Weekend Open Thread
Have a great weekend.
Comments (469) «
1) bring out troops home
2) Impeachment please
3) One vote - one person
Posted by dk2 on July 22, 2006 at 05:19 PM
I second that motion.
Would someone smarter than I please explain why Bill Clinton is publicly supporting Holy Joe? Crooks & Liars video of a tongue lashing for Bill, no kiss.
Fade, I put up a post Looking for DPD. Sure hoping we hear from him soon.
Fade: I read a small clip saying that he appears to be helping Joe, but the main intent was to help him and at the same time acquire a promise that if he looses the bid, that he step out and support the winner of the primary. I dont have a source, I think someone yesterday posted something also.
dk2,
There is speculation that while Pres. Clinton is campaigning for Leaverman that he would be speaking with him regarding not running in the General Election should he lose the primary.
Thanks, Tracy.
fade, and Lizzy,
I sent him an email, but if he is not checking in here, he probably will not check in his email.
fade,
At the event Lizzy and I went to the other night, some people believe that the purpose of Clinton's visit is, to talk to Joe about dropping out should he lose the Primary, so he does not split the ticket for one thing, and secondly so the other 4 races in our State are not lost because of Joe ! Whether it is true or not, I do not know. Hillary has said she will back the winner of the Primary, which means once Ned wins it, Joe is chopped liver as far as Democrats are concerned!!!
I don't support terrorism.
I don't support stupidity either.
thanks, everyone...i may have found a good explanation, in addition to your insights...the E-word
elites
from the brilliant (and quite a hottie too--which never hurts) David Sirota
we the people, what a concept...
President Clinton is publicly endorsing Senator Lieberman because he is not exactly a liberal, anyone who followed his administration saw that Clinton was a moderate democrat. Even though I like the former president, Clinton was/is the reason why the democrats are now more like republicans. We have no true liberals left in Washington besides Senators Kennedy and Feingold. The entire political spectrum has shifted so far to the right we may never get it back. When John Kerry and Russ Fiengold introduce a bill to bring the troops home by the end of the year, how many Democratic Senators voted for it? 11, thats pathetic. That means the rest of these democrats are pro-war dems. My own Senator, Colorado United States Senator Ken Salazar is a rightwing Democrat. This man consistently votes with the republicans, voting for the Gonzales, and Rice appointment, voting for Roberts and Alito. Voting for the flag ammendment, voting for the bankruptcy ammedment. Ask yourself how many of your Democratic Senators from your state have voted with the Republican agenda. I am more mad at the democrats then I am the republicans. Atleast you know what your going to get when a republican is voted into office. They vote against freedom, they hate the constitution, they vote against the rights for all, they're pro-war, and hate equality. The democrats should not be voting against those ideas. But they do, everyday.
I just have to say this...since there are still bombings going in Lebanon and we still don't have a Middle East Crisis Thread.
BBC, reports from south Lebanon through a video over Raw Story and I just don't understand why they are bombing hospitals.
and the US is rushing to deliver more bombs to Israel.
The munitions that the United States is sending to Israel are part of a multimillion-dollar arms sale package approved last year that Israel is able to draw on as needed, the officials said. But Israel’s request for expedited delivery of the satellite and laser-guided bombs was described as unusual by some military officers, and as an indication that Israel still had a long list of targets in Lebanon to strike.
The new American arms shipment to Israel has not been announced publicly, and the officials who described the administration’s decision to rush the munitions to Israel would discuss it only after being promised anonymity. The officials included employees of two government agencies, and one described the shipment as just one example of a broad array of armaments that the United States has long provided Israel.
Hello, IraqWarVeteran. Welcome home. Thanks for your comments. I agree. This is a snip from the link that didn't work, above:
David Sirota
On the other side, there are organizations like the Democratic Leadership Council, which is holding its "national conversation" in Denver this weekend. The group purports to represent America's political "center" but on issue after issue after issue, the organization and its highest-profile leaders have gone on record advocating for extremist national security, trade and economic policies well outside the mainstream of American public opinion. These policies, undoubtedly influenced by the group's big corporate donors, have helped destroy America's middle class and weaken America's security. The group, of course, purports to represent ordinary Americans. But they can't hide even the farcical nature of that assertion. As just one example, the Rocky Mountain News reports the DLC's supposedly "national conversation" runs "through Monday at the Hyatt Regency hotel and is not open to the public." And now the group is pitching stories to reporters trying to openly position themselves as the counterweight to grassroots political organizing and activism.
The New York Times and other Establishment media try to make everything about one party or another, and about one election or another. But what is clear - and what is frightening them and their friends at their elite cocktail party gatherings - is the realization that a movement is being built that transcends both parties and any one election. This is a movement that sees the principles of standing up for the little guy and the ideology that puts regular people first not as a threat, but as a necessity to rebuilding the foundations this country was built on - foundations that are now under a vicious assault by those in the Establishment.
Even in its angry review of Hostile Takeover, the Times is forced to acknowledge that we, the people fighting for our democracy, have the facts on our side. It is a tacit admission that the Establishment well understands the crimes being perpetrated on us - and simply doesn't care to change its ways. And while Washington's pundits, lobbyists, and other assorted status quo apologists will continue to scream like little children and berate us with epithets whenever we the people assert ourselves - rest assured that the louder their temper tantrums get, the more progress we are making.
Lizzy, this too:
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration said on Thursday it approved the sale to Saudi Arabia of 24 UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters, radios, armoured vehicles and other military equipment worth more than $6 billion (3.25 billion pounds).
Congress has 30 days to block the sales, although such action is rare.
The Pentagon's Defence Security Cooperation Agency said the principal contractors for the different sales included Sikorsky Aircraft, a unit of United Technologies Corp., General Electric Co., Harris Corp., ITT Corp., General Dynamics Corp., and Raytheon Corp..
The agency said in a mandatory notice to Congress that the arms sales would help strengthen Saudi Arabia's military and its ability to help the United States fight terrorism around the world. The deal comes amid escalating fighting between Israel and Hizbollah guerrillas in Lebanon.
Saudi Arabia had asked to buy 24 Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopters, spare parts, communications and other equipment valued at $350 million, if all options were exercised, according to the agency, which oversees foreign arms sales.
Sikorsky and GE would be the main contractors for the new helicopters, which would help Saudi Arabia modernise and increase its rotary wing fleet and respond more quickly to possible threats against its infrastructure.
iraqiwarvet,
Your Senator Salazar is the ONLY Dem Senator so far to come out and say, Even if Lieberman does not win the Primary, and goes to the Election as an independent, then he is still supporting him!
WTF? The guys an idiot.
NOT A GOOD WEEKEND. The U.S. is destroying all its credibility with Middle Eastern countries by sending bombs to Israel rather than trying to immediately stop the violence and then trying to build up the ability and willingness of the government of Lebanon to control Hezbollah attacks on Israel. Only the Lebanese can control their territory to prevent such attacks. It is utterly impossible to wipe out a guerrilla movement by bombing (or long-range shelling), and the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon was an utter disaster and should not be repeated. I hope the party leadership can "clarify" or "supplement" Howard Dean's statement on the subject which totally endorses Bush's disastrous policy.
Is anyone seeing a pattern here with the sales of munition to the Middle East???
Howard Dean's statement on the subject which totally endorses Bush's disastrous policy.
Link??
Lizzy,
amen and amen, sistah!! this is a pattern that is masking the real condition of our economy. i was reading what Dean actually said and wondering the same thing.
The "DLC" stands for "Democratic Leadership Council". If they support ANY candidate against a Democrat, as far as I'm conserned their name will be "mud" in the Democratic Party for all time.
But you are anti-Israel from reading your pervious posts. I cannot fathom how anyone would not support Israel in their fight against Hamas and especially Hezbollah. Hamas and Hezbollah started this latest conflict To support Hezbollah, in this case, borders on anti-semitic. Posted by BobVADem-Gore-Warner2008 on July 22, 2006 at 04:59 PM
You're too "hung up" on who "supports" whom and who started what. Just because I'm not willing to join in with your war frinzy, don't try to play the "race card" with me, Bub. Your preaching of blame, hate, and war aren't going to go very far around here. Maybe you better try freepers.
CT-SEN: Neocon Bill Kristol Donates to Lieberman
By Rachel Weiner
This news won't make Joe Lieberman's foes any happier with their nemesis. It turns out that Lieberman got a $500 contribution from Bill Kristol, the Iraq-war-supporting neoconservative editor of the Weekly Standard.
It appears to be Kristol's first donation of over $200 since 1998, and all his other contributions have been to Republicans. Also interesting: Over 80 percent of Lieberman's donations in May and June came from out of state. Incidentally, we already know that Lieberman agrees with Kristol on Iraq. What about Kristol’s calls for war with Iran?
Winning Hearts and Minds, Or Something
Tell me that one again, the one about being greeted as liberators? Flowers being showered at our feet? Spreading democracy like a benign virus throughout a troubled region?
"What is creating radicalism in the region is not authoritarian regimes," said Mustafa Hamarneh, director of the Center for Strategic Studies at the University of Jordan. "Mainly it is American policy in the region -- survey after survey shows that."
Dailykos
Posted by brian111
No Bud, I asked you for some proof last night. I'm still waiting. What's wrong? Can't find any?
anti semitism is one of the planks of the Democratic platform.
How so? Explain yourself. It's easy to just make up statements (Lies?) without proof.
Klause you are an asshole and you have no idea what you are talking about. Educate yourself, buddddd.
From Larry Johnson:
Israel's latest offensive to root out and destroy Hezbollah probably will fail and in the process will ignite a new round of international terrorist attacks that will put the United State squarely in the crosshairs. It is as if we are watching a plane crash in slow motion. We see the plane hurtling towards the earth, our mouths agape in a silent scream. We know it will explode on impact and can do nothing but watch.
[...]
Although Hezbollah uses terrorism as a tactic, it is not primarily a terrorist organization. It has evolved over the years into a genuine political movement and conventional military force. This is a reality we can ignore at our peril. If we choose to view Hezbollah strictly as a terrorist threat then we convince ourselves that we have only one option--fight. But understand this--if we fight Hezbollah we will unleash a new war front that we are not prepared to pursue. At a minimum we can expect to face the fury of Shia militias attacking our troops and personnel in Iraq.
I don't understand why the Democrats don't use a single slogan around the country: "Any friend of Bush is no friend of 'X'". For example, Granholm vs DeVos here in Michigan: Any friend of Bush is no friend of Michigan" with a pic of them shaking hands. Lamont could use that against Lieberman fer sher. And, absolutely, if the DLC decides to stump for Lieberman after he loses the primary, they are no longer Democrats, imho.
The Nation blog: Condoleezza "False Promise" Rice
As Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice goes through the charade of meeting with international leaders to discuss the crisis in the Middle East – while showing her true sentiments with a firm rejection of the "false promise" of a ceasefire – observers of the carnage might reasonably ask: Is there anyone in Washington who wants the killing to stop?
In fact, there are a few dozen brave members of Congress who have leant their names to a call for halting the violence and allowing diplomacy to replace the bombs and bullets that are ripping apart whole regions of Lebanon, Israel and Palestine.
Two dozen members of the House of Representatives have now signed on as cosponsors of House Continuing Resolution 450: "Calling upon the President to appeal to all sides in the current crisis in the Middle East for an immediate cessation of violence and to commit United States diplomats to multi-party negotiations with no preconditions."
Submitted by Ohio Democrat Dennis Kucinich, the measure resolves that Congress:
do what?
Although Hezbollah uses terrorism as a tactic, it is not primarily a terrorist organization. It has evolved over the years into a genuine political movement and conventional military force. This is a reality we can ignore at our peril. If we choose to view Hezbollah strictly as a terrorist
All "weaker" armed groups use what can be called "terrorist tactics". All the leading founders of Israel were "terrorists". Just because one side has more power than the other doesn't make their killing better that the other side's. I don't consider either kind of the killing "better" than another.
And regarding the Israel vs Hezbollah, I thought the world was weary of using "fighting terrorism" to excuse killing innocent civilians. Far, far, far more innocents have been killed in this Israeli "defence" than "terrorists" - just my $.02
Two dozen members of the House of Representatives have now signed on as cosponsors of House Continuing Resolution 450: "Calling upon the President to appeal to all sides in the current crisis in the Middle East for an immediate cessation of violence and to commit United States diplomats to multi-party negotiations with no preconditions."
Submitted by Ohio Democrat Dennis Kucinich, the measure resolves that Congress:
(1) calls upon the President to--
(A) appeal to all sides in the current crisis in the Middle East for an immediate cessation of violence;
(B) commit United States diplomats to multi-party negotiations with no preconditions; and
(C) send a high-level diplomatic mission to the region to facilitate such multi-party negotiations…
The resolution also "urges such multi-party negotiations to begin as soon as possible, including delegations from the governments of Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Lebanon, Iran, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt; and supports an international peacekeeping mission to southern Lebanon to prevent cross-border skirmishes during such multi-party negotiations."
click here for co-sponsors:
It's kinda hard to get any answers out of this "brian111" fellow. He'll smart-off at us, but then won't explain himself when we ask him something.
Here is an example of why I'm proud to be a Democrat. These people live in the past. What do you expect when you become a Marine?
What they want is revenge:
"Marine Families: Hold Iran Accountable"
The current flare-up of hostilities in Lebanon is for some American families a poignant reminder of events two decades ago, when Hezbollah militants attacked the U.S. barracks in Beirut, killing 241 Marines who had been stationed as an international peace-keeping force. Those Marines were members of the same unit that is currently helping to evacuate American citizens trapped in Lebanon.
"We understand only too well how Hezbollah uses terrorism to advance its radical goals," said Lynn Smith Derbyshire, whose brother was killed in the Beirut bombing. "Hezbollah must no longer be allowed to terrorize the citizens of the world, whether in Israel, the United States or in Lebanon."
Derbyshire is a member of a group called: "Justice For Marine Corps Families – Victims of Terrorism" that for years has pushed the U.S. government to hold Hezbollah's sponsors in Iran and Syria accountable for the actions of their proxy army.
Well here's what Tom Hayden said.
I Was Israel’s Dupe
How do I read today’s news through the lens of the past?
What I fear is that the “Israeli lobby” is working overtime to influence American public opinion on behalf of Israel’s military effort to “roll back the clock” and “change the map” of the region, going far beyond issues like prisoner exchange.
What I fear is that the progress of the American peace movement against the Iraq war will be diverted and undermined, at least for now, by the entry of Israel from the sidelines into the center of the equation.
What I fear is the rehabilitation of the discredited U.S. neoconservative agenda to ignite a larger war against Hamas, Hezbollah, Syria and Iran. The neoconservatives’ 1996 “Clean Break” memo advocated that Israel “roll back” Lebanon and destabilize Syria in addition to overthrowing Saddam Hussein. An intellectual dean of the neoconservatives, Bernard Lewis, has long advocated the “Lebanonization” of the Middle East, meaning the disintegration of nation states into “a chaos of squabbling, feuding, fighting sects, tribes, regions and parties.”
This divide-and-conquer strategy, a brainchild of the region’s British colonizers, is already taking effect in Iraq, where America overthrew a secular state, installed a Shiite majority and its militias in power and now portrays itself as the only protection for Sunnis against those same Shiites. The resulting quagmire has become a justification for American troops to remain.
What I fear is trepidation and confusion among rank-and-file voters and activists, and the paralysis of politicians, especially Democrats, who last week were moving gradually toward setting a deadline for U.S. withdrawal from Iraq. The politics of the present crisis favor the Republicans and the White House in the short run. How many politicians will favor withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq under present conditions? Isn’t this Karl Rove’s game plan for the November elections?
What I know is that I will not make the same mistake again. I hope that my story deepens the resolve of all those whose feelings are torn, conflicted or confused in the present. It is not being a “friend of Israel” to turn a blind eye to its never-ending occupation.
One might argue, and many Americans today might agree, that Hezbollah and Hamas started this round of war with their provocative kidnappings of Israeli soldiers. Lost in the headlines, however, is the fact that the Israelis have 9,000 Palestinian prisoners, and have negotiated prisoner swaps before.
Counterpunch
Martin,
Sorry, I missed this email. I think it is probably a wise choice to not bother with the DNC Blog. I have been there for many many moons, but will not be posting there any longer. Too many egos there. Yes I do have children, and thank you for the happiness. I fight every day for peace. May it come soon, although I fear that November will bring no change, not after the way the Congress acted this past week.
Peace: Lizzy
wow
thought I heard it all
Yeah, we know KlausCupcake, your killing is SO much better than the other guy's. Just like your side's fatal traffic accident was SO much better than the other side's traffic accident. All you ever do is talk out both sides of your behind. When we do it, it's OK. When they do it, it's not. It must be great to always be SO superior than the other side while doing the exact same thing.
From The Guardian:
The most senior British military commander in Afghanistan yesterday described the situation in the country as "close to anarchy" with feuding foreign agencies and unethical private security companies compounding problems caused by local corruption.
The stark warning came from Lieutenant General David Richards, head of Nato's international security force in Afghanistan, who warned that western forces there were short of equipment and were "running out of time" if they were going to meet the expectations of the Afghan people.
The assumption within Nato countries had been that the environment in Afghanistan after the defeat of the Taliban in 2002 would be benign, Gen Richards said. "That is clearly not the case," he said yesterday. He referred to disputes between tribes crossing the border with Pakistan, and divisions between religious and secular factions cynically manipulated by "anarcho-warlords".
Corrupt local officials were fuelling the problem and Nato's provincial reconstruction teams in Afghanistan were sending out conflicting signals, Gen Richards told a conference at the Royal United Services Institute in London. "The situation is close to anarchy," he said, referring in particular to what he called "the lack of unity between different agencies".
He described "poorly regulated private security companies" as unethical and "all too ready to discharge firearms". Nato forces in Afghanistan were short of equipment, notably aircraft, but also of medical evacuation systems and life-saving equipment.
I think it is about time for me to get away from this blog but before i do i must say this.Some here have the foil hat wrapped a bit too tight.No questiopn that Bush is an incompenent asshole, no question that Joe Leeb is a liar,noquestion about Iraq,about Katrina, about the economy, but when you people start badrapping Bill Clinton I part company.
No president ever withstood such a concerted attack and managed to still put up numbers above any other chief exec.(incl. of FDR)I am ashamed of you.Stand united and lose your foil wrap or just stand and lose.
And regarding the Israel vs Hezbollah, I thought the world was weary of using "fighting terrorism" to excuse killing innocent civilians. Far, far, far more innocents have been killed in this Israeli "defence" than "terrorists" - just my $.02 Posted by KJtheGeek on July 22, 2006 at 07:10 PM
Uh huh. Know what it reminds me of? One time in the late 80ties a fad was going around where it became the "all the rage" to pull the string bikini tops off girls in big public gatherings. They did it down in Florida and they did it in Palm Springs Ca. One day while having the OP (Ocean Pacific Swimware) sponsered surf competition in Huntington Beach, Ca a couple of guys did that to a girl in the middle of a packed crowd of tens of thousands. When the police came, they started "beating a path" the center of the crowd (where the girl was) by cracking over the head anyone in their way. People got mad at this man-handling and started throwing rocks and bottles at the police. The police then declaired war on everybody in the area and started attacking whomever they saw. So some cop cars got burned and some store windows broken, while the next day's paper's headline read: "Surfers Riot!". Excuse me, but I considered what happened to be a "Cop Riot". You don't attack everyone just because of what was done by a few.
War is the not the answer, but instead it is the glaring lack of an answer. Both Isreal and Hezbollah are wrong. As before all it does is futher spread hate and intolerance.It does not matter who started it or who ends it, because in the end all war does is to cause more war.
I think a middle east DMZ is the answer.No weapons no war.
need some attention, wap?
truth is a far cry from badrapping. we are the people, not the power elites. it is perfectly reasonable to assume that his support of Biden is represtative of the other group.
whatever you might have to say about our tin foil hats, notwithstanding.
NAFTA is another legitimate difference of opinion that i disagreed with Big Bill on, as well. we are not the sheeple and loyalty oaths are part of the other party platform
Posted by IraqWarVeteran on July 22, 2006 at 05:53 PM
Even in its angry review of Hostile Takeover, the Times is forced to acknowledge that we, the people fighting for our democracy, have the facts on our side. It is a tacit admission that the Establishment well understands the crimes being perpetrated on us - and simply doesn't care to change its ways. And while Washington's pundits, lobbyists, and other assorted status quo apologists will continue to scream like little children and berate us with epithets whenever we the people assert ourselves - rest assured that the louder their temper tantrums get, the more progress we are making.
Posted by fade2bluz on July 22, 2006 at 06:07 PM
Good evening, all. Just stopping by and waving. You both make some good points.
The party must move back to our roots. Being a cheap imitation of a bad idea is not going to advance the interests of the middle class and working poor. The DLC control has slowly been eroding all the good things that the Democratic Party gave us.
If we do not regain a convincing majority in the Congress in 2006, there will be repercussions throughout the party that even Bill Clinton cannot weather.
