Wednesday Morning Open Thread
Are you ready? College football starts this weekend.
This is an open thread...
Comments (187) «
Welcome to the world of logic and reason. You don't have to be patient for change. You are the change.
At long last, a list we can value
Yet another list has appeared this year as the fall semester begins. This one doesn't name the top 25 colleges in the nation on the basis of faculty-to-student ratio or the size of the endowment or the cost of attendance or the reputation among peers whose assessment may or may not come from personal knowledge. Instead, the rating is based on the contribution the institution has made to the welfare of its community. It is a long-overdue approach that measures the school's stature on the strength of its commitment to helping save the nation's cities from increasing blight.
Voters are puncturing politicians' arrogance
This is the guy gearing up to give Burns in MT. a run for his money.
Jon Tester
Soon to come to a court in that "New Middle East" Islamic theocracy in Iraq...courtesy of the Bush/Rumsfeld Focus on Democracy Project:
Iran FocusOn Sunday, August 15, a 16-year-old girl in the town of Neka, northern Iran, was executed. Ateqeh Sahaleh was hanged in public on Simetry Street off Rah Ahan Street at the city center.
The sentence was issued by the head of Neka’s Justice Department and subsequently upheld by the mullahs’ Supreme Court and carried out with the approval of Judiciary Chief Mahmoud Shahroudi.
In her summary trial, the teenage victim did not have any lawyer and efforts by her family to recruit a lawyer was to no avail. Ateqeh personally defended herself. She told the religious judge, Haji Rezaii, that he should punish the main perpetrators of moral corruption not the victims.
The judge personally pursued Ateqeh’s death sentence, beyond all normal procedures and finally gained the approval of the Supreme Court. After her execution Rezai said her punishment was not execution but he had her executed for her “sharp tongue”.
Update: Violence, poverty and abuse led girl, 16, to gallows.
http://www.iranfocus.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=80
I guess I better watch my "sharp tongue" or the American Taliban and those witch-hunting champions of the New Fascism will come and take me away.
With that said, I'm off to work. later.
Interesting list of colleges, Kristen. Happy to see 2 of them were in CT.
Tim Walz MN-CD1 Tim Walz is a Fighting Dem with strong netroots support. He’s running in a swing district that was held by a Democrat until 1994. Now it’s time to return that favor and make this district blue once more.
Kristin,
Jon Tester reminds me to Tim Waltz. Tim is the real deal and what a great candidate! He will unseat Gil Gutknecht. Check out the Waltz/Gutknecht debate video on his site.
Pam, I like the idea behind the list. One of the things important to me as a parent is that my kids learn about civic responsibility and it would seem one of the factors in picking a school would be how well the school embraces the idea of being socially responsible to their communities.
Sadly, not one school from Washington state made the list.
Bush will be in Nashville today to raise money for the republican senate candidate opposing Harold Ford.
Maybe Bob Corker can set aside some of that money to pay for the environmental lawsuit he is now facing for destroying wetlands to build a WalMart, all while he was Mayor of Chattanooga. Culture of corruption, what culture of corruption?
Sources: State Department official source of Plame leak
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/08/30/leak.armitage/index.html
DANA MILBANK IS THE WORLD'S WORST PIMPSchumer Has Seen the Future, and It's Democratic
By Dana Milbank
Wednesday, August 30, 2006; A02
Some see the glass as half empty, others as half full. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) sees it as overflowing.
Briefing reporters yesterday on Democrats' prospects in the midterm elections, Schumer, chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, had trouble thinking of a single race Republicans will win.
How about Nevada, where Democrat Jack Carter trails Sen. John Ensign (R) by 21 points?
"Jack Carter has done a very good job. . . . Nevada is moving up on our radar screen . . . We are getting more and more enthusiastic about Nevada."
And Arizona, where a poll found Sen. Jon Kyl (R) 18 points ahead of Democrat Jim Pederson?
"We're feeling better and better. . . . Our candidate Jim Pederson is running a great race. . . . The public seems to like what he says."
Or Virginia, where no conventional poll has found Democrat James Webb leading Sen. George Allen (R)?
"We think we have a good chance of winning in Virginia. . . . We regard it as a very, very good chance of a Democratic pickup."
Those who handicap Senate races say the Democrats could gain four or five seats -- just short of the six needed to gain control of the chamber. But the irrepressible Schumer, whose position requires a certain amount of cheerleading, yesterday outlined a November conquest in which Democrats pick up nine seats. "We're doing amazingly well and better than we ever thought," he pronounced.
To judge from Schumer's presentation, the Democrats will achieve this extraordinary triumph by employing an extended series of mixed metaphors. Schumer himself may have set a record in that department yesterday as he painted the electoral landscape:
"This administration is shrugging its shoulders. . . . It's like 'The Wizard of Oz' -- it showed the man behind the screen. . . . You know which way the winds are blowing. . . . There have been very few bumps in the road. . . . The wind continues to stay at our backs. . . . The idea that there should be no check and balance, no congressional oversight, just isn't flying. They want to try to bring back the 2004 playbook. . . . They're trying to find a new rabbit to pull out of the hat, but so far they've gone back to the old chestnuts."
Chestnuts? In the same hat with rabbits? With the wind at their back on a bumpy road?
"They're going to bring up the same old chestnuts in one form or other, and it's not going to work," Schumer continued. "Digging the hole deeper makes a difference. . . . The real way they can get well is a change in course. That's what America wants, a new direction. . . . We have an uphill road in the sense that the map is a tough map, but we're feeling very good. . . . The meat-and-potato issues are the Democratic base. . . . There's a big wind at Democrats' backs. . . . The national winds tend to blow better in Senate races, but we have a tougher map."
Okay, so it's definitely windy, and the Democrats have meat and potatoes, not chestnuts. But why would Republicans change course if it's the Democrats who have a tough map?
Schumer was having too much fun to explain. Forty reporters, desperate for some late-August political news, crowded around a conference table at DSCC headquarters. Schumer entered wearing cotton trousers and an open collar. "I guess nothing's doing," he surmised correctly when he saw the big crowd.
The senator, no stranger to news conferences, savored his 40-minute Q&A, resting his elbows on the table, removing his right loafer and jiggling his leg under the table as he spoke excitedly about Democratic prospects as if they were marathon runners.
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.): "Bob Menendez is running a great race."
Ohio candidate Sherrod Brown: "Sherrod Brown is running a great race."
Tennessee candidate Harold Ford: "Harold Ford is running a great race."
For the record, Schumer did not say that Pennsylvania candidate Bob Casey is running a great race. "Bob Casey is a great candidate and will be a great senator," he said.
Schumer bestowed his most generous praise on Claire McCaskill, who is challenging Sen. Jim Talent (R-Mo.). "She is just wonderful -- I just respect her so," Schumer gushed. "She is a wonderful person, a very, very smart political leader."
Maryland presented a problem for Schumer because the Democratic primary hasn't happened yet. "We have two very good candidates in Maryland," the resourceful Schumer improvised. "Extremely strong candidates. . . . We feel very good about Maryland."
