Justice Sunday...?

..."Just Us Sunday" would, I think be more approprpriate.

Senator Frist is playing a dangerous game with some of the most extreme elements of the Christian conservative movement in America. One that could, with any luck, kill his political career. In making television appearnaces today with a small and extreme, but incredibly vocal and politically savvy fringe of religionists, he launches an attack on any who stand outside this tent as being "un-Christian" and working to undermine Christianity.

You may have noticed that I failed to call these people "Christian"...And with good reason. I do this as the leaders of these religionists have abandoned their faith for political power. As they are unable to convince most people of the soundness of their agenda by means of reasoned argument, they are seeking to move their doctrine from the church to the legislature. There, they hope to have it enacted into law, thus imposing their agenda upon the rest of us...at the point of a gun.

They seek to undermine the judiciary, which provides a check to the unlimited exercise of power by either the legislative or executive branches. They wish to supplant a strong, independent judiciary with a rubber-stamp judiciary that will unquestioningly uphold their ideological agenda.

These religionists, rather than focusing on the heart of the teachings of Jesus have, instead, narrowed the discussion down to abortion and same-gender marriage.

...35:For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. - Matthew 25: 35-36

What has become of this message? It has been drowned out by those who would hijack religion and pervert its message to further their own political agenda, selecting only those passages which may be used to this end, excluding all the rest.

The assertions made by the Republican leadership and the leadership of these religionists are the seeds of theocracy, and if these people desire to live in a theocracy, they should gather up their belongings and move to one. Their attempts to create one from the secular republic established by the Founding Fathers is an affront to their memory and a subversion of their goals.

In closing I leave these politicians and religionists with this:

13: But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
14: Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
15: Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. - Matthew 23: 13-15

These politicians and religionists wear the mantle of Christianity, but they soil it in doing so. They preach Christian virtue yet fail to practice it. They mouth the words, yet fail to understand their meaning. They are the threat to this Republic.

Take these people seriously!

Chriscons...christofascists...the rapture right...religious right wing-nuts...whatever you call them, take them seriously.

On April 19th, "Family Lobby Day" was held in Ohio's statehouse. A coalition of 6 faith-based groups had appointments with 97 of Ohio's 132 state legislators, leaving "information packets" for the rest.

Emboldened by the passage of a deeply flawed ballot issue banning state recognition of any relationships beyond that of the marriage of a man and woman, these activists are working more fervently than ever to have their particular, peculiar brand of Christian ideology enacted into law.

They would like to see a "Terri Schiavo" bill passed barring removal of feeding tubes from patients who are in a chronic vegetative state if family members cannot aree on the matter. This is un-necessary as law already provides clear guidelines on the issue.

They wish to see a ban on ALL abortions in order to force the issue before the SCOTUS in hopes of overturning Roe v. Wade. This would remove the option of safe, legal abortions from the table and leave countless women to die at the hands of back-alley butchers. So much for a "Culture of Life".

They want an "adoptive children's protective act" passed. This would bar the adoption of children by same-gender couples. There is no evidence to be found, anywhere, that children adopted and raised by same-gender couples are harmed in any way by the experience. Unless you consider that these children regard such relationships to be normal harmful.

Their legislative agenda has nothing so much to do with religion as it does with power. They are not clamoring for programs to help the least of us...they are not calling for social justice...Instead, they are seeking to have their own narrow, selective reading of Christian doctrine into law. I would say to them that if they wish to live in a theocracy, they should move to one rather than attempt to create one from the secular republic the Founding Fathers established.

To dismiss these fringe elements, which are rapidly moving into the mainstream, of the conservative movement would be a grave mistake. We do so at our own peril, for they are as great a threat to the Republic as any terrorist who wraps themselves in the mantle of religious purity. They are simply more subtle..for now.

The story I cited appeared in the the "The Columbus Dispatch", 4/20/05, pg C5, "Fatih-based lobbyists meet with lawmakers" - Mark Niquette

Don't like the numbers...? Don't publish them!

True to form, Dubbyuh's administration has once more decided that since it didn't like the numbers, it won't publish the data. This in reference to the State Department's annual report on international terrorism. After being forced to recant the rosy picture that was painted in 2003's report when the truth was revealed (acts of internationl terrorism actually increased rather than decreased) State will no longer publish those statistics.

According to Richard Boucher at State, those stats will be published by the newly created National Counterterrorism Center, but they're not sure where or when those reports will be published. I think we can assume that, given this Administrations penchant for compartmentalizing information which shows it in a bad light, that information will either never be published or classified so that it is never distributed to the public.

And speaking of terrorism, whatever happened to the daily "Terror Alerts"? There hasn't been one issued since the election. Could it be that they were simply a tool for manipulating the emotions of the public in the run-up to the election? Nah, that's too cynical even for me...

And it just keeps getting weirder...

The Judeo-Christian Council for Constitutional Restoration met in its star chamber over the weekend and has reached a verdict...

Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy is guilty of prohibiting capital punishment for juveniles and and citing "international norms" in his findings. He should therefore be impeached...at least acording to Phyllis Schlafly and Michael P. Farris.

Edwin Vieira, a constitutional lawyer (just whose constitution is open to debate), stated that because Kennedy helped strike down Texas' anti-sodomy law, he was upholding "...Marxist, Leninist satanic principles drawn from foreign law...".

Vieira went on to say that his principles in dealing with the SCOTUS were drawn from ol'Joe Stalin himself. "No man, no problem..." he said. He left out the part about death solving all problems.

And dear Phyllis went on to gush, in giddy, girlish tones, about how the morally crippled Tom DeLay (R,Texas) and the congenital idiot Richard Cornyn (R,Texas)(not all Texans are idiots...just the ones in national political office) should be fully supported in their quest to destroy and independent judiciary and turn it into something more to their liking...a rubber stamp comes to mind.

The truly frightening, or pathetic depending on how you look at it, thing about these people is they do not seem to see the inherent contradiction or irony in preserving the Constitution through Stalinesque tactics. As for their desire to restore the constitution, as with Mr. Vieira, just whose constitution they wish to 'restore' is a matter which is open for debate.

The lunatic-fringe of the right wing-nuts is moving towards the mainstream of political consciousness, and they could hopelessly pollute that stream with their gibberish. In any sane society, these mawkish buffoons would by ridiculed to the point that they could no longer show their faces in public. But, as evidenced by the unquestioned acceptance of Mr. Vieira's embracing of Stalin by the crowd and how little coverage this meeting recieved, we do not live in a sane society. To quote a favorite author of mine, "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro..." - HST. And these people are stone-cold professional weird.

As I listened to Colin Powell read his essay "The America I Believe In", I know he loves his country. But that love took a backseat as he forswore his oath to support and defend the Constitution and as his misguided loyalty to a corrupt administration led him to attempt to justify war with Iraq before the United Nations. A war which, by any standard, was illegal and unjustified. But this did not stop Mr. Powell from plying the snake-oil the Bush administration was peddling to the world at large.

As the world has since seen, there were no weapons of mass destruction...There were no UAV's capable of delivering lethal bio-weapons beyond Iraq's borders let alone to Europe, as was claimed...There were no mobile bio-weapon labs. We only had to look to the pre-invasion reports from UNSCOM to verify this.

But this did not deter then Secretary of State Powell. He went where angels fear to tread and now we have over 1500 dead US troops with some 11,000 wounded and maimed men and women. So Mr. Powell, sleep well knowing what you have helped come to pass. Instead of doing the right thing and raising your voice in protest to the machinations of the Bush administration, you carried water for them. You share their guilt.

The America I Believe In

He has no shame...

Unable to wait until Terri Schiavo's corpse had cooled, let alone been interred, Tom DeLay just HAD to open his foul, foetid blowhole...AGAIN.

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay on Thursday blamed Terri Schiavo's death on what he contended was a failed legal system and he raised the possibility of trying to impeach some of the federal judges in the case.

"The time will come for the men responsible for this to answer for their behavior," said DeLay, R-Texas. - ABC News

This in regards to the percieved failure of the federal courts to act on the federal version of "Terri's Law". He called the failure of the federal courts to order the re-insertion of her feeding tube a "...perfect example of an out of control judiciary...". What he convenienlty failed to mention is that the 11th circuit, based in Atlanta, is one of the most conservative federal court jurisdictions in the country. Nor did he mention that Judge Stanley Birch, who wrote the opinion jarshly critical of Congress and Dubbyuh's involvement in the case is one of the most conservative judges on the federal bench.

According to Judge Birch, this effort by the Legislative and Executive branches was a violation of the separation of powers laid down in the Constitution. They did so by "...arrogating vital judicial functions to itself...". This is not an "out of control liberal judge" talking. This is a rock solid contitutional conservative judge saying the things that the so-called conservaitve in Congress should have been saying.