Just watch Lou Dobbs some night. There is a populist movement developing. It is a sign of change. The Center now stands for the status quo. It will not last.
We are the populists.
Wait why didn't i get a foil hat?where can you buy one?
Juan Cole:
Even the British Foreign Office has now broken with the Washington consensus on the Israeli assault on Lebanon, which is basically that the Israelis should be able to destroy the whole country if they want to, over their two kidnapped soldiers.
[there is an up-to-date linkage of the events in Lebanon with a photo that speaks volumes.]
Hi {{{Sandy}}}
Populist is the most appropriate term for the reality-based community. It's nice to be powered up again and always a pleasure to see you.
I miss our DuPageDemocrat something fierce!
Where did you get your tin-foil hat? Know of a good source to recommend to the MilitantDemocrat?
No, sweetie i don't need attention and i did not say "big Bill" was infallable.Just that he has a record of sheparding this nation through tought times when every asshole in the country was laying it on him big time. i KNOW HE IS NOT PERFECT BUT HE DID MORE FOR THIS NATION WHEN EVERY ASSHOLE WHO IS NOW RUNNING THIS NATION WAS AGAINST 24 HOURS PER DAY. yOUR HAT IS A LITTLE TIGHT. lOOSEN IT A BIT.
here's a nice collection of hats, and an undergarment for those pesky three-year time gaps:
tin-foil hats
and wap, you can be damned sure of one thing--i am not sweet nor am i your sweetie. thank you
One might argue, and many Americans today might agree, that Hezbollah and Hamas started this round of war with their provocative kidnappings of Israeli soldiers. Lost in the headlines, however, is the fact that the Israelis have 9,000 Palestinian prisoners, and have negotiated prisoner swaps before.
Counterpunch
Posted by Domingo on July 22, 2006 at 07:22 PM
Funny how that is never mentioned by the administration.
Someday (and I'm afraid it's going to be soon) there's going to be another terrorist attack on this nation just because our political leadership continues to turn a blind eye to the plight of the refugees in the Middle East.
All the scheming and manipulation by the powers behind this current push for a "New Middle East" does not change the fact that these people (terrorists and their supporters) are determined to break the cycle of futility. The more they are pushed, the more desperate they become to further their cause.
Instead of playing war games, Bush and the Israelis would do better to negotiate and ask Syria and Iran for their help. That would be the smart thing to do.
Setting up the ground work for the next World War is not an alternative. It will be a nuclear war, and we will definitely be one of the first targets...along with Isreal.
Fools rush in. Bush and Israel have shown just how foolish some can be.
Populist wow nice term. I have been a moderate dem for a long time now, and what i have learned is that when you start hearing about a shift towards the middle it means splitting the party. We have to stick together. If the repugs want to win they need our votes, did you get that"our votes". we are the majority if we stand united we will win.If the repugs want to win they have to split us up.
just a thought...
thanks Fade, tin foil boxers and a hat to boot. you rule!!!
I would think that any sound thinking person would understand that this nation will never accept the communist form of government,so give it up.You can try to lock in on a wedge issue but it will not,nationally,work.
I would much rather have a democratic thinking person in office than a complete facist(as we have now).So you can blow and no go or you can use your head.
By the way this ice cream thing is a waste of the DNC money,it is silly.
but when you people start badrapping Bill Clinton I part company.
No president ever withstood such a concerted attack and managed to still put up numbers above any other chief exec.(incl. of FDR)I am ashamed of you.Stand united and lose your foil wrap or just stand and lose.
Posted by wap on July 22, 2006 at 07:54 PM
hey wap !
I have not seen anyone (outside the troll who still can't get over the sourgrapes that Clinton won twice over 2 Republicans) badmouth Clinton, other than criticize his supporting Lieberman! And if I want to be pissed at him for doing this in my State of CT, I damn well will! And it has nothing to do with any foil hat. But don't worry, We have lots of surprises in store for Bill and Barbara Boxer when they arrive on Monday. (of course Biden backed out at the last minute last week, so maybe Bill and Barb will wise up too.)
Foreign Office minister Kim Howells has criticised Israel's bombardment of Lebanon, while on a visit to Beirut.
He said Israel had not carried out "surgical strikes" and attacking the Lebanese nation was not the answer.
Downing Street said the prime minister would stand by Mr Howell's comments, adding the British government had "always urged restraint on Israel".
Another Bush failure ! the Neo-cons had such big ideas, combined with small IQs and incompetence.
Afghanistan close to anarchy, warns general
· Nato commander's view in stark contrast to ministers'
· Forces short of equipment and 'running out of time'
and speaking of Bush's failures, 'el mustacho' is a Loser too !
NYT: U.N. envoys say Bolton's 'rude' 'combative' ways foil goals
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/NYT_U.N._envoys_say_Boltons_ways_0722.html
The people who are running this country today are thr people who spent millions of dollars and much of this nations respect worldwide trying to remove Bill Clinton from office.He stayed the course and he kept this nation viable internationally.I think you people who,because of certain wedge items are now trying to kick him around are,at least suspect.
Don't preach to me pammy,i figured you out three years ago.
hi {{{Pam}}}
well said.
Update:
At Least 372 Dead in Lebanon, 34 in Israel
- - - - - - - - - - - -
By The Associated Press
July 22,2006 | -- More than 408 people have been reported killed in Lebanon and Israel since fighting broke out July 12 between Israel forces and Hezbollah guerrillas.
IN LEBANON:
At least 372 have been killed and 1,482 wounded, according to Lebanese security officials. Among them are 20 Lebanese army soldiers and at least eight Hezbollah guerrillas.
Among the civilian deaths are 8 Canadians, 2 Kuwaiti nationals, 1 Iraqi, 1 Sri Lankan, 1 Jordanian.
Among the latest deaths Saturday:
-- Two Hezbollah guerrillas in clashes at border.
-- One in strike on Lebanese Broadcasting Corp.'s transmission center in Fatqa, northeast of Beirut.
-- Two in strike in southern village of Kafra.
IN ISRAEL:
34 Israelis have been killed, including 19 members of the miltary, according to authorities. More than nine soldiers have been wounded, and 231 civilians, according to rescue officials.
wap
There are no demigods in this party not even Bill. We should hold all accountable even those we love . Your starting to sound like a repug talking about Reagen.
Israeli missiles hit Lebanese TV Station Hard
"It's important to understand why the attack was carried out. This will disrupt their ability to communicate," he said, adding that cell phones were a "key communication link" for the guerrillas.
I think you people who,because of certain wedge items are now trying to kick him around are,at least suspect.
Don't preach to me pammy,i figured you out three years ago.
Posted by wap on July 22, 2006 at 08:53 PM
LOL- You were probably the same asshole then that you are now, but under a different name! You find me where anybody here kicked Clinton around, numb-ones, and I will apologize!!!
Otherwise, don't bother even addressing me, I don't have time for fools!
A new Rasmussen Reports poll shows Ned Lamont (D) beating Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-CT) in the Democratic primary, 51% to 41%.
Here's the stunning finding: In the general election, Lieberman and Lamont are tied with 40% with Alan Schlesinger (R) trailing behind with 13%
http://politicalwire.com/archives/2006/07/22/in_connecticut_poll_shows_lamont_ahead_by_10.html
(Note where the Repug is----13%% Surprised he is polling that much. Of course we have a few redneck rubes here in the hills, too)
Pam, that is sweet news on Lieberloser! I mistyped Biden earlier--but they're cut from similar leisure suit cloth...
Sorry my friend,i do not have anty demigods and i certainly do not have any respect for Mr.Raygun.
I have probably spent and devoted more of my time and money to the cause of the democrat party than most.(4 decades)I just simply take offense to people who use their personal issues as a method to influence the national approach to an election.
PamB sure is a garbage mouth.
Posted by KlausCupcake on July 22, 2006 at 09:10 PM
And if anyone knows a garbage mouth, you pig of a man, it is you! Racist, filthy, vile, vicious! You should talk about anybody's mouth!
Well, it's saturday night and i'm having a WDST vigil for my favorite cubs fan.
wish i had that photo of the bar, gregg...
I Have a Dream
Posted by Kristen
thanks i needed that.
{{{Kristen}}}
excellent horsey! let the bush bashing begin. it always makes me feel better to ridicule the wanker-in-chief on saturday night...
Religious right looking a little weary
WASHINGTON -- The surprising, resounding electoral defeat of religious right superstar Ralph Reed in Georgia stands in sharp contrast to President Bush's desperate embrace of the narrow cultural issues popularized by the movement.
Cease fire, both are to blame, the children are dying. Put the weapons down.
"As death toll in Lebanon mounts, UN's top relief chief heads to region"
"As the death toll in Lebanon surpassed 350, including large numbers of children, the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator headed to the country as part of his bid to facilitate 'humanitarian corridors' to allow relief aid to reach besieged residents, while UN agencies worked to shore up their own aid efforts."
"According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 350 Lebanese have been killed and more than 1,000 injured. An estimated 34 Israelis have been killed and 200 wounded. WHO also estimates some 600,000 displaced people in Lebanon."
"Bombardment by the Israeli Defence Force has caused widespread damage to bridges and roads, hospitals, schools, residential housing, electricity plants, airports and seaports, especially in southern Lebanon, and OCHA warned that fuel shortages are looming. Three main hospitals in southern suburbs of Beirut were not operating today, WHO said."
article here
Snark
President Bush vetoed stem cell research while surrounded by adopted children. "These boys and girls are not spare parts," he said. "America must never abandon our fundamental morals."
But what if the children are older than, say, embryonic cells? A recent study shows child poverty in the United States at the highest rate in the developed world (when you include the tax code as part of the equation). Fully one-fifth of all U.S. children live in poverty.
Since we will never abandon our fundamental morals, that means we ought to do something about it, right?
-- Mark Trahant
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/278436_focus_tm_2.html
Pam Bergen-What do you think it is hormones?
I made an offer once to have a legal inspection by a friend and associate of mine and you turned the offer down/.I followed up anyway and i am really amazed at your attitude.Don't forget to keep your hat tight.
make it one for my baby and one more for the road:
roadhouse blues
to clarify:
A third poll has now shown Ned Lamont ahead of Joe Lieberman in the Connecticut Democratic primary for United States Senate. This time, Rasmussen shows Lamont with a solid 51-41 lead (currently, the poll is only available for subscribers to Rasmussen). The previous Rasmussen poll, conducted in mid-June, showed Lieberman ahead 46-40. . . . In a three way race, Rasmussen shows Lamont and Lieberman tied at 40% each, with the Republican at 13%. It is pretty amusing to see just how hapless Republicans are in this race.
i'll remember every face of every pig who put us here. excerpt from salon:
Warmer Waters Disrupt Pacific Food Chain
- - - - - - - - - - - -
By MARCUS WOHLSEN Associated Press Writer
July 22,2006 | FARALLON NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, Calif. -- On these craggy, remote islands west of San Francisco, the largest seabird colony in the contiguous United States throbs with life. Seagulls swarm so thick that visitors must yell to be heard above their cries. Pelicans glide.
But the steep decline of one bird species for the second straight year has rekindled scientists' fears that global warming could be undermining the coastal food supply, threatening not just the Farallones but entire marine ecosystems.
Tiny Cassin's auklets live much of their lives on the open ocean. But in spring, these gray-and-white relatives of the puffin venture to isolated Pacific outposts like the Farallones to dig deep burrows and lay their eggs.
Adult auklets usually feed their chicks with krill, the minuscule shrimp-like crustaceans that anchor the ocean's complex food web.
But not this year. Almost none of the 20,000 pairs of Cassin's auklets nesting in the Farallones will raise a chick that lives more than a few days, a repeat of last year's "unprecedented" breeding failure, according to Russ Bradley, a seabird biologist with the Point Reyes Bird Observatory who monitors the birds on the islands.
Scientists blame changes in West Coast climate patterns for a delay in the seasonal upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich waters from the ocean's depths for the second year in a row. Weak winds and faltering currents have left the Gulf of the Farallones without krill, on which Cassin's auklets and a variety of other seabirds, fish and mammals depend for food.
"The seas are warmer. And the number of krill being produced is lower," said Bradley as he held a Cassin's auklet chick, the only one from a study of 400 nests he expected to survive.
"Normally we would have hundreds," he said.
The failure of last year's Pacific upwelling killed seabirds from California to British Columbia. Scientists had hoped the change was just a natural temperature fluctuation in what is known as the California Current.
But the return of higher ocean temperatures and scarce food resources this year has scientists wondering whether last year's erratic weather was not a fluke but the emergence of a troubling trend.
"How many years in a row do you see this before you start raising your eyebrows?" said Frank Schwing, an oceanographer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Pacific Grove...
Evening {{{Fade}}}, so is this wap guy the DINO Tony from days gone by?
You know the one that thought folks should sell their principles for a win?
gregg, The CT people are open minded enough not to vote for Repugs. Even if this is the wealthiest state in the union. I believe it is the highest income, or at least the second highest, yet most don't vote for Repub.
I made an offer once to have a legal inspection by a friend and associate of mine and you turned the offer down/.I followed up anyway and i am really amazed at your attitude.Don't forget to keep your hat tight.
Posted by wap on July 22, 2006 at 09:30 PM
I have absolutely zero idea what you are babbling about. You really should not drink and blog at same time! go back and read your posts ! You sound like an idiot!
Hey fade, gregg, dk, Kristen, and rest of you Dems, have a good evening. Have to sign out for the night. blog you all tomorrow.
nite pam.
here is a guy working for the state department who really got himself into a new york state of mind....from the ny post....
July 22, 2006 -- A State Department worker cruising down 34th Street with three scantily clad women in what appeared to be a government car with flashing lights collided with a yellow cab last night after allegedly running a red light, police said.
The unnamed fed - who was armed according to witnesses - was shouting at other motorists through a public address loudspeaker in the car as he maneuvered his Buick LeSabre westbound in the eastbound lane on East 34th Street at about 11:30 p.m.
He allegedly ran a red light at Lexington Avenue and was broadsided by the cab, cops said.
"He was yelling, stay to the right, stay to the right, on his loudspeaker with his red light running. And that's when he went through the red light and hit the cab," said Erin Melius, 25. "We were like, 'What is this guy doing?' And then it was like, 'Boom!' "
The witnesses spotted the three young women in the car - as well as a cooler in the backseat and a case of Heineken in the trunk.
The women, who appeared to be hurt, according to a video tape of the incident obtained by The Post, ran off before cops arrived, taking a small brown paper bag from the agent's car.
The taxi driver was taken to Bellevue Hospital with minor injuries, authorities said.
The fed was not given a blood alcohol test at the scene, but police sources said he would get one in custody. It was unclear if he would be charged last night.
thanx {{{gregg}}}
kristen, there are, apparently, myriad posters who carry grudges and change their names. what's the point?
would it be wrong of me to say they're little chickenshit chickenhawks? yep, prolly
goodnight Pam--
what was in the brown bag? and what the heck was he going to do with three women...oh--never mind
thanx gregg--that was a cheerful story!
Geez, if that is true, could the 22 million illegal wetbacks have something to do with that. Do ya think?
Posted by KlausCupcake on July 22, 2006 at 09:46 PM
I am just a little confused , are you saying only poor white kids count? What kind of person are you? children in the USA are going without and you use that to foward your racist agenda.
your a sick, small minded ,facist little person.
Kristen, we're at the bottom of the barrell, with Mexico and a whopping twenty some percent
from UNICEF:2005
this is so sad-- when i was a girl the "Trick or Treat For UNICEF" was for other countries...what happened here?
This wap guy is a fellow who has put his ass on the line-twice- how about you?I take offense when i read a bunch of crap by people who have not ever experienced any hardship tp do any thing for this nation.Bush is ,in my opinion,just another one of you sophmores who have nothing to do except to waste your time,hour after hour,on the internet.
FYI WAP
I served from 84 to 88 in the army, 75th regiment 1st bat.
An interesting take on things.
"Dems May Put Caucus Between Iowa, N.H."
"Democrats bucked decades of tradition Saturday by moving to wedge the state of Nevada between the long-standing one-two punch of Iowa and New Hampshire in the leadoff nominating contests for president in 2008."
"In an effort to provide more diversity in early voting, the Democrats' rules and bylaws committee recommended that Nevada be allowed to hold a caucus the Saturday after Iowa's leadoff caucus _ likely to be held Jan. 14. The rules panel also awarded South Carolina an early primary, which would be held a week after New Hampshire's Jan. 22 primary."
read it here
What was racist about that?
Posted by KlausCupcake
wetback is a racist term. and any time you use it in a statment your true nature shows thru.
Bolton’s Ways Foil Goals, Envoys Say
E-MailPrint Single Page Reprints Save
By WARREN HOGE
Published: July 23, 2006
UNITED NATIONS, July 22 — In recent months, as one international crisis followed another, John R. Bolton has fulfilled the role of the United Nations’ most influential ambassador at full strength, firmly articulating the position of the United States government regarding Iran, North Korea and the Middle East.
His performance won over at least one crucial critic, Senator George V. Voinovich, Republican of Ohio. Mr. Voinovich’s opposition a year ago forced Mr. Bolton to take the job as a presidential recess appointment, an arrangement that expires at the end of this Congress in January.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has scheduled a hearing this Thursday on Mr. Bolton’s renomination, and a floor vote could come in September. “My observations are that while Bolton is not perfect, he has demonstrated his ability, especially in recent months, to work with others and follow the president’s lead by working multilaterally,” Mr. Voinovich said in a Washington Post opinion article on Thursday in which he confirmed that he would vote for Mr. Bolton.
He said he was impressed by how Mr. Bolton, whom he had suspected of “go it alone” tendencies, frequently invoked “my instructions” from Washington.
Posted by PamB on July 22, 2006 at 08:51 PM
I quote from the NYT.
"The Bush administration is not popular at the United Nations, where it is often perceived as disdainful of diplomacy, and its policies as heedless of the effects on others and single-minded in the willful assertion of American interests. By extension, then, many diplomats say they see Mr. Bolton as a stand-in for the arrogance of the administration itself".
I have been speaking out in support of bush and cheney being indicted on charges of crimes against humanity and sent to the Hague to be tried as criminals. Could the UN be the body that could bring the indictment?
Wasn't it the UN that brought charges against the Milosovich and he has been on trial in the Hague for some time. In fact didn't he die in captivity recently.
,
JohnE, I think the UN did bring charges. The only problem here is how would the UN Get up the gumption to do it to Bush, and then how would the get Bush there. I would be happy if he were impeached and removed from office.
Hi dk2,
Yeah we will probably have to settle for impeachment. Nothing will be done until we get rid of this repug congress.
Arrested Bush dissenters eye courts
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- When school was canceled to accommodate a campaign visit by President Bush, the two 55-year-old teachers reckoned the time was ripe to voice their simmering discontent with the administration's policies.
"The ROE (rule of engagement) was to kill all military age males on Objective Murray," Staff Sgt. Raymond Girouard told investigators, referring to the target by its code name. That target, an island on a canal in the northern Salahuddin province, was believed to be an al-Qaida training camp.
Hmmm....I see someone likes to post signed notes from me.
evening all...
"The Bush administration is not popular at the United Nations, where it is often perceived as disdainful of diplomacy, and its policies as heedless of the effects on others and single-minded in the willful assertion of American interests. By extension, then, many diplomats say they see Mr. Bolton as a stand-in for the arrogance of the administration itself".
Johnedwrd,
interesting. just heard reported that rice heads to middle east to instruct isreal they have one week. the smart bombs ordered before this chaos will be expediated asap.
also, like the syrians and iranians arming the hezbollah...the US encouraging isreal and arming them too.
so the united nations has two waring factions and soverign countries aiding the conflict. unfortuantely, isreal will win the battle. hezbollah and syria have already won the hearts and minds of the evancuees...nearly 200,000 and counting.
Kristen,
"Four U.S. soldiers accused of murdering suspected insurgents during a raid in Iraq said they were under orders to "kill all military-age males,"
this will get very little air play here. rove-fox networks will weave it in for a 90 second soundbyte...overseas it'll be a 90 minute story. i cannot remember the time where this country has been so despised, even russia, china, and now parts of europe ignore us...or should i say ignore bush. the posts asking for his impeachment couldn't come soon enough. and if americans really got overseas news to balance rove-fox soundbytes, the troops would be home tomorrow, bush would be tried for war crimes, and isreal would be completely on its own.
Hey Kristen,
I was just reading Digby:
The Bush administration are monsters. That is not hyperbole. There can be no other explanation as to why the secretary of state, the person in charge of American diplomacy, would be so crude and stupid.
hi A1
another black eye? let me polish up my flag pin...
how have you been, buddy? been a while...
hey fade...doing fine. except the heat in the west is at records...outside today touched near 105, and inside this uninsulated older home...110. drinking a lot of sodas, water, and took 4 showers. the computer is like a warm plate and the seat is like a hot pad...yep, polish up that ol' pin. proudly fly ol' glory. say the pledge. and pray like hell they impeach that faith based moran playing president.
