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Chairman Waxman Writes to Secretary Rice on Implications of Withheld Information on Blackwater
October 5th, 2007 by Jesse Lee
On Tuesday the Oversight Committee held a hearing on Blackwater, examining several incidents in Iraq involving the private security firm. One such incident involved a Blackwater employee who shot a guard of the Iraqi Vice President, apparently while drunk, and whether the Justice Department has truly been investigating as the State Department claims. The Blackwater employee was flown out of the Iraq within two days of the incident before a proper investigation could be conducted:
good morning rjsnj, looks like we might get some rain in the next few days. we could really use it here in the hudson valley.
my poor, sad yankees...attacked by canadian soldier bugs and now teetering on the edge of collapse...i guess its time to start pretending i didn't care...
Against the backdrop of the 10th anniversary soiree for MSNBC's Hardball, Chris Matthews offered up his own mini-Peter Finch moment, railing at the Bush administration in remarks termed "political and pointed." After declaiming that he intended to "make some news," Matthews offered the assembled well-wishers barbed snark ("God help us if we had Cheney during the Cuban missile crisis. We'd all be under a parking lot."), fiery non-sequiturs ("Spiro Agnew was not an American hero."), and one accusatory allusion against the administration, stating, "They have finally been caught in their criminality."
Naturally, everyone was left wondering exactly what "criminality" "they" had "finally" gotten "caught," uhm..."in." This morning, we cannot really say for sure. As The Examiner reported last night, "he did not specify the exact criminal behavior to which he referred." Matthews' complaint seems to have stemmed from an instance in which Vice President Dick Cheney's office protested the content of "Hardball" and "attempted to influence its editorial content." Clearly, it is an instance we'd love to know more about, but terming the practice of merely complaining about or attempting to exert influence on media coverage as "criminality" is a bit of a tough sell.
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Well, well, well Tweety is disgusted with Chimpo.
In as much as an assault on the media is bad I agree with him. But Tweety enabled the Bush presidency. He didn't give Kerry a break in 2004.
Tweety, you wanted Chimpo and you got it; it's a pity that it took you all these years to realize what a dangerous lunatic Chimpo Bush really is.
good morning rjsnj, looks like we might get some rain in the next few days. we could really use it here in the hudson valley.
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Hi gregg,
Weather turned very odd here in NJ. It's right now
cool and foggy. It is fall now isn't it? I can barely tell given how hot it's been.
Yeah the Yankees ... I sorta wrote them off in August and was amazed they even made it this far. So, I didn't had high expectations in the playoffs.
morning john. hope all is well with you and yours.
rjsnj--that is a good line about the yankees...i'll start using it today:)
Morning, guys. Not sure that it's a good morning to be a Yankee fan. Those damn bugs! And, Pettit pitched such a great game...
Now this is sad and disgusting:
Trey Ellis
Michael Medved Makes Me Sad
I would like nothing more than to find common ground with my fellow Americans so that we can actually roll up our sleeves and together attack the problems that ail our nation. However when inhuman remarks sputter from the underinformed lips of the likes of Medved and Coulter sometimes I just have to throw up my hands.
In Medved's column, "Six Inconvenient Truths About the U.S. and Slavery," this man actually says, in subtext that would be crystal clear to even non-native English speakers, that the enslavement of Africans in the United States wasn't really quite as bad as liberals would lead us to believe.
Of course he later tried to backpedal and said on his radio show, "I never defended slavery."
Mr. Medved is lying.
What he wrote was this: "Unfortunately, the current mania for exaggerating America's culpability for the horrors of slavery bears no more connection to reality than, the old, discredited tendency to deny that the U.S. bore any blame at all."
"Current mania?" Did I miss something? Is Roots being aired non-stop across every channel on cable? And what old tendency was there in America to deny that the U.S. bore any blame at all? He is spewing illogical nonsense on a par with Ahmadinejad braying that there are two sides to this whole holocaust thing.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/trey-ellis/michael-medved-makes-me-s_b_67255.html?view=print
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In a word that Chimpo Bush would understand well, these right wing pundits are DISGUSTING. So, why not a Senate/House resolution against Michael Medved?
Those damn bugs! And, Pettit pitched such a great game...
Posted by Cyn_NY on October 6, 2007 at 08:15 AM
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Hi Cyn,
Geez, even nature turned on the Yankees. Well, it was an amazing comeback to even get this far. I'll take solace in that. It's not over yet.
RJ, you've made m feel better already.
So, Tweety has finally seen the light? Or, it is just more convenient to be on the Dems side at this particular point in time? He's such a jerk.
There is a great female journalist on cspan right now. She is Iraqi and really gives a sense of what is going on.
Sen. Bernie Sanders
Fair Trade
Costa Rica on Sunday will become the first country where citizens have the opportunity to vote for or against a trade agreement. Despite being heavily outspent by the moneyed interests, despite opposition from the Costa Rican government and the U.S. ambassador, despite an extremely hostile media, the latest polls show momentum building for the opposition to the Central American Free Trade Agreement. Incredibly, just the other day, in a nation of only 4 million people, more than 100,000 marched in opposition to the treaty -- a sign of the deep grassroots opposition there to CAFTA.
Free trade is very good for the large multinational corporations who can throw American workers out on the street, move abroad to China and other low-wage countries, hire people there for pennies an hour, and bring their products back into this country. For those people, for the CEOs of large corporations, unfettered free trade has been a very good thing, but for the middle-class and working families of this country, for working families and poor people in Mexico and in other low-wage countries, unfettered free trade has been an unmitigated disaster.
Increasingly, trade policy is not a partisan issue. The vast majority of Republicans now have serious concerns about our current trade policies because they see those trade policies as being harmful to the middle class and working families of this country, according to a new poll. "By a nearly two-to-one margin, Republican voters believe free trade is bad for the U.S. economy, a shift in opinion that mirrors Democratic views and suggests trade deals could face high hurdles under a new president. The sign of broadening resistance to globalization came in a new Wall Street Journal-NBC News Poll that showed a fraying of Republican Party orthodoxy on the economy," The Wall Street Journal reported in a page-one news story on Thursday.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-bernie-sanders/fair-trade_b_67322.html?view=print
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Good article written by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
Later all ...
So, Tweety has finally seen the light? Or, it is just more convenient to be on the Dems side at this particular point in time? He's such a jerk.
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Hi Cyn,
Hard to say. These media people are mainly opportunists.
Well, gotta run. Have a great day.
Her name is Leila Fadel. She was fantastic.
Leila Fadel is McClatchy's Baghdad Bureau Chief. She has covered the war in Iraq for Knight Ridder and now McClatchy on and off since June 2005, as well as the 34-day war in Lebanon between Hezbollah and Israel in the summer of 2006. Prior to joining the McClatchy team she worked at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram as a crime and higher education reporter.
Fadel graduated from Northeastern University in Boston in 2004 and has lived in Lebanon and Saudi Arabia. She speaks conversational Arabic. She was named print journalist of the year by the Houston Press Club for her work in 2005 and won a Katie Award from the Dallas Press Club in 2006 for her portfolio of work.
Her Iraq reporting won her Print Journalist of the Year honors from the Houston Press Club citing her work from "Bedford (Texas) to Baghdad."
You can read her here:
Canada has the 2nd largest Oil reserves in the World, I guess Bush will want to Attack them next!
Posted by PamB
says a WHOLE lot about the trailer park you are in!!! hahahaha. 600 whole dollars each year???
Mr. Oatmeal lives on acreage. Here in Minnesota there is much land available. Unlike the tiny, insignificant state of Connecticut where people live on top of each other, here in Minnesota there is land, land, land to own.
Smaller towns don't have a lot of social programs hence those areas are not attractive to people who live of the workingman's tax dollars. Therefore taxes are much lower in those areas. $600/yr sounds about right.
Million dollar house? ahahahahaha. What did you use for money to build it??? You've been bankrupt and broke all your life. Get real! You have lied for the 3 1/2 years you been on here.
That's actually quite true. There is so much competition for housing in the cities that the prices for a modest home is through the roof. Once you get an hour or so away from the metropolitan area homes are valued more realistically.
It is the misguided contention of "progressive" liberals that expansion of homes out to suburban areas is a bad thing; a poorly conceived belief. If everyone lived in the core areas of cities, competition for housing would be even more fierce and would drive housing costs still higher out of the reach of lower income people.
Poorly conceived notions like this are the hallmark of the socialist beliefs of the "progressive" left.
Once again Pammy, you opened your yapper and removed all doubt that you are a foolish asshat.
HONK HONK HONK YOU IDIOT.
"What do Liberals defend most? Gay marriage, higher taxes, welfare, abortions, preferential treatment based on race, the United Nations determining the defense of the U.S. and dictators. Is this the America that you want?"
Morning! For all the FUNDIES - THIS is what you GET when you OBSESS over the SON!
Scandal brewing at Oral Roberts U.
~snip~
By JUSTIN JUOZAPAVICIUS Associated Press Writer
© 2007 The Associated Press
TULSA, Okla. — Twenty years ago, televangelist Oral Roberts said he was reading a spy novel when God appeared to him and told him to raise $8 million for Roberts' university, or else he would be "called home."
Now, his son, Oral Roberts University President Richard Roberts, says God is speaking again, telling him to deny lurid allegations in a lawsuit that threatens to engulf this 44-year-old Bible Belt college in scandal.
Richard Roberts is accused of illegal involvement in a local political campaign and lavish spending at donors' expense, including numerous home remodeling projects, use of the university jet for his daughter's senior trip to the Bahamas, and a red Mercedes convertible and a Lexus SUV for his wife, Lindsay.
She is accused of dropping tens of thousands of dollars on clothes, awarding nonacademic scholarships to friends of her children and sending scores of text messages on university-issued cell phones to people described in the lawsuit as "underage males."
ROFLMAO at evil FUNDIEs and TROLLS
Mr. Oatmeal lives on acreage. Here in Minnesota there is much land available. Unlike the tiny, insignificant state of Connecticut where people live on top of each other, here in Minnesota there is land, land, land to own.
ahahahaha, BUT WHO WANTS IT????? In MN???
Anal Opening of the world. God's armpit! LOL.
You are really such a small simple minded little man, constipated THOMAS, you should really just sit back and Learn here, not open your big fat mouth! ahahahahahaha.
Did you read this one I posted last night? See, you are one of the last, easily swayed, gullible Republicans who Just DO Not Get it !
"Now this one made my cheeks hurt from grinning so much! NOTE THE SOURCE of this one.
No WONDER they are not bringing in any cash! So there ARE some SMART Republicans out there! I just knew it ! :) :0
Survey: Conservatives' Anger With GOP May Be Devastating
By Jim Kouri
The Conservative Voice
Washington, DC - A poll of 1,015 conservative activists and donors shows that 77 percent are either seriously disappointed with Republican Congressional leaders or want them replaced.