But that's what the principle of checks and balances is all about. And if the judiciary finds the stance of the Legislative and Executive branches to be untenable or unacceptable on Constitutional grounds, that's the way the system was meant to work. The Republic will collapse under its own weight in the absence of independent judiciary. This attack by DeLay is yet another volley in the battle by this administration and its backers to hamstring the judiciary, thus controlling all three branches of government.

But I can't help wondering when Tom DeLay will be held to answer for his behavior.

Dubbyuh's political machine continues to rattle and clank its way across the country trying to prop up sagging support for his "Social Security Reform"...Read as: "Giveaway to Wall Street contributors". Part of this effort includes tax-payer funded "town hall" style meetings. Unfortunately all of the residents, who are tax-payers by the way, of the towns these meetings are held in don't have access to them. Instead, the attendees are carefully vetted by the local Republican Party apparatchiki for their loyalty to the party line. Local opposition is black-listed or ejected from the proceedings if they somehow find their way in.

Three Denver residents yesterday charged that they were forcibly removed from one of President Bush's town meetings on Social Security because they displayed a bumper sticker on their car condemning the administration's Middle East policies. - The Washington Post

In Fargo, N.D., where Bush held a Social Security event in February, a local newspaper reported that more than 40 residents were placed on a "black list" of people who were not to receive tickets because they had expressed opposition to Bush's policies. - The LA Times

With all of this orchestration, I can only wonder if they haven't re-animated the corpse of Leni Reifenstahl, and have her directing the campaign. Either than or they transplanted her brain into Karen Hughes' body.

Can you say "Hypocrite"...?

House Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) told evangelical Christians last week that only Christianity offers a reasonable answer to basic questions about the purpose of life. - The Washington Post

Now, I don't know about anyone else, but Tom DeLay shrouding himself in the mantle of Christian virtue is rather like dressing a pig in velvet and brocade. It makes the pig uncomfortable and the velvet and brocade gets soiled and tattered. But Tom has much to be uncomfortable about as it is...not the least of which are his questionable ethics and being a hairs breadth away from an indictment in Texas. And by his actions, he soils the good name of Christianity. By past standards he would be branded a blasphemer and stoned to death.

Then there's that little thing about Christianity "...being the only reasonable answer..." to life's challenges. Well, I've got news for him...a goodly majority of the world's population has gotten along just fine without his particular brand of Christianity, thank you very much.

And, of course, there was his little speech before The Family Research Council in which he promised that Republican leaders would work to implement the political agenda of the religious right wing-nuts. But golly, can you overlook those ethics charges and possible indictments? For the whole written transcript and audio tape, the Americans United for Separation of Church and State is the website to go to. They've got all the sordid details on Tom's groveling and whining.

It should be obvious by now, to anyone capable of rational thought, that the Republicans are using religion to further their own political power while, in actuality, they do nothing more than pay lip-service to Christian virtue.

5: Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

6: Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. - Matthew 7, 5-6

Citations:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A18077-2002Apr19¬Found=true

http://www.au.org/site/PageServer?pagename=press_audio

Sleaze merchants, not statesmen, soil the halls of Congress

Like many Americans, I suspect, I tried to picture how I would have reacted if a bunch of smarmy, camera-seeking politicians came anywhere near a hospital room where my own relative was hooked up to life support. I imagined summoning the Clint Eastwood of "Dirty Harry," not "Million Dollar Baby." But before my fantasy could get very far, star politicians with the most to gain from playing the God card started hatching stunts whose extravagant shamelessness could upstage any humble reverie of my own.

Senator Bill Frist, the Harvard-educated heart surgeon with presidential aspirations, announced that watching videos of Ms. Schiavo had persuaded him that her doctors in Florida were mistaken about her vegetative state - a remarkable diagnosis given that he had not only failed to examine the patient ostensibly under his care but has no expertise in the medical specialty, neurology, relevant to her case. No less audacious was Tom DeLay, last seen on "60 Minutes" a few weeks ago deflecting Lesley Stahl's questions about his proximity to allegedly criminal fund-raising by saying he would talk only about children stranded by the tsunami. Those kids were quickly forgotten as he hitched his own political rehabilitation to a brain-damaged patient's feeding tube. Adopting a prayerful tone, the former exterminator from Sugar Land, Tex., took it upon himself to instruct "millions of people praying around the world this Palm Sunday weekend" to "not be afraid."

The president was not about to be outpreached by these saps. The same Mr. Bush who couldn't be bothered to interrupt his vacation during the darkening summer of 2001, not even when he received a briefing titled "Bin Laden Determined to Strike in U.S.," flew from his Crawford ranch to Washington to sign Congress's Schiavo bill into law. The bill could have been flown to him in Texas, but his ceremonial arrival and departure by helicopter on the White House lawn allowed him to showboat as if he had just landed on the deck of an aircraft carrier. Within hours he turned Ms. Schiavo into a slick applause line at a Social Security rally. "It is wise to always err on the side of life," he said, wisdom that apparently had not occurred to him in 1999, when he mocked the failed pleas for clemency of Karla Faye Tucker, the born-again Texas death-row inmate, in a magazine interview with Tucker Carlson. - Frank Rich, The New York Times

Listening to Dubbyuh, Bill Frist and Tom DeLay bray about the virtue of erring "...on the side of life..." just makes my skin crawl. Their utter hypocrisy, smarmy insincerity and sleazy political oportunism is shameless...but they have no shame. Their eagerness to make poltical hay from the the private tragedy of a family in agony is an apalling sign of just how far the Republic has fallen. Gone are the statesmen from America's past. In their place, we find snake-oil merchants of every stripe...wild-eyed religious fanatics...grifters...and a tiny minority of people who do care about the nation. These latter, however, are drowned out by the braying of the asses who form the majority which roams the halls of our nation's capital, soiling them with their very presence.

It's time to clean house, and put the live-stock out to pasture where they can do no harm.

The Right Wing Three Ring Circus

And that's what these sorry sacks of excrement have made of Terri Schiavo's case. They passed legislation, which was then signed by the head sack-o-crap, affecting a single individual. This pernicious bit of legislative skulduggery will allow Mrs. Schiavo's case to be heard before the federal judiciary. The Florida legislature passed a law aimed at keeping Mrs. Schiavo's PEG tube in place and had it thrown back in their faces by the Florida Supreme Court, and ignored by the SCOTUS. Barney Franks (D, MA) had it right when he said that this is a violation of the separation of powers, and that Congress' role was the determination of broad policy issues and the courts were for individual adjudication. All well and good with right wing-nuts except when they get their panties in a twist over a given issue. Then, by golly it's "Katie bar the door...!", as they bitch and whine about "activists judges" interfering with the legislative process and the "will of the people".

Only Mrs. Schiavo's case, the federal version of Florida's overturned "Terri's Law", wasn't about the "will of the people", it wasn't even about Terri Schiavo...It was about politics, pure and simple. It was reported on the news this morning that a memo circulated amongst congressional republicans stating that this case was essentially a political goldmine for republicans, particuilarly since one House republican was facing a contested election and could benefit from this issue. But what I want to know is where the concern of these sanctimonious, self-righteous twits was a year ago...? Two years age...? Seven years ago...? It was nowhere to be found. It wasn't until they thought they could get some political mileage out of it that they did anything.

And listening to Dubbyuh spout his hypocritical nonsense about "...our society, our laws, and our courts should have a presumption in favor of life..." had me choking on my coffee this morning. This coming from a man who, as Governor of Texas, presided over more executions than any governor in the last 50 years. And let's not forget his cheerful willingness to permit the execution of the mentally retarded, and his cruel mockery on "Larry King: Live", of a woman he permitted to be executed. Dubbyuh's mouthings about the sanctity of life are nothing more than calculated remarks to appeal to a selected audience, they have all the substance of a rapidly evaporating puddle on the hot asphalt of a parking lot.

Our congressional reps in both houses should be ashamed of themselves for so shamelessly politicizing this case. As far as I can tell, they have bought and paid for their places in hell. I hope they enjoy them.

And they said the war wasn't about oil...

Before Dubbyuh started his little adventure in Iraq, a number of folks were saying that the war was about oil. Now, it appears they were right, and that the plans were being laid as early as the spring of 2001. BBC "Newsnight", in co-operation with "Harper's Magazine" have unearthed evidence which was presented in a broadcast on 3/17/05.

The story points to a conflict between the neocons in Dubbyuh's administration, and "Big Oil" interests in league with the state department. This was essentially a conflict between the dogmatic neocons and the pragmatists in the oil industry and state. The neocons were pushing to "privatize" Iraq's oil fields in an attempt to break OPEC's back by flooding the market with oil and driving the prices down to a point that the cartel could not tolerate. This plan was given the go ahead even as Bagdhad fell. This plan helped fuel the insurgency by giving them a cause to rally supporters. "Look," they would say, "We're losing our country...our wealth...to foreigners who care nothing about what happens to us!"

