Commutation implies the penalty was excessive or there has been rehabilitation, reform, or other circumstances such as good conduct or community service.

or that the perp might give up the presidummie or vice presidummie....

BUSH GIVES LIBBY THE PARIS HILTON TREATMENT.

COMMUTING HIS SENTENCE BECAUSE THEY'RE BOTH CELEBRITIES AND ABOVE THE LAW.

This is complete BS. Once again, the President has said to the American People that he,his friends and his administration are above the law. Scooter Libby was given a jail sentence by a judge and he should serve it like every other American that was sentenced would have to do.

BUSH AND CHENEY MUST BE REMOVED FROM OFFICE NOW!

SEND IN THE NATIONAL GUARD. THE SECRET SERVICE WOULD NOT DARE RESIST.

well i had no real need to see libby do time...i had a need to see the republican party debased and the dummie continues to provide help in that area. remember that one of the things that prevented ford from ever getting a second term was his pardon of nixon...bush isn't running in 08 but his hand maidens all are....the bill will come due...with interest.

meanwhile on the back pages of the news we find this outcome of the war of choice these pigs lied us into:

6 U.S. Troops Killed in Iraq Violence

- - - - - - - - - - - -

July 02,2007 | BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Five U.S. soldiers and a Marine were killed in attacks in Baghdad and Iraq's Anbar and Salahuddin provinces, the military said Monday.

One soldier was killed Monday when an explosion went off near his vehicle as he conducted operations in Salahuddin, northwest of Baghdad, the military said in a statement. Two other soldiers were wounded in the blast.

The other deaths took place in separate attacks Sunday. In Baghdad, a U.S.-Iraqi patrol was hit by a roadside bomb in a western district of the capital, then gunmen opened fire, killing one American soldier and wounding two Iraqi policemen.

Another soldier was killed when gunmen attacked his patrol in southern Baghdad, the military said in a statement.

Two soldiers and one Marine assigned to Multi National Force-West were killed while conducting combat operations in Anbar, the military said, without providing further details.

The service-members' names were not released pending notification of their families.

The deaths brought to 3,583 the number of members of the U.S. military who have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. The figure includes seven military civilians. At least 2,940 died as a result of hostile action, according to the military's numbers.

So Bush has commuted Libby's sentence and there isn't a thing

anyone can do. Done deal! However, the reactions across the

internet are fast and furious. If the Dems step up and offer

words and nothing more, you will lose support. It is that simple.

You know, a majority, want to have Bush and Cheney impeached.

Is it possible?

If not, you must be able to put Bush and Cheney in positions where

offering their resignations seems like a fine idea.

Seriously, the Dems lose if you can't get these crooks.

I mean LOSE!

One more point:

The voters are angry with Bush and Cheney.

However, the anger is heading toward the Dems like a speeding

freight train.....train wreck.

You can only get out of the way by catching the crooks.

Move quickly!

This tells us the public that the bush regime likes traitors to our country, liars are great in his books too. Scooter should have been on trial for treason because that is what he did the the USA.

I wonder if cheney was afraid scooter the looter would start talking and tell all of perhaps his involvement in the outing of a CIA agent.

The only service scooter the looter did for our country was to suck off cheney and bush. Ha if they had got him on a blow job maybe the real truth would have come out to the duped public!

I think this is an outrage that President Bush spared Lewis Libby of his jail sentence while our two border control agents are still in jail for doing their jobs by trying to protect the American people. This is a disgrace! I hope the American people will rise by and increase pressure on the President to pardon our border control agents now by calling 1-202-456-1111

Would some of our repuke trolls like to tell me how georgie loves the USA again and that he is a godly man.

Well this is immoral at best and a spit on the rule of law. Repukes have lost any value to the USA!

2 Words "IMPEACH NOW" , The Little Tyrant Is In All His Glory, If The Sen's & Rep's Of Both Party's Need To Show The President And His Thugs That They Are "NOT" Above The Law!ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

How can democrats sit by?? Has Bush really done nothing impeachable while in office?? I think of what this country has become and want to vomit. Can the democrats do anything to get these evil men out of office?? OMG, someone do something!!

This is an "in your face" insult to the American people and to our justice system. We must see to it that this is the END of Bush, Cheney and the Republican Party. We should all write to Congress and contact the media to express our disgust. The Republican Party is a party of crooks.

That conspiracy and obstruction of justice cloud over cheney just got a lot darker and now hovers over the dunce-in-chief.

Hurry, Sen Leahy, with criminal contempt of Congress charges.

What a HUGE LOSER we have for President!

Scooter should DO THE TIME cuz he DID THE CRIME!

GW is excusing perjury and if that doesn't prove to the bat crazy RIGHT that they are in the WRONG club than NOTHING will!

The GOP Only LOONEY's and CRIMINALS need apply

Once again Geo the Dumber has shown that the
republican criminals are above the law.
WHEN ARE YOU FOLKS GONNA GET OFF YOU BUTTS AND IMPEACH THESE CRIMINALS?? cHENEY IS GUILTY OF TREASON FOR OUTTING A CIA COVERT AGENT, AND GOD KNOWS HOW MANY OTHER CRIMES AGAINST THE STATE. AND BUSH AND HIS "REVENGE FOR DADDY WAR HAS GOT TO GO NOW. THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN AND YOU DO NOTHING BUT COULUDE WITH THE CRIMINALS. IF YOU THINK THE PEOPLE WILL VOTE FOR ANY DEMOCRAT AGAIN YOU'D BETTER DO SOMETHING.AND DON'T EVEN THINK WE WILL SUPPORT BUSH'S TWIN SISTER HILLARY.

Impeach scalia for appointing president and vice president asshole. He is an accomplice to crimes against humanity and treason against America.

When is king bush the first going to speak up and kick his sons ass? The commutation was obviously prepared by cheney and rove in the absence of chimp revealing clearly who is ruining the country.

The entire bush adminstation hate America and democracy, they favor liars and traitors. This just proves it to me. What a corrupt bunch of thugs!

libby was convicted of obstruction of justice, a felony

bush refuses to honor the subpeonas from Congress, contempt of Congress.

Why shouldn't bush be charged with obstruction of justice in Attorneygate?

Get with it Dems in Congress and impeach both chimp and vice chimp. They are both arrogant fascist bastards.

Impeachment of the traitors Bush/Cheney is off the table according to the Democrat leaders that were elected to change things.

They would rather not rock the boat NOW than miss a potential Presidency in 2 years. The DNC disgusts me.

President Bush just hit an all time low with this “pardon”.

President Bush just hit an all time low with this “pardon”.

Something must be done about the Bush Crime Family. This looks to me like they told Libby to take the fall and, if something happens and he is convicted, they'll make sure he doesn't do time. This has got to stop!!

By removing Libby’s jail term from his sentence, President Bush once again demonstrates his lack of respect for the American system of law and Democracy as a whole. Bush might as well have offered Libby an outright pardon. Frankly, Libby deserves to serve his time for the crimes he has committed. If the world were fair, Cheney would also see his time in prison. It is vital that we hold on our political leaders accountable for their actions in every arena and on every issue. In the realm of global poverty, for example, we need to push our leadership in Washington to abide by the UN's Millennium Development Goals, which the United States along with 191 other nations signed in 2000 and which commit the global community to eliminating extreme poverty by 2025. So as Bush saves Libby from being held accountable for his illegal and undemocratic actions, we are compelled to think about what our other political leaders are doing (or, rather, what they aren’t doing) and hold them accountable, just as we have tried to hold Libby accountable.

OLBERMANN IS GOING BALLISTIC!! JOE WILSON IS COMING ON SOON.

Chimpy has GOT to go NOW!

So Libby's sentence was ''excessive''?? This opinion coming from the SAME man, who as gov. of TX refused to grand a commutation of sentence to a mentally challenged man on death row??

He felt bad for all that Libby's falimy had to go through (as a result of what Libby FREELY CHOSE to do)...and had no sympathy or apology for the Wilsons who suffered far more as a result of Libby's choices not in their control.

The cronyism and favoritism in the White House must stop. On June 22nd, 2007, the United States Supreme Court made a decision (Rita v. United States, No. 06-5754) that upheld the sentencing of Victor Rita who was sentenced to thirty three months in jail for committing perjury while under oath before a federal grand jury and lying to federal agents. This decision by the Supreme Court seriously undermined “Scooter” Libby’s chance at reducing his own sentence. In little more then one week from the USSC decision, Libby’s prison sentence has now been commuted by our President.

