Distortions?

There's irony when Bush and Blair are saying that the Downing Street memos are a distortion...

"don't let apples fall too far from the tree..."

The P.C. Debacle...

Oh – now it’s time for being politically correct…

It appears when Dick Durbin makes a reference to Gitmo as some sort of gulag – it’s horrifying. Yet when Rove complains that Democrats want terrorists to get therapy – that’s somehow okay..

Several years ago (back in the ol’ college days) – I recall having a discussion over the ramifications of having a politically correct society.. In that discussion – it was revealed that no matter what was said or done, it was a certainty that it would royally piss off *someone* regardless of how mundane or unequivocal the comment was crafted..

I was reading a local story this morning – about some sort of negative reference to James Dobson and Focus on the Family.. The chief complaint was that some group drew parallels of Dobson and his group to an Americanized version of the Taliban.. The group issued an apology, there were repercussions and the damage was done..

Wow..

What on earth has changed our ability to have independent thoughts, disagreements and criticisms?? Contrary to what a lot of people think, this is *not* a republican or democrat issue.. It’s not a Christian versus Islamic versus Muslim.. It’s the basis of having the freedom to compare Bush to whomever anyone wants to.. It’s the basis of calling Clinton any given name in the book.. It’s the basis to say when you’re pissed off or when you agree with someone..

Inflammatory?? Absolutely.. It can be.. So when the Republicans call for Durbin to apologize, and the Democrats call for Rove to resign – it’s leading us back to a sandbox squabble between infants.. But it doesn’t stop with politicians, everyone is doing it.. (I’ll throw myself into that mix as well..)

This vicious cycle of tit for tat is excruciating.. The mud-slinging capabilities by both sides are obvious, apparent and increasing on an continual basis..

Let’s face it: we have a lot of fucking upset people in the world..

But what if the complaints actually founded on a basis of truth?? Despite the rhetoric or other substantive comments made to draw conclusions or illustrations from the incorrigibles throughout history, what if there is a basis of fact in the parallel or the comparison?? Are we so polarized that we cannot see the truth for what it is??

Absolutely..

Whenever something major happens, or when someone says something – don’t we almost always seek out to hear what others are saying about it?? I’ve listened to Rush.. I’ve listened to Air America.. O’Reily, Hannity, Savage, Franken, Garafallo.. Any given topic – they churn out a series of talking points.. Those little niblets which causes us to jump on the bandwagon or shake our pointed finger..

But what everyone does – and I don’t care if this is a personality, a movie star, a columnist or a politician – is that they take the nibblet that is important for their argument and they run with it.. The substantive nature of the issue becomes fragmented and further distorted..

So when Hannity says that liberals are scum, is he right?? No.. When Garafalo banters of whether conservatives are pigs, is she right?? No.. They are fanning the flames to get people riled up for the causes that matter to them, their constituents, their sponsors, their crowd.. How about when Durbin refers to Gitmo as a nazi camp??

Does it offend me personally?? No.. I studied history – I draw upon unpopular conclusions all the time.. And you know what – I don’t care.. True historians leave bias from their findings.. True historians allow readers to draw their own conclusions based on the findings of the evidence.. True historians consult multiple sources that can accurately paint a true and responsible picture of a given topic..

Does Gitmo really resemble a gulag?? I don’t know.. I certainly do not believe the people who have been reporting it so far.. I certainly do not trust the administration because they are constantly reversing, traversing, readjusting, realigning, ultimately distorting the facts of any given subject.. I don’t trust the Dems for that matter either.. I certainly do not trust the press because they have a marketability bias.. ”That which sells, is printed or aired..”

There’s no real understanding of an event unless you have the capability of seeing it first hand.. Unless there are multiple sources that can paint a wide-breadth of the incident in question – then there’s no way to juxtapose an appropriate perception of the event.. Finding trusting, reliable sources in this day and age is next to impossible..

We shouldn’t be afraid to draw unpopular, politically incorrect parallels to anyone or anything – regardless of how popular, how important or how right or wrong consensus believes.. I don’t care.. Yet despite the parallels me, or anyone might draw, will be scrutinized and cast in an unpopular light.. Sometimes the truth sucks.. Slavery sucked.. The Nazis sucked.. Bin Laden sucks..

But there are some mildly important lessons buried in these areas.. One cannot fathom just how long slavery and rights for all Americans have gone this long, this unabated throughout our history.. One can’t imagine how incredibly talented of a speaker Hitler was.. One can’t imagine what it took to mastermind the 9/11 hijackings, the dedication and the process it took to make it happen..

History sucks..

But we can learn..

And this is what the American people has to realize at some point..

We can learn that the oppression of people is wrong.. We can learn to watch for those people who can stir hatred into a carefully woven righteous blanket that appeals to a segment of people.. We can learn that people can be motivated to die for a cause they believe in – when we have it within our capability to thwart such behavior if we just listen..

But we live in a society where these lessons are buried under a blanket of security and politically correctness.. I’m not saying we shouldn’t be sensitive, but we can’t forgo these important lessons if we can’t say what they are, how they are and what they mean.. The truth has to be correct; regardless of who it offends..

"and we want to be respected in the world..."

Let's consider this:

1.) Bush is threatening to use the July 4th recess to appoint John Bolton to the UN..
2.) Bush is pushing Bolton to make the UN more accountable..
3.) Yet, Bush is refusing to release information about Bolton's past -- to determine exactly *how* accountable Mr. Bolton is..
4.) Yet, this administration is refusing to be accountable on:
-The War
-The Economy
-Social Security
-Taxes
-Homeland Security
-Healthcare
-Forcing the morals of the church
-Encouraging the government involvement into the private affairs of Americans

But even Bolton is appointed - it's the beginning of something really bad.. Like has been stated over and over already: Bolton is a bully.. Even though he does fit the mold of this administration like a fine Italian-leather glove, his actions are going to further splinter our reputation and assistance in the world.. But this administration has a very interesting belief:

"When you don't get your way, just move things out of the way and make them happen.."

It's irresponsible..

It's wrong..

It's Bush..

There's a reason why there are multiple points of view.. There's a reason why there's debate.. There's a reason why there are compromises.. There's a reason why we don't have a singular party that rules the nation.. There's a reason why we need to have two voices..

What this administration simply cannot grasp is the fact that they have alienated our country in a time of war.. Allies are continually dropping like flies.. Britain is waking up.. If Bush is truly interested in winning the war on terrorism - manhandling the United Nations is *not* the answer..

The war will expand..

It's indicative of the blinders that this administration continues to run.. I really hope and pray that other conservatives see the issues for what they are and will split away and vote for what's right.. Unfortunately I don't feel we're going to get many conservatives that will vote for the country and not for the party..

Hang on -- the ice berg is just ahead.. Get a good spot on the life raft, it's going to get a little choppy....

It's wrong to be right...

