Send Then ALL to the World Court, then to Spandau!!!!

Good Friday evening to everyone, well another interesting day in politics. Can't wait for Nov. 8th!

I hope the polls are showing some good results for everyones hard work.

WASHINGTON - Nonlethal weapons such as high-power microwave devices should be used on American citizens in crowd-control situations before they are used on the battlefield, the Air Force secretary said Tuesday.

Well, I guess maybe St.Paul, MN will be one of the first tests in 2008 since talk is already starting about protests during the Repuglican convention. I for one will be there protesting, I will let you know how it feels....;)

Gee...sure are a lot of tapes of al qaeda airing lately, especially this one which appears to be saying that torture is working. You don't think that Rove is using these for political purposes do you? Nahhhh....

CNN) -- Calling President Bush "the murderer and spiller of Muslim blood," al Qaeda's top deputy released a videotape Friday accusing the American president of being a "deceitful charlatan" who has lied to the American people.

Ayman al-Zawahiri also blasts the Bush administration for holding Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, an alleged 9/11 conspirator, in a secret prison and alleging that Mohammed gave interrogators "valuable information which has helped the crusaders to kill and arrest a number of al Qaeda."

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/09/29/zawahiri.tape/index.html

Muslims bring voter registration to mosques:

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyid=2006-09-29T185303Z_01_N29217819_RTRUKOC_0_US-POLITICS-MUSLIMS.xml&src=rss&rpc=22

Carried over from the previous thread:

I feel just like Peter does . I'm not going to stop being a Democrat. I'm going to keep working for the party but..this really disgusts me and it's hard right now to feel proud to be a Democrat or an American.
****

Take a deep breathe. It doesn't reflect bad on you as a American or even on the Democratic party.
It reflects bad on the GOP who created this terrible atmosphere of fear, loathing and hate. In that sort of atmosphere, bad decisions are made, values are eroded and we truly do lose our moral compass. I find it ironic that Rumsfeld talks about us being morally confused. It;s the GOP that is morally confused.

Muslims bring voter registration to mosques
****

The mice are in the house. So, GOP HATE RAT, why would I care? Are American Muslims no longer allowed to vote your twisted hate filled little world?

who's hating?

Ayman al-Zawahiri also blasts the Bush administration for holding Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, an alleged 9/11 conspirator, in a secret prison and alleging that Mohammed gave interrogators "valuable information which has helped the crusaders to kill and arrest a number of al Qaeda."
****

Keep in mind that Bush also thinks that Ayman Al-Zawahiri is also "un-important". When he gave up the search for Bin Laden he gave up on searching for the real decision maker in Al Qaeda - namely Ayman Al-Zawahiri.

By the way, whatever happened to all the crap that Bin Laden is dead?

Senate to weigh interstate abortion bill

who's hating?
****

Did you resemble that remark House Mouse? Go back to redstate.org blog.

Story on GOP RAT Foley:

Congressman Mark Foley (R-FL) planned to resign today, hours after ABC questioned him about sexually explicit internet messages with current and former Congressional pages under the age of 18.

A spokesman for Foley, the chairman of the House Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children, said the congressman submitted his resignation in a letter late this afternoon to Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert.

Hours earlier, ABC News had read excerpts of instant messages provided by former pages who said the congressman, under the AOL Instant Messenger screen name Maf54, made repeated references to sexual organs and acts.

The full details will be included in a report tonight on ABC World News with Charles Gibson.

Most in U.S. say Congress short-sighted

WASHINGTON -- Americans are very worried about the long-term future of the country, and they don't think Congress is paying attention to big issues on the horizon, like Social Security and global warming, according to a survey released Friday.

I haven't written on this blog in well over a year, but I was looking at the agenda pages provided on this website. I noticed that there isn't one dedicated to the actions the Democratic Party would take to make our nation's education system better.

Does anyone know what actions they would take that would be different from those of the Republican Party?

Thanks,
Joe

Election & The War: Speak up

This week's bad news is a wake-up call. Summer's over. School's in session. Now it's time to focus on the crucial Nov. 7 election.

We Challenge a Republican on Torture, he FREAKS OUT

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/9/29/112558/742

Remember, this is a GOOPER bill plain and simple. Would have never been on the agenda if it weren't for the GOOPERS doing Rove's dirty work.

rjsnj

I have never visited that blog. I posted an interesting, to me, article, on a trend in voter registration. Who knew it would make you all apoplectic? Did you even read it? Maybe you are projecting your own feelings. Don't presume to speak for mine.

I have never visited that blog.
***

get lost desparate house mice! You are another GOOPER troll on this blog. I seen your nonsense posts before. Where's you buddy Frosty the Pineapple OR is Bean Bag?

Here's the GOOPERS at their finest:

ack Abramoff, puppet master.

In an email exchange subject-lined "were you able to whack mccain's wife yet?" Ralph Reed and Jack Abramoff discuss derailing the nomination of a woman named Angela Williams to an Interior post.

Williams was up for head of the Office of Insular Affairs in the Department of the Interior, which has authority over decisions affecting the Northern Mariana Islands, an Abramoff client.

With the White House's help, Abramoff's effort was successful. Ralph Reed emailed Abramoff, "talked to rove about this and I think I killed it." [...]

"Williams is married to former Federal Trade Commissioner Orson Swindle, who was a Vietnam POW with Senator John McCain," according to Time.

Not to be outdone, RNC chairman Ken Mehlman was also doing Abramoff's bidding:

One exchange of e-mails cited in the report suggests that former Abramoff lobbying team member Tony C. Rudy succeeded in getting Mehlman to press reluctant Justice Department appointees to release millions of dollars in congressionally earmarked funds for a new jail for the Mississippi Choctaw tribe, an Abramoff client. Rudy wrote Abramoff in November 2001 e-mails that Mehlman said he would "take care of" the funding holdup at Justice after learning from Rudy that the tribe made large donations to the GOP.

Experts: gasoline prices manipulated w/ poll
by rad mennonite
Fri Sep 29, 2006 at 02:23:45 PM PDT

According to former Des Moines Register opinion-page editor, at least three experts are puzzled by the drop in gas prices at the pump. They say that gas prices have never decreased faster than crude oil prices, as they are now, and that summertime gas prices "were in no way justified by market fundamentals."

