaps the largest problem for hydrogen fuel cell transportation is the size of the fuel tanks. In gaseous form, a volume of 238,000 litres of hydrogen gas is necessary to replace the energy capacity of 20 gallons of gasoline.
So far, demonstrations of hydrogen-powered cars have depended upon compressed hydrogen. Because of its low density, compressed hydrogen will not give a car as useful a range as gasoline. Moreover, a compressed hydrogen fuel tank would be at risk of developing pressure leaks either through accidents or through normal wear, and such leaks could result in explosions. Read More.....
Today New Orleans has its primary today.
Voters lined up in New Orleans and other Louisiana towns today for the start of early balloting in the city’s primary election, delayed by the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Delayed by the aftermath...I think that should really read delayed by the failure of the Bush Administration.
Fewer than half New Orleans’ residents have been able to return since the Aug. 29 hurricane flooded their city. Many are now living in Texas and Georgia, but they still plan to vote on the leadership that will heavily influence how New Orleans is rebuilt.
I think we all read how these poor Folks in New Orleans were facing enormous problems with voting.
The city had nearly a half-million people, about 70 percent of them black, before Hurricane Katrina. Those who have returned number fewer than 200,000, and most are white.
So basically the white people returned but the black people have not.
For nearly three decades, blacks have run New Orleans politics, and their grip on the mayor's seat has been so tight that credible white candidates rarely even sought the office.
How sad our country has become. The President allows the blacks to drown and then ships the surviving blacks off to Texas or Georgia. The majority of people that have returned are white and now there is an election. Mayor C. Ray Nagin is facing two strong white challengers who are siphoning away many white business leaders who backed his first campaign.
Get the picture.
George W. Bush IS a Liar
The White House is taking umbrage over new press reports that George W. Bush misled the American people on a key justification for invading Iraq. But Bush’s latest excuse – that he was just an unwitting conveyor of bad information, not a willful purveyor of lies – has been stretched thin by overuse.
Nevertheless, White House spokesman Scott McClellan lashed out at a Washington Post report that in May 2003, Bush described two Iraqi trailers as mobile biological weapons labs although two days earlier a Pentagon field investigation had debunked those suspicions in a report to Washington.
I have read through the websites but it doesn't say anything about the voter machines. Or election graft.
I'm still interested. The links you sent me ssem to say flattering things about petrol (just kidding) petro.
Am I missing something?
read critically benji, not every single source with the name petro in it is going to be non partisan. jeez.
read this and then look at all the articles in the right hand margin and read them too.
bbl
William,
I don't know Why we here in CT can't get some of those good ole fashioned New England Liberals the south and west is always bitching about! Makes me want to run for office more and more! :))
Lizzy,
I have a nice supply of Ned Lamont bumper stickers and some pins if you know anyone interested.
Clarence,
Try earning your credibility before making your argument and maybe someone might take you seriously.
Big surprise here, George Bush, Dick Cheney, Karl Rove, "Scooter" Libby, the traitors who gave classified info regarding outing CIA agent Valerie Plame are Republicans.
forgot this
the firing of mary mccarthy by larry c johnson (ex cia himself)
Do you believe President Bush's actions justify impeachment?
vote
For Burnsey, Exile and the Rev:
2006 should be a blowout for Democrats. Given Republican failures, we should easily take back the House and Senate. Yet Democratic Party leaders are still allowing the Republicans to define the terrain, which means that our chances are totally up in the air. The GOP is quite public about their election plan, they are going to run on gay adoption and gay marriage, again.
Wake up Democratic Leaders!!!
CIA Officer Is Fired for Media Leaks
The Post Was Among Outlets That Gained Classified Data
By Dafna Linzer
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, April 22, 2006
The CIA fired a long-serving intelligence officer for sharing classified information with The Washington Post and other news organizations, officials said yesterday, as the agency continued an aggressive internal search for anyone who may have discussed intelligence with the news media.
CIA officials said the career intelligence officer failed more than one polygraph test and acknowledged unauthorized contacts with reporters. The "officer knowingly and willfully shared classified intelligence, including operational information" with journalists, the agency said in a statement yesterday.
The CIA did not reveal the identity of the employee, who was dismissed Thursday, but NBC News reported last night she is Mary McCarthy. An intelligence source confirmed that the report was accurate.
McCarthy began her career in government as an analyst at the CIA in 1984, public documents show. She served as special assistant to the president and senior director for intelligence programs at the White House during the Clinton administration and the first few months of the Bush administration. She later returned to the CIA. Attempts to reach her last night were unsuccessful.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/21/AR2006042101218_pf.html
Hang in there, Mary. Once we Democrats regain control of the Congress and the White House, you'll be given a Medal of Freedom and a full pardon. Your service is greatly appreciated.
Posted by jen on April 22, 2006 at 04:36 PM
I think I've got it.
Don't know what to say?
Don't know what to do?
But nonetheless I think I've got it.
William D,
WOW over 250,000 voted already and 84 percent feel BUSH should be put on trial.
Let the stoning begin!
and I think we should put clarence in the line of fire, I think that is fair play. Bush put our soldiers in harm's way.
Heroic CIA Whistleblower Fired For Revealing Secret CIA Run Prisons
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_kall_2c_ro_060422_heroic_cia_whistlebl.htm
Alexandria, Virginia - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice leaked national defense information to a pro-Israel lobbyist in the same manner that landed a lower-level Pentagon official a 12-year prison sentence, the lobbyist's lawyer said Friday.
Tide turns on Dubya's wreck.
SYDNEY, NSW, is a long way from Washington DC but, even at this distance, it is clear that the Bush Administration is falling to pieces.
In recent weeks, scanning the political coverage in the mainstream US media and sampling the blogs has been to watch a flood tide ebbing to reveal a rotting, skeletal hulk. It is the George W. Bush ship of fools, stuck in the mud for the world to see in all its mendacity, its incompetence, its faith-based stupidity.
It is possible, at this late stage, that even Bush himself has begun to realise something is wrong. That oddly simian face is ashen, the eyes leaden. The voice is shrill and its tone defensive.
"I'm the decider and I decide what's best," he squawked to reporters in the White House rose garden the other day, as the screws turned tighter on his disastrous Defence Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld. Can you imagine Roosevelt, Eisenhower or Kennedy blurting something like that?
Rummy is looking knackered too, with six retired generals going public to agree that he is "incompetent strategically, operationally and tactically", to quote one of them.
These men would have been junior officers in Vietnam, veterans of the all-American nightmare they now see replicated in Iraq. They don't want the mad old warmonger doing it over again in Iran. As former Marine Corps Lieutenant-General Gregory Newbold wrote in Time magazine: "… we must never again stand by quietly while those ignorant of and casual about war lead us into another one and then mismanage the conduct of it".
But the Middle East quicksands are not all that is killing Bush's presidency. Domestically, the rot is wide and deep. It is a budget deficit blowing out towards $US700 billion this financial year as Dubya juggles to fund his war while stealing from the American and immigrant poor to bestow tax cuts on the rich.
It is criminal sleaze in Washington, with the Republicans' favourite influence peddler, Jack Abramoff, headed for jail, and one of Bush's closest Texan buddies, the disgraced House Majority Leader, Tom DeLay, not far behind him.
It is arrogant, Nixonian trampling of the law to order the wiretapping of American citizens and the leaking of national security secrets. It is the rape of the environment to enrich big business, especially big oil. And resonating with ordinary Americans most of all, it is the loss of the city of New Orleans - not by Hurricane Katrina but by the bottomless incompetence of the feds' post-apocalypse response.
This is a trash presidency, founded on lies and knavery, fraud and ignorant ideological crackpottery.
KARL ROVE is another faux-Texan wheeler-dealer sometimes described as Bush's brain, a courtier most often seen superglued to the presidential right ear. Pink and pudgy, he looks like one of Disney's three little pigs, although infinitely more smug.