Amid such unbounded optimism, it would have been churlish to point out that the experts regard this as overly exuberant. While political forecasters such as Charlie Cook and Stuart Rothenberg have switched in the past few weeks to predicting a Democratic takeover of the House, there are no such forecasts for the Senate.
Except Schumer's. Asked if any races were not going well for Democrats, he was stumped. "Hmmmm," he replied.
"How about Maine?" a reporter offered. Polls show Sen. Olympia Snowe (R) leading Democrat Jean Hay Bright by 50 points, and Democrats have likened Snowe's popularity in Maine to that of Jesus.
"Yeah," Schumer agreed. "Maine isn't going very well at all."
Mark that one down as half empty.
© 2006 The Washington Post Company
TODAY ISRAEL CONTINUES TO FIND STICKING POINTS TO REFUSE TO PULL OUT OF LEBANON
This is for Blind Republicans like the troll we had on here last night, trying to intelligently discuss taxes, etc. (of course I believe like Jethro, if this bimbo was in the 33% tax bracket, she would not be trolling on a Political site)
"Guess what? Tax cuts don't pay for themselves and the deficit is nowhere near under control.
Tax revenues from individual taxpayers were $994 billion in 2001 and $924 billion in 2005 for a decrease of 7%. Over the same period, the GDP price deflator increased from 102.42 to 112.744 or an increase of 10%. This makes the inflation-adjusted increase in tax revenues from individuals for Bush a decrease of 17%.
So, we get the following inflation adjusted increases in individual tax revenue for each of the last three presidents:
Reagan: 22.13%
Clinton: 81%
Bush: -17%
As for the "deficit is decreasing argument"...
In 2002, the total deficit was $157 billion. Yet total debt outstanding increased from $5.807 trillion to $6.228 trillion, or $421 billion.
So - the historical record indicates the following:
After adjusting for one of the broadest inflation gauges in economics, the Republicans theory of tax cuts pay for themselves is garbage. BTW: If you're a right wing pundit reading this, could you PLEASE START ADJUSTING FOR INFLATION?
I think this guy is taking the fall and as for apologies when Bush apologizies for lying about Iraq, killing our young men and women and turning a blind eye to the suffering in Katrina as well as not actually providing the promised funding for recovery then I might consider saying I misjudged him...but until then I think we were all right on the money.
George Bush is the President of Death.
Richard Armitage is the quintessential loyal soldier.
He has consistently played that role.
GO NAVY! BEAT ARMY!
And while we're at it... repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell!
Seriously Paul, if the Democratic Tent is supposed to be big enough to hold people like these, too, I say we check for leaks in the roof!
Posted by PamB on August 30, 2006 at 10:42 AM
They sneak on their bellies under the tent.
Donald Rumsfeld called critics of the Administration's "war on terror" fascist sympathisers and also blames the press for only showing the negatives in Iraq and Afghanistan.
American deaths in Iraq are rising again and somehow Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and Rice blame the deaths on a press corps that is sympathetic to "fascists". They also accuse democrats of the same thing because apparently all democrats are "cut and run" cowards and fascist synpathisers.
These statements are arrogant and insulting to the majority of Americans who are increasingly against our occupation of Iraq. These "leaders" are out of touch with mainstream America and flatly refuse to admit the mistakes and lies they have propagated.
Now all the chicken hawks who have never served our country militarily, their idea of public service is screwing the taxpayer, are trying to promote another illegal war in Iran. It seems losing two wars in the Middle East isn't enough they need a third war to lose so their corporate donors can rape, pillage and steal more taxpayer dollars in the name of freedom and democracy ie. corporate greed.
In my opinion we need to start impeachment hearings and get these immoral and corrupt criminals out of government before they can do any more damage to our society and the world in general.
peace
I wonder if he is getting ready to retire? I like to think his business will drop off enough to allow him lots of extra free time.
"We're not some anonymous chain store -- I know almost everyone who comes in here, and most of my regular customers are not going to ask for Plan B because they don't want to admit that they need it," he said. "They'd be embarrassed."
Israeli Leader Rebuffs Annan on Blockade
http://www.democrats.org/a/2006/08/wednesday_morni_13.php?comments=1
There is no doubt in my mind that if Jesus Christ himself came down and said that Bush was right on any issue (you choose), people in this blog would accuse Bush of being an idiot and that Jesus was one of his cronies and that they were engaging in a conspiracy to cheat middle class america.
Posted by Frostie94 on August 30, 2006 at 10:55 AM
Well since this is about as likely as me voting for a Republican in November how about you set your sights a bit lower.
Posted by NavyVet on August 30, 2006 at 10:44 AM
Oh no ya don't! Go Army! :-D
But YES! repeal Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell and go the rightful step further to end discrimination against LGBT folks entirely. We work as hard as anyone else and deserve the same rights. Second-class, near-citizenship ain't cuttin' it.
You can tell when the fundigelicals get in charge (sigh). When I was in, nobody much cared; it was the everyday performance that counted. The last active-duty company I was in was at least 1/3 gay, but we were 100% professionals and -- at the time -- that's what counted.
Now we're throwing out desperately-needed linguists and c-t analysts. What a bloody waste of money and the ruination of people's lives over insane bigotries. But "insane" codifies the entire ShrubCo administration and it's wackogelical enablers...
Can someone help me? I got this email from a fellow Democrat in my District and can't find out anything on this web site. Does anyone here know anything about it?
He wrote:
Is this a shadow group behind which the Democratic Party can hide- or > is this a group pretending to represent the Democratic Party to > further its own interests? Seems to me it has to be one or the other > and that the Democratic Party would know which one it is..........
the web page is www.nationaldemocraticmessage.net
thanks -
Kathy, here is the registration information for the site: I would say they are independent
Domain Name: NATIONALDEMOCRATICMESSAGE.NET
Registrar: ABACUS AMERICA, INC. DBA NAMES4EVER
Whois Server: whois.names4ever.com
Referral URL: http://www.names4ever.com
Name Server: NS2.ABAC.COM
Name Server: NS1.ABAC.COM
Status: ACTIVE
EPP Status: ok
Updated Date: 16-Feb-2005
Creation Date: 16-Feb-2005
Expiration Date: 16-Feb-2007
and more information as to the company.
http://www.ratite.com/whois/whois.cgi?domain=registrar+ABACUS+AMERICA.
Posted by Kathy_in_Indiana on August 30, 2006 at 11:21 AM
Kathy,
It does have a link on the home page to housedemocrats.gov.
Thanks Kristen - I will give that information to the guy who asked for it..
k
I don't think it's associated with House Dems or any other official organization, because there is no paid for disclaimer...
ok - thanks - I will forward this info to him. I knew you guys would know!
k
RedLetter_Rev,
Thanks for your service, even if it wasn't with the Navy :)
Have you checked out www.militaryequality.org
These folks are doing a lot to pass HR 1059, the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, which would repeal DADT.
:)
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Three major Caracas golf courses, long favored by the city's wealthy, are being expropriated to build housing for thousands of poor and middle class Venezuelans, officials said Tuesday.