****

Of course it's not. Neither were they justified when they went up. The problem with gasoline is that there is no free market. There are only three companies that refine gasoline - everything else is a marketing label. It's easy for three companies to collude with each other - if not explicitly then implicitly.

Posted by JoeHohio on September 29, 2006 at 05:59 PM

Click on link for the House Democratic view:

http://www.housedemocrats.gov/bigpicture/children_education/

rjsnj, I really do think you might be jumping to conclusions.

I realize we get a lot of trolls, but shouldn't we give someone more than one post before they are labelled...especially when it is as generic as the link posted.

This week's bad news is a wake-up call. Summer's over. School's in session. Now it's time to focus on the crucial Nov. 7 election.
****

Agreed! Let's not get distracted by frustration over the crap that GOP rammed down our throats the last month. That is one reason why they did it - they want to sow discontent within the activist community.

Send Then ALL to the World Court, then to Spandau!!!!
****

Missed the opening comment. Amen! Send all of the GOOPERS there.

Thanks, BlueinIdaho.

That's the biggest issue to me in this election. I know of course that there is the undeniably ridiculous spending by the Republican-controlled congress, unjustified war in Iraq, and so on, but I think people would be more aware of these egregious errors by the Republican party if they were more educated to form opinions in the first place.

I realize we get a lot of trolls, but shouldn't we give someone more than one post before they are labelled...especially when it is as generic as the link posted.
****

Hardly! House Mouse has been on the blog for weeks now posting comments that can only be construed as trolling.

I realize we get a lot of trolls, but shouldn't we give someone more than one post before they are labelled...especially when it is as generic as the link posted.
****

Kristen,

I'll let you communicate with the House Mouse. You decide if you care to partake.

Q: What kind of bookmark does Mark Foley use?
A: Foley doesn't use bookmarks; he just bends over the page.

Posted by JoeHohio on September 29, 2006 at 06:14 PM

The links below may also assist you. The first is from the Agenda page of this website.

Democrats know that the key to expanding opportunity is to provide every child with a strong foundation of education. We will also help expand educational opportunities for college by making college tuition tax deductible, expanding Pell Grants, and cut student loan interest rates.

http://www.democrats.org/a/national/economic_growth/

Also, a rather dated (1996), but objective look at the history of The Democratic Party education policy.

http://www.criticism.com/policy/democrats-education-policy.php

What's the big deal about Muslims bringing voter registration to mosques? The "christian" wackogelicals have been doing it all along, with Abramoff's help, Reed's complicity and Rove's direction.

Let one moderate church preach against the war and they're under IRS tyranny. I'm pretty sure with the insanity passed by Congress yesterday, anyone who isn't the CEO of a mega-corporation will be a "turris" anyway.

Sauce for the goose is gravy for the gander, baby. Let 'er rip. It's open season on all pugs.

Speaking of open season, the local (usually deep-red) TV news just did a fact check on Vernon Robinson's ads. (WARNING: Click only if you have a strong tolerance for fresh, green manure.) Predictably, they're total beeyess from the ground up. What wasn't predictable was that the Winston-Salem station was saying out loud, backing it up with FactCheck.org, and quoting the WS Journal's opinion that Robinson has delved to an even greater depth of depravity and sophistry than his last campaign against Virginia Foxx.

Nobody thought that was possible, but...

Does anyone know what actions they would take that would be different from those of the Republican Party?
****

JoeHohio,

I think it's safe to conclude that we would increase Pell grants not cut them the way the GOP did. We also would not make student loans more expensive the way the GOP did. We would support early childhood education. We would support public education.

Education is a complex topic. Hard to come with a small set of positions.

But, it would be nice to add it to the Agenda.

Good article by E.J Dionne:

By choosing to intervene in the terror debate in a way that no one could miss, Clinton forced an argument about the past that had up to now been largely a one-sided propaganda war waged by the right. The conservative movement understands the political value of controlling the interpretation of history. Now its control is finally being contested. . . .

We remember the period immediately after Sept. 11 as a time when partisanship melted away. That is largely true, especially because Democrats rallied behind President Bush. For months after the attacks, Democrats did not raise questions about why they had happened on Bush's watch.

But not everyone was nonpartisan. On Oct. 4, 2001, a mere three weeks and a couple of days after the twin towers fell and the Pentagon was hit, there was Rush Limbaugh arguing on the Wall Street Journal's op-ed page: "If we're serious about avoiding past mistakes and improving national security, we can't duck some serious questions about Mr. Clinton's presidency."

To this day I remain astonished at Limbaugh's gall -- and at his shrewdness. Republicans were arguing simultaneously that it was treasonous finger-pointing to question what Bush did or failed to do to prevent the attacks, but patriotic to go after Clinton. dThus did they build up a mythology that cast Bush as the tough hero in confronting the terrorist threat and Clinton as the shirker. Bad history. Smart politics. . . .

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/9/29/114822/157

****

Republican gall? Nah, not the GOOPERS. They are the party of gall.

What's the big deal about Muslims bringing voter registration to mosques? The "christian" wackogelicals have been doing it all along

Yep, and that's just what the article said, Rev.

DALLAS (Reuters) - American Muslims are setting up voter registration booths in mosques across the United States, echoing a tactic employed by evangelical Christians to support conservative Republican candidates.

BTW, what'd you think of my Foley joke? I got that from Dailykos.

What's the big deal about Muslims bringing voter registration to mosques? The "christian" wackogelicals have been doing it all along, with Abramoff's help, Reed's complicity and Rove's direction.
****

Exactly Red Letter! In fact, they take many steps further and use their "churches", if that's what you call Falwell and Robertson's fronts, as campaign rallying points. They run canvasses out of those locations, etc...

Rjsnj

re-freaking out over the passage of the torture bill. Okay, deep breath taken. I listened to Barak Obama speak about voting against it in spite of the attack ads that will be run and I am proud of the Dems who did vote against it. So rather than focusing on my disgust and dissapointment with the fools who passed that "fine" piece of @#$%* I will thank God our party has people like Obama and Edwards and the others who voted no.