This plan, however, was blocked by the oil industry which feared that the privatization of Iraq's oil fields would echo that of the Russian oil fields. In this process of privatization, US oil companies were not permitted to bid in the reserves. Instead a plan was put forth to set up an Iraqi state oil company in order to give US, and other companies access to Iraq's oil fields.

We have been lied to in every manner imaginable by the Bush administration in order to justify the war in Iraq. This should be the final nail in the coffin of this Administration and its policies. There are more than sufficient grounds for the impeachment of George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and the Bush cabinet. It's time to clean house.

It's getting a bit drafty...Don't you think?

Uncle Sam on the prowl

By Katherine Stapp

NEW YORK - A couple of months ago, Kim Rosario found an improbable email message in her mail inbox.

The mother of a United States soldier, Rosario travels the country publicly denouncing Washington's policies in Iraq, and is a featured speaker at an upcoming rally in New York's Central Park to mark the second anniversary of the March 19, 2003, invasion.

"It was from the military, asking if I've ever considered a career in the navy," Rosario recalled. "I said I might if you send my son back from Iraq!"

Unintended irony aside, she believes the offer is a sign of the Pentagon's growing desperation to counter dwindling recruitment numbers - especially in the lower-income communities once viewed as fertile ground.

Reflecting the skepticism felt by many people of color toward the Iraq invasion, a study commissioned for the US Army last August concluded that "more African-Americans identify having to fight for a cause they don't support as a barrier to military service".

The true strength of an all volunteer military is making itself evident. Enlistment numbers are dropping, particularly in those areas which the military recruited heavily from before the invasion of Iraq...economically disadvantaged areas in cities and counties all across America. But with the pool of new recruits drying up, a back-door draft has been instituted through the use of stop-loss orders, extended deployments, calling up inactive reserves, and drawing ever more heavily on National Guard units which are having their own problems with recruitment and retention.

An all voluteer military will, over time, be unable to sustain manpower requirements for actions which are not supported by potential recruits. And, campaign promises to the contrary aside, the Bush administration will have to resort to a draft to provide the personel for its military adventurism abroad. And this will be the begining of the end of neocon control of the Republican party and this Administration, which can't come soon enough.

Those Wonderful Canadians!

Missile Counter-Attack

Thursday, March 3rd, 2005

By LLOYD AXWORTHY

Dear Condi,

I'm glad you've decided to get over your fit of pique and venture north to visit your closest neighbour. It's a chance to learn a thing or two. Maybe more.

I know it seems improbable to your divinely guided master in the White House that mere mortals might disagree with participating in a missile-defence system that has failed in its last three tests, even though the tests themselves were carefully rigged to show results.

But, gosh, we folks above the 49th parallel are somewhat cautious types who can't quite see laying down billions of dollars in a three-dud poker game.

As our erstwhile Prairie-born and bred (and therefore prudent) finance minister pointed out in presenting his recent budget, we've had eight years of balanced or surplus financial accounts. If we're going to spend money, Mr. Goodale added, it will be on day-care and health programs, and even on more foreign aid and improved defence.

Sure, that doesn't match the gargantuan, multi-billion-dollar deficits that your government blithely runs up fighting a "liberation war" in Iraq, laying out more than half of all weapons expenditures in the world, and giving massive tax breaks to the top one per cent of your population while cutting food programs for poor children.

Just chalk that up to a different sense of priorities about what a national government's role should be when there isn't a prevailing mood of manifest destiny.

This truth will never reach the ears of the administration as they already know it and choose to ignore it. Truth is speaking to power, but in their hubris the Administration blithely ignores it.

They're both wrong

In reaching for political power, the "religious right" has abandoned their roots. All of the great progressive movements in America have had their roots in religion. From the abolition of slavery to women's suffrage,to the end of child labor, to the civil rights movment of the 50's and 60's...All were rooted in the concepts of justice preached by Jesus in the New Testament. The people who were at the fore-front of these movements lived their religion. For them it was a thing come alive to set us all free, regardless of our beliefs.

Contrast this with the mean-spirited, narrow, dogmatic and selective vision of the "religious right" which seeks political power to impose its vision from the top down rather than the bottom up, and that contrast is stark. Rather than an inclusive view which welcomes all, theirs is exclusive..."Believe as we do or we want no part of you!" Rather than seeking solutions with aim of the good of all, they seek to blame others for America's short-comings while providing no genuine solutions beyond the imposition of their dogma upon all. Theirs is nothing short of hubris laced with the language of persecution. Their grasp for power is bad politics and even worse theology.

The left is not blameless either. They have sought to turn religion into a private expression of one's values. They fail to understand that while religion is personal, it is never private. WHatever philosophical view we hold to, either implicitly or explicitly, affects how we experience and react to the world around us. It is their failure to acknowledge it that prevents them from establishing an effective dialogue with the many religious moderates in this country who resent the religious right's hijacking of Christianity to further their political agenda. And until they do this, we will continue to see the increasing polarization in this nation, centered on a few non-issues, rather than focusing on the broader, deeper problems that face us.

We stand at a cross-roads in America today. We can take the easy path and slide into the fascist state that we seem to be headed towards. Or we can roll up our sleeves, Christian, Jew, Muslim, Hinu, Buddhist, atheist, agnostic, or what have you...Do the hard work and build a new America from the ground up, rooted in the common values of our beliefs and made a living thing to set us all free.

What would Jesus do?

As debate over the bankruptcy bill becomes more heated, I would ask our lawmakers to aske themselves, "What would Jesus do?"

Would he kill a homestead exemption for senior citizens? I think not.

Would he make it more difficult for those facing a medical crisis to get back on their feet? No, that doesn't sound like something he'd do.

Would he force women cast off by their spouses to pay debts which they haven't the means to repay? That doesn't sound like him either.

Would he deny the families of our soldiers, who are making huge sacrifices overseas, the ability to clear debts accrued because of that call to arms? No, I don't think that would be him either.

But these are all things that Republicans, those paragons of Christian morals and values, have done. And by golly Dubbyuh, who claims Jesus as his personal savior and role-model, has backed the Republicans to the hilt on this too. But the problem is Jesus is his personal savior and role model only when it's politically expedient. The rest of the time he's out selling his soul, and his ass, for a few shekels.

Face it folks, Jesus would not be a Republican, or a Democrat for that matter. He would be working for social justice for all, which is what his teachings in the new testament were all about. I ask our law makers to read the book of Matthew 25, 34-40. These few paragraphs are about social justice, and there is no justice in this bill. It is about political payback, not justice, and no protestations to the contrary can make it otherwise.

So, why don't you take a little time and call your congressional reps and ask them, "What would Jesus do?"

History Unremembered

On February 27th, an anniversary passed which has gone, for the most part, unremembered and unremarked.

It started when the government, in the midst of an economic crisis, received reports of an imminent terrorist attack. A foreign ideologue had launched feeble attacks on a few famous buildings, but the media largely ignored his relatively small efforts. The intelligence services knew, however, that the odds were he would eventually succeed. (Historians are still arguing whether or not rogue elements in the intelligence service helped the terrorist. Some, like Sefton Delmer - a London Daily Express reporter on the scene - say they certainly did not, while others, like William Shirer, suggest they did.)

But the warnings of investigators were ignored at the highest levels, in part because the government was distracted; the man who claimed to be the nation's leader had not been elected by a majority vote and the majority of citizens claimed he had no right to the powers he coveted.

He was a simpleton, some said, a cartoon character of a man who saw things in black-and-white terms and didn't have the intellect to understand the subtleties of running a nation in a complex and internationalist world.

His coarse use of language - reflecting his political roots in a southernmost state - and his simplistic and often-inflammatory nationalistic rhetoric offended the aristocrats, foreign leaders, and the well-educated elite in the government and media. And, as a young man, he'd joined a secret society with an occult-sounding name and bizarre initiation rituals that involved skulls and human bones. - Common Dreams

No, it isn't George W. Bush...But the pattern is disturbingly similar.

I once had a patient whose family was amongst the powerbrokers of pre-WW II Germany, his father had been slain in the "Night of the Long-Knives", Hitler's purging of his opposition. He saw it all, from the burning of the Reichstag, through Hitler's ascendancy to power, through the horrors of WW II, through internment as a German POW.

We didn't talk much prior to the Fall of the World Trade Center. Afterwards though, we began to talk. He spoke of how similar the political events following the Fall were to those which followed on the heels of the burning of the Reichstag. He spoke of how the media lapped up Goerring's propaganda in much the same way the US media now laps up, as if it were manna from heaven, every last gobbet of excrement the Bush administration spews forth. He spoke of how Bush's use of religious language and imagery was like that used by Hitler to justify his actions. "Gott mitt uns."...God is with us.