Rove was shunted sideways this week in a shuffle of the White House deck chairs which also saw Dubya's press secretary lose his job. His new assignment will be to divert the Republican Party from the coming train wreck of the Congressional mid-term elections this November.
That will be crucial to the survival of this gang. If the Democrats regain control of Congress, there would be a good chance of them moving to impeach Bush for high crimes and misdemeanours.
The famous Watergate journalist Carl Bernstein raised just that possibility in a recent article in Vanity Fair magazine. "We have never had a presidency in which the single unifying thread that flows through its major decision-making was incompetence stitched together with hubris and mendacity on a Nixonian scale," he wrote.
Exactly. Compared to this lot, Bill Clinton was John the Baptist.
Sydney Morning Herald
Don't forget to tune in for this one folks.
And get all of those last remaining Bush defending Republicans to watch it too.
‘This isn’t about the intel anymore.’ Tyler Drumheller, “[a] former top official of the Central Intelligence Agency has accused the Bush administration of ignoring intelligence assessments about Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction programs in the months leading up to the Iraq war.” He’ll talk for the first time on 60 Mintues this Sunday at 7PM EST. 8:00 am |
Clarence,
You have a knack for posting but ignoring everyone else. I have a question; did Clinton deserve to be impeached? Could you explain why?
Would you say leading a nation into war while knowingly withholding information is impeachable?
I like you Clarence because I know you are a democrat. You are an actor. You play the devil's advocate here so that we can hone our rhetorical skills for the real morons that actually believe this crap (there are some real live ones here in Florida but they are mostly Christian extremists waiting for the world to end).
Oh, please don't forget to answer my two questions.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10562904#survey
86% think impeachment is warranted as of this date and time. That sounds about right to me. Don't worry W, I'm sure Clarence/Reuben will chip in some money for you to get smokes and soap when your on trial in the Hague for war crimes. Oh wait, Republicans don't believe in helping their fellow man. How silly of me. Sorry Mr. President, you're on your own.
Yes, Clarence tell us why the Republicans have a lame website?
You really have to check out the photo on this page! Is this the face of the Republican's 2008 Candidate? hahaha I think Not
Clarence the Republican,
Why did Bush have to lie about the WMD's?
Oh, I forgot to tell everyone; there is a link at Michaelmoore.com for a publishing company that wrote a paperback book outlining the articles of impeachment for bush. They are offering free shipping to anyone who sends a copy to their congressman. All you have to do is pay for the book (4.95) and they will ship it. You don't even have to know the congressman's address; they have all the info. I sent Mel Martinez one...
Clarence the Republican,
Why does the US have a trillion dollar debt?
Clarence? Clarence? We're not picking on you; we are helping you. Come back; we want to play.
Clarence the Republican?
Why are the Republicans flunking Diplomacy 101?
All right guys,
Let's not act like republicans and pick on the minority. Let's get back to work on getting real people in office. Does anyone have any good news? This is Earth Day for crying out loud. My good news is that I finally got our recycling initiative at school up and running as of Friday! Our school now recycles plastic, all paper, used vegetable oil, and printer cartridges. Next we plan on getting rid of styrofoam in the lunch room.
Another bit of good news is that I heard Davis is leading Charlie Christ in the race for governorship. I am putting that bit out more for help because I am nervous as crap about that race. Christ is an evil snake...
Posted by Clarence on April 22, 2006 at 05:15 PM
Nice try troll, but you didn't answer the question.
Isn't this interesting...Bush said the new Iraqi government "will make America more secure."
So does the new Iraqi government rule Iran and Korea???
unbelievably stupid, bush is.
Bush said the new Iraqi government "will make America more secure."
And if this one don't, he'll claim "the next one will". And if the next one don't, he'll say the next one will, and the next after that. He'll never run out of lies. It's what he does, lie.
Rumsfeld May Be Permanently Tainted by War in Iraq
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld will be permanently damaged by failed U.S. planning for the aftermath of the Iraq invasion even if he survives calls for his resignation from seven former military commanders, defense analysts said.
The retired generals, who made their views public in interviews and essays over the past month, are adding to criticism from Democrats and some Republicans over what they say was Rumsfeld's failure to anticipate the instability in Iraq after Saddam Hussein's regime was toppled three years ago.
Rumsfeld's ability to achieve his broader goals at the Pentagon, such as completing the transformation of the U.S. military from the Cold War period to the post-Sept. 11 era, will be compromised by the damage Iraq has done to his reputation, according to Loren Thompson, an analyst with the Lexington Institute in Arlington, Virginia, and other military experts.
``Any time a war goes wrong on a defense secretary's watch, not only does history judge them poorly but their ability to get anything done is gravely damaged,'' said Thompson.
President George W. Bush and other supporters of Rumsfeld are trying to put a lid on the mounting criticism. Bush on April 14 issued a statement saying Rumsfeld has his ``full support and deepest appreciation.'' Retired Air Force General Richard Myers, who served as Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman under Rumsfeld, yesterday called the criticism from some of his former colleagues ``inappropriate.''
Already Weakened
The effort to quell Rumsfeld's critics may be too late, said Lawrence J. Korb, a defense official in the Reagan administration, and other military analysts.
``He's already been weakened by the failures in Iraq,'' said Korb, now a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, a policy research group in Washington. ``He can't possibly make a controversial decision'' without risking an uproar, Korb said.
Bloomberg News
We are already LESS secure because Osama is NOT sitting in the can.
Even though Clarence is pre puberty he is actually regressing. He is reciting his Pug counter points from last year. Guess we will have to hold him back in the 3rd grade another year. "slam dunk"...that is so 04's
Have fun with your fantasy, Clarence, when you come back to reality let me know.
Bush is on TV from a Ford plant in CA...looks like he had a rough night. Maybe he "relaxed" after making a fool of himself yesterday in the Rose Garden.
We will get him though - dead or alive.
Who's "we", Kimosabe? Democrats will get him, after the "moron" gets impeached and kicked out of office. Just like it will take the Democrats to win the Iraq war the moron can't win. He already said he's leaving that for somebody else to take care of too.
I thought I would share with everyone this email that I got about activism. Some of it has some interesting stuff. Enjoy the weekend folks.
**************************************************
"Peace in Iraq Call-In Day" Is Monday, April 24
http://www.democrats.com
On Tuesday, April 25, the Senate will take up the supplemental spending bill for 2006. The current proposal includes $67 billion more for the wars in Iraq and Afganistan. How many innocent Iraqis must die, how many young Americans? How much more destruction, pain and hatred before the Congress finds the will to end this war?
Tell your Senators: Not one penny more for the War!
There is growing support in the Senate for an amendment to the supplemental that will prohibit permanent U.S. bases in Iraq.
Tell your Senators: No permanent U.S. bases in Iraq!
Our "not one penny more for war" call-in day to the House of Representatives last month was a great success. The number of Representatives voting against the war funding rose to 71, AND the House approved an amendment against permanent U.S. military bases in Iraq. We want to repeat that success in the Senate. If we are unable to stop the funding request from passing, we can at least make sure that an amendment against permanent bases is attached.
Call 1-800-620-4394
Congressional Hearing on Iraq Is April 27
Congresswomen Lynn Woolsey and Barbara Lee will host a hearing on the Iraq War on Thursday, April 27, 8:30-11 a.m., in 2325 Rayburn House Office Building (with an overflow room planned for anyone wanting to attend who can't fit in). Woolsey and Lee are expected to give introductory remarks, as is former CIA officer and current Georgetown University Professor Paul Pillar. There will then be two panels, the first consisting of two Iraqi women and two U.S. veterans of the Iraq War, the second consisting of Members of Congress who have introduced bills aimed at ending the war. Then there will a Question and Answers session involving the audience. So, bring your tough questions! Or watch the live blogging at . . .