I do however believe it reflects badly on us all as Americans. Other nations will not say "oh,but the Democrats were against it" they will simply see the law and think "Ugly Americans" sigh

Take over the House!

Take over the Senate!

Impeach Bush!

Congressman Foley resigns will take a job at NAMBLA.

Does anyone have and comments on the
NORTH AMERICAN UNION? I know Fedex and UPS are both involved in it somehow. It obviously is to benefit coporations rather then we the people.

"President Bush is pursuing a globalist agenda to create a North American Union, effectively erasing our borders with both Mexico and Canada. This was the hidden agenda behind the Bush administration's true open borders policy."

"Secretly, the Bush administration is pursuing a policy to expand NAFTA politically, setting the stage for a North American Union designed to encompass the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. What the Bush administration truly wants is the free, unimpeded movement of people across open borders with Mexico and Canada."

read it here

2005 report here

The Logic of Terrafear
by UU VIEW
Fri Sep 29, 2006 at 01:34:30 PM PDT

Fear is perhaps the only effective tool left in the Republican arsenal, but they use it well. Fear of gays, fear of immigrants, fear of liberals, and so on. But most of all right now they are whipping up and using Terrafear, the fear of terrorists and terrorism. (Ironic, since generating fear is supposed to be the point of terrorism.)

More below.
UU VIEW's diary :: ::

There is a logic, of course, to their use of fear, especially Terrafear. Politically, it is a win-win for them. It doesn't really matter for them politically whether terrorist acts occur or not. As long as they do not happen (at least major attacks on American soil), they can claim they are keeping us safe. If such an attack does happen again, the more they have been harping endlessly on terrorism, then the more they can say, "I told you so," the more fear ratchets up, and the more room they have to implement any policies they wish in the name of security.
****

No such thing as perfect security. Republicans are lying to the public when they claim to be keeping them safe. The public may be wise to ask what will save them from the Republicans who are trashing everything.

Fear is perhaps the only effective tool left in the Republican arsenal

Al Franken on Air America Radio keeps saying all the Republicans have to run on is, "Fears, Smears, and Queers".

I do however believe it reflects badly on us all as Americans. Other nations will not say "oh,but the Democrats were against it" they will simply see the law and think "Ugly Americans" sigh
****

I get what you are saying. Just don't let it get you down. What I am saying is that the GOOPERS don't speak for all Americans! Indeed, the world does see us as "Ugly Americans" ... under the GOOPERS direction we are now absolutely repulsive.

The only way to change it is to kick these GOOPERS out. Okay, we'll have some Dems that may face the music in a primary like Joe Lieberman. Let's stay to plan and win a majority. We can't change everything all at once ... would be nice but it just doesn't work that way.

Posted by rjsnj on September 29, 2006 at 06:14 PM

What are you smokin'?

I have been here for weeks, trolling? News to me. I didn't even have my computer set up till late last week. I came one time, total of two posts I believe. They certainly were'nt trollish in my mind. Are you always this welcoming?

I'll blog elsewhere so you can reign here un-opposed RJSNJ.

I'll blog elsewhere so you can reign here un-opposed RJSNJ.
****

Hey Mice, do whatever you want to do. I really don't care.

Worse Than Slave Trade -- Pakistan Sells Human Beings to US -- for Permanent Detention & Torture

The USA began in early 2002 to distribute flyers offering substantial amounts of money for the capture of suspected enemies. One such flyer says:

"Get wealth and power beyond your dreams ... You can receive millions of dollars helping the anti-Taleban forces catch al-Qaida and Taleban murderers. This is enough money to take care of your family, your village, your tribe for the rest of your life. Pay for livestock and doctors and school books and housing for all your people."

There is overwhelming evidence of Pakistanis, both officials and private individuals, selling people into US custody.
****

Nice eh? So do they have to be guilty of anything? With the latest legislation, you'll never know. So people with financial incentives to make phoney claims about someone's guilt can do so and we'll just throw them into a torture chamber. I guess if the witch's float they are witches but if they don't they are dead. But, I doubt this will disturb a GOOPER much, they hate Arabs just because they hate them.

One is an quirk - two is a coincidence - three is a trend - four is...
by cbastian
Fri Sep 29, 2006 at 02:19:21 PM PDT

This is a tough election season, and there are a lot of things on the minds of the electorate, and therefore a lot of different approaches we can taking in reaching out to them. But it just occured to me that the announced resignation of Congressmen Foley has given us a window to build on a simple theme and hammer it home: "trust" and "honesty".(more below the fold)
cbastian's diary :: ::

Political scandals are a recurring event in our universe; sometimes people pay attention, and sometimes they don't. But nothing crystalizes a scandal like having the subject resign in disgrace (or at least under a cloud of suspicion). It conveys guilt and/or weakness, characteristics that most voters don't want to be associated with.

We have now been presented with an embarassment of riches: Randy "Duke" Cunningham, Tom Delay, Bob Ney and now Mark Foley, all from different states, all clouded in different scandals (an important point; it's not just one event that a voter can convince him/herself that their congressman wasn't involved in) either resigning or announcing they won't run again, and all in the past year. The commercial almost writes itself: a black screen, ominous music, four portraits filling the different quadrants of the screen, a US map showing states filling with blood red color in the north (OH), south (TX), east (FL) and west (CA), the announcer reminding the audience of the litany of charges and asking are you ready to trust them again?"
****

Exactly right!

is george allen really going to continue running for office? can virginians vote for him without gagging? can we get a take on allen as a human being from bush/cheney/rove? from salon:

Another teammate confirms Allen used "N-word"
The Virginia senator's denial spurs a former friend to come forward with memories of Allen's racial slurs: "I don't know how George can look himself in the mirror."

By Michael Scherer

Sept. 29, 2006 | WASHINGTON -- A former football teammate of Sen. George Allen decided Friday to go on the record with recollections of the Virginia Republican's alleged racist behavior during college.