The city expropriations, which will likely generate new friction between supporters and opponents of President Hugo Chavez, are part of an ambitious government effort to provide more homes amid an acute housing shortage that has driven up real estate prices.
Mayor Juan Barreto's office has ordered the "forced acquisition" of two golf courses and will soon issue another decree expropriating a third course in the ritzy hills of southern Caracas, city attorney Juan Manuel Vadell told The Associated Press.
Vadell said the golf courses' owners have 30 days to appear before the mayor's office, starting a negotiation period in which a commission will eventually decide on fair compensation for the courses.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americas/08/29/venezuela.golf.ap/index.html
dems should adopt new slogan: UNITED FOR WORLD PEACE AND RESTORATION
president still lying bout Katrina...8/29 hurricane hit he did'nt appear til 9/2?
NavyVet,
You betcha. And thank you very much for your service as well. I believe it's the duty of every citizen (not just the poor and the hetero) to serve our country. Freedom isn't free and military service is one of a range of options to give back.
It is irritating to me that so many gay people have given their time, energy and patriotic love to this country, yet we are not accorded most of the benefits of citizenship. It irritates me even further that there are so many Republicans who refuse to serve the country in any way, shape or form, yet reserve unearned rights and privileges to themselves.
The rest of us try to lead by example.
I'll happily add my voice to yours in the quest for equality and just parity.
Based upon last night, I feel I need to bring ya'll up to speed on taxes. I am both a CPA and an Attorney by education, but do neither for a living. I was getting alot of tax, investment and retirement advice from you, but it was incorrect. Our current rules are as follows:
1)Above $326,450 of income is taxed at 35%
2) AMT takes away all deductions, except chariable deductions, at $150,500
3) Charitable deductions are limited to 50% of income
4) Estate taxes are 46% of monies above $2 million
5) Capital gains are 15% over one year investments
So, class lets review:
If the taxpayer is going to stay above $326k, deferral is a waste of time. OR
You can give away 50% of your income, but the key word here is give away with no strings attached
I repeat, these rules are not fair, to those of us that work. Kerry, Bush, etal are the real winners, because their income mostly comes from investments
and they pay 15% taxes. The far right and the far left simply do not understand how the majority of us actually live and like stereotypes instead. Alas!! Peace!!
Amen to that!
I just wish more people would pay attention to the DADT issue. It doesn't just affect the LGBT community. When the President is calling up 2,500 inactive Marines, many of whome are hetero, and we have already discharged 953 Marines under DADT. Those hetero Marines are being forced back in active service bc of the ridiculous policy.
This policy is BAD NEWS on so many levels it is insane to me that it isn't spoken about as much as it should be.
I like Tester alot and i hope he beats Burns and wins the senate seat in Montana.
Rumsfeld, Limpblah, O'Really?, Colder, et al, are so offensive as to be boring. Fresh off the Rove party line, is renewed attack of anyone criticizing our current regime in DC. Yesterday, in a speach to American Legionaires, Rummy likened their critics to those who appeased the fascists prior to and during WWII. Goes back to Bush's recent "muslim fascists" moniker, we can presume. When ever in our history has our government representatives and appointees (people who we are supposed to look up to as leaders of our unique, open, democracy) been so demonizing of everyone who questions their policies, tactics and basic wisdom of their decisions??? It wasn't near this bad under Johnson or Nixon during the Vietnam "conflict"!! If this is the shining example of the type of democracy we want others throughout the world to emulate, our leaders need to take the time to examine their motivations for trying so hard to squelch voices of opposition. This is Republican Party politics at its worst, played out on the national and world stage.
diehard,
If you were an accountant, and STILL have 35% of your income going into the government, without benefit of credits, deductions,Pension plan contributions, etc, then I see why you are no longer in the business!
WHY would someone braggging he makes over $326,000 a year, be spending their time on a Political blog? One would think you would have plenty of work to do otherwise!
Don't expect too much sympathy here, because you have to pay a Fair amount on $326,000. You think someone here making $50,000 and paying $6774 in tax feels sorry for YOU? They would be happy to change places anytime you want!
Posted by PamB on August 30, 2006 at 12:35 PM
Where does the line form, Pam?
Sheesh, I don't get some people how they become so obsessed with their own world, rather than finding out what is going on outside. How can you complain about taxes at this time in our history? Do they know that Americans our dying and being maimed for a lie?
BUT DID THEY WORK AS HARD???? I started over 50 years ago and gave up alot for the "American Dream".
Bank loans, sleepless nights of how to pay bills and
make payroll, etc. So, I paid a dear price to get here and there are a bunch of me's that provide jobs
pay our taxes, etc, So don't you DARE lecture me.
Peace!!!
NavyVet,
I grew up very poor, hence the thought of wasting money makes my teeth itch. Even now, while I'm taking care of my partner of 10 years (poz for 23), it's extremely difficult to make ends meet. Wasting money just isn't in my purview. (BTW, he was also tossed out of the Navy for being gay... excellent work record notwithstanding. See how they are. Bigoted AND wasteful.)
Hard-earned taxpayer money is being spent to find, recruit, train qualified personnel. Yet, because of bigotry, we all lose when a trained professional is turned out of the military. The monetary loss is compounded when the professional is a member of intelligence services -- BI's are extremely expensive and hard to get, plus the training is far more extensive (thus far more costly). Most folks have no idea how extremely expensive it is to train and retain intelligence professionals.
It's an appalling waste of resources any way you look at it. My partner was reading an article the other day about the senseless waste of dollars and human dignity caused by GLBT folks being tossed out of analyst and translator positions that this country sorely needs. DoD is happily pissing away millions per year on DADT and pissing away desperately-needed resources: people who are dedicated to making and keeping our nation safe.
Little wonder the BushCo intelligence is so screwed up. Waste upon mismanagement upon insult. When I was in active duty was when Bush Sr started his machinations and power-grabs at the CIA. The services were combined and stripped, good people were let go and political suckbuddies were put in place.
The intelligence service that failed Shrub was the very one the Poppy put in place. (GIGO: Gospel In, Garbage Out.) They heard and produced what they wanted to, not what the reality was on the ground. I will allow as how that entire failure was by design.
Repealing DADT and opening the military to GLBT folks (as many other countries have successfully done) is a good first step. The right have squandered far too many resources, no matter where you look. The devastation is all-pervasive. Our senior military officials need to wrest the intelligence services back from the political hacks and Murdoch-style story-writers. Restoring and/or retaining qualified professionals isn't just an issue of equality and dignity -- it's sound economics.
i do not give a damn about the far right or the far left because they are both wrong. I am worried about
the very core of America. But someone better do the work or we are all lost. Peace!
RedLetter_Rev,
Such excellent, eloquant points. Civil rights, national security, economics, unit cohesion.... there are so many ways in which to frame the issue of DADT. I just wish more people would realize and act on it. Not to mention that this is just one step closer to FULL equality for LGBT Americans. Just as black military integration preceded FULL black marriage equality.