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org
UFPJ and PDA Training and Lobby Days Are May 20,21,22 Here's a chance to organize, train, and lobby against war and for impeachment. United for Peace and Justice, and Progressive Democrats of America have teamed up and organized a series of activities in Washington, D.C., on May 20, 21, and 22. That's a weekend full of training both to lobby Congress and to organize back home, and a Monday of lobbying Congress face-to-face.
To take part in everything, you need to register with both UFPJ and PDA.
Register to Join United for Peace and Justice Training Sessions and Congressional Education Days
May 21-22 in Washington, DC
Optional strategy session Saturday, May 20
Register now with UFPJ:
http://unitedforpeace.org/modinput4.php?modin=121
Register to Join PDA Grassroots Organizing and Lobbying Day
May 20-22, in Washington, D.C.
Firebird Inn, University of District of Columbia Campus
4200 Conn. Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. (Van Ness/UDC stop of the Red Line Metro)
Register now with PDA:
https://www.pdamerica.org/2006-5-21-tickets.php
Saturday, May 20
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM PDA Grassroots Leadership Meeting
1:00 - 4:00 PM: Optional UFPJ Legislative Strategy Session -- open to members of the UFPJ Legislative Action Network and members of UFPJ member organizations. This session will provide an opportunity for local activists to share experiences, discuss long-term legislative strategy, develop ideas for building a stronger national UFPJ Legislative Action Network.
Sunday, May 21
8:00 - 8:30 AM: (PDA) Register/Continental Breakfast!
8:30 - 9:00 AM: (PDA) Welcome by Tim Carpenter, PDA Executive Director; Opening Prayer and Remarks by Rev Lennox Yearwood, PDA National Board Member
9:00 AM: (UFPJ) Register
9:30 - 10:00 AM: (PDA) "Be a Part of the Growing Pro-Impeachment Grassroots Movement" by David Swanson, PDA National Board Member/Co-Founder, AfterDowningStreet.org
10:30 - 11:30 AM: (PDA) "Organizing Mobilize and Deliver the Progressive Vote in 2006/Working to Elect a Progressive Majority in Congress"
Moderator: Steve Cobble, PDA National Board Member
Panelists:
Tony Trupiano, PDA endorsed candidate from Michigan's 11th District
Terry Lierman, Maryland Democratic Party State Chair
Bill Goold, Director Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC)
Kevin Spidel, PDA Deputy Director
9:30 -10:45 (UFPJ) Peace Voter 2006 training – a non-partisan campaign to make peace the top issue in the 2006 elections. Kevin Martin, Executive Director, Peace Action
11:00 - 12:15 (UFPJ) Peace voter organizing session – Hany Khalil, Organizing Coordinator, UFPJ
9:30 - 10:45 (UFPJ) Coalition Building -- Michael Heaney, University of Florida
11:00 - 12:15 (UFPJ) X-treme Lobbying -- Techniques to bring greater sophistication to your lobbying efforts including how to research campaign contributions, who has influence over your congressperson, how to use that information.
11:30 - 12:30 AM: (PDA) "Building PDA at the Local, State and National Level "
Moderator: Mimi Kennedy, PDA National Board Chair
Panelists (from PDA):
Dan O'Neal, State Coordinator
Dr. Bill Honigman, Chapter Leadership
Stephen Spitz, Congressional District Point Person
Laura Bonham, Issue Working Group Coordinator
Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Building Diversity into our Grassroots Organizing (PDA National Board Member)
Sherry Bohlen, PDA National Field Director
Register now with PDA:
https://www.pdamerica.org/2006-5-21-tickets.php
Afternoon UFPJ Organizing Session
1:00 - 2:00 PM: Iraq and Iran update and legislative briefing
2:15 - 3:00 PM: How to make your visits to Congress a success –- tips from the experts
UFPJ Break-out sessions:
3:15 - 3:45 PM: Planning your House visit - Meet with PDA and UFPJ activists from your congressional district to determine spokespeople for your delegation, refine your message. Trainers will be congressional staff as well as experienced peace lobbyists.
4:00 - 4:30 PM: Planning your Senate visits
Meet with others from your state to plan your visits. Trainers will be congressional staff as well as experienced peace lobbyists.
4:30 - 5:15 PM: Building/strengthening a statewide legislative network
An opportunity to discuss building a statewide legislative network in your state, or to strengthen your statewide legislative network.
5:30 - 6:00 PM: Wrap-up and logistics for Monday
6:15 - 7:30 PM: (PDA) Briefing for congressional and senate candidates
Monday, May 22
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM: (UFPJ and PDA) Congressional Education Visits
If you think democracy in Iraq has made us (or our troops stationed over there) more secure, take a good look at the new Prime Minister.
Here's the take from England:
Times Online April 21, 2006
Shia strongman nominated as new Iraqi PM
From Jenny Booth, and Daniel McGrory in Baghd
...The strongest support for Mr al-Maliki, an abrasive figure, is understood to have come from members of his own Dawa party. Others had feared that the 56-year-old's combative personality hardly made him an ideal choice to lead a government of national unity.
Mr Al-Maliki was a long time in exile in Iran to escape Saddam, and suspicious elements among the rival Sunni and Kurdish groups will question whether Tehran still exerts control over him.
After fleeing Iraq in the 1980s, he settled in Syria and working in the Dawa party’s political office there. He returned to Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003, and is best known for his television appearances as the loyal spokesman for Mr Jafaari, who appears to have been dumped by his own side as a possible candidate.
Sciri, the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq, and other parties in the Shia alliance had initially expressed opposition to him because it feared he would be unacceptable to Sunnis. He was a top official in the commission in charge of purging members of Saddam’s ousted Baath Party from the military and government.
Sunnis - who made up the backbone of the Baath Party - have protested long and bitterly that the commission was a means of squeezing them out of influence in post-Saddam Iraq.
In the event, some of the Sunni Arab and Kurdish parties have already hinted that they may accept Mr al-Maliki. "If anyone is nominated except al-Jaafari, we won’t put any obstacles in his way. He will receive our support," said Adnan al-Dulaimi, head of the main Sunni Arab coalition in parliament.
The Dawa party, already smarting at the rejection of Mr al-Jaafari, its leader, has warned of further problems within the alliance if Mr al-Maliki were to be rejected. But it appears he commanded respectable support in tonight's vote...
//www.timesonline.co.uk/article/
0,,3-2145346,00.html
This guy seems to be as hard line as Saddam. It's clear that the Baathists hate him and the Sunnis and Kirds question his ties to Iran and Syria. Even al Sistani preferred someone else. If al Sadr doesn't approve, then it will be unanimous.
Unless this guy turns out to be as ruthless as Saddam, it's going to hard for this coalition choice to exert any control. He could turn out to be just a figurehead for al-Jaafari...which would piss everyone off including Rumsfeld.
Electing a Congress to Impeach Bush and Cheney . . .
Is Clarence still here? Man, he scared me with 'truth.' What was his truth anyway? I looked for something that was backed up or quoted; I looked for a statistic, and I even consulted the same psychic Reagan consulted when he was in office. I found nothing... just like his answers to our questions.
Clarence, you never got back to me about Clinton.
Now I have to go back out and take a 40 minute walk with my family. I just bought my 4 year old a Barbie scooter, and she is so excited to try it out. Be back soon. Clarence, stay here...oh, wait; its a Saturday night; leaving your parents' basement would be too scary for you. You haven't been out on a Saturday night since your 8th grade graduation party.
Here's the link on the Iraqi Prime Minister:
//www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2145346,00.html
This would be a heckava lot easier if only it were a dictatorship, just so long as I'm the dictater.-GWB
Bush Apologizes To Communists For Free Speech
Protester Charged After Heckling Hu
I guess that means "The United States of America" is Democrats then, because Republicans aren't ever going to get him, dufus.