Edward J. Sabornie, a special education professor at North Carolina State University, had previously spoken to Salon about Allen's behavior on the condition of anonymity, because he feared retribution from the Allen campaign. In a Salon story on Sunday, Sabornie was quoted as a "teammate" who remembered Allen using the word "nigger" to describe blacks. "It was so common with George when he was among his white friends. This is the terminology he used," Sabornie said in that article.

Sabornie said he has now decided to let his name be known because he was upset by how Allen responded this week to the Salon story. "What George said on Monday really kind of inflamed me -- that it was 'ludicrously false' that he ever used the N-word," Sabornie told Salon. "I don't know how George can look himself in the mirror after saying that."

...for the rest of the piece go to salon.

and then we have the conservative republican from florida..."Foley was the author of the key sexual predator provisions of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, which Bush signed in July.

Foley, who represents a district in southern Florida, also was a member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, which oversees tax and trade policy."

who was writing sexually explicit e-mails to a minor aged congressional page....

and the berstein book, the musharif book, the intel documents....great week for republicans, no?

Al Franken on Air America Radio keeps saying all the Republicans have to run on is, "Fears, Smears, and Queers".
***

Howdy domingo. That's it. They have no agenda to offer. Nothing positive to tell Americans. No hope, just fear.

My God! Why aren't you people seizing on all the bad news coming the Republicans' way? Please--show some guts! Talk about Katrina like how they talk about 9-11 -- show how Katrina exemplified how the GOP, not the Dems, can't protect us!!!! Do something!!!

And why aren't you jumping on this (see below)---the House leadership was involved in the Foley cover-up, and basically sponsored it--this is criminal:
The page worked for Rep. Rodney Alexander, R-La., who said Friday that when he learned of the e-mail exchanges 10 to 11 months ago, he called the teen's parents. Alexander told the Ruston Daily Leader, "We also notified the House leadership that there might be a potential problem."
House Speaker Dennis Hastert said Friday he had asked the chairman of the House's page board, Rep. John Shimkus, R-Ill., to investigate the page system. "We want to make sure that all our pages are safe and the page system is safe," Hastert said.

I was just watching Lou Dobbs on CNN and I heard something very disturbing that this administration wants to form a North American Union, another kickback for big business and an insult to our great nation. I think it's an outrage that there isn't a federal investigation of U.S. government efforts to support a North American Union going on right now. Something needs to done to put a stop to this and now! It seems like Bush wants to sell out the United States to make it one big country with Mexico and Canada. This is something Democrats should use against Republicans and demand that there be a federal investigation now. How much more of America will be sold to benefit big business?

And why aren't you jumping on this (see below)---the House leadership was involved in the Foley cover-up, and basically sponsored it--this is criminal:
****

Dink,

Sounds like a good one. Please post some links if you have them.

Hey, I am over my disappointment on the tribunals bill. Time to move on. It was only one bill of many terrible bills sponsored by Pugs this last two years.

Time to fight back.

Posted by Dink on September 29, 2006 at 06:47 PM

I would advise you to read before you post.

Later, folks.

I was just watching Lou Dobbs on CNN and I heard something very disturbing that this administration wants to form a North American Union
****

Yep, the GOOPERS have been trying to create a super-NAFTA under the covers. They were going to do it with no Congressional approval!

I will now only support individual Democrats until the Party stands up for the Constitution.

I am disappointed, outraged and furious that the Democrats in the Senate did not choose to filibuster the Detainee Treatment and Trials bill.

I can't find an official word about this topic on this DNC site. Cowards!

SHAME ON US - DNC. - DSCC - DCCC

And what did it get you. Shrub is out there painting ALL DEMOCRATS as CUT and RUNNERS. Fat lot of good selling out the Constitution is doing.

You don't deserve a nickle more from me. I will work and give to individual Democrats with the courage to speak the truth and support the interests of the average American over the corporations.

and the berstein book, the musharif book, the intel documents....great week for republicans, no? Posted by gregg on September 29, 2006 at 06:44 PM

I'll tell ya something I don't get gregg, everytime they ask the guy running against "Macaca Allen" what he thinks about it, he says, "I don't want to talk about it!". And now when they ask the guy running against Foley, he also says, "I don't want to talk about it!". What's with these guys? If it were Democrats accused of anything, the Republican would never shut-up about it. If Republicans can't dig up anything on a Democrat, they'll just make something up, but these Democrats keep saying they don't want to point out a Republican's faults. Why not? Are they not trying to win?

After issuing a flurry of self-righteous, outraged denials last night, Mark Foley is resigning from Congress today after realizing that he won't be able to stop the full exposure of the extent of his inappropriate and predatory advances towards current and former Congressional pages under the age of 18. That a Congressman would abuse his position of authority to make predatory advances to 16-year-olds is one of the most shameful stains on political office imaginable. This requires more than a resignation.

Dailykos

domingo there are two plausible answers to your question:

1. our candidates are morons.

or

2. such stories are best when the run on "their own legs" and as such these two are looking like they might break the four minute mile.

i would like to see our team demanding that the presidunce and that asshole mehlman repudiate allen's history of racism and foley's somewhat....er....disingenous... self managed image as a protector of the nations yutes...

Domingo: Karl Rove follows the blueprint laid down by Josef Goebbels that is don't act,react. I think Harry Reid has finally figured this put.This is a chess game of the highest order and he isn't giving him anything to spin on.I truly believe that the dirty deeds people are just now starting to reap the harvest of their scorched earth policy.

I pray every day for the demise of this unholy alliance with the devil.

The Dems don't have to comment on it because the news is (actually!)covering it and all the Dems have to do is look classy and smile inside.

Posted by DemocratKickingAss on September 29, 2006 at 06:52 PM

check out my post at:
Posted by dk2 on September 29, 2006 at 06:30 PM

I post about the union and a 70 page pdf file
here

And what did it get you. Shrub is out there painting ALL DEMOCRATS as CUT and RUNNERS. Fat lot of good selling out the Constitution is doing.
****

that's the real sick joke of all of this. It's not as if Dems are going to run on a "I love torture" platform even the GOOPERS run away from that by dissembling the truth. The GOOPERS will still paint them as weak.

such stories are best when the run on "their own legs"

Well gregg, I'm not saying I want them to start yelping, "Allen's a racist!" or "Foley's a child molester!", but I think the LEAST they could do is say something like, "these are serious charges, if they indeed are true" or something like that. I just don't get this, "I don't want to talk about it!" business. They got to quit letting these Republican crooks pass themselves off as the "moral majority" when they're not. Something needs to be said. Something.