During that period of history America and Germany, both in dire economic straights, took different courses. Hitler rewared his wealthy supporters with more wealth...allied himself with industry to the detriment of the average person...busted unions...quashed dissent...engaged in ceasless and aggressive nationalistic rhetoric...built up the economy on a mountain of debt and unchecked spending on war.

The US followed a different course with minimum wage laws...aggressive enforcement of anti-trusr laws...increased taxes on corporations and the wealthy...created Social Security...and the WPA to employ hundreds of thousands of Americans to rebuild and renew America's infrastructure.

History gives us a perspective that they didn't have then. We have seen where each path takes us, and we are again at a crossroads. The choice is ours, which course shall we take?

Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it. - George Santayana

Let's put the Gerrymander on the endagered species list...

Four members of Tom DeLay's Texas based PAC, TrmPAC, stand indicted of violations of campaign finance laws. More recently, five Texas democrats are suing TrmPAC for violations of Texas campaign law. These are the most visible symptoms of a fatal flaw in US election laws. That being that the majority political parties decide how to re-apportion voters and set the boundaries of legislative districts.

The whole stink in Texas is the result of Tommy's drive to seat a majority republican Texas legislature and then draw up new legislative boundaries which favored republicans, which they did. But there is a simple solution...

What is required is a Constitutional Amendment which takes the power to redraw legilative districts and put this power in the hands of a non-partisan commission in each state. After each decennial census, this board would be appointed and redraw legislative districts on the basis of, not party affiliation, but population...What a novel concept. This would provide for more representative legislatures on both the state and federal levels. This would, in turn, result in a government which, I believe, would be more in line with that envisioned by the framers of the Constitution.

Gerrymander - "Gerrymander refers to the drawing of boundaries of legislative districts to benefit one party or group and handicap another. Although the practice dates back to the colonial period, its name is derived from Elbridge Gerry, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, a nonsigning delegate to the Federal Convention of 1787, and a leader of the Jeffersonian Republican party."

Also see:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/28/national/28delay.html

Whaaaat...?

Listening to Dubbyuh chide Putin about backsliding on "...democracy and the rule of law..." almost had me choking on my coffee this morning. If ever there was someone who needed upbraiding and an education into the meaning of democratic values, it is Dubbyuh.

His criticism of Putin for limiting freedom of the press in Russia rings rather hollow in the face of Dubbyuh's desire for a pliable and complacent news media in this country. And while Dubbyuh may not be issuing executive orders limiting the press, his campaign backers, many of whom own major news outlets are quasing editorial dissent. Although, the political appointees to the board of PBS seem to be doing a splendid job of gutting that media outlet of anything but the party line.

As for democracy and the rule of law, the Reichpublican...er...Republican party seems to be of the mind that they are above the law and can do anything they wish. All protestations to the contrary aside, their moral values on this issue are more than a little lacking. Their record on democracy is more than a little questionable as well. Republican support for a verifiable paper audit trail for electronic voting systems is tepid, at best. Such systems were used in Nevada in 2004, contrary to the protestations of folks from Diebold, and others that it wa not feasible to do so. In fact, the most hard-core gambler in the sleaziest gambling-hell in Vegas has more and greater protections in place on gaming machines than the nation does for their voting machines.

So, Dubbyuh, save the hypocrisy for someone who will buy it. It certainly isn't me, and the increasing number of Americans who aren't buying your crap. BTW If you can't push your Social Security "reform" through, are we going to start haveing terror threat alerts again so you can sneak it through? Ya pig.

Coming home to roost...

At least the chickens from the Bush administration's economic policies are. With Asian markets already saturated by US debt, South Korea announced that it was seeking to diversify its holdings in non-dollar equities. This in the face of record US trade and budget deficits and an already weak dollar. The net result was a drop in US bond prices with a rise in the yields. Down the road, this will result in higher consumer interest rates at a time when already over-stretched US borrowers can ill afford it. Also of note here is that more European central banks are starting to shift their holdings from dollar to euros

Of course, this will likely result in a whole slew of new bankruptcies. And, if the new bankruptcty bill makes it out of the House and Senate, otherwise responsible folks will be facing years of indentured servitude to their creditors when they default on their debt due to medical emergencies, job loss or divorce. But the little fact that the majority of bankruptcies are the result of these causes has done little to deter the bills passage through committee...So much for compassionate conservatism. If creditors want to limit their losses, they need to stop extending credit to dead-beats. Can you say "responsible lending"...? I knew you could.

So, I hope you see that the fiscal irresponsiblity of the Bush administration has broad and far reaching consequences, both at home and abroad. My wife and I are going to be re-financing out of our ARM for a fixed rate mortgage in May, I would suggest anyone else with an ARM do the same.

Links:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4287413.stm

http://news.ft.com/cms/s/6934a1a6-8541-11d9-a172-00000e2511c8.html

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2005/bankruptcy_bill.html

Outsourcing Torure

Article 3

1. No State Party shall expel, return ("refouler") or extradite a person to another State where there are substantial grounds for believing that he would be in danger of being subjected to torture. - CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE

"Extaordinary rendition"...a polite euphemism for transporting detainees to third party nations which, by the way, are neither signatory nor parties to any treaty prohibiting torture. A favorite destination is Syria. The act of transporting persons to such nations for the purpose of torture is a violation of the UN Convention Against Torture. Now, I'm sure some sick bastard will say that the US is under no obligation to adhere to the provision of the Convention, and this is true since the US is only signatory to the Convention and has not, much to our shame, ratified the it. While not legally bound to honor the provisions of the Convention, as signatory to it, the US is MORALLY obligated to honor its provisions. You know...The moral issue was a big one for the Republicans in 2004. But hey, they were more concerned with keeping same-gender couples from getting married than from preventing some rag-head from being tortured. We gotta keep our priorities straight...Right?

Under the "Foreign Affairs Reform and Resturucturing Act of 1998", however, This activity is a violation of US law. Yet we now have as the Attorney General of the United States a man who worked to justify such activities, and as President we have a man who has sanctions these activities. These activities demand the appointment of a special prosecutor and, if sufficient grounds are found, the trial and impeachment of all who aided and abetted this violation of US law, international treaties and human decency.

For further information on this issue, I am providing the following links:

http://www.aclu.org/ImmigrantsRights/ImmigrantsRights.cfm?ID=16165&c=95

http://www.newyorker.com/printable/?fact/050214fa_fact6 (the same link as in the header if it shouldn't work)

http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/crs/rl32276.pdf

http://www.hrweb.org/legal/cat.html

Surprise...!

America's prosperity requires restraining the spending appetite of the federal government. I welcome the bipartisan enthusiasm for spending discipline. I will send you a budget that holds the growth of discretionary spending below inflation, makes tax relief permanent, and stays on track to cut the deficit in half by 2009. My budget substantially reduces or eliminates more than 150 government programs that are not getting results, or duplicate current efforts, or do not fulfill essential priorities. The principle here is clear: taxpayer dollars must be spent wisely, or not at all. - George W. Bush, State of the Union Address, 02/02/05 (emphasis mine)

Looks like sound fiscal policy to me. And I'm certain that that will surprise many of you to see me agreeing with Dubbyuh. And I would agree with him if he actually meant it, but he doesn't.

On Monday, the failure of Dubbyuh's pet project, the national missile defense system, was reported(1.)...again. At $85 million a pop, that adds up rather quickly. This Reagan-era weapons program does squat all to protect our borders from a pocket nuke in a shipping container, it has been plagued by technical problems and has, thus far, proven anything but successful. The program is not getting results, by any definition. By the standards Dubbyuh laid out in the SOTUS, funding for this program should be eliminated.

Already facing budget cuts(2.) because of the reliability issues, there are other forces at work to cut funding to the program. First and foremost of these is the "war on terror". After 9/11, the focus was shifted from a conventional military threat to the unconventional threat posed by international terrorism. Despite the $10 billion already poured down this particular rat-hole, there remains "no demonstrated capability" to even get off the ground, much less knock down an incoming missile. But that simply doesn't appear to enter into the calculus. How many humvees would that $10 billion have armored? How many flak-jackets would it have provided?

Thus far, however, funding is only being cut for the program, when, according to the criteria laid out in the SOTUS, it should be cancelled. But this apparent contradiction should come as no surprise to anyone. Dubbyuh has a long and checkered history of saying one thing and doing another.

Citations:

(1.) The San Francisco Chronicle, pg A3, 02/15/2005. Also, here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/02/15/MNGISBB1R01.DTL&type=printable

(2.) Business Week Online, 02/04/05

Budget...? What budget...?

Dubbyuh's budget, such as it is, calls for some $350 billion in cuts to discretionary and mandatory programs for 2006. In addition, the budget includes a number of tax changes that would reduce revenue by $1.3 trillion dollars over the next ten years. (And he wants to spend $2 trillion to "save" Social Security?!?!)