This decision reeks of favoritism and seems to follow in line with President Bush’s apparent viewpoint that he, and his administration, are above the law. Libby was convicted of wrongdoing by a jury of his peers, he was sentenced within the guidelines of the law, and the Supreme Court ruled that, under similar conditions, the sentence was fair, just, and legal.

We must put a stop to the President’s obvious abuse of his power. We must stop allowing the President to circumvent the laws of this country. We must show the President that he and his administration are required to adhere to the very same laws that I and every other American adhere to, and that failure to adhere to those laws results in fair, just consequences. Not just for the Victor Rita’s in this country, but for every single American citizen.

This is another slap in the face to the millions of working class voters in this country. Enough is enough! Bush and Cheney both need to go! The 2008 presidential election can't come soon enough.

Shameful…

I have not made my feelings on this a secret.The people of this country elected the Democrats with a purpose.Governor Dean reiterated that beautifully just the other day.Our Democratic representatives thus far have elected to do it their way.The criminality of this administration is unprecendented in my lifetime!Whether it fails or not our Democratic reps need to proceed.

'bout all i can say is....f**k you bush and cheney.
you both should spend time in abu graib prison

if the dems don't get up off of their asses and do something about this, i will refuse to vote for them any longer. no wonder have the people in this country don't bother to vote.
i'm sick of this shit. our country is being handed over to criminals and nobody in washington gives a shit.

Oh come on. Everyone is acting so surprised. I bet we all knew that President Cheney would pardon the little rat. And because the Democrats have no balls - President Cheney is going to get away with it.

Unless we all make a huge stink about it.......

If the Dems don't bring Cheney, Bush, Rove, ?, to Justice, or at least try them to determine guilt or innocence, they deserve to be voted out.

If Libby isn't going to jail, we should at least get the information he is hiding. Alberto G. approved various enhanced interrogation methods that may help Libby remember.

I am outraged and have NO FAITH in the Democratic party to correctly respond. NO FAITH.

let me be clear:

DO NOT CRAM HILLARY DOWN MY THROAT
DO NOT CRAM HILLARY DOWN MY THROAT
DO NOT CRAM HILLARY DOWN MY THROAT

IMPEACH BUSH IMPEACH BUSH

If you do not another very moderate (yes MODERATE) democrat will leave your ranks. I am so shit of your shit. I expect it from Bush, I want more from my own party. In all of this you democratic politico cowards, self-interested bastards disgust me the most.

so the VP is in the legislative branch and GW is in the judicial.. thanks nancy for taking impeachment off the table

COMMUTING HIS SENTENCE BECAUSE THEY'RE BOTH CELEBRITIES AND ABOVE THE LAW.

Posted by JohnnyBoswell on July 2, 2007

no ms hilton at least spent some time in jail

president cheney had the papers all prepared so that when bushy returned from vacation in Maine all he had to do was hold a press conference and act like he was in charge.

cheney and bush are covering their asses because if libby went to jail they were afraid he would spill the beans. If libby was a true patriot, he would turn "states" evidence and expose the treasonous bush and cheney. We all know that libby is not a patriot and is just like the rest of the repig culture of corruption and doesn't give a damn about America.

Posted by missjulz on July 2, 2007 at 08:25 PM

Oh, BITE ME.

The Dems had NO say in what happened today. Your misplaced rage is being wasted on the wrong party.

or the perp was about to give up the dummie or vice dummie...

Posted by gregg on July 2, 2007 at 05:58 PM

That's exactly what this is all about. It's pay back time or Scooter will squeal like a pig to Fizgerald.
Add bribery to their list of criminal offenses. Is this a high crime or misdemeanor?

Even if Nancy or any other Dem brings up impeachment, cheney sitting as head of the senate and all his lock step repigs in the senate would vote it down.

All of these people need to be voted out of office. cheney and bush must be impeached and the repig ass-kissing supreme court justices need to be impeached.

DPD - nothing to do with anything??? Who voted for the war in Iraq ignoring shitey evidence? Who turned a blind eye to the general good and continues to give funding to a wrongly sought, wrongly fought war where people die daily?

The democrats have much to answer for. giving them a pass makes them more powerful than they deserve.

DEMAND BETTER; DEMAND THE SAME ACCOUNTABILITY YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE ON SCOOTER LIBBY ON HILLARY et al.

SIMPLY: DEMAND BETTER.

I respect the jury's verdict," Bush said in a statement.

Like hell he does. He doesn't respect the law of this land or the people of this country.

He's a traitor. He's given amnesty to a convicted felon because he lied to save all their necks.

Hes lied about the WMD to get us into an unnecessary war and spies on his own people with a Presidential secret police force.

He's turned the DOJ into a bastian of cryonism. He has allowed K street lobbyists to operate publicly out of the White House.

He's let the Vice President weaken the foundation of the CIA and the US military for his own personal war profiteering gain.

He doesn't respect the Islamic people nor does he exhibit any human decency in ordering torture of them. He's put our nation at war with a third of the world's population with his cruel and barbaric actions.

He's alienated our allies and strengthened our adversaries. He's started another Cold War and arms race. He nullified the nuclear arms treaties.

He's used executive signing statements to declare which laws Congress passes that he will obey and which he won't.

He's driven up our national debt to fund tax cuts for the wealthy and borrowed money from the Communist Chinese to pay for it.

He's allowed multinationals to move our national assets to foreign lands along with our jobs. He's imported cheap foreign labor to drive down our standard of living and destroy the American middle class.

He's tried to sell off our infrastructure to foreign governments thereby putting us at their mercy here at home.

By ignoring the jury's verdict in the Libby trial and vetoing the judges's sentence he's dismantaled the the U.S. Courts system and now installed himself in its place.

He's declared himself a law unto himself and the rubberstamp Congressional Republicans allowed him to do it.

They are all traitors to the Constitution they swore to obey. It's treason.

Impeach Gonzales. Then impeach Cheney. And then impeach Bush. And vote to unseat every Republican that has worked with them.

I'm sending this to everyone I know and making copies to hand out in my neighborhood and at public events on the 4th of July.

I'm going to show up at every Republican meeting and event in my area and confront them with their treason.

If they want a fight, they'll get one.

Thank God none of those capital prisoners in Texas had any families that experienced any suffering at all. If so, he would obviously have had to commute their sentences, too.

Sigh.

Listening to a news show a point was stressed that the Dems

see no reason to pursue impeachment against Bush and Cheney

with so little time left for them to be in office. Huh?

What a GREAT talking point! For the first time in my life, I

thought, if this is true, then why bother to vote in 2008?

If you lose a loyal Dem like myself, YOU LOSE IT ALL!

So now what do the Democrats do? Any guesses?

How can democrats sit by?? Has Bush really done nothing impeachable while in office?? I think of what this country has become and want to vomit. Can the democrats do anything to get these evil men out of office?? OMG, someone do something!!Posted by Rats on July 2, 2007 at 06:51 PM

Rats, here's the problem. Every time Bush and Cheney broke the law or went against the constitution, falsely using 9/11 as an excuse, they would make up a law that would give them the authority for their lies and illegal actions!
Every thing they have done, they have covered up for it! Besides as much as I would LOVE to see them kicked out in shame, it is true that leaving them in is the BEST Example we have to keep talking to voters about How Bad Republian Rule is, and to never, ever vote Republican again in their lifetimes.

ps, So Bush says the fine is enough for Fibby Libby to have to bear?? Well that $250,000 will be paid by all those slimy friends of Libby who took up his Legal Defense collection. Libby will have NO punishment!

Every Dem should be writing a Letter to Editor of their Local paper, as well as send one to letters@nytimes.com and letters@washpost.com TONIGHT!!! Do not wait. Express your Outrage. LET A WAVE OF OUTRAGE HIT THE PAPERS!

Keith is having a "special Comment" tomorrow night asking for Bush and Cheney to resign...stay tuned - this is going to get good!

Bush is todays "WORST PERSON IN THE WOOOORRRRRLLLLDDDDD!!!"

Olbermann will have a "Special Comment" tomorrow, asking the Chimp to RESIGN!

Be there, Aloha.