Hi all: very interresting blog today.
Impeachment, is only a breath away, call, email, write. your reps and senators.
got my new bumper sticker at the conference today,:
Kick'em OUT - Vote Democrat!
For you that don't have a women's democratic club in your area, please consider starting one.
More Dem women need to run for offices, and to win the 06 and 08 the women are really need, get them registered, with the clubs in place it is easier to reach many, I was suprised that not all states have a chapter that is a member of the Federation of Democratic Women, much less on a county basis.
The grass root are need to win back the Senate and House.
Everyone get a bumper sticker today ,
Fedup- vote Democratic.
The W stickers are disapearing, I even saw one on my way home and you could see where they have tried to scratch if off.
Yea, BUSH is on the way out.
Clarence,
If you don't believe Bush is a Liar have you heard about Divine Strake. This is a test of how large of a bomb is required to destroy underground bunkers. A 700 ton conventional bomb will be exploded in Nevada on June 2nd. The only problem, the US Military does not have a plane powerful enough to carry a bomb of that size.
Guess where the Bush Administration has a potental plan to use Tacticl Nuke? IRAN
Wake up the man needs to be IMPEACHED!!!!!
Sometimes I think Bush believes nothing is wrong.
He gives his speeches and attends town hall meetings talking about problems, but he never really does anything about them. It's like he's playing a video game and nothing bad that happens on the screen is real to him.
How could a President be so removed from the country he lives in? Gas prices up; let them use hydrogen....if it ever becomes a real alternative. In the meantime, he just shakes his head and jumps on his bike and visits a nice scenic place far, far from the madding crowd.
If he ever is impeached, I don't think he'll acknowledge it. It's just doesn't face anything that he doesn't want to face.
Do you suppose Bush/Chaney/Rove kept Tennent on as CIA cheif knowing they would need a Clinton apointee to blame for invading Iraq? They knew they were going to go after Saddam even before the rigged election. They really are a devious, evil bunch.
Clarence,
Do some research on the Group - "Project for the New American Century". In mid 1990's they advoacate that the US should remove Sadam by Force.
You will be amazed as to who the founders where and also the members. By the way - Cheney and Rumsfeld were the founders.
If the election was not fixed in Florida in 2000 Gore would have been President. We would not be at WAR with Iraq.
it's not just the recently retired generals speaking out on Rummy...
Young Officers Join the Debate Over Rumsfeld
WASHINGTON, April 22 — The revolt by retired generals who publicly criticized Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld has opened an extraordinary debate among younger officers, in military academies, in the armed services' staff colleges and even in command posts and mess halls in Iraq....
But some are furiously criticizing both, along with the military leadership, like the Army major in the Special Forces. "I believe that a large number of officers hate Rumsfeld as much as I do, and would like to see him go," he said.
"The Army, however, went gently into that good night of Iraq without saying a word," he added, summarizing conversations with other officers. "For that reason, most of us know that we have to share the burden of responsibility for this tragedy. And at the end of the day, it wasn't Rumsfeld who sent us to war, it was the president. Officers know better than anyone else that the buck stops at the top. I think we are too deep into this for Rumsfeld's resignation to mean much.
"But this is all academic. Most officers would acknowledge that we cannot leave Iraq, regardless of their thoughts on the invasion. We destroyed the internal security of that state, so now we have to restore it. Otherwise, we will just return later, when it is even more terrible."
The debates are fueled by the desire to mete out blame for the situation in Iraq, a drawn-out war that has taken many military lives and has no clear end in sight. A midgrade officer who has served two tours in Iraq said a number of his cohorts were angered last month when Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that "tactical errors, a thousand of them, I am sure," had been made in Iraq.
"We have not lost a single tactical engagement on the ground in Iraq," the officer said, noting that the definition of tactical missions is specific movements against an enemy target. "The mistakes have all been at the strategic and political levels."
Rummy is a bummy, so say all of us
Heard something on Foxnews today.
The Right Wing talk Shows in California are reporting that alot of complaints are being Aired about BUSH.
Just read an old story about some German officials who were concerned about Hitler's preparations for the invasion of Poland and tried to expose some of the buildup.
Of course they were caught and tried for exposing state secrets. Let's say they didn't live to see retirement.
Are all democrats just stupid? YES.I have never in my life heard so much BS. What is the DNC Plan? Nothing except Hate BUSH. I have coined the demoncrap party as the White Flagged Surrender Monkeys. Cowardly and stupid will never run the USA again, 06 biggest defeat of demoncraps no matter how extreme you go you will loose! Good part you have created an alternative to BS commy lib TV, FOX NEWS, look at the ratings, that says it all, no one likes whiny coward anti American liberal pinheads! No ILLAGALS CAN"T VOTE NOR FELONS, WITH OR WITHOUT THEM YOU STILL LOOSE BIG!
Clarence,
Have you decided to change your name again.
Anke, haaker?
Come on, you can do better than that.
haaker,
You must be one of those mindless followers of the Dogmatic Party (GOP) and think that Foxnews is the only news media that tells the truth.
Posted by BayStateJim on April 22, 2006 at 06:31 PM
If more of out voters would register and vote we will win by a landslide.
That is way we all need to have some voter registration forms with us. One speaker today told of a Lady who had called her many times for all kinds of help with issues, one day the speaker said where are you registered to vote, dead silence!
Folks we can't assume those we talk to are registered, ask them, tell them you won't talk politics until the register, done assume even family members are registered. Ask and if not help to do it.
Grassroots! Get busy. Now
Posted by haaker on April 22, 2006 at 06:40 PM
We do have a plan, i've mentioned a few things, watch out the election may hit you where it counts.
Clarence,
Are you trying to trick us into believing your friends Anke, the Nazi expert and Mr. ILLAGALS are here to save the day?
Keep up the great work fellow Dems! The republicans are divided, desperate, and running scared. They know that if they can't hang on to power now, it will be a LOOONG time before they reach the top again.
The change will begin this November when the American people put competent leaders in Congress. By the time the failures in Washington are booted out for good the only people dumb enough to support the republican party will be the cowards and the racists... desperate and powerless
Clarence:
the sad truth is that the people who are dems are working 2 or 3 jobs to support you, are you in a nursing home, maybe with a 1/2 a million or 2 or 3 million in the bank and are still taking off of medicare. cause you sure have a lot of time night and day to blog?
Back to the issue the Dems cant always find the time to vote, this year we are taking to them,
I will Pray for your enlightenment.
On CNN, Brazil is using sugar cane,Great. But they neglected to add this; Stroll down a little on the right side, 'Brazil quietly prepares uranium enrichment center;As Iran faces international pressure over developing the raw material for nuclear weapons, Brazil is quietly preparing to open its own uranium enrichment center, capable of producing exactly the same fuel.
Brazil - like Iran - has signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, and Brazil's constitution bans the military use of nuclear energy.
Also like Iran, Brazil has cloaked key aspects of its nuclear technology in secrecy while insisting the program is for peaceful purposes. While Brazil is more cooperative than Iran on international inspections, some worry its new enrichment capability - which eventually will create more fuel than is needed for its two nuclear plants - suggests that South America's biggest nation may be rethinking its commitment to nonproliferation.
http://oldamericancentury.org/index.htm
bb, interesting that the discussion is still about stablilzing Iraq. It's clear that there remains concern among the ranks about that looting, which clearly was Rumsfeld's decision not to intervene.
I will always remember him excited and laughing as he told the media that, "Democracy can be messy sometimes." And also remember those camera shots of soldiers sitting in tanks, guns in hand, watching as looters rushed by toting everything from computers to ancient artifacts. That had to be hard to stomache.
What kind of Defense Secretary jokes about looting and orders troops to sit by idlely letting it happen? It was his call. He made it, and Iraq slipped away from our grasp.
Our military didn't make any tactical mistakes. They were stabbed in the back.
