Burnt Orange Report

Lame Duck is a Mighty Duck: Extends the 9/11 Emergency Crisis for the 8th time!

Liz — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 01:07:11 EDT

And George Bush continues to abuse the powers of his office, using 9/11 as an excuse. On August 28, 2008 George Bush for the eighth time stated: “I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency I declared on September 14, 2001, in Proclamation 7463, with respect to the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center, New York, New York, the Pentagon, and aboard United Airlines flight 93, and the continuing and immediate threat of further attacks on the United States.

Because the terrorist threat continues, the national emergency declared on September 14, 2001, and the powers and authorities adopted to deal with that emergency, must continue in effect beyond September 14, 2008. Therefore, I am continuing in effect for an additional year the national emergency I declared on September 14, 2001, with respect to the terrorist threat.”

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I think we should declare a national emergency in respect to the terrorist attacks of this Republican administration against our nation.For more detail on this and other abuse of the 9/11 tragedy, please refer to these previous DNC posts by me and other bloggers:

http://www.democrats.org/page/community/post/UnitedWeStandTogether/CCkM

http://www.democrats.org/page/community/post/elizabethberry/CCKg

http://www.democrats.org/page/community/post/elizabethberry/CCK7

Defining Poverty

Liz — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 00:40:19 EDT

QUEEN’S COMMENTS

In a recent interview, the Republican nominee, John McCain, gave a vague and somewhat flip answer to how he defined rich. He defined “rich” as any one with an annual income of over $5 million dollars a year and that those with incomes below $5 million were “middle class.” Like most Republicans, according to the world of John McCain, the poor don’t exist. [That is a classic Republican strategy-- perfected over the past 8 years by the current administrations--if we don't talk about it, it doesn't exist.]

However, poverty is an issue that is on the minds of many Americans today and, in spite of the Republican newspeak that has abounded for the past 8 years, there are some concerned Americans who are looking closer at the issue of how poverty is defined in America.

About a week ago the Queen read an article that appeared in The Christian Science Monitor titled: Who’s poor? It depends on where you live, some say.

ALERT TO OHIO VOTERS! CHECK THIS OUT

Liz — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 18:38:48 EDT

I just read this in TruthOut. I hope that the Obama campaign and the Democratic voters in Ohio are on top of this:

Nearly 600,000 Subject to Possible Caging in Ohio

Friday 05 September 2008

by: David Rosenfeld, Miller-McCune

Vote caging suspected in Ohio. (Photo: Matt Mahurin / Rolling Stone)

Friday 05 September 2008

How many voter-registration mass mailers are "returned to sender" in the run-up to Election Day may determine how many Ohio residents are eligible to vote.

Ohio election officials are sending out a mass mailer stamped "do not forward" to all registered voters today (Sept. 5) with an absentee ballot application and other important notices for Nov. 4.

What's important here is not so much what's going out as what's being returned to sender. Unbeknownst to the would-be recipients, the same mailer - just 60 days before the election - has the potential to determine their eligibility to vote, challenged not by election officials but by partisan opposition. A similar mailer in March netted nondeliverable mail from almost 600,000 registered voters in just five Ohio counties who could now have their ballots thrown out for voting under the wrong address.

The National Voter Registration Act prohibits any state from purging names from the voting rolls within 90 days of an election. BUT!!!!!!!!!! The law doesn't, however, preclude mass partisan challenges on or shortly before Election Day - known as voter caging - based on the same returned envelopes from state-sponsored mailers like the ones in Ohio and others going out across the country.

In 2004, the year the national election hinged on results from Ohio, the Ohio Republican Party challenged 35,000 voters based on returned mail from the GOP's own friendly reminder notices. From 2004 to 2006, Republicans challenged 77,000 voters this way nationwide. A consent decree issued in 1982 and amended in 1987 enjoins the GOP from instituting "ballot security programs" that focus on minority voters. . ."

FOR REST OF ARTICLE:

http://www.truthout.org/article/nearly-600000-voters-subject-possible-caging-ohio

When Does Life Begin? - Joe Biden

Liz — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 12:22:26 EDT

Here is a little from the transcript of Joe Biden on Meet the Press today. Questions about abortion are questions that you will be asked as a Democrat if you discuss supporting out ticket with others and this, I believe provides some sensible answers:

Moderator: When does life begin?

