are up to their old tricks; wasting time on issues that have confronted the world since time immemorial. One tribe in the rain forest waiting to behead the neighboring tribe. Nothing's changed much. Ist takes ages to erase old memories that hurt. It takes ages to see a mind set welcome new ideas and much of that change is personal within an individual, an epiphany caused by experience, not someone typing away of a site.
Much more to the point today would be out recognition and sharing concerning the first military trial of a young man caught up in our war. This is OUR WAR because we made it. Nobody else sent invading troops over there; nobody else voted twice for a war hungry president and his cabinet. So let's concentrate on the trial and treatment of Salim Hamdan in Gitmo, the hyoung driver of Osama's car. Now we are prosecuting a chauffeur on charges of conspiracy and supporting terrorism. Report came from two souorces this afternoon, Tru TV and its sister channel CNN which sent the only reporter present. Of course the judge and jury are military officers and if that wasn't rigged enough, the regs governing the trial's proceedings differ from those for civilians on two important points: hearsay is allowed and at the time of arrest Miranda rights are not observed. A 3/4 vote of the jury is sufficient for conviction. Salim made the mistake of identifying several top insurgency leaders. Why not? He drove them around. The reporter gave his opinion that the charge of conspiracy will be impossible to prove while chances are better for "supporting conspiracy". This is the first trial of any prisoner under the new laws ,if convicted will lock him up forever. And we know conviction is not in question.
Reminder; CNN is showing its "Black in America" program this evening at 9 EST. Supposed to be good.

is gonna have to stagger along without me today. i am between episodes of a day long marathon of the TV AMC show "Mad Men"/ This past season i tuned in halfway thru the show and want to catch up before the second season begins in a few days. Did catch a provoking political hour which i would like to mention much later tonite.

some time ago concerning the trials that we face as a people; he mentioned crime, scarcity and over population as three that should be addressed. For me, over population will lead to the other two. Can we not make a point that an influx of illegal immigrants flooding over the border will bring on chaos in hospitals, crowding in public schools, and demands on our big cities water supplies and waste treatment that will be overwhelming? When a woman crosses the border and delivers a child, that child automatically becomes an American citizen with the right to invite his larger family here. I realize this sounds prejudiced yet I have nothing against Spanish speaking peoples. i am only looking ahead 100 years for my great grand children's quality of life and fearful that it will be degraded. A new report has it that 2007 showed the greatest increase in births in US history, consequently this blog. Is anyone out there asking these questions?

tonight but i wanted to get it in. i've worked with both male and female bosses, in publishing houses and public and private schools. True, to generalize makes for a poor argument but my experience has been that my female principals have been more aggressive than the men. Maybe this comes from having to push harder to achieve their status and they can't let go. This feeling of having to do twice the work is unfair to women; it shapes their psyche and can leave them with hard edges.

that the Obama supporters avoid taking part in Friday get togethers such as this one. is there really anything positive coming out of such personal bashing? Naturally, if a discussion topic is of paramount interest to an individual, then each one of us is free to participate as she sees fit. i am certain that without the Obama people speaking out, vicious blogs will decrease because many Clintonites only blog to engage in conflict, sad but true.

i have ever written two blogs in one day but am making an exception this once. The famous (or more accurately infamous) issue with the cover of O in Muslim garb also features an exceptionally long bio of Obama by Ryan Lizza. Since i doubt that all our bloggers subscribe to the "New Yorker", i would like to post what to my mind constitutes the core of his findings. The picture that Lizza paints appears objective, a handsome portrait but with some warts.
Over all in his rise to stardom, Obama showed a gift for looking ahead and adapting his present moves to take advantage of future dynamics, ie, smart moves. These were not unethical moves and in fact probably necessary in paving his way to his situation today. After losing a congressional race to Bobby Rush in 2000, Obama took the following steps: changed his style of oratory to add a more folksy, less academic tone, realized he would need to appeal to a primarily white audience, and began to energize young activists in his campaign. The redistricting of his Southside base was of immediate help to include more young, white professionals.
Like every successful politician, he learned early on how to develop and rely on a network of political entities to his advantage, showing a happy assemblage of political ambition and acumen.A list of priorities (my analysis) included quick, effective know how to achieve his goals, a certain toughness in operations, awareness of what connections could do for him, support for liberal groups, an interest in forming bonds with Chicago's successful African Americans, cultivating the press and running against Chicago's Dem machine. Actually, the impression the article gives is not damming but may be disillusioning to some extent to his young, idealistic followers. Just as after his FISA vote, they will have to come to terms perhaps sadly with realism vs perfection.