But not all evacuees who returned to New Orleans on Saturday were able to cast ballots. Dana Young, an 18-year-old college freshman, transferred to Spelman College in Atlanta from Dillard University after Hurricane Katrina struck last fall.
Poll workers told her they had no record of her registration. Young said she had a voter registration card but lost it along with her birth certificate during the hurricane.
"I'm really upset," she said as tears welled up in her eyes. "I came all the way down here and now I can't do anything about it. They said they couldn't find me in the system, so I can't vote."
And so it begins...you lose all your documents in a flood caused by the government failing to repair the levees and then you cannot vote. Curious that this young girl's name was lost in the system.
Jesse Jackson should challenge the results.
I'm back. Interesting reading folks. Now it's time to have some sushi and sake. My new comment right now is forget about bush; put all energies into '06. Focus because Rove is right where the republicans want him for this cycle.
Clarence,
We'll worry about the impeaching,
You worry about the peeling.
Dean says Bush "cut and run" on Katrina
Dean said on Saturday the Bush administration had "cut and run" on Gulf Coast hurricane recovery and created a political legacy of deficits, divisiveness and deceit.
"There has been enough of fear, incompetence and corruption," Dean told DNC members. He said voters would judge
President George W. Bush's administration and the Republicans on their slow response to Hurricane Katrina and failure to develop a suitable recovery plan.
And that is the whole truth and nothing but the truth!!!!
Posted by dk2 on April 22, 2006 at 07:19 PM
that was meant for Clarence.
you all have a good evening, bbl
Posted by Domingo on April 22, 2006 at 04:40 PM
ROFLOL!!! THIS IS GREAT!!!
I was wondering what had the trolls so agitated so I scanned up a ways and right about when you posted this - then bob posted it later - and Lizzy called for a stoning (LOL) - boy did that get Karl's panties in a wad!!!
I've decided new trolls are all Karl clones. He's been sent forth from his chambers to attack the dnc web site and told to GET TO WORK! HAhahaha! cuz he's such an inept loser of a thing.
It's hilarious!! I need to pop some pop corn!
But I've got a few things to do first.
bbl
good work guys! They're so scared you can smell it even over the net! My fellow VETS are having the BEST time over this! OOoorah!!! Pay back is a biotch!!
Wow,
Clarence,
You really think Howard Dean is doing positive things.
Clarence,
Doesn't it feel good to support the positive changes that Howard Dean is promoting.
You really are showing improvement.
Bush is on TV from a Ford plant in CA...looks like he had a rough night.
Posted by followthemoney on April 22, 2006 at 05:52 PM
Makes my heart pitter pat seeing how the idiot has Aged. and he was so breathless, I almost dared think he was having heart failure!
Did you hear him talking about the Iraq elections? STILL saying that iraq would fight those 'Terrorists' ! Still won't admit they are mostly all Iraqis who want the US the hell out of their country. He will lie until the day they bury him.
Nice to see that Dean has finally adopted a positive message.
Posted by Clarence on April 22, 2006 at 07:26 PM
Good job, Clarence, you've finally come to your senses.
Benji
he does this often - maybe he's bi-polar
don't trust it
Has any one seen or heard from Schube in the last few months?
and where the heck is DPD????
Posted by Clarence on April 22, 2006 at 07:39 PM
Clarence,
You are absolutely right.
Voters are judging President George W. Bush's administration and the Republicans on their slow response to Hurricane Katrina and failure to develop a suitable recovery plan.
Posted by PamB on April 22, 2006 at 07:31 PM
I think I missed something in the recent notice of the new parliment in Iraq. Where did it mention any Kurds holding any positions???
they have two VPS one sunni one (sp) sheite, shiate, what EVA? I'm worried about the Kurds. They have been the most decent in all this. Maintaining some pretty good stats since we invaded their country. I hope they get their OWN state actually!
They don't need any of this crap we're imposing on them!
jmo
Has anybody seen Anything POSITIVE in this country in the last 6 years to even bring up???
Nothing but poverty, death, injuries, cutting of benefits, services, education, joblessness, death to the environment, Terri Schiavo attempt to take over our end of life choices, immigration mess, lack of response to catastrophies, GASOLINE prices, Deficit.
polar boy you're drinking that crack laced koolaid again I see
Pam there are so many I'm sure you overlooked this one but it's the MOST inane imo.........
Du Bae Ports - holy mother of god I'm glad Im no longer living near the Port of Tampa!!
YOU WANT GOOD NEWS
HOW ABOUT THIS,
THE DEMOCRATS ARE ON THE MOVE!
Good news could be that live poll domingo posted earlier saying over 80 percent of 200 plus THOUSAND respondents say to IMPEACH THE BASTARRRRRDS!! (my word)
Dawnie,
You are right. The arrogant beligerance to award Dubai the right to protect our ports was probably one of the stupidest things Bush has tried to bluff his way through.
And Schube has been buying a house for the first time, plus now probably moving.
And DPD is around.
As for the Kurds. Can you imagine how they know that the US under Poppa bush, financed and encouraged the mass killing of them ? They should be the most ticked off !
8975
For some time I have been fighting a battle that I
feel has been obstructed due to local right wing
religious zealots. It has to do with a transitional
living facility located near Sacramento called Mather
Community Campus. I filed two discrimination cases
against Mather. The first resulted in a settlement
agreement. Mather staff basically admitted that my
claims of staff advancing thier personal relgious
beliefs during public funded events were true. But as
soon as the investigation ended they started all over
again. My concerns are related to the popular 12-step
recovery program. As you may know every single court
that the program has come before has ruled that the
program is a religious program. Yet, service providers
like Sacramento County continue to mislead potential
clients by claiming that it is "Not a religious
program it is a spiritual program." This is despite
the fact that California Dept of Drug and Alcohol has
labeled the program a religious sect, and provided a
means for avoiding potential church and state
challenges. Mather is a HUD funded program like no
other. It is the first facility to obtain property
through the Mc Kinney Act, the only federal
legislative response to homelessness. As such, staff
is prohibited from either endorsing or prohibiting
religion. After the settlement things really got
interesting. I was harassed by one of the county
employees, and DFEH would not re-open the case. So I
contacted HUD headquarters in Washington DC.
A new complaint was filed which forced DFEH to
investigate. DFEH refused to contact some of the
witnesses that had stories similar to mine. Basically,
DFEH conferred with County Counsel and devised a means
to evaded finding evidence that discrimination
occurred. The first thing the county did after they
received the complaint was to falsely accuse me of
threatening to kill the chief respondent, Richard
Schroeder. Then, after they saw I intended to go
forward with the complaint, the county initiated
procedures to cut, what was my only source of income,
off. The county used a method to evict me that have
never been used before in order to avoid the checks
and balances that HUD requires before terminating
housing benefits under the Mc Kinney Act. Then, they
claimed that I didn't show for the administrative
hearing held concerning the process. There is no
record of any such hearing, because it never happened.