A1, here in the Seattle area we have been hovering around 97 most of the day and it was so humid earlier that it started to rain but it evaporated before it hit the ground.
jenny has a perfect global warming cartoon up on donkey o.d.
kristen,
i'd take the 97 and the evaporated rain. the sf bay area is seeing temps that i cannot recall... lived in this area for over 50 years and i cannot recall a week like this with temps pushing over 100... my daughter lives in the valley and dropped by today to tell me they saw 114. had a rug installed today, and the 3 installers had to take two breaks. so far, i've taken 4 showers...and pardon me while i leave for a moment to take #5...back in about 15 minutes.
Its time for all of the cupcakes to stop supporting stupidity!
My county was declared a disaster today. it was wonderful to have power restored.
peewee, i don't know who you are calling cupcakes, but i agree with the stop supporting stupidity part.
have a nice evening, everyone. i miss {{{dpd}}}
he always gave me a great big kiss when i needed one...here's one for you, darlin'
mmmmmmwwwwaaaaaaahhhhh! come home soon!!
Just the way Repugs like Cupcake, Brian111, Wap and Jag24 want it. You must be proud boys!
L.A. Area Going to Extremes, as the Middle-Class Disappears.
A growing body of research shows Los Angeles to be a region of extreme polarization, where rich and poor live in separate neighborhoods, surrounded by others like themselves.
Demographers at Wayne State University in Detroit recently found Greater Los Angeles to be the most economically segregated region in the country.
The trend parallels a well-documented loss of middle-income jobs in the United States over a generation. But the study found that middle-class neighborhoods are disappearing at a much faster rate than the comparable jobs.
Researchers attributed the faster pace to a kind of self-sorting. In other words, people are moving out of economically diverse neighborhoods to live in areas dominated by their own income group.
Los Angeles leads the trend.
LA Times
Los Angeles County "has more billionaires than any other part of the country. It's also the capital of the working poor," said Peter Dreier, chairman of the Urban and Environmental Policy Program at Occidental College.
That wasn't always the case. A generation ago, the region was a model for the post-World War II, middle-class lifestyle. High-wage manufacturing jobs were abundant, particularly in the aerospace industry. When the industry collapsed in the early 1990s, many middle-class residents left the region. In the meantime, large numbers of immigrants arrived seeking work.
kristen,
i'll take the 97 and my daughter can donate the 114. it's still 106 in the house and i'm on my 7th can of coca cola...i'd prefer cherry pepsi but no way going to the store in this heat.
fade,
"fast-moving, intense thunderstorm knocked out power - and water service - to tens of thousands of residents." hopefully you were not affected.
Only Mexicans that swim across the Rio Grande into Texas are "wetbacks". The ones who cross New Mexico, Arizona and Califorian are not. Like usual, Steve doesn't know what he's talking about.
Klaus, Steve, Sally*...who/what ever you call yourself you are a truely revolting creature. Regardless of what you are paid to prostitute yourself you degrade the scene around you with putrid dribble. You are the one bringing this to our site and you are much dispised.
Angelides Weighs In After the Fight Starts
SACRAMENTO — In his first six weeks as the Democratic candidate for governor, Phil Angelides has struggled to define a clear campaign message and been outspent and often outmaneuvered by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
This weekend, the state Democratic Party is launching a multimillion-dollar television ad campaign to reintroduce Angelides to voters. The party's opening ad contrasts Angelides with Schwarzenegger, calling the Democrat "a leader, not an actor."
A key goal of the new advertising, political observers say, is to repair damage already inflicted on Angelides by Schwarzenegger and state Controller Steve Westly, his opponent in the primary.
As the Democratic nominee in a heavily Democratic state, Angelides carries considerable advantages. The national political climate for Republicans is poor, with President Bush's conduct of the Iraq war a major drag on the party's standing with voters.
Also, polls show widespread distaste for officeholders in general, which could lead to a backlash against the incumbent governor. And Schwarzenegger has yet to fully recover from the political debacle suffered last year when he pursued an agenda that enraged Democrats and organized labor.
LA Times
domingo...
arnie is the lap pooch of bush. rove-cheney sent their henchmen to ca to campaign for arnie. they're using recycled westley ads to attack angelides. the bottom line, arnie's using the media to "act" like he's distancing himself from bush...except he's relying on rove-cheney henchmen...so arnie will stay very close... choke-chained leash.
suggest you check out the california demo web
they're using recycled westly ads to attack angelides.
I know they are. We had a thread over at Dailykos about that around a week ago. Westly is one of those stinkin DLCs who attack Democrats while hugging and kissing Republican butt, kindda like Joe Lieberman.
Bush not only had hurt us domestically he has single handedly destroyed us in the world view.
He may think his antics are cute, but other world leaders must look at him as a total bore, and unworthy of respect.
"Putin plan to shut out US oil giants"
President Vladimir Putin is set to keep US oil companies out of a lucrative gas field in the latest sign of the deteriorating relationship between Moscow and Washington.
The Russian leader is expected to favour Norwegian companies and reject bids by America's Chevron and ConocoPhillips after failing to secure backing from the United States for his country's attempt to join the World Trade Organisation."
"The tit-for-tat snub will be a blow to US companies scrambling for access to Russia's huge gas reserves at a time of high energy prices. It comes after Putin failed to resolve differences with US President George Bush over trade and human rights at the G8 conference in St Petersburg last week."
Read about Putin here
Charles Barkley: “I was a Republican - until they lost their minds”
domingo,
my question is since he lost to phil, is steve campaigning for arnie? yep, steve and joe act like the spoiled brats that play marbles and if they don't win, cry foul, pick up their marbles and leave the circle. that's the difference between the demos and the repubs. the repubs will support their own. the demos divide their own. play right into karl rove's playbook.
Another example of american corporate shanigans.
"Timing is the key for US firms investigated over bosses' share grants"
"It was the worst of times, it was the best of times. On 24 September 2001, less than two weeks after terrorists destroyed the World Trade Centre in New York, Stanley O'Neal, the president of Merrill Lynch, was awarded 750,000 bargain-priced stock options.
There was nothing unusual about one of Wall Street's biggest banks making share grants to reward and motivate executives. But what made this particular grant somewhat awkward was its timing. Markets were reeling, and Merrill's share price had been hit hard. The 9/11 attack had put its Manhattan headquarters out of action."
"For somebody receiving options, the lower the company's share price at the time of the grant the better, since his or her profit will be all the greater if the price rises in future. The market low of late September 2001 was just such a moment. Merrill's shares later rallied, and today O'Neal sits on a paper profit worth $5m more than it would have been if the grant had been awarded on 10 September, according to the Wall Street Journal"
Article here
"...world leaders must look at him as a total bore, and unworthy of respect."
dk2,
not surprised. recently china and cuba signed an oil exploration deal. russia and venezuela inked a jet deal. russia and china established new train and air routes. at the rate kingbush is going, the only trade partner we'll have is isreal...smart bombs included. not very smart.
This is for BobVAdem, brian111, Jag24, and Sally/Steve.
"They would've grown up to become terrorists anyway"
'm embarrassed. And disgusted.
Embarrassed and disgusted to know people (and even be related to people) that have taken this twisted point of view to justify the killing of innocent children in Iraq. Or innocent Palestinian children. Or any innocent children for that matter.
How does someone that otherwise can be so sane and rational turn to such a hateful, bigoted, racist person when it comes to this? How can anyone EVER justify killing innocent people, especially children? This is something that should be so basic, so fundamental to someone that once those eight words are uttered to me, the conversation is over and my view of these people (and unfortunately a good level of respect for people that I otherwise held in pretty high regard) is shot to shit.
And the worse thing about all this is that I have been seeing and hearing this line of crap way too many times lately.
Now, to step back from any discussion of who is right and who is not right, I think that no matter which side is doing the killing, it is inexcusable. This has nothing to do with "us or them". This has nothing to do with "pre-emptive strikes". This has nothing to do with "protecting America", "self-defense" or "spreading freedom and democracy".
Dailykos
is steve campaigning for arnie?
No, I don't think so. But he sure did hug and smuch him a lot during the Dem primary while he told vicious lies about his fellow Democrat.
Feinstein, Boxer Denounce Westly for Sludge Ad
The senators are angered by a TV spot that implies Angelides had a role in dumping of waste into Lake Tahoe. Westly says it's accurate.
SAN FRANCISCO — With a single day left in the vitriolic campaign for governor, Democrat-on-Democrat clashes broadened Sunday with the state's senior U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein angrily denouncing candidate Steve Westly as untrustworthy because of a television ad he has been running against competitor Phil Angelides.
Campaigning with Angelides here, Feinstein said the ad that implied he had participated in the dumping of sludge into Lake Tahoe was "dastardly" and "false."
"How could I ever trust someone who said that about this man?" she asked a union audience.
Fellow Sen. Barbara Boxer defended Angelides, the state treasurer, at the same event. "Those brutal ads against him are gross political attacks," she said. "Imagine portraying him as an enemy of the environment — it's outrageous."
LA Times
domingo,
then why doesn't steve come out and dis-a-vow those ads if twisted? or, is he still playing the sore loser? he should be out there advocating phil.
This is your party on Joe Lieberman. This is your party on DLC.
"I think his "lake tahoe" ad, will go into the political ad hall of shame, along with the likes of "willie horton."
Dear Caucus Members:
We've all been around politics for a long time, and we know that a lot of the ads that go on the air are the product of the campaign consultants, pollsters and media firms. But at the end of the day, candidates must approve the ads and stand behind them.
I have disliked the whole tone of the campaign for a while, but nothing has outraged me as much as Westly's new ad called Tahoe. It's text reads:
"Lake Tahoe. Where most see beauty, others see profit. In the late 1980's real estate developer Phil Angelides' real estate company invested in a condo project in Lake Tahoe.
"The developers soon ran afoul of the law. The Democratic Attorney General sued them for illegal dumping and dumping 1 million gallons of sludge in Lake Tahoe. Fines were paid but the damage remains.
"If the environment's important to you, shouldn't it be important to the next Governor?"
Here's the truth, documented by the Sac Bee, CLCV, Save the Coast and other groups who all looked into the allegations before they endorsed Phil.
In the late 1980's, Phil Angelides purchased 11% of a single condo in a 22-unit condo complex -- that bears repeating: an 11% share of 1 condo in a 22-unit complex -- via a real estate partnership. Angelides, in a partnership, owned what was basically a time share for use by his family in one unit!
Note that the Westly campaign says "the developers," not Phil Angelides. The truth is that the developer of the condo complex dredged a marina in the lake without the knowledge of the condo owners. Phil's company was never a developer of this complex.
The lawsuit named every single homeowner in the condo complex, as lawsuits are wont to do. Like every other homeowner in the complex, the partnership that included Phil Angelides was a victim of the developer. As soon as the partnership's lawyer learned what was going on, the partnership sued the developer. Phil Angelides never paid a fine in the case.
Phil Angelides is endorsed by the Sierra Club, the California League of Conservation Voters, Vote the Coast, Clean Water Action, the Environmental Caucus of the California Democratic Party and more than 70 leading environmentalists because of his lifetime commitment to the environment, his record as State Treasurer and his vow to be the 'greenest Governor in state history.'
To get the true story behind the other anti-Angelides environmental ads, please visit http://www.votethecoast.org/
domingo,
phil is very friendly to environmental issues...the question is if steve is playing sore loser thus indirectly giving support to arnold? like the where's "waldo"... where's steve?
I don't know where Steve is. He can go to hell as far as I'm conserned, and he can take Joe Lieberman with him. The two of them are problably sitting there hoping the Republicans win.
domingo,
if the demos lose the govenorship in ca and the senate seat in ct, then all hell will break loose on two turncoats. unfortuantely, this is exactly what rove is planning. divide and conquer the demos.
heading to the shower for #6. temp here is still 104 in my computer room.
What they need to do is get Bush to get Cheney to stop this global warming $#!t, and it's over!
Shia workers shot dead in Iraq. Full story . . .
2 Canadian soldiers killed, 8 wounded in Afghanistan. Full story:
http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2006/07/22/soldiers.html
It is far past time for the West to take action against Israeli crimes against humanity. What Israel is doing to Palestinians and Lebanese is the same as what fascist dictator Milosevic did in Kosovo and Bosnia. Finally, NAT0 had to bomb him into submission because force was the only thing he understood.
The same is true of Israel. The only way to stop Israeli war crimes is to destroy its war machine. NATO should bomb Israel for the same reasons that it bombed Serbia. Then the Israeli war criminals should be arrested and sent to the War Crimes Tribunal to be judged.
Here is some of the evidence to be used against them,
http://www.fromisraeltolebanon.info/
It takes a long time to load, so be patient.
Posted by bernarda on July 23, 2006 at 05:01 AM
bush and cheney are standing alone with Israel in these atrocities. bush is even making good on a weapons contract. bush is sending them a large supply of laser guided bombs so they can continue to kill Lebanese people.
On Monday, July 23, 2006, bush and cheney must be charged by the UN with crimes against humanity and sent to the Hague for trial as war criminals along with the leaders of Israel.
bush and cheney's unacceptable behavior must stop. These arrogant SOB's are plunging us into a World War.
Posted by bernarda on July 23, 2006 at 05:01 AM
I am totally ashamed of Israel. These people are doing the same things to humanity that the Nazis did to humanity between 1939 and 1945. They have very short memories. Of course, a large number of the people who were alive during the Holocaust are dead and the memory is fading.
Today I am totally ashamed of the United States. I never thought I would see the day that my America would treat people like shit. Led by that asshole bush and that asshole cheney, we have lost our direction and values. The fundies have seen to that. Where are their values when they kill children. bush talks of saving lives by not allowing the use of stem cells. bush and cheney MUST be impeached and sent to the Hague NOW!!!!!!!!!!!
cheney probably supports bush in the stem cell debate. He needs fodder for his skeet shooting.
As we pray this morning for a more peaceful and enlightened world, let us all remember that we cannot fight darkness with darkness.
I sit in my office this Sunday morning witnessing another spectacular Sunrise.
May the light of the sun shine brightly on all of you and bring us all the peace and tranquility the world desperately needs. Amen.
Good Morning,
Is anyone up and blogging this morning?
Morning, Dems. Sunday lineup from Kos. And, these c-span numbers are just in time!!
CNN: Perhaps the strangest booking, ever - Isaac Herzog: Israeli tourism Minister (no joke).
Building architect and Chicken Hawk, John Bolton. Dick Lugar tap dances as Chris Dodd winces. Then, the comedy duo of Jane Harman and Creedmore Hoekstra (R-Bellevue).
Surely, they'll invite someone to represent Lebanon, won't they ?
And don't call me, Surely !
Meet the Press: Russert kicks off the fall campaign with General Secretary, Josh Bolton.
Next up: get this - WaPo's "Senior Pentagon Reporter Tom Ricks will unveil his new book, `Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq.'"
Now that's FUNNY !!
Wow! It only took him 3 and half years to buy a clue! Ahhh, the MSM, always light years behind the curve. And he's their SENIOR reporter - Geez@!
To make things worst, the title suggests he blames the military and not Cheney, Bush, and Rumsfeld. Now, a case can be made that the senior leadership should of resigned. Fine. But what the supine-cheerleading press.
Look in the mirror, Ricks.
And yes, - ONCE AGAIN - Tim didn't invite any Democrats. I understand, after all, it's an election year.
Face the Nation: The Syrian and Israeli Ambassadors. Gee, ya think they would invite someone from Lebanon.
David Ignatius has Europe's take on the Creep's Grope and the other "Shit."
Newt Gingrich: Evel Newt [sic] continues his national tour - "Scaring Out da Religious Right to Vote with Armageddon Talk."
He'll materialize on C-SPAN #1 at 8:00 AM Eastern time.
Call-In Numbers
Support Democrats:
(202) 737-0002
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(202) 737-0001
Support Independents:
(202) 628-0205
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(202) 628-0184
Email:
journal@c-span.org
Please, Please, use any number you can. That's what they do.
Road to the White House: Breakfast with Biden. Joe Biden cooks pancakes, eggs, and politics for his Manchester fans.
Fox-holes: Corrupt-Sleaze, Denny Hastert. He'll explain why Bush and Cheney must enforce every law, not just the ones they use to grab power.
Finally, John Bolton and Geraldo compare their Combat records.
Not-This Week: Golf swings a preempted putt.
Hi Cyn_NY ,
I thought about you this morning.So, you're not withought power I see.Or,you have a wireless laptop?
good morning, everyone
thanx for the lineup, Cyn. feels like old times.
julio--amen
Morning, Freedom. We do have power at the lake. However, my hometown got hit again with flooding - not nearly as bad as last time, but with the elderly population, it's very hard.
Morning, Fade. I miss the morning crew. Any DPD news?
morning fade, fos, cyn, julio, john....more awful carnage in iraq. seems like this has been going on forever.
From Democrats & Liberals:
The Republican Culture of Blame
Republicans. What can you say about Republicans? If nothing else, they are fascinating to watch. It’s like watching a dog chase it’s tail. Always trying to squirm out of a difficult situation. Always contradicting themselves. Always trying to blame their failures on somebody else.
morning gregg...enough already! this violence is not the answer
nothing new about DPD...
Hi gregg,
The USA/Iraq War has been going on far too long.I hear 100 Iraqi's hare being killed per day.That's frightening and embarrassing at the same time.
Hi gregg,
The USA/Iraq War has been going on far too long.I hear 100 Iraqi's are being killed per day.That's frightening and embarrassing at the same time.
an interesting analysis of our adventure in iraq:
In Iraq, Military Forgot Lessons of Vietnam
Early Missteps by U.S. Left Troops Unprepared for Guerrilla Warfare
By Thomas E. Ricks
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, July 23, 2006; Page A01
The real war in Iraq -- the one to determine the future of the country -- began on Aug. 7, 2003, when a car bomb exploded outside the Jordanian Embassy, killing 11 and wounding more than 50.
That bombing came almost exactly four months after the U.S. military thought it had prevailed in Iraq, and it launched the insurgency, the bloody and protracted struggle with guerrilla fighters that has tied the United States down to this day.
There is some evidence that Saddam Hussein's government knew it couldn't win a conventional war, and some captured documents indicate that it may have intended some sort of rear-guard campaign of subversion against occupation. The stockpiling of weapons, distribution of arms caches, the revolutionary roots of the Baathist Party, and the movement of money and people to Syria either before or during the war all indicate some planning for an insurgency.
But there is also strong evidence, based on a review of thousands of military documents and hundreds of interviews with military personnel, that the U.S. approach to pacifying Iraq in the months after the collapse of Hussein helped spur the insurgency and made it bigger and stronger than it might have been.
The very setup of the U.S. presence in Iraq undercut the mission. The chain of command was hazy, with no one individual in charge of the overall American effort in Iraq, a structure that led to frequent clashes between military and civilian officials.
On May 16, 2003, L. Paul Bremer III, the chief of the Coalition Provisional Authority, the U.S.-run occupation agency, had issued his first order, "De-Baathification of Iraq Society." The CIA station chief in Baghdad had argued vehemently against the radical move, contending: "By nightfall, you'll have driven 30,000 to 50,000 Baathists underground. And in six months, you'll really regret this."
vietnam/iraq analysis
Posted by gregg on July 23, 2006 at 08:34 AM
Interesting read.Hey,do you think that Bush is going to bring the Troops home while America is distracted by the Israeli/Hezbollah War just in time for November Elections?
FoS: do you work every weekend? has it been unseasonably warm in the bay of green?
MilitantDem, good morning
John, did you watch the images bernarda posted?
i imagine bush would like to bring a bunch of troops home to help his party with the elections but the reality of what is going on in iraq seems to make it unlikely.
and ya know fos this particular disaster has burned for so long it may be too late for him to turn in around in few months in terms of perception no matter what he does. i think if all those soldiers and their families got very lucky and they were all home tomorrow thru some miracle the republicans will still have to pay for bush's idiotic attempt at nation building.
Hi All,
I must have dozed off. The sun finally came up. My dog woke me up at 0400 again. I thought I was going to sleep in this morning.
Did you see the pictures Posted by bernarda on July 23, 2006 at 05:01 AM
bush and cheney are disgusting by not supporting the world in stopping the killing of children in Lebanon.
Republicans are losing doners as their conservative base support melts like butter.
The tables were loaded with untouched platters of food as Senator Elizabeth Dole rose this week to introduce her party's Senate candidate from Nebraska. Sixty people were supposed to be at the fund-raiser, but Mrs. Dole, the host and leader of the Republican effort to hold the Senate this fall, found just 18 people scattered across an expanse of empty carpet.
Mrs. Dole has been a nearly unstoppable star for 25 years: the secretary of both transportation and labor, the head of the Red Cross and a popular senator from North Carolina, never mind the wife of Bob Dole, the former Senate majority leader and Republican presidential candidate.
It's okay Republicans, this time, just stay at home.Let your voice be heard by.....um....um.....Oh, a "silent protest".Yeah, that's what...we democrats are gonna do too (wink wink to the dems) so yeah,you republicans stay at home this time okay and the it will really teach those Leaders of yours a lesson.
Stay at home.
Stay at home.
Stay at home.
Stay at home.