to my last posting of last night there is a conference planned to take place in Austen, TX, this weekend by a group called "Netroots Nation", very much in line with what takes place here. It's a convergence of media people, bloggers and other groups sponsoring interaction with an emphasis on mainstream appeal. The slant is progressive so if you're neocon, better to stay away for the sake of your blood pressure. Pelosi will be interviewed on the FISA vote and impeachment question; i will be interested in her take on these issues. I expect this convention to some extent will be telecast.

seem so friendly tonight. For the most part and trying to analyze the leanings of the usual bloggers, i feel there won't be too much hostility to this blog. Much about the possible impeachment of the president and who stands in the way. i think we are in agreement that the admin is guilty of various crimes against the people--there is no question about that. There will be a hearing next week but with the charges toned down to an abuse of power, lowering the gravity of the accusation and the penalty. This is due to the actions of Rep. Conley (sp.?), chairman of the subcommittee. But for sure he must have been influenced by Ms. Pelosi who has already decided that there will be no impeachment so the hearing is a farce we can all enjoy on the nightly news. Question: why do we suppose that she is taking this stand? She has her reasons but what could they possibly be? Any ideas?

new figures on C-Span this am show the highest inflation figures in 27 years--i think this should be in caps; it is one more blow for the average American.

To Be Black in America is the name of the special on CNN, 23rd and 24th of this month at 9 pm EST. Since we have had some discussion about prejudice on this site, it seems appropriate that a few bloggers might be interested. I have always wondered about their experiences so am hoping this program will give me some new insight.
However, the above is not the main thrust of this blog. I am just sorry there will be so few at this time of night to read the following. Background: there is a young man by the name of Omar Khadr born in 1986 in Canada who sits in Guantanamo prison in Cuba. He was captured when he was 15 and "interrogated" by the American officials for hours on end without representation or charges brought. He is a Canadian citizen but has not been aided by the govt. This program showed the questioning of Omar by a Canadian interrogator which continued for some time. The bo, because he was really no more than that, sat in a small cement room with a table and two chairs. Omar began by saying how happy he was to see someone from his own country. Giving his name, he broke down with his head in his hands and sobbed heavily, saying," You don't care about me." The he begged to speak to his grandparents in Canada; ans.:"I can't help you with that." Finally, the Canadian official:"We can't do anything for you". Picked up Feb. 2003, Omar showed his scarred back and wounds, pulling his orange shirt over his head. Do we know how he got those wounds?

Later in the program the Canadian involved made these statements: as a child of 16, he should not have been questioned without an attorney present, not subjected to torture, saying he is now mentally and physically damaged with an injury to his left eye and feet; that he has been abused and betrayed by everyone he has come in contact with and needs to be moved and returned to Canada. When he was originally detained, it was said he had thrown a grenade--where, how, when, said by whom? No response. How long do you think he will be in "that black hole", expression of the Canadian's? And we are fighting a war for this? To lock up young people forever without their knowing their accusers or the accusations? And shame on Canada for acquiescing to torture.

The morning news of TV broke the newest figures on the PA race with Obama ahead, not by a wide margin but finally ahead. O supporters can be really pleased since that contest seemed unwinable. No one has analyzed why O has now been able to pull ahead when his campaign was so lately bogged down with "bitternesss". For one, I do hope that the enlightened people of PA can see the political tricks of the trade coming from the C camp and will not be persuaded. However, must say again that after the Bush league, either of our candidates will be a deeply felt relief.