The survey also found that 54 percent of conservatives feel so abandoned by current Congressional leaders and President Bush that they plan to reduce their contributions and/or grassroots work for GOP candidates in the next election. And 70 percent would support a principled conservative challenger running against an established incumbent Republican in a GOP primary.
"Conservatives feel betrayed by the Republican leaders, and they want them replaced," said Richard A. Viguerie, chairman of ConservativeHQ.com, which sponsored the survey.
"Conservatives, which form the GOP's base, provided most of the volunteers and money to elect a Republican-controlled House and Senate - and wound up with bigger government as a result. Now more than half of these committed activists say they'll reduce or end their involvement in the upcoming elections - which could prove devastating for the GOP."
"What do Liberals defend most? Gay marriage, higher taxes, welfare, abortions, preferential treatment based on race, the United Nations determining the defense of the U.S. and dictators. Is this the America that you want?"
Posted by evil_dr_burd on October 6, 2007 at 09:16 AM
Why on earth would you even care, now that you are a German Citizen????? This land is OUR land, not Germany's. So mind your own business, IDIOT !
oh yea the trolls have lost ONE of their own!
I say SO LONG you PIECE OF GARBAGE!!
POSTED: 2:32 pm EDT October 5, 2007
UPDATED: 4:27 pm EDT October 5, 2007
MILAN, Mich. -- John D.R. Atchison, the federal prosecutor who was arrested in an Internet sex sting after he allegedly traveled to Michigan from Florida to have sex with a 5-year-old girl, hung himself in a Michigan federal prison Friday morning.
Wait wait I'm wrong here's one MORE!
MIAMI -- The chief prosecutor for the Guantanamo military commissions has resigned, raising the prospect of further delays in the Bush administration's six-year effort to bring prisoners in the war on terrorism to trial.
The Pentagon confirmed Friday that Air Force Col. Morris Davis, a steadfast supporter of the controversial detention and judicial processes at the U.S. Naval Base in southern Cuba, had asked to be relieved of his duties. Defense Department spokeswoman Cynthia Smith said a successor has yet to be named.
Posted by PamB on October 6, 2007 AT 10:13 A.M.
just how sure are you?
Wouldn't this World be a more pleasant, peaceful and safer place of ALL the TROLLS would just hang themselves in shame!!!
Like that guy above. Save US and the STATE a LOT of extra time, emotion and money!
I'd even provide them the rope.
typos sorry
on another note
the Wes Clark Army is partially jumping ship as well since Hillary voted with Lieberdouche.
That's twice now that her initial, internal, "gut decision" to vote FOR something heinous has been 100 percent the WRONG thing to do. You would think that what EVER Lieberdouche voted for she would vote the other way.
I just don't know about her anymore. She is back to being my 4th or 5th choice. (sorry MOM)
I am resigning my commission in General Clark's Army
ROFLOL this is gonna make the FUNDIES heads explode for sure!!!
I am creating artificial life, declares US gene pioneer
Ed Pilkington in New York The Guardian Saturday October 6 2007
Craig Venter, the controversial DNA researcher involved in the race to decipher the human genetic code, has built a synthetic chromosome out of laboratory chemicals and is poised to announce the creation of the first new artificial life form on Earth.
twilight zone music (snicker)
ok where did you go {{Pammay}} wait you leave soon right? Safe Trip Gal!
You know, Dawn your post makes me wonder where these recent poll numbers are really coming from.
Always keep in mind, that NYC = MSM and that is Hillary's base. Microtargetting has completely unglued the credibility of polling, except for Rassmussen and a couple others
Even Zogby seems bought out, I am really disappointed, here's his take...
"She is clearly the frontrunner and I have learned over the years to never bet against a Clinton."
What he doesn't realize is that, what he really is missing, what he should have realized and said, is "I have learned over the years never to bet against a populist"
...which BIll Clinton WAS, and Edwards now has clearly won that populist mantle.
Hillary's no populist, if anything she's the consumate corporate candidate, at least in the Democratic race.
So when she votes just for votes, but loses them instead of gaining them, it is probably her corporate and big-money/power managers who made that mistake, she's being handled by the Karl Roves of the Democratic party.
If that means she has an advantage, it is not with the populist crowd, it is with the DC cocktail-weenie crowd.
Her "karl rove" is involved with Black water unfortunately. Or so the Edwards campaign is spreading around
I'm not happy with Eddies whining and casting of stones where he also made the WRONG first instinct vote thanks to HIS corporate money people. He's no better imo. sorry.
My first choice is now back to Richardson
2nd - Obama
3rd - Biden
4th any of the rest
Dawn, I stole your link and reposted i here, it is just one of the stories about Republican pedophiles that seems to be p[opping up lately.
Then there's this, from Firedog Lake this AM,
http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/10/05/late-nite-fdl-im-sure-its-just-a-coincidence/
Check out the contributions of these pedophiles to the republican party, this isn't some crazy lefty flame thrower, it is just plain true.
Are these guys with the RNC and the RNSCC all pedophiles? I used to think it was a subset, but the more I read and see, and the more i look at the likes of Gillespie and Mehlman, I just wonder how indemic it is to these power-hungry people.
Isn't pedophilia, like rape, as much about having power over weaker vessels as it is physical gratification? Or are my psych 101 recollections just speculation?
Dawn, I didn't think you were endorsing Edwards there, but I was.
And as for whining, I've never heard him do that, in person or in the media. But I suppose a mind-set could frame it that way.
He actually has a very commanding and convincing voice, if you do not want to support, you should never go to see him in person.
JEP
I only took a few semesters myself but it sounds right. Power but when it crosses over to kids I think that takes on a whole OTHER dementia! One (imho) not apt to be saved. Not now in chemistry anyway. But I could be wrong.
I wish they would all have a "light bulb" moment and realize like that guy did (perhaps) that what he was doing and thinking was JUST SO HIDEOUS and took it upon himself to EXIT the DEMON!
ya know? I wish these trolls here would have a light bulb moment!!
JEP - I was talking about at the debates. Almost all of them he sounds desperate to me. jmo.
I've always liked his wife but even she sounds desperate lately. Not that I blame her.
The intelligence bill passed quietly Wednesday...the AP put it in just a few words.
"Most of the bill is secret"
Guess I did not expect so much to be done in secret when Democrats took over.
Posted by sunny on October 6, 2007 at 11:45 AM
maybe it's pay back for all the PUGS who did that in the past! To keep them from being able to belly ache and whine and cry about it they are not allowed to even TALK ABOUT IT cuz it's secret! Thus shutting them up!
just my take on it
Interesting reading (www.heartson.com)
McCain should know the truth about medical marijuana
Steve Chapman
October 7, 2007
Through all his years in politics, despite the endless obligation to shake hands, smile for the cameras and coax money out of contributors, John McCain has somehow avoided becoming a complete phony—something that John Edwards and Mitt Romney managed to achieve within a week of entering politics. Annoy McCain, and you won't have to wait long to find out.
Even a sickly, soft-spoken woman in a wheelchair gets no pass from him. The other day, at a meeting with voters in New Hampshire, Linda Macia mentioned her use of medical marijuana and politely asked his position on permitting it. Barely were the words out of her mouth before the Arizona senator spun on his heel, stalked away and heaped scorn on the idea.
"You may be one of the unique cases in America that only medical marijuana can relieve pain from," he said, in a skeptical tone. "Every medical expert I know of, including the AMA (American Medical Association), says there are much more effective and much more, uh, better treatments for pain." He also ridiculed the notion that police would arrest patients for using marijuana as medicine.
It's refreshing that McCain is willing to state his position with such unvarnished candor. It would be even better if he knew what he was talking about.
Apparently he missed the news that federal agents recently raided the home of Leonard French, a paraplegic who had been authorized under New Mexico law to use cannabis for his condition. He now faces possible federal charges, not to mention that he was deprived of the medicine recommended by his doctor.
As for medical experts, McCain could easily find plenty who testify to the therapeutic value of pot. The American Academy of HIV Medicine says that "when appropriately prescribed and monitored, marijuana/cannabis can provide immeasurable benefits for the health and well-being of our patients."
The New England Journal of Medicine has called the federal ban on medical marijuana "misguided, heavy-handed, and inhumane." A 1999 report by the federal Institute of Medicine concluded, "Scientific data indicate the potential therapeutic value of cannabinoid drugs for pain relief, control of nausea and vomiting, and appetite stimulation."
It's true that actual arrests of patients are rare. But that's often little consolation. Consider the case of Angel Raich, a California cancer victim whose marijuana was confiscated in a federal drug raid.
When she challenged the federal law, an appeals court ruled against her. But the court also had to acknowledge, "Raich's physician presented uncontroverted evidence that Raich 'cannot be without cannabis as medicine' because she would quickly suffer 'precipitous medical deterioration' and 'could very well die.' " Said the court, "All medical evidence in the record suggests that, if Raich were to stop using marijuana, the acute chronic pain and wasting disorders would immediatelyresume."
But none of that mattered. In the end, the government and the courts gave Raich a choice: obey federal law, or risk jail by using the only treatment that helped her.
Bush administration officials often insist there are no definitive studies proving the curative powers of marijuana. What they omit is that the federal government has done everything in its power to prevent such research.
That effort has not entirely succeeded, though. Recently, the journal Neurology published the results of one clinical trial of HIV patients. It showed that pot "effectively relieved chronic neuropathic pain from HIV-associated sensory neuropathy," with no adverse side effects.
The mystery is not why anyone believes cannabis can be safe and effective therapy. The mystery is why so many politicians, particularly Republican presidential candidates—Ron Paul, a physician, being the heroic exception—are unwilling to consider the possibility, or to leave the matter up to the states. It's not even clear their hard-line stance is smart politics in their own party.
Wherever you look, public opinion supports medical marijuana. In Texas, a 2004 Scripps-Howard poll found that 75 percent of the people favor allowing it—including 67 percent of Republicans. Such red states as Alaska, Colorado, Montana and Nevada are among the 12 that have legalized medical marijuana.
This is not a dispute between Republican voters and Democratic voters. It's a dispute between Republican politicians and everyone else.
What McCain ought to say is that he would rather ignore medical opinion, and inflict needless pain on people whose doctors say they could be helped by marijuana, than admit the federal ban is a mistake. Now that would be real candor.
more in /news/opinion
Copyright © 2007, Chicago Tribune
Michigan Bankruptcy Exemptions:
Your home, including co-op or mobile home, to $20,200
If you choose the second exemption scheme, under Michigan bankruptcy laws, you can keep:
Your home, if you do not have more than $3,500 in equity in the house (today's value less costs of sale less payoff balances on all liens and mortgages)
One thing about it all the Politicians have their bases covered when it comes to the stock market! Oil & Natural Gas(pipeline needed for Power Plant in Inida),Solar-Power(hint)(hint), Ethanol,(corn)(corn) Hydrogen( think H2O and Battery)and the rest of the usally stuff Mutual Funds,DRUGS (sorry), I meant Pharmaceutical.Funny how that very same Pipeline was being discussed with Unocal and the Taliban back in 1997. Has anyone ever told the Big Oil Companies about BMV making a car that runs off of Water back in 2000? Makes ya think why Bush just this year is telling us about alternative fuel such as Hydrogen!
