Good morning, Democrats

Hi, Ho! - Hi Ho! It's off to work I go
With handgernades and razor blades
Hi ho, Hi ho.

Three cribs at Christmas: a message from Bethlehem

No, this has not been a good year for how the world's main monotheistic religions have worked together for peace and justice, much less for love.

Christmas and the holy seasons of Islam and Judaism offer us an opportunity to look afresh at what could unite us and what could make us act humbly and healingly as true sisters and brothers of one another, daughters and sons of one God. If we started with the births of Moses, Jesus and Muhammad, we might celebrate a season not of one but of three cribs. Their births in these three cribs might get us behind our differences and our dogmas to our human vulnerability and to our need for compassion for one another, for ourselves and for all.

Another Cheney fraternity brother bites the dust?

Turkmen leader dies, uncertainty on succession

By Marat Gurt

ASHGABAT (Reuters) - Turkmenistan's President-for-life Saparmurat Niyazov died suddenly on Thursday after 21 years of iron rule, raising a risk of political instability in the energy-rich country that some feared could have an impact on Europe's gas supplies.

Niyazov, 66, who crushed all dissent in his reclusive state and basked in a unique and bizarre personality cult while ruling a country with huge natural gas reserves, died overnight of cardiac arrest, state television said...

//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061221/ts_nm/turkmenistan_dc

Well, I guess this is another "democracy opportunity" for the GOP gang that can't devise an alternative fuel policy.

jeez, Kristen. Thanks for posting that right after I sang my morning song. :)

Has anyone ever looked at the Illinois Democratic website? http://www.ildems.com

The site is a waste. It was so frustrating during the 100 days activities because most of the activities would say 'go to your state site for more information.' Which was inevitably a dead end as our site has hardly any information. It is not updated at all. I would think one of the biggest and bluest states around should have something more than that.

repost form last thread, and good morningto everyone:

gregg on December 21, 2006 at 07:49 AM,

Yeah, but Greg, you must understand what always win elections for Republicans; fear. We have to keep our country at the brim of holocaust, to maintain the lack of security issue, to maintain the trillion dollar defence industry, to maintain the flow of oil, etc etc. It's all tied together. Therefore, it makes perfect sense that Bosco desires to destabililize the planet by spreading nuclear technology to those coiuntries that he says is okay to have it, while holding the nuclear carrot away from those he tempts into promoting nuclear autrocity.

Posted by davidual on December 21, 2006 at 09:29 AM

salutetheDems...What a great idea...Put all 300 million of us on their plan!!!!Just remember that the name of this administration is "Bush's Folly"..pass it on..ridicule can have it's place and be efffective

Good morning Dors! Dont generally get the pleasure of your company in the morning. :)

I seen an article this morning stating US Troops asked Gates for more troops... I wonder if these meetings were of the hand picked type our Chimp in chief has?

Filet Mignon, Pinot Noir and an MRI

Imagine for a moment that you own an upscale restaurant -- one that offers vintage wines, fine cuts of beef and exotic seafood. But night after night, patrons are leaving before paying their bills. Indeed, so many guests are now stiffing your restaurant that you face a financial crisis

Forgive if this is a reposted article.

Bush "Developing Illegal Bioterror Weapons" for Offensive Use

In violation of the US Code and international law, the Bush administration is spending more money (in inflation-adjusted dollars) to develop illegal, offensive germ warfare than the $2 billion spent in World War II on the Manhattan Project to make the atomic bomb.

Autrocity, au contraire, surely I meant atrocity; and coiuntries is meant to be countries. D'oh!!

Esmeralda on December 21, 2006 at 10:27 AM,

I like the analogy used here, comparing health care to dining out at exclusive restaurant (after all are not health insurance choices called "cafeteria plans"), but I am willing to bet the affluent would never be able to grasp the concept of this article. Their first opinion would be, "Well, then, don't serve them!" Why is it the more affluent one becomes, the more ethically challenged one evolves?

Gotta go to some errands! See ya later!

"I have no future" -- Jeb Bush tells reporters
Thu Dec 21, 2006 6:57am ET

and neither does his brother. the rest of us are just hoping the asshole doesn't end our futures as well.

if you are looking for atrios its here:

http://eschaton08.blogspot.com/

Here in my section of Illinois today and yesterday we've been getting hit with some steady rain. Kinda glad it's not snow...But if it were we'd be like Colorado for sure... All thought we did have that here afew weeks back... Yeah gotta do some errands too...

My feelings on our new Congress... Get the job done,NO COMPROMISES..... Get Our Troops Home..Raise the Minimum Wage...Quit the Out Flow of Our Jobs..Bring Back Our Stature As A Global Leader...

My feelings on our new Congress... Get the job done,NO COMPROMISES..... Get Our Troops Home..Raise the Minimum Wage...Quit the Out Flow of Our Jobs..Bring Back Our Stature As A Global Leader...
****

Good almost afternoon all,

No Compromises - agreed. So what is Barnie Frank doing with the corporate lobbyists trying to cut a "grand deal"? The corporations agree to a minimum wage increase and we relax regulatikons and give them tax breaks. When does this business friendly crap ever stop? The corporations don't need any more help, people do.

Get Our Troops Home - what you said, what yuou said. But is Give Em Hell Harry saying that he can live with a temporary surge? Yes I know he retracted that statement but will the right wing media ever report that? He already gave the Puggies cover to escalate the war. And why won't Dems join the Out of Iraq caucus or sign up to Jim McGovern's bill to cut funding for Iraq to that which is needed to redeploy. So far, I would say our party is just about as stubborn as the Republicans.

Raise the Minimum Wage - yes and with no strings attached. Do you hear that Barney Frank!

Quit the Out Flow of jobs - so, why did any Dems sign up to the Vietnam free trade agreement? Why haven't we hit China with tariffs? Why do we keep ratifying NAFTA and WTO? Each year we have a chance to drop out but we never do.

Bring Back our stature as a global leader - Agreed but quite impossible as long as Bush is President.

****

I agree with everything you said. I just don't the energy in our party to confront the Republicans and make it happen - despite the 21006 election! I hope the Dems prove me wrong but so far I am not seeing it based on their recent statements. I even heard that Bush was floating yet another balloon on creating social security private accounts and he got a couple of Dems to listen. This is unacceptable.

Posted by J on December 21, 2006 at 07:10 AM

My daughters have listened to hip hop and rap their whole lives. What has it done to the white youth?

Posted by Esmeralda on December 21, 2006 at 07:58 AM

The study will include ALL youth, but will have a deeper concentration on black youth. I don't know if you're aware or not, but white youth pump millions of dollars into the industry. From just an early glance at some stats/info, I suspect that they are the backbone of the financial side.

First I have to get the funding for the study though.

Nearly a fifth of consumers with bad credit who borrowed money to buy a house in the past two years will default on their mortgages and lose their homes, an industry survey projects.

A study released Tuesday by the Center for Responsible Lending found subprime mortgage loans, or loans to consumers with blemished or limited credit histories, have become riskier due to a cooling housing market and relaxed lending standards.

CRL, a nonprofit research organization that fights predatory lending practices, predicted lenders will foreclose on 19 percent of the subprime mortgage loans issued in 2005 and the first three quarters of 2006.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/12/21/7496/5638
****

Think about that - 20% of this country is headed to mortgage defaults. This country is on th eroad to fiscal ruin and the Pentagon has the gall to ask for 97 billion more for Iraq and Afghanistan. While Democrats meekly say they will give them whatever they want. Great! Oh yeah, we won't give Halliburton whatever they want and that's good but it's not good enough.
This is suicide. I recall clearly what was the result of Vietnam war reckless spending - double digit interest and a recession that lasted years. I think we are headed toward an even worst recession ... maybe even a depression.

Posted by Kristen on December 21, 2006 at 09:21 AM

Kristen,

I don't understand why Christians and Jews don't recognize Muhammad as a prophet.

His Pillars of Faith strike me as a profound continuation of the principles stated in the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mound. Why do we assume that the Lord quit trying to teach us The Way after Christ died? I'd like to think He's still looking out for us.

A Muslim protestor in Turkey posed the above question when the Pope recently visited there. I found it a provocative but relevant query with the Christian holy season approaching.

Instead of running around buying presents we don't need maybe we should be thinking more about peace at this time of year...the ultimate present that keeps on giving. What better way to accomplish this miracle than to take the three major religions that are linked so closely and strengthen the bonds that give us all hope?

Are there any Christian or Hebrew leaders wise or brave enough to approach this issue?

Thanks for sharing, Kristen. And Merry Christmas to you.

No Compromises - agreed. So what is Barnie Frank doing with the corporate lobbyists trying to cut a "grand deal"? The corporations agree to a minimum wage increase and we relax regulatikons and give them tax breaks. When does this business friendly crap ever stop? The corporations don't need any more help, people do.

I agree with everything you said. I just don't the energy in our party to confront the Republicans and make it happen - despite the 21006 election! I hope the Dems prove me wrong but so far I am not seeing it based on their recent statements. I even heard that Bush was floating yet another balloon on creating social security private accounts and he got a couple of Dems to listen. This is unacceptable.

Posted by rjsnj on December 21, 2006 at 11:33 AM

See the above statement is why I really couldn't do politics. I am a negotiator/compromiser and there IS a big difference from the out and out deals that one has to make and the beds one sleeps in with getting legislative action done.

And to tell the truth I am too much of a straight shooter to play the politics game.

Instead of running around buying presents we don't need maybe we should be thinking more about peace at this time of year
****

sandy, did you hear that great "Christian" Bush encourage us yesterday to go out and do more shopping! The man is a revolting swine. Here he is talking about how 2007 will be even more difficult for the troops (meaning he plans to get even more of them killed and maimed) and he encourages us to go out and do more shopping.

Posted by rjsnj on December 21, 2006 at 11:53 AM

Ah, but he can't be a Christian because yesterday he said, "I wish you all a happy holiday." O'Reilly's head must be spinning...

"I wish you all a happy holiday." O'Reilly's head must be spinning...
****

blue, I caught that one too! I will report Chuckle Nuts (as Malloy calls him) to the Luffa Boy at once.

Dodd Seeks Call-Back Exemptions For Unfit Soldiers
Submitted by davidswanson on Thu, 2006-12-21 16:06. Congress

By LISA CHEDEKEL, Courant

U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd is asking newly appointed Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to ensure that soldiers debilitated by post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental illnesses are not sent back into combat.

"If experienced VA doctors diagnose military personnel with incapacitating disabilities, such as severe PTSD, it would seem counter to our national security interests for the military services to somehow disregard these evaluations for less thorough assessments performed by military officials," Dodd wrote in a letter Tuesday to Gates. "It seems unacceptable and perhaps even reckless to ask our servicemen and women to entrust their lives to soldiers deemed mentally unfit by medical professionals."

Dodd, D-Conn., said he was troubled by recent reports that some Connecticut veterans who had left active duty and had been deemed disabled with PTSD were being recalled for repeat deployments to Iraq. The Courant featured several of those soldiers in a recent story.

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/16597

That's a start! It's cruel what we are doing to the troops calling them back again and again. Some are in serious mental anguish and others are in serious financial problems (in some cases both!).

If Cheney's Talking, He Should Talk to Congress
Submitted by davidswanson on Thu, 2006-12-21 15:58. Congress | Criminal Prosecution

By John Nichols, The Nation

Vice President Dick Cheney should get used to testifying under oath.

It is expeacted that he will start talking soon, as part of a self-serving effort to defend a former aide. But once the vice president's done giving that testimony, how hard would it be for him to head over to Capitol Hill and respond to all the questions that members of Congress have been preparing to ask?

It was revealed Tuesday that Cheney will be called to testify on behalf of his former chief of staff, I. Scooter Libby.

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/16595

J,

See the above statement is why I really couldn't do politics.
****

So, let me understand this. The Democrats can't even pass a clean minimum wage increase? They have to put in business friendly measures to get a couple of dollars an hour for workers. If that's true then this country is simply a slave of the corporations and there is no government for the people.

Bush 'Brainwashed' Blair on Iraq Pullout - Iraq VP
Submitted by davidswanson on Thu, 2006-12-21 15:55. Media

By Michelle Nichols, Reuters

British Prime Minister Tony Blair was in favor of announcing a timetable to pull troops out of Iraq, but was "brainwashed" out of it by President George W. Bush, Iraq's vice president said on Tuesday.

Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi told New York's Council on Foreign Relations that when he spoke with Blair about three months ago, the British leader was supportive of his appeal for the United States and Britain to say when they would withdraw.

"I had just convinced him," Hashemi said. "He promised he was going to discuss the subject with President Bush, but at the end of the day, it's quite unfortunate, that your president (made) some sort of brainwashing of Mr. Blair."

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/16593

The real question now is has Bush brainwashed Gordon Brown as well. Blair is gone by the end of the year.

I have an idea on compromising with the corporations.

They can get out of our way on increasing the minimum wage or I would increase their taxes!

I think it's almost got so bad in this country that one day a President will have to threaten to throw some CEO's in jail if they don't cooperate. FDR actually did that during the depression era. Of course, I would rather not see it ever come down to that but we have been living with corporate tyranny for over 25 years now. Where has it got us? Shrinking wages, no pensions, poor or no health care, jobs disappearing from the country. Oh yeah, Americans are good for two thinsg according to the corporatists:

Spending money even when it means going into debt.
Fighting wars to protect their overseas economic interests.

gregg on December 21, 2006 at 10:58 AM:

Actually, I'm hoping W and his henchmen have a long and public life on trial at the International Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The war is already lost
Submitted by davidswanson on Thu, 2006-12-21 15:02. Media

Ideological zealotry has helped destroy Iraq, revive the Taliban and increase the terror threat
By Tariq Ali, The Guardian

Once a war goes badly wrong and its justifications are shown to be lies, to insist that a "democratic" Iraq is visible on the horizon and that "we must stay the course" becomes a total fantasy. What is to be done?

In the US a group of Foggy Bottom elders was wheeled in to prepare a report. This admitted what the whole world (Downing Street excepted) already knew: the occupation is a disaster and the situation gets more hellish every day. After US citizens voted accordingly in the mid-term elections, the White House sacrificed the Pentagon warlord, Donald Rumsfeld.

The warlord of Downing Street, however, is still at large, zombie-like in his denials that anything serious is wrong in Baghdad or Kabul. Everything, for him, can still be remedied by a dose of humanitarian medicine (a poison so powerful and audacious that no resistance is possible). His desperate attempts to play the statesman have made him a laughing stock in friendly Arab capitals and Baghdad's Green Zone. Iraq is the umbilical cord that ties him to his fate.

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/16586

This is what they are saying across the pond about Iraq, ISG, etc...

What is the procedure for removing a president who is no longer mentally capable to serve?

What is the procedure for removing a president who is no longer mentally capable to serve?
****

I believe it's the "I" word. Impeachment! Now I went and said it.

No doubt posts will follow telling me that we can't impeach W, we shouldn't impeach W, it will rip the nation apart, etc...

But, the man is criminally insane so what do you do about it? The worst approach is to compromise with him.

Bush warns of more U.S. losses in Iraq
Submitted by davidswanson on Thu, 2006-12-21 13:53. Media

By TERENCE HUNT, Associated Press

Acknowledging deepening frustration over Iraq, President Bush said Wednesday he is considering an increase in American forces and warned that next year will bring more painful U.S. losses. New Defense Secretary Robert Gates said in Baghdad that a troop surge was an obvious option.

Bush was unusually candid at a year-end news conference about U.S. setbacks and dashed hopes in the war, which has claimed the lives of more than 2,950 U.S. military members.

He said "2006 was a difficult year for our troops and the Iraqi people. We began the year with optimism" but that faded as extremists fomented sectarian violence between Sunnis and Shiites.

"And over the course of the year they had success," the president acknowledged. "Their success hurt our efforts to help the Iraqis rebuild their country, it set back reconciliation, it kept Iraq's unity government and our coalition from establishing security and stability throughout the country."

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/16576

So the mental defective Bush is plainly planning on killing more Americans and Iraqi while spending at least another 100 billion of your tax dollars. And I am suppose to want to compromise with this monster? What in the world for?

Posted by rjsnj on December 21, 2006 at 11:53 AM

rjsnj,

Even Tweety thought Bush's shopping comment was in bad taste. If any of the evangelicals still support this moron, they are as pagan as he is.

I suppose Bush had privy to the "real" GNP figures that hadn't been posted yet and thought he best drum up some business before the little people found out just how hard the next Bush recession is going to be.

Two recessions in eight years? Boy, those permanent tax cuts to the rich are really trickling down on the rest of us.

WAR CRIMES REPORT ADVERTISED IN THE MILITARY TIMES NEWSPAPERS
Submitted by davidswanson on Thu, 2006-12-21 01:51. Media

By Nick Mottern, Director, Consumers for Peace

“U.S. War Crimes in Iraq and Mechanisms for Accountability” is being advertised for the month of December in the classified sections of the weekly newspapers Army, Navy, Marine and Air Force Times, published by Military Times. The newspapers are distributed to all U.S. military bases around the world and are read by an estimated 1 million military people, according to a Military Times advertising representative.

“We felt that the people who are ordered to fight in Iraq, and those who support U.S. presence Iraq, ought to know of the opportunity to learn about the many ways in which the United States has violated and continues to violate international law there,” said Nick Mottern, Director of ConsumersforPeace.org, publisher of the war crimes report.

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/16574

Even Tweety thought Bush's shopping comment was in bad taste.
****

sandy, I didn't catch that. Pretty bad when Tweety starts beating on Bush.

If we go bad into another recession it will be much harder to come out of it for these reasons:

1. There is way more debt.
2. The dollar has already dangerously devaluated. That will make cutting the federal funds rate very risky.
3. Structural weakness. Too many low paying jobs that took the place of good manufacturing and engineering jobs.

Sandy, I've heard both Jews and Muslim's ask why Christians cannot accept Muhammad as a prophet when they are able to accept that Jesus was one.

I think this is a very fair question to be asking.