Since Dubbyuh rolled into DC, the ability of the government to raise revenue has dropped precipitously. At less than 17% of GDP, federal revenue is lower than it has been in the last 40 years. And, contrary to Dubbyuh's contentions, government spending is not "out of control". The most recent increase in spending has not beenon social safety net programs, but rather in higher defense and national security spending.

In the four years since Dubbyuh first graced the corridors of the White House, America has gone from a surplus of some $236 billion to a deficit of nearly $427 billion. And despite Dubbyuh's, and his handler's, claims otherwise, the dficit has only deepened. The 2006 budget doesn't include the costs, even estimated, of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Also conveniently excluded are the costs of Dubbyuh's "plan" to save Social Security and fixes to the Alternative Minimum Tax. When you add these costs, as well as the interest on them, the deficits over the next ten years soars to nearly $5 trillion

And don't expect any changes in Dubbyuh's tax policy...More of the same crap different day. He's pushing to make the tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 permanent, costing more than $1 trillion. He's also proposing other tax changes that will cost $117 billion over the next ten years. Also buried in the budget is the elimination of the "PEP" and "PEASE" provisions of the tax code which limit the size of personal exemptions and itemized deductions the wealthiest taxpayers can take. This will some $115 billion through the end of the decade, with 97% of the benefit going to households earning more than $200,000 per year. According to Tax Policy Center estimates, extending teh provisions of 2001/2004 tax changes would yield about $150,000 in tax cuts for those making over $1 million per year while yielding a significantly smaller proportion in tax relief to middle class taxpayers. The Adminstration seems bent on continuing its policies which extends preferential treatment to income generated by capital rather than by work. These tax policies are punitive towards work while they allow the very wealthy to avoid paying their fair share of taxes.

The process is skewed even further and the deficit deepened by PayGo rules which mandate expansions in government services to be paid for by cuts elswhere in the budget, however the proposed tax cuts and other changes to the tax code which will further reduce federal revenues are exempt from these rules.

We are already reaping the bitter harvest of Dubbyuh's previous domestic policy decisions. States all over the country are cutting funding to Medicaide programs, education and infrasturcture. Under this budget, these cuts will only deepen, leading to cuts in health and long-term care benefits for over 50 million people. The republican governnor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee said, "People need to remember that to balance the budget off the backs of the poorest people inthe country is simply unacceptable. You don't pull feeding tubes from people. You don't pull the wheelchair out from under the child with muscular dystrophy." The truly sad part of this is that the proposed cuts won't even begin to balance the budget.

Dubbyuh has made much of his "record" on defense and the "war" on terror. But guess what...? The Department of Homeland security only gets a 1% increase in its fiscal '06 budget, which doesn't even keep up with inflation. And as the need for troops is increasing due to casualties and attrition, the budget contains no funds to increase the size of the Army, the Army Reserve, or the Army National Guard. Can you say "draft"? I knew you could.

That the policies Dubbyuh is putting forth are contrary to American values is a gross understatement. It fails the poor and the middle classes, who must work ever harder to keep their heads above water while the wealthiest 1% bask in the benefits of those policies. And we have yet to pay the piper for these policies. But you can rest assured that the poor and the middle class will be the ones to take it in the shorts.

Iran...Uh, yeah...right...

With the rhetoric against Iran from the Bush administration growing ever more bellicose, it would behoove him and his handlers to pay close attention to the realpolitik of any actio against Iran.

China is about to ink a $70 billion deal to develope oil fields in Iran. Since China is a permanent member of the UN Security Council, any attempt to garner support for sanctions against Iran will fail. Venezuela is already in the process of diverting some of its production away from US markets and to Chinese markets. THis has the effect of limiting US leverage with oil producers as there now exist large, hungry oil markets elsewhere in the world

Europe is unlikely to provide any support for military action against Iran, and the US will be left pretty much to it's own devices. Unless, of course, you count whatever third world banana republics Dubbyuh's administration blackmails into supporting the venture.

Pursuing military action in Iran will effectively isolate America from the rest of the world and risk destabilizing not only the US economy, but also economies the world over, making the Great Depression look like a Sunday school picnic. Accompanying such an event would be a wave of terrorists activity before which all others pale in comparison. But Dubbyuh doesn't think in such terms. He only thinks in terms of his own infallibility and self-appointed mission for God. So, he will foolishly go where angels fear to tread.

Can anyone appreciate the irony...

...Of the stink being raised over illegal oil trades by Benon Sevan, administrator of the U.N. Oil-for-Food Program in Iraq? After all, we're talking $1 million in illegal oil sales...Money that went into Saddam's coffers rather than to aid the Iraqi people. And, of course, the picture wouldn't be complete without trying to implicate Kofi Annan and his son Kojo in the affair. Another ironic twist to this already twisted tale, is that the Administration turned a blind eye to the illegal oil sales as the embargo was hurting the economies of Jordan and Turkey.

Contrast this with what happened on Proconsul Bremer's watch in Iraq. During his time as head of the Coalition Provisional Authority, approximately $8.8 billion simply went missing...unaccounted for...gone. In one case, of a payroll of 8,206 names, only 602 could be verified and there was no paper trail to verify the disposition of the the rest of the cash. Yet, aside from a few small pieces hidden in Time, and elsewhere, there seems to be little media interest in the story, and no interest in hauling Bremer before a grand jury to ddemand an accounting else he face charges of misappropriations of governemnt funds.

And to think this boob recieved the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his incompetence. But that seems to be a pattern for Dubbyuh's administration. Now, I'm just trying to figure out where Rummy screwed up and succeeded at something to get knocked out of the running for a medal.

Holy flashback Batman...!

Shades of Campaign '04! Never ones to retire old tricks, Dubbyuh's handlers have stacked the audiences at Dubbyuh's appearances on the stump for his "plan" to "save" social security with party loyalists. No dissenting voices are allowed. Just like the good ole days out on the campaign trail, where never is heard a dissenting word.

But the election is over, and yes, the chuckle-head won. And no, he DOESN'T have a mandate, no matter how much he wishes otherwise. His own party is beginning to feed on its own as the whole issue of social security rears its head. And, his ratings in the polls are sinking like the Titanic.

Before Dubbyuh decided to create a crisis in social security, the Social Security commission reported that it would be solvent until 2042, at which point, it would begin paying out more than it took in. But the reality of the matter is that in 14 of the last 47 years Social Security has paid out more than it took in, so this dire warning is essentially meaningless. If, as the Administration talking points imply or state outright that Social Security trust funds have no real assets, then the treasury bonds held all over the world aren't real assets either, and not worth the paper they are printed on. That's a real confidence builder for the folks overseas that are holding US debt.

As Dubbyuh told the Wall Street Journal, the real debate on the issue will be one of whether there is actually a problem or not. Of course, Dubbyuh would have alot more credibility if he hadn't been beating this horse since 1978, when he first ran for Congress. In '78, he said the Social Security was going to be "...flat bust..." by 1988. The only thing that went "flat bust" in Dubbyuh's little world was Arbusto Energy.

So, Dubbyuh fields softball questions from slavishly adoring crowds, safe in his bubble. Unsullied by the real world, our very own American Nero fiddles on.

Holy shit Batman!

Gay marriage ban hits the fan

Be it Resolved by the People of the State of Ohio:

That the Constitution of the State of Ohio be amended by adopting a section to be designated as Section 11 of Article XV thereof, to read as follows:

Article XV

Section 11. Only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this state and its political subdivisions. This state and its political subdivisions shall not create or recognize a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance or effect of marriage.

Issue 1, as it was listed on the balllot in November, was passed by around 61% of Ohio voters. The problem is, they didn't read it very carefully. As a result, the first steaming legal dogpile its passage left behind has been steppped in.

In Cuyahoga County, the Public Defender's Office is using this amendment to dismiss domestic violence cases involving unmarried individuals who are living together and have no children. Their rationale is that, under this amendment, the state can only recognize the relationship bewteen a married couple of different genders. However, if the state recognizes that domestic violence occurs between two unrelated, unmarried people who are cohabitating regardless of gender, the state would be recognizing that relationship. Based upon this interpretation of Ohio's Constitution, that is simply not allowed.

The crux of the issue here is that this interpretaion would place the amendment in violation of the equal protection clause of the US Constitution. Maried couples would have protections under domestic violence laws which are unavailable to unwed couples who are living together. And, like it or not, that protection applies to same gender couples as well. If it doesn't, the Constitution isn't worth the match it would take to burn it. It applies to all, or it applies to none. Deal with it.

Republicans play the race card...

Listening to Orrin Hatch play the race card with regards to Alberto Gonzales' confirmation as AG rather put me to mind of a prostitute sermonizing on the virtues of chastity in Sunday school. The last time the party of Lincoln had anything truly constructive to do with race relations in this country was during Lincoln's era and shortly thereafter. It might be said that they helped pass the Civil Rights Act of 1957, but that was simply due to the number of boll weevil democrats who voted against the Act and later switched their party affiliations to that of...Republican. But the Democratic party was better off without them.