Integrity-
Exaaaactly. Why bother??? I will not have some dem shoved down my throat by the machine just because they underestimate us. I will let another Republinut serve just to drive the point home. It's tough love, but they don't seem to learn so I WILL STAY HOME IN 2008 unless they impeach OR offer me a choice that can bring me to the polls. It looks like Bloomberg will be a spoiler. DEM = Cowards again. you would think they would have the capacity to learn. soo effing depressing.

DPD - but dontcha think it's kinda sad we need Keith OLberman to say what one of our own should say?

I appreciate your (presumed) optimism but I wonder -

is there a democrat out there listening? obama, hillary, john???? I wish I could live in the yes, Julie there is a real leader who is a democrat world but I'm afraid I've seen no evidence. And I can keep leaving cookies and milk by the fireplace and keep voting democratic or sadly I can give up my childhood fantasies.

I do love Keith Olberman.

Bush is absolutely shameless. I suppose the only reason he can stand to look at himself in the mirror every morning is that he has so little functioning gray matter left that the emotion of shame cannot function. After all, it requires enough processing power to recognize at least three things: (1) There is a standard. (2) He has violated the standard. (3) He regrets having violated the standard. Apparently W's cognitive processor is not up to calculations of this complexity.

AND DON'T EVEN THINK WE WILL SUPPORT BUSH'S TWIN SISTER HILLARY.

Posted by ZombyDWulf on July 2, 2007 at 07:14 PM

Yeah, you go ahead and support a Republican or a 3rd Party should Hillary get the nod! You make darn sure that the Republicans are in place to choose the next Supreme Court Justice and REALLY lock up this judicial system for their lifetimes, and let them turn this country, the Constitution, Civil Rights, Women's rights, workers rights, etc back 100 years!
You show Hillary, huh!!!

i am constantly in a state of thinking i cannot be more disgusted. and then i am reminded that, yes, i can be even more disgusted!!!!!!!!!!!!

PamB -
"you show Hillary, huh!!!"

Yeah, I will. And the rest of the DNC as well.

evening all,

that's the best we can say. the rest, well...
what did we expect? george bush already thru out the constitution. so why not the rest of the laws of this once great nation? shucks, people go to jail for harmless simple possession of marijuana...but out a cia agent, pardon. maybe mr bush will apply the equal treatment to lesser crimes? i'm beyond convinced that impeacment and jail time is long overdue ... george bush will be remembered. may we all remember this sad day when election day arrives. our forefathers are turnig in their graves.

get a picture people!!! what is happening in iraq today is exactly what is supposed to happen. the country is a shambles and the oil will stay in the ground for years to come!!!!!!

Yeah, I will. And the rest of the DNC as well.

Posted by missjulz on July 2, 2007 at 09:07 PM

Well, you be anti-American and see if anyone here or at the DNC gives a shit. Obviously you have no family or children, so when you die, who cares what this country looks like! It is people like YOU who would take this country back 100-200 years in the name of your own self-interest!

I always wonder about you so-called 'moderate' Democrats! Why aren't you just a 'moderate' Republican? Same thing. Ride the center.

Do us a favor, Just stay home like you said.

Who voted for the war in Iraq ignoring shitey evidence? Who turned a blind eye to the general good and continues to give funding to a wrongly sought, wrongly fought war where people die daily

OH, and I remember very clearly like it was yesterday, while still having 9/11 thrown in everyone's face every day, Congress was given MANIPULATED intelligence they had no reason to question. Where were you? And Dems are not turning any blind eyes! Stay tuned!

think people----what's happening in iraq is exactly what is supposed to happen. there will be no resolution. the country is a shambles and iraqs oil is staying exactly where it is supposed to be. IN THE GROUND. AND IT WILL BE MANY MANY MANY MANY YEARS BEFORE THAT CHANGES. anyone of intelligence has left the country!!! that was the plan all along!!!

PamB - I am not anti-American. I am fed up.

I don't think my dissent does anyone a DISfavor, in fact, I think it does the DNC a favor to helpo them understand that people are fed up and need them to act. To simply rally around a party without demanding they do better in the face of our withering constitutional rights, in the face of hundreds and thousands dying needlessly in Iraq, in the face of labor having been dismantled in the country and in the face of their extreme WIMPINESS - when they have all the rights in the world to impeach, send these criminals running this country into the ground to jail - I don't think I want to rally around this party silently.

I'll vote how I choose, that's my right, I'm an American. And I won't shut up because it makes you feel less fluffy about our leaders today. I want the democrats to do better and live up to the presumed promises of this party. I think that's my right and I think we all deserve that much.

Pam B: Congress was given MANIPULATED intelligence they had no reason to question. Where were you? And Dems are not turning any blind eyes! Stay tuned!

What????? Did you even read like the NY Times during those days? How dare you? Where were you? The arguments were so effing flimsy - where was I???? I was telling everyone I talked to that he is lying and if that is the case God help him because he should be impeached and will be...;. How wrong I was. He should be impeached, but he won't be because blind loyalists like you who did not evaluate the flimsy as shit evidence being offered, didn't watch PBS, didn't use any brains they might have, are STILL PROTECTING people who should know better; people we elect TO LEAD; people we elect who are lawyers and should be able to at the very fucking least evaluate evidence!!!!!!!

bush and cheney don't give a rats ass what anyone thinks. they have accomplished their mission. it doesn't matter if we leave iraq tomorrow or not. it's gauranteed that the country will be unstable for a long time to come. thus big oil and the saudis (remember them, bush family buddies and the home of the 911 terrorists)will control the market. iraq has one of the largest oil reserves in the world people. the saudis and big oil do not want that coming out of the ground!!!! THINK THINK THINK PEOPLE!!!!!!!

Someone please delete the childish comments by the troll. They merely demonstrate a total lack of intelligence. Why are you not in Iraq cowardly frosty?

i have never been a conspiracy type person--not over the edge anyway---but i would like to hear some response to my thoughts in regard to the situation in iraq and its oil. could it be that no one has any or could it be that i am the only one seeing these entries?

Personally I think this is great news for the Democratic party. The Republicans are going to be hurt by this decision. Bush is the gift that keeps on giving.

apoplectic. Everyone believes the whole Iraq whore (Cheney).. oops I meant war set this up for profit. Of course the Saudis benefit, specifically those in cahoots with the Bushes. Iraq will never be a whole country again

You going to Iraq sometime soon Hypocrite?

Libby's commutation is a disgrace. Obviously the "harsh sentence" that President Bush mentioned (a fix-figure job at Halliburton or a cushy lobbyist position) is just too much for a convicted felon/liar. I urge the Democractic leadership to use this travesty to shine light on Republican true colors. Obviously connections and money mean more than justice in this country.

Apoplectic:
Last week I saw a re-run of a Frontline episode and it was fascinating in the way that it told the whole go to iraq story in such a perfect narrative line. It was reminiscent of watching now told documentaries on Watergate where all the pieces start finally coming together. I wish I could remember the episode name but it was simply the best a to z how we got to this point analysis I've seen to date. Also, you might like to read Vanity Fair. You will find that there are a lot of people who think you and also a lot of evidence to support your very well-reasoned (and not at all paranoid or conspiracy-theory driven) perspective. You are not off the mark, and you are not alone.

Or at least go to school and get an education or a trade or something Hypocrite. You obviously are of sub-par intelligence. Ever even read a book? Doesn't seem so based on your very apparent limitations.

Apoplectic:
Last week I saw a re-run of a Frontline episode and it was fascinating in the way that it told the whole go to iraq story in such a perfect narrative line. It was reminiscent of watching now told documentaries on Watergate where all the pieces start finally coming together. I wish I could remember the episode name but it was simply the best a to z how we got to this point analysis I've seen to date. Also, you might like to read Vanity Fair. You will find that there are a lot of people who think you and also a lot of evidence to support your very well-reasoned (and not at all paranoid or conspiracy-theory driven) perspective. You are not off the mark, and you are not alone.

we all know that bush and cheney don't care what anyone else thinks. not even the rest of the republican party. to bad, so sad. they were willing to play along and now they're going to find out how much it is going to cost them. don't think it will all be forgotten in '08. the rats will be jumping ship. it's actually going to be funny to watch. what bush and cheney set out to do they have accomplised. iraq is toasted and the supreme court is manned with conservatives. however, i'll bet there are some terrified, hopping mad republicans trying to get some sleep tonight.