HR 1059 already has 119 bi-partisan cosponsors... Even more support it but just wont sign on as a cosponsor. It would be nice to see more cosponsors and some show of support from the DNC.
yes, diehard, they work just as hard in their own ways. You should just consider yourself lucky you are one of the few who start their own business who ever "make it". I forget what the statistics are, but more fold them suceed.
So get off your friggin pity party because you have to part with a fair share to pay for the RIGHT to live the American Dream!
I'm through listening to you whine ! And how great you are. Humble is not a word you know!
I will skip over your self-pity posts from this point on, so spare us!
NavyVet,
While I don't have money to contribute, I do have a bit of talent for writing and editing. Perhaps just a bit, but often one more voice is all it takes.
My partner and I have both written our Rep about HR1059. While I don't see his name as co-sponsor, has written us back to say that he will vote in favor of its adoption. That's "a something". For a red state, it's a big "something".
We trade weeks on LTE's and rotate our list of willing newspapers to increase our chances of publication (hence visibility). We try to keep the issues surrounding GLBT equality and full citizenship alive and in discussion in our local sphere as much as possible.
I appreciate your efforts in keeping our issues in front of those who are most able to do away with the current inequities. If I can help (even though I'm clear across the continent from CA), let me know the best path.
Posted by RedLetter_Rev on August 30, 2006 at 11:13 AM
Rev - I love your vocabulary. Have you ever considered putting out a Rev dictionary or submitted your work to urbandictionary.com?
And as a fly-boy from the 93rd Bomb Wing SAC I could care less who wins. But my guess is Army will do it again.
Watch Howard on Keith Olbermann tonight:
"Tonight, Howard Dean joins Keith to respond to this:
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Tuesday the world faces "a new type of fascism" and warned against repeating the pre-World War II mistake of appeasement. Rumsfeld alluded to critics of the Bush administration's war policies in terms associated with the failure to stop Nazism in the 1930s, "a time when a certain amount of cynicism and moral confusion set in among the Western democracies."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/30/AR2006083000704.html
This is why I can't vote for you guys. You just don't get it. I came over here to talk about issues and instead you guys try to be experts on taxes and are clueless. And of course you have to be dismissive instead of talking. There are a lot of us boomers, that believe in America first and our needs
second and are willing to be second to the overall good. But, we are really fed up with paying for everything and being told we are wrong on every issue. If you guys ever figure out how to talk and not attack, then and only then, will you have a chance at our vote. I really wanted to hear of some plan, but all you people can do is attack. IT IS REALLY SAD THAT YOU JUST DO NOT GET IT!!!!!!!
Peace and love.
I see we got another one in here who claims he wants to mooch off the tax financed government infrastucture to make his wealth but doesn't want to pay for any of it. But actually what I suspect we really got here is another one of these ones who lives in his parent's basement and listens to way too much Rush Limpballs.
Thanks for your willingness to work on this issue.
If you send an e-mail to info@militaryequality.org
I can make sure it gets forwarded to me and we can discuss ways that you can help.
We are affiliated with the Gay Military Times, which is a publication for LGBT Military. Perhaps you would be interested in contributing a story? E-mail me and we will find a way to get you connected.
And that is very positive news to hear about your member of Congress.
Thanks again and I look forward to hearing from you.
Anyone else reading this who may be interested in the fight for equality in the military can also feel free to email info@militaryequality.org
Woo-Hoo! Lunch break blogging! (I needed my news fix) Our tax dollars at work.
ahhh, if only the Republicans during Clinton's era were no bent on thwarting every proposal he made, there would not have been a 9/11 !
Clinton, 9/11 and the Facts
ABC intends to mark the occasion in far more grand a fashion. Starting September 10th and ending September 11th, the network will show a miniseries titled "The Path to 9/11." According to reports from early screenings, the writer/producer of the miniseries, Cyrus Nowrasteh, has crafted a television polemic intended to blame the entire event on President Clinton.
Measures taken by the Clinton administration to thwart international terrorism and bin Laden's network were historic, unprecedented and, sadly, not followed up on. Consider the steps offered by Clinton's 1996 omnibus anti-terror legislation, the pricetag for which stood at $1.097 billion. The following is a partial list of the initiatives offered by the Clinton anti-terrorism bill:
I started watching Spike Lee's documentary on Katrina last night and plan on picking it up and watching the rest tonight. This should be required watching for anyone that still believes Bush does his best to help the little guy.
Katrina: When New Orleans went from developed world to Third World
The city by the delta, so vividly described by Mark Twain, leaves its mark on a person. ("An American has not seen the United States until he has seen Mardis Gras in New Orleans," he wrote in 1859.) It's a city that practically every singer worth his salt has sung about -- from Aaron Neville ("Louisiana") to Charlie Pride ("Roll On Mississippi"). Indeed, New Orleans has been described by many writers, with uncanny prescience as it turned out, as the First World and the Third World all rolled into one.
Posted by Bruno on August 30, 2006 at 01:30 PM
Bruno... Army win again? Army hasn't beat Navy since 2001...And this year aint gonna be any different :)
GO NAVY!
And thanks for your service!
This is why I can't vote for you guys.
You ain't voting for "us", sport, we're not running for political office. Maybe that's why you can't make any money, you ain't got a clue what's what.
then and only then, will you have a chance at our vote.
"Our" vote? You got a mouse in your pocket, or maybe a tape-worm? Who's "our"? Besides claiming every chance you get to being so wealthy, you also seem to have illusions of grandeur. Just how many votes DO you control, anyway? Millions? Sounds like somebody is in bad need of a shrink.
Bilirakis hires 'Swift Boat' firm to create media spots
The District 9 congressional race has yet to hit the airwaves, but Republican front-runner Gus Bilirakis' campaign has begun shooting TV spots.
The campaign has paid $38,000 to Stevens Reed Curcio & Potholm, the Alexandria, Va., media consulting firm that created the Swift Boat Veterans and POWs for Truth ad campaign, according to Federal Elections Commission filings and the candidate's staff.
I like you all, and even love a few, but I'm not sharing my paid for news scrip link.
I'll give you the long version. ;p
Lived By Low Wage Earners
By Joe Rothstein
August 25, 2006
Barbara Ehrenreich is a prolific essayist and social commentator. She graduated with a BA in physics from Reed College, writing her senior thesis on Electrochemical oscillations of the silicon anode. She went on to earn a Ph.D. in cell biology from Rockefeller University.
But man, did she have a dickens of a time making it as a waitress, a maid, a health care worker or as a store clerk.
You can read all about it in Nickel And Dimed: On (Not) Getting By In America. This was on my summer reading list. It's a book that should be read by every member of Congress, every state legislator and every city council member in America.
Here's her story. Ehrenreich decided to spend a few months literally putting herself in the shoes of many of those who spend their working hours providing the essential glue that holds our society together---the security guards, the hotel workers, the home health care aides, receptionists, food processors, data entry clerks, child care workers, maids, restaurant wait staff, etc. Most of these are very low wage jobs. How do they survive, she wanted to know, in an economy where costs are increasing much faster than most low income wages?