During the investigation county staff and members of
the faith-based organization that provides social
services fabricated an erroneous defense that was
predicated on inducing symptoms of my mental health
condition of depression, (cutting off my income and
threatening to throw me out in to the streets,
ensuring homelessness). Once that was done, county
counsel had staff of the faith-based organization come
to his office and induced them to lie about my
behavior in the program. A false mental health profile
was offered of my having a "strict religious
upbringing", with numerous abusive related to
religion. When, in fact, my diagnosis is specific to
the Mather program and the relentless attempts to
force religion on me. (AT Mather, What happened is my
system of beliefs was disrupted and I "fell"
spiritually. It was horrible). Nobody should be
treated like that by their government. I remember the
investigation like it was a bad dream. That claim was
closed some time in October of 2003. Since that time,
with the help of Congressman, and Congresswoman
Matsui, and Senator Barbara Boxer, I was finally
provided with the investigative file. The first thing
I noticed was it was withheld just long enough for the
statute of limitations to run out, and prevent me from
pursuing the matter further in court. The next thing I
noticed was the transcript of one of the witnesses
that verified my accusations was missing. Then, at
long last I was provided the reasoning behind the
finding of no cause to believe discrimination
occurred. DFEH used a document that was generated by
Mather staff on the same day the notice of eviction
was served, called a “table of evictions”; to conduct
a crude statistical analysis of a prior history of
evictions. There are numerous problems with this
method. First of all the eviction did not commence
until nearly eight months subsequent to the most
recent allegation in the complaint. Secondly, the
table of eviction document did not state the names or
religion of those evicted. The basis of the eviction
claimed, in my case, was a supposed end of the lease
term. Yet, Mather staff admitted that the lease was
extended for good-cause, and program compliance. As
stated earlier, these claims were offered concurrently
with a defense based on persistent program
non-compliance. Additionally, DFEH claimed that the
12-steps were not required at the facility unless
participate agreed to go. Either it is required or
not. This was not the defense that Mather offered.
There were obviously problems with that defense. The
story includes my long struggle to obtain the file,
state officials coming in to a subsequent court
hearing to suppress the names of so-called neutral
witnesses, local county officials cutting my benefits
off, staff at HUD telling me to have a blessed day,
and getting offended with the very nature of the
complaint, judges allowing county counsel to come into
court to represent private citizens, etc etc
For some time I have been fighting a battle that I
feel has been obstructed due to local right wing
religious zealots. It has to do with a transitional
living facility located near Sacramento called Mather
Community Campus. I filed two discrimination cases
against Mather. The first resulted in a settlement
agreement. Mather staff basically admitted that my
claims of staff advancing thier personal relgious
beliefs during public funded events were true. But as
soon as the investigation ended they started all over
again. My concerns are related to the popular 12-step
recovery program. As you may know every single court
that the program has come before has ruled that the
program is a religious program. Yet, service providers
like Sacramento County continue to mislead potential
clients by claiming that it is "Not a religious
program it is a spiritual program." This is despite
the fact that California Dept of Drug and Alcohol has
labeled the program a religious sect, and provided a
means for avoiding potential church and state
challenges. Mather is a HUD funded program like no
other. It is the first facility to obtain property
through the Mc Kinney Act, the only federal
legislative response to homelessness. As such, staff
is prohibited from either endorsing or prohibiting
religion. After the settlement things really got
interesting. I was harassed by one of the county
employees, and DFEH would not re-open the case. So I
contacted HUD headquarters in Washington DC.
A new complaint was filed which forced DFEH to
investigate. DFEH refused to contact some of the
witnesses that had stories similar to mine. Basically,
DFEH conferred with County Counsel and devised a means
to evaded finding evidence that discrimination
occurred. The first thing the county did after they
received the complaint was to falsely accuse me of
threatening to kill the chief respondent, Richard
Schroeder. Then, after they saw I intended to go
forward with the complaint, the county initiated
procedures to cut, what was my only source of income,
off. The county used a method to evict me that have
never been used before in order to avoid the checks
and balances that HUD requires before terminating
housing benefits under the Mc Kinney Act. Then, they
claimed that I didn't show for the administrative
hearing held concerning the process. There is no
record of any such hearing, because it never happened.
During the investigation county staff and members of
the faith-based organization that provides social
services fabricated an erroneous defense that was
predicated on inducing symptoms of my mental health
condition of depression, (cutting off my income and
threatening to throw me out in to the streets,
ensuring homelessness). Once that was done, county
counsel had staff of the faith-based organization come
to his office and induced them to lie about my
behavior in the program. A false mental health profile
was offered of my having a "strict religious
upbringing", with numerous abusive related to
religion. When, in fact, my diagnosis is specific to
the Mather program and the relentless attempts to
force religion on me. (AT Mather, What happened is my
system of beliefs was disrupted and I "fell"
spiritually. It was horrible). Nobody should be
treated like that by their government. I remember the
investigation like it was a bad dream. That claim was
closed some time in October of 2003. Since that time,
with the help of Congressman, and Congresswoman
Matsui, and Senator Barbara Boxer, I was finally
provided with the investigative file. The first thing
I noticed was it was withheld just long enough for the
statute of limitations to run out, and prevent me from
pursuing the matter further in court. The next thing I
noticed was the transcript of one of the witnesses
that verified my accusations was missing. Then, at
long last I was provided the reasoning behind the
finding of no cause to believe discrimination
occurred. DFEH used a document that was generated by
Mather staff on the same day the notice of eviction
was served, called a “table of evictions”; to conduct
a crude statistical analysis of a prior history of
evictions. There are numerous problems with this
method. First of all the eviction did not commence
until nearly eight months subsequent to the most
recent allegation in the complaint. Secondly, the
table of eviction document did not state the names or
religion of those evicted. The basis of the eviction
claimed, in my case, was a supposed end of the lease
term. Yet, Mather staff admitted that the lease was
extended for good-cause, and program compliance. As
stated earlier, these claims were offered concurrently
with a defense based on persistent program
non-compliance. Additionally, DFEH claimed that the
12-steps were not required at the facility unless
participate agreed to go. Either it is required or
not. This was not the defense that Mather offered.
There were obviously problems with that defense. The
story includes my long struggle to obtain the file,
state officials coming in to a subsequent court
hearing to suppress the names of so-called neutral
witnesses, local county officials cutting my benefits
off, staff at HUD telling me to have a blessed day,
and getting offended with the very nature of the
complaint, judges allowing county counsel to come into
court to represent private citizens, etc etc
So, I'm full, and a Sam Adams to top it off. Is anyone else going to work their butt off for the '06 elections? I have the summer off; I'm ready to have doors slammed in my face (but I think I may be surprised), and thanks to clarence, I know just how to discuss the issues.
Then, they
claimed that I didn't show for the administrative
hearing held concerning the process. There is no
record of any such hearing, because it never happened.
UNFREAKING believeable!!! :-( I hope it all works out for you! B Boxer is a great lady and should be able to help you! You're lucky in one respect. If you were in a RED state you'd be getting zero help.
if that helps? good luck!
Posted by Chris on April 22, 2006 at 07:58 PM
I really don't see it being SOOOOO hard this time around! The nation is totally ready for a change. Little push will be needed. But fight if you feel the need! Just don't forget to take care of yourself in the process.
bwhahahahahahaha. Oh, gawd. I needed that laugh today. HONESTY to the White House. !!??
Now I know for sure, YOU ARE INSANE!
Posted by PamB on April 22, 2006 at 08:01 PM
kinda makes ya want to take another shower doesn't it? uck. such deep BS I need to put on my hip boots
I like clarence's comment about truth being restored. So bush saying "its like paying taxes" about the up in gas prices is the truth. I think that will go down alongside Marie Antionette's 'let them eat cake' quote. But clarence wouldn't understand that comparison. Say clarence, what happened to you answering my Clinton question?
Typical chickenhawk; cut and run; thank god you're sterile. I couldn't imagine another windtunnel like you running around.
Can you believe this one?
Washington - Joshua B. Bolten, the new White House chief of staff, has raised the possibility of moving Harriet E. Miers from her job as President Bush's counsel as part of a continuing shake-up of the West Wing, an influential Republican with close ties to Mr. Bolten said Thursday
Didn't Bush say she was the best thing that ever walked the halls of the White House when he was using his cronyism to try and get another YES person in as judge?
Posted by Chris on April 22, 2006 at 08:03 PM
Pahahhaa @ sterile
that's perfect
atarant,
take it little slower. no one on this blog has enough time to read an epic novel on your plight.
in case you haven't guessed there are a lot of people mad at right wing zealots.
you may have to consider standing in line at the voting booth with the rest of us.