Mr. Hatch, and the other Republicans who seem to have sold their souls to the devil, and their asses to the highest bidder, just don't care to understand that opposition to Alberto Gonzales does not stem from his race but rather his principles or, more appropriately, his lack thereof. Mr. Gonzales was the principle architect of policies which run counter to those of the rest of the civilized world. He dismissed the Geneva Conventions as "quaint" and "obsolete". He helped narrow the definition of torture to "...injury such as death, organ failure, or serious impairment of body functions ...". At ihs request, the DOJ drafted a memo authorizing the CIA to transfer Iraqi detainees to other nations which would have no compunction against torturing these individuals which is a violation of the Geneva Conventions and federal law. He argued that there was essentially no limit to the authority of the POTUS to invade any nation he suspected of harboring terrorists whter or no they were linked to any specific incidence, this contrary to the narrow language of the joint resolution passed on 9/14/01 which limited his authority to attack only those countries specifically linked to the attacks of 9/11.

In short, the Senate Republicans seem intent on confirming as USAG, responsible for upholding and defending the Constitution of the United States, a man seemingly more intent upon subverting and underminig said document. What this says about the intent of the Republican leadership, which has seized control of all three branches of government, is unclear. But their apparent eagerness to confirm Alberto Gonzales as Attorney General, despite his history...present and past, will give us a good idea of the America they want. And it seems a sure bet that it's nothing the Founding Fathers envisioned.

Call your Senators...TODAY! The vote for his confirmation is tomorrow.

The policies of Dubbyuh and Alberto repudiated...

It seems that prisoners in Guantanamo are indeed able to claim constitutional protections under the law. So much for secret military tribunals, indefinite detention without charge and lack of access to counsel.

U.S. Judge: Guantanamo Suspects Have Rights

By James Vicini

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. judge dealt a setback to the Bush administration and ruled on Monday that the Guantanamo Bay terrorism suspects can challenge their confinement and the procedures in their military tribunal review process are unconstitutional.

U.S. District Judge Joyce Hens Green said the prisoners at the U.S. military base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba have constitutional protections under U.S. law.

"The court concludes that the petitioners have stated valid claims under the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution and that the procedures implemented by the government to confirm that the petitioners are 'enemy combatants' subject to indefinite detention violate the petitioners' rights to due process of law," Green wrote.

It's been one setback after another with regards to the administration's assertions regarding detainees and "enemy combatants". We have yet, however to hear a word of apology or admission of error on their part. But it's not likely that we will hear any such from this Administration. Their hubris is beyond belief, and will never permit them to admit that they have made mistakes...And that makes Dubbyuh and his merry band all the more dangerous. They cannot admit to error, so they will continue to make the same errors. And we see what their errors have bought us thus far.

It's getting a bit drafty...

On Friday, January 28th, the Project for a New American Century...you remember them, they were the architects of Dubbyuh's foreign policy, sent a letter to Bill Frist, Harry Reid, Denny Hasturt and Nanccy Pelosi. This breezy little missive oulines the necessity for increasing troop levels in Iraq, and elsewhere, as well as the means for meeting those needs. That being Article 1, Section 8 of the US Constitution. In other words, a draft.

Now, Dubbyuh explicitly stated that there would be no draft. But in the FY 2004 budget, there was an additional $28 million appropriated to fill all 10,350 draft board and 11,070 appeals board positions. Also, some 63% of the Army's combat force are tied up in potential, or actual, combat zones around the world, this includes Afghanistan and Iraq. This leaves US ground forces grossly overextended, and such long term operational commitments are sustainable only if there are about twice as many troops in the pipeline for rotation to the field. This leaves the US forces about 125,000 soldiers short. Also, the US and Canada signed a "Smart Border Declaration", which would make it more difficult for draft dodgers to seek refuge in Canada. With these items, as well as PNAC's cheery little note, it becomes apparent that Dubbyuh is set to break that campaign promise without a thought.

So, keep your children close, because they'll soon be wearing dogtags, and sent off to die just because Dubbyuh says so.

When the world's richest man bets against the dollar, it's time to pay attention.

Microsoft's Gates, World's Richest Man, Bets Against the Dollar

Jan. 29 (Bloomberg) -- Bill Gates, the world's richest person with a net worth of $46.6 billion, is betting against the U.S. dollar.

``I'm short the dollar,'' Gates, chairman of Microsoft Corp., told Charlie Rose in an interview in front of an audience of about 200 at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. ``The ol' dollar, it's gonna go down.''

Gates's comments reflect the same view as his friend Warren Buffett, the billionaire investor who has bet against the currency since 2002. Buffett said last week that the country's trade gap will probably further weaken the dollar, which fell 21 percent against a basket of six major currencies between January 2002 and the end of last year.

``It is a bit scary,'' Gates said. ``We're in uncharted territory when the world's reserve currency has so much outstanding debt.''

The U.S. is borrowing to finance record budget and trade deficits. Total U.S. government debt stood at $7.62 trillion as of Jan. 27, up 8.7 percent from a year earlier.

Bill Gates and Warren Buffet are betting aginst the dollar. As Dubbyuh's ruinous economic polices and reckless foreign policies continue to drive up both the foreign trade and federal budget deficits, the dollar continues to slide. This despite rhetoric from John Snow that the Administration is taking action to strengthen the dollar.

With the US borrowing some $2 billion a day to finance it's debt, one can only wonder when the world markets will be saturated with US debt. Indications are that this is already happening as China has cut its holdings of US debt as well as Russia. European central banks are drawing down their dollar holdings in favor of the euro and many asian central banks are aso drawing down their dollar holdings in favor of the basket of currencies reflecting foreign trade.

Yet our American Nero continues to fiddle. Dubbyuh does nothing...aside from making vague, reassuring noises that fewer and fewer people are willing to pay heed to. How long it takes for the bubble to burst remains to be seen. But when it does, those of us who aren't in that top 5% income bracket will be the one left to foot the bill.

Dubbyuh and his Merry Band: Head in the sand...? Or, up their asses...?

In its report, World Economic Situation and Prospects 2005, the world body said on Tuesday that the twin budget and trade deficits of the United States were throwing the global economy off balance.
.
It echoed warnings already issued by the International Monetary Fund and other financial institutions in saying that the United States cannot continue to maintain such huge debts. - The International Herald Tribune

Despite growing alarm in the world-wide economic community, the Bush administration has failed to even begin to address the issues of trade and budget deficits. The warning signs are all around us...A dollar in free-fall...European central banks shifting more of their assets out of US currency and bond markets...Murmurs, increasingly loud, from asian markets that it is becoming increasing difficult to maintain the dollar as their reserve currency...China and Japan muttering darkly about selling their dollars while they still can.

All of these things add up to a financial disaster in the offing, but our American Nero fiddles on. His ideologically driven agenda supercedes any other concerns, which may be of more pressing importance...He can't even take the time to honor the memory of 31 troops killed in a helo crash in Iraq during his press conference to tout the "great progress" in Iraq.

So, how can he be bothered with the possibility that world financial markets may stop buying US debt? He has more important things to do, like make the world safe for democracy. But that sounds like a cliche more fitting to a bad movie than from the POTUS. With the spending of some $2 billion a day to finance the debt his administration has run up, what's going to happen when the world stops buying that debt? And, that time is coming, perhaps sooner than anyone thinks. With outrage growing daily over the Bush administration's hubris and growing isolation, Europe is growing closer collective economic action against the US, and when that day comes, it's not going to be pretty on our shores. We will look back fondly on the Great Depression. But what will he do? Deny everything...Blame it on someone else...That's a pattern more fitting to an alcoholic than to a head of state. But wait, Dubbyuh is an alcoholic. He may be off the sauce, but he has never sought treatment fot the underlying causes of his ETOH and substance abuse. He is a dry-drunk, which entails all of the behavior patterns of a drunk.

If they want to escape being pilloried when it all comes crashing down around their ears, Dubbyuh's handlers need to get him medicated and reign in the reckless, feckless policies he has outlined and is pursuing. Ahhh shit...! They're the ones who formulated those policies to begin with, and they'll never admit that they're wrong. We're well and truly screwed, and I truly hope that I'm wrong.

CONDI CONFIRMED

85 to 13...That was the final vote for Condi-Mima's confirmation to the post of Sectreary of State.

The questions raised about her complicity in lying America into war were ignored. Instead, the Reichpublican leadership chose to focus on her work in academia and her upbringing, neither of which inherently qualify her for the post. They chose to ignore her contradictory testimony before the 9/11 Commission and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where Barbara Boxer pointed out the contradiction between her earlier testimony and that which she gave before the Committee. At this, Condi-Mima bridled and accused Senator Boxer of "impugning" her credibility and integrity. Well, it's somewhat difficult to impugn one for characteristics which they entirely lack.