Posted by fade2bluz on July 23, 2006 at 08:42 AM
Yes. That's what got my blood boiling this morning. More pictures for bush and chenry's photo album.
They Don't Call It the White House for Nothing
By Greg Palast, GregPalast.com. Posted July 22, 2006.
The NAACP never expected much from George Bush, and his speech at its convention did nothing to change that.
God lost this time. I counted: Bush mentioned God only six times in his speech to the NAACP yesterday. The winner was "faith" -- which got seven mentions, though if you count "The Creator" as God, well, then the Lord tied it.
Coming in right behind God and Faith, other big mentions in the First Home Boy's rap included: The Voting Rights Act, his family's "commitment to civil rights," the "death tax," rebuilding New Orleans, "public school choice" and "soft bigotry."
As the philosopher Aretha Franklin once said, "Who's zoomin' who?"
Posted by FreedomOfSpeechForProgressiveMajority on July 23, 2006 at 08:47 AM
Freedom, that's wonderful news!!
Always contradicting themselves. Always trying to blame their failures on somebody else.
Posted by Cyn_NY on July 23, 2006 at 08:28 AM
Enough is enough. Their failures are killing children everywhere in the world. When are these fools going to be brought to justice? They must think the world is a giant video game that they can play in their drug muddled existence.
Enough is enough.
Bring them home for the election, well maybe a few. but i believe the repugs will use the boys kissing ( gay marriage) and ism to say that their the party to vote for. oh and lets not forget flag burning its always good for a vote or two. I just don't see them changing plans when we haven't beat them yet.I would like to see my Dems blaze a new path and leave the repugs alone. lets win on our merits not the repugs shortcomings.just an idea..
Wow!
RFK Jr. Blows the Whistle on Diebold
By John Ireland, In These Times. Posted July 21, 2006.
The environmental lawyer-turned voting-rights advocate has found Diebold employees who may link the company to election fraud.
On July 13, the Pensacola, Fla.-based law firm of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. filed a "qui tam" lawsuit in U.S. District Court, alleging that Diebold and other electronic voting machine (EVM) companies fraudulently represented to state election boards and the federal government that their products were "unhackable."
Kennedy claims to have witnesses "centrally located, deep within the corporations," who will confirm that company officials withheld their knowledge of problems with accuracy, reliability and security of EVMs in order to procure government contracts. Since going into service, many of these machines have been linked to allegations of election fraud.
federally funded stem cell research. 400,000 unused embryos stitting in liquid nitrogen that no one wants to have implanted in their womb...oh wait 128 have been used to create 128 children who i guess will be voting for jenna bush some day...eeeekkkkkkk!
anyhow these are facts to pound into the american public's "idol" saturated brains over and over again. and the song is catching on. i figured out years ago that it would be hard to find a family that didn't have someone in it who could potentially benefit from such research.
if a handful of senate and a cluster of house seats could flip bush's veto could get an overide. this fact needs to be exploited for all it is worth.
jonathan alter of newsweek does a nice job of painting the picture for america:
It Was the Veto Of a Lifetime
Once the 'pro-cure' movement clarifies and penetrates, it will be hard to stand firm against saving the lives of your constituents.
By Jonathan Alter
Newsweek
July 31, 2006 issue - July 19, 2006, was a dark day for anyone who, like me, has experienced life-threatening illness. President Bush's veto of a modest bill that would have merely allowed surplus embryos from fertility clinics to be used for pathbreaking research instead of tossed in the garbage is more than a political blunder. And for those with a friend or relative who is sick—in other words, almost everyone—it is more than an abstraction. By slowing cures for several major diseases, this decision may well doom thousands to die prematurely. It contradicts the whole idea of what it means to be "pro-life."
To get the politics out of the way first: with the veto-override attempt failing, this was a big week for the Democrats, as many GOP consultants have publicly admitted. At least some of the 193 House members and 37 senators who voted against the bill—almost all of them Republicans—may well lose their seats on this issue, if not this November then in 2008 or 2010. Once the "pro-cure" movement clarifies and penetrates, it will be awfully hard to stand firm against saving the lives of your constituents. More immediately, embryonic-stem-cell research splits the GOP down the middle, with many in the party who oppose abortion (like Sens. John McCain, Orrin Hatch and Bill Frist) supporting it.
Because this was Bush's first veto—itself a newsworthy event—he found it harder to ignore the obvious questions: If destroying an embryo is "murder"—the Bush position, according to his spokesman—how can he support the existence of fertility clinics, which routinely throw out thousands of surplus embryos? His answer lay in last week's photo op, where he surrounded himself with cute babies "adopted" from these embryos. How many such "snowflake" babies are there? Despite federal funding and intense outreach, only 128 of 400,000 frozen embryos (.032 percent) have been adopted, says Sen. Arlen Specter. It turns out that couples using the clinics overwhelmingly prefer to donate their surplus embryos to science, while couples looking to adopt prefer babies already born who need homes, a large constituency of extremely needy children Bush seems to have put in second place.
beat">http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13989890/site/newsweek/">beat the drum on this one
John, that's what i thought...just checkin'
Cyn: Greg Palast appeared at an African American book tour, promoting his book and talking about the election fraud in 2000 and 2004. He discussed the dangers of "voting while black" in the last two elections.
aretha said it best! and one of the panelists said that the "faith based initiative" was a wink to black churches.
will it be possible to roll back all this nutso doublespeak they've inflicted on us?
no democrats on timmy's show...how appropos! why pretend?
I saw snips of that speech and he moved me.He really moved me as a Black American woman to respond in song,that's how much his words moved me.
Here
and there was a visitor here last nite who wants to help democrats by encouraging us not to dump old connecticut joe.
here is the point, we are tired of two faced folks who do not feel the same disgust and horror at what the republicans are doing to our country from iraq to the supreme court to global warming to school vouchers and on and on...if we can take one of these nervous nellies and drive him out and replace him with someone who will pick up the torch and act in the interests of our children and grandchildren then a message goes out from yes i will say it ...from the LEFT to WAKE THE F_ _ _ UP!!!!!! this is not a rehersal....this is our goddam lives.
Here is an interesting comment from Richard Cohen in the Washington Post. It is quite a bit different than their usual line.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/17/AR2006071701154.html
"The greatest mistake Israel could make at the moment is to forget that Israel itself is a mistake. It is an honest mistake, a well-intentioned mistake, a mistake for which no one is culpable, but the idea of creating a nation of European Jews in an area of Arab Muslims (and some Christians) has produced a century of warfare and terrorism of the sort we are seeing now. Israel fights Hezbollah in the north and Hamas in the south, but its most formidable enemy is history itself."
He continues to support Israel, though not its present policy. It is nice to see a bit of clear speaking for a change though.
Cyn:
Mike Papantonio was on Mike Malloy's show:
Pap excoriated the DNC, "the indolent Democrats and the lazy media," for not participating in any of this, and decried the fact that he and RFK Jr. were essentially forced to take action on their own, given the Dems' failure to do anything.
He also spoke of the voting machine "sleepovers" about which we've been reporting here in detail of late. As well, he had several kind words for this website and several other election integrity groups. "Unless you had these organizations out there like Black Box Voting or BRAD BLOG, people like that, paying attention to this, this wouldn't even be on the radar screen," he said.
You can listen to the entire segment in full right here:
– Mike Papantonio on the Mike Malloy Show, 7/12/06 [MP3]
(Thanks to Ring of Fire producer Scott Millican for the heads-up and for the smartly edited, commercial-free audio file!)
Wow, Fade, thanks for the link! You are a wealth of knowledge, girl.
Freedom, great song!
Posted by Cyn_NY
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thank You.I'm glad you liked it.He He.I shoud e-mail it to the White House.Yeah?
Email it to the "White" House and belt it out on every street corner! I think you may have a hit on your hands.
Morning, Paul.
Off to get ready for my youngest daughter's family picnic. She livess in the country on 11 acres of land with horses, chickens, ducks rabbits and, of course, my grandkids. Hope the rain doesn't spoil the day.
gregg,
You think a blogger trying to encourage us to not dump Joe L. was bad, get this.I'm watching CSpan 2 's Harlem Book Club.It was a Black American Panel discussing issues we face yadda yadda yadda, but one session was on the stolen election and did you know, we had an Uncle Tom up there who said if we want to hold the Democratic Party accountable for "pissing off" the Black Community all the time when they ignore the fact that we make up 25% of the entire Party and we are the ones who put them in office ect,and if we don't want the Black Vote continually stolen by Republicans,we should just "vote Republican".Of course, he was laughed at and I know he was embarrassed when the JEWISH American Panel member literally yelled at him and basically told him he was a fool for even suggesting that the way we hold our Democratic Leadership accountable is to vote Republican.We'd rather start a new Party of like Blacks,Latino's and Jews before we vote Republican.I'm telling you, right wingers have lauched an all out attack on the Democratic party trying to scoop up voters.They sneak in to our disscissions,our blogs,they are desparate.
Woah, di the Rapture come? All posts just stopped.
bbl.I'm going to "Huff-N-Kos"
i am betting the african american community gives the republicans about 7% in november. methinks having the charming history it has had here in america ( including most recently katrina ) gives it a collective jaundiced eye towards folks selling self shinning shoes....i am a bit more worried about working class ethnic whites from which i have sprung ( or is it sprang ) who too often seem to be bewitched by chickenhawks talking shit...).
gregg,
The woking class ethnic Whites are also being disenfranchized at the polls.If they live in a Hispanic or Black ....ore Democratic Leaning area,they get screwed right along with the rest of the people.The study on that Stolen Election found it to be true as well.
Please go to this site and support the following petition:
http://www.numbersusa.org/
Immigration Reduction Petition to Your Political Party Leader
To Howard Dean and/or Ken Mehlman
Please Support Lower Immigration Immediately
It's time to reduce immigration and secure our borders.
ANNUAL immigration has QUADRUPLED and will drive U.S. population to 300 million this year.
Yet, national political party leaders like you are working to INCREASE immigration numbers to even HIGHER levels.
We already have nearly FIFTY MILLION foreign workers and dependents crowded into U.S. communities.
Americans overwhelmingly want less immigration, but you haven't gotten the message. How can you be so out of step with the rest of America?
Americans like immigration —but only in numbers that don't overwhelm our communities.
Good Morning Dems.
I don't have a lot of time to chat because I'm busy studying for the Bar Exam. Someone asked about Larry Johnson yesterday. I think it was PeppermintLizzy who quoted Larry Johnson yesterday evening. Lizzy, Did you mean Larry C. Johnson, the former Deputy Director in the U.S. State Department's Office of Counter Terrorism during Bush 41's (George H Bush's) Administration?
Here is a link:
http://www.berg-associates.com/larryc.htm
The following is the text from Lizzy's post yesterday evening
From Larry Johnson:
Israel's latest offensive to root out and destroy Hezbollah probably will fail and in the process will ignite a new round of international terrorist attacks that will put the United State squarely in the crosshairs. It is as if we are watching a plane crash in slow motion. We see the plane hurtling towards the earth, our mouths agape in a silent scream. We know it will explode on impact and can do nothing but watch.
[...]
Although Hezbollah uses terrorism as a tactic, it is not primarily a terrorist organization. It has evolved over the years into a genuine political movement and conventional military force. This is a reality we can ignore at our peril. If we choose to view Hezbollah strictly as a terrorist threat then we convince ourselves that we have only one option--fight. But understand this--if we fight Hezbollah we will unleash a new war front that we are not prepared to pursue. At a minimum we can expect to face the fury of Shia militias attacking our troops and personnel in Iraq.
----------------------------------------------
I'm not sure where Lizzy found the quote, and I confess, I don't currently have the expertise to agree or disagree with the language quoted, but I think that's the person she was quoting. Although I'm not positive...
You know, I welcome dissent and debate with regards to important issues. When Republicans come on this site, I welcome the opportunity to engage in candid discussion regarding the main issues facing the country. I relish the opportunity to debate with them with regards to problems their policies have failed to address.
For example, the need for alternative energy for economic/national security, the yearly decline in real wages, the Iraq War, The War in the Middle East, Iran, North Korea, Unauthorized Wiretapping in flagrant violation of the U.S. Constitution, flawed trade policies with China, troubling developments in Russia, lack of port security, lack of border security, poor disaster response, political corruption, ect.
But you know what is irritating? It's irritating when both nationally and on this website, they try to redirect the discussion by either using racist/inappropriate language, OR by targeting various groups of minorities and blaming them for the pathetic results of their flawed policies.
Now to be fair, some Republicans are not engaging in this sort of egregious behavior.
For example, William Buckley, one of the founders of the modern conservative movement, recently questioned the administration in power. Rather than attack minority groups which are not in power and have not been in control of the government, at least recently, Mr. Buckley has elected instead to question President Bush. He admits that all is not well, and places responsibility on those who are responsible. In other words, he places responsibility on those who hold the strings of power in this country. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/07/22/eveningnews/main1826838.shtml
We can quibble about how we ought to address the problems facing this country, but let us not use racist terms to place blame on various minorities who do not hold the reigns of power. If people are breaking the law and the party in power is unhappy about it, let the party in power act to fix the problem. If the party with 55 Senate Seats, 230+ house seats, and the presidency genuinely has the will to do something about it, they can act to enforce or change the law.
In the mean time, I think there are many other more important issues this country should address. Issues such as those listed within my post. Let's not get sidetracked.
the last half of my post was in reference to some of yesterday evening's posts.
if God created everything does that include evolution?
things that make you go hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Kev, Let me tell you that after almost 3 years of blogging here, ANY Republican who has ever come in to this site, does not want to 'debate' issues! No, they want to plant their hatred of America and liberals and their very psycotic ideas of what we all should be supporting. They would rather see this country destroyed with illegal invasions and bankruptcy, than World Peace and prosperity for all.
Only those persons (who just happen to vote Republican) that feel a need to spew vile and vicious posts come here.
Some people are so much in need to belong to a group that they will let partisan politics supersede the interests of our nation.
Serial killers loose in Arizona
Police hunt for two serial killers blamed for 11 murders, dozens of shootings. (7/21)
Kev,
Want to tell you that I have enjoyed reading your posts and think that you are diffenately and positive addition to the DNC blog.
You have commented on studying for the bar and i wanted to invite you to a local NC (where are you?) blog where the owner of the site and another member are also studying for the bar. the site is bluenc.com....our main concern, of course, is North Carolina. However, it's always good to have an outside voice in the fray.
Please feel free to stop by anytime and leave your "word of wisdom"...they WILL be appreciated!
PS...all NCers are welcomed and anyone else interested please stop in!
Good Morning {{{Gregg - JohnEdwards-dk2-FOS-Essy-Fade and anyone else i missed}}}}}
I'm beginning to think it doesn't much matter if there is federal funding of embryonic stem cell research or not.
Any product or service that shows such potential for healthcare can probably get all kinds of private funding. Look at prescription meds - as soon as something with promise comes along, all kinds of big investors are attracted to the company and stock prices soar as investment dollars flow in. For instance, biotech companies in the 90's.
If R&D shows actual results, the money will flow. If results don't pan out, the money will go elsewhere. Say a company like Biogen developed a Parkinson's treatment that looked promising from stem cells. Money would be there in a minute.
Investors are always looking for the next big thing.
I haven't been coming here as long as most of you, but I agree that there is a problem when people value the party more than the good of the country. Things are not well globally or domestically. I wish the people in power would question their policies rather than engage in slanderous attacks against those who are not in power.
It takes courage and strength to question one's own beliefs and policies. Accordingly, I have a lot of respect for the few Republicans that speak out and question the administration and the legislature. However, I do not have respect for those who would plaster racist comments on this website in an attempt to distract us from their own failed policies.
Part of good leadership is taking responsibility for one's own actions. Unfortunately, the current party in power has shown that it is not willing to take responsibility. We have not seen such willingness to accept responsibility from this administration. We have not seen it from this legislature. Furthermore, we're not seeing it from many Republican voters who come on this website. Sometimes in order to improve our policies, we need to contemplate that our pre-conceived notions were erroneous. We need to contemplate the possibility that our policies and our beliefs were wrong, or at least not entirely accurate. This exercise helps lead to healthy change. Too many people in the GOP are no longer willing to engage in this sort of exercise.
Look on this website, a day after a healthy debate in which one Republican was confronted with facts, he ignored the facts and responded with racist comments.
They can protest and make racist comments all they want.
The fact remains, that if one's policies are not leading to favorable results, one is obliged to change those policies so as to achieve a more favorable outcome. An unwillingness to do so will eventually lead to loss of power in a democracy. To the GOP: Keep questioning this, and see what happens...
"There's an incredible amount of research and a very large sum of venture capital and private investment going into the field," says Dr. Amit Patel, a cardiac surgeon and director of Cardiac Cell Therapy at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Patel has been called by venture capital firms to consult on potential investments. Bush's veto of the stem cell bill on Wednesday "may slow down embryonic stem cell research" adds Patel, but he's optimistic that research will continue nonetheless with private funding. Adult stem cell research will be unaffected.
OK .. where is the outrage against our blind support of Israel? Of course, Israel is an ally of ours and we need to be unified in our fight against terrorism. But why do both political parties embrace a military response to these actions.
Is there no peace party that is looking to put significant pressure on Israel as well as Hizbullah?
Why is it that I find myself agreeing with Pat Buchanan? Am I an anti-semitic lunatic too?
How many innocent arabian lives are worth one western european life?
As a citizen that does not support this president, I can fully empathize with those in that region that are held hostage by facist governments and radical secular movements.
As a people we should realize this and not support the murder of innocents!! Why does the democratic party not step up and take this president and his political strategy of global war on!!??
going to have temporarily run,
but I'll check back later today...
kraka40 -
How do you 'put pressure' on a group like Hezbollah whose stated aim is to wipe Israel off the face of the map? Where's the good-faith negotiation?
Posted by fade2bluz on July 22, 2006 at 05:30 PM
The answer to that would be fairly obvious, it seems to me, to anyone who's read Michael Moore's "Stupid White Men." The Clintons may have started out as real liberals during the 60's, but they eventually lost their way and became Reagan-style "Democrats," just like Lieberman. Sure, they supported universal healthcare, FMLA, and and end to the one-time limit for exempting profits from the sale of a primary residence from taxation, but Nafta and the cruel "end to welfare as we know it" are just two of many examples of their out-Republicaning Republicans. Moore called Bill Clinton "The Best Republican President We've Ever Had."
Re: my 10:54 post -- on the other hand it's also possible to have too much dissent within a party, hopefully that won't happen to us in November.
I don't think it will, if we remain focused on the most important issues facing the country. Issues on which we have different ideas from those expressed by the GOP that could improve the country (alternative fuel research, balanced budgets, tougher trade policies, respectful (but firm) policies toward the rest of the world in lieu of the 'cowboy' diplomacy that has emboldened our enemies)
I'm not sure where Lizzy found the quote
Kev, if you bothered to look above the quote box you would have found the link.
And if you followed that link, you would have found Larry Johnson's bio right next to his name.
Follow the links...that is what they are there for.
Lizzy,
woa, I didn't mean to irritate you. I'm new to blogging. Okay, I'll follow the links. Another blogger acted like Larry Johnson was a nobody, and I didn't notice the link, so I was trying to help. I should have known, given the blogger that questioned you, that you had backed up your statements within your post and the person who questioned you simply ignored your link. I'll be more careful to look next time ;-)
The Clintons may have started out as real liberals during the 60's, but they eventually lost their way and became Reagan-style "Democrats," just like Lieberman
Hi 60srad,
I believe the Clintons are Ultimate Politicians. When Republicans took control of congress during his reign, Bill only too quickly switched many of his ideals to the Right. Hillary out there now, walking a tightrope of trying to keep both sides of the aisle happy so she can get votes. She says she will back whichever CT Dem wins the Primary, yet her husband will be here tomorrow stumping for Lieberman.(I am sure with her blessing, because Gawd knows how bad Lieberman's loss is going to make HER look with her support on the Invasion)
I still say though, that the Clinton years in office were the most prosperous and peaceful that this country ever had. Searching for PEACE in the world, instead of out trying to intimidate with fear !
Sorry Kev. Not irritated at all. You were right in your post about who Larry Johnson was and I should have stated that.
and blog away Sir. The DNC needs ya!
"I'm beginning to think it doesn't much matter if there is federal funding of embryonic stem cell research or not.
Any product or service that shows such potential for healthcare can probably get all kinds of private funding. Look at prescription meds - as soon as something with promise comes along, all kinds of big investors are attracted to the company and stock prices soar as investment dollars flow in. For instance, biotech companies in the 90's.
If R&D shows actual results, the money will flow. If results don't pan out, the money will go elsewhere. Say a company like Biogen developed a Parkinson's treatment that looked promising from stem cells. Money would be there in a minute.
Investors are always looking for the next big thing.
Posted by pear on July 23, 2006 at 10:49 AM"
You may be right. What I do not know is how much research funding for our universities comes from the government or from private corporations. I certainly don't think our tax dollars should pay for every discovery and then hand it over to some private company. I think we should only give tax breaks to corporations who have so much money set aside in the budget for research. But I do know we fund alot of grants in higher education. I just don't know if that's where most of their research dollars come from.