Saudi Royals Snub Bush, Fund Opposition to US Troops
By Jeffrey Klein and Paolo Pontoniere
New America Media

Thursday 21 December 2006

Early in November, National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley recommended, in a memo leaked to the press, that Saudi Arabia play a leadership role in talks about Iraq's future. But even before the memo landed on Bush's White House desk, the Saudis were positioning themselves to directly influence strategy in Iraq:
While the debate about negotiating with the Iranians and the Syrians raged in America's leading circles, Vice President Dick Cheney flew to Riyadh for talks. Topic of conversation? The safety of Iraq's Sunni minority should American forces disengage. Simply put: the king read the riot act to the vice president.
A few weeks later the Iraq Study Group asserted that Saudi private citizens, and probably a few members of the Saudi royal family, have been financing the Sunni opposition in Iraq all along. This is the same opposition that is targeting U.S. troops. Last week, Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah confirmed that his loyalty must lie with Iraq's Sunni tribal chiefs, even if his support also helps insurgents who have been fighting Americans and the Brits.
Early in November, the Saudis announced their intention to build a $10 billion wall (give or take a few billion) on the border with Iraq, with Raytheon as the top bidder. Raytheon, one of America's premier weapons manufacturers, has close ties to the neocons, including Richard Armitage, former undersecretary of state and Sean O'Keefe, secretary of the Navy during the Reagan administration. Raytheon's stock price is hovering near a seven-year high.

The Saudis are clear about their bottom line: If the United States isn't careful about withdrawing from Iraq, the Sunni kingdom will have no other choice but to arm Iraqi's Sunnis, especially if the Saudi's arch-rival, Iran, which has already destabilized the regional power equilibrium by launching a nuclear program, rushes into a military vacuum left by the Americans.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/122106D.shtml

Sweet huh? So, we have Iran funding the Shia and Saudi funding the Sunni.

What is the procedure for removing a president who is no longer mentally capable to serve?

The British set up a fake farm for crazy King George in a park in London. Maybe we could do the same for Spunky but make it another fake ranch just like the one in Crawford.

It would have lots of bush for him to clear along with all those drugs out of his system. It would be sort of a Beltway rehab center for every hypocrite, drunken celebrity in the country....a la the Betty Ford Center out west.

We could call it the Bush Dylusional Center for Recovering Hypocrites, Liars, and Con Men...who use drugs as an excuse for their corruption.

Economic Growth Slows to Two Percent
The Associated Press

Thursday 21 December 2006
Pace in late summer held back by housing slump.

Washington - Economic growth slowed to a 2 percent pace in the late summer, more sluggish than previously thought, as the real-estate bust weighed on overall business activity.

The new reading on gross domestic product for the July-to-September quarter marked a slight downgrade from the 2.2 percent annual ra?e estimated a month ago, the Commerce Department reported Thursday.

The economy has been losing momentum all this year. The main culprit behind the third quarter's slowdown was the deepening housing slump.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/122106E.shtml

The last time we had a bust in th ehousing market the country entered a difficult recession. Funny that was also the post Vietnam war period. History is definitely repeating itself.

Posted by SandyH on December 21, 2006 at 12:44 PM

Sandy, doesn't he already have a fake "ranch" to go home to? This should save us some money! ;)

sandy, I didn't catch that. Pretty bad when Tweety starts beating on Bush.

rjsnj,

It was Mathews' lead story yesterday on Hardball. Tweety has been like a recovering smoker these day. He can't stand the Karen Hughes BS anymore. Just the smell drives him wild.

It would have lots of bush for him to clear along with all those drugs out of his system. It would be sort of a Beltway rehab center for every hypocrite, drunken celebrity in the country....a la the Betty Ford Center out west.
****

LOL ... that is of course the man's true calling in life ... to clean out the brush that is.

Posted by Kristen on December 21, 2006 at 12:47 PM

And the GOP say Democrats are the fiscally irresponsible. I hadn't thought of that. Send Mel Gibson, Folly, Tiara Tara and all the gang down to Crawford.

As many as eight Marines could be charged in the biggest U.S. criminal case to emerge from the war in Iraq in terms of Iraqis killed.
Full Story:

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/12/21/haditha.marines.ap/index.html

2 roadside bombings kill 7 in Afghanistan
Three police officers and four civilians were killed Thursday in separate roadside bombing attacks in Afghanistan.
Two bombs were detonated at about the same time in two provinces, Afghan officials said.
Full Story:

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2006/12/21/bomb-civilians.html

Posted by Kristen on December 21, 2006 at 12:39 PM

The difference being is that most Christians do NOT see Jesus as a Prophet. They see him as the Living Son of God. Game Set Match for the Christians. It is enlightening that other religions give Jesus some sort of recognition, whereas Christianity proclaims that they and only they have found the way...

Baghdad suicide bomber kills at least 10
A suicide bomber has killed at least 10 people and injured a dozen others outside a police recruitment centre in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. Full Story:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6199019.stm

As many as eight Marines could be charged in the biggest U.S. criminal case to emerge from the war in Iraq in terms of Iraqis killed.
****

kicking,

Haditha reminds me so much of the My Lai massacre.
We are doing the same thing to our troops - bringing out the worst in them. That's what counter-insurgency efforts do - they bring out the worst in the occupation force. Wholesale death, rape and pillaging become norms. For the sake of our nation's soul, we need to get out opf Iraq now.

Sweet huh? So, we have Iran funding the Shia and Saudi funding the Sunni.

Posted by rjsnj on December 21, 2006 at 12:39 PM

So why are still in Iraq? We don't have enough money in the treasury to armour our Humvees. It's obvious that we have no real role in that part of the world but to get in the way of the warring factions.

I thought the Saudis were blackmailing Bush into staying, but maybe they just want to inflict as much revenge on us as they can....by insisting we stay and then fund the Iraqi Sunnis to shoot at us. I guess that is the Iran strategy as well with al Sadr.

It's a shame the Iraq Study Group couldn't hammer any sense into the morons in the White House. I guess they were just born to fail.

Americans' gave President Bush lower marks for his economic stewardship. The president's approval rating on the economy sank to 38 percent in December, down from 43 percent in November, according to an AP-Ipsos poll.
****

Looks like people are catching on to the Bush-it.
Or maybe the economy is catching up to them as they default on mortgages and can't afford to pay the credit cards off. Remember you can no longer declare Chapter 11 and get out of debt easily. The Republicans made sure of that. Do you think they knew hard times were coming? You betcha!

Sandyh... I don't want to pay for it!! If we can't get him frog marched into Sadr City, let's put him under a bridge with homeless people who have no health insurance as see how long he survives!

It's a shame the Iraq Study Group couldn't hammer any sense into the morons in the White House. I guess they were just born to fail.
****

sandy, I think this is the perfect frame for the situation in Iraq. We are paying the insurgency to shoot at our troops!

So, is this what the war mongers mean by supporting the troops - funnel money to the people trying to kill them?

If we can't get him frog marched into Sadr City
****

Or to the World Court along with the other war criminals Rumsfeld and Cheney.

You know I'm with Rosy. I think this beauty queen rehab press conference was just a publicity stunt to get viewers to think about the next season of Trump's Apprentice...just like the racial segregation of tribes was a means to get people to watch a floundering Survivor series.

But then Rosy's pronouncement was a publicity stunt to get people to watch The View....and The Donald's reaction is a publicity stunt to keep the media frenzy going.

The whole frickin world is being run by public relations stunts. Hugo Chevez and the Iranian nut are just following the lead of Bush with his photo op presidency. Shouldn't there be more important matters for these knucleheads to attending?

Doesn't this beauty queen have better things to with her life, too?

But then Rosy's pronouncement was a publicity stunt to get people to watch The View....and The Donald's reaction is a publicity stunt to keep the media frenzy going
****

I detest Donald Trump. In fact, he is a symbol for what's ill in our society. Here is a man who changes wifes just about every year lecturing on morality. Let's not even go there with his business ethics - I actually lived in a Trump apartment building a long long time ago. The man is a crook.

Posted by goodfoe on December 21, 2006 at 01:07 PM

But Bush doesn't see anything wrong with "other" people living under an overpass or doing without medical care. He has no empathy for anyone including his father. He thinks he's a law unto himself and was placed in this position by his other father.

He's as crazy as Nero. And Cheney is as corrupt as Caligula.

Publicity stunt or not, Rosy was right. Trump is a nutbird that carries his nest right there on his head.

And what's really crazy is that even a nutcase like the Iranian President understands what's going on in Washington....but not the people who voted for Bush.

Dinner bell ringing...and my project has to be finished. later.

"still alive" is that you burnsey??

...and while president dog brain dreams of finding the ring or pulling the sword from the stone or whatever that asshole dreams....

3 More American Servicemen Die in Iraq

By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA Associated Press Writer

December 21,2006 | BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Three more American servicemen have died in Iraq, the U.S. military said Thursday, putting December on track to be among the deadliest months of the year...

...Meanwhile, attacks by deaths squads, bombers and others against Iraqi civilian and security targets continued Thursday...

...A suicide bomber blew up in the midst of a group of police volunteers in eastern Baghdad early in the day, killing at least 14 people and wounded 21 others, police said. At least two of the dead were policemen...

...Officials also announced the murder of Iraq's Olympic cycling coach, killed after gunmen kidnapped him from his home....

...In other violence Thursday:

-- In the northern city of Mosul, gunmen killed five civilians in separate shootings.

-- The morgue in Kut, 25 miles south of the capital, received the bodies of five victims of violence. Two were decapitated, with hands and legs bound, and the other three were pulled from the Tigris river, a morgue official said.

-- Two women were killed and one child was injured when mortar rounds landed in a Shiite area south of Baghdad, police said.

-- A car bomb in Baghdad killed two civilians and wounded two others, police said...

IMPEACH NOW!

He's as crazy as Nero. And Cheney is as corrupt as Caligula.
****

Or the Czar Alexander with Cheney as his Rasputin (or is that Rove's role in this american tragedy?).

Either way it ended up bad for all concerned.

...and while president dog brain dreams of finding the ring or pulling the sword from the stone or whatever that asshole dreams....

****

hi gregg,

and if he "surges" the troops there will sadly be even more funeral "dirges".

And I am suppose to want to compromise with this monster? What in the world for?

Posted by rjsnj on December 21, 2006 at 12:29 PM,

So he doesn't push the button and start a nuke war!!

Only a crazy person will run around the world saying that we don't negotiate with terroriat', and then become one themselves. Everybody is on pins, and holding their breaths for the next two years. Hoping he doesn't go on a 'I want my way' temper tantrum.

Long US Work Hours Are Bad for the Environment, Study Shows
By Mark Weisbrot
t r u t h o u t | Report

Wednesday 20 December 2006

Washington - If the world works as many hours as Americans currently do, it would consume 15-30 percent more energy by 2050 than it would by following Europe's model, according to a paper by the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR).

"Are Shorter Work Hours Good for the Environment? A Comparison of U.S. and European Energy Consumption," by researcher David Rosnick and economist Mark Weisbrot, looks at the potential environmental effects of European and other countries adopting the U.S. norm of longer work hours. The authors find that the implications for global climate change could be significant.

"Old Europe" currently consumes about half as much energy per person as does the United States. If Europe were to adopt U.S. practices and increase annual work hours to American levels, the paper shows, they could consume some 30 percent more energy than they do at present. Not only could that impact fuel prices worldwide, but the resulting carbon emissions would make it far more difficult for the EU to meet its commitments to the Kyoto Protocol.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/122106H.shtml

****

There are other factors such as long commutes, non-green ogffice building that consume way too much energy (you think the corporatists would be smart enough to figure out they could save money by going green) and lack of mass transit.

So he doesn't push the button and start a nuke war!!
***

hi david, I meant from the standpoint of a Democrat trying to compromise with Bush. It's a useless exercise. He always gets his way and will lie just to suck Democrats into a "deal" with him. Ask Ted Kennedy about NCLB. Bush suckered him into supporting it and then dropped all the parts about improving conditions in the schools.

Talk about America held hostage! Thirty six years ago it was by Iraq, today we are held hostage by our own president, and he is using Iran as a shield to continue with his asininity. Just the way I see it!

davidual on December 21, 2006 at 01:38,

Irag should have been Iran in last post!! You knew that I'm sure, but I caught it just as I clicked the post button.

held hostage by our own president,
****

david, that's pretty much what I think Rove (Bush's brain) is trying to accomplish. He is suckering us into making bad deals with Bush. That gives him plenty of cover to say that Democratic leaders went along with me. We should have learned from 2001- 2002 when we foolishly went along with NCLB, the Iraq AUMF and the Patriot Act. Capitulating to Bush in the name of bipartisianship was the undoings of Democrats in 2004. We seemed to be on the right path in 2006. Now, the Democrats are turning chicken little on us again and are talking about compromises with Bush. What compromises? With an untrustworthy vicious mad man?

rjsnj on December 21, 2006 at 01:36 PM,

NCLB was a schmooze legislation anyway. Bush used this legislation to gain "political capital". It has been underfunded every year since it's inception, so that should tell anybody that cares what Bush thinks about NCLB!!

As for Democrats, especially Ted Kennedy, there's a saying for them and it goes like this, "Fool me once; shame on you. Fool me twice; shame on me!" I'm sure you know it, but all I'm trying to say is they should know better by now, and probably do, but must continually play the bipartisan card--All The Way To Hell--it appears.

Why do I say that Bush is trying to sucker Democratic leaders? He even brought up social security private accounts again! Can you imagine the arroganve of this man? The Republicans lost in 2006 due to a large extent Bush's unpopularity. What started Bush's plunge into the low 30's? Iraq of course and his social security privatization magic show!

Democratic leaders need to learn how to say NO to this man. Be bold and pass the legislation that they campaigned on in 2006. The public will hold the Republicans responsible if Bush vetoes everything in 2008.

rjsnj, instead of a surge and a dirge we need a good old fashioned purge...

but must continually play the bipartisan card--All The Way To Hell--it appears.
***

david, there's no reason to continue doing that. Bush has two more years ... unless he declares himself dictator for life and then we have a major problem that politics can't fix. There is no percentage in compromising with Bush. Maybe back in 2001-2002 some Dems still thought it was possible to cut deals with Bush. They had to give the new president at least the benefit of the doubt. There's no reason to do that anymore.
The voters will judge the Democrats harshly if they turn their back on the agenda they ran on in 2006. When we said "had enough", this wasn't just a catchy punch line for the voters. They genuinely had enough and are looking for Democrats to prove they really are different from Republicans. As the saying went in the social security privatization debate - Throw Bush an anvil!

I think the Democrats have been bipartisan with the Republicans long enough. The Democrats have the ball, it's time to get off the fence and play offence. Screw it, let the republicans learn a little bit about bipartisanship. They definitely treat this word as a blasphemy. Sorry just trying to make a pun here, but it did not seem to click.

Remember, too, the NCLB initiative is to discredit public schools. Set high standards, not funded, then when they fail use it as an excuse to issue vouchers for use at private schools. Thus public education withers.

instead of a surge and a dirge we need a good old fashioned purge...
****

gregg, that's the motto of the week!

greg,

The purge should be coming in two years, but if democrats continue to sit on Bosco's fence then the Dem2006 victory will be short lived, and we can forget about that purge.

the NCLB initiative is to discredit public schools
****

Very true. Also, it gives military recruiters access to schools. There is just something sinister about that.

salutetheDems on December 21, 2006 at 01:55 PM,

Amnother good point!!

rjsnj on December 21, 2006 at 02:02 PM,

Yeah, especially access to middle schools. It's like let us plan ahead, we hate school so just plan in the seventh grade to go fight the next neocon right religious adventure.

A gotta go. Almost time for school to be out. All have a good evening. Oh, I know I jumped right in this afternoon without the proper salutation. Sorry for the rudeness!!;)

Even Tweety thought Bush's shopping comment was in bad taste. If any of the evangelicals still support this moron, they are as pagan as he is.
Posted by SandyH on December 21, 2006 at 12:32 PM

Stop insulting pagans, dang it!

i need to run too to tutor kids. the american public school system is the best vehicle for promoting and building on our democratic, secular way of collective life. schools are our tools, don't turn em over to the fools!

f democrats continue to sit on Bosco's fence then the Dem2006 victory will be short lived
****

david, my point exactly. This could all go the other way if the perception of the public is that Democrats lied in 2006 about their platform and passed Republican like legislation in 2007-2008.

We are better off passing almost nothing (I am assuming Bush will veto just about everything or issue a signing statement) than to go against our principles.

chools are our tools, don't turn em over to the fools!
****

Good one gregg, have a good day.

From Peter Baker at WAPO:

Bush has traditionally paid public deference to the generals, saying any decisions on moving U.S. forces in the region would depend on their views. At a Chicago news conference in July, for instance, Bush said he would yield to Gen. George W. Casey Jr., the Iraq commander.

"General Casey will make the decisions as to how many troops we have there," Bush said, adding: "He'll decide how best to achieve victory and the troop levels necessary to do so. I've spent a lot of time talking to him about troop levels. And I've told him this: I said, 'You decide, General.' "

By yesterday, however, Bush indicated that he will not necessarily let military leaders decide, ducking a question about whether he would overrule them. "The opinion of my commanders is very important," he said. "They are bright, capable, smart people whose opinion matters to me a lot." He added: "I agree with them that there's got to be a specific mission that can be accomplished with the addition of more troops before I agree on that strategy."

A senior aide said later that Bush would not let the military decide the matter. "He's never left the decision to commanders," said the aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity so Bush's comments would be the only ones on the record. "He is the commander in chief. But he has said he will listen to those commanders when making these decisions. That hasn't changed."

****

WTF? The Decider is now deciding even military matters and totally ignoring the experts. He just keeps getting more psychotic. Make no deals with this maniac!

The conscious mindlessness of conservatives

Will Bush Even Be In Office By 2008?
by Maccabee
Thu Dec 21, 2006 at 10:16:46 AM PST

My wife saw Bush’s press conference Wednesday. She described it to me. He was a confused, pathetic liar. A small boy, stumbling, and fidgeting, hard to watch because he is so uncomfortable in his own skin, he is on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Pragmatistas from Baker to Bush 41, allied with Peter Pace, significant Senate Republican leaders and retiring General Abizaid have all come out against the Administrations current direction in Iraq. They may love the US more than they love W.

We could suffer a surprising military setback.

Here is how two scenarios might play out.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/12/21/131420/17

maccabee's scenarios are ultimately funny. i could come up with way worst ones though. There is no doubt that we have an out of control and out of his mind president. That last news conference was surreal.

Top US commander in Mid.East annouces his retirement
by oscarguy
Thu Dec 21, 2006 at 10:00:34 AM PST

Gen. John P. Abizaid,top U.S. commander in the middle east and critic of Bush`s so called " Surge Policy " announced his retirement according to a Washington Post story. This story also noted he had been highly critical of increasing the force size in Iraq in statements before Congress. It has also been noted in an earlier story I read on MSNBC that all the members of the joint cheifs of staff have also opposed this " Surge Policy " of Bush . These are pretty extrordinary events . The military leadership is standing up to and opposing the President. They have good reasoning to support thier opposition to the President.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/12/21/114154/56

Looks like yet another General is disgusted with Bush and has resigned. Of course, the press will never frame it that way but we all know that the military can't stand this idiot.