Joe Biden’s response:

I know when it begins for me.

I accept what my religion says but there are plenty of people of faith –Methodists, Jews Muslims who have a different viewpoint. They believe in God as strongly as I do. They are intensely religious. They believe in their faith and they believe in human life and they have different views as to when life begins.

As a matter of faith I am prepared to accept that life begins at the moment of conception. BUT THAT IS MY JUDGMENT.

Joe Biden on Abortion

Liz — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 11:48:25 EDT

When does life begin?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/26591140#26591154

Drill Drill Drill is more of the Same Same Same

Liz — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 09:54:39 EDT

Republican Newspeak is once again on the campaign trail in full force. McCain and Palin are being promoted as “change agents” when the opposite is true. Just consider these facts on their energy plans and what you will see are another pair, just like George and Dick trying to ride the oil slick into the White House. I hope that Americans have the gumption this time to throw sand on their oil slick of a campaign trail.

MORE OF THE SAME OIL DRIVEN WASHINGTON AS USUAL
Drill, drill, drill is the forefront of their mantra for energy, and no wonder: U.S. oil firms have given John McCain three times more declared campaign money than to Democratic nominee, Barack Obama. Big oil contributions to the Republican Party outweigh oil money to the Democrats by a similar ratio.

EXXON JOHNS TIES WITH THE OIL INDUSTRY:For nearly 30 years, Exxon John has stood with Big Oil and voted against alternative energy. Just months ago, John McCain was the only Senator who skipped a vote on an energy bill to channel $13 billion in tax breaks for Big Oil into alternative energy development. The bill came out one vote short — but Exxon John’s friends in Big Oil came out one vote ahead.

Please Americans, put down your flags long enough to remember 9/11 correctly

Liz — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 23:48:27 EDT

Remember Especially the Aftermath for those who Survived

First, of course, we should remember and honor the lives of all who died in that tragedy, the victims as well as the heroes who died that day and in that rememberance, let us also remember the living who were left behind. And let us remember as we wave our American flags and declare the pledge of allegiance how this Republican Administration has treated them:

From a February 26, 2008 Article by Mike Hall:
http://blog.aflcio.org/2008/02/26/911-first-responders-protest-bush-health-care-funding-cuts/

“Today, three weeks after President Bush cut health care funding by 77 percent for Sept. 11 first responders, many of whom are developing serious and deadly illnesses because of their work at Ground Zero, some 200 9/11 workers rallied on Capitol Hill this morning, calling on Congress to restore the health care money.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health estimates the cost of treating Ground Zero workers is about $218 million year and is expected to grow as the workers’ illnesses worsen and as more firefighters, police officers, emergency medical technicians and rescue and recovery workers develop Ground Zero-related diseases.

Last year, Congress appropriated $108 million toward health care for 9/11 workers, but in his fiscal 2009 budget, Bush cut that by 77 percent—to $25 million. Also last year, as part of an emergency spending bill, Congress approved an additional $50 million for first responder health care.

Shortly before Bush’s cuts were announced, a White House spokesman told reporters the president’s budget would “reflect his continued commitment to World Trade Center workers.” Interpret that as you wish–but I have one word for it: Republican newspeak. If you want more of the same: Vote for McCain and Palin.

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

LA Time and New York Times--Beacons of Hope for American Journalism

Liz — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 21:51:53 EDT

At least a leading newspaper on our West Coast and one on our East Coast still have writers who are instilled with the courage to report the truth. For the past month both the LA Times and the New York Times have joined in the battle to tell the truth about what is really happening in Colombia.

Among other things, over the past month, both papers have called for right-wing President Alvaro Uribe to step down and not run for a third term. [Uribe had been trying to get the Constitution of Colombia changed so he could run for a third term. A few days ago I read where he announced that now will not seek a third term.]

GROUND ZERO ALMOST 7 YEARS LATER--a tribute to the COMPLETE Ineptitude of this Administration

Liz — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 17:22:22 EDT

Two months ago I posted the following photograph and information regarding Ground Zero. I hope that with all the flag waving on September 11 and all the BS about how "protected" we are that someone calls attention to the fact that in three years that China has built the equivalent to three Twin Towers.