Bush and Cheney = Hitler and Goering !

missjulz:
thank god for your response. i swear i thought no one out there was listening. as much as the libby thing enrages me i wish people would focus on the bigger issue. the little stuff (libby) keeps people distracted! i grew up in the late sixties and early seventies and i saw first hand what "the people" can accomplish. i am so disgusted with the current state of 'the peoples' involvment. a pox on video games and iphones!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Aploplectic, the whole scenario will play out. Never in History has there been a right wing government that has supported democracy. Eventually, they completely implode. I personally identify with a more conservative leaning. However, at some point the GOP was high-jacked by the right wing. These foul creatures are NOT conservatives. Currently I vote Democrat by default as a protest vote to the despots and taliban that are now the leadership of the GOP.

I don't care about Libby, he is nothing to me.

Posted by FrostyMilkweed on June 5, 2007 at 08:55 PM

The go along to get along Democrats in Congress, and those who are candidates for President (except Kucinovich) give me absolutely no confidence in our government.

Make that Kucinich.

my husband wants to live long enough to see the 'terrible two' tryed at the hague!!!!! ya never know!!! i am, and will remain, a democrat but i sure am disgusted by their lack of cajones! people--check out your local npr station. find it--listen AND CALL IN. it gets more people listening than blogs. i know!!!

dear hypocirtesrocks: get a grip on yourself---it is not all about YOU. your entries are not thoughtful nor are they productive. you sound like a spoiled child. read a book yourself and develope some critical thinking.

Why do you republicans hate Hillary?

Why do you conservative repubs hate Hillary?

F-ing bastard Chimp Bush commuting Libby's sentence. The entire bunch should be impeached now.

dearrightwingerspleaseenlist: i know it will play out, however i also know how long that can take. the young have no clue what they're in for and what it is going to cost them for their inattention. absolutely no clue how long this is going to take!!!! things have been set in motion that will affect not just them but they're children. that's when all will be the sorriest and wonder what the hell happened.

You cannot reason with someone whose intelligence leave a lot to be desired apoplectic. This guy is just a supremacist. Usually that stems from inadequacies such as being unable to achieve anything worthwhile in life as well as allowing others to form your thoughts for you. You can see the supremacist mindset when he jumps all over a typo in lieu of reason. These guys listen to classic propaganda in that they are told that they are smarter, richer, better than others over and over again. It creates the feeling of membership to an exclusive club. Whereas in reality they are unable to achieve on their own merit or stand out because of ability. Really shows when they need a radio to tell them how to think.

conservative republicans hate hillary because they were told to hate hillary... sorry but people that just talk the talk and spew what they are told to really just make me sick. the inability to think for ones self is pretty rampant these days. it's getting harder and harder to feel sorry for them. they are making a monumental mess of things. funny--they will be paying the price along with the rest of us.

Exactly apoplectic. I've challenged a few of them to give me the breakdown of why they hate her. All I've ever heard is verbatim dictation of some radio propaganda. Seemingly they are unable to think

dearrightwingerspleaseenlist---he's not a supremacist----he's just an idiot. no real individual thought going on there. sad to say but there seems to be a lot of them around these days. or----has there always been a lot of them around (probably) but they seem to be getting more air time. why can't they just sit tight and listen to their own selves and stop mucking up the REAL world. the one that encompasses hordes of people that don't think just like them. they really are not the majority. you must admit they have always been around, they just weren't encouraged to the extreme that they have been for the last couple of years. and a pox on the current administration for that!!!!!!!

unable to think for yourself is a prerequisite on the right!!!!!!!!!!! amongst other things.

dear rjsng--commuting somesones sentence is not an impeachable offense. HOWEVER, THERE ARE MANY MORE THAT HAVE BEEN CREATED!!!!!!!!!! i encourage you to blog the hell out of your representatives!!!!!!!!! stand up and say 'I'M MAD AS HELL AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE'!!!

As I mentioned apoplectic. Inadequate and incapable. Pretty much describes this twit. Idiots of the revolution is how mao tse tung used to describe them. Kinda fits him. Thinks he is part of this exclusive club, but following the dictatorship. Soon he will refer to his GOP party leaders as "our dear leaders"

Sounds like you've been to jail Frosty. That explains why you aren't in Iraq. Or is it true that right wingers are just cowards?

dear libbywillskate---so what the hell is your point?!!!! i suppose your only involvement in what the hell is going on in the world is watching the news shows that make comedy about what the hell is happening in the world

dearrightwingers---not all right wingers are cowards--please think about this---many of them are in iraq as we speak---but i can tell you this from experience---you will not hear about what they really think for quite some time. it will not be allowed. just as pictures of the coffins coming home are not allowed. nor will you hear much about all the boys, girls and men coming home unable to deal with life because of their head injuries. so much of this is going to be just like vietnam. i just wish we could fast forward and get it over sooner. when people really realize, eventually because they will have no choice, what the hell is happening they will be so sick to their stomachs.

GOP party leaders have been 'our dear leaders' for way to long already.

elephantitis of the gonads could keep the dynamic duo otherwise occupied for a while. seems to me to be a simple request. give them something really close to home to think about!

maybe all us dems should email our reps and tell them if they don't find their freaking balls soon we will all vote independent. that should get their attention. what the hell is it going to take? i doubt 'the people' will find the time to actually get off their asses and move to the streets.

please all---don't just blog---send your anger to your representatives!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and even those that are not your representatives.

This is a disgrace for America.The congress needs to impeach and convict Dick and Bush, first Dick then Bush. Bush and Dick are the epitome of "good ol' boys."

ENOUGH ! When will we stop Bush and his idiot administration? Letting Libby off? Folks, let's get smart and put a movement in motion to stop the Bush Administration before he leave office !

How many of you on this blog have been to Iraq? Not how many of you know of someone who has been or is there? How many here on this blog have been there?

Nobody is more disgusted by Bush, Cheney and the GOP than I am. But to all that want to push for impeachment please consider this. I live in North Carolina and last year we worked very hard to defeat Charles Taylor. Next year Elizabeth Dole comes up for reelection and I want her gone too. If the Democrats start impeachment proceedings it will turn a lot of people in this country against us. That will make it even harder for us to get Democrats elected. That should be the MAIN goal right now. If we have the presidency, and a larger majority in the Senate, the rest of what we want will follow much easier. There are a lot of people who have paid a high price during this administration. The poor, the middle class and the disabled have all been hurt by things that affect them on a daily basis; as well as all of the soldiers who have died and been hurt in Iraq. Think of how much damage will be done to the country if we don’t win in the next election. Stay focused. The Republicans did and that’s how they won so many times. Surely we care about our issues enough to do it better than they ever thought

President Bush did a first in his career as a politician, he gave a criminal clemency, i.e. a Pardon. This pardon was given to Irv Lewis Libby because he was a friend. The President of the United States has once again refused to act on his constitutional role as enforcer of the law when it come to his pals. This case needs to be put in the ever growing file for impeachment that should be coming this year. We as Democrats can not let this stand anymore.

Fred Thompson was the biggest cheerleader for this. Every Democratic Presidential candidate, blogger, and supportor of the party needs to hit this guy with this Upper-class elite above the law attitude the Republicans currently have. Once he announces we should hit him everyday with, "Mr. Law and Order feels he and his all his DC friends are to good for the American legal system."

One more thing, as Governor of Texas, President Bush denied clemency for 152 individuals executed. They all were judged by the people and sentenced by a judge like Scooter Libby. THIS NUMBER INCLUDES INDIVIDUALS DEEMED MENTAL HANDICAPPED. If only some of them had gone to the same prep school and college as President Bush, maybe they would have been given clemency.

President Bush did a first in his career as a politician, he gave a criminal clemency, i.e. a Pardon. This pardon was given to Irv Lewis Libby because he was a friend. The President of the United States has once again refused to act on his constitutional role as enforcer of the law when it come to his pals. This case needs to be put in the ever growing file for impeachment that should be coming this year. We as Democrats can not let this stand anymore.

Fred Thompson was the biggest cheerleader for this. Every Democratic Presidential candidate, blogger, and supportor of the party needs to hit this guy with this Upper-class elite above the law attitude the Republicans currently have. Once he announces we should hit him everyday with, "Mr. Law and Order feels he and his all his DC friends are to good for the American legal system."