Newsweek got it right, but yet they are still considered "wrong" after the premature leakage of the Koran (or Quran - depending how you spell it) issues in Gitmo Bay.. After an abomination and public lashing from administration officials - guess what?? They actually got it right.. (hm, imagine that...)

But the more I start looking at other recent events, there's really a lot of things that this administration was wrong and yet they go after those that try to expose it for what it is.. Real - Right - Truth.. Concepts that I realize may seem foreign, but it's time to wake up..

The obvious "duh" event in this administration: Iraq.. While they may think in retrospect that they had all the right intentions, looking for all those mean WMD's, then claiming the freedom of all Iraqi people as almost an after thought once they realized that no weapons were ever going to be found.. Clearly Saddam wasn't the enemy he was hoping for, but at least Bush had his heart in the right place..

Schiavo ... come to find out the courts were right.. Moreover the doctors were also right.. Bush, Frist and the other pundits who batted for the family in Florida were all wrong.. Yet even as the press conference revealed the investigation into Teri Schiavo, this administration maintains that they did nothing wrong by "siding with life.." Problem with that argument is the fact that Bush and "life" simply do not belong in the same sentence (ala all those he's sent to death in Texas and beyond...) Right intentions - sure but guess what?? They were still wrong..

Patriot Act ... 9/11 ... Terror terror terror!! Run for the hills!! Laws that make it safer for Americans.. Um.. Not so fast.. Most recently - a report came out that said that we are no safer than we were on 9/10.. Ouch.. What happened?? (more on this in a bit...)

Social Security ... Now I have a conflict here.. I've long since believed that there's no way I'm going to see much of any relief from my contributions to Social Security.. It's not due to mis-management, but simply resolving the reality of a growing cost of living and a seemingly very slow paced payment for contributions to the kitty.. As one part of the chart is soaring off into oblivion, the other part looks like an overweight 747 that is trying to take off or something.... It's unreasonable to expect both lines to even come close much less become more parallel.. It's not happening..

Bolton & our role in the world ... I have no defense to offer for this administration's lack of credibility.. They are doing it to themselves in ways that we can't even begin to say on here.. Administration policy - wrong.. Anything come from a box of Lucky Charms would venture a better chance at world stabilization than what this administration has offered......

And the list goes on and on for what seems like forever.. Taxes.. Education.. Censorship.. It seems like everything anymore slips into the yin/yang debate.. What bothers me more than anything is that we have a President who has no regrets for doing any of them.. In fact, you could say that he's running downhill with blinders on ....

.... with a continually growing steaming heap of hypocrisy dragging on behind him.....

At a time when the President advocates that every American is to be responsible - he still claims no responsibility for any of his actions.. Even Clinton apologized.. C'mon!! Instead, there is an irresponsible persistence that simply cannot be explained..

Frankly, I'm still at a loss.. At least when one is denial - there are conditions which support the logical reason why the person simply doesn't acknowledge the error.. When it grows to this kind of level - there has to be something else going on..

*sighs*

Ask anyone who really likes Bush - "Why do you like him?" and you'll get the standard confounding answers: People feel more protected under his watch.. People felt they needed a cleansing shower after the Clinton administration because of what happened during "the scandal.." People feel desperation because the world is in some sort of moral decline and they are looking to Bush as being some sort of savior that will deliver the world from the toils and pain..

Wow.. And here I was at a loss before; imagine my disbelief now?!?!?!!?!!

Alright.. It's no mystery that The Rove Mystery Machine is working overtime trying to keep the dam from breaking.. But when they have fundamentally failed on nearly every attempt at governing - I'm really afraid to consider what would it would take to institute a wide-spread mis-information campaign in order to further govern the way they want..

The Downing Street memos are really interesting.. Even if they hold an eighth of truth in them.. It clearly shows how the conspiracy to manipulate facts and other information for whatever political gains they wanted..

But is this really unique in our history??

Remember how propaganda was spread in order to further the causes of whatever rhetoric or other issues that needed to gain public support for?? The war posters?? Songs?? Rallies?? War Bonds?? Rationing?? All in support of the war effort.. Sounds almost like your average, run of the mill Iraqi insurgency..

But instead of being reflective, we are accused of drawing insignificant parallels and only attempting to incite some sort of evil, un-American sentiment.. Wow.. We can't even go back in our history, cite that which our country has already gone through - because it's somehow un-American..

Well, I'm going to do it anyway..

I remember the day when we feared, hated, and otherwise were weary of the Soviet Union.. The portrayal in movies, the endless barrage of speeches and other opinions carefully churned the right mixture of information with propaganda.. Too sweet - and the public would see right through it.. Too sour and the message would be lost..

It became an artform..

It became a ballet of excruciating painful precise movements..

Things were controlled..

Until..

"Gore invented the internet.."

The spawn of truth mixed with fiction grew in proportions no one could control.. There was no containment.. No direction.. People could now say what they wanted without malice, without facts, without ethical standards and with considerable bias.. The message gets swarmed by an avalanche of conjecture, conspiracy and mis-information.. Blogging has taken this idea and expanded it in ways that we cannot underestimate..

In an act of desperation, the media has responded..

The media companies were bought, conglomerated, and merged into outlet giants that would remain under the tight reign and control of a chosen few.. These people would remain the shepherds serving at the will of the Empire.. Carefully doting and guiding flocks to dangerous cliffs, the *word* is manipulated into an unrecognizable form..

Any dissent.. Any disagreement.. Any hint of splitting from the ranks meant a mounted campaign to punish you or your company.. The slightest protest, satire, or thought is derided as being un-American or a threat to national security.. CBS, Dan Rather, Newsweek to mention those in recent memory....

Think about that..

When the message.. When the thought.. When the voice is muted.. When government silently controls the strings guiding our thoughts, information and beliefs -- what is that??

Control..

Governmental Control..

Look into the world history of the last century.. What did we call it in the 70's and 80's?? Communism.. What was it in the 30's and 40's?? Socialism..

When Russia and Germany sought control of what information was being conveyed.. When those governments, under the guise of being a "proper citizen" or for the protection of the country, use the purges and other remedies to remove dissent within the citizenry, their rights were profoundly discarded..

"Remain in line, or suffer the consequences.."

This week, the House of Representatives shot down new provisions to the Patriot Act that would've allowed agencies to wantonly investigate what books you read from the library, what videos you rent, or what content you're reading.. Under the guise of preventing the next 9/11 attack .... I re-raise my own personal doubts of the effectiveness of the Patriot Act..

Imagine this.. One of the searches that the government was interested in was whether anyone had done a search on Bin Laden's biography.. Now imagine a typical Social Studies teacher in high school that assigns a current events paper.. An innocent student checks out a book on Bin Laden so that they can prepare their report for class.. Now imagine that this innocent student will now show up on the radar screen of Homeland Security..

This is absolutely insane!!

I believe that the next coronation of the Patriot Act really means that our government has lost its effective capability of gathering relevant, concise and on point intelligence using the existing means at our disposal.. What I adamantly disagree with is this Administration using the "perceived threat" of more terroristic activities to bolster the effectiveness of the Patriot Act.. It's not a revelation that this Administration has perfected the ability to utilize threats in order to push whatever agenda they so choose..