Another Cabbie. Another Incredible Story.
by Maccabee
Fri Sep 29, 2006 at 10:31:04 AM PDT

A Yellow Cab driven by a tiny African man named Bale pulled up to the curb and the Air Port Taxi authorities pointed me to his taxi. I threw my stuff in the back seat and we headed out to the hotel. I was in Canada this week. It's a long ride to town and I had once again climbed into the cab of a man who had lived to see his country change from a calm pastoral British protectorate to a boiling horrible dictatorship.

His didn't happen in six years. His happened in four months.

"Where you from?"

"Uganda."

"How long have you been here?"

In a thick accent he answered, "about 24 years."

"What brought you here?"

"Freedom."

....

"He called himself President for Life and His Excellency Field Marshal. He said he was a doctor. Dr. Idi Amin Dada. You know he was completely koo koo. He had syphilis that had never been treated. He was so cruel. He was the cruelest man in the world."

"He hated Gays. He hated Jews. He hated Christians. Before him we had a mildly talented pro UN leader named Oboti (sp?). Amin was actually very loyal to Oboti but later overthrew him."

"The worst part was how fast it swept down on us all. I mean in my province, Acholis and Gandans and Lugbaras (sp?) lived around each other, no one had any problems with other clans that needed gunfire to solve. You understand? The worst part was one day they came and they started yelling at my father, these thugs. That he was married to an Acholi. My father's brother started pushing the soldier and they beat him with their rifles. Right there in front of his house."

He looked back at me. "The worst part is that the neighbors were not looking, they acted like they didn't see what was happening. These were the same people who we danced with and sang with and cooked with. It was so sad. So very sad."

....

"What do you think about Bush?"

"Bush is a dictator. Did I offend you?"

"No. What makes him a dictator?"

"You cannot joke about killing him. Hell even under Amin we danced and sang death songs at him. He had a hotel complex that he tortured people in. The difference between Bush and Amin as far as that goes is that I knew where my relatives were being tortured, and no one knows exactly where the Americans are torturing their victims."

"Do you believe we are doing horrible torture to thousands or to a few?"

He thought about it and said "Is there any difference? My experience is that once torturers begin torturing, the torturers have a hard time stopping."

That really upset me. I persisted. "Seriously, do you think we are torturing thousands?"

He took his time. "They won't let you see one dead soldier. Even under a flag they won't let you see it. They don't tell you the truth about anything. They lie lie lie. My experience tells me this. I don't really know. But if I had to guess, I would guess that your government is doing the worst things you can possibly imagine. Liars are lying because they cannot tell the truth. When I see Bush speak, I don't see a stupid man as you do and many others. I see a man who is too shamed to tell the truth. He has caused so much pain and knows it, but if he admitted one little bit of it, it would come crashing out like a dam. You understand? Bush is in a lot of pain."

For the rest:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/9/29/13314/2260

lets find more reasons for folks to not vote for the klansman:

Poll shows Virginia Senate race is dead heat
Incumbent Sen. Allen and challenger James Webb tied with 43 percent

By Sheldon Gweiser
NBC Director of Elections
NBC News
Updated: 46 minutes ago
NEW YORK - Incumbent Republican Senator George Allen and Democratic challenger Jim Webb are tied in the latest MSNBC/McClatchy poll conducted by Mason-Dixon. Each candidate received the support of 43 percent of likely voters in Virginia with 2 percent supporting a third candidate and 12 percent undecided.

...how about the fact that when confronted with his history of racist language and behavior he lied about it?

rjsnj: very few people are taking the GOOPERS seriously.Relax, the worm has turned.Truth will always out.

i know what you mean domingo. it often seems our team is a day late and a dollar short.

...how about the fact that when confronted with his history of racist language and behavior he lied about it?
****

gregg,

Allen is a rascist plain and simple. He is also an imbecile but that's another topic. Webb is infinitely superior to Allen.

Quote of the day from Foley:

Republicans were aghast at Clinton's behavior, with many saying it showed he had lied and abused his power.

"It's vile," said Rep. Mark Foley, R-West Palm Beach. "It's more sad than anything else, to see someone with such potential throw it all down the drain because of a sexual addiction."
****

Ahem ... come again Mark Foley? People who live in glass houses.

Gregg: I am an old man,a really old man but i am not yet senile.I MUST stay upright un til the november elections.I dream about the look on the face of Barbara's folly when he understands that he is about to be de-dicked.