My mistake forget battery (sunlight) instead!
One last thing,since Bush is leaving the option open for an attack on Iran ( needed for the pipeline between Iraq & Afghanistan)we never here him saying 1 thing about Russia or China (which both have plenty of Nuclear Warheads)just Russia has more Oil! Do ya think Little Bully Bush might be scared of those 2? Yes Yes Yes Yes
Posted by Cyn_NY on October 6, 2007 at 02:45 PM
(Heh Heh. That was funny.)
:)
Hey, this is for Sean Hannity (who doesn't wear a flag pin on his Botoxed mellon) and Flash Gasbag (who doesn't wear a flag pin on his giant anal cyst), and Bill O'Lielly (who doesn't wear a flag pin on either his Loofah OR his anal vibrator), and all the other Asswipe FOX talking heads who are harping on about Obama FOLLOWING THE LAW and NOT using the American Flag as a fashion accessory...
BITE ME, "PIN" HEADS!
DPD,
These phony assanine Jerks pretending to wave the American flag, while they are back stabbling our troops, our country, our rights by defending this Treasonous President make me LMAO! WHAT SOME PEOPLE WILL DO FOR A DOLLAR!
Well, asswipe, the Flag should NEVER be worn as an article of clothing or an accessory. (Section 8 of the Federal LAW covering the Flag and its proper respect and treament. Look it up, you lazy moron).
Nor shall ANY writing or slogan be placed on it. I guess someone didn't tell the alcoholic crack-head Chimp.
Nor shall anyone ever step on the Flag. I guess the Chimp never learned that one either.
Bite me, and screw the Chimp!
Great. If someone put an American Flag sticker on the back of a urinal, I guess you'd feel free to piss on it? Right? After all, it's not a Flag, it's a sticker that LOOKS like a Flag.
No, but a local bar had a picture of the Chimp in a urinal, and it increased beer sales 4 fold just so people could "go" as often as possible.
Posted by DPD on October 6, 2007 at 04:31 PM
your lack of reasoning proves that you are wallowing in the dregs of liberal stupidity.
chimp and cheney failed again. It looks like the taliban are winning because of bush and cheney's utter failure to have an adequate plan for Afghanistan. I am certain that they do not have an adequate plan for Iran if they go in which would lead us into WWIII.
Six years after the first U.S. bombs began falling on Afghanistan's Taliban government and its al-Qaida guests, America is planning for a long stay.
Originally envisioned as a temporary home for invading U.S. forces, the sprawling American base at Bagram, a former Soviet outpost in the shadow of the towering Hindu Kush mountains, is growing in size by nearly a third.
Today the U.S. has about 25,000 troops in the country, and other NATO nations contribute another 25,000, more than three times the number of international troops in the country four years ago, when the Taliban appeared defeated.
The Islamic militia has come roaring back since then, and 2007 has been the battle's bloodiest year yet.
Barnett R. Rubin, an expert on Afghanistan at New York University, said U.S. leaders in Washington "utterly failed" to understand what was needed to consolidate that original Taliban rout, which started with airstrikes on Oct. 7, 2001, less than a month after the Sept. 11 attacks in Washington and New York.
"The Bush administration did not see Afghanistan as a long-term commitment, and its leaders deceived themselves into thinking they had won an irreversible victory. They did not consider Afghanistan important and always intended to focus on Iraq," he said.
"Now the U.S. and international community have fallen way behind, and the Taliban are winning strategically, even if we defeat them in every tactical engagement," he added.
At Bagram, new barracks will help accommodate the record number of U.S. troops in the country.
"We've grown in our commitment to Afghanistan by putting another brigade (of troops) here, and with that we know that we're going to have an enduring presence," said Col. Jonathan Ives. "So this is going to become a long-term base for us, whether that means five years, 10 years - we don't know."
Insurgents have launched more than 100 suicide attacks this year, an unprecedented pace, including a bombing in Kabul on Saturday against a U.S. convoy that killed an American soldier and four Afghan civilians - the third suicide blast in Kabul in a week.
More than 5,100 people - mostly militants - have died in insurgency related violence so far this year, according to an Associated Press count based on figures from Afghan and Western officials. That far outpaces last year's violence, when the AP count topped 4,000 for the entire year.
Some 87 U.S. troops have also died so far this year, also a record pace. About 90 U.S. servicemembers were killed in all of last year.
Wide areas of the south - in Helmand, Kandahar and Uruzgan provinces - are controlled by the Taliban, and the fighting is migrating north, into Ghazni province - where 23 South Koreans were kidnapped in July - and Wardak, right next door to Kabul, the capital.
Osama bin Laden, whose presence here was a trigger for the U.S.-led attack, is still at large, possibly hiding in the mountains along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
And Afghan farmers this year grew a record amount of opium poppy, prompting officials to draw up plans to use the military in drug interdiction missions against traffickers.
Rubin said Washington ignored how difficult the fight would be and wanted to prevent U.S. forces from being tied down in nation-building exercises as in the Balkans.
"Since 2005, U.S. generals have told me (former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld) was drumming his fingers on the table trying to find out when he could take the troops out," Rubin said. "Now the administration has completely reversed itself, but of course without ever admitting it was wrong and still without a strategy that has a serious chance of success."
Still, U.S. commanders point out that military operations have killed more than 50 mid- and high-level Taliban commanders this year, causing at least a temporary disruption in the militants' abilities. The Afghan army participated in its first jointly planned and executed operation, in Ghazni province, earlier this summer.
Originally, Pentagon planners thought Bagram would be a "temporary" camp, Ives said, but an increased U.S. commitment to Afghanistan means Bagram needs to grow.
"Where we designed a base around 3,000 (troops), it quickly moved to 7,000 and now we're housing about 13,000, so just in a very short period of time you've grown not necessarily exponentially but you've definitely doubled just about every two years," Ives said.
A new runway accommodates heavier C-5 cargo planes and Boeing 747s. New soldiers' barracks - safer and more comfortable than the wooden structures that dot Bagram - are being built. And more workers are flowing in. Two years ago, some 1,500 Afghans worked in support roles at Bagram; today 5,000 walk through its front gates daily.
Six years after CIA agents and Special Forces soldiers helped the Northern Alliance swoop down from their northern stronghold toward Taliban-controlled Kabul, President Hamid Karzai is increasingly asking that Taliban militants join the government through peace talks. And the U.N. has said an increasing number of fighters want peace.
But the Taliban and factional warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, leader of the militant group Hezb-i-Islami, have rejected those offers, saying that international troops must first leave the country.
Although the Taliban seems to have an endless recruiting base in the ethnic Pashtun heartland in southern and eastern Afghanistan and the Pakistan border region, some fighters are laying down their arms and joining the government.
Officials in Ghazni province on Saturday said some 50 militants from Andar District - a Taliban stronghold where some of the Korean hostages were held - will join the government's reconciliation process.
But the U.S. will mentor Afghanistan's military for years to come, Ives said. He said America's military and aid commitments to Afghanistan are "speaking volumes."
"Our commitment to them is really saying we will be here until you have the security and stability that allows you to be a developing country on your own, and if that's 10 years then it's 10 years," he said. "But I think the thing is we're looking to help them as much as we can."
6 Years Later, US Expands Afghan Base
Posted by JohnFitzgeraldOatmeal on October 6, 2007 at 04:35 PM
Thats dopeyd´s way of saying god bless america.
Well, turd, you still haven't addressed Sally*'s assertion that it is perfectly O.K. to make American Flag toilet paper because it's "not a Flag" in his terms of use, it's paper that LOOKS like an American Flag.
Why don't you school the moron from your East German slum about what a Flag is. I guess all those stupid idiots with the magnetic Flags on their SUVs aren't really displaying the Flag. They are just sticking "Flag-Like" magnets on their gas guzzlers necessitating another WAR FOR OIL! Yep, Uhh Huhh, they "love" a Murcka.
Hates Walmart but loves Sam's Club) Duh
OH PLEEEEZE. Don't grasp for straws. I SAID I WENT TO SAM'S FOR BUSINESS ITEMS FOR MY HUSBAND'S BUSINESS ! What part of that did you miss the first time, numb ones?????
You are still white trailer trash who shops for clothes and other items at Walmart and helps keep the USA dependent on China and their trashy items ! so don't forget It !
DPD,
I think they should put a picture of chimp and cheney on the inside Depends and diapers. That way we could piss on them all the time.
Does Wally World sell American Flag T.P.? Stock up. It's a LOOOOONG way until the Chimp's crapfest is over.
Posted by DPD on October 6, 2007 at 04:45 PM
If you feel the need to vent your frustrations, go to walmart, buy a pack or two of colord chalk and do some side walk drawings. Who knows, somebody might toss the poor misunderstood "artist" a quarter. I don´t adress Mr. oatmeal´s assertions. Mr. oatmeal is an outstanding citizen, contrary to the picture that you try and paint of yourself. A flag is a flag.
DPD, The last few Righties are all grasping for ANYTHING they can find to try and make it look bad for Dems and for the candidates. No matter how assanine, how small, like Obama not wearing a Flag pin for cripes sake. (geessh, you never see them respond to any of the Facts we find on THEIR party members) you almost feel sorry for them, that they have nothing of any substance, don't you??? Yet they sit back and not care about Delay, Abramoff, Cunningham, Foley, Craig,
With all that corruption, all that perversion, 5 Republican senators and numerous House Reps retiring, the Republican base sick to death of the party and backing off money and volunteering, we will be trying to explain to our grandchildren what the Republican Party was in another 10 years ! They will be extinct ! LOL !
I think they should put a picture of chimp and cheney on the inside Depends and diapers. That way we could piss on them all the time.
Posted by Johnedwrd on October 6, 2007 at 04:47 PM
Posted by JohnFitzgeraldOatmeal on October 6, 2007 at 04:54 PM
Wow! A public outing!
Maybe Sally* will buy some Chinese made lead filled chalk and he could then draw American Flags on the sidewalks so people would have to step on a "bunch of chalk dust particles that only LOOK like an American Flag". After all, according to his and YOUR "logic" that isn't really an American Flag, it just LOOKS like one.
In the words of that eminent scholar Professor B. Bunny, "Wotta Maroon!"
Posted by DPD on October 6, 2007 at 04:59 PM
I doubt that Mr. Oatmeal would stoop to your level.
So, following the trolls' "logic" Flash Gasbag, Loofah Boy and Slanthead should have no qualms about Obama not wearing a lapel pin, because NONE of the Pugs wear one, and besides, a "pin" although it LOOKS like a Flag, IS NOT really a Flag.