One more thing, as Governor of Texas, President Bush denied clemency for 152 individuals executed. They all were judged by the people and sentenced by a judge like Scooter Libby. THIS NUMBER INCLUDES INDIVIDUALS DEEMED MENTAL HANDICAPPED. If only some of them had gone to the same prep school and college as President Bush, maybe they would have been given clemency.

Howard Dean called it giving Libby a "get out of jail free card". Click to see the card. :)

The commuting of Libby's sentence by Bush shows that this is the most corrupt White House since Reagan. This administration has gone too far. Didn't Bush say that he would fire anyone who was involved with the leak? Instead, he's making sure those involved will stay out of prison. The Republicans are truly the Party of Corruption.

What does it take for Pelosi to start Impeachment hearings- first on Chaney- then Bush but Chaney now!! Being stubborn is not the same as being intelligent. How much corruption has to float to the top to wake her up? the rest of the Reps are held in check by Pelosi. I think we have to leave messages, emails etc. to her to get her to act. 10 reps have signed on to Kucinish's bill 333(is that half of 666- 1/2 the executive? well, it would be if Chaney was part of the executive... so confusing this government thing)
Send messages to your reps and Pelosi to IMPEACH!!!!!!!!

What does it take for Pelosi to start Impeachment hearings- first on Chaney- then Bush but Chaney now!! Being stubborn is not the same as being intelligent. How much corruption has to float to the top to wake her up? the rest of the Reps are held in check by Pelosi. I think we have to leave messages, emails etc. to her to get her to act. 10 reps have signed on to Kucinich's bill 333(is that half of 666- 1/2 the executive? well, it would be if Chaney was part of the executive... so confusing this government thing)
Send messages to your reps and Pelosi to IMPEACH!!!!!!!!

What does it take for Pelosi to start Impeachment hearings- first on Chaney- then Bush but Chaney now!! Being stubborn is not the same as being intelligent. How much corruption has to float to the top to wake her up? the rest of the Reps are held in check by Pelosi. I think we have to leave messages, emails etc. to her to get her to act. 10 reps have signed on to Kucinich's bill 333(is that half of 666- 1/2 the executive? well, it would be if Chaney was part of the executive... so confusing this government thing)
Send messages to your reps and Pelosi to IMPEACH!!!!!!!!

Impeach Bush, Impeach Cheney, Impeach Gonzo

ENOUGH ! When will we stop Bush and his idiot administration? Letting Libby off? Folks, let's get smart and put a movement in motion to stop the Bush Administration before he leave office !
****

Agreed! Bush/Cheney did this on purpose. They knew there was some chance that libby would spill the beans.

If we can prove, and I think we can, that Bush had knowledge of Libby's criminal acts against Plame, commuting the sentence would be a criminal act. More than sufficient grounds for impeachment.

I always wonder about you so-called 'moderate' Democrats! Why aren't you just a 'moderate' Republican? Same thing. Ride the center.

Do us a favor, Just stay home like you said.

Posted by PamB on July 2, 2007 at 09:15 PM

I claim to be a moderate democrat.

but when I go vote, they don't have levels of democratic.

I know there will be a lot of outrage with this commuting of scooter`s sentence and justly so. I also feel that Cheney is the one we want.Very crafty people often out smart themselves sooner or later and my hopes are that this will come back to bite him.My gut tells me something will come unraveled with these people. The time is getting closer.

Well Nancy, and Harry NOW is the time to fully apply the pressure. Charge him with contempt of Congress TODAY! the American people are PISSED and ready for some form of accountability. WE elected you to keep this criminal in check and all we have gotten so far is more money for this illegal war, and "impeachment is off the table". I am becoming almost as disgusted with the Democratic party as I am with the republicants. GET SOMETHING DONE!!!

sorry, Jacq, just expressing frustration with another one of those unreasonable threats by a supposed Dem to not vote for Hillary! Boggles my mind that their hatred of Hillary would allow another Repub to get in. And they don't even understand that Hillary & Bill are leaders in the DLC, the most moderate Democrats we have!

To Sharon, NC:
If we have the presidency, and a larger majority in the Senate, the rest of what we want will follow much easier. There are a lot of people who have paid a high price during this administration. The poor, the middle class and the disabled have all been hurt by things that affect them on a daily basis; as well as all of the soldiers who have died and been hurt in Iraq. Think of how much damage will be done to the country if we don’t win in the next election. Stay focused. The Republicans did and that’s how they won so many times. Surely we care about our issues enough to do it better than they ever thought Posted by Sharon-nc on July 3, 2007 at 12:50 AM

You are so right!The Most effective way to bring down the Republicans is to get them voted out, one seat at a time. Last election here in CT, we got rid of 2 of the 3 Republican house members. We have one more to go this time, Chris Shays, and I am already working with Jim Himes to replace him.

He who laughs last laughs the loudest! And we shall ROFLOAO come November 08, just like we did in November 06 ! Gawd, what a night that was.

Wow!I`ve rad a lot of these and boy this one is hot! Really we need to take a breath. I know we are a emotional lot and if we don`t get a handle on it you play right into the repigs hands. Remember it`s just another day and life goes on. I`m just as outraged as most and I still need to live my life.Vote Democrat and end this madness! Obama in 08 in the primary for me. Otherwise the Democratic candidate.By the way Connecticutt Dems please rid us og Lieberman.Please do what you can to help Tom Allen defeat Susan Collins(R) in Maine.She really needs to go!

When is the party going to get down to some direction other than to the left kooks? Libby was convicted on trumpt up charges and we all know that. Clinton pardoned more criminals when he left office and now he is earning money from a group that prays on the elderly citizens with money scams.It is time for term limits in government on all sides.American people deserve better.Put the American people first not last.
This AMNESTY problem has awakened a sleeping giant
and as a result the 2008 elections will have some big surprises for both parties.Get the spinmisters out you are going to need them at thier best.AMERICA is fed up and pissed off.

Are the democrats taking memory pills? You all must be, because I remember the King of Pardons and clemancy, Bill Clinton making more pardons than anyone else. And Hillary Clinton said this on June 28th. "Nonviolent offenders should not be serving hard time in our prisons. They need to be diverted from our prison system." Yet in a press release on July 2nd - four days later - Hillary Clinton said about Scooter Libby "Today's decision is yet another example that this administration simply considers itself above the law. This commutation sends the clear signal that in this administration, cronyism and ideology trump competence and justice." this is a nonviolent offender. Nobody can cite any previous record that Scooter Libby had. On two occasions, separated by four days, Mrs. Clinton utterly contradicts herself. We know who she is. But it's not because she reveals it. It's because she can't hide it. Most people can't hide who they really are. he can't hide it. She doesn't have to reveal it. She tries not to reveal it. This is the hobgoblin here of little minds. Now, Bill Clinton blasted the Libby clemency and said that his pardons were different. Yeah, he sold his! He sold a lot of his. He kept a lot of the money that was given to him. Million bucks, the Clinton Library and Massage Parlor. And let's not forget Sandy Burgler, stealing documents from the National Archives in his socks or what have you...FALN, and the Tony Rodham affiar, and Roger Clinton, and Whitewater, and the girls of Bill Clinton's oval office of burlesque. This is a man who pardoned more people than any other president, yet is attacking Bush, who has pardoned few, over Scooter Libby! Living in glass houses are we? And let's not forget Hillary Clinton's role in these sorted affairs. Hillary claims she didn't know about Marc Rich and her brother Tony. You mean to tell me that this control freak of a woman didn't know what was going on in the White House? She KNEW because she didn't want her husband to destroy their future political careers with his exploits. She KNEW!!! And she went along with it. People...this is big. Don't attack this administration. It's Clinton Inc. that thinks they are above the law. I supplied the evidence. Open your eyes!

Is America getting a Snow job?
Communications director Tony Snow seems to know more about Democrats than Republicans. Why doesn't he tell us the names of the 100 or more pardons which today's President Bush has given?

all I know is I am just a little guy that is
A DEMOCRAT ! and all of this sounds mighty darn serious, so I will glady listen to all my brothers and sisters in Our Democratic Party.
this is the most crucial moment in earth's history with the climate change and all.
as Nathan Hale once said,"we had better all hang together, or we'll all hang separately" .