rjsnj: very few people are taking the GOOPERS seriously.Relax, the worm has turned.Truth will always out.

`````````````````````````````````````````````````
Many people still believe anything the President says.
Do not relax!

Want to be terrified? Check out a Repub. blog.

It is like a cult. correction, it is a cult.

Torture bill shenanigans: explanation

Read it for yourself and judge:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/9/29/164851/143

I think that once again we were pressured into doing something we didn't want to do ... otherwise, there would have been a cloture vote.

wap, another blueprint Karl Rove follows is "turn their strength against them!". He attacks war heros as being cowards and legal rights as being "terrorists rights" and so on. I say we do the same thing to them. They call themselves "holy" and "honest" and "moral". We need to show what kind of lying, thieving, sex perverted, "moral-holy-honest" people these Republicans really are.

Posted by desperate_housemice on September 29, 2006 at 05:46 PM

I don't think we should be so quick to judge. AMERICAN muslims until 2004 were split as was the rest of the country. In 2004 more voted against Bush and for democrats.

IRS pretty much said non-profits can not say vote for a specific candidate, but can address issues.

It is like a cult. correction, it is a cult.
****

amgrl,

They definitely are like a cult. Just read the stuff their trolls post on this blog. Only people who have been brainwashed could suspend all reasonable thought.

wap, ok how old is really old? i am 58 which i thought was ancient but then up poped two bloggers who are 71! now i am thinking of going out for the jv football team. and i too hope to live to piss on their graves.

I can't wait for alito to get outed,I hope it comes before the election.

9/11 Attack was a planned, staged and executed by the Bush administration

A small hydrogen bomb was placed deep in the basements of the three buildings wtc1, 2 and 7. That was in addition to conventional demolition charges.

The proof is in the laws of physics:

1. All concrete floors were pulverized to dust particles less the 100 microns.

2. The extremely rigid 47 steel columns making up core of the buildings were partly evaporated and created the very dark clouds of condensed steel vapors. Upper part of the core was melted, causing pools of molten steel under the rubble of all three buildings. They stayed glowing hot for over a month.

3. No trace of any computers or office other equipment were found in the rubble.

Conventional explosives could not cause this type of physical “finger prints”

Elect Democrats to make GOP leaders face trial

http://www.saunalahti.fi/wtc2001/military.htm

Re: Torture bill shenanigans: explanation
Thanks rjsnj
I've been trying to figure out what Harry Reid meant when he said they just didn't have the votes to fillibuster.

You can be assured that this deal about the congressman from florida and the teen age page is another nail in the coffin of the Bush crime family.The holy rollers in florida will have a fit and if the democrat opposition plays this right we have picked up another seat.

I'm saying that it is ours to lose.Right will out.

My neighbors are worse than the trolls. They are sweet, kind, Christian people who believe Bush is a "Good" man and I am a misguided heathen for not believing everything he says. The world is a frightening place when you realize our current leaders are nuts. I think some Repubs. keep their eyes tight shut so they can sleep at night.

Gregg: certain things must be held closely to ones own heart,i will admit to being born while Calvin Cooledge was in his last throes.

I have served this nation in both ww2 and korea.I am proud of it but i don't want my grandchildren and their offspring to go through the trauma of a needless war and i am appalled that the greatest country on earth has allowed a child to become its leader.

Got to go cook for the hordes. bbl.
Thanks for the encouragement. I live surrounded by Repubs so this is a breath of fresh air.

Good evening from Georgia! The governors race is getting busy over here. We're getting the signs out everywhere.

a pleasure to meet you wap. look foward to doing whatever this is with you in the run up to the november elections.

wap
Thanks for your service to our country. I'm not quite your age, but am no dixie chick.

I too worry about the country that my children and grandchildren will inherit. It will not be the one I inherited from the Greatest Generation.

I feel blessed that my "ranting and ravings" have created 3 independent minded children who are all supporting dems. thanks to g wrong bush's handling of Iraq

Thanks= imust tell you that your wit is refreshing-i have a grand daughter who is an attorney in NYC and she tells me that you guys have an attitude that is the envy of the world. Is that correct?

keith olbermann is priceless
be sure to catch a replay of him calling the fox head a "fat ass"

My neighbors are worse than the trolls. They are sweet, kind, Christian people who believe Bush is a "Good" man and I am a misguided heathen for not believing everything he says.

AMGRL,

Just keep sweetly reminding them, Is This what Jesus would do? I have a couple of those "Who would Jesus Bomb" bumper stickers if you would like one for your car or window!

:)

heading right back down the toilet!

"The President's job approval among American adults fell two points to 40% today. Fifty-seven percent (57%) disapprove of the way the President is performing his job. A look at the overall numbers for September suggests that the President is doing a bit better than he did in August, but that there has not been a major re-assessment of his performance.

http://www.rawstory.com/showoutarticle.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Frasmussenreports.com%2FBush_Job_Approval.htm

Hey Duke where's the DLC on the list aren't they cowards as well.

I don't know if we have an attitude that is the envy of the world, but I have to periodically take a break for an attitude adjustment.

"The President's job approval among American adults fell two points to 40% today. Fifty-seven percent (57%) disapprove of the way the President is performing his job. A look at the overall numbers for September suggests that the President is doing a bit better than he did in August, but that there has not been a major re-assessment of his performance.
****

Pam,

That's the tragedy of Dems not fighting back hard enough on this tribunals issue. I think the nation is no longer comfortable with Bush's bull.
In 2001 and 2003, and maybe some of 2003, he was given a pass. Now too much has come to light.

I don't believe that the Pugs would have been successful in attacking us on the tribunals issue as weak. There are many good counter arguments that the Pugs really are weak. Torture makes the torturer weak, not a tough guy as these Pugs try to paint it. This could have even became a wedge issue for our party.

Damn, the DLC insiders, I am convinced that they came up with this stupid plan to let the Pugs fight it out amongst themselves. When that fell apart, they had no plan and came up with an even worst plan to have a small number of Dems vote for it to make it look bipartisian. I wish we would dump the DLC-ers. Anyway, that's my guess on how this played out.

Just keep sweetly reminding them, Is This what Jesus would do? I have a couple of those "Who would Jesus Bomb" bumper stickers if you would like one for your car or window!

I love this!!!! I've been saying "What would Jesus have me do?" I believe he would have me use the brain he gave me, get all the facts, and act accordingly