Okey-Dokey.
Case closed.
You are still white trailer trash who shops for clothes and other items at Walmart and helps keep the USA dependent on China and their trashy items ! so don't forget It !
Posted by PamB
Pammy, you are an idiot.
People of all races live in trailers. Just because a person is white and low income doesn't make them trash. If you concentrate real hard you might be able to formulate a clear thought now and then.
Black people are one of WalMart's larges consumer bases. Are you calling them "Black Trash" because they shop there too? How about Muslims; certainly they shop there all the time. Are they OK? Do they pick out their items from a different aisle?
Face it you old Connecticut gas bag, you shop at Sam's Club because you like their low prices. Just like you secretly shop at WalMart. Then you hide the bags away so when your few friends come over you can trash talk about the low lifes you were standing in line with.
He would HAVE to stoop in order to draw his "non-Flag" that only LOOKS like a Flag, but it's NOT according to you and Sally*, idiot.
Your collective "logic" has you two in the 'Spiral of Death'. If you had any Philosophy classes you would understand that concept. The more you try to defend an indefensible position the tighter the downward spiral gets. Kind of like crap swirling down a drain. It's best to just admit that you are wrong and move on, as opposed to keeping up the already lost battle.
God are these trolls the stupidest things on the face of the Earth or what?
You are still white trailer trash who shops for clothes and other items at Walmart and helps keep the USA dependent on China and their trashy items ! so don't forget It !
Posted by PamB
whats the difference between walmart and Sam´s?
Sam's club doesn't sell anything that you couldn't get somewhere else
now that shows what you know about Sams. NADA.
Maybe they will and maybe they deserve to go away 05:00 PM
You know, this is the closest you have EVER come to saying that this current group of Republicans are bad and need to go! You are not defening them for a change! Now I can respect that !
Posted by DPD on October 6, 2007 at 05:17 PM
and you have an I.Q. of 180?
Seek help you poor soul, Illusions of Grandeur as you have can also mean that something is not right.
U.N.: Afghan violence surges
Violence in Afghanistan has surged this year with suicide bombings inflicting an especially high toll on civilians, a new United Nations report says. Full Story:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/10/02/afghanistan.ap/index.html
You are not defening them for a change! Now I can respect that !
Posted by PamB
Defening them? You already into your supply of cheap wine? You pick up a case of MD 20/20 at Sam's Club too?
Well, Turd/Burd, if you should ever become an american again, you will find out Sam's club is made for Businesses to buy their stuff in bulk.
Plus they sell items not found elsewhere, and you can get it all in one place. BRAND name stationary products, batteries, office supplies, etc.
Walmart on the other hand, is 90% full of Chinese clothings, toys, electronics. They are China's number one exporter of their crap. to shop Walmart is to keep the Trade deficit between our two countries off balance.
As well as the fact that they treat their employees as sub humans. (ask THOMAS, he is a door greeter there). They keep them down just under 40 hours so they do not have to give them benefits, plus the pay is absolute minimum.
So now you know !!!
U.N.: Afghan violence surges
Posted by DemocratKickingAss
The violence in Darfur, mass genocide actually, is running pretty high as of late but the UN isn't doing too much to address that.
They get together on occasions to discuss it, issue a vague statement condemning it, then all head to the Manhattan night clubs in the chauffeured limousines for hookers and blow.
Old Frankie Sinatra sang it best:
It's the good life, full of fun, seems to be the ideal,
Yes, the good life, lest you hide all the sadness you feel,
Where did you get that 180 figure? Illusions of grandeur? Why don't you address the internal illogic of what you and Sally* were positing? All you have left is resorting to personal insults, thus avoiding any need to back up your assertions. As I said, Case Closed. None of your back tracking holds water and the more you try to tap dance around it the worse it gets for you.
Take a deep breath (preferably in the garage with the door closed and the engine running...C'MON do the World a favor for once) and call it quits. You came to a battle of wits unarmed.
YOU LOSE!
God are these trolls the stupidest things on the face of the Earth or what?
Posted by DPD on October 6, 2007 at 05:17 PM
You've been here 4 years and you are just now asking that??? What ever happened to the trolls of old, who at least had a brain, although misguided?
Now we have sore losers, whose guts are still burning from last November !
Where is that article posted the other day on Democrats tested higher in IQ than Republicans? It is around here some place.
bbl, DPD. Hold down the fort ! Give up on the flag deal, they know it is trivial and stupid too, they just don't have anything else. :)
Posted by PamB on October 6, 2007 at 05:29 PM
Harpo is not a door greeter at walmart. he has a very good job. And when you buy at sam´s, you feed walmart. You should also know that there is a New bavaria in Ohio, And bavaria, Kansas.
Hey Pammy you old snag, WalMart stores and Sam's Clubs are owned by the same corporation. The money you spend at Sam's go into the same accounts as the money you spend at WalMart.
Look around the next time you are in Sam's and read the manufacturer's locations on the "bulk" items you buy there. ChiCom as well babycakes.
How come you're so eff'ing stupid? George must.really be hitting the bourbon when you're on a roll.
Where is that article posted the other day on Democrats tested higher in IQ than Republicans? It is around here some place.
Posted by PamB
Pammy, look under you fat ass. George is laying newspaper on all the seating surfaces. Since you have been buying those Chinese adult diapers he's pissed about the blow-by stains you have been leaving everywhere.
OK folks, just time for a quick post and run. I hope everyone's weekend is going well.
TULSA, Okla. (AP) - Twenty years ago, televangelist Oral Roberts said he was reading a spy novel when God appeared to him and told him to raise $8 million for Roberts' university, or else he would be "called home."
Now, his son, Oral Roberts University President Richard Roberts, says God is speaking again, telling him to deny lurid allegations in a lawsuit that threatens to engulf this 44-year-old Bible Belt college in scandal.
Richard Roberts is accused of illegal involvement in a local political campaign and lavish spending at donors' expense, including numerous home remodeling projects, use of the university jet for his daughter's senior trip to the Bahamas, and a red Mercedes convertible and a Lexus SUV for his wife, Lindsay.
She is accused of dropping tens of thousands of dollars on clothes, awarding nonacademic scholarships to friends of her children and sending scores of text messages on university-issued cell phones to people described in the lawsuit as "underage males."
At a chapel service this week on the 5,300-student campus known for its 60-foot-tall bronze sculpture of praying hands, Roberts said God told him: "We live in a litigious society. Anyone can get mad and file a lawsuit against another person whether they have a legitimate case or not. This lawsuit ... is about intimidation, blackmail and extortion."
San Antonio televangelist John Hagee, a member of the ORU board of regents, said the university's executive board "is conducting a full and thorough investigation."...
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20071006/D8S3MC9G0.html
Here we go again! Are there any decent conservative Christians left out there?
However, a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty therefore, for now at least, Rev. Roberts is innocent or rather, not guilty.
I am John Kerry. I was against the first Iraq war, I am against the
second Iraq war, but I voted for it. Now I'm against it but I was
for it.
I support the UN. I'm against terrorism and against the Iraq war.
But I voted for the Iraq war. So, I voted against the first war and
supported the second war, wait...
I'm against gay marriage but for gay unions. I support gays but
think the SF mayor is wrong. I support gay marriages. No, wait, gay
unions.
I'm Catholic. Wait, I'm Jewish. My dad was Jewish. But I was raised
Catholic. What am I? I don't want to confuse people.
I am for abortions, but wait, I'm Catholic, and Catholics are pro-
life. But I might consider putting pro-life judges in office, but
I'm not sure. I do know I voted for a pro-life judge, but I stated
that it was a mistake.
I went to Vietnam. But I was against Vietnam. I testified against
fellow US troops in Vietnam, threw my medals away and led others to
do the same. But I am a war hero. Against the war.
I stated I threw my medals away then I threw my ribbons away. I then
revealed that I threw my ribbons away but not my medals, then lately
I stated that I threw someone else's medals away and never threw
anything of mine away.
I believe ribbons and medals aren't the same thing. Medals come with
ribbons, so now I believe that ribbons and medals are the same thing
besides the fact that ribbons are cloth and medals are metal.
I wrote a book that pictured the US flag upside-down on its cover.
But now I fly and campaign in a plane with a large flag right-side
up on it. But sometimes, we fly upside-down for fun.
Yasser Arafat is a hero and a statesman. The Israelis shouldn't kill
Palestinian terrorists, but they should stop terrorism. Yasser
Arafat is a terrorist supporter. I support Mid East peace.
I am for the common man, unlike Bush. I am against the rich. But my
family is worth 300 million dollars has a jet and many SUVs. I am
the common man.
I am against sending jobs overseas. My wife is a Heinz heir. Heinz
has most factories offshore. I am against rewarding companies for
exporting jobs as long as it is not Heinz.
I own $1 million in Wal-Mart stock. I believe Walmart is evil by
driving small business owners out of town. I am a capitalist and I
own part of Walmart but I am a good guy for small corporate America.
I own SUVs when I talk to my followers in Detroit, MI, Teresa owns
SUVs, I don't, when I talk to tree hugging followers.
I have a campaign jet that gets 1/3 mpg, which is great fuel
efficiency.
I am against making military service an issue in presidential
elections. I defended a draft dodger Clinton and stated that all
serve in their own capacity whether they draft dodge or not.
Did I mention, I served in Vietnam and am a hero?
Are you questioning my patriotism? I served in Vietnam. My opponent
didn't.
I have three purple hearts! I am a hero.
I am qualified to run this country since I served.
I am John Kerry.
Every weekend when I peek in here, it seems to be just another name-calllng session. Doesn't this site have moderators? What good is this doing the Democratic Party?
Posted by TaWanna_LaShond on October 6, 2007 at 05:47 PM
I often ask the same thing. Unfortunately, it is not always the trolls sounding like a schoolyard insult contest.
Posted by TaWanna_LaShond on October 6, 2007 at 05:47 PM
I often ask the same thing. Unfortunately, it is not always the trolls sounding like a schoolyard insult contest.
Posted by BobVADemHawk-Biden-Obama2008 on October 6, 2007 at 05:52 PM
hohoho! pammy will not like that!
Posted by evil_dr_burd on October 6, 2007 at 05:54 PM
After nearly seven years of the most incompetent administration in U.S. history, a little stress therapy may well indeed be in order.
Fellow Democrats, keep the Faith and keep the faith. The liberal revolution is now.
hohoho! pammy will not like that!
Posted by evil_dr_burd
How come Pammy is always using old European countries like France and German to defend her negative opinion of our Great President George W. Bush but when Dr. Burd mentions he's from Germany she's throwing insults at his adopted country like it was thee worse place on earth.
Pammy, for cryeyeing's sake, try to be a little more consistent.
And a little less incontinent.
The tone these trolls are taking with us today is just horrible. It's disgusting as always.
I see our usual defenders of the party on here have all abandoned us today. DPD, HELP!