On Scarborough someone brought up the idea of a military coup due to the insanity of Prince George. Typically, in recent history, we only have seen this in third world countries. What sort of banana republic have we become? Congress needs to step in and demand that Prince George step down as commander in chief.

Even the righties had enough of Bush:

SCARBOROUGH: And Michael, as long as he said that—exactly. As long as he said that, it didn‘t matter that only 12 percent of Americans support this president‘s effort to send more troops to Iraq. But when all of his generals abandon him, when the Joint Chiefs abandon him, the admirals abandon him, when John Abizaid abandons him, when Colin Powell abandons him, everybody abandons him, he‘s standing alone! He just doesn‘t seem to have any credibility. And this is extraordinarily disturbing to me, as a guy who supported this war and supported this president twice.

CROWLEY: No, there‘s something almost kind of alarming about it. I mean, he‘s been telling us the whole time, These guys know what‘s best, I take their lead. And they‘re saying, This is not—not uniformly, but many of them, many of the senior guys, the smartest guys, Abizaid, people with a lot of credibility, are saying this is not the way to go, and it looks likes he‘s not going to listen to them. And there‘s something quite alarming about that.

SCARBOROUGH: Well, this is uncharted territory. And Josh Green, I want you, if you will, to imagine, how would Republicans have responded if President Bill Clinton had ignored the advice of all of his Joint Chiefs, his top general in the war zone, his former secretary of state, and 80 percent of Americans? Is it not a stretch to say that many Republicans would have considered impeachment proceedings against Bill Clinton if this situation were identical?

JOSH GREEN, "THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY": I think they would have launched a coupe. It probably would have been—probably would have been centered at Fox News. They‘d be going crazy, the way, you know, frankly, quite a few of them are beginning to get with Bush.

MIKE BARNICLE, MSNBC CONTRIBUTOR: Well, I think, Joe, that more Americans ought to be truly depressed by what they saw today on TV, the latest press conference. We have a president of the United States who is isolated. He‘s delusional. He is stubborn. He has had one intervention that clearly didn‘t work, the Baker-Hamilton report. He is clearly in need of another intervention. [snip]

BARNICLE: You‘re going to get more Americans both killed and captured. And the only services that we will have ended up improving in Baghdad are funeral services.

****

All we are saying is give impeachment a chance! It may have come down to that. Democrats should concentrate on investigations ASAP and quickly decide whether there is a smoking gun. If there is, impeach these scoundrels. That's how I see it. I know not everyone on this blog agrees. That's okay.
bush has totally flipped his lid (what little lid he has that is).

On Scarborough someone brought up the idea of a military coup due to the insanity of Prince George.
****

blue,

I posted the transcript above. This is absolutely amazing. Right wingers are considering a coup? Well, that's right wingers for you. I prefer impeachment procedures according to the constitution to a coup. But, you are right. This shows how crazy this situation is and how disgusted the American public is with Bush/Cheney.

This is like a rotten 50 gal. drum of magots: the deeper you get into it, the worse the stink! I prefere to simplify identify the whole deal by refering to it as "Bush's Folly" which is how history should refere to it, if we live long enough to even have any "history" with the mad bomber at the red phone...right on rj!!!

Military is broken? So what do the Generals know that we don't? If by broken they are saying that there are troops who refuse to go back, then we already have the sort of conditions that lead to a mass mutiny.

I can't think of a way that troop levels can be increased short of asking troops to rotate back sooner or making those that are there stay longer. That will only make the situation more broken.

I hope Bush is not so insane that he would ignore such conditions. If the chain of command breaks down, there's no telling what could occur.

I prefere to simplify identify the whole deal by refering to it as "Bush's Folly"
****

goodfoe, it really is madness. But, I am getting genuinely worried about talk of a broken military and all of these generals resigning on Bush. Even the Chiefs are telling the Lunatic from Crawford - no sir, we can't send more troops. If Bush pushes it too hard who knows what may happen. We have mass mutinies on our hands. It's already happened on a small scale in Iraq. In Vietnam, we had cases of troops "fragging" over-zealous Lieutenants but never entire brigades refusing to follow orders. This is getting quite bad. Dems must jump in right away and have serious hearings on the "surge". Don't just give in to Bush. Call all of the Chiefs to the Hill if necessary. I suspect Abizaid might have something to say as well.

I fear for our safty, and I have yet to hear or see one Democratic leader step up and ask Mr. Bush, "Just what in the hell do you think you're doing with that naval attack fleet off the coast of Iran?" Where is Jack Nurtha? Where is John Kerry? Oh, Congress is in recess! Grea! Now the mouse can get us into ww3 while the cats are away!!

Yeah I agree, We need to have these Generals and Joint Chiefs of Staff attend a hearing and let their side be heard. The pres is going "mental" and we need to have him stopped before he does even more damage... Save the Ship throw the Captain Overboard....

The downside: Darth Cheney becomes president...

Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.

Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office.

Where is Jack Nurtha? Where is John Kerry?
****

Murtha was on TV lately ... Wolfie Blitzer. He talked again about passing a redeployment bill.

John Kerry is in Iraq right now (or at least he was a few days ago). I got an email from his web site - he is definitely against a "surge".

Hillary Clinton has also been on TV talking against a "surge". She says that she now regrets ever supporting the war. I think she really is coming around to the point of view that it's time to redeploy.

Just about the only lunatics that are enthusiastic about a "surge" is McWindVane and Weaselman.

The downside: Darth Cheney becomes president...
****

Get Cheney first. He's the one that really comes up with these ideas and Rove implements them politically. Bush is just the chief lunatic cheerleader fcr these ideas.

Bush and McCain, Sittin' in a tree...
by Devilstower
Thu Dec 21, 2006 at 12:12:29 PM PST

In the last few months, we have seen John McCain folding his "principles" on torture after putting up a perfunctory fight. We've seen the amazing spectacle of McCain wearing out his knees as he goes crawling back to the same right wing fundies and Bush strategists who attacked and smeared him in the 2000 primaries. And we've seen McCain providing his own full employment plan for right wing sleazebags.

So what is McCain's reward for this butt-kissing blitz? It's all about the money, honey.

Sen. John McCain has tapped into President Bush's vast network of campaign contributors in greater numbers and amounts so far than has a leading potential rival for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination, Rudolph Giuliani.

Why has McCain been more successful that Rudy? Insiders are reporting it's because Bush has passed the word for his network of "Rangers" to turn their vast machinery of fiscal support in McCain's direction. The same insiders indicate that the word has gone down to the White House staff that they should feel free to split their posts at lame duck central and sign on to the McCain All Talk Express.

Personally, I find these developments thrilling. If there's anything that can blow away McCain's "moderate" smokescreen, it's his whole-hearted endorsement by the decider.
****

Okay, so enough with McWindVane the moderate, McWindVane th emaverick. He's an extreme right winger who is signing up to the Dominionist agenda. he wants to escalate the war in the Middle East. He is for privatizing social security. I am not all that impressed that he believes in global warming. It won't be a priority for a President McWindVane.

D-i-s-r-e-s-p-e-c-t
by demetroula
Thu Dec 21, 2006 at 12:46:44 AM PST

Dear Mr. Bush:

In your news conference a few minutes ago you said that Iraq "would require difficult choices and additional sacrifices because the enemy is merciless and violent."

With all due disrespect, what is this crap?
demetroula's diary :: ::

You’ve already admitted that your difficult choices aren’t losing you any sleep. And what additional sacrifices are you making? Your own twins seem a bit busy partying (clearly a genetic trait) to roll bandages, not that they even have a draft to dodge like their old man.

My 20-year-old son and only child is a U.S. Marine stationed in Iraq. Instead of going straight to university, he enlisted in the Corps in response to your post-9/11 propaganda that terrorism was not a noun but a tangible enemy that could not only be vanquished but would then thank us for doing so.

But my son hasn’t been trained as a counterinsurgent.

He didn’t enlist to become a lab rat for bigger and better roadside bombs.

He didn’t enlist to join an occupying force of a country whose basic needs — jobs and security — are beyond his brief.

He did enlist to defend the United States of America, not the divided state of Iraq, which isn’t the least bit grateful to see him.

In fact, not once in three months has he been greeted as a liberator (unless being shot at is an Iraqi term of endearment).

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/12/21/34050/779

Read on good letter from a person with skin in this american tragedy.

Be Very Wary of Bush Support for Minimum Wage Increase

by Mike Hall, Dec 20, 2006

Is President Bush building the foundation to veto a minimum wage bill?

Today, he told reporters he supports raising the decade-old rate of $5.15 an hour to $7.25—but he wants to combine it with tax and regulatory relief for businesses.

Didn’t he hear the message from voters across the country who not only overwhelmingly passed minimum wage increases in six states, but also threw their support behind congressional candidates who pledged to boost the federal minimum wage. Voters sent packing many Republican incumbents who blocked wage-raise bills.

Says AFL-CIO President John Sweeney:

Today’s remarks by President Bush calling for a minimum wage raise only if coupled with even more tax breaks for business makes it painfully clear that the president has learned nothing from the message working people sent at the polls in November.

http://blog.aflcio.org/2006/12/20/be-very-wary-of-bush-support-for-minimum-wage-increase/

Isn't horrible to have a president who is bad in all respects? Bothe his foreign and domestic policy are immoral. They are a product of an elitist deranged CEO president.

A Rollback of Enron-Era Reforms

Chris Huang from the AFL-CIO Office of Investment notes the recent backlash from Big Business trying to weaken post-Enron corporate reforms.

Even as the multibillion dollar accounting scandals of Enron and Worldcom slowly recede into the past, a new wave of corporate crime, such as backdating stock options, is unfolding. Yet Big Business is trying to roll back post-Enron reforms.

Responding to Big Business criticism that the post-Enron reforms make U.S. markets less competitive, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently issued several deregulatory orders intended to lower costs to public companies. (Charles Niemeier, a board member of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, directly counters this view, stating that the U.S. share of world IPOs rose to about 15 percent from 2002 to 2005.)

The SEC proposed a loose interpretation of a provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which was originally enacted to increase corporate accountability, according to The New York Times.

The next day, according to The Times, the Justice Department placed new restraints on federal prosecutors conducting corporate investigations, helping companies defend themselves by

making it easier for corporations to say no, and not having to worry about the decision being held against them.

Never mind that corporations can access company assets, or shareholder money, to fight any litigation–funds that also can be used to pay for the millions in legal fees of employees caught up in an inquiry.

http://blog.aflcio.org/2006/12/20/a-rollback-of-enron-era-reforms/

Not even ten years have passed since Enron and the CEO president wants to roll back provisions of Sarbanes-Oxley. It would seem that SOX is not business friendly. Now you know why I am sick and tired of hearing about business friendly politicians. The american public have been friendly enough. It's time that people issues become the priority on Capital Hill.

This holiday season, while Wal-Mart continues to deny nearly half of its employees' children health care, Sam Walton's daughter Alice -- a billionaire heiress -- is going art shopping. And guess what she has her eyes on?

A $68,000,000 painting of a doctor treating a young boy.

Can you believe it? When it comes to using her considerable power to secure health care, Alice can't see past her own walls.

So let's give her something to look at. What can you put together that best expresses the health care disaster Wal-Mart refuses to address? We'll take the best stuff and make sure the humbugs at Wal-Mart hear about it. Whether it's poetry, finger-painting or sculpture, give Alice the art she isn't looking for:

http://action.walmartwatch.com/page/m/lw0s72xac8v/xsOIBB
****

Yep, those people friendly folks at Wal-Mart's. They were the people pushing for the estate tax repeal that was tied to the last attempt by the Republicans to raise the minimum wage. Can't we just pass a clean minimum wage increase without bowing down to the richest 1% in this country?

Rep. Waters: Americans Should See Through President's Staged 'Strategy Meetings', Diplomacy is Only Real Plan
Submitted by davidswanson on Thu, 2006-12-21 20:54. Congress

Contact: Mikael Moore (202) 2250-2201

Washington, DC - U.S. Representative Maxine Waters (CA-35) today urged President Bush to make diplomacy the guiding principle of his new Iraq policy which is to be announced sometime next year:

"The President's Iraq policy is an utter failure - for our security, our military and our reputation in the world. For the past several weeks, the President has been holding high-profile meetings with various experts in an attempt to reverse Iraq's downward spiral into chaos and intensified civil war. However, these meetings appear to be staged. It appears that the President has all but decided to send more troops to Iraq - in spite of the concerns of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and many other military experts."

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/16609

Good afternoon, everyone.

On Scarborough someone brought up the idea of a military coup due to the insanity of Prince George. Typically, in recent history, we only have seen this in third world countries. What sort of banana republic have we become? Congress needs to step in and demand that Prince George step down as commander in chief.

Posted by BlueinIdaho on December 21, 2006 at 02:42 PM

Blue,

What kind of a banana republic have we become? A dysfunctional one. Since the Supreme Court put Bush/Cheney in power, they have been acting like Saddam Hussein on steriods.

The GOP was too busy shielding Foley and taking bribes to notice until they lost Congress in November. The loss of lobbyist income woke them up.

The only time they want to talk about impeachment is when sex is involved. Considering what's been going on over in the Cheney household with Lynne's book and Mary's pregnancy, maybe they are ready to make some adjustments.

It's pathetic but so true. The GOP only cares about government when they are sexually stimulated. Maybe that fake Bush ranch/rehab center (for the mentally/chemically challenged) should include a brothel to get them all going.

Meanwhile, our guys are too busy deciding what they are going to investigate first or running for president. I do hope they remember the 100 hour agenda. Things seem to slipping Reid's mind of late....or maybe he's worried about Senator Johnson (I'll give him a pass under the circumstances).

And how are we going to pay off the national debt, if we can't override Bush's veto to keep those tax cuts to the rich permanent? We need to be addressing this along with so many other things. An impeachment trial seems like a bad diversion under the circumstances.

Posted by rjsnj on December 21, 2006 at 03:57 PM

rjsnj,

Let's hear it for Rep. Waters for keeping her eye on the ball. Everyone else is still talking about troops strength instead of diplomacy.

Posted by rjsnj on December 21, 2006 at 03:40 PM

I hear that painting, The Sceam, has some damage beyond repair. Maybe she would like to buy it, although I don't think she would see the irony.

Good afternooon

I told everybody that Maxine Waters has been saying for a year and a half that there should be immediate withdrawal and the folks over in Iraq will figure things out for themselves.

My girl is straight shootin' it. No discussion, gradual withdrawal, no timetable. Let's just pack up and come home.

J,

See the above statement is why I really couldn't do politics.
****

So, let me understand this. The Democrats can't even pass a clean minimum wage increase? They have to put in business friendly measures to get a couple of dollars an hour for workers. If that's true then this country is simply a slave of the corporations and there is no government for the people.

Posted by rjsnj on December 21, 2006 at 12:05 PM

The problem rj is that everyone wants something out of doing the right thing when the right then is doing the will of the people that placed their asses in office.

No we aren't slaves to big business and the corporations though they would like everyone to think that elected officials need them like a fix. Check this out, if one goes into office from day one stating that they are NOT going to be beholding to anyone but their constituents (and there are some Congressman that are) then the lobbyist know whose door to camp outside of.

Basically big business is like the dope man down the street and around the corner. They have a product that they know their customer wants and they want something too for the product.

One just has to be strong enough to turn down the "fix".

Posted by rjsnj on December 21, 2006 at 03:32 PM

rjsnj,

There are so many forces in this nation that work against the will of the people.

We just passed a state constitutional amendment to allow stem cell research. Already some conservatives are talking about putting another ballot initiative on the ballot in 2008 to negate it.

It doesn't matter how the American people vote. These insects will not be denied. They think they can get their way if only they can evolve into other forms and confuse people.

Just a quick post before dinner:

J,

That's what we did in Vietnam, just packed up and went home in 1975, with scores of people trying to pack into the final helicopters to leave with us. We did not have normalized relations with Vietnam for 25 years, and they still are not to the point where they could be considered normal. This is the predicament that our idiot in chief has gotten the US into. How can we not have normal relations among middle eastern countries when our economy is so tied to the oil reserves that is there? We cannot go 25 years with no relations with this part of the world. It would be devastating on our economy.
However, increasing troops is just plain ignorant. We need to freeze the funding for Iraq, and begin the process of redeployment for the purpose of exiting that country, and handing sovereignty back to the Iraqi'. They will figure out what they need to do; self-governance.

bbl

Posted by davidual on December 21, 2006 at 05:22 PM

Because of he way this war has been handled we are almost backed into a corner with having very little choice to just pack up as we did in Vietnam. I watched that withdrawal fiasco 30 years ago and it was not a pleasant sight and I see signs of this happening again.

continually play the bipartisan card--All The Way To Hell--it appears.

Posted by davidual on December 21, 2006 at 01:49 PM

All the way to hell. You can't make deals with the devil. But Democrats seem to be suckered time and time again into doing it. We are not dealing with Goldwater, Dirksen or Rockefeller. This new breed of insects controlling the GOP don't make deals.

Has everybody seen THIS Scumboro clip from last night? Bush has basically lost his mind, and some of his biggest cheerleaders are calling him on it.

Scarborough Sees The Light—Barnicle: “Bush is delusional”

MoveOn's Holiday Ecards:
President Bush's Christmas
Moveon.org has put together a bunch of MoveOn-spirited holiday e-cards. They're funny, they're cute and they're optimistic about the work we can do together in 2007. Check them out and send a few to your friends, to spread the message of hope and progress for the new year.

http://pol.moveon.org/cards

Posted by davidual on December 21, 2006 at 05:22 PM

Why can't we have normalized relations with Iraq after we leave?

When the Iraqis finally get down to establishing a stable government, we approach them with economic incentives and a renew promise that Bush broke whereby we help re-build their infrastructure.

The only reason we are staying in Iraq is because Bush is forcing the current Iraqi government to offer long-term oil field leases to western multinationals...instead of auctioning them off to everyone including Russia or Asian interests.

It's the oil industry and their favorite president putting the lives of all those currently in Iraq at risk...till the oil fields run dry.

Let's hear it for Rep. Waters for keeping her eye on the ball. Everyone else is still talking about troops strength instead of diplomacy.
****

sandy, I agree. The ISG for all it's flaws at least did talk about diplomacy. But for Bush, diplomacy in the Middle East is an oxymoron.

Check this out, if one goes into office from day one stating that they are NOT going to be beholding to anyone but their constituents
****

J,

That describes Bernie Sanders exactly (and perhaps some others). If a corporate lobbyist comes knocking they get thrown out.