But the Patriot Act really does not address the intelligence gathering capabilities outside the United States - and let's not forget that.. We've heard testimony within the last several months that say that we're no more protected than we were before 9/11.. Now how in the hell does that happen when we've already sacrificed a nice thick layer of governmental intrusions on our own soil??

Instead, the newly found Patriot Act addendums are going after our children's social studies book reports and lord knows what else.. Cookie recipes?? Reading up on Melville, Plato, or Ginsberg?? If anything, it's another tragic reminder of how our government has lost the intelligence wars on our home field.. Now we're left with the fact that our government can't track of those terrorists that are already walking among us..

Yet, they are making sure we're reading the "right" reading material that suits the policy....

.... just like the daily media buffet offerings..

It's scary contemplate that this administration wanted to install a new set of rules that alleviate the need for judicial oversight so that they can conduct surveillance of one's behaviors and habits without any level of judicial oversight.. Meaning - no one checks to see whether they have a valid cause to check out my library records.. The Patriot Act already has given law enforcement more powers without oversight -- and they wanted more....

.... this after being told that we are faring no better than we were 9/10..

Regardless of what an agency might think, I'm not an anarchist.. I am a very proud American who believes differently than this administration.. Whether that's an act of deviance, or simply exercising the right to have freedom of thought, freedom of expression - this defines an absolutely bitter divide and subsequent gray area..

I cannot say if we're no better off, but I can say that I'm still deeply concerned over the information flow of our government and what it means in the shortrun and in our future..

Who blinked?

On my way home last night – the Majority Report was covering the news conferences live that dealt with the apparent compromise between Democrats and Republicans over the use of filibusters and the “nuclear option..” So after I got settled in for the night, I watched both Reid and Frist give their viewpoints on what happened with the proposed settlement. At one point they basically contradicted each other; saying almost the opposite of the other: Reid said they would still filibuster if they wanted, Frist said they wouldn’t.

(Later it was identified that only two nominees would still have the filibuster in effect.)

Now I can’t really say that the news is all that surprising – but the muck of it is – I’m not sure anything was exactly solved. I like the fact that you had Senators that were telling the White House to back off – and to act a bit more responsibly with their nominees, yet I’m reminded exactly how irresponsible this Administration is and how fruitless it would be to shake a finger at them and tell them no.

Bush isn’t going to be intimidated by this, c’mon.

After hearing Reid speak last night – I really felt that the Democrats won – but after thinking about it a great deal, I really don’t think that happened. It gave way to the “up or down” votes that the Republicans wanted. Why do the Reds want that?? Because they know they have the votes to get their chosen ones confirmed.

Yet if you hear the Blues – they are saying that they still reserve the right to filibuster if they choose.

So the question I have is: ”Who blinked??”

Or rather: ”Who caved??”

Both sides are claiming defeat and victory – yet considering that the Republicans ultimately got what they wanted is (in my eyes) prize they wanted – and eventually got.

Was it the cots that were being brought in for the extended session??

Or was it seemingly innocuous, “unannounced” visit by Justice Rehnquist to the Senate that caused the spur to find resolve in this? Renquist’s health only highlights the battle for the Supreme Court that will surely happen during Bush’s tenure.

I’m not fond of the white flag mentality – yet if there was some deeper deal struck that caused the peace, it’s my hope that it is fair for everyone. I hope it’s responsible and conscionable. I’m sick of the pandering, I’m sick of the “gotta have it my way” approach that this administration is stuck on and I’m sick of this political stick and carrot that we live by.

Over 90% of Bush’s nominees were approved.

Meaning that over 90% of the names he put up for appointments and nominees were approved by the Democrats.

Still want to shove it in our face that the Democrats are being unfair during this process? Knowing a little bit about Parliamentary procedure – the Republicans should be eternally grateful that the Democrats have backed down. The President should be a bit more receptive when there are issues with the names he’s putting out there.

He should do the responsible thing, the “let’s get along” thing, and say – “I’ll meet you half way in the road, let’s work this out.”


Problem being: this just isn’t going to happen with this Administration.


So we’ll be going back to “business as usual” and I hope we all don’t get raped because of it.

Coming up:
- Scary provisions in the new Patriot act
- Clear Skies Act isn’t what it’s cracked up to be
- Stem Cell Research will be voted on – and subsequently vetoed by George Bush

The Newsweek Gaffe

This whole Newsweek issue has really made me laugh not because of what was alleged in the article – but the subsequent hypocrisy by OUR government by saying that it gives our country a bad reputation.

Holy Smokes, Batman – please say it’s not true!! America is getting a black eye from a story that was leaked to a major magazine alleging that members of our military have desecrated the Koran by flushing it down a toilet during an interrogation??

What about going to war under false pretenses??

What about LYING to the people of the United States about WMD??

What about LYING to the leaders of the WORLD about WMD??

What about removing a ruthless dictator because of what we perceived??

What about the countless other civil wars, ethnic cleansings, and other atrocities being committed in other nations, under other ruthless dictators??

Black eye syndrome??

Faulty intelligence??

If the Newsweek article was factually incorrect – then they should issue a correction.. But even as they retracted the story on the basis that they made a mistake – we have an administration that admitted that they too acted on faulty intelligence, flawed information when they sent countless thousands to their graves, and tipped the balance of power in an unstable region..

I’m tired of the Bush rhetoric that Saddam was an evil person who needed to be removed from power.. Yes, I get that.. But let’s not forget that in addition to those countries going under civil wars, we have two “axis of evil” partners that have slid unscathed under our intelligence radars, Mr. President..

North Korea and Iran have become legitimate power brokers under your watch.. Furthermore, let’s not forget that this administration has placed a time bomb in the Middle East in the form of Iraq.. Set aside the insurgents, set aside the security issues and other infra-structure related problems that remain today (some two years after our initial invasion); I’m referring to the elections that were held earlier in the year..

Once again, everyone seems to be forgetting about the winners of the Iraqi election and the purported connections to Iran..

It seems as though the whole “image” issue is the least of our worries….

So if anyone is TRULY interested in improving our image – let’s start at the top and work our way down.. Let’s consider that whenever someone important is captured, they are being interrogated in countries that permit torture – so we don’t have to..

How convenient..

Wash our hands – someone else did the torture, we gained the information.. Remarkable!!

It’s not going to be until everyone wakes up and realizes that the image of the US has been mortally wounded since the invasion of Iraq.. Were we freeing the oppressed people of Iraq, sure.. Were we hunting those pesky WMDs?? Absolutely.. Are the Iraqi people glad we’re still there?? Um, no.. Were any links to Iraq and WMD ever found?? Erm, no, sorry..

Talk about a stain to wear..

So..