For Jen and Chuck,
Good News for Ohio
Democrat Ted Strickland has surged to a surprising lead of 20 percentage points in the first Dispatch Poll on Ohio's Nov. 7 race for governor.
Meanwhile, Democrat Sherrod Brown holds an 8-point edge in his bid to unseat two-term Republican Sen. Mike DeWine.
PamB
Yes. The Clinton years were, for the most part, wonderful. I remember the 2000 New Years Eve celebration. There was so much hope in the world. America was eagerly anticipating the future. We were anticipating an unprecedented opportunity to confront and combat the problems facing the U.S. and the world. Fitting given his 1992 speech at the Democratic Convention. He fulfilled his promise. He helped bring the world to a place called hope. Interesting how far we've strayed from that place in the last 5-6 years isn't it? Now America, instead of eagerly awaiting its future, America is dreading it.
Not to worry though. Clinton faced an ugly array of problems when he took office, and those problems were dealt with. Therefore, I am still hopeful that whoever replaces Bush will restore hope and clean up this mess.
Sorry if this seems a bit off topic, but I'm still hearing people say that life and the universe are too complicated to have come about by chance. If you happen to be one of these folks, I invite you to learn about fractals and the simple interaction of only a small number of variables that creates them. I'd do the link thing but I still haven't got it right yet, so here's a url to check out....http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~wwu/fractals/fractals.html...prepare yourself to be awwed.
Boiler Man
Good morning, all.
Leave stem cell research to the multinationalists? By all means. And find out just how fast that means only those with enough income to pay for the expensive resulting "products" will benefit from it.
Besides, if this is such a "dangerous" area, shouldn't the government be in charge of regulating it?
I don't consider health care a commodity; it's a profession. But then I consider government to be a public service not a business.
My thinking may be old fashioned in this irresponsible neocon era, but there is a budding populist movement that also thinks this way. Those in power may slow its progress, but they can't stop the changes it will bring to the political landscape in its wake.
I saw the shear force of nature at work this week. It makes me even more confident that I'm right. You can't stop what you don't understand. And the Republicans can't understand anything not of their own creation. They will be swept away by their own arrogance.
An interesting article I found with regards to the economy now versus the economy in the 1990's
It contains some useful information.
Lebanon posed no threat to Israel's security. The comical Katyusha rockets may have killed a handful of Israelis (which is regrettable) but their military value is nil. Once they are fired, no one knows where they will land. Yesterday an errant Katyusha killed 2 Palestinians in Nazareth. Was that part of Nasrallah's plan?
There's no comparison between Hezbollah's glorified fireworks and the high-tech, laser-guided, state-of-the-art weaponry wielded by the Israeli war machine. Lebanon is a case-study of the lethal efficiency of modern WMD and their astonishing ability to reduce a bustling metropolis into Dresden-like wreckage in a matter of days. It is truly an incalculable disaster.
****
I don't believe for a moment that Bush and his "mistress" Condi are at all committed to peace. This is just the neocons going wild giving Israel the green light to do whatever they want.
What Hezbollah did is wrong but the Israel response is much worst. Welcome to Israel's Iraq. They will live with the consequences of this for decades.
Juan Cole writes:
Sunday, July 23, 2006
War on Lebanon Planned for at least a Year
Bush Administration's Grand Strategy
http://www.juancole.com/
Informed Comment
Matthew Kalman reveals that Israel's wideranging assault on Lebanon has been planned in a general way for years, and a specific plan has been in the works for over a year. The "Three Week War" was shown to think tanks and officials last year on powerpoint by a senior Israeli army officer:
"More than a year ago, a senior Israeli army officer began giving PowerPoint presentations, on an off-the-record basis, to U.S. and other diplomats, journalists and think tanks, setting out the plan for the current operation in revealing detail."
***
The neocons and their Israeli allies have been planning this for a long time. The American neocons hope to build this into a war against Syria and Iran. The insanity knows no limits in the Middle East.
So the Middle East is all about taking sides to the Republicans? Not about finding a solution that all can live with in peace?
The Bush Doctrine didn't work in Iraq and it won't work in Lebanon or Palestine. You can't make people change their minds or hearts with force.
Leave stem cell research to the multinationalists? By all means. And find out just how fast that means only those with enough income to pay for the expensive resulting "products" will benefit from it.
****
By catering to the relgious right, the American Taliban, Bush has ensured that serious stem cell research will move overseas. Yet another industry that America has allowed to outsource. What will Americans work on in the future? The prospects are grim. Hamburger technician seems like a likely career aspiration.
Hamburger technician seems like a likely career aspiration.
Posted by rjsnj on July 23, 2006 at 12:32 PM
We can always find a career in the Gestapo.
The Bush Doctrine didn't work in Iraq and it won't work in Lebanon or Palestine. You can't make people change their minds or hearts with force.
***
What we fail to realize is how imbedded Hezbollah is within Lebanese society. They are looked at as a force for social good.
Let's run back the tape a bit on this situation - something that our MSM is incapable of doing.
It is a fact that Hezbollah kidnapped a couple of Israeli soldiers. Israel responded by bombing civilian areas in Lebabon and Gaza. Hezbollah responded by firing these mainly ineffective rockets (yes it's unfortunate that Israel civilians did get killed). Now, Israel is killing hundreds of Lebanese with laser guided weapons. There are already reports that white phosphorous may be involved.
I have always been an Israel supporter. But, I am now disgusted with their policy that resembles Bush's policy.
The American neocons and Israeli neocons, such as Netanyahu have way too much in common. Throw in the lunatic Dominionists such as Robertson and Dobson who are aching for the "end of days" and you have an intolerable situation.
Get rid of these creeps before it really is too late.
Ironic that Ariel Sharon is Dying . . .
He probably won't live to see his success.
Ironic that Ariel Sharon is Dying . . .
He probably won't live to see his success.
Here is what is happening in Lebanon...And the US is rushing to send more munitions?
Of course, you won't be seeing this on MSM because they don't cover reality.
Warning Graphic!
We can always find a career in the Gestapo.
****
Yeah man ... gotta work up good neocon credentials.
"I'm beginning to think it doesn't much matter if there is federal funding of embryonic stem cell research or not.
. . .
Posted by pear on July 23, 2006 at 10:49 AM"
I can't help observing this is a really facile post.
I find it unacceptable that American researchers have to relocate to China to conduct primary research.
question...does anyone know whether or not it's illegal to send 'farts' in the mail to worthy recepients?
Boiler Man
From Daily Kos:
First the Right Wing Noise Machine claimed there wasn't a housing bubble. Then there was a bubble in a few markets. Then they finally started to admit that record low interest rates may have had an effect at a national level. Now the news coming from the housing industry indicates profits are dropping, forecasts are dropping and the possibility of a hard landing is increasing.
****
By the way, I just listened to a couple of TV financial talking heads saying it's a good time to invest in the markets. Translation - it's time for another bust and they are attempting to "rope a dope" for the tumble.
I don't see anyway that we can avoid another serious recession by latest 2008.
Isn't it just too hilarious and hypocritical, that the Biggest racist and bigot to ever grace this blog, (and old man living in the woods of MN who can only build himself up by tearing others down) finds any dissent against Israel's Vicious killing of civilians in Lebanon as evidence Democrats are against their Religion!
No fool like an old fool is proven every time the old moron comes in.
UK revolts, Israel kills 345+ Civilians, Hezbollah kills 17 Civilians
by fairleft
Sun Jul 23, 2006 at 08:53:53 AM PDT
I'm using the UK Guardian's numbers for Lebanese civilian dead, since they're a respected source and they provide a definite number. I stick with Reuters for the number of Israeli civilians killed.
The UK broke Sunday with President Bush and criticized Israel, urging it to stop attacking "the entire Lebanese nation." Britain's foreign minister Kim Howells: "The destruction of the infrastructure, the death of so many children and so many people: these have not been surgical strikes. If they are chasing Hizbollah, then go for Hizbollah. You don't go for the entire Lebanese nation."
I think this shows the results of the British people's pressure on one of the vulnerable edges of the neo-con coalition, the `liberal' Tony Blair. The other vulnerable edge of the coalition is the `liberal' wing of the Democratic Party. Call your Senators, e-mail your `favorite' liberal Presidential candidate... Maybe such pressure will bring Israeli acceptance of a ceasefire a few hours sooner and save a few innocent lives.
More details on the UK story below, along with a survey of the press coverage.
****
How the heck is neocon Tony Blair still in power? The Labor Party should have given the Bush poodle the boot already.
You can't stop what you don't understand. And the Republicans can't understand anything not of their own creation. They will be swept away by their own arrogance.
Posted by SandyH on July 23, 2006 at 12:25 PM
Verily.
ALERT.....beep....ALERT....beep....ALERT.....
This is a "Democrat,Don't be an Idiot" ALERT!
While debating the Israeli/Lebanon war,please do not make this a Real Democrat verses Fake Democrat issue.There are a wide variety of opinions and ideals that are being expressed.There is not one sole position that can be used to represent the ENTIRE Democratic Party Postion on this current crisis.This is a GLOBAL conflict being discussed by ETHNICALLY DIVERSE Americans who have a WIDE range of stong opinions based on the facts that I just mentioned.There are those who see this from a "religious" perspective.Others, from a "humanitarian" perspective.Still others, from a "historical" perspective and the based on the degree of understanding and knowledge we each have about Israel and Lebanon, the opinions expressed will reflect just that.
So, I encourage ALL who are contributing to this debate to consider what I just posted and STOP attacking one another.
Got it? GOOD !!!
This has been a "Democrat,Don't be an Idiot", ALERT.
You may return to the debate.
:)
Newt Gingrich: Evel Newt [sic] continues his national tour - "Scaring Out da Religious Right to Vote with Armageddon Talk."
****
Is there anything more sickening than this overblown windbag Newt Gingrich and his WW III rubbish? Eye Of Newt was on TV 5 minutes after 9/11 talking about WW III. You think the neocons were ready for that one ...
Newt Gingrich is a disgusting pig but don't take his WW III nonsense lightly. This signals that the neocons are making another big push - this time for Iran.
Posted by rjsnj on July 23, 2006 at 12:29 PM
I suspected as much. It's based on the same domino theory that didn't work in Vietnam. Russia and China can stop it in its tracks at any time.
Cheney thinks they can intimidate their adversaries into submission with strong force. And then weaken those supporting them into submission. It doesn't work. Didn't work in Vietnam or anywhere else in the world where it's been tried.
Note the reaction in Europe to Israel's incursion into Lebanon. The PR battle has already been lost. Thousands of protestors are taking to the streets. The English foreign minister was forced to say today that the new Lebanonize government is being weakened and it cannot continue.
The Republicans just don't learn from their mistakes or anybody else's. Israel needs to cultivate new allies. The Bush administration is only encouraging them to use force to further their own goals...not Israel's security.
In the meantime, Hezbalah has won their PR campagin in the Muslim world. They demonstated their resolve and a growing military capability. They will play out the rest of this offensive and then disapear back into the background to strike again when the time is ripe.
Hezbalah will continue to survive because Moslums feel they have no other way to achieve political success. Funds and resources will increase from old ane new sources.
Bush and the neocons have ensured that conflict will remain the major thrust for both sides in the heart of the Middle East...not diplomacy. Every time the confrontations happen, the weapons will become more sophisticaed and dangerous to the region and the rest of the world.
No ceasefire. No compitulation by either side. Just a stalemate as usual...with a lot of civilans put at risk and sacrificed for the good of the conflict/cause.
You're doing a heck of a job, Bush.
Excuse the typos...but we need to stop acting all crazy.
Posted by rjsnj on July 23, 2006 at 01:00 PM
Me thinks, the American people have grown tired of war and talk of war.
hello everyone...a chuckle from Talking Points Memo
When I posted about Floyd Landis and the Tour de France earlier today, I never dreamed I'd be able to tie in politics. But TPM Reader EM directed me to video of Landis at a press conference after his historic ride Thursday. We pick it up as Landis' cell phone begins ringing:
Reporter: Is that Bush?
Landis (laughing): I doubt it. I'll hang up.
At TPM, we cover politics from every angle.
-- TPM Reader DK
.Still others, from a "historical" perspective and the based on the degree of understanding and knowledge we each have about Israel and Lebanon, the opinions expressed will reflect just that.
****
Yeah I agree. There are lots of perspectives on the issue. Mainly, I take an historical and humanitarian perspective.
We have already been down this road in the 1980's. Apparently, no one learned anything from the experience.
I also caution everyone that the neocons are using this conflict as an excuse to widen their military adventures. It's no accident that their most sickening neocon, Newt Gingrich, is undertaking a national tour pushing this World War III motif. Remember that is what the neocons want!
PLEASE!
Let's have this debate like the grown azz liberals that we are.In case you didn't see this,here.
rjsnj,
That was mainly for the previous posts I was reading with all the name calling and crap going on.I just wanted us all to stop for a second, and think.Ya know?
Sandy, let's talk about href="http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/001183.php">this:
House Committee Pressing Abramoff Investigation
By Paul Kiel - July 20, 2006, 2:27 PM
This looks like the real deal.
The House Government Reform Committee has been investigating the ties between Jack Abramoff and the White House since at least March. The Washington Post broke the news Saturday that Abramoff's lobbying firm Greenberg Traurig had been subpoenaed by the committee. Today Roll Call's John Bresnahan has much more (sub. req.), revealing that the investigation extends to Abramoff's earlier firm Preston Gates and also Alexander Strategy Group, the now-defunct lobby shop run by Ed Buckham, Tom DeLay's former chief of staff who was very close to Abramoff.
Very quietly, the committee, helmed by Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA), has been gathering these documents since early March. They're investigating in order “to understand the nature and extent of Jack Abramoff’s interactions with public officials in the executive branch, including the White House, and the legislative branch,” according to a letter from the Committee to Greenberg Traurig's attorney.
No hearings have been scheduled yet.
Here's why I'm inclined to think that this is legit. Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) is the ranking member on the committee. All indications are that he's fully on board. In the past, he's never been shy about complaining publicly when he thinks an investigation is lacking.
FOS,
The common misconception from certain people is that they really don't know Hezbollah.
The important thing to recognize is that the European Union does not list Hezbollah as a "terrorist organization."
Only the United States, Britain and Israel consider Hezbollah a terrorist organization.
Throughout most of the Arab and Muslim worlds, Hezbollah is highly regarded as a legitimate resistance movement.
Posted by KlausCupcake on July 23, 2006 at 12:55 PM
The way I see it, Bill, Hillary, Joe and all the other 'right' leaning middle of the roaders of the DLC are the 'main' reason dems are not in the whitehouse and in control of the hill. By attempting to play to the right instead of to our own progressive base and by blurring the distinction between us and the pugs they have made it more likely that voters would respond to right wing emotional hyperbole. Dems need to stand up for who they are and what they believe and STOP trying to placate the other guys. It doesn't work!
Boiler Man
Guess what's happening while we focus on the middle-east.
The federal government is moving to eliminate the jobs of nearly half of the lawyers at the Internal Revenue Service who audit tax returns of some of the wealthiest Americans, specifically those who are subject to gift and estate taxes when they transfer parts of their fortunes to their children and others.
I.R.S. to Cut Tax Auditors
Remember that is what the neocons want!
Posted by rjsnj on July 23, 2006 at 01:05 PM
i agree, rjsnj--another catastrophic success
Impeachment now! Please consider it.
"Steve Cobble Explains Impeachment in 10 Points"
he has 10 points to consider here
o geez bruno,
it's too early to start drinkin'...how does one cope? that irs story is too much. what he can't get one way he'll steal another way.
i know this is the ultimate in paranoid thinking, but that groping of Angela Merkel story took legs at the expense of the bitter truth. we already knew the little fratboy was nuts.
the food shoveling shit episode--did that precede the Angela Merkel gaffe?
anybody know?
Posted by fade2bluz on July 23, 2006 at 01:09 PM
If it's so quiet, then the public will never know about it?
Besides, the electorate has accepted that the Beltway is a wasteland of greed and corruption. But Rove has convinced them that its as deep on both sides of the aisle. So I don't see what we gain from this issue.
If Fizgerald can't go after Rove, the scandal issue is a non-issue. DeLay is out of the picture and the rest of the Abramoff graft has become a local issue to those districts where indivdulal reps are under suspicion.
I wish it was otherwise, but that's the way it is. They were just saying on CNN that the Iraqi people now see the sectarian violence in their country as normal. The American people see corrupiton as business as usual in the Beltway. Sad.
Posted by fade2bluz on July 23, 2006 at 01:29 PM
fade, i believe so. what seems to be going on is that rove has probably told bush to do what he does best by playing the fool so his fellow pugs running in november can show voters they have distanced themselves from him. just a hunch.
Boiler Man
Posted by PeppermintLizzy on July 23, 2006 at 01:11 PM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
See? ...and that's my point.You should be able to post what you just posted without me calling you all kind of names over it because that would make me look like an idiot.I don't know if you read back, but they were all "Raawwwwlll" and "Fsk Fsk" LOL. This is one crazy debate.
This is a new start up called the "Democratic Strategist"
It appears to have real dem strategist as both editors and contributors. I see Donna Brazile is one of them and one that I think should be dumped from the Dems as far as strategy (a very main contributor to both Gore's and Kerry's losses).
check it out here
Many of us have often wondered who makes the decisions, sets things in action and such, I for one plan on visiting this site and letting them have it, (esp Donna). So I am putting this up here please consider joining me and letting our opinions being heard. I hope it will get to those who are at play in the Democratic decisions.
question...does anyone know whether or not it's illegal to send 'farts' in the mail to worthy recepients?
Boiler Man
Posted by 1234 on July 23, 2006 at 12:47 PM
No, we're not on the Kyoto Protocol.
Child's Play: is Michael Moore going to be there with his camera for this one? the moron-in-chief is playing tinker toys with his pals, while children are dying and other children are signing the bombs, smiling..
The effort begins Sunday afternoon in the Oval Office, where President Bush is to meet the Saudi foreign minister, Saud al-Faisal, and the chief of the Saudi national security council, Prince Bandar bin Sultan. Prince Bandar was the Saudi ambassador to Washington until late last year and often speaks of his deep connections to the Bush family and to Vice President Dick Cheney.
Ms. Rice is delaying her departure to the Middle East until after the meeting, which she is also expected to attend, along with Mr. Cheney and Stephen J. Hadley, the national security adviser. The session was requested by the Saudis, American officials said.
The expected outcome of the session is unclear. “We don’t know how patient the Saudis will be with the Israeli military action,’’ said a senior official said. “They want to see Hezbollah wiped out, and they’d like to set back the Iranians.”
But in the Arab world, the official added, “they can’t be seen to be doing that too enthusiastically.’’
from today's NYTimes
Pam and Lizzy,
The Talking Points Cafe chatter is obsessively all things Lieberloser. You might enjoy a peek:
Posted by dk2 on July 23, 2006 at 01:38 PM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I like that website.Thank You for posting it.
Just now on CNN the pundits were floating the idea that Hezbalah kidnapped the Isreali soldiers to take the focus off the Iranian sanction vote at the UN.
If the terrorist groups have become that poliically savvy, Bush has truly screwed up big time. Whose wagging the tail internationally, the West or the Islamic underground.
A foreign correspondent in Lebanon also just said that it's beginning to get dangerous for American reporters...that the Lebonanize people are blaming the US for the destruction of their infastructure and economy.
It's going to be along time before anyone vacations on the beaches in Lebanon. Do they even have a banking industry anymore? These used to be the two major generators to the Lebanonize economy.
Posted by dk2 on July 23, 2006 at 01:38 PM
i so agree about Brazile--and there are others. these high-dollar "strategists" have left us out of the equation for too long. there is too much money and not enough commitment, plainly spoken.
imho
kyoto protocol--lol
thanx for the humor...i'm still not medicated, yet
Posted by FreedomOfSpeechForProgressiveMajority on July 23, 2006 at 01:37 PM
fos...if this were a debate then we'd have a moderator. this is as it should be, people expressing their opinions, sharing ideas, and everyone understanding it as such.
Boiler Man
FOS: thanks, I like the Idea of comments on the entries they make. I hope it will help give them an ear full of what we the people are thinking and what our needs are.
Fade,
You rock!! Have you been Spazeboy's Site? He is doing such a great job. I admire the youth.
and FOS,
Here is another good site to read regarding Hezbollah via Lisa from Crooks and Liars.
dk2
i left a message on Donna's completely and utterly embarassing essay. seriously doubt it will be posted, but it was fun.
i didn't even comment on the part where she says, Of course George Bush is right. o dear buddah!
thanks.
Fade: thanks, we will have to watch to see, it makes you wonder how these people get hired and if some of them arent working for the other side.
Here's another one the Bush dirties are trying to snaek through while we watch the war.
Bush plans for firms to comply with Clean Air Act will add pollution.
Summary
Bush wants dirtier air for us and our children
Hey Bruno,
Have you seen Ned Lamont jam on the keyboard.