The answer, she found, was "survival" is about the only way to describe the existence they lead.
A worker who might earn $8 an hour and gets paid for all those hours for 52 weeks might gross $16,640 a year. Ehrenreich couldn't find a job that paid as much as $8 an hour. She lived where she could afford to live on her take home pay---seedy motel rooms, dilapidated trailer homes, and tiny rooms for rent. Stretching a food budget was a problem. Transportation was a problem. Health benefits were virtually non-existent.
Ehrenreich had some serious advantages over her co-workers. She had a car, for one thing, so was not forced into a multi-bus, multi-hour commute. She had no children to support. She could afford to make an advance security deposit wherever she moved. She could wait to get paid while employers held her first pay check. And even with those advantages, she could not help falling behind.
Think about it. How would you live on $1,500 a month (the official poverty line for a family of four) if your rent or house payment was half of that, and you had to get yourself to or from work, and buy clothes, and feed yourself and your children, and take care of health needs, and fit in anything at all that made your life something other than all work and no play. You would probably get a second job on weekends, or maybe take on some other work at night, as many people with low wage jobs do. That $1,500, by the way, is not take home pay. Those who work for wages get their tax bite in their pay check.
I read an article in the Washington Post the other day about housing vouchers in Montgomery County, Maryland, one of the richest, fastest-growing counties in America.
For the first time since 2003, Montgomery County opened its waiting list for housing vouchers, a federal program that helps low income workers cover the cost of decent housing. A total of 15,000 applied. Those names were added to the existing list of 8,000. A computer will select 100 names from this list of 23,000 to receive housing assistance. One hundred names! Over the next few months 200 more vouchers will be awarded by lot. That's it.
In the nearby District of Columbia, 30,000 are waiting for vouchers. Fairfax County, Virginia, another wealthy, fast-growing community, has 11,00 people on its list.
From 1978 to 2002 the percentage of those who had full time, all year jobs and still fell below the poverty line increased by 45%. Why? For one thing, the inflation-adjusted minimum wage is only 75% of what it was then. For another, housing costs have soared, placing most decent housing out of the reach of those on the lower rungs of the income ladder.
A lot of people have been patting themselves on the back lately, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the program that was supposed to end welfare as we knew it. True enough, the welfare rolls have shrunk. But where's the difference in the lives of so many of those who once qualified for welfare?
They can no longer stay home and care for their kids. What they earn in 1990s salaries has been left in the dust by soaring housing, medical and transportation costs and the cost of child care. In truth, many of these families have gone from being welfare dependent to being indentured servants for a low-wage, no-benefit system that exploits their productivity without giving them the opportunity to reach for the next higher rung.
I'm grateful to Barbara Ehrenreich for experiencing this life, and for writing about it. But the real message is that while Ehrenreich has moved on to other pursuits, the people she shared life with for a few months are still there---victims of a government that won't increase the minimum wage, won't spend what is required for affordable housing, and won't rationalize our health care system. All the while giving tax breaks to the rich, spending hundreds of billions in Iraq and engaging in one of the worst excesses of misplaced priorities our nation has ever known.
Ehrenreich's book is a very useful read. With a very unhappy ending.
Foxnews asks "Will Connecticut senator's independent run help embattled GOP candidates?"
Joe's response? "Well, they should have thought of that before they had the primary."
One reading would be that Lieberman thinks that instead of voting their conscience, Democratic primary voters should have instead capitulated to his threats to leave the party. The other reading is that the party establishment, which gave their complete support to Lieberman during the primary, should never have allowed the primary to happen in the first place. Either way, Lieberman clearly views his run as revenge against Democrats for actually engaging in party democracy. So, either voters should be swayed through threats, or votes should not be allowed to take place. No matter which reading is accurate, Lieberman's sheer disdain for democracy is overwhelming. As far as he is concerned, democracy is only useful as long as it allows you to remain in power, and now he is just a tough parent punishing bad children who actually had the gall to vote for someone else.
But man, does he sound angry and bitter or what? The man has no principles beyond he, him, and himself. But we already knew that.
Oil Company CEO Pay Averaged $32.7 Million in 2005, Study Says
Rising prices and profits translated into pay packages for oil company chief executive officers that are nearly three times the size of similarly sized businesses, a new study from two watchdog groups said.
In 2005, the CEOs of the largest 15 oil companies averaged $32.7 million in compensation, compared with $11.6 million for all large U.S. firms, according to the study, released today by the Institute for Policy Studies and United for a Fair Economy.
There's an outrageous new trend in low income housing that is inspired both by homeless persons living in a discarded appliance box, and the huge trade deficit with China.
A huge glut of shipping containers from China now clog up the nation's ports with few returning back to China with U.S. made goods, thanks to the massive trade deficit. To return empty shipping containers to China would cost about $900 each.
Now for about $1,500 to $2,000 each, these shipping containers can be purchased and made into low cost housing. Some innovative architects have even designed "high rise" units where as many as 12 of these can be stacked together.
Whoever expected that that homeless man living in an alley in that Maytag box would be setting a trend for future housing needs? I guess we must now look to the homeless for "fashionable" trends on how more and more of us will be living in future years.
Frostie94 is dead.
Looks like I got banned. I have been an active democrat since 1988. I spent five years working for Senator Rockefeller. I have spent countless hours campainging for democrats and guess what, that and $3.00 dollars will buy you a gallon of gas.
Apparently the drones who run this blog decided to ban me because I accused Nagin and Blanco of screwing up just as much as Bush. So much for the Democratic party’s "big tent" philosophy.
Of course I could be wrong about being banned. Since I have never been banned before, even after countless debates with Pam, Letshelpdean, Gregg, SandyH, Domingo, Paul, I am not sure what happened. Every time I tried to continue my argument from this morning, I got an error message. When I created a new account, I was allowed to post again.
All I am going to say is that if our party (and to the drone running this blog, I am a democrat) is going to ban members who do not always agree or tow the party line, then our party is no better than the republican party.
Frostie94
Black representatives aim for House power
If Democrats retake control of the U.S. House, black lawmakers, including Michigan's John Conyers, will chair three of its most powerful committees, dramatically raising their collective clout and ability to shape the nation's political agenda.
Hey William,
Is Lieberman a piece of work, or what! He just makes me all the more determined to see he gets beaten.
We have our second strategy meeting here in town on Sat morning . I am getting fired up again.
It does seem to me that you guys don't listen to others well. Die hard, frostie, etc have some excellent points and you guys don't talk to them you
talk down to them and/or lecture them. How are we ever going to get there, if we don't play nice?
Posted by Frostie on August 30, 2006 at 01:48 PM
You already got banned once, why don't you get the message?
thanks for the support but....I am not sure if I want to be placed into the same category as diehard. I am sure diehard is someone I would love to share a beer or ten with, but to be lumped into the same category, that is something else.
Bruno - I have an Appalachian hillbilly's love of language, with all its twists and turns. Product of my upbringing and sadly haven't improved a bit. Living in TX three times didn't help, either :-D Being multi-lingual has often been a help, though.