Did Newsweek add fuel to the fire?? Perhaps.. Did they do something wrong?? If it was factually incorrect – yes.. If they were fed the information as a means to control what they right about – absolutely not.. I fear the latter is holding more water and truth these days..

When we live in a society where the Administration can pay off media to write to their advantage, we’re dealing with governmental propaganda.. Further, we’re no better off than the former Soviet Union or those that have endured the atrocities under Saddam Hussein.. Propaganda – any propaganda is wrong..

I don’t care if it’s democrat
I don’t care if it’s republican..

There, I said it..

When we diminish the available information into some sort of sick twisted monstrosity – yeah, I’m gonna get a little bent out of shape.. When it’s funded, fueled, and subsequently catered to a segment of the populous: this is when it should be made illegal..

I’m not against free speech..

I’m against distorted news reporting..

I’m for opinions, editorials, and independent thoughts carefully separated from the news stories I read, hear or watch.. If it’s factual, it should be reported without opinion, without bias, without slant, slander, or manipulation.. I don’t care if you’re Air America or Fox News..

It’s got to stop..

Then maybe we can finally make educated decisions of what is best for our place in the world and not be succumbed by the wishes of a selected few.. Again – I have no care if it’s a red or blue issue.. I care about integrity, I care about the truth, and I care about honesty.. Our founding fathers had no intention to somehow approve of such ostentatious behavior by any party..

It’s gotta start somewhere..

If Newsweek got it right – hang in there.. If they were lied to, so as to set them in a trap that would eventually dirty their news – then I really hope those that engineered that project gets what’s coming to them.. If Newsweek reported an outright lie – shut them down..

Fox News?? You’re next..

Fair and balanced really does need to be held to the same standards, don’t they??

Base closing coincidence??

There's a certain amount of irony in this story about how the base close list coincides with the 2004 Presidental Results....

The Legacy?

I may not be as jubilant as Bill Maher when it comes to the situation in Iraq.. Yes they had elections.. Yes they have representative government.. Yes it seems to be a much more favored way of existing in a land riddled with so many different points of view - it makes one's head spin..

The Iraqi Assembly appears to be sputtering because they can't really come to a consensus about much of anything.. Yes, I realize that sometimes a democracy takes a long time to develop.. But is this really a surprise?? It's not as though their melting pot is on a good bubble right now.. Things take time to change, to adapt, and more importantly - to grow..

I find it really no different than how our two parties can't seem to agree when it comes to Judicial Appointments and other hotly contested issues.. Can you actually imagine what it would be like if our entire governmental system was wiped clean and we were told: "start over.." We wouldn't have a system in place FOR YEARS, DECADES or longer!! We can't even agree if the right to filibuster should be a right?!?!?!!!!

More importantly -- look at our own history and overlay the fact that it took our founding fathers YEARS before we could have a government that we could employ ... and even then we had to have a CIVIL WAR in order to finalize the whole enchilada.....

Iraq is no different..

These are factions of people whose only commonality was the fact they were repressed under the Saddam regime.. They may or may not share the same religion.. They have different issues with the Kurds of the north and the Shiites of the South.. Different ideologies, different cultures and subsets.. The melting pot doesn't like partitions in the tray....

In fact, Iraq has been put in the microwave by the US - and said "please form a democracy in 30 seconds!!" Guess what - not going to happen.. The one fact that everyone seems to agree on is the fact that we need to finish what we started.. But I hope no one forgets that it was the antics of a select few that got us in this mess to begin with..

I digress..

The Iraq condundrum is going to be magnified in the coming years.. Some will say that it is a success - yet I caution not to bring out the champagne just yet.. If they are to follow our lead, there will be an outright Civil War on a scale that will probably make Saddam look like an ant-squasher.. Moreover, there's no way of knowing exactly what form the "final part" will look like.. There were the indications that this new government has substantial ties to Iran -- something that has gone unreported since the elections.. What will happen when some new leader emerges that happens to conflict with America's blueprint for the region?? Will we have to take him out of office too??

(Let's not forget that little nugget of history where we helped get Saddam in office to begin with..)

I find it amazing that we've instilled several of the attributes that democracies like the US are founded on.. Yet even today, some 200+ years in our own infancy, we are completely different than the charters that were originally brought to Massachusetts.. To mention again - the process took YEARS..

For example - women's rights..

I'm a big proponent of women's rights.. I think anytime a group of people has been exiled out of the process is a system wrought with problems.. To be a true democracy instills the intrinsic rights for all -- not just a select few.. But what has happened in Iraq, is something that only America could conceive.. Let's not forget our own past and how it was ludicrous to believe that a woman should have a right to cast a vote in a man's world.. This type of oppressive attitude is magnified on a very deep level over in Iraq -- mainly due to their belief structure that looks to keep women held down, out of sight and definitely not anywhere near any cabinet position..

Iraq has been liberated for just over a year..

The woman's suffrage movement started in 1850 and lasted 70 YEARS before a woman could vote for the first time in 1920.. The first woman ever elected to a position was 1887 when Susanna Madora Salter became mayor of Argonia, Kansas.. The first woman elected to Congress of the United States was 1918 -- Jeanette Rankin of Montana.. It's a process that started in 1848 with the Seneca Falls Convention -- but was not taken seriously until 62 years later..

I am in no way suggesting that women should be excluded from the process.. I am saying that these women will become targets and those who are not ready to share their Assembly with a woman.. As much as the powers that be want to make Iraq in our image -- the country is not ready, the culture is not ready, the people are not ready.. Suggesting that all we have to do is draft a document, have an election, and call it a democracy ... is nothing short of an irresponsible policy at best..

It takes time to change one's belief structure.. Our own history has evidence of this..

Anyone who entertains the notion that all we had to do in Iraq, was to make them a bit more like us - and they will prosper is not saying very much for the process it takes to make such a system work.. In the short-term, at least long enough for Bush to see it - he will finally have his legacy.. He got rid of a tyrant.. But let's have history revisit Iraq and the region in 2105 before adding that second wing to the George W. Bush Presidential library..

In Iraq, we've accelerated the process in a region that is already volatile, already on the brink of some disastrous revolution, and have installed a government that is meant to appease our look in the mirror.. We have an administration that believes that we have a "winning formula" for the people of Iraq.. Yet I'm hesitant to believe that the same people who orchestrated the war with Iraq to begin with - has a winning formula when the equation isn't written in a text book..

News & Tidbits

No WMD connection to Syria
Hardly a shock really.. Seriously..

Iran?? Saudi Arabia perhaps??

Everyone is SO convinced that Saddam had WMD, if.... and this is again the fruitless attempt at TRYING to remain objective in this whole fucking mess...... *if* there were WMD, they aren't in Syria.. They aren't in Iran.. Anyone with a brain larger than a peanut (apologies to Jimmy Carter) realizes that those weapons are probably in some very distant nation, so far away from all eyes to see....

Which is a problem when you're dealing with such a myopic view of the world.......