One can only hope that the Senate democrats put up a more spirited opposition to Alberto Gonzales' confirmation to the post of Attorney General. I don't have much hope of that though. It's more likely they'll roll over, spread their legs and squeal, "Do me and do me now, you Republican love monkey!"

Dubbyuh and Hypocrisy...Can't have one without the other.

"We know that a culture that does not protect the most dependent, the handicapped, the elderly, the unloved, or simple inconvenient, becomes increasingly vulnerable." - George W. Bush, 1/24/2005

Hmmmm...Let's see here, First, Medicare benefits get cut, then he wants to "reform" Social Security, cuts to funding for Head Start, cuts in Medicaide funding, falling wages and rising numbers of uninsured...So much for protecting "...the most dependent, the handicapped, the elderly, the unloved, or simply inconvenient...". But wait, they're actually living, breathing and walking around. But they don't count, especially when it costs nothing to deny a woman's right to choose the course of her own life.

And therein lies the great flaw in the "Pro-Life" movements argument. They equate the potential for human life with actual human life. A mass of undifferentiated cells has the same value as a human being born and growing, not. Hell, if they had their way, contraception would be illegal, and some are pushing for that. But the only reason Dubbyuh's behind the issue of banning abortion is that it inflames the irrational, it polarizes debate and it costs him nothing, unlike the social safety net programs he and his handlers are intent on gutting.

There is nothing compassionate about his conservatism. It is as petty and mean-spirited as he is. He and his handlers want power, and if women have to die at the hands of back-alley butchers again just so they achieve it, well, that seems a price they are willing to pay. That is the pattern of Dubbyuh's life, though. Somebody else pays the price for his errors, while he remains securely insulated from the consequences of his actions.

By-the-way, did you notice he couldn't be troubled to cross the street and join the rally? Dubbyuh and hypocrisy...You just can't have one without the other.

Rumsfeld...Grand Poobah of Intel

I don't know which worries me more...That there is a secret organization gathering intel for the Pentagon or that Rummy has control over it.

The fact that the organization has been operating for about two years does nothing to inspire confidence. We need only look back to the days of Rummy's Office of Special Services and their pro-administration spin on the intel prior to the invasion of Iraq to see where this will take us. It will take us into another reckless, feckless round of foregin adventurism which will make Iraq look like a Sunday picnic.

And then there's the issue of the commander of this little group of spies. Colonel George Waldrup, that's "GW" to his friends, has no background in intel.The Army reservist, who worked for INS before his reserve activation, has most recently been responsible for security and transportation for the teams searching for WMD's in Iraq. How this qualifies him for such a sensitive post is beyond me. It seems likely that he's a friend of someone in the administration, and as we've seen, this adminstrition place a higher premium on loyalty than on competence.

The likely end of this little boondoggle will, at a best, be an incident which greatly embarasses the administration. At worst it will mean a loss of life that will shock us all. Either way, the administration has shown little inclination to be moved by such matters, and we're all the worse for it.

Dubbyuh's Inauguration Speech...Between the Lines

On this day, prescribed by law and marked by ceremony, we celebrate the durable wisdom of our Constitution (Which I will ignore at my convenience), and recall the deep commitments that unite our country (You do what I say, when I say it). I am grateful for the honor of this hour, mindful of the consequential times in which we live, and determined to fulfill the oath that I have sworn and you have witnessed.
At this second gathering, our duties are defined not by the words I use, but by the history we have seen together. For a half a century, America defended our own freedom by standing watch on distant borders. After the shipwreck of communism came years of relative quiet, years of repose, years of sabbatical. And then there came a day of fire.
We have seen our vulnerability and we have seen its deepest source. For as long as whole regions of the world simmer in resentment and tyranny prone to ideologies that feed hatred and excuse murder, violence will gather and multiply in destructive power, and cross the most defended borders, and raise a mortal threat. There is only one force of history that can break the reign of hatred and resentment, and expose the pretensions of tyrants and reward the hopes of the decent and tolerant, and that is the force of human freedom.
We are led, by events and common sense, to one conclusion: The survival of liberty in our land increasingly depends on the success of liberty in other lands (So, as long as we are engaged in illegal and unjust wars of aggression abroad, I will continue to curtail civil-liberties and undermine the Constitution here at home.). The best hope for peace in our world is the expansion (Of US markets…) of freedom in all the world.
America's vital interests and our deepest beliefs are now one (America uber allen!). From the day of our founding, we have proclaimed that every man and woman on this earth has rights, and dignity, and matchless value (Not so much so, since slavery was an institution in this country for the first 100 years or so, but I knew that), because they bear the image of the maker of heaven and earth. Across the generations we have proclaimed the imperative of self-government because no one is fit to be a master and no one deserves to be a slave. Advancing these ideals is the mission that created our nation. It is the honorable achievement of our fathers. Now it is the urgent requirement of our nation's security, and the calling of our time.
So it is the policy of the United States to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture (But only so long as they allow US corporations to exploit their resources and populations unchecked), with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world.
This is not primarily the task of arms, though we will defend ourselves and our friends by force of arms when necessary (And…whenever we feel like it.). Freedom, by its nature, must be chosen, and defended by citizens (Just like in Iraq.), and sustained by the rule of law and the protection of minorities . And when the soul of a nation finally speaks, the institutions that arise may (Just like in Iraq.) reflect customs and traditions very different from our own. America will not impose our own style of government on the unwilling . Our (Just like in Iraq.) goal instead is to help others find their own voice, attain their own freedom, and make their own way (Just like...Awww hell, you get the idea.).
The great objective of ending tyranny is the concentrated work of generations(So we’re gonna be at war for the foreseeable future…Get over it) . The difficulty of the task is no excuse for avoiding it. America's influence is not unlimited, but fortunately for the oppressed, America's influence is considerable (At least it was before I pissed it away by invading Iraq.), and we will use it confidently in freedom's cause (Whenever we feel like it or when US corporate interests are threatened.). My most solemn duty is to protect this nation(Especially US corporate interests abroad.) and its people from further attacks and emerging threats. Some have unwisely chosen to test America's resolve, and have found it firm.
We will persistently clarify the choice before every ruler and every nation: The moral choice between oppression, which is always wrong, and freedom, which is eternally right. America will not pretend that jailed dissidents prefer their chains, or that women welcome humiliation and servitude (Unless, of course, they’re single mothers on welfare, living in poverty, and can’t find a decent job or affordable daycare), or that any human being aspires to live at the mercy of bullies (Unless, of course, you disagree with me.).
We will encourage reform in other governments (Offer void in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Russia, China and all of Africa) by making clear that success in our relations will require the decent treatment of their own people. America's belief in human dignity will guide our policies. Yet rights must be more than the grudging concessions of dictators; they are secured by free dissent and the participation of the governed. In the long run, there is no justice without freedom, and there can be no human rights without human liberty (Unless they interfere with US corporate interests and their profit margins).
Some, I know, have questioned the global appeal of liberty though this time in history, four decades defined by the swiftest advance of freedom ever seen, is an odd time for doubt. Americans, of all people, should never be surprised by the power of our ideals (But they should be surprised if I actually live up to them.). Eventually, the call of freedom comes to every mind and every soul. We do not accept the existence of permanent tyranny because we do not accept the possibility of permanent slavery (Unless, of course, it yields a higher annual profits for US companies and my campaign contributors.). Liberty will come to those who love it.
Today, America speaks anew to the peoples of the world:
All who live in tyranny and hopelessness can know: the United States will not ignore your oppression, or excuse your oppressors. When you stand for your liberty, we will stand with you (Offer void in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Uzbekistan and the whole of Africa.).
Democratic reformers facing repression, prison, or exile can know: America sees you for who you are: the future leaders of your free country (But only so long as you allow US corporations and my campaign contributors rape your nation.).
The rulers of outlaw regimes can know that we still believe as Abraham Lincoln did: Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves; and, under the rule of a just God, cannot long retain it (But not me…I’m on a mission from God.).
The leaders of governments with long habits of control need to know: To serve your people, you must learn to trust them (But only as long as they agree with you. At the first sign of dissent, crush them like grapes.). Start on this journey of progress and justice and America will walk at your side (If I feel like it.). And all the allies of the United States can know: we honor your friendship, we rely on your counsel (When I feel like it), and we depend on your help (But only when I’ve gotten America’s ass in a crack that it can’t get out of.). Division among free nations is a primary goal of freedom's enemies (And I’ve done a pretty damn good job of isolating the US from the rest of the world). The concerted effort of free nations to promote democracy is a prelude to our enemies' defeat (Just like in Iraq.). Today, I also speak anew to my fellow citizens: From all of you, I have asked patience in the hard task of securing America (And I really haven’t done anything to secure America.), which you have granted in good measure. Our country has accepted obligations that are difficult to fulfill, and would be dishonorable to abandon (You remember that thing about our ass being in a crack?). Yet because we have acted in the great liberating tradition of this nation, tens of millions have achieved their freedom (Where did that happen again?). And as hope kindles hope, millions more will find it. By our efforts, we have lit a fire as well, a fire in the minds of men. It warms those who feel its power, it burns those who fight its progress (Get in our way and we’ll bust a cap in your dumb ass.), and one day this untamed fire of freedom will reach the darkest corners of our world. A few Americans have accepted the hardest duties in this cause (Me too! Just like in Vietnam.) in the quiet work of intelligence and diplomacy, the idealistic work of helping raise up free governments, the dangerous and necessary work of fighting our enemies. Some have shown their devotion to our country in deaths that honored their whole lives and we will always honor their names and their sacrifice.
All Americans have witnessed this idealism, and some for the first time. I ask our youngest citizens to believe the evidence of your eyes. You have seen duty and allegiance in the determined faces of our soldiers. You have seen that life is fragile, and evil is real (I see it every time I look in the mirror.), and courage triumphs. Make the choice to serve in a cause larger than your wants, larger than yourself and in your days you will add not just to the wealth of our country (But only to that of my campaign contributors.), but to its character (Which I totally lack).
America has need of idealism and courage (Which I totally lack.), because we have essential work at home, the unfinished work of American freedom. In a world moving toward liberty, we are determined to show the meaning and promise of liberty (At least until I suspend the Constitution and declare myself “President for life”.).
In America's ideal of freedom, citizens find the dignity and security of economic independence (Until it interferes with the profits of my campaign contributors.), instead of laboring on the edge of subsistence (For as long as we can get away with keeping you there.). This is the broader definition of liberty that motivated the Homestead Act, the Social Security Act and the G.I. Bill of Rights. And now we will extend this vision by reforming great institutions to serve the needs of our time (We’ll gut them like fish so my buddies on Wall Street can charge everyone fees out the wazoo.). To give every American (Not really, just all y’all that donated so much time and money to my coronation festivities.) a stake in the promise and future of our country, we will bring the highest standards to our schools (But the funding will never be made available because I’m gonna make them tax-cuts permanent.) and build an ownership society (Owned by me and my good buddies.). We will widen the ownership of homes and businesses, retirement savings and health insurance preparing our people for the challenges of life in a free society. By making every citizen an agent of his or her own destiny (Social safety-net…? You must be joking.), we will give our fellow Americans greater freedom from want and fear (Thanks to our ministry of propaganda, also know as the “mainstream media”, that's what you'll think anyways.) , and make our society more prosperous and just and equal (With me and my campaign contributors being waaaaay more equal than the rest of y’all.).
In America's ideal of freedom, the public interest depends on private character (Which I am completely lacking…), on integrity and tolerance toward others (Also completely lacking…), and the rule of conscience (Nope, don’t have one of those either.) in our own lives. Self-government relies, in the end, on the governing of the self (My colorful past shows how capable I am of that.). That edifice of character is built in families, supported by communities with standards, and sustained in our national life by the truths of Sinai, the Sermon on the Mount, the words of the Koran, and the varied faiths of our people. Americans move forward in every generation by reaffirming all that is good and true that came before ideals of justice and conduct that are the same yesterday, today, and forever.
In America's ideal of freedom, the exercise of rights is ennobled by service, and mercy and a heart for the weak (Compassionate conservatism – Shoot the wounded. It’s a mercy, and we don't have to pay for their health-care.). Liberty for all does not mean independence from one another. Our nation relies on men and women who look after a neighbor and surround the lost with love. Americans, at our best, value the life we see in one another, and must always remember that even the unwanted have worth (Especially as cannon fodder and slave labor). And our country must abandon all the habits of racism, because we cannot carry the message of freedom and the baggage of bigotry at the same time.
From the perspective of a single day, including this day of dedication, the issues and questions before our country are many. From the viewpoint of centuries, the questions that come to us are narrowed and few. Did our generation advance the cause of freedom (Not on my watch we won’t!)? And did our character bring credit to that cause?
These questions that judge us also unite us, because Americans of every party and background, Americans by choice and by birth, are bound to one another in the cause of freedom. We have known divisions, which must be healed to move forward in great purposes and I will strive in good faith to heal them (I’m gonna reach out to the loyal opposition…And bitch-slap ‘em until they do what I tell ‘em.). Yet those divisions do not define America. We felt the unity and fellowship of our nation when freedom came under attack, and our response came like a single hand over a single heart (Remember…? I told y’all to go shopping.). And we can feel that same unity and pride whenever America acts for good, and the victims of disaster are given hope, and the unjust encounter justice, and the captives are set free (So, y’all just keep shopping and ignore what’s going on in the rest of the world.).
We go forward with complete confidence in the eventual triumph of freedom. Not because history runs on the wheels of inevitability; it is human choices that move events. Not because we consider ourselves a chosen nation (That’s because I’m God’s chosen.); God moves and chooses as He wills (And his will is my will because he told me so.). We have confidence because freedom is the permanent hope of mankind, the hunger in dark places, the longing of the soul. When our Founders declared a new order of the ages, when soldiers died in wave upon wave for a union based on liberty, when citizens marched in peaceful outrage under the banner Freedom Now they were acting on an ancient hope that is meant to be fulfilled. History has an ebb and flow of justice, but history also has a visible direction, set by liberty and the Author of Liberty (And liberty is what I tell you it is, so GET OVER IT.).
When the Declaration of Independence was first read in public and the Liberty Bell was sounded in celebration, a witness said, It rang as if it meant something. In our time it means something still. America, in this young century, proclaims liberty throughout all the world, and to all the inhabitants thereof. Renewed in our strength, tested but not weary we are ready for the greatest achievements in the history of freedom.
May God bless you, and may He watch over the United States of America (‘Cuz God’s on our side. He told me so this morning.).