New Orleans Faces "Hugely Important" Vote
The Associated Press
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/042206G.shtml
well, with 21 choices there to split up the vote, I think Nagin has a good chance to pull this off.
"Because the — all which is on the table begins to address the big cost drivers. For example, how benefits are calculate, for example, is on the table; whether or not benefits rise based upon wage increases or price increases. There's a series of parts of the formula that are being considered. And when you couple that, those different cost drivers, affecting those — changing those with personal accounts, the idea is to get what has been promised more likely to be — or closer delivered to what has been promised. Does that make any sense to you? It's kind of muddled." --explaining his plan to save Social Security, Tampa, Fla., Feb. 4, 2005
5) "I think I may need a bathroom break. Is this possible?" --in a note to to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during a U.N. Security Council meeting, September 14, 2005 (View photo)
4) "We've got a lot of rebuilding to do. First, we're going to save lives and stabilize the situation. And then we're going to help these communities rebuild. The good news is -- and it's hard for some to see it now -- that out of this chaos is going to come a fantastic Gulf Coast, like it was before. Out of the rubbles of Trent Lott's house -- he's lost his entire house -- there's going to be a fantastic house. And I'm looking forward to sitting on the porch." (Laughter) --touring hurricane damage, Mobile, Ala., Sept. 2, 2005
3) "See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda." --Greece, N.Y., May 24, 2005 (Listen to audio)
Dean's yell somehow sounds like poetry compared to these nuggets from our brain dead chunk of barbara.
Posted by PamB on April 22, 2006 at 08:04 PM
I can't WAIT to HEAR JON STEWART chew up and spit out the info about the FOX news guy becoming the new VOICE of the administration!!!
I wonder if Rupert will get a kick back? Tony Snow???????????? insanity! exactly like Randi Rhodes said............ they are all insane!!
"Two years and nine months to go. How much more can George W. Bush take? More important, how much more can we?
Bush's approval rating is bottoming out. Retired generals have launched a media coup against his Secretary of Defense. Republican strategists have actually started to consider the unthinkable: Their party could lose control of the House. (That does not yet seem likely, but the consequences are frightening for GOPers: Congressional investigations and subpoenas.) Bush's best pals in the "coalition of the willing" are not faring well: Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was defeated in Italy, and British Prime Minister Tony Blair is once again on the ropes. The war in Iraq continues to get uglier - perhaps morphing into intractable sectarian conflict - and progress on the political front there seems elusive. And let's not forget, no WMDs have been found.
Worse (for Bush), it seems that every few days there's another news story - some related to the prosecution of accused liar Scooter Libby - that reminds the public that Bush's primary case for the now unpopular war was based on bunk and that he overstated that bunk.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/042206I.shtml
So a chickenhawk, stupid, and lazy. I figured you couldn't go back because you can't reflect on anything that happened thirty minutes ago. Here is my question (I remember it even with my sake [that is Japanese wine incidentally-grown ups can drink it]): I wrote it at 4:54 p.m. if you'd like to check...oh, never mind; you don't check anything, not even the drool that drips off your neanderthal lip.
You have a knack for posting but ignoring everyone else.
I have a question; did Clinton deserve to be impeached? Could you explain why?
Would you say leading a nation into war while knowingly withholding information is impeachable?
Posted by Clarence on April 22, 2006 at 08:05 PM
Do you think everyone here is lying because you choose not to believe that your God and Master GWB is a liar?
1-Lies about Iraq:
http://democrats.reform.house.gov/IraqOnTheRecord/index.asp?Speaker=President+George+W.+Bush
2-At Thursday's debate President Bush said most of his tax cuts "went to low- and middle-income Americans."[1] That statement is flatly false.
An analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities found that, in 2004, the top 20 percent of earners received 69.8% of the tax cuts enacted by President Bush.[2] While the middle 20 percent of earners received an average tax cut of $647, the top 20 percent received an average tax cut of $5,055.[3] As a result, those in the middle class are paying a greater share of the federal taxes today than they were four years ago.[4]
3-Anticipating the release of devastating new poverty and health care
statistics, the Bush administration today took the extraordinary step today
of trying to bury the numbers. Specifically, the Administration had its top
political appointee at the Census Bureau release the numbers a month earlier
than usual, during the August congressional recess when many reporters and
Americans take their summer vacations. The rescheduling of the announcement
also means that the bad numbers will not come out in September immediately
after the Republican National Convention, when they have traditionally been
released.
With the President's economic and health care agenda leaving millions
behind, the Associated Press reports, "the statistics today show the number
of Americans living in poverty increased by 1.3 million last year, while the
ranks of the uninsured swelled by 1.4 million."[1]
This is not the first time the White House and Republicans have gone to
great lengths to hide damning information. As CBS News reported, President
Bush released his military service records late on a Friday night on the eve
of a three day weekend in order to make sure the story about his poor
attendance was seen by as few people as possible.[2]
In Congress, GOP leaders regularly pass the most controversial bills in the
middle of the night. Those included bills to slash veterans benefits and
health/education funding, as well as spending $87 billion on war in Iraq and
passing the President's Medicare bill.[3]
4-BUSH LIES
Posted by Chris on April 22, 2006 at 08:14 PM
ur crackin me up bro! LOL
Heading out, Dem friends.
Remember, the troll is to be pitied, not ridiculed.
When the brain's chemical balance is upset, you see the results.
blog ya tomorrow.
Want some good news? Here it is: While Gov. Dean is uniting our party with his transformative fifty state strategy,
How the GOP Lost Its Way
The immigration reform debate has highlighted a long-standing fissure in the GOP between the elitist Rockefeller business wing and the party's conservative populist base. Whether the two groups can continue to coexist and preserve the Republican majority is increasingly doubtful as conservatives begin to consider -- and in some cases cheer -- the possibility that the GOP may lose control of Congress this fall.
GOP falls Apart whilst Gov. Dean United the Dems
See Fair Democrats,
Without trolls like Rueben/Clarence, Democrats would not have anyone to practice and develop their debate skills with.
Thanks Reuben/Clarence for helping the Democrats so much, you're doing a great job.
drat now I have to go take care of a few thing
bbl i hope
otherwise some time tomorrow
Peace and keep up the stellar defense everyone!
(ya sure make me proud)
Well, clarence...could you please re answer them for me. You see, I have a life; I've had to run some errands and spend time with my family so it is quite possible that I did not read your deep and introspective answer. I'm not like you who can sit in the windowless basement of your parents house, living rent free for the past 47 years and having your mother still buying your underoos for you. So please kindly cut and paste your response. I'm not saying you didn't respond; I'm just asking you to show it to me again.
oh, just one last ray of hope:
A Short And Simple Democratic Agenda
At the DNC's spring meeting today in New Orleans, Howard Dean laid out a six-point Democratic agenda:
Dean said that Democrats will fight for a six-point plan that includes raising the minimum wage, tax ``fairness'' for the middle class, ``a complete ban on gifts and travel from lobbyists,'' the inspection of all cargo coming into U.S. ports, fixing the Medicare drug plan and ``transition'' in Iraq.
If you haven't noticed, Democrats have been making a concerted effort to explain in plan and simple terms what Democrats stand for. Yes, Democrats have finally trained themselves to drop the clause-laden, inaccessible rhetoric of the past, and are beginning to embrace a much more effective method of educating voters about the Democratic Party.
For example, last fall, Rahm Emanuel laid out a five-point plan on Meet The Press that included (1) making college education affordable for every American; (2) holding a summit to fix the budget; (3) achieving energy independence in part by switching to a hybrid economy; (4) creating an institute on science and technology to spur American innovation; and (5) universal health care.
Recall that earlier this month, Senator Kerry also described in plain terms the Democratic agenda:
Tell the truth. Fire the incompetents. Find Osama bin Laden and secure our ports and our homeland. Bring our troops home from Iraq. Obey the law and protect our civil rights," Mr. Kerry said in ticking off his list, which also included supporting health care, education, lobbying reform and alternatives to oil, as well as reducing the deficit.