Bolton facing issues
Anyone who isn't diplomatic, shouldn't be a diplomat... And if Colin Powell thinks you're going to be a fuck up -- damn, doesn't look good on your resume pal..


Social Security
War between the Dems and the Repubs starting up again.. *yawn* Wake me in 2006, will ya'??


Condi threatening Putin
Bush sent Condoleeza over to Russia to air concerns about how Putin and his party were alarming this administration into some sort of totalitarian regime??

Isn't that what DeLay and other conservatives are doing with their veiled threats about the Justices that need to be replaced and the subsequent threats about replacing the filibuster rules just to satisfy those that they want to seat ... well, we're sounding more communistic each day..


Freedom of Expression or Avoiding a potential conflict...
I heard an Air America story on the way home tonight about some people that were turned away at a Bush rally because they had signs that were not consistent with the majority: i.e. protestors.. The Majority Report was lambasting this administration and the Secret Service for intervening and removing these people who had signs of dissention about their respective point(s) of view.. (I have no idea what the signs said..)

Now..

I'm all in favor of Freedom of Expression, but I'm not in favor when that expression leads to a riot or altercation.. Differing opinions, fine.. Advertise them all you want.. Inciting, provoking or otherwise egging on a fight .... no.. When it may lead to arrests, damage or injury - at what point does Freedom of Expression become a threat to the security of the President?? Regardless if it's Clinton, Bush or someone else?? I think the Secret Service may act as they deem fit to insure a peaceful situation.. They are there to maintain order in whatever setting the President arrives.. That's their function.. I respect that because it's their lives on the line before Dubya's..

But what really got me thinking about the whole Freedom of Expression angle came from a newstory I saw today about how ABC is being threatened by Roger Murdoch and Fox for their portrayal of the smash hit: "American Idol".. Murdoch also owns the Fox News Channel - a seemingly conservative network destined to slant their biases as they see fit.....

Now that their credibility is being put to the fire - *yawns* - but seriously.. When we live at a time when there's the threat of potential lawsuits over the slanted bias of a slanted bias competition -- exactly what in the hell is going on?? I don't watch American Idol because I don't care who sings "My heart will go on" the prettiest.. A talent show; rather a slanted, biased talent show - will always be scandalous in nature..

It's the reality-show phenomenon that no one really understands..

It's the fact that networks are trying to score ratings.. To do so, they will put shows out there that will garner the best ratings for them.. Is it any wonder that there's so much grief after one of the finalists is "robbed" of their potential winnings??

Puh-leeeze....

What's really scary..

What really bothers me more than the "news story" of the "apparent threat from Fox" is the fact that American Idol is produced by the same folks that puts on Fox News.. Hannity and O'Reily all under the same umbrella.. What Murdoch has done with Fox is to be able to control programming - so as to continue to further his causes.. Fox News is the voice, American Idol would be the soul..

But when you look at the programming under Fox - there's a myriad of shows, all interwoven, cut from the same cookie cutter dough pattern that emerges.. It's a completely deceptive machine all controlled by the strings in the hierarchy of the Fox regime.. When that kind of bias is so prevalent, so under the radar, so seemingly invisible, it's remarkable, even a bit impressive that such manipulation was not only controlled, but planned to such a minute degree..

From it's news, it's programs, probably down to the products they endorse -- if it fits the agenda, it's rolled out for our consumption..

Scary isn't a word that doesn't penetrate the surface..

Horrifying..
Terrifying..
Unnerving..

Kinda reminds you of a certain administration's tactics, doesn't it??

The DeLay mess / A Deficit Soars

He speaks, and everyone holds their breath..

No, I'm not talking about Bush or Michael Moore..

But whenever the PR machine doesn't go in favor of this administration or the republican party, Karl Rove usually appears at just the right time to quell any anxiety that is going on in the party..

And the press becomes enamored to the point of fear as a result of it..

The whole Tom DeLay thing is actually pretty comical.. He's nothing more than a political cartoon, a caricature of what really exists under the skin of some of the Republican regime.. He's the untamed animal in a zoo that, up until this point, was in clear control of their emotions..

The whole veiled threat things gets me..

Even tho the "talking heads" out there are basically saying that it was taken out of context.. So when Karl Rove emerges from the bunker - all is calm - all is quiet - all is well..

The Damage Control Specialist has spoken..

We can all put this behind us because it's trivial because it has no relevance of the man - even though he clearly violated the laws that govern the conduct of every senator and member of the House of Representatives..

Think of what we've "waived off" during this administration:
- the 9/11 commission findings
- rising gas costs (no investigation)
- the Terri Schiavo case (how this doesn't violate the Constitution is beyond me...)
- and the whole Tom DeLay affair/debacle
- the bankruptcy bill & rising deficits on an astronomical trend

With a soaring deficit, we should take solace that our Vice President has said: "Reagan taught us deficits don't matter."

Interesting viewpoint of someone who clearly benefits when we're fiscally irresponsible and let the deficits run free.. (ala Haliburton)

...but then again, I guess it's okay to tell everyone what they have to do, to be fiscally responsible, when they justify it in their minds that they don't have to..

I found some irony over the past couple of days..

I noticed how many who voiced their opinions about what the next Pope should be like -- actually were speaking volumes even if they weren't really aware..

Most notably: the need for change..

Meaning, that many people *within* the Christian, Catholic religion -- believe that Pope John Paul II was a bit too conservative for the times.. Interesting..

So it proves that we can mindlessly follow someone who may be "out of touch" with our inner prohibitions - yet we're going to follow him off the cliff like some sort of lemming..

Secondly, was the need for the next Pope to be more in touch with the kids of today.. Again, very interesting considering this is the Pope that coordinated World Youth Day - for several years: a gathering of youth in a Catholic/Christian setting to find inner-spiritualism..

And to say that this Pope was out of touch.... Considering this Pope was doing something so unprecedented.... Considering others signalling a change in how the Papacy is considered....

It further proves that we may "go along" with those that we feel can lead us, but it doesn't necessarily mean we agree with them.....

Interesting....

The Passing...

I remember back in 1993 all of the fuss about his arrival to Denver.. The preparations that went into the week-long conference were *intense*.. The security.. The venues.. The excitement.. The fear.. The energy..

I didn't go..

But I marveled in the seemingly gentle nature of a man that minded no clock, touched whoever's hand he wanted, and be as carefree and easy going as a gentle whisper of a breeze..

The poise.. The grandeur.. The careful nature of his being.. The vulnerability.. The sage.. The intensity of what he represented..

The leader of one of the largest religions today..

In reflecting on what to say in this entry -- I considered a number of avenues.. I see a man who almost single handedly guided mankind to the dedicated Path - true to the Bible.. I also see a man who was so heavily rooted in his beliefs that anything that created one inconsistent doctrine after another..

I respect the man who lived for the common good and did everything in his power to spread that common good.. Even if I disagreed with many of his views, I admire the man who endured several hardships, scandals and unpopular opinions that would be a divisive wedge in many communities and across the world..