HOW MUCH WASTE AND GRAFT ARE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE GOING TO LET THE REPUBLICANS COMMIT BEFORE WE FINALLY SAY: "NO MORE CHANCES! NO MORE 'REINVENTIONS OF YOUR BS." I wonder. I really do.

It's been almost 7 years now and they still have not created detection technology that can detect radioactive substances when doing airlines checks. They still make granny's throw away their cosmetics while making RANDOM checks of cargo that is stowed on the plane by airlines personnel. It's still the luck of the draw. None of us are any safer by the checks of our person. It is ridiculous.

According to Nathan Thornburgh in the July 14, 2008 issue of TIME, the lack of progress at ground zero should worry Americans. Rebuilding Ground Zero was to be a grand show of American defiance. But seven years later this grand statement is no more than a stammer. A recent progress report states that the landlord admitted that every part of the project is over budget and behind schedule. (Sounds like rebuilding Iraq with the no bid contractors, doesn't it?) According to the report, it will take several months just to map out a new timeline. (again, hauntingly similar to the situation in Iraq) Thornburgh describes the mess thusly:

"The 16 acre site is a tangle of more than 100 contractors and subcontractors ... Lower Manhattan is in danger of becoming a metaphor for America's sluggish response to our most pressing economic challenges. . . While China is spending 9% of its GDP on Infrastructure, Amerians lose $9 billion a year in productivity from flight delays alone. . . China has built the equivalent of several world Trade Center sites in its furious run-up to the olympics."

McCain and Palin are NOT Mavericks and they are NOT Green!

Liz — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 10:13:46 EDT

McCain is no Green Candidate and He is No Maverick. If McCain and Palin are "Mavericks" and "green" then so are Rove, Bush and Cheney because they are all of the same oil cloth.

I was happy to see that Thomas Friedman of the New York Times is reminding people that the environment and energy are two huge issues on campuses.

With the choice of Palin for Vice President–a governor who believes that people are not playing any role in climate change as well as the fact that she advocates drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge–McCain will bring just more of the same oil-based economy that the Bush Administration has brought.

McCain has avoided voting on all eight attempts to pass a bill extending the vital tax credits and production subsides to expand wind and solar industries. More oil-drilling is the centerpiece of his and Palin’s energy policy. [Please select http://iflizwerequeen.com/?page_id=85 to see what you can do.]

GO HERE TO READ FRIEDMAN’S FULL PIECE:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/03/opinion/03friedman.html?_r=1&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all&oref=slogin

Lame Duck being a Mighty Duck Again: US-Iraq Agreement Leaked

Liz — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 08:23:07 EDT

One more reason why Bush and Cheney should have been impeached over a year ago. These two are working behind the scenes, sweeping up the mess and making agreements without Congess's consent (just in case McCain and Palin don't get elected). Now we has this as among their latests behind the scenes trickery:

A leaked draft of the US-Iraq status of forces agreement indicates that there is no intent to set a deadline for the withdrawal of "noncombat" troops from Iraq. (Photo: Ceerwan Aziz / Reuters)

NO INTENT TO SET A DEADLINE FOR WITHDRAWAL OF NONCOMBAT TROOPS FROM IRAQ

A leaked version of last month's draft of the proposed US-Iraq status of forces agreement (SOFA) suggests that the Iraqi parliament may not be consulted before it is signed, despite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's promises to do so. The pact would govern the future US presence in Iraq. The draft indicates no intent to set a deadline for withdrawal of "noncombat" troops from Iraq. It also grants immunity from Iraqi law to US military personnel, no matter where they are located. The draft was translated and provided to Truthout by Raed Jarrar, Iraq consultant for the American Friends Service Committee.

GO HERE FOR REST OF STORY:
http://www.truthout.org/article/us-iraq-agreement-leaked

If Lieberman and Thompson were cartoon characters. . .

Liz — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:41:55 EDT

There is a Hilarious Jon Stewart piece that he did this week which shows Lieberman as Droopy dog and Thompson as Foghorn Leghorn. It is hilarious. If you want to see the segment of that show that features Lieberman and Thompson.