Novak: Senate Conservatives Knew About Craig’s ‘Weird Conduct,’ ‘Didn’t Do Anything About It’
On Bloomberg Television today, right-wing pundit Robert Novak revealed that “sources in the Senate” have told him that Senate conservatives had prior knowledge about Sen. Larry Craig’s (R-ID) “problem” but intentionally kept it “in the closet”:
~snip~
I have talked to several of my sources in the Senate, and this came as a surprise to me…They knew about it. They knew that he had this problem, and it was in the closet. And it was not just a homosexual relationship. It was this weird conduct. They didn’t do anything about it.
watch the video~~~TROLLS your head is so far stuck in the sand you can't hear the MASSES approaching you. Watch out! You will soon be crushed!
Dawn, hang in there come Monday all the ugliness will be gone.
someone is using my name!! dah I wonder which asshat troll it is
Dawn, hang in there come Monday all the ugliness will be gone.
Posted by Kristen
I know, but Monday's a long way away yet. I just wish that the moderators would invest a littel time and money for the right software to stop these intruders messing things up, day after day. Weekends are the worse because it goes on and on.
Kristen I asked you earlier how you are feeling today? I'm gonna be like some HEN now bugging you. lol
Kristen I asked you earlier how you are feeling today? I'm gonna be like some HEN now bugging you. lol
Posted by Dawn on October 6, 2007 at 06:32 PM
I don´t think she wants to talk to a troll.
May she RestInPEACE!!
Congresswoman dies after cancer fight
By LARRY O'DELL, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 36 minutes ago
RICHMOND, Va. - U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Davis, a Republican who represented southeastern Virginia for seven years, died Saturday morning after a two-year battle with breast cancer, her office said.
Hi Dawn, Hi Kristen,
how are you this fine evening? Another Hot one in CT. Thank God there is no such thing as Global Warming !! :) LOL
Kirsten, one of these rotten trolls is using my name. I saw it posted earlier today but didn't have a chance to get on to say anything but I will let you know now to not address "Dawn" as me.
trolls need remedial spelling
it's K R I S T E N
and
L I T T L E
ya dopey pencil-dicks
Dr. Burd mentions he's from Germany she's throwing insults at his adopted country like it was thee worse place on earth.
au contraire, THOMAS, I respect Germany. I respect that they have taken Global Warming seriously, and that they told George Bush to go pound sand when he wanted them to help him Illegally invade Iraq! It is the ex-American who thinks he has the right to discuss or criticize OUR country now that he has gone and 'adopted' another country. This is none of his business, but of course, like you, he is here because he is a gullible, naive, easily swayed, redneck and also a little slow.
waving happy B day to Barbie too (I forgot)
My Gals is tomorrow! 26!! omfreakinGawd!
Posted by PamB on October 6, 2007 at 06:48 PM
Hey granny, who says that doctor burd is an "ex", and who says that the dr. has "adopted" germany?
maybe the dr. is making a prolonged visit? At least he´s seeing the world and meeting new people instead of wasting his life in a birdsplat ville in CT.
Posted by PamB on October 6, 2007 at 06:48 PM
and THEY've got a woman president
and WE're gonna have a woman president
we'll have strudel! ;-)
like my Grammas
Now just think. If Bush had not pulled most of our guys out of here 4 years ago to invade iraq, and had kept after them, there would be no Taliban, Plus we would probably have captured the one responsible for 9/11 !
"BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Six years after the first U.S. bombs began falling on Afghanistan's Taliban government and its al-Qaida guests, America is planning for a long stay.
Originally envisioned as a temporary home for invading U.S. forces, the sprawling American base at Bagram, a former Soviet outpost in the shadow of the towering Hindu Kush mountains, is growing in size by nearly a third.
Today the U.S. has about 25,000 troops in the country, and other NATO nations contribute another 25,000, more than three times the number of international troops in the country four years ago, when the Taliban appeared defeated.
The Islamic militia has come roaring back since then, and 2007 has been the battle's bloodiest year yet
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071006/ap_on_re_as/afghan_six_years_later
yep Pam
Old Bin Forgotten is GW's BFF!!!
weren't they even college roommates at one time?
wowzer ! A whole $11 million ! And he's the Pro-Abortion, Pro-Gays, Pro-Gun controls candidate too ! hmmmm, interesting.
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani eked out a win in the third-quarter fundraising race among Republican presidential candidates.
Giuliani took in $10.5 million in primary funds and raised more than $11 million total, the campaign reported Thursday
http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/giuliani-wins-third-quarter-gop-money-race-2007-10-04.html
hey, little burdie, you mean until your German wife kicks you out then you will come back?? When that time comes, then you can bitch about US politics again, until then you are stuck with the sauer braten gal!
Hey Gregg, when you come back in. You will enjoy this one !!!!!
Gingrich's excuse legally flawed By: Kenneth P. Vogel
Gingrich said this week that the McCain-Feingold law would have required him to choose between exploring a White House run and running American Solutions.
Newt Gingrich’s attorney is recasting the former House speaker’s claim that campaign finance laws knocked him out of the Republican presidential race before he got in.
“It’s possible that, to some extent, Newt might not have articulated the nuances of the election law when he was describing his decision,” said Stefan Passantino, the general counsel for Gingrich’s political group, American Solutions for Winning the Future.
A vocal critic of the limits imposed by the 2002 campaign finance law known as McCain-Feingold, Gingrich said this week that the law would have required him to choose between exploring a White House run and running American Solutions, which unveiled policy proposals last weekend.
But Passantino told Politico, “Newt’s decision not to run was more predicated upon the politics of the incredible success Solutions enjoyed over the past weekend and not so much on the law.”
Passantino said he and others in Gingrich’s camp had analyzed the law and determined it would have allowed Gingrich to continue leading American Solutions while setting up an exploratory committee to raise and spend money to gauge his chances at the White House, as long as the group’s coffers and resources remained separate.
ATTENTION DNC READERS
Here is another example for all those reading this blog both Dem and PUG - see how your PUG party is????
Such criminals they even resort to stealing BLOGGER names! They are such kleptomaniacs they need their OWN wings at the Federal Prison.
VOTE FOR SANITY, VOTE DEMOCRATIC IN 08!!!!!!!!!
FROM DOG CATCHER TO PRESIDENT!!! LETS RIDE THE D WAVE ALLLLLLLLLLL THE WAY IN!!
I may even start hangin 10 just for chits and grins!
got your mail, Dawnie and ygm back! :)
This is very amusing. Rudy raised $11m, and Hillary $28million and Obama $21million, he SHOULD be worried !!
Rudy worried about Democratic cash edge
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1007/6189.html
Take a hint, Asshat, the American people do not want you, not even Republicans!!!
check Pam
and they SHOULD be worried! hehehehe!
R E V O L U T I O N ?
OR MASS AWAKENING!!
I'll take it either way - and I see it coming
btw Pammy
I think they even stole Kristen's name along with mine - otherwise I feel she would have answered by now
they have resorted to talking to themselves as members of OUR group - lmao - how hard up is that?
p i t i f u l l y SAD!! They're pitifully quite MAD!
I use to have Kristen's email, but I can't find it now, or i would give it to you via email.
I am heading out. Long day tomorrow. Keep it lit for me, will you Dawnie?
be well,
As most of you probably are I too am concerned about the environment and climate change. Anyway, I saw this website CO2 Saver advertised on The Weather Channel, I never heard of it before but it claims it can say save energy when away from the computer and reduce harmful C02 and other emissions. I know nothing about it other than what I saw in the TV ad but since it concerns the environment I thought I would share the link with everyone. Perhaps someone here has heard of it and knows more how it works?
Posted by DemocratKickingAss on October 6, 2007 at 07:31 PM
well I'll try it for a spell and see how it works
so far no viruses or spam thankfully
that would be cool if it works
Thanks DKA
I am heading out. Long day tomorrow. Keep it lit for me, will you Dawnie?
Posted by PamB
Sure this sista! Don't overdo it tomorrow, more days aheah for this battle.
The violence in Darfur, mass genocide actually, is running pretty high as of late but the UN isn't doing too much to address that.
Posted by Harpo_thinks_you_are_all_commies on October 6, 2007 at 05:34 PM
*****
While it's true The UN hasn't done much of anything to stop the genocide in Darfur neither has President Bush, instead he was more concerned
about starting a war in Iraq based on dishonesty.
Since the UN failed to help to Darfur why didn't President Bush do something to help before it got out of control the way it is now? Could it be because most of the people in Darfur are poor and black and there's really nothing much to gain?
Posted by DemocratKickingAss on October 6, 2007 at 07:31 PM
well I'll try it for a spell and see how it works
so far no viruses or spam thankfully
that would be cool if it works
Thanks DKA
Posted by Dawn on October 6, 2007 at 07:37 PM
*****
You're welcome, I'm still reading the webpage before I load it up because like I said before until that TV ad on the Weather Channel I never heard of it before. I would like to hope and believe it works the way they say it does to help the environment. That's one of many reasons why I always liked and still like Senator John Kerry because he is a champ fighting for the environment, so is Al Gore.
Oatflake I'm truly NOT flattered by the imitation.
It's such a stupid version and easily recognized for the fake that it is.......I can (generally) spell pretty damn well. And when I mess up I have this way of NOT leaving it be......(I'm working on that)
I'd like to discuss the conditions under which we have all been forced to live since the Bush administration took power in 2001.
First we saw our nation attacked under his watch. To make matters worse, we know that this administration had failed to respond to intelligence warning of such an attack in the months before it occured.
Next we were forced to watch as intelligence was doctored or otherwise misrepresented to get us into Iraq. As a result we were also forced to watch as the careers of some of our finest were flushed down the toilet, either because they chose to stand up against a practice that was clearly wrong, or because they chose to lie for the administration.
Since that time we have watched the Middle East steadily destabilize and along with that destabilization have gone many of our allies. When this all began we decided that all Middle Eastern nations have to be engaged and encouraged to work to prevent the support of extremeist organizations within their own individual nations. This was done for some time, actually up until the moment that our president decided that it was time to invade Iraq. At that point persuading other nations not to support extremeist organizations took a back seat to war. As a result, the support of extremeists groups from within such nations as Saudi Arabia and Iran has been allowed to go on unchecked. Both having had tragic consequences for our men and women in the field.
Now, rather than correcting the error that has been made, the administration has decided to set its sights upon the Iranian government. They have assumed, though the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Pace has informed us all that supporting evidence does not exist, that the Iranian government is directly responsible for supplying enemy combatants inside Iraq. Which is hypicritical when you realize that they assume the Saudi Arabian government not to have had anything to do with weaponry that is known to be flowing into the hands of enemy combatants inside Iraq from that country. Furthermore, it shows quite clearly that this administration has lost the use of all diplomatic abilities in the Middle East.