I'm sooo sick of the holier than thou attitude most politicians have. I think EVERYONE running for office should clean their back porch before they put stuff on someone else's. Compare Clinton's "get out of jail card" with Bush's. Why's no one making a big stink about Billy????

***Can America Be More Than A TROPE???????

A trope is a figurative metaphor that has more than one meaning.

FREEDOM as a trope can be used to express both the absence of oppression and tyranny of American Aristocracy over the Common Population, or the freedom of the American Aristocracy to enforce oppression and tyranny over the Common Population and exploit the Common Population in pursuit of private interests and the interests of capital.

The founding fathers were very much interested in metaphorical tropes that appeared to express the interests of the Common Population while at the same time they embodied private interests and the interests of capital.

During the Revolutionary War Era in Colonial America WE THE PEOPLE was a trope. During the Revolutionary War Era in Colonial America the British and American Aristocracies controlled vast estates that each comprised millions of acres and the Common Population were at this time either abject slaves or wage slaves in service to the British or American Aristocracies. As a trope the American Aristocracy used WE THE PEOPLE to distinguish the American Aristocracy as WE THE PEOPLE to the American Aristocracy, and WE THE PEOPLE as a rhetorical trope to the Common Population to lead the Common Population to believe that the Common Population were WE THE PEOPLE. As a trope WE THE PEOPLE is used to address both the American Aristocracy and the American Work Force of wage slaves as WE THE PEOPLE, so that both constituencies can be addressed at the same time; the American Aristocracy hear WE THE PEOPLE as distinguishing the American Aristocracy's power, control and domination as WE THE PEOPLE over the Common Population of American Wage Slaves, and the Common Population of American Wage Slaves hear WE THE PEOPLE as a trope for HOPE for their lives, liberty and pursuit of happiness as a majority Common Population that wants to share in the American dream as WE THE PEOPLE.

The American Aristocracy hear the metaphorical trope of WE THE PEOPLE as an expression that is exclusive, and the Common Population hear the metaphorical trope of WE THE PEOPLE as inclusive of ALL the constituents of the Common Population.

All of the language of the American Revolution against Britain before, during and after the Revolutionary War has been, is and will continue to be used as rhetorical tropes in the same way as WE THE PEOPLE.

Freedom, justice, the American way and WE THE PEOPLE are ALL examples of tropes that mean different things to the American Aristocracy and the American Common Population. The FOUNDING FATHERS' language of tropes to lead the Common Population against its best interest and the American Aristocracy in its best interest must be eliminated in the 21st Century, and a COMMON LANGUAGE without rhetorical tropes must be developed where metaphorical tropes are no longer used by the American Aristocracy as tools of commercial interests and the interest of capital to exploit, tyrannize and oppress the Common Population of the United States by way of thoughts, feelings and beliefs in rhetorical tropes with non-existent benefit for the Common Population, and sole benefit for the American Aristocracy; tropes that are not inclusive of the Common Population and that have exclusive benefit for the American Aristocracy.

Can America be more than a rhetorical trope?

The American Way IS a rhetorical trope. Unless the United States can develop ACTUAL freedom, justice, life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness and the American dream; rather than hollow rhetorical tropes that only provide benefit to the American Aristocracy, America is and will continue to be in a permanent state of decline and turmoil that can only end in the metaphorical equivalent of the Common Population "Storming the Bastille".

U.S. Government IS a Ponzi Scheme

The following quote from "TheGreat U-Turn" Corporate Restructuring and the Polarizing of America by Bennett Harrison and Barry Bluestone defines a Ponzi scheme as:

Ponzi Scheme: An ingenious fraud almost perfected in 1919 by Charles Ponzi, who set up business in the heart of Boston's financial district. His offer to an eager war-weary public was simple: Invest any sum with him for 45 days and he would return the money plus 50% interest. Invest for 90 days and realize a profit of 100%. He claimed that he was speculating in a sure market -- the market for International Reply Coupons. These were vouchers for postage stamps that could be redeemed in any country belonging to the International Postal Union. Ponzi told his customers that, with the money they invested with him, he intended to buy the coupons in European countries where the exchange rate was low and then redeem them for stamps where the exchange rate was high. By selling the stamps he had purchased in this way, he promised his investors a fortune.

Ponzi never did buy any reply coupons or attempt to arbitrage them. But he guessed that people who were offered a chance at a geometrically increasing return would probably leave their money with him indefinitely. He was almost right. He seduced 20,000 Bostonians into giving him $14 million in the first few months of his operation. By paying off early investors with money given to him by new ones, he built up a pyramid whose early success earned him cheers on the streets of Beantown.

The fatal flaw of pyramids, however, is that they have to be perpetual motion machines in order to work. Ponzi's, of course, was not. It was stopped by his arrest and conviction for fraud in 1920. It took auditors until 1931 to untangle his finances, the end result being that his hapless investors received only .30 cents on the dollar. Ponzi eventually went to jail in Massachusetts, later jumped bail, and started a venture in Florida swamp land. In 1934, the U.S. Government deported him to Italy.

In Charles Ponzi's Scheme, Ponzi was at the top of the pyramid, had a cadre of those who benefited beneath him to sing praises for Ponzi's scheme, and together Ponzi and those singing Ponzi's praises harvested the resources from everyone else in the pyramid with no one else in the pyramid except Ponzi and those singing praises for Ponzi's scheme receiving benefit from Ponzi's scheme.

What is government in the United States today other than an exceeding large Ponzi Scheme? The Elite Capitalist Class are representative of Charles Ponzi at the top of the pyramid, the class in the middle, as a cadre of helpers to Ponzi that sing the praises of Ponzi's scheme, is the Professional Middle Class; and everyone else beneath them, the Common Population, the Working and Poor Class and Culture, are the victims that get harvested for the benefit of the Ponzi Scheme of Government that at present can only be made reference to laughingly as [Representative Democracy?].

The 70% Majority Common Population of the United States can do better than to be the victims of a large and enduring governmental Ponzi Scheme controlled by the Elite Capitalist Class and the class in the middle, the Professional Class.

The Common Population of the United States can rule the government of the United States and in so doing rule themselves democratically together with the Ponzi Class of Elites and the Ponzi familiars singing Ponzi's praises, the Professional Middle Class, together with their own 70% Majority Common Population if they will rouse themselves from their slumbering intellects and vote for their own best interest of their own Common Population, rather than Ponzi Democracy
controlled by Ponzi Republicans and Ponzi Democrat familiars that commodify and harvest the 70% Majority Common Population for obscene benefit from their communal resources.

It is time for the Common Population to take over control of the Democratic Party and the government of the United States. It is time for the Democracy For America Movement to begin in earnest. It is time for an end to Ponzi Government of the United States.

It is time for ACTUAL Democracy For America.

***************FREEDOM***************

FREEDOM is the absence of oppression.

FREEDOM is not the right of State, Federal and Local Governments to use laws to harvest resources [money] from their populations in the name of keeping their populations, subjects, SAFE and FREE without providing actual benefit.

What kind of freedom is ACTUAL FREEDOM?

Actual FREEDOM is the absence of oppression. And oppression is to be burdened, subdued and forced to perform actions in the interest of others by harsh and wrongful use of power and authority. Actual FREEDOM is the right of subjects of a state or nation not to be burdened, subdued and forced to perform actions in the interests of others by harsh and wrongful use of power and authority.

For State, Federal and Local Government to use oppressive laws in the name of FREEDOM and SAFETY to harvest resources [money] from the population has nothing to do with either FREEDOM or SAFETY -- it has only to do with State, Federal and Local Government perceiving a need for resources [money] and using FREEDOM and SAFETY of the Population as an excuse to create a revenue stream that fulfills their perceived need for resources [money] by way of enforcement authority and judicial administration of the laws that government has created to enable creation of the revenue stream for FREEDOM and SAFETY.

It is not Government's mission to use my personal FREEDOM and SAFETY as an individual as a means of creating a revenue stream and to criminalize me, oppress me and tyrannize me in the name of FREEDOM and SAFETY to acquire resources [money] for Government Operating Expenses.

It is the Government's mission to act in the greater good of society, not the protection of the individual for money; selling protection is what Al Capone and the mafia did, and no doubt the mafia still does it. The American people do not need their government using the law to "make them an offer they can't refuse" to keep them FREE and SAFE; this is not legitimate government. This is ORGANIZED CRIME.