NavyVet - check with your webmaster. YGM. Thanks for the opportunity to share with you!
Domingo.
I just got banned this morning. For the first time. I dare you to go back to any of my messages this morning and tell me why I got banned. I wasn't rude. I wasn't mean. I didn't insult anybody. I simply said we need to hold republicans and democrats to the same standards. If that statement got me banned, then this party has real problems.
How are we ever going to get there, if we don't play nice?
Posted by fairnesstoall on August 30, 2006 at 02:12 PM
perhaps when the approach is changed on how their ideas are presented, we will listen. We have even had several admitted Republicans here who debated the issues civilaly who were treated with the respect they earned. I would tell you to go back to the top and view how frostie's approach of telling us Jesus Christ could come and tell us bush was right and we would tell him he was wrong was a tad bit too Snarky to let go by, but looks like the Blog "drones" (her word") have decided enough is enough of the nasty, bitter mean attitude towards Democrats!
so when THEY play nice, they will get played nicely with!
so diehard thinks none of us undertand taxes? i happen to be a CPa with 15 years of tax accounting experience, and a JD with an emphasis on tax law. And I'm here to tell you that the current tax system is this country is grossly unfair - to the working poor, that is, and it is very favorable to the well-off. People who make 6 and 7 (and even 8) figuree incomes hire people like me to keep their tax burden low, while minimum wage workers get audited and denied the earned income credit when they righfully should get it. And all of the conservative commentators conveniently overlook the regressive SS and Medicare taxes, which righfully should be thought of as a first-dollar income tax at a rate of 14.2%. I get sick of rich people whining about taxes when they not only don't pay their fair share but also get most of the benefits of goverment.
Is Lieberman a piece of work, or what! Posted by PamB
Yeah he is. And all this talk by him and his Republican allies about "bring Democratcy to the Middle East" while all they do is kill and kill. Then they won't even let us have any over here. What a effing joke. They're all a pack of liars and he's the biggest one.
No problem. It just seemed you guys have points worth listening to. Die was saying they worked their way up and maybe 35% is too high, and Pam comes backs with 50k paying 11%. I am not sure but maybe die has a point or two. All sides should be listened to, don't ya think? The baby boomer business owners have alot of clout, among themselves and their employees and it seems dangerous to just blow them off. They control alot of votes. I could be wrong, but I think we should talk to them and not just be
mean.
Frostie, Bud don't act stupid about why you got banned. You're a Dem bashing, Republican butt kisser from way back. While you try to convince us Republicans can "do no wrong", why don't you go ahead and bitch about how Clinton had sex some more.
Chris:
I have a question. I think the super rich are one thing, but aren't the self made upper middle/lower upper class getting hammered by the tax system? If I
understood Die, they were saying, the upper group @ 15% capital are beating the system, but the self made making 325k+ are getting killed. Is that true or not? Just trying to understand. Thanks.
The open thread post said something about College Football, anybody else here excited that it is about to start?
It is the only thing, other than the Daily Show, that I watch on TV regularly.
Go Penn State!!!!
another question. Isn't ss and medicare 7.5% out of the employees check? I know the corporations pay half, but my check appears to be 7.56%. Right?
Not arguing, but trying to understand. Thanks.
Hey Fairness...are you diehard? You have many similarities in your posts.
There are folks from all walks and all incomes on this blog, and it really peeves most of us when someone claims to be a spokesmouth for particular class or viewpoint and categorizes everyone on this blog as a rabid liberal who doesn't understand what it takes to make a buck or pay taxes on it. They reap what they sow.
and Pam comes backs with 50k paying 11%.
You think the $50,000 crowd should pay 35% too???
Or that pooor, pitiful Diehard should only give 11% of his?
The baby boomer business owners have alot of clout, among themselves and their employees and it seems dangerous to just blow them off.
and you saw this guy's final retort! "This is why I can't vote for you guys". He was not and is not going to vote Democratic, no matter what was said. His vote is with his Wallet!
So while you are a peace maker and want us all to play nice, take another look. We have 70 days till Election. We do not need to be distracted by people who wish to disrupt. This blog was created for Unity of Purpose. to bring together all those Americans who want to change government, and unite in ways to do it.
You really think these guys care about trying to do that?
Bombing attacks across Iraq targeted a market, an army recruiting centre and a police patrol, killing at least 39 people and wounded dozens Wednesday, police said. Full story:
http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2006/08/30/bomb-marketplace.html
Just because I'm feeling snarky today...get off your slacker ass and do something.
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Pam
Not a girl, at least the last time I checked. As for my Jesus Christ statement, it wasn't mean or directed towards any one individual. The truth is that most of the bloggers on this site are, in my opinion, blinded by hate and it doesn't make any difference they dont have any real facts to support that hatred.
Dom
If holding the democratic party to a higher standard is now considered "dem bashing" than I am guilty as charged. If our party is wrong, I will admit it. I am not a partisan hack who tows the party line just because it is the party line. I call them the way I see them, regardless of party affiliation.
Fair, I don't think those making $325K are getting hammered, they've got plenty left to live well on. That 35%, btw, is the marginal rate, not the overall rate, up until they hit $336,550 (for 2006) of taxable income ( not gross income), they are at lower rates.
FICA taxes are nominally 7.65% from the employee and another 7.65% from the employer. but that's just fiction - the right way to look at it is to add the ER share back to the EE wages because it is part of the ER's payroll expense, and then treat the entire 15.3% as a deduction from that number. So for every dollar in wages, the real wage is $1.0765, the deduction is 15.3 cents, and the rate is 14.2%.
Video of a blithering idiot. Apparently, the earpiece was forgotten.
http://movies.crooksandliars.com/Countdown-Bush-Williams-NOLA-8-29-06.wmv
Posted by Frostie on August 30, 2006 at 03:09 PM
You have got the truth wrong. Most of us bloggers have been woken up by hate---the hate each of us sees from the selfservatives currentlyholding reign. As you may have noted from your time here, we are voracious readers of news from all sources. We then make our own decisions based on what we have gleaned from these many sources. We also treat those on this blog as we are treated by them. If you come on with an arrogant, holier-than-thou, vitriolic attitude, you will met with much the same.
Blue,
I heard a repeat on MSNBC at lunch. An "epileptic" reading list indeed. (insert rolling-eyes emoticon here) He's either a total doof or stoned on the "antidepressants" they keep feeding him. Neither is a comforting thought.
PamB and all Dems,
One thing I have learned about this blog is that it is NOT a source for change or anything else.
It is simply a place where Dems can keep in contact with one another and discuss issues or topics that are important to them. At times to perhaps let off some steam.
Thus, we should avoid addressing trolls at all. On the other hand, it doesn't hurt debating republicans who are not trolls--as long as they keep the conversation civil. As soon as the name calling starts, we should all ignore further posts and only address one another.
Change only comes from getting out there and working on campaigns, donating, etc... Things that I think you are already involved in and thank you for--that is important.
Conversations or arguments here are pretty meaningless in the scheme of things.