# IDF air operations
The current air offensive against Hezbollah and the infrastructure of Lebanon is being carried out mainly by the following units:
KANAF-1
# 109 Squadron "The Valley Squadron" F-16D Block 30 Barak
# 110 Squadron "Kings of the North" F-16C/D Block 30 Barak
# 117 Squadron "First Jet" F-16C/D Block 30 Barak operating from Ramat David Air Base, southeast of Haifa.
KANAK-4
# 101 Squadron "First Fighter" F-16C/D Block 40 Barak
# 105 Squadron "Ha'Akrav" ("The Scorpions") F-16C/D Block 40 Barak
# 144 Squadron "Guardians of the Arava" F-16A/B Netz operating from Hatzor Air Base, east southeast of Ashdod
KANAF-8
# 106 Squadron "The Point of the Spear" F-15C/D
# 133 Squadron "Knights of the Twin Tail" F-15C/D
# 114 Squadron "Super Frelon" 20 CH-53-2000 (Troop carriers)
# 118 Squadron "Nocturnal Birds of Prey" 20 CH-53-2000 (Troop carriers) operating from Tel Nof Air Base, east of Ashdod on the coast.
KANAF-30
# 160 Squadron "Northern Cobra" AS-1S III Cobra (anti-tank and ground support)
# 161 Squadron "Southern Cobra" ("First Attack") AS-1S III Cobra (anti-tank and ground support)operating from Palmachim Air Base, south of Tel Aviv.
Support
These units are being supported by other air combat units based in central and southern Israel as and when necessary. In the event that a long-range strike is required on Syrian or even Iranian targets, the strategic long-range aircraft of KANAF-6, 69 Squadron "Ha'patishim" ("Hammers") 25 F-15I based at Hatzerim AB, southern Israel, west of Beersheba, would be called on to support the F15C/D, F16C/D and F16I.
Israel has acquired at least 500 US BLU-109 "bunker buster" bombs and significantly a fleet of B707 in-flight refuelers, giving the IDF an extended reach of more than a 1,000-mile radius.
AFI Research provides expert information on the world's intelligence services, armed forces and conflicts. Contact rbmedia@supanet.com
Posted by PeppermintLizzy on July 23, 2006 at 01:56 PM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Woah! That's very interesting isn't it?
Hey.Is is me? or, does'nt the US & Britian seem bi-polar in it's relations with the world.How can groups that are called allies one minuet,all of a sudden become terrorists the next? Why do they become terrorists when it's convenient or when they run out of oil,in the way of getting to another nations oil,or some other stupid crap.
everyone have a good afternoon, got to run, get somethings done, bbl maybe
Me too.I have to finish up some paperwork before I head back GB.
Life is so sacred to bush that he is sending smart bombs to Israel to blow up children. When is he going to grow up.
bush and cheney want the Iranian oil.
Putin just cut us out of the mix to develop their natural gas reserves. Fair is fair. bush screwed Putin by not letting him join the World Trade Organization and Putin is screwing America by not letting bush have his natural gas.
After bush finishes Iran, cheney will probably lead the charge start a war with Russia.
JonEdwrd: You're right. Bush will never grow up. He, Cheney, and their band of thugs ALL need to be taken to the Hague in chains.
We must do everything in our power as citizens to vote in November for the Democrats. I'm still upset over that Bush veto. This is one issue the Democrats should capitalize on, as Gregg was saying. I even went so far as to write a letter to the editor of the newspaper my folks read (the San Jose Mercury News). They are dyed-in-the-wool Republicans, so I talked about how the stem cell research issue highlights why there should be total Separation of Church and State. Stem cell research is a very important issue for me.
Hi Everyone. Thanks for all the good news. I enjoy reading it everyday!
Posted by PeppermintLizzy on July 23, 2006 at 02:11 PM
I have now. Thx
I have now. Thx
Posted by Bruno- on July 23, 2006 at 03:17 PM
Hey bruno, that ought to be good for another couple of bucks for the guy! :)
For those of you who are not on the email circuit and who received this, Here is something of real importance that needs a call to your Representatives: Another one they are trying to SNEAK by:
Two Sunset Bills Racing to Floor Vote in House
Negotiations among proponents of sunset commission legislation have reportedly broken down, and now two separate bills are racing to the House floor for a vote as early as next week.
http://www.ombwatch.org/article/articleview/3521/1/330?TopicID=1
These bills will create a group of commissioners, appointed by the President, who will make decisions as to which programs the country should keep and which ones they should Axe! This is how he hopes to get rid SS, EPA, Headstart, Veterans Benefits, etc !
Call, peeps, call!!!
sorry about that link:
http://www.ombwatch.org/article/articleview/3521/1/330?TopicID=1
I don't understand why people seem to think that Joseph Lieberman is the only Republican-leaning Democrat that we have in the U.S. Congress. He is only one of many Rebublicrats that we have in the Democratic Party.
I am not blaming the people for wanting to get Lieberman out of office, (I think that it is about time.) I just think that there are a lot more that we should be conserned about.
And, also, we need to be concentrating on getting more Democrats (true Democrats) elected from so-called Republican states. I think that we miss our blessing everytime we write off southern, some mid-western, and mountain states, by thinking that we can't get true Democrats elected from these regions. But, we can!!!!
Posted by PamB on July 23, 2006 at 03:45 PM
Pam, thanks for the info. It's another stealth attack by the Republican Contract for American crowd. One day you wake up and some of Bush's frat boy friends on a commission you never heard of have axed you Social Security check...and it's all legal.
While we worry about stem cell research and high energy costs, they are stealing the family jewels.
This looks like one for Lou Dobbs. Letters to the editor are called for along with stern warnings to our Republican master race of reps.
PamB: The individuals who occupy the White House should be impeached, thrown out, AND dragged to the Hague in chains! I will e-mail my Congressman, a great one I might add, to see what he can do to stop this. thanks, PamB. Oh, and my congressman is Mike Thompson!
I agree very much with Howard Dean's 50-State Strategy. We should be concentrating on getting more representatives elected from each of the 50 states.
Posted by PamB on July 23, 2006 at 03:37 PM
Thx for letting me off with a couple of bucks. I was thinking about sending $100 more.
I don't understand why people seem to think that Joseph Lieberman is the only Republican-leaning Democrat that we have in the U.S. Congress. He is only one of many Rebublicrats that we have in the Democratic Party.
Posted by LavoniaW on July 23, 2006 at 03:57 PM
this is the most watched race in the USA right now, because it will send a message to all the other Dems who are members of the DLC and are leaning to the Right, too. Believe me, those who do not take a lesson from Lieberman and get back to the Party Basics, will be next.
And, also, we need to be concentrating on getting more Democrats (true Democrats) elected from so-called Republican states. I think that we miss our blessing everytime we write off southern, some mid-western, and mountain states, by thinking that we can't get true Democrats elected from these regions. But, we can!!!!
You must not have been following Howard Dean's 50 State Strategy, where he is doing exactly this with the sale of Democracy Bonds to Dems who want to get this done. There will no longer be REd State Democrats crying they have been abandoned and left on their own in future elections.
Have a good afternoon folks. I need to step out and get me a new hat.
If any of my dear friends here wish to send a big thank you for my wonderful insight here are a few hats I could use.
Hat for Bruno
If you don't like that one I could use theis on also.
Hat # 2 for Bruno
Or if you're really feeling good how about this one.
Hat # 3 for Bruno
When a Democratic State does not HAVE a Democrat representing them, rather a DINO trying to win favor with the administration and the Republicans, then it is more acceptable to toss them, even if a Republican should by some slim chance take their place.
How would the state ever know the difference???????
One last item before I step out.
Bush has changed the NASA Mission Statement. It used to read:
(1) To advance and communicate scientific knowledge and understanding of the earth, the solar system, and the universe.
(2) To advance human exploration, use, and development of space.
(3) To research, develop, verify, and transfer advanced aeronautics and space technologies.
Bush has now let his anti-science and global polluting leash holders rewrite the statement to eliminate #1.
Bruno,
Choose number three hat for flirting...it's very Casablanca and nobody does it like Bogie...
jmho
Posted by fade2bluz on July 23, 2006 at 04:52 PM
Except me! JMUHO
Bye for now.
If anyone hears abything about DPD please make it a bold notice.
Give me one reason why Dick Armey shouldn't be indicted for fraud?
With Insurance Policy Comes Membership
Unbeknown to Some, Those Signing Up With Firm Are Joining Conservative Group
By Jonathan Weisman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, July 23, 2006
In 2001, Jennifer B. Chace heard an insurance broker's pitch for a new insurance company marketing tax-free medical savings accounts. She jumped at the offer, but first, the broker told her, she would have to sign an application -- already filled out -- that would entitle her to a low group rate.
With that signature, Chace, a Florida dentist in the market for health insurance, unwittingly joined one of Washington's most prominent conservative organizations, Citizens for a Sound Economy, she would later testify.
Ex-House majority leader
"Before I showed you this form today, did you even realize that you signed a form that was an application for membership in Citizens for a Sound Economy?" her lawyer would ask during a 2004 deposition.
"I don't know what Citizens for a Sound Economy is," she replied.
Chace's experience has brought to light an obscure arrangement between a prominent Republican businessman, J. Patrick Rooney, and a free-market interest group that has netted the grass-roots organization hundreds of thousands of dollars and thousands of new members. Citizens for a Sound Economy -- now called FreedomWorks and headed by former House majority leader Richard K. Armey (R-Tex.) -- has netted more than $638,000 and about 16,000 members through the sale of insurance policies...
//www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/
2006/07/22/AR2006072200683.html?referrer=email
Posted by Bruno- on July 23, 2006 at 04:35 PM
Bruno, I vote for hat #2. The troll can wear his combat helmet.
Complaints prompt change in Mormon exhibit
SALT LAKE CITY - Smithsonian Museum curators changed a new gallery exhibit after two Utah congressmen and others complained that it portrayed Mormon church founders in a negative light.
The National Portrait Gallery's American Origins display pays tribute to influential Americans from 1600 to 1900, including Joseph Smith, founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Brigham Young, the second leader of the faith, who led the emigration into what would become Utah.
The text accompanying portraits of Smith and Young offended at least two Washington-area church members who got a sneak preview of the display. The text reportedly said Smith was "lynched" and Young was a "tyrant."
The church members notified Republicans Sen. Bob Bennett and Rep. Rob Bishop (news, bio, voting record), whose offices contacted the museum.
Bethany Bentley, spokeswoman for the National Portrait Gallery, confirmed that changes were made based on the complaints.
"It's very common (to make changes) and it happens with many of our labels," she said.
Bentley said changes were under way before Bennett's office called and that all were made before the gallery opened July 1.
//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060723/ap_en_ot/exhibit
_changed
Was Smith "lynched" and Young a "tyrant"?
here we go
By NEDRA PICKLER, Associated Press Writer 9 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - Saudi Arabia asked
President Bush on Sunday to intervene in
Israel's military campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon to stop the mounting deaths.
Posted by SandyH on July 23, 2006 at 04:59 PM
dickhead army was trouble when he was in congress. He certainly should go to jail for fraud. Almost every repug that ever lived must be corrupt.
Saudis ask Bush to intervene in Mideast
AP
WASHINGTON - Saudi Arabia asked President Bush on Sunday to intervene in Israel's military campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon to stop the mounting deaths. "We are requesting a cease-fire to allow for a cessation of hostilities," Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said after an Oval Office meeting with Bush.
Oh, oh. Not all the players are on the same page as Bush.
fade, you always beat me to the punch. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall at that meeting.
How's the cleanup going on your side of the river? My son's girlfriend and my mother-in-law are still waiting for the power to go back on.
Political theatre, albeit not as good as the real West Wing, RIP:
Saud spoke to reporters outside the West Wing as he left the White House.
"There is only one problem in this crisis: It is Lebanon, and the inability of Lebanon to exercise its sovereignty over its territory," Saud said. "Everybody who needs to help, who must help, should help."
[whaaaaaaat?]
Bush's chief of staff, Josh Bolten, said before the meeting that the U.S. will stand firmly behind Israel, noting that an attack on an ally is considered an attack on the U.S.
"We are allies, and we will support Israel in its right to self-defense," he said on NBC's "Meet the Press." "At the same time, we will do everything possible to make sure the crisis has a minimal impact on civilians. The purpose is to maintain a sustainable cease-fire," Bolten said. "It's sustainable only if we get to the root problem, which is Hezbollah, a terrorist organization."
Bolten said international peacekeepers might be needed in Lebanon to help end the fighting, but that U.S. troop involvement was unlikely.
Sandy, power is restored, we we are grateful! My mom needs oxygen, so these outages are more than just annoying. Hope your loved ones get back up soon.
gee, reminds one of the Illegal invasion and occupation into iraq, doesn't it!!!?
“The complicity of the American public in these heinous crimes will damn America for all time in history.” Paul Craig Roberts; “The Shame of being an American”
We know now that Israel’s plan of attack was “finalized more than a year ago” and that Hezbollah’s capturing of the 2 Israeli soldiers was merely a pretext to execute their strategy. Gerald Steinberg, professor of political science at Bar-Ilan University clarified this point saying, “Of all Israel’s wars since 1948, this was the one for which Israel was most prepared. In a sense, the preparation began in 2000, immediately after the Israeli withdrawal.”
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, “More than a year ago, a senior Israeli army officer began giving Power-point presentations, on an off-the-record basis, to US and other diplomats, journalists and think-tanks, setting out the plan for the current operation in revealing detail.”
Seems like Israel 'created' Hammas" and Hezbollah by their invasions into those countries!
"Israel's declarations about the absolute unacceptability of one of their soldiers being held captive by the Palestinians, or two soldiers being held by Hezbollah in Lebanon, cannot be taken too seriously when Israel is holding literally thousands of captured Palestinians, many for years, typically without any due process, many tortured; as well as holding a number of prominent Hezbollah members. A few years ago, if not still now, Israel wrote numbers on some of the Palestinian prisoners' arms and foreheads, using blue markers, a practice that is of course reminiscent of the Nazis' treatment of Jews in World War II. [1]
Israel's real aim, and that of Washington, is the overthrow of the Hamas government in Palestine, the government that came to power in January through a clearly democratic process, the democracy that the Western "democracies" never tire of celebrating, except when the result doesn't please them.
Lest we let this middle east conflict, blind us to what is happening to our troops and the Iraqi civilians !!!
"Bombs exploded Sunday in Baghdad and the northern oil center of Kirkuk, killing more than 60 people and dramatically escalating tension as the prime minister left for Washington for talks on reversing the country's slide toward civil war.
The blasts occurred as Iraqi forces and the U.S.-led coalition mounted a major crackdown on the country's most feared Shiite militia, the Mahdi Army, blamed by Sunnis for many of the sectarian kidnappings and killings that threaten to tear the country apart.
fade, it doesn't seem like the Sauds think much of that new-fangled democracy that Bush is so proud of setting up in Lebanon.
Israel's real aim, and that of Washington, is the overthrow of the Hamas government in Palestine, the government that came to power in January through a clearly democratic process, the democracy that the Western "democracies" never tire of celebrating, except when the result doesn't please them.
Posted by PamB on July 23, 2006 at 05:34 PM
Toppling democracies with military action? Now is that a Republian virtue?
Pam, logistics says it all. There's a saying that amateurs talk strategy, military professionals talk logistics. They made these plans, prepared and executed them.
This is not a response to kidnapping. What bullshit! Who believes this crap?
Sandy, I think 23 seats went to Hizbollah...let me go check...
they love freedom, until the ignorant masses screw up their plans...then...ka-boom!
Posted by PamB on July 23, 2006 at 05:37 PM
Pam, it's going to be our troops alone facing down the civil war violence in Baghdad soon. All the rest of the Coalition of the Willing are leaving by the end of the year....even the British troops.
Bush and the Republicans are the only ones stupid enough to stay.
This is not a response to kidnapping. What bullshit! Who believes this crap?
Posted by fade2bluz on July 23, 2006 at 05:42 PM
The same Republican sheep who still believe that Saddam had WMD and engineered the 9/11 attack.
Lebanon is a state without an economy or an infrastructure. Looks pretty much like what we did to Iraq. How long will it be before Rummy is in there training their military, while Hezballah infiltrates and takes over the whole thing?
The Sauds see the handwriting on the wall and want either the UN to step in or a Sunni dictator installed. They've seen enough of Bush's democracy experiement and don't want Russia entering the fray. Those Mideastern realists. Why can't they wait for democracy to blosom?
fade, are there going to be any mountains left in Afganistan or Lebanon in the wake of these bunker buster bombs which Bush have been pushing as the ultimate answer? I guess all the terrorists will just have to go over to Pakistan, overthrow Musharif, and secure their own bunker buster nukes.
I need to make dinner. later.
One of the Lebanese bloggers made a comment comparing their situation to Iraq, Pam.
This is another view, from a closer perspective--very informative and while long, worth a look. Hammas is a lot more involved than we are told, and these are old scabs, freshly torn.
Good afternoon,
I agree that the democrats need to stay focused on the issues that will bring some election victories in November. Now is no time to get distracted or divided by the people in power who are desperate to avoid criminal investigations.
My focus is a little different, however, than the Repub-Democ, Hatfield-McCoy style perpetual feud that is becoming the sadness of the rest of the world. It is that all arguments between people and focusing of people against each other benefit corporate interests.
There are good businesses and some not, but the point is that they should not have such great influence on people's lives. Corporate influence in government is what people want changed, but the system has selected for representatives that cannot accomplish this.
Some people can see that the real challenge and work of humanity is to find a balanced population that conserves the existant creation. The bumper sticker, "Plants and animals dissappear to support your fat ass" comes to mind.
Anyway, we've allowed "persons" to participate, with surprisingly influential power, in the government of the people. And they are leading us by the nose, by the children, by our pocketbooks, by servitude, by the army, and by propaganda to run out of resources like lemmings or a swarm of locusts.
I've felt a pretty hopeless individual in the minions of this juggernaut, but I always sort of felt that people would assert their humanity and we would muddle through somehow. But it looks like now is the time.
Democratic party, give us candidates that won't give the world mass extinctions, for we rever creation and can't live without it.
(In case you're curious, El Rayo-X was David Lindley's band circa 1980 that took its name from a Mexican wrestling poster.)
and there was a visitor here last nite who wants to help democrats by encouraging us not to dump old connecticut joe. Posted by gregg on July 23, 2006 at 09:00 AM
I noticed that too gregg. If Ann Coulter and Sean Hannity likes Joe, if Bush and Cheney likes Joe, if all our trolls like Joe, that's tells all we need to know about why how much he's killing our party and why "Joe must go!"
Reid, Labor Were Key Factors in Nev. Bid
Democrats were lobbied hard by Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid and organized labor before they picked Nevada as the best bet to energize the party's early presidential voting in 2008.
A Democratic rules panel on Saturday recommended that Nevada hold a caucus after Iowa's leadoff contest in mid-January 2008, but before New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary. South Carolina was awarded an early primary a week after New Hampshire.
This is not a response to kidnapping. What bullshit! Who believes this crap?
Posted by fade2bluz on July 23, 2006 at 05:42 PM
The same Republican sheep who still believe that Saddam had WMD and engineered the 9/11 attack.
Posted by SandyH on July 23, 2006 at 05:48 PM
Frightening, isn't it, how totally blind they choose to be.
And fade, Gasoline has been at $3.19 for a couple of weeks here in CT. I think I owe Lizzy some money for driving to Branford the other night!
From fade's article at 6:02!
Be afraid, people, be very afraid. This Neo Con administration of War Hawks can end up destroying the world as we know it yet!
"If Israel attacks Syria, Iran will enter the fray, which will bring in the US, which will involve Iraq and the Persian Gulf countries. In other words any attack on Syria may start a regional war that may engulf the whole region, sending the price of the crude oil to unimaginable levels. Is it possible that a small border skirmish turn into a regional war? The answer is yes.
well, we could move to south carolina, where it's only $2.77
hahaha
wouldn't that cecessation movement love to welcome their new neighbors? i just put the Right Wing Noise Machine in a mailer.
when is the Conn primary? August?
No More Joe
I have supported him in every election he has had - until now. This year I am supporting Ned Lamont to unseat Joe. Almost four decades of friendship with Joe has made this a wrenching decision for me. . . .
His blind support of the Iraq war, begun illegally and a continuing catastrophe, is monstrous.
And his defense of an incompetent president, a vice president who fits the dictionary definition of fascism and an extremist administration that has perpetrated torture, illegal eavesdropping and a general shredding of the Constitution is insulting to the people who elected him in the first place.
Joe's constituency is not Bush and Cheney; it is the progressives and moderates, the blacks and Hispanics who gave him his start in politics. We feel he has betrayed us by becoming "Bush's favorite Democrat."
His announcement that he will not support the winner of the Democratic primary but will seek election as an independent if he loses the primary seems to put self above principle. I thank Ned Lamont, a good and decent man, for giving the people of Connecticut a real choice.
Hartford Courant
For those Republicans who love to tout that the US is So Strong and mighty, look at what has crippled them . This Administration sending them on an illegal invasion and occupation!