I don't buy the argument that the government can't be clean just because it's a capitalistic society. Business deserves a chance to be heard but they shouldn't buy favors. People also deserve an equal right to be heard and of course shouldn't buy favors as well (but they rarely do as they don't have the serious bucks).

When it's all said and done, how hard is it to pass a clean minimum wage increase? Even liberals act as if it must be an act of congress ... oops that's what it is. It's only hard because politicians have allowed themselves to be bought by business. Clean elections is the ticket!

Scarborough Sees The Light—Barnicle: “Bush is delusional”

Posted by DPD on December 21, 2006 at 05:40 PM

DPD,

They do this periodically; and then when there is a new outrage, they come right back to his defense. I wouldn't trust any Republican again after Foley...and most other women in this nation feel the same way.

"Average" Joe is a fake. Unless he personally does a John Wilkes Booth, I'll never believe he's not still in the Rove camp. The same can be said for the rest of the Republicans.

They may be frustrated, but if they had a chance to nominate Forrest Gump again, they'd to it in a heart beat. They're a craven, corrupt lot.

Why can't we have normalized relations with Iraq after we leave?
****

well, we now have a trading relationship (though it's free trade) with Vietnam. Some thought that would never happen.

We just passed a state constitutional amendment to allow stem cell research. Already some conservatives are talking about putting another ballot initiative on the ballot in 2008 to negate it.
****

sandy, fortunately we done a little better in NJ. Our Governor just signed a bill to create a stem cell research center here in NJ stimulated by state funding. That will be good for the country and the state.

But I hear you. These people listen selectively even when it may mean a better economy. There is constant struggle with other forces that have the same politicos attention. Unfortuantely, it sometimes comes down to who talks the loudest - meaning who makes the biggest campaign contributions. There is no democracy when it's for sale.

BBL

We can't leave until we win.

Tucker Carlson, right now on MSNBC

Here is the Rove straw man strategy/scam at work again.

DPD, the GOP establishment/pundit network aren’t about to give up on Bush or those long-term oil leases in Iraq. They keep on talking about this occupation like its military campaign. The 9/11 terrorist are not in Iraq and never were. They keep on trying to con people back into that charade.

Yesterday Butters almost took the bait. She was tempted into thinking that a military draft was necessary and might be the answer.

I thought fade and j were going to have to lock her in a room and read the Watergate hearing transcripts to her. Those of us who lived through Nixon and the Vietnam War must keep the younger ones in our midst informed about how these people operate.

It's so easy to believe them when they talk about securing our national security and helping our troops. A draft would keep this occupation going for so many more unnecessary years and not accomplish anything but kill thousands more.

Iraq is a losing Bush political decision not a military operation. If it was a war, we would have negotiated a way out by now. WWII didn't last this long.

I have to finish making dinner. Later.

Another dubious claim to fame for GWB?

Child neglect, abuse rise in Iowa

Iowa Kids Count director Michael Crawford said the rise in confirmed child abuse and neglect cases could be attributed to the fact many young families are struggling financially.

"I think the economy hasn't done as well the last five years as it has during the 1990s, and that does cause a stress on families," Crawford said.

The number of people receiving food stamps increased over the five-year period as the unemployment rate in Iowa rose.

In 2000, Iowa's unemployment rate sat at 2.6 percent, but five years later it hit 4.6 percent, according to Crawford.

"I think you have to look at the fact that financially, families have a tougher time making ends meet than they did maybe five years ago," Crawford said.

You know I don't really have a problem with giving small businesses an added tax break with the min. wage increase, as long as Bush isn't qualifying 'small business' as individual Walmarts.

Good evening, Dem's, looks like you've had a busy day RJ

SSN Verification

I have a solution for the social security problem for companies, and our government. They might not like it, bit require a birthday with the social security with the city of birth. School of high scholl graduation could also be requested. As a last resort have the them issue a pin number to put on employment forms. In this way people must know more than a ssn number.

What do you think?

They also could use race, sex, and other quick checks.

Posted by goodfoe on December 21, 2006 at 08:42 AM Dorsano speaks to administrative/overhead cost (of health care) being 15% of collected premiums. When I started researching this on the Net back in 2004, I saw figures with a lot of variation, some of them much higher. In many cases, there is overlap and duplication.

You're right. The actual amount of waste is a tough number to pin down because it drives up the administrative costs of the actual health care providers like hospitals and clinics.

For example, Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN has an army of people to deal with the 100's of insurance plans they have to navigate in order to get payment.

I used a conservative number. Plus now that HMO's know that their administrative expenses are being watched by consumer groups and even by government accounting offices, they are moving (what most people would call) administrative expenses out of the administrative expense portion of the ledger and accounting for them somewhere else.

=====
We have a national retirement annuity called Social Security that people value with administrative expenses in the 2% range.

We have a national health insurance plan for seniors called Medicare that seniors value with administrative expenses in the 2% range.

It seems to me that just a little jog in the way people think about the health care delivery system

we could have a national health insurance plan that gives everyone the freedom to choose which ever health care provider most works for them regardless of whether they are self employed or work for 3M.

Dorsano...good post 6:50pm...I don't have any disagreement with anything in your post...There are approx 100 million people covered by some form of private health insurance via employer sponsored plans, many of which are tied in with so called "HMO's" My biggest complaint is that in the "overhead/administrative" expense are individuals whose sole purpose is "to cost contain" thier claimant. Often this cost containment is nothing more than criminally defrauding the patient not only out of quality care but of actually defrauding the patient out of benifits clearly called for in the policy provisios (the contract) that results in the patient's death. When the patient dies, the health insuror's loss or expense stops. (If you are interested in our personal story, click on goodfoe at the bottom of this post. I hope this link works.) I am in favor of single payor with clear policy provisions and serios penalities for denighing patients care that they are entitled to.

Thank goodness Jeb Bush won't seek another office. We don't need a third Bush to botch-up as President; The Three Stooges of Ameican politics.

Only in Jeb Bush's Florida would a wacky federal court case like this take place involving the cats living at the Ernest Hemingway museum

Forget all the drugs, gangs and violence in Miami. These cats at the Key West Ernest Hemingway museum must be public enemy #1 in Bush's Florida.

Progressive Values

Public Service Announcement: today is the winter solstice. from here on the days in the northern hemisphere get longer a little bit faster each day for awhile:

Winter Solstice
Thu., Dec. 21, 2006, marks the solstice—the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and summer in the Southern Hemisphere
by Ann-Marie Imbornoni

The precise moment of the 2006 solstice will be December 21, 2006 at 7:22 P.M. EST (Dec. 22, 00:22 UT).

In astronomy, the solstice is either of the two times a year when the Sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator, the great circle on the celestial sphere that is on the same plane as the earth's equator. In the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice occurs either December 21 or 22, when the sun shines directly over the tropic of Capricorn; the summer solstice occurs either June 21 or 22, when the sun shines directly over the tropic of Cancer. In the Southern Hemisphere, the winter and summer solstices are reversed.

Reason for the Seasons
The reason for the different seasons at opposite times of the year in the two hemispheres is that while the earth rotates about the sun, it also spins on its axis, which is tilted some 23.5 degrees towards the plane of its rotation. Because of this tilt, the Northern Hemisphere receives less direct sunlight (creating winter) while the Southern Hemisphere receives more direct sunlight (creating summer). As the Earth continues its orbit the hemisphere that is angled closest to the sun changes and the seasons are reversed.

Longest Night of the Year
The winter solstice marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year. The sun appears at its lowest point in the sky, and its noontime elevation appears to be the same for several days before and after the solstice. Hence the origin of the word solstice, which comes from Latin solstitium, from sol, “sun” and -stitium, “a stoppage.” Following the winter solstice, the days begin to grow longer and the nights shorter.

Information Please® Database, © 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Only in Jeb Bush's Florida would a wacky federal court case like this take place involving the cats living at the Ernest Hemingway museum

Posted by PaulSHooson on December 21, 2006 at 08:04 PM

Florida Courts? Ha! I wanna say that's a joke, but anyway if a congressional candidate (Christine Jennings (D)) can't get a court date asking for a new election before the new Congress convenes then those cats are in trouble.

Anyway Jeb is running around stating in Spanish no less (hell he can't speak English) that he has no future at least politically. Well as I said earlier, he can thank his idiot brother for that. The country nor the State of Florida is in the mood to go wandering through the Bushes again.

Paul, you need to see a few more zombie movies. i fully expect to see the bush family members wandering about washington arms outstreched, eyes sunken, moaning "brains!brains!brains!" for a long time to come.

Posted by gregg on December 21, 2006 at 08:17 PM

Thanks because I didn't know the exactly nature of how all of that occured. I knew the basics but not exactly what the solstice was all about.

Posted by gregg on December 21, 2006 at 08:17 PM from here on the days in the northern hemisphere get longer a little bit faster each day for awhile:

Good. I've been waiting for this day. Now I can start sleeping in longer.

happy winter solstice, y'all

gregg, my son and his woman friend will be in NYC in a few days...he's a regular, but this is her first trip!

any suggestions or tips for the 28th of Dec through Jan 3?

hi j and dors

"wandering thought the bushes again" --good one

dorsano, you've been knocking off earlier lately...it's been minty fresh lately...

Posted by J on December 21, 2006

J, I pontificate on the blog too much. I hope you haven't taken anything I've said over the last few days personally or think too badly of me. And thanks again for your perspective yesterday.

gregg,

your boy joe did good...have you seen his good news?

J on December 21, 2006 at 08:18 PM,

Never trust a Bush! 2008 is too close for pappy to wave his wand, but 2012 may hold a place for Jeb if pappy has his say. The american public has a memory as long as...well, I don't wanna say, but the elephants with the long trunks utilize that short little attention span for all they can get. Everytime!

Posted by fade2bluz on December 21, 2006 at 08:37 PM it's been minty fresh lately...

We just got our first snow. I don't think we've ever had a snowless winter in Minneapolis in all the years I've been year. Hopefully it won't melt before Monday.

Posted by J on December 21, 2006

J, I pontificate on the blog too much. I hope you haven't taken anything I've said over the last few days personally or think too badly of me. And thanks again for your perspective yesterday.

Posted by dorsano on December 21, 2006 at 08:38 PM

Can't remember anything you've said dor and I don't take things personally. I begin every day fresh and new. Lord if one toted around baggage from this day or last week they get bogged down with issues that they never see through.

you're straight, don't sweat it.

Never trust a Bush! 2008 is too close for pappy to wave his wand, but 2012 may hold a place for Jeb if pappy has his say. The american public has a memory as long as...well, I don't wanna say, but the elephants with the long trunks utilize that short little attention span for all they can get. Everytime!

Posted by davidual on December 21, 2006 at 08:42 PM

Well the plan last year was for 2012 to be Jeb's year, BUT the family didn't count on the total DEM sweep that the country gave to them saying they didn't want their Bushed out kids.

Davidial, short memory or not I think the Bush's are toast. I don't think we would elect a Nixon...and Bush is much worse...no worser...no: worst.

Maybe Keith will give us all a little gift for the New Year and name the collective Bush Crime Family the worst people of the year...no decade...hell century.

dorsano on December 21, 2006 at 08:42 PM,

If you got a lot it might hold, but I don't know tomorrow though next Wednesday you're looking at temps in the upper 30's lower 40's.

Minnesota weather

thanks for pointing that out fos.

salutetheDems on December 21, 2006 at 08:51 PM,

I would indeed hope so, but with the fickleness of the electorate, and the ability of the media to control them I would doubt nothing.

gee fade there is so much. off the top of my head one must see the museum of natural history and the metropolitan museum of art. and of course ride the staten island ferry....let me think and i will write more...

bbl

Posted by davidual on December 21, 2006 at 08:56 PM If you got a lot it might hold

Thanks, David. We didn't get a lot though. When I'm done shoveling the patio out back I'm gonna make a little snowman with a belly the size of snowball and a head the size of one Gregg's meatballs.

Posted by GregL on December 21, 2006 at 02:09 PM Stop insulting pagans, dang it!

Yikes! GregL posted. He must be on the run and posting from a 1999 vintage Windows 98 machine that the Dew Drop Inn set up to provide internet access.

gregg,

that reminds me...your post was insulting to dogs...

Hi, everyone.

Since when do foot soldiers command the generals and decide military strategy? Gates just got my pink slip for trying to pull off a mutiny as a photo op today. Is this Cheney's way of staging a military coup against the generals?

How dare they undermine the the military command with this sort of publicity stunt. Do they want the Iraqis to think our soldiers are so under supervised and ill discipined that they will not follow orders? This can only end up blowing up (literally) in our forces faces.

Why doesn't Bush just deliver their lives on a silver platter to the insurgents and militias. This must be music to the ears of those in Saudi Arabia and Iran funded these fighters.

This Republian junta is getting extremely dangerous. Not only have they weakened out armed services, they are also driving a wedge between the forces and their officers. These morons don't understand the line of command or even care that it's important to the safety of all the troops.

I'm speechless...if you can believe that with all the long winded speeches I make here. Someone has to stand up to these bullies before they con our Democratic reps into giving Bush more troops and he marches them into another conflict that is not necessary.

Maybe Scarbough isn't faking it this time. Someone in the Republican party has to end this administration's delusional sense of destiny.

dors, one man's meatball is another man's bowling ball. which reminds me of the movie the big labowsky which featured bowling prominently.

fade, if you send me an e-mail ( i am never sure if i have current addresses or not for anyone ) we can go into more detail about what you son and girlfriend might find of interest in the big town.

mmm white russian...

right he keeps making those drinks no matter what is going on...he is kind of an idol of mine.

Posted by gregg on December 21, 2006 at 09:25 PM dors, one man's meatball is another man's bowling ball.

I'm glad you warned me. :)

No wonder it's taken UPS so long to deliver that batch of gravy you sent.

ah yes, the dude

married that one, twice

Posted by fade2bluz on December 21, 2006 at 09:38 PM ah yes, the dude. married that one, twice

Dudeism is a religion, fade.

Duderonomy: Rules to live by, and sometimes break

LMAO, dors...thanks and happy winter solstice to you

goodnight, stargazers

fos, it is just so stupid to be pushing all these countries into going nuclear when what we should be doing is trying to un-proliferate the world and then when the morons in congress go along with shit head he disses them by saying he is not really signing on to the weak lame assed checks and balances they built into this piece shit agreement in the first place! Posted by gregg on December 21, 2006 at 07:49 AM

But gregg, the way these Repuggies see it is, when everybody has a gun, that cuts down on crime, and when everybody has a bomb, that cuts down on war.

Reid said he'd go along with a surge and then back pedaled on Huff Po--he's lost...Reyes doesn't know a Shiite from a Sunni...and probably thinks Wahhabbi is a mushroom...

I aways thought Wahhabbi was that Japanese green horseredish that comes with susi.

All we are saying...

Is give Peace a chance.

Come post your Peace Song.

The country nor the State of Florida is in the mood to go wandering through the Bushes again.

Posted by J on December 21, 2006 at 08:18 PM

Paul, you need to see a few more zombie movies. i fully expect to see the bush family members wandering about washington arms outstreched, eyes sunken, moaning "brains!brains!brains!" for a long time to come.

Posted by gregg on December 21, 2006 at 08:19 PM

Te, He. You guys are like Burns and Allen tonight.

Join CODEPINK and many others in a national march on Washington, D.C., on Saturday, January 27, to call on Congress to take immediate action to bring the troops home. See link below for further details about the event:

http://www.codepink4peace.org/article.php?list=type&type=182

here is something the new congress should get to killing in the first 100 seconds of its existence:

Study Suggests Incentives on Oil Barely Help U.S.

By EDMUND L. ANDREWS
Published: December 22, 2006
WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 — The United States offers some of the most lucrative incentives in the world to companies that drill for oil in publicly owned coastal waters, but a newly released study suggests that the government is getting very little for its money.

The study, which the Interior Department refused to release for more than a year, estimates that current inducements could allow drilling companies in the Gulf of Mexico to escape tens of billions of dollars in royalties that they would otherwise pay the government for oil and gas produced in areas that belong to American taxpayers.

But the study predicts that the inducements would cause only a tiny increase in production even if they were offered without some of the limitations now in place.

money for nuthin and the oil for free

good nite folks.

this is the stuff i want to hear discussed in congress...this is the kind of research they need to be in on and they need to respond to real fast....i want elected officials to see the future of the human race as their responsibility and if they are not ready to accept that and want to piss away their time and ours on bullshit like declaring marriage a union between a man and a woman they should quit and attend bob jone's u or whatever and let some people who are ready to get something real done take over. from salon:

Indian, Chinese Team to Map Glacier Melt

By GAVIN RABINOWITZ Associated Press Writer

December 21,2006 | NEW DELHI -- A joint Indian-Chinese team plans to chart remote Himalayan glaciers that scientists fear are rapidly melting because of global warming, threatening the great rivers that give life to one of South Asia's most fertile regions.

The two expeditions, announced Thursday, will take scientists into some of the most remote areas of Tibet to explore the sources of two rivers that provide water for vast agriculture regions that feed nearly a sixth of the world's population.

"The melting of the ice sheets and the glaciers is a crisis in the Himalayas," said H.P.S. Ahluwalia, who runs the Indian Mountaineering Foundation, which is organizing the expedition with China's Institute of Geology and Geophysics.

Scientists believe that increasing global temperatures are causing glaciers -- the planet's largest source of fresh water after polar ice -- to melt.

The short-term result has been flooding, but some fear that over the long term the glaciers will melt entirely and the rivers will run dry for months at a time, fed only by annual rains like the monsoon that sweeps across the subcontinent every summer.

"In three to four decades these rivers that feed more than a billion people in our society and adjoining countries will become seasonal rivers," Ahluwalia said.

Scientists will study the sources of the Sutlej and the Brahmaputra, two rivers which -- like the better known Indus and the Ganges rivers -- flow from the Himalayas into northern India where the fertile plains they feed form the backbone of a society that is still largely agricultural.

All are regarded as life-giving holy rivers -- Hindus even venerate the Ganges as a goddess.

Almost every one of more than 300 large glaciers studied worldwide -- from the Andes in South America to the Himalayas -- is in retreat, international glaciologists reported in October in the journal Geophysical Research Letters...

if you listen to all the babble from the great wise men and the pimps for bush crowd you would think there is a pause in iraq while they wait for the presidunce to "get his shit together" but the reality is that there is no pause and there is no reason to think this evil clown is any closer to knowing what the fuck he is doing than he ever was:

Record number of bodies turns up in Baghdad
The toll, 76, is the highest yet for a 24-hour period. Two U.S. soldiers are killed in roadside bombings.
By Molly Hennessy-Fiske
Times Staff Writer

December 21, 2006

BAGHDAD — The bodies of 76 unidentified people were recovered Wednesday in Baghdad, police said, the highest 24-hour toll for the anonymous slayings that have become a grim part of life in the capital.