And as this war spreads, spreading with it the likelihood of an increased terrorist presence, we find that our coffers are being emptied at an exponential rate. Also our military is being stretched thin, rather than being built up to contend with the threat we face. Our National Guard, our last line of defence, serves in Iraq rather than here at home, and we are unable to something as little as to provide adequate border security.
We must make a change. Americans across the board realize this, but their leaders have not decided to believe that things are so seriously strained that they must come together and set a new course.
I certainly hope so, Dawn. The last thing I want to see is the sort of deteroirated condition that I expect the Bush administration would leave the Middle East in if it had the opportunity, simply because they don't know any better. Tragically they have failed to keep their eye on the bigger picture, and that includes an eye on the conditions our State Department ensures us will lead to an increased occurence of terrorism.
We cannot afford to allow that to happen, and neither can those energy giants who wish to recover their product from the area without the increased cost of security and reconstruction that becomes ever more costly as these things drag on. It would be nice if a clean transition from one costly business partner to one less costly could be made, but that simply does not happen when conditions become as complicated as they do in the midst of war.
...at 06:44 PM
OOPS. Just like he was so intent on showing his "grasp" (HAHHAHAHAHAAAAAA) of the English Language by over using Roget and reposting other blog posts, and the times he didn't close the link properly, which led back to "Ra***** Ov*******" ...well, folks, Thumbass has again outed himself as a User ID thief.
As if basic plagiarism wasn't enough, (in addition to reposting some absolute crapola Roget infused word jumble that he was SO proud of, but would only earn a 'D-' in a High School Essay Class).
This dude really needs to "preview" his posts, and then off his fat ass for the common good.
Oh, that is rich. Thanks for the laugh DPD. He's quite the spy, isn't he?
I'm not saying it will be all rosey again in 08 quite the contrary!
It's like (for me) knowing there is a HUGE mess in the kitchen........ putting it off, putting it off, FINALLY I get a chance to get IN there (Jan08)
NOW the Work begins but I'm DAMN glad to finally have my hands wet...... sooner I begin, sooner I'm done!
It's gonna be messy. I'm verrrrrrrrry worried UNLESS we get a little head start by getting Bill Clinton in there to schmooze. We need all the BEST officials in their CORRECT and most beneficial positions again.
all this inept, incompetent, cronism chit has drained the quality of the whole government - it's like a dirty, greasy tool (or overused crock pot)
it may need to soak first (that could be what's happening NOW) until 08. A good soaking for the PUGS to get USED to it and the rest of the world to have confidence that we REALLY ARE the better side of that dirty coin that got flipped the WAY wrong way back in 2000.
sigh
anyway - enough with the metaphors - lol
blimp limbaugh and sean handjob were just bragging how great the economy is doing and that job creation is way up. HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa.
Just wait till the toys don't arrive from China. That will agravate the depression even more. Handjobity was bragging that the economy is better because of tax cuts. What an ahole. HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa.
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The nation's busiest port complex could see its first decline in container traffic in four years because of the housing market slump and a loss of consumer confidence that's making retailers cautious about importing goods.
Volume at the adjoining Los Angeles and Long Beach ports had been expected to increase by 5 percent to 9 percent this year over 2006 figures, but now container traffic may remain flat or even decline, officials said Friday.
The ports handled about 15.8 million cargo containers last year and they had record growth in exports this summer, but that won't be enough to offset lost import volume, Port of Long Beach spokesman Art Wong said.
October typically is the peak month for the ports as merchants stock up for holiday sales. However, volume is expected to be down slightly from last year, said Paul Bingham with Global Insight, a retail tracking group.
"Retailers have a good sense of the economy, and are planning their inventories carefully," said National Retail Federation Vice President Erik Autor. "The lower volume of containers means merchants shouldn't be left with unsold goods or forced into unplanned markdowns."
Economic slump will reduce LA port volume
I'm quite disgusted by these Americans who chose to polarize our nation in the midst of battle. I was surprised by their actions, even having witnessed first hand the outrage over the Clinton administration.
Let's have another good round of laughter at the follwing: heather wilson of New Mexico is running for domenici's senate seat in 2008. She just barely held on to her congressional seat in 2006. HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa.
The repigs are imploding. I hope they clean up their mess. Cleanup in aisle 12.
The economy is doing better? Then how might he explain the fact that our dollar has gone from a value nearly twice that of the Canadian dollar to being worth less and still sinking in no more than 6 years?
Clearly the man isn't much of a journalist. He can't even keep up on current events.
This dude really needs to "preview" his posts, and then off his fat ass for the common good.
Posted by DPD
Weren't me you dope. I spell better than that. Must've been another disinterested person. I just like poking the fat broad with a sharp stick.
BTW, what's "Ra***** Ov*******" supposed to mean?
Hey {{JohnE}} I think they should give that seat to Iglesis even if he is republican. He got screwed!
Then how might he explain the fact that our dollar has gone from a value nearly twice that of the Canadian dollar to being worth less and still sinking in no more than 6 years?
Posted by Marine
Hey 4F, what the hell do you care about Canada? You planning on hiding out up in their woods again?
DEMS in Florida seem to back Bill Nelson's court challenge.
Florida GOP are sitting back with grins and smiles at what Gov. Dean has done to the Florida DEM delegation for the national convention.
But state DEMS aren't throwing their anger at Florida REPS who moved the primary date up and had it signed into law by a Gov. Crist - a REP, uh uh, they're pissed sh**tless at Gov. Dean!!! From the many editorials, it seems that what seems to really be rubbing state DEMS raw is the ban of candidates from campaigning in the state.
One comment on the ban - "The big-state jockeying so infuriated four smaller states anointed to have the earliest primaries -- Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada -- that they goaded candidates into the boycott." Another comment - "Florida Democratic Chairwoman Karen Thurman once referred to as a ''selfish, four-state alliance of party insiders.'' The Democratic leader in the Florida Senate, Steve Geller of Hallandale Beach, called them "terrorist, rogue states"."
Now the state is looking to the litigation that Nelson has enacted against Gov. Dean/DNC for relief. Filed this week in Tallahassee at Fed court, it basically states that the citizens of the State of Florida are being denied due process and a constitutional right to participate in the election process for leadership of this nation.
Now the state DEM party has gone on the offensive since in my opinion they smell blood in the water and are launching a public relations nightmare that is pointing all fingers, hands and toes at the DNC/ Gov. Dean/ DNC officials/first primary states and even the candidates as the wrong doers to Florida. And they're doing a bang-up job of convincing state DEMS that they are being treated and being viewed as the bastard child at the family reunion. E-mails went out this weekend highlighting the situation and asking all to hold their contributions.
All so weary and in some instances if not funny, real tears could be shed.
But there is a solution.
Sounds like something a three year old says when you catch him writing on the walls. "Wasn't me."
Good idea Dawn. Even though he is a republican, he might not be a neocon.
Posted by Marine on October 6, 2007 at 08:25 PM
COUGHING! I hate it but I'll get over it, I hope. Stupid colds.
I honestly can't imagine hearing a grown man respond that way when caught in the act. As young as many of my Marines appeared, and as much shit as one or two of them would occassionally get into, the last thing that I would ever have expected to come out of their mouths in defense is "wasn't me".
This is just another example of how far out of touch with our fighting men and women proponents of the Bush administration truly are.
I look forward to next summer when the Grand Old Party hold the 22208 Republican National Convention right here in my area. What a great time this will be!!!
I sure hope the lefties turn out to protest. I'll get my big air horn all charged up and walk around blasting their lame asses with:
HONK HONK HONK YOU STUPID ASSHATS!!!!!!
Maybe if one of you worthless dorks can get the time off from work (hee hee) you can come on up for some real Minnesota hospitality. With any luck the cops will hand out bar soap and then turn the fire hoses on them and give them a proper bath.
I'd say try and stay out of the rain Dawn, but I've heard about the weather out there.
Grand Old Party, is that what their calling the Ku Klux Klan these days?
Grand Old Party, is that what their calling the Ku Klux Klan these days?
Posted by Marine
Nope, they're called "progressives".
No rain tonight thankfully. Still damn air. It's gonna GREEN up the place real fast! I'm so glad we got all the sprinkles we did.
This song is for YOU Marine
Speaking of rain this may be better.
Happy Musical Saturday Everyone!
Republicans rule radio but Democrats fight back
By Andrea Hopkins
Reuters
Friday, October 5, 2007; 2:15 PM
CINCINNATI (Reuters) - Conservatives have long dominated talk radio and its impassioned political debate but Democrats have begun to fight back against popular radio hosts who may play a role in the 2008 presidential election.
Having failed to find commentators who can draw the millions-strong audiences of conservative radio stars like Rush Limbaugh or Bill O'Reilly, liberals have turned to political blogs and Web sites to respond to airwave attacks.
We (conservatives) have continued to rely on talk radio for information while liberals have gone out and developed these great blogs like Daily Kos and Huffington Post which is kind of like their talk radio," said Robert Bluey, director of the center for media and public policy at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think-tank.
Democrats are targeting both Limbaugh and O'Reilly, charging the right-leaning radio hosts have crossed the line with recent comments about anti-war soldiers and blacks.
Both controversies were stoked by reporting on liberal Web sites, most notably on mediamatters.org, before politicians stepped into the fray. On Friday, dailykos.com continued to post about Limbaugh, while huffingtonpost.com linked to Media Matters, which offered readers a link to contact their local radio stations to complain about the conservative host.
On the flip side, Republicans and radio hosts have complained about liberal group MoveOn.org, which branded U.S. Gen. David Petraeus, commander of the forces in Iraq, "Gen. Betray-us."
This week, 41 congressional Democrats wrote to Limbaugh's syndicator to complain about him while another authored a resolution condemning the host.
Analysts said the early offensive against the radio hosts, who appeal more to ordinary Americans than Washington political elites, is a sign that Democrats are ready to respond to conservative media critics after years of tepid defense.
COORDINATION AND STRATEGY
"A lot more Democratic congressmen are able to respond," Bluey said. "They seem to have the talking points that they just didn't have in the past. The coordination and strategy has definitely improved."
The White House also takes talk radio seriously. Two weeks before the 2006 election, three dozen hosts were invited to the White House to interview top administration officials.
American University communications professor Jane Hall said the increasingly polarized political debate in America has created new pressure to respond to not only opposing politicians but their media supporters as well.
Democrats have not been successful with talk radio. Liberal Air America radio started up in 2004 but declared bankruptcy last year. While it has a new owner, audiences remain modest. The network's best known host, comedian Al Franken, left to run for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota.
But Democrats have found other ways to fight back.
"The most powerful voices on radio continue to be people who are reaching a largely white male Republican audience and they are a very committed base," Hall said. "What's happened since the last election is not only blogs but opinion Web sites ... whipping up the liberal side of things."
The activism of radio audiences is another reason to take them seriously. A study by talk-radio magazine Talkers found 73 percent of talk radio listeners voted in 2006 -- well above the average U.S. election year turnout.