I realize that many look to the Bible and to the Pope as centers of reason.. A moralistic compass in the chaos of the world.. He may have been that - but most of his followers are not.. As what was brought out during the Bill Maher show recently - I find it problematic that followers can "pick and choose" what they want, when it suits their purpose.. O'Reily's attachment of the Christian Dogmas only reinforced the problem with religion today - that we can arbitrarily pick and choose -- for the convenience of what will apply to our lives..

I believe the Pope did what he thought was right.. He stood by his convictions.. Relied upon his understanding of the religious tenets that guided him for the 84 years of his life..

Those who looked up to him as their spiritual leader - will feel his loss.. We'll discover in the coming years, exactly how well he threaded the various religious segments together as one continuous quilt..

I cannot jump on the bandwagon that points fingers at the Pope's political/social beliefs.. His job is an incredibly demanding one.. While it's my ultimate choice to subscribe to those beliefs, it shouldn't be reflective of the man who fought valiantly on the side of man.. He treated every soul as sacred.. He was adamant about the death penalty as much as he was impassioned about the right to life..

I may not subscribe to all of his beliefs or ways of thinking, but I can admire the morality this guy had inside -- and how articulate, how persuasive and how passionate he was about humanity..

Pope John Paul II will be missed..

Time to let go...

More proof??

Here's what I don't understand..

-The Court initially found that the tube should be pulled
-Even after Congress, the Senate and the President RE-WROTE the law .... the courts: County, State, Appellate, State Supreme, Federal Appellate and the US Supreme Court still said "no.."

So even after you re-write the law, re-litigate the same issues, argue differently because you now have a different law in place -- the answer remains the same.. I'm glad to see that the black robes took the incredibly bold move to finally admit: it's not their place to decide such matters.. Even that is a twinge of hypocrisy because they make life/death decisions everyday for criminals..

Everyone is condemning the Bush brothers for failing Terri when in fact, it further proves the point they shouldn't have gotten involved to begin with.. I'm dismayed at Dubya's hypocrisy, but he's a consummate politician -- as are all of the others in D.C.. No sense of decency, moralistic or consistency.. That bothers me how people can end up on both sides of the issue arguing just as hard and fast as when they were on the counter-point.. *BAH*

It should've been a very easy case of family making the difficult choice.. If you can't make the choice, you should not have any authority in the decision process.. This is where you bring in someone who can arbitrarily look at the situation and determine what was right for Terri.. Obviously this voice seems a bit muted in comparison to the thralls of folks who are voraciously defending Terri's right to live.. What if she gave up that right?? What if she *had* communicated to her husband that she had no desire to be left in a vegetative state?? It's not as though Michael is acting in haste.. This has been evolving for 15 years - 7 of which in the legal system..

But even as Dubya maintains for his logic of the war in Iraq, he's had to make tough choices - and one of the most glaring ones was to put American lives in harm's way.. One of the hardest things to do if you're in such power is to be able to make some very unpopular choices if it remains to be the last choice on the board.. As much as I applaud Terri's parents for fighting for her daughter's life - they lack the foundation of reality to make any such decision.. Now that this has exploded into the pro-life/pro-choice debate, expect to see this not going away very soon..

I'll admit that the laws are incredibly vague regarding non-fetal right to die vs. right to live.. Unless you have it in writing, you're basically at the whim of whoever.. If anything positive were to come from this it gives the rest of America the wake up call: it can happen to you, anytime, any place, anyhow.. This means that unless you take corrective action soon - you could be in the same twisted fate that Terri and her family has gone through..

What every protester doesn't realize is the fact that any such mandate that guarantees the level of survival for Terri would've had far reaching implications for every person who is in a comparable state.. Where's the battle for those people?? Or for those people who have been hogtied with all of the health insurance red tape?? Where's Bush and the protesters for those people?? Hundreds of people die each day - and if we went to such elaborate lengths to save each and every single one of us - the country would collapse..

The single most important thing to consider is: "where would the $$cha-ching$$ come from??" Because the more $$ you have, the longer you're going to live.. Terri's money has been drained - only because her husband used it to pay the lawyers so to secure what appears to be her final wish.. He didn't spend it on a brand new SUV, a new house, or lavish gifts.. He secured the money to guarantee what she wanted: not to be left in a vegetative state..

It's amazing to think that her parents had all of this money just lying around, but if she's been in this state for 15 years, and the legal fight has been going on for 7 of those years, it sounds like to me her husband gave her the chance to recover before making the decision..

No one wants their child to die..

I'm not advocating that every person put in that position should have their plug pulled.. That's up to the individual.. And if it was Terri's wish - then why are we still talking about it?? The courts are obviously compelled.. When you go through so many levels - and each time you get denied .... there's more to the story that is getting printed or viewed..

I wish Terri peace, the family peace and hopefully there's a positive lesson people are taking to heart here..

Tomato, tomahto... potato ... potahto.....

It represents the balance of the equation..

I don't care if your name is Rush..

I don't care if you're an Air America follower..

I don't care if you read the Economist or the Washington Post..

The equation is balanced somewhere in between..

There is no longer (if there ever was) a liberal bias in the media.. Instead, the media has been perverted to some distant relative.. It's unidentifiable.. It's no longer about content as much as it is about editorializing one's view in the world..

The Drudge Report went on a seemingly predictable diatribe about the upcoming HBO special on Air America.. Using such phrases as "witness the ugly business of media ambition" to describe the sullen part of what "liberal media" must be about.. One should talk so boldly, Matt.. Clearly anyone with enough braincells realizes that Drudge is the Republican puppet and will always remain as such..

Asserting himself as some sort of legitimate media organization is laughable at best, scary at worst..

But it's not as though liberals don't have a counter-weight of their own..

But this isn't the point of the rant today..

It's about truth ... or rather the lack thereof..

It's about the abandonment of moralistic coverage regardless of who occupies the White House.. There's a feeding frenzy of outlets scrambling for market share and profit margins - that the media, the press that we have relied on to give an impartial view of the news at hand - is being whored for one political juggernaut or another..

I haven't seen the Air America special -- but I'm looking forward to it.. I actually applaud them for being forthcoming and opening up a potential PR nightmare .... even if it's meant to open up new markets.. You don't see anything similar from Fox News or any of the other republican pundits because they have finally secured a foothold on the airwaves and publications through out the nation -- and they don't want to endanger that precarious position..

I'm not oblivious to the liberal slant on things.. I got my fill of Al Franken sounding completely distraught that there wasn't more mayhem and bloodshed over the recent Iraqi elections.. I know the left is as much to blame for their own political machine as the right side is..

But what we have is a nation that resides somewhere in between.. Instead of trying to gather people into their collective positions, both sides continue to polarize the landscape creating a tremendous amount of indifference and irrational justification for voting/supporting the policies they are..

What's more sad is the fact that if I have a moderate position: I'm boring.. No one wants middle of the road anymore even though it's probably represents the majority of how all Americans feel.. It's also not incredibly shocking to find statistics that will resonate that a figure well over 80% or higher does not believe totally or completely with the party they generally support..