I want FREEDOM and SAFETY in my life as an individual and in the work place, FREEDOM and SAFETY for the greater good, FREEDOM, product safety, safety for the greater good, and safety in general for goods and services produced and distributed in the economy, but I strongly feel that I need to be in charge of my own personal FREEDOM and SAFETY and that if laws are passed that give enforcement and judicial authority to the Government that places the Government in charge of my own personal FREEDOM and SAFETY; that I am not being kept SAFE, I am being harvested for resources [money] by Government in the name of FREEDOM and SAFETY with an offer of FREEDOM and SAFETY that I cannot refuse.

An offer of FREEDOM and SAFETY by the Government to its subjects, individual isolated citizens; that subjects, individual isolated citizens, cannot refuse is not an offer of FREEDOM and SAFETY at all, it is the Protection Racket that was employed by Al Capone and the Mafia; when criminals sell FREEDOM and PROTECTION that are not a part of the Government it is a crime, and when Government sells FREEDOM and PROTECTION it is oppression and tyranny, a crime by the Government against the people.

All levels of Government in the United States must stop using the "protection racket" to raise resources [money] for funding Government Operation by oppressing and tyrannizing subjects in the General Population in the name of their FREEDOM and PROTECTION in the manner of cheap two-bit thugs in the mafia.

CULTURE is the problem.

The problem for the Common Population today is much the same as it was in the time of Henry David Thoreau. What I say to both children and adults that ask me for solutions to today's problems is paraphrased as follows from Henry David Thoreau's, "Walden":

If you want more out of life than poverty and endless need that is beyond your means, you must change your wading, webfooted, bog-trotting ways. Start a new life with a new culture. Goad, prod and provoke yourself culturally away from your wading, webfooted, bog-trotting ways into reality and as the sleeper in you is awakened, your poverty and endless need will diminish as your slumber diminishes.

The U. S. Government as indicated in "Education For Extinction" by David Wallace Adams had an American Indian policy in the 19th Century of "Kill The Culture and Keep The Man".

In the 21st Century the policy for the Common Population of the United States must be for the Common Population to "Seed and Grow a New Culture For the Common Population" that reflects the best interest of the Common Population, and as the culture of the Working and Poor Class, the Common Population, grows and develops so will Henry David Thoreau's John Field as a trope for the Working and Poor Class.

Ain't it awesome how them Duke boys always get away from the law? Its nice to have a Roscoe P and Boss Hog as defenders! I am also absolutely in awe how Great the "Republican Globe Trotters" are in relation to the "Washington Democrat" team! Its neato how "Meadow Lark Cheney" distracts the refs while "Curly Bush" travels the length of the court wise cracking and breaking basic basketball rules and scores. And those "Washington Dems" can DO NOTHING to stop them! But darn-it, its kind of fishy how there are times when it is actually within the rules for The "Dems" to drive it to the hoop, especially when the entire Trotter team is out of position. Gee, I wonder why the Dems just don't drive it to the basket the way the Trotters did it back in 1998? Hmmm. You know something else funny? The other night I saw a wrestling opponent bend his knees and spring himself up at the exact same time the other Wrestler lifted him over his head for a body slam. Its almost like the opponent WANTED to be body slammed in some sort of SCRIPTED entertainment way! Gosh, you don't think Frank Zappa was right, do you? I mean, what would ONE PARTY CONTROL look like if it HAD TO DISPLAY a competition to meet the REQUIREMENTS of a democracy?

Political Disease of Autoshadowphopia

Tuesday, July 10, 2007
The Outbreak of Autoshadowphobia

by David Sirota

Senate votes are expected today on various proposals related to the Iraq War.

John Kerry had a bad case of it in 2004. The consultants, operatives and self-described strategists in the Democratic Party's Washington Establishment spreads it as a profession. Now, Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar (D) looks like he just contracted a virulent strain of it, and some of his other colleagues may soon be susceptible to it. No, I'm not talking about a venereal disease, I'm talking about something far more politically toxic: A disease known as Autoshadowphobia, or fear of one's own shadow.

Here in America, we like our politicians to emulate descriptions used in tire ads or SUV commercials: We like our leaders "tough" and "strong" (and maybe even with some "torque") as any number of the aspiring, cliche-peddling pundits who crowd the nation's capital will happily tell you. That's why Autoshadowphobia is so dangerous: Because regardless of the issues where its symptoms most clearly present themselves, the disease lets the public know about a deeper sense of insecurity, fear, spinelessness and unprincipled calculation that governs a politician's decision making. It projects the opposite of a Michelin ad or Dodge Ram spot. For voters, Autoshadowphobia elicits at best what a Kleenex ad portrays (softness), and more likely recalls the impulses associated with watching a commercial for Raid (a desire to spray the scurrying varmints down with a blast of industrial strength repellent).

Out of all the professional politicians in the Senate club, Salazar seems to have the worst case of Autoshadowphobia, and the disease is plaguing him on the most high-profile issue - Iraq - an issue that his own Democratic colleagues in the Colorado legislature bravely took a strong stand on in just the last few months. With USA Today's new poll showing "opposition to the Iraq war has reached a record high" and thus with most Senate Democrats and a faction of Republicans poised to support legislation taking concrete steps to end the war, Salazar has crafted a proposal that devotes an impressive deal of rhetoric praising the Wise Old Men of Washington who comprised the now-idolized Iraq Study Group, but deliberately "does not include specific terms for a withdrawal of U.S. forces" from Iraq. This is a bill that only Brigadier General Karl Rove could love - a bill that lets Autoshadowphobia-plagued Washington politicians like Salazar pretend they are doing something to end the war, when in fact they are doing nothing other than legislatively ratifying a deliberately toothless, self-congratulatory press release as American casualties mount.

This is a particularly destructive proposal considering the political tectonics. Thanks to Salazar coming down with such a nasty case of Autoshadowphobia, wavering Republicans who otherwise would be under enormous pressure to support a real bill to truly end the war will now have the Salazar-delivered political cover to help perpetuate the war indefinitely. Meanwhile, the Democrats who are actually working sincerely to end the war and who come either from Colorado or from far tougher political states - these folks will be humiliated, as Salazar and the other faction of Autoshadowphobia-plagued Democrats continue running to the media to self-servingly trumpeting their behavior as some sort of Patton-esque act of Bravery and Patriotism (which will undoubtedly be the way it is reported by Beltway stenographers like David Broder, who recently attacked Congress for considering legislation that does what the majority of America says it wants).

But you don't have to believe me when I say Republican war supporters are ecstatic about Salazar's legislation - you can believe them, because they are out there saying it. In a Hill Newspaper story today about how the Bush White House has embraced the toothless Iraq Study Group report as a way to create political cover for its plans to prepetuate the war, we get this:

"Republicans view [Salazar's] bill as an opening to overshadow the Democrats� Iraq pullout push, conscious that the combination of non-binding withdrawal goals and diplomatic conditions could win more GOP supporters than any plan created by the new majority. 'I think [Salazar's bill is] the biggest fear Democrats have,� one senior Republican aide said. 'It would be really embarrassing for Reid, because the guy who�s pushing for all these things to make his base happy would [have to back] something the president has pushed for.'"

But just in case you think Autoshadowphobia is limited only to Iraq, make sure to check out the Washington Post's story today on health care. With polls long showing that Americans strongly support a government-sponsored universal health care system, we find out that Democratic presidential candidates are taking political advice from one courageous MIT economist who is telling them that they shouldn't push any serious health care reforms because he has deemed them politically unrealistic. Yes, you read that correctly. As cloistered MIT economist is now being listened to by Autoshadowphobic presidential candidates as not one academic expert - but as a supposed expert campaign strategist and political guru. In medical terms, what he really is, of course, is a classic enabler - a person who tells these politicians that fear of their own shadow is perfectly fine (truth be told, he'd fit right in in many Democratic consulting firms).

The human toll of Autoshadowphobia is obvious. More American troops will die or be maimed in Iraq because people like Salazar are pushing legislative vehicles specifically designed to create the necessary political cover to continue the war indefinitely. Similarly, 18,000 Americans will continue dying each year because presidential candidates dress up cloistered academics as political experts in order to reassure themselves they don't need to expend real political capital to fix America's health care crisis.

What's less obvious but politically significant is what this outbreak of Autoshadowphobia says about the political terrain Democrats and the larger progressive movement faces.