All of the victims were men between the ages of 20 and 50. Although they died violently, all shot with automatic weapons, the men were not slain execution-style — no handcuffs or blindfolds, morgue staff members said. Only a few showed signs of torture.

They were not the only bodies delivered to the morgue Wednesday.

There were victims of drive-by shootings, assassinations and bombings, police said. The corpses included that of a Yarmouk Hospital morgue worker who usually receives the dead. In all, an additional 26 Iraqis were killed around the country, most of them in Baghdad.

Two U.S. troops were killed in separate roadside bombings. One died while investigating an explosion with a combat patrol southwest of the capital, the military said. A second soldier died after an explosion near his vehicle during a road-clearing mission in southern Baghdad. Six soldiers were wounded in the blasts.

Four bombs rocked Baghdad with explosions loud enough to send jittery residents to their windows to see cars speeding away and plumes of black smoke that were visible from miles away.

The first blast came at 7 a.m., when a massive suicide car bomb exploded at an Iraqi police checkpoint near Baghdad University. The explosion killed 11 people, including six Iraqi police officers, and injured at least two dozen, police said.

The area was crowded with students, police said, and buses were filled with Muslim pilgrims on their way to Baghdad International Airport to travel to the Saudi city of Mecca.

Investigators think the bomber was targeting the pilgrims. State-run Al Iraqiya television reported later that buses carrying pilgrims to the airport would be rerouted.

Another suicide car bomb exploded at 9:45 a.m. near the government passport office at the crowded Kasra Market in northeast Baghdad. Security guards stopped the car before it entered the market, and the driver detonated the bomb, killing one person and injuring four, police said.

Two more car bombs exploded later in Camp Sara, a neighborhood in south Baghdad, and in the capital's Bayaa district. No one was killed, although five people were injured, the Interior Ministry said.

Gunmen opened fire at a Baghdad bus terminal, concentrating on buses headed to the mostly Shiite Muslim areas of Sadr City, Talibiya, Husseiniya and Shaab, police said. Three people were killed and at least seven injured, police said.

Gunmen also targeted three teachers.

Palestinian teacher Mahmoud Mohammed Rasheed, brother of Iraqi television star Zuhair Mohammed Rasheed, was killed in the east Baghdad neighborhood of Baladiyat, where he taught middle school, police said.

Investigators said Rasheed might have been targeted because he was a Palestinian, or attackers could have mistaken him for his brother, who stars in a popular sketch comedy.

Gunmen killed Ali Arnoosi, deputy dean of the college of law at Baghdad University, and fellow law professor Mohammed Hamdani, police said. The two were slain on their way home. Their driver and guard also were killed.

In the northern city of Mosul, five people were gunned down in different neighborhoods, police spokesman Brig. Gen. Said Ahmed said.

South of Baghdad, gunmen killed Jamhooryia Aozaiyab, a former member of Saddam Hussein's Baathist Party and a leader in the Baathist Iraqi Women's Union, police said. She was slain near her home in the city of Kut.

Elsewhere in the south, six farmers were kidnapped at a makeshift checkpoint. They were driving two trucks loaded with fruits and vegetables north from the mostly Shiite village of Lijij, about 15 miles south of Baghdad, to the city of Swaira when they were taken, police said. Their trucks were abandoned.

The U.S. military said Wednesday that coalition troops on Dec. 14 had captured an Al Qaeda leader suspected of attacks last year in Baghdad and Mosul that killed hundreds of civilians, including the downing of a coalition helicopter, kidnappings and suicide car bombings. The leader was identified as "the Military Emir of Mosul" and "the Military Emir of Karkh."

Meanwhile, supporters of a leading Shiite cleric said he had not decided to back a U.S.-sponsored coalition of Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish parties bent on opposing extremists. Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani and his aides were in Mecca and issued no statement backing the coalition.

Two other high-ranking Shiite clerics, Ishaq Fayyad and Bashir Najafi, endorsed the coalition on Radio Sawa, a U.S.-funded Baghdad radio station.

molly.hennessy-fiske @latimes.com

GREEN BAY PACKERS BEAT THE MINNISOTA TROLLS, I mean, VICKINGS!

GO PACK GO!

GO PACK GO!

GO PACK GO!

GO PACK GO!

Oh, Good Evenig everyone!

;p

thanks for pointing that out fos.

Posted by gregg on December 21, 2006 at 08:57 PM

What did I point out?

Posted by FreedomOfSpeechForEdwardsObama2008 on December 22, 2006 at 12:23 AM GO PACK GO!

Hey, FOS. This could be you

Sweet dreams, FOZerRoonieMeister. :)

Posted by dorsano on December 22, 2006 at 12:42 AM

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LOL! Whatever dude. I gotta stick with the ones I live with. Even though Chicago is only three hours away.

Go Pack Go!

;p

Posted by FreedomOfSpeechForEdwardsObama2008 on December 22, 2006 at 12:23 AM

So, how much crow are you gonna make me eat if the Bears lose on the 31st? I'm curious because that sort of determines how much of a hard time I can give you between now and then.

Posted by FreedomOfSpeechForEdwardsObama2008 on December 22, 2006 at 12:49 AM I gotta stick with the ones I live with. Even though Chicago is only three hours away.

Good choice, FOS. A lot of people here feel the same way or we'd have packed up and gone to Canada, which is only a few hours away for me, when Bush was reelected, er, I mean elected in 2004.

Dors,

You know what? The good thing about NOT being an obsessed Green Bay Packers fan is this, if we win, I get to rub it all up in your face. If we lose, it won't hurt. So, you see dear. It works this way. If we lose on the 31st, I'll just be like " So, I ain't no Packer fan anyway. I don't care" HOWEVER, If we win, I will personally feed you that crow sandwhich. I know it's so not fair, but hey.

;p

Hey Dors,

My teams website looks better than your teams website.

P.S. Bears aren't orange btw. They are brown. I should know. Our state has some real ones dont' ya know?

;p

Posted by FreedomOfSpeechForEdwardsObama2008 on December 22, 2006 at 01:17 AM if we win, I get to rub it all up in your face. If we lose, it won't hurt.

That's exactly the trouble with kids now-a-days as far as I'm concerned. They're too damn smart for their own good and they have no respect for tradition.

Posted by FreedomOfSpeechForEdwardsObama2008 on December 22, 2006 at 01:24 AM Bears aren't orange btw. They are brown. I should know. Our state has some real ones dont' ya know?

:)

OK, you. You win this one. But I'LL BE BACK!

take care, FOS. I'm off to bed.

That's exactly the trouble with kids now-a-days as far as I'm concerned. They're too damn smart for their own good and they have no respect for tradition.

Posted by dorsano on December 22, 2006 at 01:27 AM

Hey. We are the Sassy,Sarcastic, Smart Ass Spawns of the Baby Boomers. Yall taught us to be this way. Ya'll might not remember because ya'll was so high back then.(ROFLMAO)

Grrrrrr! That's the noise a bear makes by the way.

On the real, I'm just messin with you Dadday.I love all of you Baby Boomers.Ya'll know that.

Good night.

;p

Posted by FreedomOfSpeechForEdwardsObama2008 on December 22, 2006 at 01:38 AM Grrrrrr! That's the noise a bear makes by the way.

Don't read too much serious stuff into what I posted, FOS. I was just trying to be funny.

Though after I posted, I figured you would.

And it's nice to know that the country will be in good hands when I move along. So thank you.

I'm not a real Green Bay Packers fan but if I see more of this QB California Cutie, I might just warm up to the idea.I might even get his Jersey if I can find a number 12.

And it's nice to know that the country will be in good hands when I move along. So thank you.

Posted by dorsano on December 22, 2006 at 01:48 AM

Oh no. Thank you. Without you we would be a bunch of clueless sheep blindly obeying our government because we assumme they know more than us. You don't know how much debt of gratitude we owe ya.

Thank you so much for teaching us to use the grey matter under our sculls.

LOL

;p

Just a heads up to the regulars here. As you know, I always change the second half of my username. Due to recent identity theft by rightwing trolls, I am giving you a heads up that I have changed it again to FOS for Barack Obama2008 as opposed to EdwardsObama2008. If anyone is wondering why you may read this,

Why I'm supporting Obama and not Edwards unless Obama opts out.

Good morning FOS

Okay, okay now remember as I have said before I've been a Miami Dolphins fan since the days of Shula and Csonka and that was the early 70's.

And as we all say: "What about those Bucs? Love em".

Posted by J on December 22, 2006 at 05:32 AM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hey, J. Did you get my e-mail?

bbl, J.

I'm back, J.

Where you at?

;p

FOS

After reading this little writeup last night, I was "38 hot". I decided to sleep on it so to cool down so to speak and get a better perspective. First I decided to check out the author on her blog site. Well before I could get there I came across two ads to purchase books written by who else but Ann Coulter. Questions answered immediately about the author after being suspicious anyway about the wording of the article. No one but an idiot would let anything remotely connected with that patheticly braindead woman near their site.

Anyway her article states that Obama is a Muslim and will always be considered one by the Muslim community no matter how much he professes to be a Christian. Now I'm not draggin' out the racism bat right now. Uh uh, I'm gettin' the religious intolerance whipping stick out.

This woman based her conclusion on the fact of Obama's middle name which is "Hussien" and that his father was a practicing Muslim. She also uses the fact that he sought out his father's homeland and roots and that he attended a Muslim school for two years in Indonesia. First the man was not raised by his father. Second he has always claimed and embraced Christianity. Third, he attended a Muslim school in Indonesia because where else was he going to attend when 90% of the country is Muslim.

Now let me get to Obama's name. What is the man supposed to do? Change it? Of course not! He like so many others in this country is proud of his heritage. Decades ago many Jews did this because of the back lash of Anti-Semitism and so many say they regretted doing it. The next issue being the intolerance that this nation has been LED into of discriminating against another culture's religion. I say led because you can thank the Christian Right, the Ultra Conservatives and the GOP for that matter of planting and nurturing the seed of all Muslims are terrorists. Does no one remember any of their American History? Those little ships did not sail over from England because they wanted to see what was on the other side of the ocean. They came because of religious persecution and the Founding Fathers in setting up this democracy ensured a protection from this.

Little Miss Idiot Thing also touched base on some racism there by stressing the fact that Obama sought out his father's "black" roots and not his mother's "white" roots. Well let me introduce her to the fact though it may not be a pleasant one but nevertheless is true: Because Obama has black blood running through his veins the world will view him as such - a black man. Obama knows and has always known this which is why he embraced his blackness from day one. Unlike Tiger Woods there who states he's "Comblasian"? What the hell is that? Bottom line he had a black father too and he is black, period.

Most importantly here is not to discriminate and persecute folks for their religious belief. WHATEVER someone deems as THEIR god so be it and accept that fact that everyone on the face of this earth is not a white blue-eyed Christian as the ugly forces in this country would have us believe.

Let everyone shout Hallelujah! to their spiritual belief and who they deem as their God.

http://www.debbieschlussel.com/archives/2006/12/barack_hussein.html

Okay I'm here. Went wandering after something I read last night which you are probably looking at now.

Good morning, everyone.

Posted by J on December 21, 2006 at 11:42 AM

Thanks J. I'll be looking forward to reading it.

Are your grands on winter break from school?

J,

I read the BS article. I'm not sure where you got that from. Did someone send it to you?

That was disgusting. I'm sorry but I don't trust people who are as fake as their hair and eye color.

;p

If we're going to call Barack Obama a Muslim because of his name then, we must assume all White Americans with a German surname are Nazi's. All White Americans with an Irish surmane are members of the Ku Klux Klan. All White Americans with with an English surname decended strait from the bowels of Satan himself. That's if Barack Obama is a Muslim simply because of his name.

That's all I have to say.

Wait, that didn't sound right because my analogy implies that I view being a Muslim as the same as those people.So, replace.....

TERRORIST with the word Muslim.

P.S. I swear. I don't want to see a single rebuttal becaise I already posted this and caught my mistake to don't even start with me.

(That's just for people who come on later on in the day)

;p

...and I know about the typos too so save it!

;p

Thanks J. I'll be looking forward to reading it.

Are your grands on winter break from school?

Posted by Esmeralda on December 22, 2006 at 06:33 AM

Yep, grands on winter break.

I also posted yesterday an answer to the study I will be participating with on the effects of the hip hop culture. It WILL include all youth.

If that's true then this country is simply a slave of the corporations and there is no government for the people.

Posted by rjsnj on December 21, 2006 at 12:05 PM

Bingo!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When I read someone post that we should have protests against our government, I think we should be prepared to not protest, but protect ourselves from government or become the government. But then, that takes lots of money and the blessing of those in charge of the legislative branch.

If you have the ability to be a part of your local government, please do it!

If you have the ability to be a part of your local government, please do it!

Posted by Esmeralda on December 22, 2006 at 06:49 AM

Exactly. Best answer I've heard in a while on that subject.

That was disgusting. I'm sorry but I don't trust people who are as fake as their hair and eye color.

Yeah how about that FOS. I've been looking at that pic trying to figure out the ethnicity there. I swear, she's probably one of those "conservative blacks".

Got the article from BlackElectorate.com

They have some good stuff. So does BlackAgenda.com

Just checked out that pic again. Oh that's "sistah girl wannabe". And got Ann Coulter's book on her site, pushing it no less?

One day I'm gonna come crazy with my conservative black bretheren on this blog. Stand back and watch out!

If you have the ability to be a part of your local government, please do it!

Posted by Esmeralda on December 22, 2006 at 06:49 AM

I do the best I can considering that the DEM party in this county is as weak as water and very disorganized, BUT there is as they say HOPE. Seriously considering getting some help from the State DEM office on working to get more folks signed to the party.

One day I'm gonna come crazy with my conservative black bretheren on this blog. Stand back and watch out!

Posted by J on December 22, 2006 at 07:04 AM

I got your back.

Foreals.

;p

Aren't there terms for those who find and correct others mistakes and for those who concern themselves with correcting their own mistakes?

Aren't there terms for those who find and correct others mistakes and for those who concern themselves with correcting their own mistakes?

Posted by Esmeralda on December 22, 2006 at 07:11 AM

Self-Edifying Perfectionist Virgos?

:)

No?

What ? Tell me. Be nice about it too.

Gates assures Iraqis of continued U.S. support

Gates’ one-hour breakfast with the 15 ordinary soldiers, none of whom were officers, was largely a question-and-answer session, with the defense secretary asking the majority of questions and seeking advice on troop levels, a timeline for training Iraqis, sectarian leanings within the Iraqi security forces and the “caliber and discipline” of both Iraqi soldiers and their military leaders.

No soldier present said the American forces should be brought home, and none said current troop levels were adequate, as some commanders have argued.

Good morning, Peeps. I know it's early and I'm only on my first cup of coffee and I live in rural NY, but how does one change their eye color? Not that I'm not happy with my browns.

Posted by Cyn_NY on December 22, 2006 at 07:23 AM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Color Contacts.

;p

Bottom line: Big business and small business are going to have to accept the fact that the minimum wage HAS to be raised and yes government has the RIGHT and even more so the OBLIGATION to ensure that the public is not being used as slave labor which is of course against the law.

Just ask Walmart who had workers doing labor off the clock and disguised it as a "team effort".

The consequences? They are currently fighting over a dozen suits in a dozen states of which about 3 have been ruled on. Colorado - $50 mil (settled), California - $179 mil (appeal), Pennsylvania - $82 mil (appeal).

http://www.easttexasreview.com/story.htm?StoryID=4107

Wow, I didn't think if that! People actually put those things in their eyes to change the color? I hated them when I had to wear them to see! Laser eye surgery made me contact-less.

Good grief.

Rising inflation and falling home prices are likely to push the US economy into recession by the second half of 2007. Gathering economic weakness, combined with negative real yields on US Treasury securities and growing political pressure to weaken the dollar will lead to significant dollar depreciation against most currencies.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Global_Economy/HL23Dj01.html

Good morning, Peeps. I know it's early and I'm only on my first cup of coffee and I live in rural NY, but how does one change their eye color? Not that I'm not happy with my browns.

Posted by Cyn_NY on December 22, 2006 at 07:23 AM

Good morning Cyn

Oh honey with color contacts and hair weaves that can run about $1200 one can change their entire ethnic makeup.

fos,

I can't recall at this moment, but I remember reading at one time in my life, there is a phobia about both those actions.

There is probably one to describe my calling attention to them as well.

Oh well, it's about as important as the fake eyes and hair and of Edwards & Obama's smiles.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What's important to me right here and now is spending time with the carpenter before I head out to my half day at the office. We're looking forward to the long holiday weekend as I'm sure most of all of you are looking forward to the holidays with your loved ones.

Enjoy the day, everyone.

Speaking of home prices there are many that were deluded into those adjustable mortgages that are now having the rates raised and folks are facing mortgage payments in the twilight zone/outer limits.

Posted by Cyn_NY on December 22, 2006 at 07:29 AM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Big time! They even have all these wild colors like lavender. I can usually tell because the person looks like the're wicked or something. Then, when I get real close, I can see the extra line abound the pupil.

"Ain't nothin like the real thang......"

fos,

I'm always nice. ;)

Have a great one, everyone!

Time to start getting ready for the holiday/weekend.

Check everyone later

FOS see ya Sunday night. Keep the faith.

Peace \/ :)

There is probably one to describe my calling attention to them as well

LOL. You're too funny. Have a nice day.

:)

Posted by Esmeralda on December 22, 2006 at 07:35 AM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I guess I better tell Santa to hold off slipping that coal in ya stocking.

;p

Bye J and Essie.

good morning

Big time! They even have all these wild colors like lavender. I can usually tell because the person looks like the're wicked or something. Then, when I get real close, I can see the extra line abound the pupil.

Posted by FreedomOfSpeechForBarackObama2008 on December 22, 2006 at 07:34 AM

Wicked? Ha ha! You need to quit!! My laugh for the morning.

I had a HR Director who went to the green shade and I mean they just made her look like Evalina. I remember she and I were tangling about my writing up an employee and right in the middle of the heated conversation I just blurted out, "And girl you need to get rid of those green contacts and go to brown or amber". Needless to say sistah girl was not amused. But she did everntually change the shade.

Morning Fade

Outta here this time FOS

Peace \/ :)

Oh honey with color contacts and hair weaves that can run about $1200 one can change their entire ethnic makeup.