Hey Will :-)

Yeah, I needed the snicker :-) I'm trying to get my groove back on since yesterday, but not having much joy so far. This whole torture discussion has me feeling between disgusted to the core, embarrassed for Congress and just plain angry-embarrassed over the thought that they'd would legalize clearly heretofore illegal activities. This is brought to you by the party that promised "to restore honor and integrity to the White House".

Get a load-a that.

In an attempt to deflect impeachment proceedings when Congress reconvenes, they legalize little potentially-damning activities, like torturing and spying on people. It's a perfect storm of pardons waiting to occur so they can do like they did before, plot against the US again. Unless, this time, unlike the Nixon days, we're willing to dig deep and fix all that needs to be fixed and put away whoever needs to be put away.

The immorality of visiting intentional harm on another being is physically sickening to me. I've been the harm-ee too many times. To think that Congress is actually encouraging torture deeply disappoints me.

The turn of events since 2000 has unfolded like a horror rerun of 1960's and 70's Soviet Union from the inside, replete with gulags (Halliburton-built mega-prisons and CIA Black Sites), a "defense" department whose real job was to defend indefensible government behavior by spying on its own citizens (instead of the real, external threats they were busily generating) (KGB, now CIA) (a covey of client states in Europe and west Asia as opposed to a hope of a client state in the middle east), a state propaganda machine like Pravda or Isvestya (Faux et al), a single-party rule gone made with warmaking and the "need" for defense.

And now a side dish of legalized torture to go alone with your extraordinary rendition. I fail to find any difference in behavior of elected officials toward the people they were supposed to be representing between the old Communist military-industrialists and the Republican ones.

That horrifies me. This isn't supposed to happen here, but it is.

They thwart the Constitution and the very tradition of civil rights. We didn't have civil rights perfect, day before yesterday, but I think most Americans would prefer to be reasonable if given a chance. Aside from the wealthy rulers, most of us would prefer to be fair with our fellow human beings. We know we didn't have it all set right yet, but we're willing to make it better.

Spying, torture, kangaroo courts? Where's the Republican "moral" outrage, now? Somebody please tell me, but I find it thunderingly conspicuous by its absence.

A moral line was crossed yesterday, one that gives me a strange sort of disgust and malaise to contemplate. Our government is doing something very wrong and attempting to cloak it in righteous-sounding reasons. Another of the reasons we were good and the Soviets were bad.

We have indeed launched off a precipice. The damage, internal and foreign will require decades of dedicated repair and vigilance. If we ever make it through this, that is. A corner was turned, alright, but it led into the very maw of hell.

I'll bet Washington and Jefferson and FDR are ready to climb right up out their graves.

More fuel for Dems to use against Repubs who are enamored of Repubs because they love to claim Dems will raise your Taxes!! Use this info, people.

ALERT: GOP Poised To Raise Taxes

http://www.dscc.org/news/roundup/20060928_taxes/

Where's the Republican "moral" outrage, now? Somebody please tell me, but I find it thunderingly conspicuous by its absence.

The Republican party is not the party of my father. But how can we expect a moral response, when their leader is devoid of this quality.

GW spent his time in Alabama (not attending National Guard meetings) but conducting dirty tricks in a political campaign. Both he and Rove cut their teeth in this state. They have only grown more monstrous as they obtain more power.

Eisenhower is probably ready to climb out of his grave with Washington and Jefferson.

Someone on the blog asked about education earlier. Well, here's the GOP on education:

GOP COLLEGE TUITION TAX HIKE: 3.6 Million College Students Will Be Impacted. Republicans let the college tuition tax deduction that allows families to deduct up to $4,000 a year for tuition expire at the end of 2005, leaving 3.6 million students and families in the lurch. In May, one Republican Senator promised, “no one is abandoning the extension of the college tuition tax deduction” but, with one day left, the tax credit has not been extended.

****

This is not something Dems would have allowed to happen. In addition, we would have increased Pell grants not decrease them like the Pugs.

The Pugs love to talk about education being the way to compete in the "free market". They talk but they don't do anything to help. They even cut job retraining programs that help workers that were displaced by trade agreements such as NAFTA.

Eisenhower is probably ready to climb out of his grave with Washington and Jefferson.
****

I agree. Ike would have been outraged by this military tribunals crap. So would General George Marshall who led our forces through WWII. Even the Nazi's as repugnant as they were got a fair trial. That's the difference between Nazi's and Democratic people. But, that moral high ground has been ceded by the Pugs.

What's going on in Baghdad?? Curfew imposed until 6:00 a.m. Sunday during Ramadan??

Curfew on cars and foot traffic. Ramadan is a time of fasting during daylight hours and visiting with friends and relatives after dark.

Fox News Chief Roger Ailes is up in arms over the now famous clash between former President Bill Clinton and Fox's Chris Wallace. He says Clinton had a "wild overreaction" and his "attack" on Wallace was "an assault on all journalists."

How supremely ironic that Roger Ailes would be saying this. On January 25th, 1988, it was Ailes who, sitting five feet away from then Vice President George H.W. Bush in his Senate office in the Capitol building, literally used cue cards to help orchestrate the now-famous Bush confrontation with Dan Rather over the Iran/Contra affair

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2006/09/28/fox-news-chief-roger-aile_n_30514.html

"whats going on in Baghdad" It is a mess,the Texas Rangers were a Mess,all of Bushies oil companies were a mess,Arbusto was a criminal enterprise,and we have allowed this asshole full and free access to our communication network.Raise hel;l with your congressman-=change this mind set.

I'm a little slow tonight - just read MSNBC story re Foley and it's upset my stomach.

Florida Republican Party lawyers were reviewing the process to pick a replacement. If any lawyers are involved, it should be the prosection. This man should be locked up.

Maf54: You in your boxers, too?
Teen: Nope, just got home. I had a college interview that went late.
Maf54: Well, strip down and get relaxed.

Another message:

Maf54: What ya wearing?
Teen: tshirt and shorts
Maf54: Love to slip them off of you.

And this one:

Maf54: Do I make you a little horny?
Teen: A little.
Maf54: Cool.

Foley's E-mails to a sixteen year old page.

Time for me to go. I need an attitude adjustment.

I'm beginning to agree with Chavez (Bush is the devil) and al Zawahiri (Bush is a lying failure)

Have a good night all and keep the faith.

OK, not for nothing but my "representative" Used to be Tom Foley (R) 16th District Fl. Tim Mahoney (D) 16th District Fl. will likely become the NEW Representative For the 16th District! Bill Nelson totally annoyed me yesterday so I may cast a no vote for any candidate for the Florida Senate. I've not only never voted for Foley but had no idea he might be gay and couldn't care less.