The national Democratic Party clearly faces "I voted for it before I voted against it" peril on both the Iraq and health care fronts. In 2006 they campaigned against the war, and are now watching a weak-kneed faction of their own party bow down to a president with the lowest approval ratings in contemporary history and work to continue the war - even in the face of overwhelming public opposition to the war. In 2008, they are promising real health care reform, while largely refusing to have the guts to go up against the health insurance and pharmaceutical industry, instead pushing proposals that perpetuate a broken system - primarily because an MIT economist says that while he admits truly fixing the system is of urgent importance, politicians shouldn't try because he believes he is a political expert and he has deemed that goal politically unrealistic. Forget, for a moment, about where you stand on any of these issues or on any of these specific proposals, and just ask yourself: Could the Democratic Party project weakness and equivocation any more clearly? And from just a purely partisan, political perspective, shouldn't folks be worried that such brazen equivocation on the biggest issues of the day weakens the Democrats chances in upcoming elections?

For the progressive movement, this (unsurprising) plague of Autoshadowphobia once again reiterates the requirement to pressure both parties if we are to be an effective movement - and particularly on Iraq, this specific outbreak of Autoshadowphobia exposes the clear shortcomings of trying to fuse movement and party (otherwise known as Partisan War Syndrome).

It's fun for those of us working to end the war to congratulate ourselves for behaving like an arm of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, targeting canned ads almost exclusively at Republicans up for reelection, and landing breathless stories in D.C. newsletters like Roll Call and The Politico, which almost no one outside of the Beltway actually reads (or has even heard of). It makes us feel like we are doing something to simultaneously end the war and smack the GOP, which after all, is so bad on so many issues.

But as the unfolding Iraq debate shows, the failure - whether deliberate or merely unintended - to spend similar resources on pressuring Democrats has further emboldened individuals like Salazar diseased with Autoshadowphobia (and a fairly solid dose of conceit) to play a decisive role in undermining the progressive movement's objectives. Certainly, it's not too late for that bipartisan pressure to help deliver the only cure for Autoshadowphobia: Insertion of a backbone. But whether that pressure comes, and whether it is as well-financed as the attacks exclusively on the GOP remains to be seen.

******************

"Autoshadowphobia" is a direct result in the Republican Party of "lackawannahonesty".

"Autoshadowphobia" in the Democratic Party is the direct result of "lackawannahonesty" in the DLC Democratic Party Leadership. WE THE PEOPLE need not get rid of the Democratic Party or downgrade the Democratic Party, we need to improve the Democratic Party by using the PRIMARY VOTING PROCESS to install NEW LEADERSHIP in the Democratic Party that WILL represent the 70% Majority Common Population, the WORKING AND POOR CLASS AND CULTURE. Vote out all DLC cooperators with REPUBLICAN RIGHT WING CONSERVATIVE EXTREMISTS.

WE THE PEOPLE, the 70 Majority Common Population, need more than just somebody that can WIN, WE THE PEOPLE, the 70% Majority Common Population, need someone who will REPRESENT WE THE PEOPLE, the 70% Majority Common Population, in the Legislature of the United States, because without legislation that represents our interests, WE THE PEOPLE, the 70% Majority Common Population, have not won anything.

Europeans know who the Commoners are and say their government is afraid of the people, but in the United States, the people are afraid of the government. The Europeans say that until the government in the United States becomes afraid of the people, WE THE PEOPLE, the 70% Majority Common Population of the United States, should not even expect health benefits or any other benefits. The Europeans have benefits for the people, whereas the United States does not. It is time for WE THE PEOPLE of the United States to learn the power of WE THE PEOPLE while WE THE PEOPLE still can.

Consider Mike Gravel -- Gravel Appears to be the BEST CHOICE

What about Mike Gravel???

by John Lambert

Hi everyone,

I am not sure what happened with the League of Conservation Voters Score Card, but out of all the candidates that I heard speak on the issues, I thought that Mike Gravel sounded the best.

I liked his idea of empowering the American people to vote on legislation from all areas of the federal government and allowing us to choose what direction or stance we want the government to go.

I also liked how he answered by telling people to follow the money trail and how candid he was about all the front runners being bought and paid for by special interest groups and their lobbyists.

We will never have an independent thinking president or an honest government until the representatives in every governmental position are merely there to reflect the will of the people and until the will of the people is heard and heeded.
The American people should be able to decide what does and what does not become policy. This choice should not be solely in the hands of any government official, including the president, or any branch of government, such as the senate or congress. The will of the people should govern the people, period.

This country is supposed to be a government OF the people and FOR the people, not up for grabs to the highest bidder. It should not be bought and sold by special interest groups and their lobbyists. I think it is high time we the people take back our government and wake up to the game they have us playing.

This current government is a facade, this is not a free country governed by the people for the people, it is a government bought and sold to the highest bidder, among whom are the special interest groups that are causing all the problems. They make you think that you are free and that you can make a difference by voting for candidate number one or number two, but that is a joke. All you can do is pick the guy in their right pocket, or pick the guy in their left pocket, but no matter who you pick, as long as you are picking between the main two front runners, it will always be one of the two guys bought and paid for by the special interest groups who put him (or her) on the block for you to choose.

It's a shame, wake up.

We all need to not only "think outside the box", but we also need to "vote outside the box" in order to see anything change in a meaningful way.

I know I am ranting a little bit here, but search your hearts, do some research and see for yourself. Follow the money trail and see what Mike Gravel is talking about. If for no other reason, Mike Gravel's out-front truthfulness has out shown all the other speakers for me, which has earned him my first choice.

My second choice from the candidates would be Dennis Kucinich for his compassionate demeanor in addressing the issues and for his approach of integrating the entire government to get them all on board using a "Holistic" approach. I believe that using an integrated and holistic approach to any problem is the best way and by far the most dynamic.

Remember the phrase, "United we stand, divided we fall"? They are trying to divide us, I say we unite and never allow ourselves to be divided. We the people DO STILL have the power. I say we use it! Before its too late...

Thank you for taking the time to read this long post, I hope you found it inspiring. Take care and be well.

With boundless love, compassion, joy, and equanimity for all,

John Lambert

ASPECTS of CULTURE that are Passed Down from GENERATION To GENERATION

Aspects of Culture

1. Form of Government based upon U.S. Constitution.

2. Infrastructure of Government for City, County, State & Federal Governments, such as: Buildings, Roadways, Bridges, Waterways, Waterworks, Dams and Levies, etc.

3. Infrastructure of Commercial Interests and the Interests of Capital that comprise all of the cities throughout the United States.

4. Public Institutions of Government and Private Institutions of Commercial Interests and the Interests of Capital.

ALL of the above are “aspects of culture” that are used to CONTROL the 70% Majority Common Population that are passed down from GENERATION to GENERATION.

The question that must be asked is what are the “aspects of culture” that SUPPORT the 70% Majority Common Population that are passed down from GENERATION to GENERATION?

Trees have “aspects of culture”, but what “aspects of culture” do the 70% Majority Common Population have that can be passed down from GENERATION to GENERATION?

Sadly, I think there is nothing. Perhaps someone on this democratic blog can locate an “aspect of culture” that SUPPORTS the 70% Majority Common Population, but I doubt that anything will emerge other than triviality. Never the less, try.

The "culture of nature" is passed down by GOD in the genetic code of people from GENERATION to GENERATION, and in all other things in nature other than people, that are both animate and inanimate; a cultural heritage exists in nature that passes from GENERATION to GENERATION. The only area where culture has been expunged is in the 70% Majority Common Population of the United States. Cultural Design accounts for the 70% Majority Common Population of the United States having “NO cultural aspects” to pass down from GENERALTION to GENERATION, and both the cause and effect as an explanation of why can be found in such books as:

Ø “The Making of Citizens” by Charles Edward Merriam

Ø “Education For Extinction” by David Wallace Adams

Ø “A Treatise of Human Nature” by David Hume

The 70% Majority Common Population must not allow themselves to be excluded from "cultural aspects" and a "cultural heritage" by Cultural Design.

Even dirt and rocks pass down from generation to generation.

In the "culture of people", must the 70% Majority Common Population be below dirt and rocks by Cultural Design to fulfill the requirements of Freedom and Democracy in the United States of America?

Thomas G. Miller