Posted by J on December 22, 2006 at 07:31 AM

Don't forget the boob,butt and lip implants, golden tans and fake nails.

;p

I used to wear human hair braided extentions when I was in California because it was so dry out there, my hair did better in braids. Out here in Wisconsin, it grows too darn fast to wear braids so I just relax it.

If there's one thing good about Wisconsin weather it's that it works wonders on a Black womens hair. It's just perfect. Although,if Summer last too long, I might put my hair back up.

:)

Posted by J on December 22, 2006 at 07:43 AM

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jada Pickett is the only one with pretty eyes and that's because they are hers.

Okay, bye.

I have to go as well.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND ALL OF YOU.

(SMAK)

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Selective Service System is making plans to test its draft machinery in case Congress and President Bush need it, even though the White House says it doesn't want to bring back the draft.

The agency is planning a comprehensive test - not run since 1998 - of its military draft systems, a Selective Service official said. The test itself would not likely occur until 2009.

Scott Campbell, the service's director for operations and chief information officer, cautioned that the "readiness exercise" does not mean the agency is gearing up to resume the draft.

"We're kind of like a fire extinguisher. We sit on a shelf," Campbell told The Associated Press. "Unless the president and Congress get together and say, 'Turn the machine on' ... we're still on the shelf."

Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson prompted speculation about the draft Thursday when he told reporters in New York that "society would benefit" if the U.S. were to bring back the draft. Later he issued a statement saying he does not support reinstituting a draft.

AP: Selective Service to test military draft machinery

UN poised to pass Iran sanctions despite threat

· Ahmadinejad warns of immediate retaliation
· US and Britain step up naval presence in Gulf

Ewen MacAskill and Richard Norton-Taylor
Friday December 22, 2006
The Guardian

The United Nations security council is finally expected to pass a resolution today to impose international sanctions on Iran for the first time since the 1979 revolution, a punitive move that will heighten diplomatic tensions and risks a military confrontation in the Gulf.

Iran has threatened immediate retaliation, even though the proposed sanctions have been significantly watered down this week. Tehran's options include withdrawal from the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN nuclear watchdog, which would mean Iran would conduct its nuclear programme free from international monitoring, and possible closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the channel for 20% of the world's oil supplies.

test

Privatized Immigrant Detention Facilities for Families Revealed to be Modern-Day Concentration Camps

One of the more disturbing stories that surfaced after the Swift meat plant raids was how too many children were left without a parent and/or farmed out to friends and families with no immediate word on how they will be reconnected with their mami and papi.

But if news filtering out of one of the newly designated immigrant detention centers for families is any indication, no undocumented parent is going to open their mouth and claim their children if the whole family is going to be subjected to what is becoming known as the first known concentration camp on American soil in the 21st Century.

The T. Don Hutto Residential Center in Taylor, Texas (on the outskirts of Austin, Texas) is a private detention facility operated by Corrections Corporation of America. It and a smaller center in Pennsylvania are the only two facilities in the country that are authorized to hold non-Mexican immigrant families and children on noncriminal charges.

Good morning Fade, I see you on top of things,as usual. I tried to post about an hour ago was repeatedly blocked and lost my post. Oh well, no big deal! Hope you are well and everything ok with you today!

Christmas oddity

Bing and Bowie at C & L

this one's my dad's favorite...hope you find yours, play it, keep it in your heart and find peace...

joy to you and your loved ones...

love, fade

good morning, goodfoe

same thing happening over here. keeps telling me i'm not signed in.

hey, you have a spectacular day now...

peace

Fade...Non immigrant families?//Like from central America??What happens to the Mexican families??

For Fade

Fade...I'm really upset this am...about our Marines that are about to be court martialed...these kids wanted to serve thier country...they VOLUNTEERED!!! And how do we pay them back? We send them into an illegal war and ask them(no, tell) to fight an emeny that is not in uniform, but rather in civilian clothing that attackes them and then fades back into the civilian population who will not give them up. Our Marines get ambushed, get hit by roadside bombs a (a mart but cowardly way to fight) and when thier buddies get killed, they attack to source and now, we're going to court martial them? At worst, I think they shoud be given General Discharges and released from service under "battle fatique"Some of the troops are on thier 3 and 4 tour of duty. It's no wonder they are tired of seeing thier buddies killed and are stressed out beyond thier breaking points. Screw the uniform military code, lets use a liitle common sense here and acknowlege the reallity of this situation. The Iraqi's want to try them in Iraq under Islamic law..SCREW THEM TOO They don't appreciate the effort our kids are making FOR THEM...so, lets stop the funding now and bring all of our children home!!!NOW!!!

If anyone needs to be court martialed, it's Bush, Cheny, Rumsfeld and Rove...

Good morning everyone!

Horsey

good morning elves, slept late today.

Not only are they going to court martial the enlisted Marines they also are bringing charges against officers who were not even there, Up to Lt. Col. Way to go you goofy jerks! That is a fine way to repay these officers for thier years of service!
BAD THINGS SOMETIMES HAPPEN IN THE FOG OF WAR.
Get over it and defend our troops!!!

Good morning, all.

Posted by fade2bluz on December 22, 2006 at 07:58 AM

fade,

So this is the GOP "Oliver Twist” Christmas story that the White House would rather we never knew about. Let's see if Lou Dobbs bothers to acknowledge it. The racial overtones cannot be denied.

Nor can the role of privatization profiteers be ignored. Why is it that so many "entrepreneurs" are making money off other peoples' suffering with this Bush economy?

Whether it's in a war zone, "detention" facilities, or faith-based drug programs, there always seems to be someone with connections to campaign contributions or voting blocks out there on the take and making a profit.

Charles Dickens, who wrote extensively about those 19 th century's “privatized” orphanages and workhouses, would understand all to well what is going on here.

Thanks for sharing, fade. But it doesn’t make the season very bright. We’ve come all this way from Edwardian England to end up with what Scrooge decided wasn’t the Christian way to do things.

Happy Holidays, George W. Bush. You’ve even found a way to ruin Christmas for true believers. What a legacy of greed and shame.

If they go forward with the court martial of these Marines and I was the Commadant of the Corps, I would quietly "redeploy" every Marine in Iraq up north to protect the Kurds. The Kurds have gone about thier business, set up a Democratic government, have a good economy building and I'm confident we would be welcome there and they would appreciate our support Of course, I would be relieved of my command but it would be woth it to save lives and help put a stop to this insanity....Court martialing these kids is another way of "eating our children" for the sake of international politics. I'm sick of this!!!

Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson prompted speculation about the draft Thursday when he told reporters in New York that "society would benefit" if the U.S. were to bring back the draft. Later he issued a statement saying he does not support reinstituting a draft.

Posted by fade2bluz on December 22, 2006 at 07:51 AM

Well, some people would benefit.

Court martialing these kids is another way of "eating our children" for the sake of international politics. I'm sick of this!!!

Posted by goodfoe on December 22, 2006 at 09:04 AM

goodfoe,

I was thinking about why these craven White House draft dodgers are so intent on taking over the world.

They must still be angry that we didn't have "victory" in Vietnam. We saw it with the Swiftboating of John Kerry. It's like they can't admit that they turned their backs on their duty in the '60s, so they have to trivalize the service of those that did. And then re-fight the Vietnam War through Iraq to prove they were not cowards after all.

So what if young soldiers are eaten up and then spit out because they crack while serving in a conflict that has no mission?

I really have to get into the spirit of the season. I'm sick of trying to make sense of an insane situation.

I think I will concentrate on things like Toys For Tots which show the warm and generous side of our military. I've worked with them in the past. The Marine Corps Reserves are a top flight organization.

Most of their work is already done for the season, but there is a toy drive by a radio station going on this afternoon. I think I'll go on over there and offer to help out.

later.

Sandyh...good for you...I'm too upset about all of this mess to even post properly...so, I;m goig to leave for awhile too....I'm reatively new to the political arena, only been at it since '04, but it is like a can of maggots, the further I get into it, the worse the stink,it's like an advanced cancer, every where! I get so frustrated, there is so much of it, I don't know where to even start trying to do something in even a little way to make a contribution to correcting the problems. Writing is all I can do now and I am doing that....Later...

J on December 22, 2006 at 06:22 AM,

These are the types of stories that democrats must get out and out to show just how bigoted and ignorant these neo-selfservatives are. These types of stories come from the ignorants that made a pile of money spewing the lies of far far right crap. They know they will not make anything through the truth, so cling tightly to the world that they see as engulfed in flames.
Thank you for finding this article and giving it the proper perspective that it so deserves!!;)

I've been working a little bit on my blogger page, and posted a few poems that I wrote five years ago. I once had a website (free), but the server (Portland Communications) I was using decided it was time to begin making money for their space. I had all of my poems there, but I will not put all of my poems on my blogspot. I only posted four poems. If you want to check it out just click on my screen name.

An Aussie's perspective on the next two lonnnngg years:

http://lastdaysofpresidentbush.blogspot.com/2006/12/dangerous-hypothetical-bush-faces.html

Posted by DianeD on December 22, 2006 at 10:15 AM

Do you ever read what you post?

"All the festivities, except the fundraiser at the Building Museum, are being funded by Pelosi's campaign chest."

Labor's Christmas Wish List From The New Congress

Labor union members supported Demcrats by 74% for Congress and 76% for the Senate. Union households comprised roughly 25% of all voters in the November election. Unions have a few modest proposals to improve the quality of life for all working people that the new Congress should really seriously consider.

PROGRESSIVE VALUES

Posted by PaulSHooson on December 22, 2006 at 12:27 PM

Which is why the selfservatives have been slowly chipping away at unions for years and years. They do not hold the same power they once did.

Good Afternoon, ALL!!

Here we go with MORE Republican "values".

According to Network World's Paul McNamara, the communications director for U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-MT), Todd Shriber, hired two 'hackers' to break into the computer of his alma mater, Texas Christian University, and change his college grades.

He went trolling for the law-breaking 'hackers' on a computer security website. But instead of finding anyone to do his dirty work he came across a couple non-criminally minded techies who proceeded to chat him up about his scheme, draw out in explicit detail that what he was asking them to do involved mulitple felonies and then posted their complete email correspondence on the site, attrition.org.

Josh Marshall Has the WHOLE Story.

Good Morning,

Bush did it again, another recess appointment. This time to PBS board over the objection of the (current Republican run) Senate Commerce Committee. Over a bi-partisan objection this president over-rides the Senate!!

http://www.latimes.com/search/dispatcher.front?Query=Bell+pbs&target=blendedsearch&first-page-size=5

"Bush slips public-TV board member by Senate
By Matea Gold, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

NEW YORK - President Bush quietly appointed television sit-com producer Warren Bell to the board of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting this week, overriding opposition from public-broadcasting advocates who fear the outspoken conservative will politicize the post."

When will the senate get enough guts to deal this this constitutional breach of trust, lack of checks and balances?

Concerned

So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young

A very Merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear

And so this is Christmas (war is over)
For weak and for strong (if you want it)
For rich and the poor ones (war is over)
The road is so long (if you want it)
And so happy Christmas (war is over)
For black and for white (if you want it)
For yellow and red ones (war is over)
Let's stop all the fight (now)

A very Merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear

And so this is Christmas (war is over)
And what have we done (if you want it)
Another year over (war is over)
A new one just begun (if you want it)
And so happy Christmas (war is over)
We hope you have fun (if you want it)
The near and the dear one (war is over)
The old and the young (now)

A very Merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear

War is over, if you want it
War is over now

- John Lennon

BlueinIdaho on December 22, 2006 at 01:04 PM,

Having a white Christmas, huh blue? It's kind of dreary here in NY, raining, cold rain, definitely a green Christmas, but Christmas it is, and we wish for you to have a good one as well.

We were convinced in 2003 to make an investment in the future of our country and in the country of Iraq. That investment was based on false pretenses, we now know. Profits from the sale of oil have paid for not a penny of the overall war costs, although we were told that they would pay for all. The war itself has transformed from one fought against the forces of Saddam Hussein to one fought against an ever increasing desire for civil conflict amongst Iraqis themselves, with Al Qaeda thrown in for good measure. This presidents plan and the foresight of his administration has consistently proven near worthless in determining future trends inside Iraq.

Were this an investment of any other kind the plug would have been pulled long ago. No businessman in his right mind would continue to throw his money into this pot knowing that results are as elusive as they have proven to be. Let's get out while we still have a shred of dignity and a little money in our pockets not yet devoted to an increasingly uncertain future in Iraq. Diplomatic relations can be improved once the military force has been removed from the equation.

Diplomacy is a powerful tool, and it's time that we see this administration use it successfully.

Davidual...I liked your poems a lot. Thx for sharing...
Marine...excellent comments...I agree...hope you are ok today!

Doing good here, Goodfoe. How are you?

Marine...I'm doing much better today...The pain from the degenerative bone dis. was intense a few days age but has subsided. Have you clicked on my screen name yet? Fade told me how to do the hook up..Are you taking p/c for your pain? The old doc gave me Hydracodin ) but I don't take it very often. Sometimed it makes me really sick and always gives me bad headaches. Besides which it is bad for the liver Back at cha..

let pelosi do what the f_ _ _ she wants. the goddam republicans have been partying at our exspense for six years on the tax cuts they gave each other...pelosi led us out of the wilderness and took alot of crap from the assholes while doing it....i say party likes in 1999!

Gregg...Good afternoon...Pelosi is smart and tough...I think she "is going to string out her traps" for the Rats and back them in a corner where if they hope to survive '08, they are going to be forced to distance themselves from Mr. Bush and vote with the Dem's...That's my take on it for now, we'll have to see how it unfolds...How's the weather up in NY?

Secretary of State Condeleeza Rice's Philosophical Tought of the Day

She said: "There have been plenty of markers that show that this is a country that is worth the investment, because once it emerges as a country that is a stabilising factor, you will have a very different kind of Middle East."

....Our top Diplomat considers war an investment...but once Iraq gets "stabalised" the Middle East will be forever changed for the good of all.......

Posted by davidual on December 22, 2006 at 01:35 PM

White and starting to melt...but still very pretty. Have a very Merry Christmas!

Happy Christmas everyone!

I hope Cyn in NY sees this. It's from the QT Column in yesterdays Chicago Sun-Times:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Holly, jolly yet jobless... for now

December 21, 2006
BY ZAY N. SMITH Sun-Times Columnist

News Headline: "Holiday season brings surge in jobless claims."

News Headline: "Losing income, identity during normally joyous time of year is especially hard."

If you are at the wrong end of Trickle-On Economics, Christmas Day may not be what you wanted.

But make what you can of it and then place a call.

The outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas will offer free job search and career advice to anyone who calls on Dec. 27 and 28.

The hotline number is (312) 332-5790.

The hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.

Keep in mind: There are 12 days of Christmas.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(This is one of the TOP head-hunter firms in the Country.)

OH, MY GOSH!! I am never on the blog around this time. I just came home, checked my email and decided to check the blog. DPD, thank you so much - this was a post I was meant to see! I am copying the number and will surely call it.

Good Luck, {{Cyn}}!

{{{DPD}}}, can you believe it? I am never here at this time. This is a great Christmas present! Now, what do you want Santa to bring you???? ;-)

Thanks again.

I'm happy to hear that you are feeling better Goodfoe. I'm doing good. At this time I am able to manage the pain through deep tissue massage and chiropractic, most of it at any rate. I pop a pill every now and then but I prefer to go without the side effects if I can.

Our top Diplomat considers war an investment Posted by wldj

But of course she does. They invest the tax-payer's money, (yours and mine), and then they and their oil company cronies get all the profit. Why wouldn't she like an investment like that? Such a deal! (for her and her friends that is).

It's not much of a deal for the United States as a whole for certain. A very small percentage of Americans actually benefit from war in the Middle East. Most are hurt by it because, as OPEC will tell you, oil prices sore when there is war in the Middle East.

Want to know why your state and local governments can't do much to limit their spending? Consider for a moment the number of items each puchases and are tied to petroleum sales. It's not just that the cost to heat those government buildings and to fuel those government vehicles have gone up, absolutely every petroleum-based product (plastics, rubbers, medicines, etc.) has seen a remarkable increase in cost all of which are passed along to the consumer, in this case federal, state, and local governments.

test

Add those increased costs to the cost of war itself and there quickly ceases to be any financial benefit. Consider the fact that Iraq had nothing to do with any attack on the United States and that Osama still runs free, perhaps because of the distraction, and our presense in Iraq begins to appear worthless. Once you consider the poor progress we've made, which is in fact slower going and more expensive than the progress made under Saddam Hussein, there completely ceases to be any sane reason to stay.

All I want is Peace on Earth, and Articles of Impeachment (which would probably attain the same goal).

(More QT)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And to all a good night
Merry (this statement is offered without representation or warranty as to the effects or repercussions thereof upon any and all persons who might elect to celebrate the holiday as represented therein and with the understanding that any persons taking such actions without such representation or warranty do so with the express understanding that they have agreed to indemnify and hold QT harmless from the effects thereof) Christmas!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BBIAB!

test

For those who think that we should stay in the hope that none of those people hurt by our presence will decide to attack us here at home, I say don't cave in to fear. Fear is ever present. We don't operate throughout the world without fear, but there are ways to manage threat.

Bush would like to pay off Iraqis, to buy their forgiveness with future investments in that country. I'm not into paying off the Iraqis. We can deal, trade our goods for theres, but I'm not paying for protection as the president would have us do.

DPD,

Thanks for the post with the job information, I too, will be calling If I can get through!!

Nice job on the disclaimer between Merry and Christmas! Do you work for the government by any chance?

Marine....6:05PM... Do you agree that it would be a good idea to bring our troops home, rebuild our troop levels, repair and replace our equiptment, secure our borders and ports and keep our powder dry and let other countries take care of thier own affairs?

The "Decider" was against torture, before he was for it. The "Decider" was for the Geneva Conventions, before he was against them. He also knew what the term "human dignity" meant, before he considered "vague".

President's Statement on the U.N. International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

Today, on United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the United States reaffirms its commitment to the worldwide elimination of torture. The non-negotiable demands of human dignity must be protected without reference to race, gender, creed, or nationality. Freedom from torture is an inalienable human right, and we are committed to building a world where human rights are respected and protected by the rule of law.

To help fulfill this commitment, the United States has joined 135 other nations in ratifying the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. America stands against and will not tolerate torture. We will investigate and prosecute all acts of torture and undertake to prevent other cruel and unusual punishment in all territory under our jurisdiction. American personnel are required to comply with all U.S. laws, including the United States Constitution, Federal statutes, including statutes prohibiting torture, and our treaty obligations with respect to the treatment of all detainees.