Well, I am going to go. Keep on rockin' ya'll
Geez. Guys, I was just asking. I am sorry I wanted to learn. I'll leave. Thanks.
Posted by RedLetter_Rev on August 30, 2006 at 03:21 PM
after years of trying to figure it out I have concluded that all can be explained by understanding that he's just plain stoopid.
The truth is that most of the bloggers on this site are, in my opinion, blinded by hate and it doesn't make any difference they dont have any real facts to support that hatred.
I have seen more hatred coming out of YOU, than all the bloggers here combined. Our 3rd anniversary of this blog will be in 2 weeks. I have seen many, many people of all parties and ideals come and go. I recognize when someone like you comes in for one purpose. It is not to discuss any ideas or work on campaigns or to read the links and information presented. It is because you really have nothing but scorn for Democrats and have no qualms about making it known. I have NEVER seen you add one single piece of information or idea to the conversation.
So with that, I have addressed you for the last time.
(If you are not a girl, you sure act like one--- )
Posted by PamB on August 30, 2006 at 03:44 PM
Yikes Pam! Are you dissing girls?
Posted by Frostie on August 30, 2006 at 03:09 PM
I'm onna go do this once. Most of the "bloggers" on this site are educated and compassionate people. For the most part what is fairly typical of the Democratic Party is the principal of fairness and the common good of the people.
Because our radar (and that is the radar of the bloggers on this site) is relatively highly tuned it is patently obvious when a blogger with what we have now determined to be, a "republican" lean or list, posts.
Generally speaking, when words like, Hate and Evil, tax burden and terrorist or fascist and radical are posted, you can bet your ass and the "W" tatoo on your's, that well, you are here to pick a fight.
But it gets better than that. What then happens is the "abuser complex" where the whining begins about how " Well,I just had to hit you because you made me " follows soon after. Then a cycle of apology is initated with an attempt to make the participating bloggers feel guilt, for treating you so poorly.
So, to clarify. No tried and trusted Democratic blogger feels hate. Rather there is a feeling of disgust and contempt for the lies and manipulation of the truth, by Dubya and Co.
The Republican Party as it exists today is short lived. It may take another election cycle, but as sure as my ass points to the ground, the truth will surface and the shit that is floating will sink.
And with it, so will you or any other supporter of a party that leads with lies, manipulation and an agenda that is self serving.
Posted by RedLetter_Rev on August 30, 2006 at 03:21 PM
G'day old mate.
As eloquent as ever today.
Blue,
Never dissing girls! I have great respect for most of them!
:)
Posted by PamB on August 30, 2006 at 03:44 PM
Beat me to it, didn't ya:)
Right....Typical victims of abuse are women. It truly is unfortunate, but it's a fact.
But, if you watch closely it's a thread that runs through the republican party from top to bottom.
They are and act just like a domestic abuser. They never take responsibility for their actions and blame consequence on everyone else.
Pick anything. WMD's anyone?? Faulty Intelligence.
Katrina??..Poor local and State response.
Global Warming?? No Proof.
The list goes on, but I'm sure you get my point.
The "Party of Abuse" that ladies and gentlemen is the Republican Party.
Thats ok Pam.
I have tried to address issues with you but all you do is accuse me of me being a troll. Thats fine. Its also fine if you want to call me a little girl. As for adding to the conversation, you must be blind.
As a courtesy to you, I will not address any of your comments in the future.
Dave,
How do, my old! Good ta see ya in rare form yourself. Preach away, man ;-)
I've gotta fly out... it's booming like crazy and I need to pick up meds for my beloved.
NavyVet -- an email has headed your way. Hope to hear back.
Blessed Be, y'all.
Pam, this guy is our old "Conservative Democrat" lawyer from West Virginia who voted for Bush both times. All he ever does is tell us "the Dems are wrong and the Repugs are right", because, according to him, "when the Democrats are wrong, he's going to say so, and won't tow the party line". I've heard some Republican troll con-jobs in my day, but this one takes the cake.
For you Air America Fans !
Mike Malloy Fired from Air America Radio
This is Kathy Bay Malloy and we just got news that as of this minute we've been terminated by Air America Radio.
We don't have all the details yet, but got a tip from someone who'd seen the new network lineup that we weren't included after all. We just had that confirmed by one of the suits a few minutes ago. We're told that its a financial decision.
Thank you so much for your ongoing support and we'll keep you updated as we receive more information.
Kathy Bay Malloy
i for one have been blinded by the light not hatred. even though mamma told me and jefro not to look into the eyes of the sun. and the clear light has told me that the current administration is filled with evil cretins who are now telling us that things are going well in iraq even though the body count continues to be horrifying and that if we don't see things as they do we are like the appeasers of adolf hitler. it is interesting that the leader of this country at the time of the rise and fall of hitler was the guy who started the social security system and created huge numbers of public work projects that to this day make life in this country more enjoyable. as for hate....i do hate what these people are doing to my country and to the world and what they are doing to the future that the children of the world will inherit. the environmental devastation alone which they gleefully encourage and hold up for their armies of no-nothings like red meat before jackals is enough reason for me to hate them and to hope to someday be able to " stand over their graves to be sure that they are dead".
Posted by PamB on August 30, 2006 at 03:44 PM
My friend, you set the high water mark for most of us here. Well, at least for me. As has been said, "no matter how many things change, everything pretty much stays the same", and I see my absence from the blog, pretty much confirms that.
Got that workin' thang going on.
Anyways, half way through "Fiasco"..Thomas Ricks, and has some pretty enlightening info on the run up, the spin, and well, the bullshit that the bottom feeders thrive on.
I did want to delve into it on the blog, but problee not a good thing. I was surprised by the spot and the box that a lot of our Dem's have cornered themselves into. It would suggest why there is such a reluctance for the higher profile Dem's to come out swingin for a withdrawal.
In case you wondered what the October Surprise was going to be!
Behind the plan to bomb Iran
By Ismael Hossein-zadeh
It is no longer a secret that the administration of US President George W Bush has been methodically paving the way toward a bombing strike against Iran. The administration's plans of an aerial
military attack against that country have recently been exposed by a number of reliable sources. [1]
There is strong evidence that the US administration's recent public statements that it is now willing to negotiate with Iran are highly disingenuous: they are designed not to reach a diplomatic solution to the so-called "Iran crisis", but to remove diplomatic hurdles toward a military "solution".
The administration's public gestures of a willingness to negotiate with Iran are rendered utterly meaningless because such alleged negotiations are premised on the condition that Iran suspends its uranium-enrichment program.
Posted by RedLetter_Rev on August 30, 2006 at 04:13 PM
Crap...I gotta go too but the post that hit above for PamB was for you.
Later Dude:):)
thanks Dom but you failed to mention that I voted for Clinton twice, Byrd and Rockefeller since I was 18 and Bob Wise for Governor. Not to mention that I worked for JDR in the Senate.
I did vote for Bush, twice as you say, but as you know, the reason I voted for him is that I didn't want a liberal dem appointed supreme court justices.
