Evening Open Thread
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Democrats seek criminal probe of Bush 'abuses'
– The incoming Obama administration should launch a criminal investigation of Bush administration officials to see whether they broke the law in the name of national security, a House Democratic report said Tuesday. President-elect Barack Obama has been more cautious on the issue and has not endorsed such a recommendation.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090113/ap_on_go_pr_wh/democrats_bush
You got to watch this one, folks ! Called "How much Power does Israel have over the US"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x259269
I think it puts things into proper perspective.
Please Obama, do not be a puppet for them.
Defense of Palin is another sign of 'No or Low Class".
Also of 'no brains".
UCONN game about to come on. a few friends come over to watch here, so may bbl.......
Sally-* on January 13, 2009 at 07:10 PM
Everyone with a modicum of intelligence knows that the "Bush Doctrine" is the theory we are justified with pre-emptive military strikes should we feel threatened. Gov. Palin (R-AK) should've known that as well. She did not as evidenced by her answer, or lack thereof, to Charlie Gibson of ABC News.
Petition: Make Suicide/Homicide Bombing a War Crime
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.petitiononline.com/bombings/petition.html
A Call for UN & World Leaders to Prosecute Organizers of Suicide/Homicide Bombings Against Civilians as War Criminals
To: UN and World Government Leaders
We, the undersigned, petition the United Nations, its Security Council and World Government Leaders to join Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch to declare that homicide/suicide bombings and acts of terror against civilians are "war crimes against humanity."
Furthermore, we insist that the United Nations, its Security Council and World Government Leaders declare that raising infants and children to become suicidal/homicidal bombers is a violation of fundamental human rights, a breach of the Geneva Convention and a war crime. We ask that those political, governmental, military and religious organizations and their leaders and supporters be prosecuted by the International War Crimes Tribunal to the fullest extent of International Law.
It is our firm belief that when these genocidal war crimes cease, populations will not have to conduct defensive actions against terrorism. When that happens, there stands to be improved chances of peace in the world through negotiation and civilized conflict resolution. The petitioners firmly believe that conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere can and must be resolved by diplomatic, political and negotiated means, but that when civilians are attacked by terrorists, there is no recourse but for defensive measures.
We have signed this position and sent it to people of all faiths, ethnic backgrounds and political beliefs with the hopes that the UN and World Leaders will not only vote to divest countries of their weapons of mass destruction, but upon the immorality and criminality of raising of innocents to kill other innocents.
Sincerely,
The Undersigned
Good night fellow Democrats. Keep the Faith and keep the faith. Yes we can, yes we will, and yes we did!
A Wake-Up Call for Science Education
Monday 12 January 2009
»
by: Alan I. Leshner, The Boston Globe
A study by Trends in International Mathematics and Science finds that the US is behind many industrialized countries in preparing students in math and science. The US is not even represented in the top ten nations for education in math and science. (Photo: Anthony S. Bush / The Capital-Journal)
President-elect Barack Obama has named Harvard and Woods Hole physicist John P. Holdren to serve as assistant to the president for science and technology and director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Three other renowned scientists - Jane Lubchenco, Eric Lander, and Harold Varmus - also were tapped by Obama to fill key roles.
Holdren's appointment, announced weeks before the inauguration, took place earlier than that of any other science adviser in modern times. Even so, the reinvigoration of US science advice cannot happen soon enough.
The latest alarm bell just rang and it's official. The United States is once again missing from the list of top-10 science and math education countries. A new Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study confirmed that America lags behind many other industrialized countries at the task of preparing tomorrow's labor force. Long-term economic growth depends on a fully competent talent pool, including workers who can excel in a technology-based economy. But young people in many less-developed countries now outperform their American counterparts in both science and math.
Interestingly, eighth-graders in Massachusetts actually tied for first place worldwide in science, while the state's fourth-graders ranked second among nearly 60 other nations. Clearly, the United States is capable of sustaining high-quality K-12 science and math programs. We simply are not providing equal educational opportunities for all of America's children. Now is the time to tackle the science education problem if we want long-term, stable improvements in our national economy and quality of life.
We learned about US students' stagnant science scores while also, not coincidentally, confronting the largest number of job losses since 1945.
Good evening, all.
BobVADemocratHawk on January 13, 2009 at 06:29 PM
Bob,
So this how sally* makes a living. I thought he was just raising them varmits for their pelts. I'd think twice about eating anything after he was done with it.
There have been at least three Bush Doctrines...
OK, I bite. What are they?
Always invade before all the evidence is in, torture or spy on anyone who might oppose you, and blame your lawyers when you get caught doing something illegal or unconstitutional.