The United States also remains steadfastly committed to upholding the Geneva Conventions, which have been the bedrock of protection in armed conflict for more than 50 years. These Conventions provide important protections designed to reduce human suffering in armed conflict. We expect other nations to treat our service members and civilians in accordance with the Geneva Conventions. Our Armed Forces are committed to complying with them and to holding accountable those in our military who do not.

The American people were horrified by the abuse of detainees at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. These acts were wrong. They were inconsistent with our policies and our values as a Nation.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/06/20040626-19.html

"It's bad in Iraq, he, he, it's bad, he, he, he - GWB.

Insurgents Kill 5 More Soldiers in Iraq

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Insurgent attacks killed five more American troops west of the Iraqi capital, the military said Friday, making December the second deadliest month for U.S. servicemen in 2006.

So far this month, 76 American troops have died in Iraq, the same number that were killed in all of April. With nine days remaining in December, the monthly total of U.S. deaths could meet or exceed the death toll of 105 in October.

LA Times

Domingo on December 22, 2006 at 06:24 PM,

How in the hell does our president live with himself? After redefining torture to fit his own administration's needs he comes out with a speech like the one delivered to the UN on International Day.

I guess in GW's mind by redefining torture, and henceforth legalizing more atrocious acts, then we can say we eliminated torture. Pretzel logic at it's best, but then again we must consider the source.

bbl

He also said he obeyed the FISA law, until he got caught violating it. Then he said he didn't have to obey the it.

Goodfoe, to be honest I believe that we are going to need to remove our troops from Iraq. Had we done this shortly after removing Saddam from power all in that country would now be back to a more normal degree of operation.

Whenever and wherever a void of power is created unrest follows. We chose to stay despite having learned this lesson in past encounters, some inside the Middle East. This was a bad idea, and most of us knew it at the time, because our presense has made it more difficult for Iraqis to form a new power structure.

What I'm speaking of here is a natural order of things that is accepted if not enjoyed by all. It is the culmination of personal beliefs and preferences which, over time, lead to the creation of a social power structure. Our constant interfearance has delayed the natural process by which such structure does generate.

This is what Senator Murtha is after. Iraqis must decide for themselves what this structure will look like. We haven't the power to force these 25 million souls to do so on a time basis of our choosing. Neither can we get anywhere with American/Iraqi relations and trade until we do. It is in our best interest to allow this process to continue without our interfearance.

Speaking of who benefits from the war; the Carlyle Group is heavily invested in "defense" contractors. Carlyle Group is owned by the Bush's, the Saudies, many of the neo cons and other closly connected people. The perpetrators of the wars. This is one giant shakedown. Who does that make the victoms? Me, you, our children and grandchildren.

BTW, Carlyle Group's portfolio was $12B in 2001, in 2006 it is $44B. All gained from the war.

Speaking of who benefits from the war; the Carlyle Group is heavily invested in "defense" contractors. Carlyle Group is owned by the Bush's, the Saudies, many of the neo cons and other closly connected people. The perpetrators of the wars. This is one giant shakedown. Who does that make the victoms? Me, you, our children and grandchildren.

Posted by salutetheDems on December 22, 2006 at 07:19 PM

Good evening

I've only been saying this for the past two years that this war is only about one thing: money. It was conceived, planned, engaged and has been fought all for one thing: money. All moneymongers of the world are heavily vested and have made a gajillion dollars.

Oh the DEMS can stop it, but only to a point. They know exactly what is going on, but hey one does not cross extremely powerful people. Folks that are virtually invisible, but own about 95% the world's resources. Who do you think got the Bush administrtion into office to begin with. They needed and selelcted the perfect idiot that would follow orders and do what he was told with precision and drive along with Cheney behind him to ensure that things went to plan.

These same set of powerful, but invisible folks also wanted big business to start having a free ride and basically the rights and freedoms that we so take for granted taken away through legislative and judicial measures so that the middle class would eventually collaspe and the country would be reduced to a state in which the government and people would be in a directive status.

Has the sounds of some deep conspiracy huh? You would be oh so surprised how close this country had come to just that.

Anyway that's a quick synopsis.

How in the hell does our president live with himself?

Posted by davidual on December 22, 2006 at 06:45 PM

Remember and as I say this, I am not trying to be sarcastic: This man has no brains. You can easily live with yourself if it hasn't occurred to you that you've done anything so terribly wrong.

Secretary of State Condeleeza Rice's Philosophical Tought of the Day
She said: "There have been plenty of markers that show that this is a country that is worth the investment, because once it emerges as a country that is a stabilising factor, you will have a very different kind of Middle East."

....Our top Diplomat considers war an investment...but once Iraq gets "stabalised" the Middle East will be forever changed for the good of all.......

Posted by wldj on December 22, 2006 at 04:13 PM

For the good of who Condi? Who? Worth the investment? Yes for folks to drag home freight trains of money from war profiteering.

Good evening, all.

I'm back in the spirit of the Christmas. I went by and offered to help at the toy drive. They had lots of other volunteers so it was a really jolly afternoon. I only stayed about an hour so they could have my parking space. There were so many people stopping by with toys/donations who wanted to stop and talk with the Marines and eat the food. Others were donating pet food for two local shelters. It was just a great feeling being around so many caring people.

Two Catholic high schools had collected thousands of dollars and were buying toys at Toys R Us who gave them a 10% discount. It was the boys against the girls schools and both came out the winner I assume.

Good for you SandyH. I can tell that you have that glowing holiday feelin'

Our top Diplomat considers war an investment

It's a Baker Botts World

The induction of George W. Bush into the Texas crony network can be traced to a precise date: June 6, 1962. On that date, the gregarious 15-year-old went to work in the mailroom of Houston's oldest and most prestigious law firm, Baker Botts.

Four decades later, the financial/political symbiosis between the Bushes and Baker Botts is stronger than ever. Indeed, no law firm in America has profited more from its association with the two Bush Administrations than Baker Botts. Much of that influence stems from the firm's patriarch, the silver-maned, silver-tongued former Secretary of State, James A. Baker III.

Baker has a long history in Riyadh. He started traveling there while he was Ronald Reagan's Treasury Secretary. As Secretary of State in the first Bush Administration, he was a regular visitor to the House of Saud. After that, Baker and the senior Bush both joined the Carlyle Group, a wealthy merchant bank, which has become something of a retirement haven for former conservative bigwigs, including Reagan Defense Secretary Frank Carlucci and former British Prime Minister John Major. In 1993 Baker joined Carlyle as an equity partner and senior counselor. Bush joined later on a consulting basis. One of the primary jobs that Baker and Bush had at Carlyle was raising cash--and they were particularly adept at getting it from the Saudis.

Bush and Baker helped convince their pal and hunting buddy Prince Bandar bin Sultan, the longtime Saudi ambassador to the United States, to put money into Carlyle. Other Saudis who invested included two sons of the wealthy Saudi banker Khaled bin Mahfouz. A few million more came from the family of Osama bin Laden.

And if Baker can help secure another quadrennium in the White House for the Bushes, Baker Botts will--once again--reap the benefits.

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20041011/bryce

Posted by SandyH on December 22, 2006 at 07:55 PM

Blessings Abound!

Happy, Happy to you & yours!

How in the hell does our president live with himself?

"I'm sleeping a lot better than people would assume." -- George W. Bush.

He probably spends his nights dreaming of all those war profits going into his family's and crony's bank accounts.

A French documentary claims French soldiers had two opportunities to shoot and kill Osama bin Laden, but they were not given the go-ahead by their American superiors. According to media reports, the documentary says French special forces had the leader of al-Qaeda in their sights twice in Afghanistan, in 2003 and 2004.
Full Story:

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2006/12/22/osama-france.html

INDEPTH: OSAMA BIN LADEN
Who is Osama bin Laden?
CBC News Online

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/osamabinladen

Four US marines charged with Iraq murders
Eight face life sentence over Haditha killings Court hearing follows admission of cover-up
Full Story:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,1977592,00.html

Al Qaeda U.K. urged to strike over holidays
CTV.ca News Staff

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20061222/qaeda_threat_061222/20061222?hub=TopStories

North Korea nuke talks end with no breakthrough
U.S. says no progress at N. Korea nuclear talks

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20061222/north_korea_061222/20061222?hub=World

14 killed in Baghdad suicide bombing
At least 14 people were killed and dozens injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up among a crowd of police volunteers in Baghdad.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,1977196,00.html

Five US Troops Die West of Baghdad
By Christopher Torchia
The Associated Press

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/122206S.shtml

Add your name to Senator Ted Kennedy's petition and tell Congress why you believe America deserves a raise.

http://www.tedkennedy.com/page/content/raisethewage

mash notes while passing through; John Murtha is a member of the House of Representatives, not the Senate, however, one is hard pressed to disagree with his position on Iraq.

That we should never have invaded Iraq is, of course, an established fact as of now. Actually, it was a fact back in March of 2003 and anyone with a half of a brain or an honest bone in their body could have seen that. We all know that Mr. Bush lied. Mr Cheney lied too. OK, so what do we do now? Based on everything I can read, it appears that remaining in Iraq is consistant with the way Bush operates. "Keep doing the same things over and over again until you get a different result." Why not? It hasn't worked yet but he'll keep trying, it just might, you never know. Sure! Back to the question, "what do we do now?" Answer: Remove George Bush from the White House. Congress can do this. They did it with Nixon, they can do it again. Two more years may be plenty of time for him to bring the house down. Enough is enough!

mash notes while passing through; John Murtha is a member of the House of Representatives, not the Senate, however, one is hard pressed to disagree with his position on Iraq.

That we should never have invaded Iraq is, of course, an established fact as of now. Actually, it was a fact back in March of 2003 and anyone with a half of a brain or an honest bone in their body could have seen that. We all know that Mr. Bush lied. Mr Cheney lied too. OK, so what do we do now? Based on everything I can read, it appears that remaining in Iraq is consistant with the way Bush operates. "Keep doing the same things over and over again until you get a different result." Why not? It hasn't worked yet but he'll keep trying, it just might, you never know. Sure! Back to the question, "what do we do now?" Answer: Remove George Bush from the White House. Congress can do this. They did it with Nixon, they can do it again. Two more years may be plenty of time for him to bring the house down. Enough is enough!

mash notes while passing through; John Murtha is a member of the House of Representatives, not the Senate, however, one is hard pressed to disagree with his position on Iraq.

That we should never have invaded Iraq is, of course, an established fact as of now. Actually, it was a fact back in March of 2003 and anyone with a half of a brain or an honest bone in their body could have seen that. We all know that Mr. Bush lied. Mr Cheney lied too. OK, so what do we do now? Based on everything I can read, it appears that remaining in Iraq is consistant with the way Bush operates. "Keep doing the same things over and over again until you get a different result." Why not? It hasn't worked yet but he'll keep trying, it just might, you never know. Sure! Back to the question, "what do we do now?" Answer: Remove George Bush from the White House. Congress can do this. They did it with Nixon, they can do it again. Two more years may be plenty of time for him to bring the house down. Enough is enough!

For Dorsano and FOS!!!;p

Où est Mlle Freedom de la parole ? J'ai accroché dessus aussi longtemps que je pourrais. J'ai offert l'adeiu jusqu'au matin, ou très probablement après matin. J'espère que d'ici là nous pouvons faire ouvrir un nouveau le fil. Joyeux Noël à chacun et à chacun de vous, et une nuit très bonne.

For the rest, may you have a merry Christmas, and a very good day.

Bomb attack kills 5 Afghan policemen
A roadside bomb exploded next to a police patrol in southern Afghanistan on Friday, killing five policemen, an official said.
Full Story:

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2006/12/22/afghan-bomb.html

Merry Christmas and peace to all
Joyeux Noël et paix à tous

Posted by davidual on December 23, 2006 at 12:17 AM

Bonne nuit, David. C'est domage que je suis arrivé si tard.

FOS as parti for California, je crois, pour chercher plus jeunes hommes comme celui-ci. Pourquoi? Je ne sais pas. Le mec a choisi jouer avec l'équipe fausse.

Les gosses ces jours, ils sont trop facilement séduit par n'importe quoi and ils sont trop impétueux.

jusqu'au demain

The Spirit of Christmas: Bush and Blair banned from Church of Nativity

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=20061217&articleId=4179

Happy and Safe Holidays to Everyone!

U. N. Renovation to cost 1.9 billion. U.S. share $400 million...hmmmm....more of our tax payer money going for something other than the direct benifit of American people. I wonder what 400 million might have done to improve education or health care. It's a question of setting prioritis...when do American raxpayers start to come first? This is the test we need to apply to all expenditures, "When and how do the American Taxpayers benifit from this spending of THIER MONEY?" Some will reply that we benifit from the U.N. Any spending program can be rationizaled, but hard choices have to be made. We can no longer be the "world's policeman"..we can't afford it!!!!We can no longer be a "blank check" for the rest of the world. We can't afford it!!!The American public, for the most part, is clueless as to what the politicians are doing with thier money. Too busy trying to earn a living,pay the house note, pay fot the kids school clothes, fix tha car and on and on. The public does not understand the issues, they get thier information in 15 second sound bites at dinner. This how we have almost been defrauded out of our liberties. Only 25% of the colonists wanted to throw off the yoke of England's supression of the colonies. This is the lesson for the Democratic Party, those who are active can effect huge change, can restore our liberty and can regain respect for this country.

Sorry for the typos and spelling..I'll go to my corner and put on the dunces cap...but only for 20 min.....later

good morning campers. let's get out of our tents and try to gather some pine needles and dry twigs to get a fire going.

i smell smoke

weak and wrong

Exxon: pay half

do you believe?

hi fade, guess i should start shopping soon?

Larissa and Raw Story investigative reporters
Ron Brynaert and Michael Roston are way ahead of the so-called MSM...excellent work!

some of you may remember Larissa from when she was a regular poster here

shopping? i thought i'd start later this afternoon...

wow, NRA graphic novel

hilarious, in a dark, disturbing way

Religion does more harm than good - poll

82% say faith causes tension in country where two thirds are not religious

enjoy the day, and check in later for recipe tips from DPD's Kitchen!

Hey, I resemble that remark!

{{{DPD}}}

what's cookin'?

Holiday Greetings, everyone!
Those that got a "present" in their e-mail box yesterday, I hope you enjoyed. Yes, I'm very happy, and yes, dors, he can cook. I won't share what else, but it makes for a glowing complexion.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Posted by gregg on December 23, 2006 at 07:24 AM

I was just going to push bake, start, and throw the cookie sheets and bread pans in until the timer went off. ;)

Every Christmas, along with the tried and true, I whip up a new cookie recipe. Today's secret ingredient is Pineapple!

While I'm stirring in each individual ingredient, I'm going to go ask for blessings upon each and everyone of you...just like each of us is distinctive, and we have out own lot in life, we are better when mixed together.

Peace & Love to everyone.

Enjoy the day!

Good Saturday Morning to Everyone!
And Happy Happy Holiday, and I hope you all have a wonderful time with loved ones and friends!

Also, I wanted to let everyone know about the John Edwards schedule coming up in a few days! I hope any one near by these events will take time out to attend.

"A Special Event and Town Hall Meeting"

December 28, 2006
Des Moines, IA

December 29, 2006
Portsmouth, NH

December 29, 2006
Reno, NV

December 30, 2006
West Columbia, SC

December 30, 2006
Chapel Hill, NC

For free tickets to any of these events:
http://johnedwardsevents.com/

Zup, {{ALL!}}

Right now the only thing cooking is the coffee maker.

Good morning Dem's

The "Decider" is in Camp David this weekend playing
squirel...looking for his nuts and trying to "think" about where they are...maybe if he finds them he'll be big enough as a man to admit he was wrong and bring the troops home...that's on my wish list!

Good morning everyone!

Just a quick note about my 12:17 A post. I do not dabble in French, I babel(fish).

Well, I've never been good at keeping secrets, and never desire to make myself appear more intelligent than I am. Although, I do wish I had studied French!:( It's my humility that is the cause of my humanism.

Davidual....your poems are excellent...Comprendi'?

Good morning, all.

82% say faith causes tension in country where two thirds are not religious

Posted by fade2bluz on December 23, 2006 at 08:11 AM

fade,

I take issue with the article where it characterized the largest group as being non-religious. Just because you don't belong to an organized religion doesn't mean you aren't religious.

Religion for me means maintaining an internal spiritual compass based on Judo/Hebrew/Islamic ideas but is centered from a respect for those around you and your environment... your typical bleeding heart Irish Catholic liberal with Germanic Lutheran sceptisim thrown in for good measure.

It's all those church tennets and laws that cause the problems. I was watching a CNN special about the Early Christians last night. I was also about the Hebrew religion and how the remergence of the Christians within their ranks cause undo chaos in that faith.

Most of it was about the struggle by all of them to control their various religions. The "pagan" Romans acted as catalyst by which they all found a reason to kill each other. The progam might as well had been about Islam as well, because we "Christian" occupiers are doing the same in the Middle East today.

You see the same thing going on in our courntry as various Christian sects like the Lutherans, Presbyterians, and Baptists break off. They are all so concerned about gays and women getting into postitons of power that they are spintering off and attacking each other as "non-believers."

I don't think the Lord really had this in mind when he sent Jesus into the fray. I thought the ideas was to show us a way to get along. Lesson not learned...big time.

No wonder various faiths are always fighting amongst themselves...and dragging all the "non-believers" into the ruckus. I haven't studied the Asian faiths at any length, but I assume they are as canabalistic as the western religious cultures.

Can't we just enjoy the birth of one little baby who was a sign of hope by the Creator?

Every birth since then has been a good tiding for peace and good will, if we just could forgive each other's trespasses as we apparently can't forgive ourselves for our own.

Forgiveness is the first step to redemption. I guess nobody really wants to be saved when a Rapture is so much more easy. Ask George Bush.

davidual, I didn't write that Merry (....) Christmas wish that I posted last night. It was another piece from the "QT" Column in the Chicago Sun-Times.

goodfoe on December 23, 2006 at 10:15 AM,

Thank you for your compliment. I do not do well with receiving praise as I am more used to criticism.
I have not done much writing of poetry the past five years. Now work, to working every shift under the moon,while caring for seven to ten year old son (that's 2004 - 2007) has not offered me much opportunity to expand on my writing abilities.
I am sorrowful of this fact, because I do like to write, I do like to manipulate my own subjectivity objectively. If by writing I can help others to look at things in a way that they may otherwise not, then, I am happy for that.

DPD on December 23, 2006 at 10:30 AM,

That's okay take the praise, then, for passing the Merry (...disclaimer) Christmas on to to rest of us. I for one hadn't seen this and thought it was quite amusing; in a bemusing kind of way!! Which, by the way, is what this "War on Christmas" is doing to the Christmas message.