Senator Kennedy's new book, America: Back on Track, is centered around seven main points of change, from reclaiming our constitutional democracy to making our economy work for all, not just the rich.
Six points, five points, seven points, ten points--the general idea is that Democrats are taking affirmative steps to shatter the myth that "Democrats don't have any ideas."
We don't need a "Contract with America." We don't need to think of new ideas. We are a party full of ideas, and we're finally able to express them in a concise and confident manner to the American people.
My question, Clarence; I don't want ten minutes to go by...What did you have to impeach Clinton on? Something you can only do in your hand? That's a lot nicer than what 48 of your republican representatives did when they were arrested for pedophelia. Not one democrat, ever, has even been accused of pedophelia, yet your moral majority certainly has the majority of the arrests for it. Sometimes your idiocy suprises even this middle aged 8th grade teacher.
Remembering Pat Tillman
How sad to look back to that time 2 years ago, just after the news of the army abusing prisoners in Abu Ghraib to learn that Pat Tillman was killed.
The pentagon reported he was killed in action, but neglected to leave out that he was killed by US soldiers.
Democrats,
There is no escaping the unfortunate fact;
that once the Democrats take back Congress and...
and once the Democrats take back the White House...
They will not only have to deal with the ordinary challenges the nation has to deal with but...
they will have to clean up the mess their predecessors left behind.
So many lies,so little time. This is NOT' from Al Jazeera or the Rolling Stone. Chris Mathews ,Hardball A must see video!http://www.crooksandliars.com/2005/10/10.html#a5310
They put together a time-line of events.
Now I'm beginning to doubt your credibility, clarence. If you want me to continue engaging you, your going to have to go back...I did...for you. If you can't do the same for me, I'm afraid I can't believe that you answered my question in the first place. You have only reaffirmed what I feel about republicans.
Chris,
I think this is what Clarence is talking about.
Nice to see that Dean has finally adopted a positive message.
Posted by Clarence on April 22, 2006 at 07:26 PM
Chris,
Clarence seems to think that Howard Dean is doing a great job.
Well, everyone, even clarence, its been fun tonight. I'm going to snuggle up with my wife and watch a movie...maybe even...well, everyone have a good night. Clarence, your pet hamster doesn't love you as much as you think...and you're not allowed to have sheep within city limits. Goodnight all.
Chris you go do that!!
Mary Tillman says the government used her son for weeks after his death, perpetuating an untrue story to capitalize on his altruism -- just as the Abu Ghraib prison scandal was erupting publicly. She said she was particularly offended when President Bush offered a taped memorial message to Tillman at a Cardinals football game shortly before the presidential election last fall. She again felt as though her son was being used, something he never would have wanted.
i have just been forced to watch blue collar comedy tour and one thing stuck out.
I believe...if you can't say something nice about somebody
you must be talking about Hilary Clinton.
One more reason why I fear her receiving the '08 nomination
Clarence
You’re nothing more than a punk-ass chump that doesn’t appear to give a damn about this country or the great American dream.
As Democrats we love to make money as much as Republicans. But we refuse to do it at any cost. Let me tell you something and you listen well. The GOP is a collection of vampire blood sucking pigs who worship nothing but money and global corporatism. This nation is sick and tired of it and the polls reaffirm it everyday.
When the November election is over we will be in control of either the Senate or House or both. Once assembled, we are going to bring this fool all of us have to call our President to the table to answer for his actions. Nothing is going to stop this from happening.
We are hungry lions just waiting to be released from our cages. We will devour the crooks of the GOP and crush global corporatist like the slimy cockroaches they are.
well i guess it's appropriate that Clarence's is the first post since he dominates this thread.
for anyone who truly wishes to know what the Dems stand for and how we're going to take back America and undo all of the wreckage wrought by Bush:
Dear Robert,
Our democracy is in disarray. The Republican-controlled Congress is no more than a rubber stamp for an overreaching and corrupt White House. The Courts have become political battlegrounds. The needs of everyday Americans are ignored in favor of right-wing ideology.
The best answer to these immense challenges is to unite around a realistic vision for our future. I've just put my own thoughts on this together in a new book that can help get America back on track.
You can read reviews, get more details, and add your own thoughts here:
http://www.americabackontrack.com
In the midst of our daily work on immediate issues like national security and the need for tough but fair immigration reform, it's also important to consider the larger picture.
The approach I offer in America Back on Track can be broadly summarized in challenges such as the following:
Protecting our national security in a changing world.
Reclaiming our constitutional democracy and keeping it vital for the future.
Participating fully in a shrinking world.
Creating an economy that works for all, not just a privileged few.
Guaranteeing a good education and good health care for every American.
Protecting our magnificent environmental heritage.
Resuming the march of progress toward equal opportunity for all.
Uniting America again for the future.
These goals offer a broad picture of where our country can go -- and how, together, we can get there.
All this is clearly at stake in the Congressional elections in November. Electing a Democratic Congress can well make all the difference. It has never been more important to articulate our vision to others. I believe this book can help do that, but I want to hear from you as well:
http://www.americabackontrack.com
Issue by issue in the weeks ahead, we'll be battling even harder for all Americans, and doing our best to hold the Administration accountable. But I hope you'll take a moment to step back and consider the bigger picture.
Together, we can get America back on track. Thank you for being part of this exceptional and truly supportive community.
Sincerely,
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy
DON'T LOOK NOW BUT THERE IS A NEW THREAD AND CLARENCE ISN'T THE FIRST POST.
Bush administration had "cut and run"
Posted by Clarence on April 22, 2006 at 07:39 PM
Clarence has turned....he has embraced the truth about George W Bush.
So, Webb does not support quotas based on race? I do not agree with him, on that issue. Big deal. THAT DOES NOT MAKE HIM A RASCIST, no matter how much you try to paint him into that corner.
Webb is PRO CHOICE, Webb is AGAINST any Ban on gay marriage. If you all want nothing but politically correct politicos to run, then just say so. Webb is a great candidate. He can beat Allen. He is smart, has vision, and a better record of service to this nation than any other candidate I can think of. You all have something against veterans taking control of the party...just say so. You want to lose on security everytime...just say so!
So, Webb does not support quotas based on race? I do not agree with him, on that issue. "Big deal".
PC...I have a question........Are you a ******* IDIOT? BIG DEAL? You MUST not be a Democrat or know anything about just WHO votes DEMOCRAT.Big DEAL? I can't believe you even said that.BIG DEAL? It IS a big deal to the BASE of this party and it will continue to be a BIG DEAL,you f***ing retard.I don't care if Webb is Pro-Choice and against bans on Gay Marrige if he doesn't like protecting the rights of BLACK FOLK!It all goes together.It's a package deal when you're a Democrat."All Three or Let Him be".You don't get the vote being a half-ass Democrat like Webb who is a Republican at heart,who worked for the Regan Administration and who's only running as a Democrat because he has NO chance at running Repug.
P.S. Affirmative Action is NOT quotas based on race.It's to protect people from DISCRIMINATION.It's not our fault that theres STILL too many Racist White-Wing Americans who discriminate against a wide variety of people.The Laws are there to protect the American People from crazed RASIST SH*T's.So, untill the Majority of White Americans get themselves together and NATIONALLY,REPENT, REBUKE AND CONDEM all forms of racism.Untill the Ku Klux Lkan is outlawed,untill it is a Federal Crime to be a White Suppremist and untill the United States is under DEMOCRATIC Leadership,this nation will ALWAYS need Affirmative Action.The American People need to be protected from these right-wing crazed idiots who think Gawd planted them on the earth to rule over all other races.Yeah,that crap still exists in this nation.I saw it just the other day.
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