It's the tug-of-war attitude that pisses me off the most.. Both sides are shaking the fence so hard, people are scurrying for cover right and left.. Even if they don't fully identify as republican or liberal, they are often left with no choice because the parties, the media and the pundits have shaved the middle road so much - there isn't much of a strip to stand on..

--If you're against the war, you're a liberal..
--If you're anti-gay, you're conservative..
--If there's no immediate crisis in social security, you're liberal..
--If you believe in Schiavo's rights -- you're conservative..

The list will go on and on..

Both sides will have a score card once you reach the end of the road and that will decide where you fall.. From there you're cast into the throngs of the various misfits that happen to reside on your side of the aisle..

I despise Drudge.. Yes I admit that I admire Air America.. That makes me a liberal.. It doesn't mean I'm happy about it.. I don't like a lot of the things liberals do - but I like them more than I like what the conservatives have done..

I'm a realist.. And whoever can paint the most accurate picture on any given issue - will generally have my support.. Anything less is smoke and mirrors.. Karl Rove, Al Franken, and everyone else on *both* sides of the aisle need to realize that America is somewhere in between..

Want to win in 2006, 2008??

Start thinking about those in the middle and quit being so incredibly decisive.. The nation is already split - and neither party is grasping that concept...

The Right To Die...

I don't know where I'm coming from on the Schiavo matter.. I'm partial to her well-being which no one can seem to understand.. Now that it's "gone political" - I have real disdain for those that want to further their political lobbying on someone else's hardship -- who probably never wanted to have the attention she's getting..

Euthanasia is one of those issues that I really believe resides in the individual.. It's assisted suicide.. Now if we're going to legalize suicide -- which by itself seems to be an oxymoron because if one really is successful in suicide, the law is really meaningless....

...but if we're going to make a law saying it's okay to take one's life - then shouldn't we be examining "all life" (i.e. those on death row, abortion, etc)?? I know I'm cutting across the grain on this one, but if someone doesn't like it here - I'm not really inclined to keep them alive to make me feel better.. It's not MY choice to make, it's not YOUR choice in the matter, -- it's THEIRS -- Michael and Terri.. In Terri's case, we don't know what her choice is -- or what she ultimately would want.. Her husband says that they talked about it before the accident and she said then she didn't want to be kept alive by artificial means.. And if that were true, and if she said don't keep me alive, then this shouldn't be an issue..

Opponents believe that it will become an elderly free-for-all.. Old people, young people, every person on the planet will spontaneously go out and take their life.. Well guess what?? That happens on a daily basis anyway.. Making it a law doesn't mean God is going to reconsider sending someone back down from heaven because we've said so!! Even if that was the case, what government has the right to ordain that it's proper for a person to kill themselves or not??

A very personal example: my grandmother was very sick of living.. Her friends were dead, she couldn't care for herself anymore, and there was parts of her life that were dead already.. She wasn't active as she once was, and she wasn't adjusting that well to being an elderly citizen.. She was alone.. She was sick.. She was prone to accidents.. She became incontinence.. She was alive, but she wasn't living..

I remember when her and I talked several years before she died that she didn't understand why God was keeping her alive.. In her eyes, God was really pissed at her for some reason because she really wanted to go - she felt tired and no longer wanted to be here.. Spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, physically.. When we explore the whole aspect of "quality of life" ... what are we really saying?? Are we even listening?? What about the part of a kind and compassionate God?? If we're to be absolutely protective of all life - regardless, shouldn't we be re-writing the laws that condone the death of people who are incarcerated?? What about those thousands of people in Iraq, in the Sudan, in the Congo?? What about the Right to Live in those countries??

And which definition do we care to use to determine "quality of life??" Just because my grandmother wasn't hooked up to a feeder tube 24 hours a day doesn't mean her life wasn't miserable.. She *wanted* to go.. She felt her time in this existence was over and she wanted to be up in heaven.. No one assisted in her death - and she had a DNR on her chart.. When she reached that point - she was going to die, and she did..

On the otherhand, my other grandmother really lived life to its fullest - despite the fact she was legally blind and was going through many of the struggles my other grandmother was going through.. She managed to do what she could, and was very happy with that.. She was active, seemingly happy, and enjoying what she could manage.. Clearly we can measure the differences in the quality of life between them and I think it's totally appropriate that they have the choice as to how they wanted to live the remaining years of their life..

Even though it's a purely personal decision to make, why are we allowing the government to step in to make the choice for us?? And why?? It should be a personal decision to make.. No one should be forced to stay alive for the benefit for the rest of us.. That's intolerably cruel..

Here's what it boils down to for me:

-Terri's been alive for the last 14 years.. The quality of her life hasn't been the greatest.. She's been classified as "permanently vegetative.." What kind of quality of life is that??

-If I were to subscribe to the belief that Terri would get better if she was going under more intense treatment, I do not know it's our choice to make.. That's something that had to have been considered by Terri and her husband.. Because if there had been this miracle treatment that was never pursued - why?? No promise, not a very good percentage, no real guarantee??

-Moreover, I haven't heard much, if at all - about this "intensive treatment" and what it would ultimately mean.. If this therapy has been available, then WHY hasn't it been given to her?? Too expensive?? If they can't afford it - then they can't afford it.. Forcing her to live isn't going to solve the fact they can't afford the intensive treatment..

-It's not as though her husband has been denying her medical treatment.. She's being fed through a feeding tube for the last 14 years, hello!

-If Terri really measured out that it's not worth the struggle she has gone through for 14 years, then is anyone really listening to her?? We've preserved her life 14 years beyond that which was probably her time to go.. Regardless of all the treatments, surgeries, and options - nothing has made Terri better..

Are we playing God here??
Are we going places we really shouldn't be going??

When we can keep someone alive beyond their personal capability, beyond their desire to live, then why must we mandate that she must live?? Why must the Congress, the Presidency, all of the various religions and the rest of the world intervene on behalf of the life of one woman who is in a permanent vegetative state??

This really shouldn't be a political issue.. Nor should it be a religious issue.. It's a personal issue.. A personal issue between one person and her fate.. If she wants to live - then the tube should go back in; end of story.. But if she doesn't - then let her live the remaining days of her life so that she can move on..

Drop the political subpoena bullshit..
Cut all the media hype, the radio pundit rhetoric, and the evangelical manipulations..
Rip the religious duct tape from your hypocritical mouths and let's strongly, deeply consider what Terri wants..

It's her life..

If she's spoken - then let it go..

The Martha Phenomenon

As we all know by now -- Martha Stewart was recently released from prison after serving her punishment for her little insider trader fiasco.. Now I need to preface that I'm not a huge fan of Martha.. She represents the stereotypical snobbish-type lifestyle/attitude that I find particularly discouraging.. Regardless of her crimes, it's her attitude I don't like the most..