The real Bush Doctrine is just as bad:
The Bush Doctrine is a phrase used to describe various related foreign policy principles of United States president George W. Bush. The phrase initially described the policy that the United States had the right to aggressively secure itself from countries that harbor or give aid to terrorist groups, which was used to justify the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan.[1]
Later it came to include additional elements, including the controversial policy of preventive war, which held that the United States should depose foreign regimes that represented a potential or perceived threat to the security of the United States, even if that threat was not immediate; a policy of spreading democracy around the world, especially in the Middle East, as a strategy for combating terrorism; and a willingness to pursue U.S. military interests in a unilateral way...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_Doctrine
The United States has always had the right to protect itself from anyone terris or country.
The rest of it was a ridiculous ultimatum thrown out at the rest of world and in defiance of all the treaties we have ever signed. Bush put himself out on a limb without the support of our allies and raised the scorn of all civilized people on the planet.
The Bush Doctrine is the Tarzan principle. Me Neanderthal, you Jane.
good evening, everyone.
The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to provide for those who mourn in Zion -- to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.
- Isaiah 61:1-3
have a great night.
Sally-* on January 13, 2009 at 08:28 PM
President of the Three Stooges Fan Club?
Bush seems to compelled to make repeated defenses of his disastrous decisions every other day or so as his time runs out. In doing so he still exhibits vanity, nastiness, self involvement with a bit of the psychotic thrown in. But I suspect that the real diagnosis would be sociopath.
Gregg,
Bush's lack of shame or embarassment over the 8 years of failure he just oversaw, is mind boggling. that he can still come out there, lay across the lectern, and smirk at the press just shows how totally simple the man is. Any other man would be hiding out, counting down till he could run away and hide. This fool almost seems PROUD of the destructive years he ruled! I guess the pillow talk with Laura does not include her saying "Hey asshole, you really screwed up again today"!
Night, Dems. Blog ya tomorrow........
Well, it's a new year, so I figure I'd check and see if this forum is working again.
good morning margot. just six more days of bush and then he is gone forever. tomorrow night is his next in a series of sob sessions wherein he tries to sell us some self shining shoes.
The German is so concerned about Global Warming and the fact that it is probably a farce!
Maybe he should contact his own country's officials, because his tax dollars are paying a lot to fix this problem, and I guess as smart as they are, they do not know it is merely an American Liberal farce made up by Al Gore to somehow get money out of poor hardworking little Republicans greasy wallets !
Germany Puts Global Warming Prevention Plan in Gear
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,2207416,00.html
Germany Also Faces Extreme Weather Due to Global Warming
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,2456758,00.html
UK, Germany pledge world leadership on global warming
Funny how the entire world, the most prestigious scientists around the world, Nobel Prize committee, NASA, all believe in the Global Warming threat, yet a hand full of simple minded Republicans in the USA , who voted for George Bush do not!! why is that do you think? Could it be they are very easily manipulated?
Gregg, I find the stories of some huge Hamas tunnels filled with elaborate weapons a little hard to believe, don't you? After all those lies about WMDs that Hussein had, I find it hard to believe one single story anymore, purportrated by the USA government as a reason to invade and kill civilians.
(a repost from last night. If you did not watch this one, it is very enlightening. Just the fact that Bush chose to humiliate Rice by forcing her to backtrack and not vote for her very own cease fire proposal, in front of the entire group, is one example of how much influence Israel has over the US)
You got to watch this one, folks ! Called "How much Power does Israel have over the US"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x259269
Good morning, all!
Welcome back, margot!
Pam, don't even bother with those trool nitwits. Obama will try to undo all the harm that Chimpy has caused and will work on global warming whether those pinheads like it or not. It's a done deal.
Science is no longer a dirty word.
Good morning, all.
Sally-* on January 14, 2009 at 07:16 AM
That's just fine. They've all been chipped and will lead us right to the others. Besides, our military has lowered recruitment standards so much our White Supremacist and convicted felons will be a match to any of their thugs.
Sandy, did you see that the US military has even dropped it's weight requirement for enlistment, and now overweight kids can even sign up? That makes me feel so secure !! And they are recruiting in Video parkades, where they find the kids who are using the shooting machines, and ask them if they would like to shoot some people for real, using Real guns!
Our military has become a joke! I hope under Obama, they will establish some standards again.
PamB on January 14, 2009 at 08:34 AM
Pam,
It's not the Israelis. It's IAPEC and the multinational oil concerns (who might be the same people, imho) that are putting the pressure on. As long as we are bogged down defending Israel, we will have our ships and troops in the area protecting the Arab oil interests.
My goodness, do you realize it's only one week now till Bush's old mug won't be on the tube everyday? He's beginning to look like that ugly baby in Benjamin Button.
Speaking of age...
Oldest. Congress. Ever.
Even as we get ready for the inauguration of one of the youngest Presidents in history, USA today is reporting that the 111th Congress will be the oldest ever:
The nation's capital is about to confront a political generation gap: Barack Obama, one of the youngest presidents ever to take the oath of office when he's inaugurated Jan. 20, will be working with the nation's oldest Congress.