Talkers publisher Michael Harrison said talk radio is not as rabidly conservative as it may appear, with 58 percent of listeners identifying themselves as "independent" voters, compared to 23 percent who say they are Republican and 14 percent Democrat.
Harrison said the Republicans may not have as easy a ride on radio in 2008 because voters are split on issues from the Iraq war to immigration and no Republican presidential candidate has emerged as a breakaway favorite.
"There's definitely been a move away from partisanship towards populism ... since the disappointment with the track record of (President) George Bush," Harrison said.
That, he argued, may offer a better opportunity for Democrats to win voters than attacking radio hosts.
"I think Democrats shouldn't be so concerned about Rush," Harrison said. "No individual host has the power to sway an election that's not very close or to hurt a candidate that is strong. The Democrats can counter the power of conservative talk radio by having good Democratic politicians."
(To read more about the U.S. political campaign, visit Reuters "Tales from the Trail: 2008" online at http://blogs.reuters.com/category/events/trail08/)
==============================================
Note to Dumb ass Harry Reid, Rush is not running in '08.
Having failed to find commentators who can draw the millions-strong audiences of conservative radio stars like Rush Limbaugh or Bill O'Reilly, liberals have turned to political blogs and Web sites to respond to airwave attacks.
====================================
Yes, AirAmerica is going great RIGHT?
And yes DoPeyD
MediaMaTTers is a reg. Trademark
so, I am spelling it MediaMaters!
Thank you for the video Dawn. The song reminds me of how I felt when on September 12, 2001 everyone felt patriotic enough to fly a flag but not patriotic enough to learn who we'd been fighting to protect ourselves from in throughout the decade leading up to the events of the previous day. They did exactly as they were told, they went back to work and awaited further instructions. Meanwhile, those who had seen this coming and had unsuccessfully attempted to convince America of the threat, continued thier struggle to educate America.
The saddest thing I learned through all of this is that our own representatives will quite often get in the way of important work, simply in their own overzealous attempts to have an impact. The lies spread regarding the travel of terrorists here from Canada were a prime example, as all they did accomplish was to put Canadians on the defensive and to waste the time of investigators who would later learn that the terrorists had approached the the Canadian borders in their search for airports vulnerable to security breech. None actually entered the United States from Canada. But, more people than you know wasted our time and money looking to what turned out to be a nasty rumor and nothing more.
You would be surprised by what happens when investigations of this sort get an inappropriate amount of attention from individuals who are easily led astray. Groups of men and women who would otherwise be working together to prevent further attacks on our continent instead go after one another, often using fear of terrorism as an excuse to make the lives of those who differ in belief more difficult.
I've seen my share of garbage, and I've heard enough from others who have witnessed its use from both sides to know that it is always damaging to our cause, when infighting draws our attention from the task at hand. People get carried away, with or without high moral standing.
As a Marine I spoke out when it became clear to me that others were getting carried away with discipline and other aspects of leadership. I believed that discipline was a tool to be used in training individuals and groups, but that one could go so far that they did more damage than good. One leader I saw take discipline too far ended up confining himself to a gp tent in Somalia rather than leading his Marines outside, all because he had upset those Marines so much in preparing for that mission that he honestly feared for his life.
Mistakes in leadership, such as that, I attempted to prevent when I could. But taking on what I beleived were errors in judgement as I was making the transition from enlisted to officer was a bad idea. I instead alienated myself and as a result was not afforded certain opportunities. It is however just as likely that I was merely done in by the lack of leadership displayed by a retiring officer. He quite literally ignored several requests for assistence, which eventually resulted in my early departure. To put it mildly, I lacked confidence in the command and it had everything to do with that man.
TOGETHER WE
this is from my favorite series of all time
and 2nd favorite celtic band
THIS is US!
I can't fault him for being excited about the prospects of retirement, but I can fault him for ingoring a detatchment of the command that his predicessor and his successor both paid a great deal of attention to. Still, I was the only Electronic Warfare Officer likely to have come out of that institution because, as I've said before, there are not all that many Electical Engineers let alone Engineering students willing to become Marines given the difference in pay.
Having failed to find commentators who can draw the millions-strong audiences of conservative radio stars like Rush Limbaugh or Bill O'Reilly, liberals have turned to political blogs and Web sites to respond to airwave attacks.
Posted by MediaMaters_Lied_democrats_Cried on October 6, 2007 at 09:14 PM
*****************
Rush Limbaugh is nothing to be proud of and actually it was him who did the personal attacks against our troops. Well, soliders are fighting back and in case you missed this little 30 second ad telling it like it is check it out because it shows what a liar Rush is how O'Reilly was wrong to defend Rush without getting the facts:
You would enjoy the music that a friend of mine makes, Dawn. He plays the Bodhran (Celtic drum), the Didgeridoo in a Celtic Band. You'd be surprised how well the didgeridoo fits with that style of music, at least I was.
Rush was also among those who spread the rumors about terrorists coming in from Canada. Newt was another. And, whether they know it or not, these actions caused Canada not to support us in Iraq.
Posted by Marine on October 6, 2007 at 10:06 PM
Kewl!
I like Enya too. I like this program from face book. I'm looking for inspiration on this Saturday night. And some of the old usuals are getting well OLD. LOL
They did exactly what you don't want to do when facing an enemy able to penetrate your borders. They went out and made political enemies of a nation who assists us more than any other in providing security here at home.
Dawn, do you remember the name of that girl who had a unique sound, something like that of Enya? Bjork! That's what her name is. I enjoyed her music and that of a certain Alaskan girl, who's name eludes me.
But if you really want to hear a sound that is truly amazing you will go out and find yourself a clip of some Inuit throat singing. There are two young girls in particular, who's names also elude me, who you simply have to hear to believe.
I'm getting way off topic and I apologize for that. It is also time for me to go.
Have a good night everyone.
Marine
No problem. I was walking Atreyu (speaking of Alaska)
I've only heard them on TV. I watch a lot of National Geographic and Discovery Channel. I like to sing along or at least attempt it....... hehe.... my tastes are a bit eclectic (you sound that way too) anyway have a great evening
I'm standing point (a while longer)
Semper Fi
posted by Marine 6 Oct 2007 at 08:14P
Right on!
I finally got down to the end of the posts after wading through the troll wastes!
Oh well, I grew up in the Midwest, I know manure when I see it.
Marine: If you're friend's band is any good, they might think about coming out this way. Butte's an Irish kind of town.
St Patrick's day is a big deal here, and we also have another Irish festival An Ri Ra in August, featuring Irish bands and dancing.
The first Catholic church built in town was(and is) named St Patrick's, if that's any clue.
There's a legend that many an Irish immigrant speaking nothing but Gaelic came to this country with a tag saying "7 stacks of the Neversweat"(one of the mines owned by Marcus Daly's Anaconda Co) pinned to his shirt, and the Immigration people knew to put him on the train to Butte. Marcus Daly, the Copper King, himself was a county Caven man.
(yawnnnnnnnnnnning)
I think I may call it a night - someone else needs to take over on point.
keep the troll droppings in check!
gather up your gear I'm heading OUT!!
Peace & Goodnight!
Posted by DemocratKickingAss on October 6, 2007 at 10:05 PM
Give it up. The only ones who believe any of that is you ass hats who always hated Rush anyway.
Posted by JohnFitzgeraldOatmeal on October 6, 2007 at 10:58 PM
********
Oh I see so now you're calling the soliders who are upset liars? Real nice! Typical of Republicans. I never said I hated Rush, I don't hate anyone I just dislike him for his spin and dishonest politics not to mention he is a hyprocrite. Keep in mind there are real soliders that are upset with the comments Rush Limbaugh said, you're just making up excuses for him and it's not very nice to call those soliders who are upset with him liars as these soliders have done everything that has been asked of them and it's not fair that to them that President Bush leave them in Iraq in the middle of a civil war with no exit plan, he wants to pass it on to the next President. What kind of leader is that? A national disgrace if you ask me!
3 US Troops Killed in Iraq Bombings
By Tina Susman
The Los Angeles Times
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iraq6oct06,1,3166770.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
U.S. soldier, 4 Afghans killed in suicide bombing
KABUL, AFGHANISTAN -- A suicide car bomber attacked a U.S. military convoy Saturday on the road to Kabul's airport, killing a soldier and four Afghans and sending flames shooting into the sky, officials said. Wreckage from the suicide bomber. This year has been the most violent of the six-year Afghan war.
Full Story:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-afghan7oct07,1,4769557.story?ctrack=2&cset=true
I haven't seen any soldiers upset with Rush except for the left winger soldiers with their feigned outrage.
Posted by JohnFitzgeraldOatmeal on October 7, 2007 at 12:19 AM
*******
All of our soldiers no matter what political party or policy they favor have served with honor
and just because you have some soliders who dare to disagree with the Bush administration policy on the Iraq war is no excuse for Rush Limbaugh to call them phony soliders and he should be ashamed of himself and make a public apology. This is the United States and our great nation of ours is a democracy not a dictatorship where no body is allowed to disagree with President Bush's failed Iraq policy of stay the course! It's funny how so there are so many Republicans out there like Sean Hanity who never served a day in his life keeps defending this Iraq war. Those that really support our troops want some kind of exit plan to bring them home. I said it before and I'll say it again, it's not fair to our troops that they be left in the middle of a civil war in Iraq with no exit plan, no idea when or if they will ever come home. I don't know how anyone can support this. Plus don't forget the billions and billions of dollars being spent to keep this Iraq war going. I'll give you another example of Bush and Republican failures in Iraq, I bet you didn't know this one. I heard this more than once on a news report that there are over 1 million Christians in Iraq yet their rights are being violated meaning they are living in constant danger by radicals who threaten them to convert yet not one thing has been said and nothing has been done to protect their rights. How in the world can we call Iraq a young democracy when religious freedoms aren't even being protected?
Some of those Christians have been forced to leave their country out of fear for their lives.
I hardly call that a democracy in Iraq where people can't even be free and safe to believe in whatever faith they choose to. Funny how President Bush and Fox News doesn't talk about that. Just to be fair, you know how conservative Pat Robertson is, well even he reported and complained about this how nothing is being done so you can't say it's liberal bias reporting bad news in Iraq.
By the way Mr. Oatmeal I did a search just to give you an example of one of the reports so you know it's true but if you notice I'm posting a report from a right wing website so this way you can't say it's left wing Democrat bias trying to make things in Iraq look bad. Funny how Fox News doesn't talk about this, fair and balanced my rear! Fox just doesn't want to make the Bush administration look bad in my opinion by talking about this because they must be afraid that Republicans will loose votes over this while not seeming to care about religious freedoms in Iraq. I'm speaking from the Christian left and I find this to be an outrage how Republicans have ignored this and don't seem to care much. I believe everyone should be treated equal.