I watched one of the E! Hollywood Stories on her - and I'll confess that I walked away from watching that she is a bigger flake than I already had her pegged for.. She just grates on my nerves.. Granted, it's E! - and let's face it, they want to sell their show, so I fully understand how they trump up certain facts and mitigate others so that they can get better ratings..

...and papers can sell more advertising...
...and TV can sell more slots...
...radio...
...etc...


So when I wake up to check out the news of the day I see this picture.. "All is well, and this is good..." Almost like she's on some sort of parade, doting on members of the press so she can become yet another coddled product of some twisted public distortion..

She's riding a public relations high right now.. And it's very possible, if not expected/predicated/probable that she will come out of this perfectly cleaned and pressed.. As though she has been completely absolved of any wrong doing because her persona and the masses that follow her believe it's so..

But it's just not Martha - take any celebrity who has been through any portion of a public relations nightmare and spin it successfully into a PR juggernaut..... It's impressive to see it in action.. Irony: hot cocoa, handful of lemons, wearing "an ecru quilted coat and matching knit scarf...."

I don't know what in the hell ecru is - nor does it really bother me that her scarf may or may not be matching her ensemble.. What bothers me is how it was staged, anticipated, and otherwise predicted that something like this would happen once she was released.. After all, there was a count-down by the media: "Martha Stewart will be released from prison 12 hours from now, for a live report let's go to....."

Now hold on a sec.. Can't anyone else see what's going on here?? The nice spin cycle happening?? Remember not so long ago how the press portrayed her as this really evil, manipulative monger?? Now that she's been incarcerated, she's seen the error of her ways and therefore, she's given a clean slate ... to match her ecru quilted coat and matching knit scarf.. (however I don't know if it was HANDWOVEN knit, or machine processed knit.... but who cares....)

So as the Michael Jackson case looms, the Robert Blake case is in the hands of the jury, and the Phil Spector trial due to start later in the year -- we're constantly wrapped in a distorted spin of PR and reverse PR.. When it spins at full-cycle it really takes off.. Otherwise the waves will eventually crush your celebrity and send them to the bottom of the ocean.. (circa Courtney Love, Robert Downey Jr., Mike Tyson, etc.....)

A typical day in today's life:

(no wonder Bush never reads the paper - I'd be a bit depressed too...)

Bush: Lift Roadblocks to Faith-Based Help Programs.. Very interesting.. Skewing that very fine line between church and state..

Bush Accused of Playing 'Chicken' Over Judge Picks.. I don't even know why this should bother people anymore.. Look at his record - no matter what conventional wisdom says, Bush just doesn't fool around; he takes what he wants and that's that.. Some people find that to be appealing because it's a "tough," "no non-sense" kind of approach is what we need at the helm of our nation.. But like any spoiled child who doesn't get his way - all he has to do is wait for the right time to do what he wanted to do to begin with.. This President lacks the moral fortitude, that frontal lobe speed bump that most people have.. I'm not surprised by this, nor should anyone else.. It's who he is - and that by itself is a scary prospect..

Lastly, Judge, Lawyer on Saddam Tribunal Killed.. Okay, anyone else NOT surprised about this?? Look, they kept his name private for a reason.. This is why anyone who looks even remotely favorable for the Americans is TARGETED.. Justice for Saddam?? Right.. Are there marches over in Iraq over the slain Judge and lawyer who were going to prosecute this matter?? Any vigils?? No..

That's how you gauge whether or not you have a society that is backing your propaganda machine.. It's not happening in Iraq - yet let's continue to delude ourselves from reality...

I think I'm going back to bed - it's much safer there..

This is what happens when I wait to blog...

In all honesty - I for one maintained that I would never see a dime of Social Security.. After all, that's what every financial planner would tell me whenever I applied at a new job, or joined a bank.. I've been told several times in the late 80's, early 90's that Social Security won't be around when it gets to be my retirement age.. So, I for one was actually planning on not having any benefit reach me in my "golden years.."

And if this President has his way -- it's all but certain that prophesy will come true..

I hear what the democrat side of the radio dial is saying.. I hear what the republican side of the radio dial is saying..

Bottom line: I don't trust either side..

I do know that if Social Security would be solvent by the time I reached my retirement age as it stands *today* -- then I don't want Bush to touch it.. Why mess with something that has worked for the last half century??

Oh wait - we're trying to leave a legacy..

Oh, okay.. I guess having 1,500 deaths on your resume, billions of dollars seemingly fleeing the boundaries of our nation.. We're a nation that is far more vulnerable now than before 9/11..... and I'm not even talking about the prostitute reporter that got pretty significant clearance in the ONE PLACE in the nation where we would EXPECT the BEST in security..... Oh wait, terrorists are only Islamic, but a male prostitute fits nicely in this administ.......

Hold on a second - the visual isn't pretty, but I must admit my ass is feeling a little sore.. Yup, Bush still must be in office..

So if I understand the little man, let's just go right ahead an tinker with a proven system and let's screw that up too!!

*sighs*

Now I know I've been out of the blogging realm for the last few weeks, because how else can I reiterate that which I've already said?? Bush is an idiot.. He's messing with the security of this nation on every single thing he can get his hands on.. For those that truly want to follow him blindly, I can only pray that we don't suffer needlessly at the hands of someone this incompetent..

We've suffered enough..

Bring our troops home..

Going to Europe was a nice gesture, but there doesn't seem to be a huge outpouring of support -- in name only it would seem.. Nice photo-ops don't help the tens of thousands affected by Bush's inadequate plans..

North Korea was to be legitimate..

Who knows what's going to happen with Iran, Syria, the Congo, among other hot spots..

Assistance programs are being cut right and left..

As we figured, no medical benefits help.. Must've forgotten that little platform nugget..

We've been asked to sacrifice, nip, tuck - unless you're earning over $200k in that case nip & tuck is actually something you may look forward to the next time you see your plastic surgeon.. After all, the first 10 injections didn't work for your wrinkles, why not go for 11??

Yet - where exactly is this sacrifice and justice for those execs at ChoicePoint who learned that their system was vulnerable back in 2004, sold their stock - yet remain protected by some obscure SEC rule?? Millions in profit - pocketed.. Future secured.. Shareholders screwed.. Millions of identities exposed and "picked for the ripin'..." MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

Oh yes - we protect those that screw endlessly, but my god if they happen to be homosexual, we simply will pretend they don't exist..

Oh yeah -- we're advancing right along, thank you very much..

I think it's safer where I've been over the last few weeks -- maybe I best stay there and hope the next 2-4 years pass by quickly..

Not surprising

The Bush administration announced that former POWs that served in the 1991 Gulf War should NOT be able to sue Iraq for mistreating them...

...coming from the administration that believes that we should be doing everything to protect our troops -- except if you get caught, then you're on your own..

Uniquely ---- what??

Drudge even picked up and *reported* the gaffe by Bush about how a upper 50 year old woman is working three jobs to support her three children.... funny.... laughter.... ensues....

... uniquely American??