What I did care about was how he voted. Republicans "claim" the "high road" and then vote and pass legislation that allows The Bush Administration to aviod prosecution for violations of The War Crimes Act, Foley voted AYE!

Foley Was in the top five of republican "leadership" until today........lol....lol.....I'm sorry but ever since I got off work and found this out I've been giggling and grinning ever since.

If Foley is gay who cares, except of course for maybe some campaign donors, targeting minors is a whole different story.

Posted by wap on September 29, 2006 at 08:04 PM I have served this nation in both ww2 and korea.

Thanks for all you've done, Wayne. I spent some time going to school and working in England and France when I was younger.

I got to know quite a few people there and despite the posturing and rhetoric, especially among the French, when we'd sit down to have beer and talk, their heartfelt thanks for the sacrifices you and everyone else made were always evident.

I was taken in for a few days by one French couple who's son was my age at the time he died in the French resistance.

They tasked me with letting everyone that I met from your generation know that they haven't forgotten what you did.

Republican Congressman 'tolerated' forced abortions, sex slavery of immigrant laborers.

Corrupt Republican politicians, lobbyists escape voter wrath.

Dorsana= Thank you-so many people have forgotten and it breaks my heart.

Dorsana= Thank you-so many people have forgotten and it breaks my heart.

Dorsana= Thank you-so many people have forgotten and it breaks my heart.

Dorsana= Thank you-so many people have forgotten and it breaks my heart.

I just heard some bad news for us CT Democrat voters. Right now Ned Lamont is behind Joe Lieberman by 10 points in the polls and we can't afford to lose this Democrat seat to Lieberman which is why some serious activism is needed to help Ned Lamont win. CT is a blue state so we have a good chance to turn things around to help Mr. Lamont. Diane Farrell (D) is getting a lot of TV ads and has a good chance of beating long time Republican Chris Shays who is another one who has supported the Iraq war. If you're reading this and you're from CT or know someone who is then please do what you can to swing the votes over to Ned Lamont and of course John Destefano (D), DeStefano needs our help as well because even though he went up some in the polls he is still behind Republican Jodi Rell. We need a Democrat victory November 7th if we want to see changes for the better. For those that live in other states do what you can to help those Democrats in your states win. We don't have much time left but we can do it.

http://www.nedlamont.com

This congressional sex scandal has just hit blockbuster status: according to the Associated Press, the Foley behavior towards pages was known nearly a year ago, and the House Leadership took no action.

Jesus. They knew for nearly a year, and covered it up. The "corruption" frame just got a hell of a lot more serious. Today, Dennis Hastert said an investigation would be forthcoming. I'll bet he's right, and I'll bet he's going to be one of the ones investigated -- because he knew of it ten months ago.

Dailykos

Millions of anchovies die on Spain beach

By HAROLD HECKLE, Associated Press Writer 24 minutes ago

MADRID, Spain - Millions of anchovies — a protected species in Europe — have died in northern Spain after an unexplained mass beaching, officials said Friday....

The fish, all juveniles, were found stranded along large stretches of Colunga beach, 35 miles east of the port city of Gijon, a normally pristine seaside landscape in the verdant province of Asturias...

If the beached specimens had grown to full maturity, they would have represented more than 100 tons of potential breeders...

"It's a bit of a disaster," said Laria. "We can't fish them because they're so rare, and now they've killed themselves."

Did someone tell these them it was for the good of Islamic freedom in the Middle East? Ha, I bet the fundies would march into a volcano if Spunky told them it would keep the terrorists over there.

Hi, everyone. Just stopping by to say hi. Hope you're all working hard for your local candidates. It's crunch time. We need as many boots on the ground as possible.

I saw "The U.S. vs. John Lennon" tonight. John Lennon is still fighting from the grave. Is it just me or is Yoko Ono the only person in this country not afraid of Cheney and the neocons? Why couldn't Reed find enough Democrats willing to filibuster the Torture Bill? It's disgraceful.

If this country slides into a dictatorship, we'll know where to lay the blame. I hope the DLC and the Clintons are enjoying their "friendship" with the Bushies and Lindsey Graham.

But I'm still optimistic about building the party back from the bottom up. If we can only get those anti-incumbent voters to the polls, we'll get back control of Congress... and we might actually be able to save the Bill of Rights.

The first thing we should do is round up all the Diebolt voting machines and throw them in Boston Harbor...with one of them tied around Jeb Bush's waist.

Keep the faith, guys...and see the Lennon documentary. (Why is it that all the good movies are documentaries these days?)

Good night, all.

Evening all,

I just returned from Costco and was looking through the books when I saw the most disgusting book cover I have ever seen. The book had a picture of that chicken-hawk bush on the cover with the title "The Greatest Story Ever Told". I felt like, then and there, shredding every one of these books. That disgusting bastard chicken-hawk was wearing the respected uniform of our brave American flyers.

Then I saw another disgusting book by limpbaugh's brother bad-mouthing the Democrats. He is a disgusting bastard like his brother.

Costco is obviously a big contributor to the repugs.

Earlier today I saw that disgusting story about the Jesus camp somewhere in the south where the ahole parents are brainwashing their kids to be good Nazis. They use a blown up picture of our asshole president. It is just like Nazi Germany or the Soviet Union where they had huge pictures of Hitler and Stalin hanging in public. These fundies are abusing their children and should be prosecuted.

WHOA, Hold yer horses, Johnedward...

The title of that book is The Greatest Story Ever SOLD by Frank Rich.

He basically slices and dices the Chimp's LIES for the run up to HIS war, using FOIA documents and other sources.

It looks like Costco contributed $222,000 to the Democratic party and $2,000 to the repugs. They certainly don't practise censorship like the repugs.

Also, Costco is a pretty reliable DEM donating Company which pays it's employees a living wage AND BENEFITS.

Costco is cool, and shows just how shitty WallyWorld is.

He basically slices and dices the Chimp's LIES for the run up to HIS war, using FOIA documents and other sources.

Posted by DPD on September 29, 2006 at 11:53 PM

Thanks, I feel 100% better. I should have read the title more carefully. I just saw red when I saw the asshole wearing an American uniform that he did not earn. I all the stories about his National Guard service are true, he should have received a dishonorable discharge.

Click on that "hot link" for the book, and read the reviews, and the customer comments.

KKKarl Roverer's head will explode if he sees them.

I can't help but wonder if NBC's DATELINE is working on a Republican Congressman online predator edition.

PROGRESSIVE VALUES