It is funny how much Lieberman looks like Droopy Dog and how much that Fred Thompson not only looks but sounds like Foghorn Leghorn.

http://iflizwerequeen.com/

Spiro T. Palin

Liz — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:02:45 EDT

I just read an interesting piece by John Nichols in THE NATION. Here is part of it and the link to the rest:

ST. PAUL – Forty years ago, mounting a comeback campaign after losing a presidential race eight years earlier, Richard Nixon secured the Republican nomination and then selected as his running-mate a former local official who had served a scant twenty months as the governor of a small state.

The choice was questioned by pundits and mocked by Democrats. They called the vice presidential nominee: "Spiro Who?"

But when Maryland Governor Spiro T. Agnew hit the campaign trail, he did so as "Nixon's Nixon" – the attack dog the party needed to take the opposition apart while making the Republican presidential nominee look presidential.

It was the same role that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin assumed Wednesday night at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul.

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat/354163

low info voter byte: Palin Slashes Funding to Help Teen Mothers

Liz — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:24:16 EDT

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican vice-presidential nominee who revealed Monday that her 17-year-old daughter is pregnant, earlier this year used her line-item veto to slash funding for a state program benefiting teen mothers in need of a place to live. Inking her initials on the legislation — “SP” — Palin reduced funding for Covenant House Alaska by more than 20 percent, cutting funds from $5 million to $3.9 million. Covenant House is a mix of programs and shelters for troubled youths, including Passage House, which is a transitional home for teenage mothers.

SOURCE:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/09/02/palin_slashed_funding_to_help.html

Now I understand the Trooper Controversy--low info byte

Liz — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:05:17 EDT

It is irrelevant whether the trooper, Palin's brother-in-law "deserved" to be fired or not (and judging from his alleged behavior, I would not argue that point).

However this is what is at question here--Palin's use of the influence of her office in a way that is certainly not in accordance with ethical behavior, if not perhaps even the law.

1. She told her brother-in-Law's boss to fire the brother-in-law.
2. When the boss did not, Palin fired her brother-in-law's boss.

She claims it was because of a budget issue.

LOOKS TO ME LIKE WE HAVE ANOTHER DECIDER ON OUR HANDS--ANOTHER ONE WHO FEELS FREE TO USE THE POWER OF THE OFFICE TO TAKE THE LAW INTO THEIR OWN HANDS.

Words of Wisdom on Outsourcing From Obama-- June 28,2008 Unity NH

Liz — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:50:47 EDT

Senator Barack Obama takes a tough stand against outsourcing. On June 28, 2008a joint appearance with Senator Hillary Clinton in Unity, New Hampshirehe said:

"We can keep giving tax breaks to companies that ship jobs overseas, or we can give tax benefits to companies that invest right here in New Hampshire,"

"We can have a tax code that rewards wealth and hands out billions of dollars more to big corporations and multimillionaires. Or we can provide a USD 1,000 tax cut to 95 per cent of families in America, start rewarding work and not just wealth, and eliminate income taxes for seniors making USD 50,000 a year or less," Obama said, adding that's an agenda for change that we can believe in. That's the choice that we can make in this election.

"We can allow millions of Americans to work full-time but still not make enough to support their families, or we can raise the minimum wage, index it to inflation, and ensure that hard work pays off in America."

"I don't care black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, young, old, rich, poor. It doesn't matter. There's this sense of what this country is fundamentally about, a fundamental goodness, and that if we tap into that, I am absolutely convinced that we can lift this country up to new and greater heights. "

"This is one of those moments in our history when we have to tap the decency of the American people. This is our chance to turn the page on the policies of the last seven and a half years. This is our chance to bring a new energy policy to America and new ideas to America," Obama said at a historic moment during the campaign trail.

"So here's the choice in this election. If you like the direction America is going, then vote for Senator McCain, because you'll definitely get more of the same. But if you think we need a new course, a new agenda, then vote for Barack Obama and you will get the change that you and we need and deserve," Senator Clinton said in her opening comments.

Let's don't settle for the same Republican Left-overs

Liz — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:03:49 EDT

McCain and Palin: MORE OF THE SAME IN A NEW SKILLET
No matter how hard they try to sling it, their claptrap is more of the same leftover hash from the last 8 years. I’m not eating it. Are you?