US Blunders Roil the Mideast By Robert Kuttner
The Boston Globe
The latest violence in the Middle East demonstrates the bankruptcy of the Bush administration's grand design for the region. The Iraq war was going to display American power, promote democracy, strengthen moderates, and secure Israel. Instead, the quagmire has demonstrated the humiliating limits of US military power, fomented anarchy, recruited Islamist extremists, and strengthened a more radicalized Iran.
on a more happy-go-lucky note--lawyer up dawg:
Time: Presidential adviser wants Bush to 'beef up' White House Counsel's office fearing possible Dem-controlled House probes
: :
"Their outlook thus far seems so ominous for the G.O.P. that one presidential adviser wants Bush to beef up his counsel's office for the tangle of investigations that a Democrat-controlled House might pursue," Allen continues.
According to the White House website, the White House Counsel office "advises the President on all legal issues concerning the President and the White House."
Harriet Miers currently serves as the White House Counsel, following Alberto Gonzales who was chosen last year to take over for Attorney General after John Ashcroft resigned.
A year ago, The Washington Post reported that Miers led a staff of 13 lawyers.
Thank God the pretzledent vetoed stem cell research. You know how he treasures human life, and all...
Car Bombs in Baghdad, Kirkuk Kill Dozens
By Ryan Lenz
The Associated Press
Sunday 23 July 2006
Bombs exploded Sunday in Baghdad and the northern oil center of Kirkuk, killing more than 60 people and dramatically escalating tension as the prime minister left for Washington for talks on reversing the country's slide toward civil war.
The blasts occurred as Iraqi forces and the U.S.-led coalition mounted a major crackdown on the country's most feared Shiite militia, the Mahdi Army, blamed by Sunnis for many of the sectarian kidnappings and killings that threaten to tear the country apart.
Help Wanted:
Criminal defense attorney/future K-Street Lobbyist
Must have forked tongue and strong stomach
Must be willing to lie, deceive, steal and destroy
Republican memory loss (Iran-Contra hearings) a plus
Rosemary Woods tech skills a plus
Ethics are not required
Wow,
Sorry to seem a mad bomber, I just don't have much time in my work and chores cycle to say much. And being somewhat new here I just get to read some of these postings before my time's gone.
I do admire your activity and enthusiasm and think you do rally some voters. I support the leaning to tolerance and humanity that is more democratic than the alternative.
Dem Nation
fade, it is 8-8th. And if Ned should lose, well, Joe still has to face the Election, where there will be a Republican, an Independent, and a Green party. The Green party candidate is MUCH more Progressive than Joe, and we shall probably all vote for him !
Domingo,
The Courant this morning also had another section, where they put Pro-Joe and Anti Joe comments from the Internet and from articles. It was great. Those for Joe really don't have anything to say. They exaggerate in what he has done in the past, which is not much. He may have voted with Democrats the most, but those he voted with Republicans were the most important. He also played the sneaky game, of waiting to make sure the Republicans had enough votes for bills and judges to pass before he would waltz in and vote against, so that he would LOOK liberal!
My representative said in the morning paper, he will be walking door to door for Joe. I am going to take my Lamont sign out of the front yard and PRAY he comes up this street! His straight grey hair will be a mass of curls when he leaves here!!!
Well Duh, I pointed that out a week ago.
did you know that Viagra now cures what makes you such a War Hawk???
I sent Lieberman an advertisement for a free sample a few months ago!
hi elRay-X
i looked up that musician--what a trip! very cool-so thank you for turning me onto him. i love your comments and appreciate your contribution to the blog.
glad to see you here!
Pam--great idea on the Viagra
these fools are going to destroy the planet
I think Newt Gingrich wants to run for president.
Posted by Benji on July 23, 2006 at 07:44 PM
oh, I hope he does, Benji
Besides his failure of a Contract with America, here are the other skeltons in his closet!
I am so depressed. I don't even know what to say. everything is so hopeless. saddam hussein is on trial for war crimes committed over 20 years ago and bush is sending more young people to die in Iraq FOR NO REASON. none of this had to happen. all this death rape murder and madness for absolutely nothing. and the jerk at the g-8 summit with his cocky attitude and his cursing. this is the leader of the free world. I am so ashamed and embarrassed. how are we ever going to get out of this mess? I wonder how cocky and arrogant he would be if he was dropped off in baghdad? he would piss his pants. TED KENNEDY!! Where are you? I need a hug. I'm going to go lie down and put a cold cloth on my head. Is tomorrow monday already? GOD HELP US. we need a miracle.
these fools are going to destroy the planet
Posted by fade2bluz on July 23, 2006 at 07:50 PM
Make no mistake, the planet will indeed be destroyed.
I'd vote for Newties little sis:
Gingrich became active in the gay-rights movement after her brother, who is 23 years older, became speaker. In 1996 she wrote an autobiography, "The Accidental Activist."
When she came out and revealed her homosexuality to her 60-year-old mother in the mid-1980s, Gingrich recalled, "she took a deep breath and said, 'Well, you're going to have to give your dad and I some time to get used to that because when we were growing up, they didn't have gay people.'" as the audience broke into laughter.
"I explained to Mom that it wasn't like color television or microwaves -- there were gay people when she was growing up; she just didn't know they were gay people."
I wonder how cocky and arrogant he would be if he was dropped off in baghdad? he would piss his pants
LOL Sadie.
Have you seen the size of the security this man brings whenever he dares to leave this country.
Total secrecy about the trip, flies in at night, corralled in middle of dozens of SS men. His talking points box on his back. and of course, a very large Depends on his backside!
Total secrecy about the trip, flies in at night, corralled in middle of dozens of SS men. His talking points box on his back. and of course, a very large Depends on his backside!
Posted by PamB on July 23, 2006 at 07:57 PM
so that's what the bulge in the mcFlightsuit was
fade,
LMAO, yes I saw one of those extra large Depends in the store, and they sure are bulging!
Of course, it also could have been caused by his messing his drawers having to fly in a plane for the first time. Pretending like he had done in while he was AWOL!
Make no mistake, the planet will indeed be destroyed.
Although I certainly do not wish this, I must say that I am truly worried at the severe adverse consequences, and I know I am not the only person that feels this way.
Bush - Stoned? Drunk? Medicated? Retarded? Presidential Tester for the Pharmaceutical Industry? You Decide.......
~snip~
There are bizarre internet rumors of a personal portable toilet for Bush to use when overseas, (to prevent foreign analysis of his excrement) http://www.rense.com/general72/fexc.htm. Normally I would blow them off as some of the wilder of conspiracy theories, but watching Bush's actions over the last week, I can't help but wonder, to what lengths would they go to hide it if it were true? If he is too incapacitated?
What would they do to keep up the appearance of his functionality? Who could or would step up and do anything about it if he is unfit to serve? The people around him are not people willing to part with the power they have granted themselves, and that's an understatement. And with Bush at the top of the chain and out of the loop, or just plain looped, who is holding anybody below him accountable? His staff? Congress and the Media have abdicated their responsibilities, who will do it?
Hell, they're all trying to give him, and therefore themselves, even more unlimited power than they have already taken. As long as they can keep up the illusion that he's functioning.........you decide.
fade, interesting thought!
This President has stolen away more power than any other President in history, all under the guise of, and lies created by 9/11 ! How they must Praise God every day for 9/11!
i found a funny pic in line with the topic we were discussing earlier
even though it's clearly not my job to be funny
where is gregg?
that is funny, fade! :)
Look at this one. (borrowed from Hullabaloo) They are bound and determined they will turn this country into a theocracy before they are driven out of office!
"I brought up the Condi Rice "birth pang" comment in passing and one of the commenters pointed out that it's actually Rapture talk, if you can believe that.
I checked it out and over at the Rapture Forum they've been talking about the "birth pangs" of Armageddon ever since 9/11.
Lebanon: Captured Israeli Soldiers 'OK'
- - - - - - - - - - - -
By HUSSEIN DAKROUB Associated Press Writer
July 23,2006 | BEIRUT, Lebanon -- Lebanon's foreign minister said Sunday the two Israeli soldiers captured by Hezbollah are in "good health" and another leading politician said the government was ready to negotiate a prisoner swap with Israel through intermediaries.
Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh said he was basing his assessment on the soldiers' condition on what Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah has said.
"The prisoners are OK and in good health. I was basing it on what Nasrallah said. So let the United Nations or another friendly party come to Lebanon and start the negotiations (for a swap)," Salloukh said after meeting a German Foreign Ministry official.
Domingo, one might argue that what is "killing our party" is the far left. Many Democrats are smart and reasonable people. You do not have to be far left crazy to be a Democrat, unless you are running for "Blog Pres". Did you read this thread? Posted by brian111 on July 23, 2006 at 07:24 PM
Yeah, I know just what you mean. Damn those "far lefts" for killing the party by not agreeing with Cheney and Bush. Now go get me some proof.
Pam,
Great minds think alike. I know in person that you have been saying this.
good one Pammie! it's kkkarl--for sure. i was at the wash u debate party and the whole crowd at America's Center scrunched up their noses and brows going "wtf" when buttmonkey made the dred scott comment. we weren't the raptcha ready crowd.
oye
We know, John, We know. You should have fought for those votes a little harder!!!!!
"U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D- Mass., who was in town Sunday to help Gov. Jennifer Granholm campaign for her re-election bid, took time to take a jab at the Bush administration for its lack of leadership in the Israeli-Lebanon conflict.
"If I was president, this wouldn't have happened," said Kerry during a noon stop at Honest John's bar and grill in Detroit's Cass Corridor.
Isn't it just too hilarious and hypocritical, that the Biggest racist and bigot to ever grace this blog, (and old man living in the woods of MN who can only build himself up by tearing others down) finds any dissent against Israel's Vicious killing of civilians in Lebanon as evidence Democrats are against their Religion! No fool like an old fool is proven every time the old moron comes in. Posted by PamB on July 23, 2006 at 12:51 PM
I'm sure he hates Jews every bit as much as he hates Muslims and every other non-Christians, and as much as he hates all non-whites, and as much as he hates "queers" and keeps trying to convince them to "commit suicide". The only thing he does "love" is the prospect of war and killing. The screw-ball just loves that, and he'll smear anyone he sees getting in the way of that anyway he can.
You can tell my other Senator is testing the grounds for a run at the Presidency.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic Sen. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut on Sunday promised a bruising fight in the U.S. Senate against confirming John Bolton to be the country's ambassador to the United Nations
I've had email from DPD...he is home now!
{{{DPD}}}} if you are lurking, welcome back!
I wonder if Bush is listening, we are in bad situations all over the region.
"Afghanistan Close to Anarchy, Warns General
· NATO commander's view in stark contrast to ministers'
· Forces short of equipment and 'running out of time'"
"The most senior British military commander in Afghanistan yesterday described the situation in the country as "close to anarchy" with feuding foreign agencies and unethical private security companies compounding problems caused by local corruption."
article here
You do not have to be far left crazy to be a Democrat, unless you are running for "Blog Pres
William, just once I wish someone would explain to me, what FAR Left means. What do they consider FAR?
only thing he does "love" is the prospect of war and killing.
I know. What kind of man has to prefer Battles, attacks, weapons, war, killing, blood, death of women and children, to PEACE? Sad, so very sad.
Kristen,
give DPD my regards and concern.
With that, I am heading out for evening. Tomorrow I head for the Lamont Headquarters, where they will train me to be part of their Rapid Response Team. Exciting.
blog ya fine Dems another time.
What Bush has done will be upon this country forever. Our children will have to live with the reputation of America that Bush has created.
"Iraq Parliament Speaker Calls for US Withdrawal"
"Iraq's parliament speaker Mahmud Mashhadani bitterly criticized US forces in Iraq, accusing them of "butchery" and demanded that they pull out of the country."
"Mashhadani was speaking at a UN-sponsored conference on transitional justice and reconciliation in Baghdad, and his strongly worded attack appeared to embarrass his international hosts, who grimaced on the podium."
"Just get your hands off Iraq and the Iraqi people and Muslim countries, and everything will be all right," the conservative Sunni Islamist said, in a speech opening the conference."
"What has been done in Iraq is a kind of butchery of the Iraqi people," he said in a long winded speech that criticized the tactics of the coalition forces as well as US support for Israeli strikes against Lebanon."
Speaker here
Good evening, all.
Kristen, it's great to know DPD is home. Hope he's feeling better and can join us again soon.
Have you seen this
Study: Ex-Rep. made use of 'black' budgets
By KATHERINE SHRADER, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - An independent investigation has found that imprisoned former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham took advantage of secrecy and badgered congressional aides to help slip items into classified bills that would benefit him and his associates.
The finding comes from Michael Stern, an outside investigator hired by the House Intelligence Committee to look into how Cunningham was able to carry out the scheme. Stern is working with the committee to fix vulnerabilities in the way top-secret legislation is written, said congressional officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because the committee still is being briefed on Stern's findings.
Cunningham's case has put a stark spotlight on the oversight of classified — or "black" — budgets. Unlike legislation dealing with social and economic issues, intelligence bills and parts of defense bills are written in private, in the name of national security.
That means it is up to members of Congress and select aides with security clearances to ensure that legislation is appropriate.
//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060723/ap_on_go_co/
congress_black_budgets
I bet the White House wants to beef up their legal help. If this is any indication of the kind of crap they've been pulling, I bet there's plenty they will need to defend when the veil of secrecy is lifted.
Posted by fade2bluz on July 23, 2006 at 08:17 PM
So he does sit on his own personal throne?
"Over 60 Killed As Iraq Violence Escalates"
"Bombs killed more than 60 people and wounded more than 200 Sunday in Baghdad and the northern oil center of Kirkuk _ a dramatic escalation of violence as U.S. and Iraqi forces crack down on Iraq's most feared Shiite militia."
story here
PamB, this is the far left. Domingo needs proof that Hezbullah is a terorist organization.
Posted by brian111 on July 23, 2006 at 09:17 PM
And apparently so does the European Union which doesn't list them on their terrorist organization list.
I've personally been out in left field most of my life. The air is fresher out there and you can talk to the little people in the bleachers.
William, just once I wish someone would explain to me, what FAR Left means. What do they consider FAR? Posted by PamB
They mean anyone who disagrees with Republicans. BTW Pam, did you catch some 4 or 5 days ago when Lieberman said "If Democrats don't vote for me, they will remain a Minority Party"? He was talking about that book. That pro-DLC book claims Democrats have to become "more like the Republicans" to win, and Joe Lieberman is the one they quote the most often.
I need proof about everything, Bud. Now go get me some proof.
Domingo, nobody would waste any time trying to you proof. Have a great night. Posted by brian111 on July 22, 2006 at 08:04 PM
Yeah, I guess if you were a bald-faced liar, it WOULD be a "waste any time trying to get proof." You "Have a great night", too.
So he does sit on his own personal throne?
Posted by SandyH on July 23, 2006 at 09:16 PM
Why yes, Sandy. Someone on Air Force One has the dubious distinction of being the bag-boy, too.
And i love the left-field bleachers. that's where the fun is!
Domingo, turn on MSNBC now.
PFFFTTTT!! The MSM media caters to the administration and will air only what it is allowed. Brian, you are so manipulated by the scare tactics of this Administration that you cannot see through the shivers it creates in you.
Kristen: I am so glad to hear that DPD is home and resting and I hope that he is feeling better.
{{{Kristen}}}
DPD is home! That's fantastic. I'll have to email him. Thanks for letting us know.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
DPD IS HOME DPD IS HOME DPD IS HOME
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
fade, thanks a million fade. if you are in contact with the boy let him know we are worried and hopeful for him.
{{{{{DPD}}}})
Welcome home, I hope that you are feeling better!!! Sending best wishes and hugs your way.
I recommend the Political Compass for those who enjoy plotting their relative views in a more modern configuration than the 1700s left/right dichotomy.
i'm left of Ghandi
HI, ALL...
ANYTHING NEW?
I had another heart attack, and another angio. I'm tired, and will bbl tomorrow,.
hanks for the well wishes.
love,
We note too that conservative Democrats tend to have more in common with Republicans than with the liberals within their own ranks.
(This is a plot of where the 2004 candidates stand}
Posted by DPD on July 23, 2006 at 10:40 PM
Many have asked about you -- hope u r ok -- welcome back.
Welcome home, DPD. We're all relieved. Take it easy for a couple of days then come on back and help us kick ass
For DPD
Take care of yourself, Buddy, you scared us there for a second.
175,000 Without Power as Transformers Fail
Overloaded by unrelenting power demand, hundreds of electrical transformers failed throughout the Los Angeles basin on Sunday, triggering widespread and unpredictable power outages that compounded the human misery during one of the region's worse heat waves on record.
LA Times
Posted by letshelpdean on July 23, 2006 at 11:03 PM
I'll second that, lets. Where's a dump fat ugly troll when you really need him, eh?
Boiler Man
DPD,
you sure had everyone scared...
glad to hear from you...
take it easy.
Southern California Endures Another Scorcher
The San Fernando Valley turned into a suburban Death Valley on Saturday as the mercury hit a record 119 in Woodland Hills, causing sweaty refugees to hug iced lattes, plop down on tile floors and, in at least one case, plead with a salesman to part with his last remaining portable air conditioner, a floor model.
"Today I realized I can't function with just a fan," said Susan Mitnik, who lives in a Topanga Canyon cottage. "It feels like everything is radiating heat. My head begins to pound."
Woodland Hills is a heat-hardy community, typically among the hottest locations in Los Angeles County. But the over-the-top temperature on this day sucked the life from normal Saturday activities — traffic was light, sidewalks were virtually empty — and the brave few who ventured out seemed to move in slow-motion, as if underwater.
Among the unfortunate who lacked air conditioning at home, many took advantage of climate-controlled restaurants, malls and movie theaters. Then there was Mitnik, who begged for the portable air conditioner — a $399.99 floor sample — at the Woodland Hills Best Buy.
Alas, the salesman would not relent.
How hot was it? According to the National Weather Service, it was the hottest day in Woodland Hills since record-keeping began in 1949 — 3 degrees above the former record, set in August 1985.
It was hotter in Woodland Hills than previously recorded in Los Angeles County for a July 22 and 5 degrees hotter than ever recorded in the desert city of Lancaster.
Elsewhere in the region, it wasn't exactly a day for a picnic. El Cajon and Escondido smashed through their previous mutual records of 109, the former hitting 113 and the latter 112. The San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park hit 114, 2 degrees higher than its previous all time-record.
In other scattered locations, records were broken for the date: Burbank hit 112, 12 degrees above the previous record set July 22, 1980, and only 1 degree below the all-time high of 113, the National Weather Service said. Laguna Beach hit 94, and in downtown Los Angeles, the mercury climbed to 101.
"It's hotter here than in the Philippines," declared Lota Figueroa, a matron of honor, as she departed a downtown wedding chapel, referring to her native home.
She fretted over her makeup and hair. "It's not going to stay. It's going to melt."
Just after noon, Ins Lee, a 58-year-old shopkeeper, abandoned a trip to the post office, trying to hide in the shade of a traffic signal.
"I couldn't even walk one block down. It's so hot," Lee said. "I wish I could go home and turn on the air conditioning and make a cold noodle soup."
LA Times
DPD
Welcome back to the blog. We were all holding our breath and your well being dominated our thoughts.
We missed your light and your fire. There is so much to do these days. When you’re ready to rejoin the fight this peoples army will be standing ready for your return.
As Long as I Can See the Light
All I know is, every year they keep telling us it's hotter then it was the year before. I'm getting sick of hearing the weather man on TV say, "Yes folks, we broke another record again today!"
Wonder how the electrical grids will work after Oman takes them over.
Oh, OK. So now it wasn't Joe Lieberman who "stabbed Clinton in the back". According to the Lieberman campaign, it was Russ Feingold who did!
The Lieberhater crowd has repeatedly said that Lieberman "stabbed Clinton in the back" by daring to make that speech, and have used the speech to argue that Lieberman was a disloyal Democrat who helped push the GOP drive towards impeachment.
Many have actually credited Lieberman's speech as providing the Democrats with the position that allowed them to save the Clinton Presidency: Separate the legitimate questions about his personal conduct from the illegitimate legal attacks.
But even if we were to accept the absurd characterization of Lieberman's actions as "stabbing Clinton in the back," then Russ Feingold stabbed Clinton in the back, twisted the knife, and shot him with an Uzi.
Among Democrats, Feingold was the most persistent and vocal critic of Clinton and the greatest Democratic proponent of continuing the GOP investigations throughout the period from 1997-1999. During the Lewinsky scandal in particular, Feingold was Clinton's strongest and earliest Democratic critic.
And yes, this is the same Russ Feingold who is a hero of the progressive blogosphere.
Dailykos
Posted by KlausCupcake on July 23, 2006 at 11:53 PM
Thanks so much for that enlightening bit of psuedoscientific information. Now go stick your head back in your 'junk science' toilet and pull the chain.