I have never hidden my views, ever, on this site. I have bashed Bush and the Republicans when needed. I however will not bash them for doing the same things that we do. That is hypocricy at its finest. I will also not subscribe to conspiracy theories about Bush and the Republican party. Nor will I ever cite obscure websites as sources.
I am a prochoice, treehugging, flag burning, smut reading, raise the minimum wage democrat who happens to think that guns are ok and that the war in Iraq was, and still is, the right course of action. If that makes me a republican, than so be it.
However, I seriously doubt that given my liberal tendencies (listed above) they would open me with open arms.
God help our poor troops in Afghanistan, too! Just another Failure of this administration.
Why it's not working in Afghanistan
Remember when peaceful, democratic, reconstructed Afghanistan was advertised as the exemplar for the extreme makeover of Iraq? In August 2002, US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld was already proclaiming the new Afghanistan "a breathtaking accomplishment" and "a successful model of what could happen to Iraq". As everybody now knows, the model isn't working in Iraq. So we shouldn't be surprised to learn that it's not working in Afghanistan either.
The story of success in Afghanistan was always more fairy tale
than fact - one scam used to sell another. Now, as the administration of US President George W Bush hands off "peacekeeping" to NATO forces, Afghanistan is the scene of the largest military operation in the history of that organization. Personal e-mail brings word from an American surgeon in Kabul that her emergency medical team can't handle half the wounded civilians brought in from embattled provinces to the south and east. American, British and Canadian troops find themselves at war with Taliban fighters - which is to say "Afghans" - while stunned North Atlantic Treaty Organization commanders, who hadn't bargained for significant combat, are already asking what went wrong.
The answer is a threefold failure: no peace, no democracy, and no reconstruction.
Posted by PamB on August 30, 2006 at 04:24 PM
That's always been theri definition of "negotiation": give us everything we're asking for and then we'll negotiatie.
At least 47 dead, 100 injured in Iraqi bombings
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/08/30/iraq.main/index.html
(we all knew it was Cheney who pulls the strings!)
The Bush-Is-an-Idiot Camp Grows
"The other day I crossed paths with a conservative talk show host. We chatted about current events. He noted that he was quite pissed off at the neocons for suggesting that American blood should be spilled to benefit the Iraqis. Let the Iraqis take care of themselves, he huffed. I asked, "Are you in the Bush-is-an-idiot camp?"
This was a reference to a recent segment on Joe Scarborough's MSNBC show during which Scarborough, a former Republican congressman from Florida, posed the question, "Is our president an idiot?" After playing a montage of video clips showing Bush at his tongue-tied worst ("Fool me once, shame on you-fool me-you can't get fooled again"), Scarborough said that an former close aide to President Bush had recently told him that Bush is "intellectually shallow and one of the most incurious public figures this man has ever met." Scarborough claimed that Bush is "getting worse instead of better" and that when it comes to presidential stupidity Bush is "in a league by himself." He added, "I don't think he has the intellectual depth."
MoveOn.org Political Action launched a new ad campaign against Republican House Members who support the Bush administration’s failed policy in Iraq. Check out the short video ads in the link below and pass around.
http://pol.moveon.org/iraqads/#
The ads criticize the incumbents for failing to act as a check on President Bush’s fiasco in Iraq. They focus on the Republicans' failure to protect American troops and taxpayers from war profiteering by companies like Halliburton, and the waste of billions of dollars needed for healthcare, schools, and other priorities at home.
Posted by Frostie on August 30, 2006 at 04:27 PM
There are alot of Dems that think that "guns are ok"....but just like many other dangerous devices, maybe, just maybe, they should be controlled in some manner. Funny that you can buy as many guns as you want, but don't you dare try to buy a firework in many states. Must have something to do with the NRA....maybe the fireworks manufacturers should take a note. I can see it now: "Fireworks don't kill people, people kill people".
As for the war...it is you who must be blind. What good has come from it? And, please don't try to tie "5 years since 9/11 with no attack" to your answer. Even King George has finally admitted that Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11.
I agree with one of the posters yesterday: Let the Iraqi people vote to keep us or send us HOME.
DemKickin
200 Dead since beginning of this week! General Casey is another lying idiot!
"Violence has spiked in recent days, with more than 200 people dying since the beginning of the week in clashes, bombings or shootings.
Gen. George Casey nonetheless said Iraqi troops are on course to eventually take over from coalition forces.
"I don't have a date, but I can see over the next 12 to 18 months, the Iraqi security forces progressing to a point where they can take on the security responsibilities for the country, with very little coalition support," Casey said.
Why am I not surprised by this news?!
Sen. Stevens is 'the secret senator'
CNN has confirmed that Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, has placed a hold on a bill that would require the government to publish online a database of federal spending.
Good afternoon, all.
Pam, Joe Scarborough knows how to make his ratings climb.
An opportunitist like Scarborough sees the the pendalum swaying away from the far right. He's decided that courting the emerging progressive populist movement is the way to go. After all that is where middle America is going.
I find the re-marketing of Tucker and Scarborough as some sort of "cool" dudes the most amusing "reality" show programming yet to come down the pike. The Faux News audience is shrinking fast... and so are these Republicans if they can't adapt.
As for the war...it is you who must be blind. What good has come from it? And, please don't try to tie "5 years since 9/11 with no attack" to your answer. Even King George has finally admitted that Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11.
Posted by BlueinIdaho on August 30, 2006 at 04:50 PM
Blue,
With all that we now know about Iraq, with polls saying 65% do not think we should ever have gone into Iraq, and that Iraq and 9/11 were two separate things, it is only those who refuse to admit that they made a mistake voting for Bush who stubbornly refuse to admit that this war is a Lie and a failure
JonBenét Died - And Bush Lied?
I was on the air doing my radio program two weeks ago when the story came down the wire that the killer of JonBenét Ramsey had been captured in Thailand just hours earlier. I opened the microphone and said words to the effect of, "Today there must be something really awful going down for the Republicans. Maybe Rove really will be indicted. Maybe Cheney. Maybe some terrible revelation about Bush. And if there isn't, today will be the day they'll toss out the unsavory stories - like gutting an environmental law or wiping out pension plans - that they don't want covered."
Apparently it was worse than I'd imagined.
That same morning - just hours after the JonBenét information hit the press and just after I got off the air - it was revealed that US District Court Judge Anna Diggs Taylor had ruled that George W. Bush and now-CIA Director Michael Hayden had committed multiple High Crimes, Misdemeanors, and felonies, both criminal and constitutional. If her ruling stands, Bush and Hayden could go to prison.
I agree with one of the posters yesterday: Let the Iraqi people vote to keep us or send us HOME.
Posted by BlueinIdaho on August 30, 2006 at 04:50 PM
Blue, the Republicans don't count the votes here. What makes you think they would in Iraq?
Hi Sandy,
You are right. Look at how that last election went! Just the way the US wanted it to go.
This is disturbing:
The UN's humanitarian chief has accused Israel of "completely immoral" use of cluster bombs in Lebanon.
UN clearan