How many different ways can the RNC sling the same sorry hash of half-truths and lies? This week Americans listened to the same Rovian exaggerations and half-truths coming out of the mouths of both McCain and Palin. For example we listened to the same tired Republican claptrap about taxes. The big question is: Will the Americans be fooled for a third time?

If working class people don’t want CEO’s and shareholders of corporations like Wal-Mart deciding for them what are “fair” wages and benefits, they better wise up and vote for the Democrats. If you are close to social security collection time, you better vote Democrat if you don’t want your retirement squandered under a Republican “Privatization” scheme. If you are a young person who can’t afford a college education, better vote Democrat. If you are for closing tax loopholes for the rich and for corporations, then you better vote Democrat. If you are for affordable healthcare, you better vote Democrat. If you want to see more jobs at home instead of more jobs shipped overseas, then you better vote Democrat.

Of course, if you are among the few lucky ones like McCain with multiple homes, then go ahead. The RNC is for you–unless you also happen to care about issues such as global warming, the energy crisis, and the deterioration of the American image worldwide.

More tidbits for the low information voter

Liz — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:27:03 EDT

[Am I angry--h yes! Am I motivated to get Obama and Biden elected. h yes! We must craft messages for the Homer Simpsons of the USA. 30 second sound bytes. That's what the Republicans do. and we have to repeat them again and again and again. Of course my "tone" needs improvement as usual but here is another low info announcement.]

ABOUT TAXES:

STOP BELIEVING THE REPUBLICAN CLAPTRAP ABOUT DEMOCRATS WANTING TO RAISE TAXES. That is nonsense.

The Democrats don't want to raise taxes, we want to remove tax loopholes for the rich--the upper 5% and corporations.

Aren't you more than just a little tired of paying their way? I sure am.

For the past 8 years oil companies have been exempt from BILLIONS OF TAX DOLLARS THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN PAYING.

Tax inequity between the rich and the poor in America is so ridiculous that we have the richest man in the world, Warren Buffet paying 17 % of his income while his receptionist who earns $60,000 paying 30% of her income in taxes.

THIS MUST CHANGE--BUT IT WON'T IF YOU VOTE FOR MCCAIN AND PALIN. IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE.

FOR LOW INFORMATION VOTERS

Liz — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 08:34:28 EDT

If you only have 30 seconds to decide which one you will choose, chew on this:

1. DO YOU WANT YOUR SALARY AND WAGES LEFT ENTIRELY UP TO THE DISCRETION OF CORPORATE CEO'S SUCH AS THOSE WHO HEAD UP WAL-MART?

2. DO YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DETERMINATION OF WHAT CONSTITUTES FAIR PAY FOR YOUR WORK?

It's a free country. If you trust Wal-Mart to pay you fair wages, then vote Republican. If you want a better life for yourself and your family. If you want a better life than the last 8 years, then vote for BARACK OBAMA AND JOE BIDEN.

Thinly Disguised Neo-Liberal Economics of McCain's Speech

Liz — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 08:12:02 EDT

AGAIN, IT IS THE CLASH OF CONSERVATIVE RIGHT-WING IDEOLOGY AGAINST A MORE PROGRESSIVE LEFT WING IDEOLOGY

Both John McCain and Sarah Palin's acceptance speeches may have claimed to the promise of change, but that they both did nothing but promise more of the same failed neo-liberal economics that the Bush Administration has been shoving down our throats for the past 8 years.

I hope that Americans see through their theater to the truth of what they were offering which is MORE OF THE SAME, and possibly even worse. You hear a lot about "individual responsibility" and very little about community. People like the McCain's think they have done their work if they adopt one child from Bangledesh. I was struck by the irony of Cindy McCain talking about helping to start programs to clean up unexploded munitions and the fact that the legislation that her husband voted for did a lot to put them there in the first place.

HERE IS ONE OF THE CORNERSTONES OF THE REPUBLICAN ECONOMIC NEO-LIBERALISM:

ELIMINATING THE CONCEPT OF “THE PUBLIC GOOD” or “COMMUNITY” and replacing it with “individual responsibility.” Pressuring the poorest people in a society to find solutions to their lack of health care, education and social security all by themselves — then blaming them, if they fail, as “lazy.”