Boiler Man
Hey Brian111, I found your "proof". From Fox News you get two, count 'em, two Wing-Nut theories all rolled into one! Now we know where the WMDs went! Hezbollah took 'em all!
Fox News: "Are Saddam Hussein's WMDs Now in Hezbollah's Hands?"
Gibson and Julie Banderas were speculating on whether there was any truth to the baseless reports and statements from unidentified "experts" that Saddam Hussein's alleged stockpile of weapons of mass destruction had been secretly transported from Iraq to Syria before the Iraq war and "might have been put in the hands of Hezbollah," the onscreen text read: "Are Saddam Hussein's WMDs Now in Hezbollah's Hands?"
Media Matters
You know, I'd like to think everything would be better, more equitable, and more just if science were the only criteria used to form national policy. But I recall a physics prof. friend saying that all of science rests upon only a dozen or so basic but unproveable 'laws' which themselves are taken on 'faith'. So, I guess that means our best hope is that we elect reasonable people whos arguments are based on truth rather than fear and intolerance.
Boiler Man
I know what Junior can do. Remember how the sicko made jokes about not finding Saddam's WMDs under his desk "no, not there!" under his couch "no, not there!" under his rug "no, not there either!"? Well he can invade Lebanon looking for Saddam's WMDs then say "no, not there!", then go into Syria then say "no, not there!" , Then go into Iran then say, "no, not there either!".
dom...i think wolfowitz already laid out that plan.
gregg...how are you figs coming along. my wife said today i need to go out a pick ours before the deer get 'em.
and...oh yea...numbnuts...you wouldn't know a liberal if one gave you a big hug and a kiss and told you how good looking you are.
Boiler Man
Posted by KlausCupcake on July 24, 2006 at 12:16 AM
Have you ever heard of Sally "Stevie" Lloyd Thornburg of Pine County MN?
klaus c,
I'm sure you are a respectable whatever you are in person. But it doesn't seem you have a open mind in regards to the real world. This forum is perhaps where you get your best jollies, and I have pity on you that your life is so devoid of friends that you must try, unsuccessfully, at making enemies. Perhaps you can vanish now as if by magic, and reappear some where else nicer.
FreedomOfSpeech, what do you think of Joe Lieberman saying he didn't "stab Clinton in the back", Russ Feingold did! Joe always blames other Democrats, never Republicans like Newt, DeLay, or Linsey Gramham.
American Bar Associations says WTF, George???
"This report raises serious concerns crucial to the survival of our democracy," said the ABA's president, Michael Greco. "If left unchecked, the president's practice does grave harm to the separation of powers doctrine, and the system of checks and balances that have sustained our democracy for more than two centuries."
You are not hearing much about it on the TV news or in the newspapers, but thousands of Israelis have been marching to their government to get them to order an immediate cease-fire. The same has been happening among Jews in the United States. Two Jewish human rights groups you might want to check out are B'Tselem and Jewish Voice for Peace (based in Oakland, California). There are many, many more. The latter is asking Americans to call their representatives to support Dennis Kucinich's H. Con. Resolution 450 which follows very closely that which was proposed by Kofi Annan for the United Nations, calling for an immediate cease fire followed by comprehensive dialog with all parties.
It appears that the people in Israel also have a problem with filtered media and with making their government hear their voices, though the occasional poll, with their skewed quesions and biased conclusions, would make the world believe that 90% of the Jewish people just love what their government is doing. However, for the most part, when an Israeli person does get interviewed, he or she calls for an immediate ceasefire by all sides with comprehensive talks, just like Kofi Annan's plan. Even the wife of one of the kidnapped soldiers said she just wanted her husband back and the killing to stop.
As an ally and friend of Israel, do we support the people of Israel and what is best for them, and support a cease-fire so all may live -- a cease-fire that even many Israeli people are calling for -- or are we supporting the right wing hawks in Israel's government who have far surpassed any reasonable definition of self-defense and are pursuing some other unknown agenda? Should we agree to rush to fill their order for 5,000 lb. bunker busting bombs so they can kill more civilians and destroy more of Lebanon?
Whole families are dying or being maimed for life while the Bush Administration waits to give the word for a cease-fire. These innocent people are not "animals" who need to be "defanged". Rice's and Bolton's explanations for letting the violence continue does not hold water. Would someone please make Rice and Bolton visit the hospital in Lebanon where a little 8-year-old Lebanese boy and his 8-months-old sister lie in pain with phosphorous burns all over their small bodies? Apparently,this chemical was loaded in the bombs that blew up their family as they were trying to go north to get away from the danger. This story was on CNN tonight. His eyes are stuck together from a chemical that the physicians suspect was phosphorous -- apparantly a chemical not yet outlawed in the rules of war.
At this moment I am disgusted and angry at my whole government, that has the influence to stop this but will not. WHY NOT?!!! Are we trying to draw in Iran and Syria so we can do some more regime changing? If the humanitarian crisis alone is not enough to make people in our government act, does the thought of an out-of-control escalation make anyone in government see the necessity to haul in all sides NOW to stop the frenzy? This is NOT the way to a lasting peace. Only people who want war for some other reasons would encourage this obscenity and the volatile situation that it is creating. CONGRESS! WAKE UP AND FIND ANY OUNCE OF HUMANITY IN YOUR SPINELESS BODIES THAT IS SALVAGABLE.
sad stories?
war is a sad story, when we fascilitate war, promote war, embrace war we continue a tale that should have ended thousands of years ago.
argue all you want, war is bad fucking news.
war, lies, debt, death, poverty, ignorance. this is the sick fruit of the republican tree.
this year we cut it down.
you can kill alot of terrorists without going to war and blowing up civilians. we've blown up more civilians than any terrorist organization in history.
are we winning this war yet?
Posted by Domingo on July 24, 2006 at 01:12 AM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Joe Lieberman is a sell out 100% His attack on Blog Beloved Russ Feingold is tantamount to Black Republicans attacking the Black Democrats to please "Ole Woyte Republican Massah".That's what Republicans make them do when they join their little club.They have to publically denounce their own race by making JUDAS comments.Joe Lieberman is a Jewish Uncle Tom.So,when you see me refer to him as a "jut" you'll KNOW WHAT I'M TALKIN ABOUT.
LOL.
Quit talking to yourself ya freaken kook.
Enough is ENOUGH! I mean it now!
Everyone reads my posts in the morning - they look forward to it
KlausCupcake
If people are looking forward to the mad postings of a troll,then this website is worse off than I thought.I BETTER see all troll postings GONE tomorrow,or I'm done.I'm sick of this crap.
Posted by marsh on July 24, 2006 at 02:02 AM
Thanks for that link, marsh. These stories tend to disapear quickly from the net, even if the MSM bothers to pick them up. I've always thought it was odd that no one in Congress had challenged Bush on this practice?
Here's another of those stories that needs to be examined but will not get any play in the MSM:
Zimbabwe eyes plan to spy on citizens
By TERRY LEONARD, Associated Press Writer
Sun Jul 23
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa - Times are hard and getting harder in Zimbabwe, where people too proud to cry about hunger, joblessness and misrule could soon find it too dangerous to joke about them.
Parliament plans to debate proposals next month to empower the secret police to eavesdrop on mail, e-mail and phones without any court approval.
The government denies any sinister intent, saying it is putting its anti-terrorism legislation in line with international practice. But Zimbabwe is not on the front lines of the war on terror, and government agents could use the proposed powers to monitor the communications of the political opposition, journalists and human rights activists who are critical of President Robert Mugabe.
Secret police and intelligence agents could violate attorney-client privilege, track financial transactions and negotiations, and eavesdrop on anyone's private life. Anytime a Zimbabwean visits a Web site, makes a deal or tells a joke, Big Brother could be listening or watching.
Internet and cell phone service providers would, at their own expense, have to provide the government with equipment to sort and intercept communications.
The aim "is to monitor and block communications for political reasons and to use information they get to persecute opponents," said Lovemore Madhuku, chairman of the National Constitutional Assembly, a group critical of repressive laws and actions of Mugabe's government.
Telephoned from neighboring South Africa, he said: "It is part and parcel of the process of controlling dissent and stifling democratic debate."...
//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060723/ap_on_re_af/
zimbabwe_no_laughing_matter
So not only has the the parinoid, facist leadership in the rest of the world picked up on Bush's Doctrine to spread violence around the globe, they are now also duplicating his domestic spying policy.
Land of the free and home of the brave? Exporter of freedom and justice for all? I think it's time for Superman to Return. We need a few brave Democratic leaders to stand up to this president.
Or are we going to have to do it ourselves?
Morning FOS,
Lieberman's is such an ahole. I am glad he lost in 2000. Can you imagine this putz as vice president. Only cheney is worse.
Sources: Negroponte Blocks CIA Analysis of Iraq “Civil War”
Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006. By Ken Silverstein.
Sources
I reported in May that despite the deteriorating situation in Iraq, no National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) has been produced on that country since the summer of 2004. The last NIE, a classified document that the CIA describes as “the most authoritative written judgment concerning a national security issue,” was rejected by the Bush Administration (after being leaked to the New York Times) as being too negative, though its grim assessment subsequently proved to be highly accurate.
The situation has gotten even darker since my initial story—a United Nations report cited in Wednesday's New York Times found that an average of more than 100 Iraqi civilians were killed each day in June—and I've learned from two sources that some senior figures at the CIA, along with a number of Iraq analysts, have been pushing to produce a new NIE. They've been stonewalled, however, by John Negroponte, the administration's Director of National Intelligence, who knows that any honest take on the situation would produce an NIE even more pessimistic than the 2004 version. That could create problems on the Hill and, if it is leaked as the last one was, with the public as well.
“What do you call the situation in Iraq right now?” asked one person familiar with the situation. “The analysts know that it's a civil war, but there's a feeling at the top that [using that term] will complicate matters.” Negroponte, said another source regarding the potential impact of a pessimistic assessment, “doesn't want the president to have to deal with that.”...
//harpers.org/sb-sources-negroponte-nei-cia-
1153433546.html
“doesn't want the president to have to deal with that.” Why? Would it ruin his mountain biking treks?
Hi, John.
And to think Joe was probably the reason why we lost in several of those key states in 2000. Better late than never to face the facts.
Posted by Kathleen on July 24, 2006 at 02:46 AM
They said it was going to be the Long War. Nobody ever really listens to what they say. They think they are on a mission from god just like the Islamic terrorists. It won't end till they have made this WWIII. That's what Newt calls it now. They have all gone stark raving mad.
I guess a nuclear attack is the only thing that will wake up the multinationalists. They have let their puppet and his henchmen get way out of line. It will be bad for business and mess up the money markets. That is the only thing that matters to those that can stop them.
The industrialists in Germany maneuvered to bring Hitler to power in 1933. They thought they could control him. Then it became apparent that he was out of control and it was too late.
I still think that bush is the reincarnation of Hitler.
Rice warns against 'false' Middle East ceasefire
From James Bone in New York, and Jenny Booth
Condoleezza Rice tonight warned that an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East would be a false promise unless the underlying causes of the violence were addressed.
The US Secretary of State spoke after Britain and the United States found themselves isolated and under fire at the United Nations Security Council for blocking a concerted international call for an end to the hostilities...
Britain too says that the focus of international diplomacy must be on what action can be taken to bring about a "durable" ceasefire. Tony Blair intends to discuss the Middle East crisis with President Bush at the White House in a week's time, on July 28, it emerged today.
Other countries do not agree with the US and British analysis. France, by contrast, has called for an "humanitarian truce" to alleviate the suffering of civilians as soon as possible. It has proposed that the Security Council call for a ceasefire, while addressing the underlying causes of the conflict.
Russia, Greece, Congo, Peru and Qatar, the sole Arab representative on the Security Council, have all also endorsed the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities. Qatar has accused council-members of "vacillating" and called for a Security Council resolution as soon as possible.
//www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,251-2280081,
00.html
Interesting to note the countries we are now at odds with including Quatar. The key to stopping this madness might be to help get rid of Blair. Without Britan, the cheese would stand alone.
Hi, FOS. I see you've been holding down the fort tonight...I guess it's now day.
I still think that bush is the reincarnation of Hitler.
Posted by Johnedwrd
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I think Bush is more like the "softer version" of Jim Crow.
Hi FOS,
I see where rice landed in Beirut rather than Tel Aviv.
I see where the average price of gas went over $3.00 a gallon. Lundberg says we have plenty of reserve supplies but did not say that it is the unamerican oil companies that are screwing us. They always refer back to the price just after the huricane. How about the price in 2002. In 2002 gasoline was $1.39 a gallone here in NM.
bush and his oil buddies are screwing us. When the price of crude went up the oil under the ground in the US went up also. What a crock. They got this oil for free thanks to the US mining laws. I think that is why gasoline was so much cheaper here in the US for so many years.
Now they have been given license to steal our oil and screw us pricewise.
Hi SandyH,
I tried to hold it down but then,I got really annoyed.I can't believe that Joe Lieberman would attack Russ Feingold that way.That really set me off.I hate Joe Liberman.He's an Uncle Tom"berg".
Johnedwrd,
Let's just say Jim Crow was the Spawn of Satan himself.
I see where rice landed in Beirut rather than Tel Aviv.
I thought the airport was damaged. How did she land in a helicopter or by broom?
SandyH,
I'm guessing a broom stick accompanied by those flying apes wearing bullet proof vests.That's quite funny if you think about it.
FOS, Joe is appealing to the Republican base again. I doubt Russ Feingold pays Joe any heed these days.
She probably landed by broom. She wasn't wearing her witch's outfit.
I imagine rice went to the American embassy. I don't imagine she would be welcomed by the Lebanese government.
FOD, I sometimes feel like Dorothy and just want to go back home to the way things were before the tornatdo hit. I'm sick of the fundie munchkins telling me that they are going to save me ...from everthing but Bush.
SandyH,
I don't think Russ Feingold is phased by it either,but he's still my senator and he doesn't deserve getting his name dragged into BS that he has nothing to do with.He's really a cool guy and he cares a lot about the people of this nation and it just ticks me off at how he get's treated like he's just some political "beat up boy" when he's got more balls than any member of Congress.
John, they will have to be nice to her...their infastructure is destroyed. It's going to take a lot of foreign aid to make things right again. I assume she's only there to inspect the damage for Rummy. Lebanon is the new beach head for their WWW III incursion into Syria.
Russ knew what he was getting into by standing up for the truth. He can take whatever they throw at him. I'm glad he, too, is holding down the fort. It galls the dark side that there is any dissent.
Posted by SandyH on July 24, 2006 at 07:06 AM
I'm afraid you are correct. chimp should have gone to Syria to ask for their help in reining in Hezbollah but he would have to wear double-layer depends and they aren't available.
Well, I'm going to leave it all to you guys till the morning crowd checks in. My sinuses have been acting up somthing fierce since I got caught in that dust storm last week. Maybe I can get a hour's more sleep. later.
SandyH,
I know.You're right.I'm just feeling bratty today.LOL.You'd think I was defending my daddy or something.
Posted by SandyH on July 24, 2006 at 07:06 AM
Looks like we will be burdened for years paying for infrastructure repairs in the Middle East. How about our infrastructure. Queens, NY; St. Louis, MO and Los Angeles, CA are like third world countries without power. Parts of Queens have been without power for a week now. We must pay attention to our infrastructure before we start these "crusades" against tarrists.
We must pay attention to our infrastructure before we start these "crusades" against tarrists.
Posted by Johnedwrd
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Agreed.I bet the White House doesn't even know about the black outs.I bet you.
Jeeeezzzzuuuusssss!
I'm out of here.Bye John if your still around.
1234, sorry it took so long to get back to you but the sandman got me. i have great fig plants but no figs! i don't know if it is too late in the season for any to come or if i got the plants out of the root cellar too late ( around third week in may as i was freaked out about frost ) or if i didn't fertilize or correctly or if its cause they are only in their second year? any ideas?
a gracious good morning, gentlebloggers
gregg, nice one for the cubs fan...said well--gave me a chuckle
will the condi go by sea, or by air?
surprise visits--they must be nervous about announcing their arrival...
except her itinerary for later in the week on the edge of the axis of evil:
Rice also plans to attend an Asia regional forum Thursday and Friday in Kuala Lumpur, where North Korea's recent missile launches and nuclear program are expected to be at the top of the agenda. She has not ruled out returning to the Middle East on her way home, "if that would be necessary or helpful," she said.
gregg,
it's too soon to expect fruit. be patient and give it a few more years. my friend has a garden that actually feeds him for most of the year (in Texas). he said it took up to seven years for fruit...
i recommend utilizing the bullsh*t pouring down from these lying bastids to fertilize, and of course--worms and global warming headlines soaked in compost tea
unbe-flockin-lievable! it wouldn't be bushworld if i didn't start the day astonished!
Civil rights hiring shifted in Bush era
Conservative leanings stressed
By Charlie Savage, Globe Staff | July 23, 2006
WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration is quietly remaking the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, filling the permanent ranks with lawyers who have strong conservative credentials but little experience in civil rights, according to job application materials obtained by the Globe.
~snip~
Several new hires worked for prominent conservatives, including former Whitewater prosecutor Kenneth Starr, former attorney general Edwin Meese, Mississippi Senator Trent Lott, and Judge Charles Pickering. And six listed Christian organizations that promote socially conservative views.
The changes in those three sections are echoed to varying degrees throughout the Civil Rights Division, according to current and former staffers.
At the same time, the kinds of cases the Civil Rights Division is bringing have undergone a shift. The division is bringing fewer voting rights and employment cases involving systematic discrimination against African-Americans, and more alleging reverse discrimination against whites and religious discrimination against Christians.
i am so glad it turns out that world war three has already started. i worried about world war three starting for most of my life ( who didn't ) but now that it is on it only seems bad for the people who are being maimed or killed and no one is using nukes! who knew but thanks to newt gingrich and bill kristol for getting it going.
i guess the republican slogan for the upcoming elections will be:
WWIII ? HEY BRING IT ON!
sorry, the link
{{{DPD}}} rest and recover, my friend. leave the troll-bashing to gregg...
{{{cyn, jacque, kristen, marsh! and sandy, pam, lizzy}}}
will do my best fade but to replace dpd's wrath and endurance is a bit beyond me.
i don't know how many of you know of folks with ms or if you have it yourself ( i have a cousin who has a bad form and it is a monster ) but i thought i would pass on this piece about a potent drug combo that has been effective for a samll group of afflicted in a research study. often these kinds of treatments are quite toxic and often they don't apply to many of the impacted population but the results in this case are so dramatic i thought it might be of interest to those dealing with this issue:
Drug combo fuels hope for multiple sclerosis
Patients in small study showed shocking reversal of symptoms
msnbc
Updated: 10:18 a.m. ET July 21, 2006
LONDON - Four years ago, 28-year-old multiple sclerosis patient Karen Ayres was wheelchair-bound and paralyzed. "I was trapped in a body that wouldn't do anything," she says. Now, following an experimental drug treatment, she has regained mobility and is studying for a doctoral degree.
Ayres was one of 27 patients with aggressive MS who was treated in an open trial with a course of cancer-drug mitoxantrone and copaxone, which is used to treat relapsing MS.
Like Ayres, many of the other patients in the study experienced results so remarkable that some MS experts, while expressing caution, are now taking a second look at the preliminary experiment.
hope for ms?
Mornin'!
Good news about Patrick. Lordy, he's been missed. Good to see some of my favorite folks on this bright and early morning :-)
{{Fade}} -- I couldn't resist taking the Compass survey. I wound up right between Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama. Pretty heady company for a hick from the holler LOL
Bush is flouting Constitution, bar says
In the report, members said those broad assertions of presidential power amount to a "line-item veto" and improperly deprive Congress of the opportunity to override the veto.
Legal fees charged, so far, to Tom DeLay amount to 1.7 million
"No man is above the law, and no man is below the law. That's the principle we hold dear in this country" DeLay during the Clinton impeachment.
Ouch, he was too blind to see how sharp both sides of that sword could be.
...................................................................................
..................................NEW THREAD...............................
....................................................................................
Richard what is worse is that Delay is allowed to use campaign contributions to pay for these legal fees.
Make no mistake, the planet will indeed be destroyed.
Posted by pear on July 23, 2006 at 07:52 PM
And a new heaven & earth shall appear.
I am totally disappointed in these politicans who are once again ignoring what the constituents want. They are so far removed from the mainstream. By ignoring the carnage going on in Lebanon right now they are setting it up to lose again. Are there any politicians in the Democratic Party willing to condemn Israel's tactics? Two wrongs don't make it right. As of this morning I heard 377 dead in Lebanon - 19 of those Hez - the rest civilians. What's wrong with this picture? We must overhaul our politics in the Middle East.
I am totally disappointed in these politicans who are once again ignoring what the constituents want. They are so far removed from the mainstream. By ignoring the carnage going on in Lebanon right now they are setting it up to lose again. Are there any politicians in the Democratic Party willing to condemn Israel's tactics? Two wrongs don't make it right. As of this morning I heard 377 dead in Lebanon - 19 of those Hez - the rest civilians. What's wrong with this picture? We must overhaul our politics in the Middle East.
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