Budda was a large person. As such, he required his rest. One day as he slept under a Ying tree, one of his deciples awoke him with a question,"Master, if ours is the true way, why are there so many other religions?"... Budda opened one eye a little wider and said, "My son,there are many paths to the top of the mountain." And he went back to sleep.

Hey y'all

very merry merry and happy happy tao you!

Sandy, the article was about England. Here, the Americans describe themselves as about 75% Christian, last time I looked. These self-report measures are interesting.

Bible (O.T) advocated slavery, violence, genocide:

Deuteronomy 7:2: "... thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them."

Deuteronomy 20:16-17: "...thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth. But thou shalt utterly destroy them."

Deuteronomy 2:26-35: "...we took all his cities at that time, and utterly destroyed the men, and the women, and the little ones, of every city. We left none to remain."

Buddism's Sidhartha never did. They're next in line after the big three. My Buddist friends claim that it is not really a religion, but a way of life. They don't eat meat and are very environmentally conscious, very peaceful and into nature, natural healing, etc. It's a way of thinking, being, doing...

the BIG THREE have some violent roots. They scare the crap out of me, with all their moral certainty. Their actions frequently are at odds with their words. Nothing gets a good war on like a religious cause.

Bokonan is my favorite religious book, today.

Goodfoe,

You offer this blog a lot of experience and the knowledge gained from that experience. I have enjoyed sitting back and reading the converse between yourself and marine. I certainly hope you maintain your DNC ties for many years to
come.

Davidual...."Some are called to preach, some are called to heal, some are called to teach"....I have none of these callings...the only calling I have is through my writing, to express my outrage about all the injustice I see in our society......Davidual, if through your writing, you reach just one person, you make just one pereson's life better, than you have contributed to all of mankind....

goodfoe, your book was just delivered! whooo hooo!

chores abound...

david, tell your son i said hi

have a special day, everyone. it's not about the stuff, no matter how you slice it.

may you give and find it...love

very merry merry and happy happy tao you!

fade2bluz on December 23, 2006 at 10:48 AM,

Was this a typo, or a play on words? The Tao Te Ching, written by Lao Tzu in the year 630 BCE precisely about The Way (Tao) of life. The following is a translation of Chapter 1 of the Tao Te Ching, by Ellen Chen:

1. Tao that can be spoken of,
Is not the Everlasting (ch'ang) Tao.
Name that can be named,
Is not the Everlasting (ch'ang) name.

2a. Nameless (wu-ming), the origin (shih) of heaven and earth;
Named (yu-ming), the mother (mu) of ten thousand things.

alternate...

2b. Non-being (wu), to name (ming) the origin (shih) of heaven and earth;
Being (yu), to name (ming) the mother of ten thousand things.

3a. Therefore, always (ch'ang) without desire (wu-yu),
In order to observe (kuan) the hidden mystery (miao);
Always (ch'ang) with desire (yu-yu),
In order to observe the manifestations (chiao).

alternate...

3b. Therefore, by the Everlasting (ch'ang) Non-Being (wu),
We desire (yu) to observe (kuan) its bidden mystery (miao);
By the Everlasting (ch'ang) Being (yu),
We desire (yu) to observe the manifestations (chiao).

4. These two issue from the same origin,
Though named differently.
Both are called the dark (hsuan).
Dark and even darker,
The door to all hidden mysteries (miao).

Davidual...thank you for your kind words...they mean a lot...in eastern cultures, older people are revered for thier life experience and wisdom...that is not always true in western cultures, where older people are used ip and thrown away ...thx again, you're ok, my man...

Fade...I'm impressed! Your knowledge of o.t. is something else! You rocked my boat lady! The conflicts between o. t. and n. t. are too much to go into here...I feel like the major organized religions have caused more bloodshed than any other force on earth. I'm a nominal Methodist. Small, dying off congrtegation in a buiding that needs a lot of repairs. But very, very good people. I don't attend often, I prefers to go to the park every day to pray to my God for wisdom, courage and and strength. Fade, please remember that I warned you that our book is harsh and brutal. The last part of the first section deals with ins. fraud, so get a couple of good shots to get you past the first part....

Davidual...Is that Taoism or Buddism you are quoting from? I"ve studied some of the eastern religions but I can't remember much about anything these days.....too much chemicals in my brain...from chemo...

UN security council approves sanctions on Iran
Associated Press

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20061223/iran_vote_061223/20061223?hub=TopStories

goodfoe on December 23, 2006 at 11:47 AM,

That would be Taoism.

The Tao Te Ching (Traditional Chinese: 道德經 [Listen (help·info)]), roughly translatable as The Book of the Way and its Virtue (see below), is a Chinese classic text. According to tradition, it was written around 600 BCE by the Taoist sage Laozi (or Lao Tzu, "Old Master"), a record-keeper at the Zhou Dynasty court. A careful reading of the text, however, suggests that it is a compilation of maxims sharing similar themes. The text's authenticity, authorship, and date of composition or compilation are still debated.

The Tao Te Ching is fundamental to the Taoist school (Daojia 道家) of Chinese philosophy and strongly influenced other schools as well, such as Legalism and Neo-Confucianism. This ancient book is also central in Chinese religion, not only for Taoism (Daojiao 道教) but Chinese Buddhism, which when first introduced into China was largely interpreted through the use of Taoist words and concepts. Many Chinese artists, including poets, painters, calligraphers, and even gardeners have used the Tao Te Ching as a source of inspiration. Its influence has also spread widely outside East Asia, aided by hundreds of translations into Western languages.

bbl for a new thread, hoping here!!;)

Davidual...Thx for the response...you are way beyond me on this subject...Happy Holidays!

Good afternoon, everyone.

I'm trying to catch up on the rest of today's posts. Sorry if I'm breaking into the discussion. This post was too good to pass up without a comment:

The Spirit of Christmas: Bush and Blair banned from Church of Nativity

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=20061217&articleId=4179

Posted by DemocratKickingAss on December 23, 2006 at 01:30 AM

DKA,

I wonder if Bush knows this? If he finds out, I wounldn't put it pass him to show up and cause a scene...on Christmas Eve.

I can see Karen Hughes making the analogy of Mary and Joseph being turned away at the inn...anything to build sympathy for the unclean. That is, if Bush can be persuaded to leave the ranch during one of his two month vacations.

Bush is so stubborn, he'll probably meet St. Peter at the Pearly Gates with Cheney's blunderbuss and try to storm his way into heaven. "But I talk to God all the time; there must be a mistake; and you're making it Buster."

Actually, I thought the Church of the Nativity had been shot up during one of the last skirmishes between Arafat's followers and the Israelis.

Bush Is Urged to Act on Criticism of Muslim


By RACHEL L. SWARNS
Published: December 23, 2006
White House officials said they were aware that some Democrats and Muslims were urging President Bush to admonish Representative Virgil H. Goode Jr., Republican of Virginia, and Dennis Prager, the conservative commentator, for suggesting that the first Muslim elected to the House had no place in Congress. “We’re aware of the situation,” said Dana Perino, a spokeswoman for Mr. Bush, “but no judgments have been made.” Mr. Goode said the election of Keith Ellison, a Minnesota lawyer who converted to Islam as a college student, posed a threat to American values. Mr. Prager, a presidential appointee to the board that oversees the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, said Mr. Ellison should not serve if he could not swear on a Bible, though he has apologized for those remarks. Mr. Ellison plans to use the Koran during a private swearing-in ceremony next month.

...It seems the "Decider" is much too busy changing the course in Iraq into a new way forward to respond to or insist this fool apologise for his ignorant remarks. If our elected officials are so ignorant of the Constitution's prohibition of state sponsored religion they should be forced to resign. This idiot needs to be fired.

Indian, Chinese Team to Map Glacier Melt

By GAVIN RABINOWITZ Associated Press Writer

December 21,2006 | NEW DELHI -- A joint Indian-Chinese team plans to chart remote Himalayan glaciers that scientists fear are rapidly melting because of global warming, threatening the great rivers that give life to one of South Asia's most fertile regions.

Posted by gregg on December 22, 2006 at 12:02 AM

gregg,

Scientists around the world are scambling to find out what's going on, while those in our country are being handed a Bible and told to shut up and follow the fundie study guide.

The scientific community is finding startling evidence in the Artic, the Alps, the Andies, and Alaska among other places that the centuries old glaciers are melting fast.

It is a global warming. Instead of denying and trying to initiate a debate over whether it is being hastened by human pollution, our govenment better start devising SOME SORT of alterntive fuel policy and implementing it just in case?

When is that Al Gore documentary coming out on DVD? We didn't get my mother-in-law to the movies the summer before she broke her hip. So it would have made a nice Xmas gift. I guess we will have to wait for him to win an academy award before it's released.

She still mantains that Gore won in 2000 and will do whatever she can to see him in the White House before she dies.

...It seems the "Decider" is much too busy

Posted by wldj on December 23, 2006 at 04:00 PM

Caring for Barney takes up a lot of his time. Caring for Bush takes up a lot of Barney's time.

Not for nothing but if I was the "leader" of the "free" world, involved in my personal "war of choice" taking a "Holiday" vacation would not be an option,christmas or not. Not being the leader of the free world I have to unfortunately go back to work on Tuesday and because of missing Monday may have to work on the weekend. Being leader of the free world apparently offers more opportunites for time off than my job requires and for some wierd reason pays a lot more as well. Clearing brush and bike riding are things our president is actually relatively competant at, except for the occassional biking mishap..haven't heard of any chainsaw accidents...and being a "hand" on a "ranch" doesn't pay nearly as well as President of The United States. Nobody Anywhere can make this sh.t up!

wldj,

If I ever get elected to Congress, I want to be be sworn in with my hand on my Betty Crocker cookbook. I'm making my favority chocolate cookie recipe today from that book. Some things are just too sacred to part with.

Representative Virgil H. Goode Jr. doesn't deserve another chocolate chip cookie ever again...his brain is half baked.

Nobody Anywhere can make this sh.t up!

Posted by wldj on December 23, 2006 at 04:17 PM

They tell stories about Nero that were just as weird.

Posted by SandyH on December 23, 2006 at

I just don't get it I guess. If you can explain it to me I'd appreciate it...but can it be explained?

I guess I live in some other reality than our "leaders" because I'm not seeing any real leadership. Lots of slogans and spin and no accountability. If I screw up it's back on the job to fix whatever the problem is not delay and lie. I've had a tough week at work, it's hard to explain, but you finish the job you don't make excuses just get it done or make sure it gets done!

Posted by J on December 22, 2006 at 06:22 AM

j,

Obama is getting it from both ends from the bigots.

They aren't too sure which upsets them most...his father's Muslim upbringing or the color of his skin. It's the best of both worlds for the modern day Klan men and women.

I suppose they can throw in something about the evils of immigration, too, if they get bored hating him for the other two reasons.

If they ever get around to attacking him for his brains or experience, we might have to take notice. Otherwise, I say run with great vigor, Senator Obama...just to keep the GOP bigotry out in the open for all to see. Yeah, sure we don't need affirmative action anymore.

Posted by wldj on December 23, 2006 at 04:32 PM

wldj,

Rich people don't work for a living. Politics is just a hobby or distraction from a boring life of self indulgence. Bush sees himself as a board member who gets paid for his connections not for any real expertise. It must be really irritating when anyone question his authority or why he isn't putting in long hours of toil.

Because someone has always bailed him out in life, he expects it will happen again if he just waits long enough. It is you and I who are the slackers for not wanting to stay the course.

In his world of privilege and wealth there are really no responsiblities....unless they are rooted into their young at an early age.

Nobody ever paid any attention to George W. Bush while he was growing up except his brothers who were afraid of him.

Well, my cookie dough is chilled and ready to pop in the oven. I'll be back later.

SandyH: Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" is in the DVD stores. I also saw it on Amazon.com for $19.99. You've still got time to get this for a gift!

Test

Ahh, come on DNC. No new threads?

My upstate NY weather report for the next few days. Keep in mind, I'm very, very near (14 miles) from the southern Adirondacks. This is appreciated, but strange:

Tonight...Mostly cloudy this evening...Then becoming partly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of rain showers. Lows in the mid 30s. West winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.

Sunday...Partly sunny. Highs in the lower 50s. West winds around 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.

Sunday Night...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 20s. West winds 10 to 15 mph.

Christmas Day...Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 40s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph...Becoming southeast in the afternoon.

Monday Night...Rain. Snow after midnight. Light snow accumulation. Lows in the lower 30s. Southeast winds around 10 mph...Becoming east after midnight. Chance of precipitation 90 percent.

50's on Christmas Eve?

Good evening and Happy Holidays to all...I Have been having trouble posting tonight....

So the "Decider" has his man back from Iraq and they have had thier secret meetig (No Press) at Camp David, and Gates appears to have gotten some of the General in Iraq to go along with his troop surge....Here we go again...I hope Congress has the guts to take a stand and freeze the funding...

The following is an article from scientists searching for elderly individuals who were around in 1918 and were exposed to the flu epidemic:

Past may hold clue to future flu fight Secrets may be in blood of 1918 survivors Wednesday, September 27, 2006
BY CAROL ANN CAMPBELL, NJ Star-Ledger Staff
People who lived during the 1918 influenza epidemic may hold secrets in their blood that could help fight a future pandemic, but finding them now is a race against time.
People who were toddlers at the end of World War I -- when the epidemic swept the globe and killed 50 million -- are in their 90s now. Nearly a lifetime after the notorious outbreak, researchers are hoping those who lived through it will come forward and donate a vial of blood, which then will be analyzed for antibodies
to the virus.
In particular, a New Jersey researcher is seeking those who had siblings or other close relatives who were infected or who died of influenza in 1918.
"If we can examine their blood and antibodies, maybe we can solve the great mystery of this virus," said Eric Altschuler, a researcher at the UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School. "Why was it so much more lethal than all other flu?"
Altschuler said antibodies and other cells created by the immune systems of people who survived the 1918 virus could, possibly, be used to create treatments if a similar virus again circles the globe, especially a bird
flu.
Altschuler will work with immunologists at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York.
Other researchers said scientists must collect the blood of influenza survivors before they are all gone. "We can see how these antibodies responded to the virus and why these people survived," said Thomas Rowe, who studies emerging pathogens at Southern Research Institute in Birmingham, Ala.
"This virus killed so many people and spread so rapidly that maybe we will be able to uncover something about the virus that we didn't know," he said.
It was just last year when researchers were able to reconstruct the DNA of the 1918 virus from the lung tissue of two soldiers who died in the epidemic. Their specimens were saved by the U.S. Army. Tissue also came from an Alaska woman buried in frozen ground. Researchers concluded the 1918 virus was a bird flu that jumped to humans.
Now that scientists have reconstructed the strain, they can search for the antibodies. Altschuler said most researchers believe that just about everyone alive at the time, except for the most isolated, probably came in contact with the influenza virus. Still, researchers especially want to find those who recall the illness in childhood or who heard family stories about the horrific virus affecting people close to them.
Unlike most influenza, the 1918 strain was most virulent for the young and healthy. People hemorrhaged from their noses and mouths -- even from their eyes and ears. Makeshift tents in public parks became hospitals for the dying.
"The healthiest, young adults had the highest death rate. As high as 7 percent or 8 percent in some places," said John M. Barry, author of "The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History." He said young people today know little about the epidemic. "But whenever I mentioned my book to older people it registered. They would say, 'My mother died. My grandfather died,'" he recalled.
Interest in the 1918 epidemic has grown in recent years as public health experts and politicians express concerns about a possible bird flu pandemic.
Several scientists said they are intrigued by Altschuler's study, even those who are not sure the antibodies can be isolated.
"I don't know how scientifically feasible this is, but if this is indeed feasible it would be a very interesting discovery," said Yanzhong Huang, director of the Center for Global Health Studies at Seton Hall University. "It is worthwhile to try."
Altschuler is a physician and medical historian who says he got the idea for his study from television when the NBC show "Medical Investigations" aired an episode about an epidemic.
To participate in the study, call Altschuler at (973) 972-5439.

Stop Climate Change Now!
The amazing response to An Inconvenient Truth shows how many Americans are concerned about about global warming. This could be the tipping point moment for the climate crisis. Congress must act to solve the climate crisis now.
A compiled petition with your individual comment will be presented to your Senators and Representative when you click the link below.

http://pol.moveon.org/climatecrisis

NEW THREAD

Going for Broke!

The definition of insanity is to keep repeating the same things that have previously failed yet expecting a different result. In describing Bush's new strategy or "surge of troops" in Iraq, we are getting a turbo-charged failed policy of the past yet only with more troops.

And who is driving our "new" strategy in Iraq? None other than the American Enterprise Institute, home to the neo-cons who brought us failed policy #1 in Iraq.

The "surge" or new plan being developed has been proposed by, in addition to others, retired Gen. Jack Keane and Frederick Kagan, a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, to use the extra troops to secure mixed Shiite and Sunni neighborhoods where most of the sectarian violence is taking place.

In response, General Colin Powell has raised the correct questions: What will the mission be and what are its honest chance of success?

The following are questions that Democrats should ask this administration.

1) What makes Bush & Co. believe that the "bad guys" will evaporate by developing a surge that lasts 3 months, 5 months, or even a year?

Of course they will do what all insurgents do: melt into the surroundings and wait out their enemies for the right opportunity to strike. One only has to recall the toppling of Saddham Hussein and his army to realize what the lessons are in fighting such a war. Where did all these troops go? Yes, into the neighborhoods looking just like everybody else.

Bush never liked time tables before, claiming that insurgents and "dead enders" will simply wait us out. This is definately the case for a well advertised temporary surge of troops who will only stay a specified period of time.

2) What happened to the importance of a bi-partisan approach to solving the Iraq problem?

Bush has turned his back on the carefully considered Iraqi Study Groups' recommendations. Yet in so doing he has provided the Democrats with a clear alternative. Rather than a surge, we must demand that the recommendations of this group be accepted. It must be emphasized the necessity of a bi-partisan approach in Iraq. A war cannot be won when at home fewer than a third of the American people support such an effort. Meanwhile, Bush, advancing a new plan that has the support of only 12 percent of the American people, such an effort is doomed for failure.

3) Why does Bush ignore the advice of others including experienced senior members of his father's administration, military leaders, the Joint Chief of Staff, Congressional leaders -- and the expressed sentiment of the American people?

Going for broke is not a strategy - it's a prayer. This president must not be allowed to break our military by using what may only be described as the equivalent of a hail mary pass. The difference between football and war, however, is a matter of life and death.