Irony and Hypocrisy: Dubbyuh's Close, Personal Relationship with God

An interview with a woman just leaving Dubbyuh's coronation...er...inauguration left me chocking on my coffee. She stated that she was "glad to see a good Christian man like George W. Bush as president...". Now, I don't know about anyone else, but "good" and "Christian" are not two words I would use to describe Dubbyuh.

For a man so passionately devoted to Christ, his actions are singularly devoid of anything which reflects that devotion. He carefully avoids any mention of being born again or being an evangelical, and there is little evidence that he attempts to spread the gospel, beyond what makes a good sound-bite in his speechifying. This in contrast to Jimmy Carter whose telling every foreign dignitary he met about the good news of Jesus Christ is legendary. But then, Carter walks it like he talks it.

Dubbyuh is, at best, a salad bar Christian. "Hmmm...I'll take a bit of this...A little bit of that...Oooh, and that looks yummy...", but that describes many who call themselves Christian these days. Dubbyuh's distinction lies in that he picks and chooses those parts of biblical scripture which work to his political advantage.

For example, there are around fourteen (give or take a couple) verses in the Bible which make reference, direct or indirect, to homosexuality. Yet there are over three thousand which deal with providing aid and comfort to those less fortunate than ourselves. But which one was a theme of Dubbyuh's campaign and a plank in the Reichpublican platform? Yep, homosexyality, and not a word about helping those in need. If anything, Dubbyuh's plans for the next four years will only serve to throw more people into poverty that he already has.

Yet many born-again evangelicals accept Dubbyuh as one of their own. For one to be born-again, one must acknowledge their innate sinfullness and then they must turn away from it completely. But Dubbyuh, twice within the last year was, apparently, stymied when asked to name mistakes he had made during his first term. An appaling lack of humility in one so devoted to his religion.

Over the years, Dubbyuh's policies, both as Governor of Texas and POTUS, have failed to show a triumph of religious values over partisan politics, at any point. Nor has he shown that he pays more than lip service to his religious values. The true irony, though, is that so many who call themselves Christian, regard him as a fellow traveler, this despite his apparent hypocrisy.

This guy just doesn't quit...

In his continuing endeavor to prove just how unfit he is to serve as Attorney General, Alberto Gonzalez has announced that, "Officers of the Central Intelligence Agency and other nonmilitary personnel fall outside the bounds of a 2002 directive issued by President Bush that pledged the humane treatment of prisoners in American custody..." while at the same time stating that, "the C.I.A. and other nonmilitary personnel are fully bound", by Dubbyuh's directives on the humane treatment of prisoners. Indecision is a terrible thing.

In his written testimony, Alberto continues to dodge the question of just what constitutes torture or which practices should be banned. It seems that Dubbyuh and his merry band are quite willing to condemn the torture of prisoners in US custody publicly, but behind the veil they are more than willing to sanction its use. This administration has shown us that in fighting the beast, they are all too willing to become the beast. One can only imagine the rapt fascination with which they gaze into the abyss, never realizing that the abyss is gazing back...until it is too late and they are swallowed up by it.