Christian Persecution in Iraq Getting Worse
By Sarah Pollak and Lee Webb
CBN News
http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/202448.aspx
Iraq embassy costs soar amid delays
Shoddy work, design changes push U.S. project $144 million over budget
Guards in Iraq Cite Frequent Shootings
Companies Seldom Report Incidents,
U.S. Officials Say
By Steve Fainaru
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/02/AR2007100202456.html?nav=rss_world
Hurricane Katrina's Aftermath:
The Continuing Crisis
http://www.truthout.org/KatrinaAftermath.shtml
Once again the troll is talking out of his ass. 2001 World Series.
Also, I expected and predicted the outcome. I had a dream that the Diamondbacks would shell the Cubs in 3 games before any team even qualified for the Playoffs.
Posted by PamB on October 6, 2007 at 07:03 PM
hey you old snag, Are you suffering from a loss of reality? You forget that an American Citizen can more or less go anywhere and live. Wow, I could even move to Birdsplat Ct if I wanted to. No chance though, I´ve been told that the area is pretty well been torched by your presence. My wife is a very nice woman, in contrast to you. Yes, I´ve seen your picture too, and its not a very pretty sight. Either George was drunk, or you´ve been holding him prisoner all these years.
My wife cooks an exellent Sauerbraten, In fact I should have her send George a care package. God only knows what your throwing his direction. Anyway, I prefer a good German woman over an Eastcoast Yankee Pitbull anyday. They treat they´re men like they should AND ARE VERY GOOD HOUSEKEEPERS! Ya hear???? They don´t spend all damn day wandering around moaning and groaning about trivial things such has how you´ll manage to sneak in and out of Walmart witha box of "you know what". Speaking of "you know what", ....Posted by Johnedwrd on October 6, 2007 at 04:47 PM I noticed that you are no longer alone. You have a twin!!!! rejoice, now you can shop for your "needful" things together.
hahahhaha,
Oh, burdie, look up definition of "expat" one who moves to another country with the expectation of moving back, and immigrant, one who moves with the idea of living there for good.
You obviously became an immigrant and will live with your plump little sauer gal the rest of your days, thus a German, OR you assume you will move back when her family throws you out !
Give it up, redneck. The State of CT would laugh you right back out of it. You could never keep up in a state of the most intelligent, highest income people in the nation !
hahahha, go have another drink !
An expatriate (in abbreviated form, expat) is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing or legal residence. The word comes from the Latin ex (out of) and patria (country, fatherland), and is sometimes misspelled (either unintentionally or intentionally) as ex-patriot or short x-pat, because of its pronunciation.Famous expatriates
The so-called "expatriot," a term referring to United States american literary notables who lived in Paris from the period which saw the end of World War I to the beginning of the Great Depression. This group included people such as Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, T. S. Eliot, Ezra Pound, and Gertrude Stein. African-American expatriation to Paris also boomed after World War I, beginning with black American veterans who preferred the subtler racism of Paris to the oppressive racism and segregation in parts of the United States.
In the 1920s African-American writers, artists, and musicians arrived in Paris and popularized jazz in Parisian nightclubs, a time when Montmartre was known as "the Harlem of Paris." Some notable African-American expatriates from the 1920s onward included Josephine Baker, Langston Hughes, Richard Wright, James Baldwin, Miles Davis, and Charlie Parker. [1] [2] [3]
Another famous group of expatriates was the so-called Beat Generation of American artists living in other countries during the 1950s and 1960s. This group included Allen Ginsberg, William S. Burroughs, Harold Norse, Gregory Corso and Gary Snyder. Later generation expatriates also included 1950s jazz musicians such as Steve Lacy, 1960s rock musician Jim Morrison, and 1970s singer-songwriter Elliott Murphy.
There ya are, and by the way, "most intelligent, highest income people". We could fight over that one. I doubt that they would let you leave, because that would be an insult to humanity. Oh man, pammy in public, they would get you on charges of indecent exposure, assault and who knows what else.
Freethought of the Day
October 7, 2007
“. . . so far from entrenching human conduct within the gentle barriers of peace and love, religion has ever been, and now is, the deepest source of contentions, wars, persecutions for conscience sake, angry words, angry feelings, backbitings, slanders, suspicions, false judgments, evil interpretations, unwise, unjust, injurious, inconsistent actions. . . .”
-- Frances Wright, freethinker, "Lecture III," 1828 (Life, Letters and Lectures)
For more about Frances Wright, see Women Without Superstition: No Gods - No Masters
Iraq embassy costs soar amid delays
Posted by DemocratKickingAss on October 7, 2007 at 02:18 AM
So the billion Dollar embassy in Baghdad is $144 million over budget and president asshole is too damn cheap to spend $35 billion of our money here in America on our children.
There is no accounting for cheap MF's
WASHINGTON (AP) -- To put it bluntly, Texas wants President Bush to get out of the way of the state's plan to execute a Mexican for the brutal killing of two teenage girls.
Bush, who presided over 152 executions as governor of Texas, wants to halt the execution of Jose Ernesto Medellin in what has become a confusing test of presidential power that the Supreme Court, which hears the case this week, ultimately will sort out.
The president wants to enforce a decision by the International Court of Justice that found the convictions of Medellin and 50 other Mexican-born prisoners violated their rights to legal help as outlined in the 1963 Vienna Convention.
That is the same court Bush has since said he plans to ignore if it makes similar decisions affecting state criminal laws.
"The president does not agree with the ICJ's interpretation of the Vienna Convention," the administration said in arguments filed with the court. This time, though, the U.S. agreed to abide by the international court's decision because ignoring it would harm American interests abroad, the government said.
Texas argues that neither the international court nor Bush has any say in Medellin's case.
Medellin was born in Mexico but spent much of his childhood in the United States. He was 18 in June 1993, when he and other members of the Black and Whites gang in Houston encountered two teenage girls on a railroad trestle.
The girls were gang-raped and strangled. Their bodies were found four days later.
Medellin was arrested a few days later. He was told he had a right to remain silent and have a lawyer present, but the police did not tell him that he could request assistance from the Mexican consulate.
Medellin gave a written confession. He was convicted of murder in the course of a sexual assault, a capital offense in Texas. A judge sentenced him to death in October 1994.
Medellin did not raise the lack of assistance from Mexican diplomats during his trial or sentencing. When he did claim his rights had been violated, Texas and federal courts turned him down because he had not objected at his trial. Mexico later sued the United States in the International Court of Justice in The Hague on behalf of Medellin and 50 other Mexicans on death row in the U.S.
Bush, Texas at Odds Over Death Case
-------------------------
I thought bush said the court in the Hague is full of crap. They have the power to hang his and cheney's asses for war crimes. Now he is all for the court because a minority committed the crimes.
Good morning, Dems! Sunday talk lineup:
MTP: John Edwards (D-NC); "Live From Cape Canaveral" author Jay Barbree; roundtable of WaPo's David Broder, CBN's David Brody, Bloomberg's Margaret Carlson & Discovery's Ted Koppel
FTN: Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY); Rep. Adam Putnam (R-FL); Family Research Council's Tony Perkins; Politico's Roger Simon
This Week: HHS Sec. Michael Leavitt; Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ); Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM); roundtable of Nation's Katrina vanden Heuvel, Time's Jay Carney, ABC's Claire Shipman, and George Will
FNS: Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA); Clinton campaign mgr Patti Solis Doyle
Late Edition: Iraqi Pres. Jalal Talabani, Sudanese FM Lam Akol, Brooking's Susan Rice, Enough Co-chair John Prendergast, ex-Fed Chair Alan Greenspan; roundtable of CNN's Mary Snow, Time's Mark Halperin, and CNN's Suzanne Malveaux.
The investors are finally going after Enron. How about Worldcom?
Much of corporate America has jumped into the court fight, arguing that shareholders in companies that commit securities fraud should not be allowed to sue banks, accountants, law firms and suppliers that allegedly participated in the fraud.
BULLSHIT! Sleezy bastards.
Allowing investors to file class-action lawsuits in such cases would "threaten the safety and soundness of individual financial institutions and the nation's banking system," a coalition of business groups, including the American Bankers Association, said in court papers.
Firms and corporations that enabled companies such as Enron to defraud stockholders should now have to pay, lawyers for the investors say.
"The banks orchestrated the fraud; they weren't sideline viewers," said Patrick Coughlin, the lead lawyer for Enron shareholders. "So when the question comes up about who should be on the hook for Enron, it's the banks."
At stake in the Enron case is more than $30 billion sought by hundreds of thousands of investors from banks that allegedly helped the company, once the nation's seventh-largest, hide billions in debt and make failing ventures appear profitable.
The Enron case and the Stoneridge investors' suit are the latest chapter in the struggle between plaintiffs attorneys and the business world over class-action suits.
Enron Investors Banking on High Court
EAST OF BAQUBA, Iraq (Reuters) - The U.S. military commander in Iraq stepped up accusations over the weekend that Iran was stoking violence in Iraq and said Tehran's ambassador to Baghdad was a member of the Revolutionary Guards Qods force.
Washington accuses the force, the elite unit of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, of inciting bloodshed in Iraq and of training and equipping militias who have attacked U.S. troops.
General David Petraeus, speaking at a U.S. military base about 30 km (20 miles) from the Iranian border on Saturday, said Iran was giving advanced weaponry to militias in Iraq.
"They are responsible for providing the weapons, the training, the funding and in some cases the direction for operations that have indeed killed U.S. soldiers," Petraeus told a small group of reporters when asked if the Iranian government was responsible for killing U.S. troops.
"There is no question about the connection between Iran and these components, (the) attacks that have killed our soldiers."http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071007/ts_nm/iraq_iran_petraeus_dc;_ylt=AscVtWNVZjwJ99FzycHwAvis0NUE
Morning Cyn,
Thanks for the lineup.
I heard on the news last night that the Iraq people of both factions, i.e. Shiite's and Sunni' are very upset about the wall bush is building around one of the enclaves in Baghdad. The Iraqi's are telling us to get out but are being ignored the same as the American people are being ignored by this criminal misadministration.
Cyn,
If petraeus is so upset about the Iranians sending weapons across the border then why doesn't he just close the border? Then anyone caught smuggling weapons across the border can be aprehended. Otherwise, I don't believe anything this administration says any more. Never have, never will.
I imagine weapons are coming across the Saudi border too. Why don't we stop them?
A better idea just occurred to me. Why don't we get out of Iraq and take our $ billion embassy with us.
That biilion Dollars would build a lot of infrastructure or provide a lot of health care for Americans.
John, I agree! Iraq will never be a better place for Iraqis as long as we are there and this administration is calling the shots.
Morning JE, Cyn
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If petraeus is so upset about the Iranians sending weapons across the border then why doesn't he just close the border?
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He's not upset about it; he's lying about it. There is absolutely no evidence to support the claim that there is significant Iranian influence in Iraq.
The best line comes from The Chimp (paraphrased):
"We have to eliminate all foreign influence in Iraq".
Yes Chimpy, that would include US (as in United States).
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