The average age will be 57 in the House and 63 in the Senate, according to the chambers' historical offices. In each case, it's the highest on record.
I don't note this to be ageist, or to be an unthinking booster of more young people in Congress. Experience - particularly in arcane policy matters - can be an asset, and youth isn't inherently a positive trait. However, older Americans are routinely on the wrong side of many issues facing our country. They were on the wrong side of Prop 8 in California. Many in Congress were wrong on Iraq and the Patriot Act. And older generations have been unbearably slow to recognize the threat of global warming and the need for a green energy economy. Younger members are far more likely to be on the right side of these issues and push for bolder action than older members of Congress. So yes, age does matter here.
All is not without hope. There is some young (Democratic) blood getting pumped into the House of Representatives this week:
* Jared Polis (CO-2) '75
* Glenn Nye (VA-2) '74
* Tom Perriello (VA-5) '74
* Ben Ray Lujan (NM-3) '72
* Martin Heinrich (NM-1) '71
* John Boccieri (OH-16) '69
* Dan Maffei (NY-25) '68
* Frank Kratovil (MD-1) '68
Irony of ironies, the 111th Congress will also see Republican Aaron Schock (IL - 18), seated in the House. Despite the GOP's trouble with Millennials this year, Schock will be the youngest member of Congress and the first Congressman to be born in the 1980s.
http://futuremajority.com/node/4289
We need to get those Obama kids into public service and politics in a meaningful way. First step would be passing Obama's college/tech tuition legislation.
bbl
(CBS) This story was written by CBS News' Khaled Wassef and CBSNews.com's Tucker Reals.Al Qaeda boss Osama bin Laden says the decline of America's dominance on the world stage was one of the main factors which prompted Israel to launch its offensive in Gaza.
"The great and swift decline in America's influence is one of the most important motivations for Israelis to wage such a barbaric attack on Gaza, in a bid to try and make use of the last days of (President) Bush's mandate and the neo-conservatives," he says.
....now wait a minute...are we sure this is from bin laden and if we are wtf is going on?? i thought this pos was dead, on dialysis, not important anymore, buried under rubble....and NOW HE IS CRITIQUING THE GODDAMN UNITED STATES ECONOMY and bush is talking about how he protected us from terror when in fact the world trade towers were destroyed on his watch....!!!
You can destroy Gaza, but you cannot destroy the resistance to Israel's occupation of Gaza - this is the problem...violence will not deliver results - and resistance will continue as long as the occupation. It always has - historically - prior to Hamas - it was the PLO. To voice opposition to Israel's occupation visit:
Remember when?
Do you guys remember jenniferforhillary? She's famous! check out her video. And this stuff is RECENT!!!
and a radio interview, she was the host:
http://www.yestodemocracy.com/yes_to_democracy_no_to_pu/2008/11/epic-radio-fail.html
FYI, I always got along with her and we agreed on NOTHING! Can't say I agree with the hit she is taking now. But the girl needs to move on!
It appears that George W will end the string of every President since 1840 who was elected in a year divisible by 20 dying in office or being shot or both.11Sally-* on January 13, 2009 at 08:30 PM
There's still a few days left. And Cheney could always take him hunting this weekend.
By next month, when President Obama, does not part the sea, has not closed "club Gitmo", because there is no place to put the rag heads, pushes for cuts in medicare and other programs, The liberals will all be screaming.
It sould be fun to watch.
By next month, when President Obama, does not part the sea, has not closed "club Gitmo", because there is no place to put the rag heads, pushes for cuts in medicare and other programs, The liberals will all be screaming.
It sould be fun to watch.
Well, you keep your fingers and toes crossed REALLY hard, and Maybe, just maybe, if your luck holds, another 4000 US boys may get to die in this lie of an occupation, Your own SS and Medicare will get cut or cost you one of your fat arms and legs, this joblessness will extend to your own litter, the few dollars you have in savings will continue to drop until you have nothing left, and the US is bankrupt!
That IS your dream, isn't it? By no means should you try and unite and hope that Obama pulls us out of this mess, like Clinton did, from 8 years of Republican screw ups!!!!! Your hate is stronger than your love of country.
LPD, I have to say, you are probably one of the most naive, and un-informed bloggers we have had come in here. If you are NOT a troll, then you are truly behind in your education of what is going on in the World, in the Middle East, In Israel which has US involvement every step of the way. The occupation of Gaza is to take more country for their own, NOT because of any protection. WHY do you think Hamas shoots missiles into them? Because they don't like it that they don't believe in Jesus? Or maybe they don't like their looks?
I suggest you spend some time, not only going into some international tabloids and reading some REAL news, but also do some googling on the situation . You will be amazed how wrong you are!
bbc.co.ik
guardian.co.uk
atimes.com
scotsman.com
australiandaily.com
just to name a few. Funny these countries get a more accurate picture of what has gone on, than you do.
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