Born today in 1968, Timothy McVeigh - terrorist.
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Duped
The United States of America has been duped.
On November 4, 2004 a majority of the public chose to re-elect a man who lied to their face. Not that we needed Tyler Drumheller to tell us the administration ignored all evidence about WMD before invading Iraq, most of us already knew that. It's just that now we're getting around to the facts.
The invasion and occupation of Iraq is going to cripple us for years to come. What do Bush and Rove care? They achieved the desired result: re-election.
On November 4, 2004 a majority of the public chose to re-elect a man who lied to their face. Not that we needed Tyler Drumheller to tell us the administration ignored all evidence about WMD before invading Iraq, most of us already knew that. It's just that now we're getting around to the facts.
The invasion and occupation of Iraq is going to cripple us for years to come. What do Bush and Rove care? They achieved the desired result: re-election.
Alive
John Kerry is right:
"Osama Bin Laden is loose today because we allowed him to escape at Tora Bora," Kerry today on "This Week" with George Stephanopoulos.
Not withstanding any of the numerous other times we had a chance to capture this murderous bastard, Kerry is the only one speaking to the truth on this issue. Iraq might not be Bush's legacy, Bin Laden could be.
Kerry spoke to this several times during the campaign of 2004. If he makes it a major theme of a presidential run, he should be the winner, despite Hillary's billions. I was absolutely proud to have voted for the Kerry/Edwards ticket. Kerry is a intelligent, competent man, Edwards the more compassionate of the two. Yes, on November 5th 2004, I hastily ripped off my Kerry/Edwards bumper sticker in anger. But with Kerry shooting back into the limelight (probably in response to all the attention Feingold is getting) America should realize its lost opportunity.
Can we imagine Tim McVeigh living freely among us after committing his heinous act in Oklahoma City? Well, Osama bin Laden is making video tapes, apparently still breathing the foul air he occupies.
"Osama Bin Laden is loose today because we allowed him to escape at Tora Bora," Kerry today on "This Week" with George Stephanopoulos.
Not withstanding any of the numerous other times we had a chance to capture this murderous bastard, Kerry is the only one speaking to the truth on this issue. Iraq might not be Bush's legacy, Bin Laden could be.
Kerry spoke to this several times during the campaign of 2004. If he makes it a major theme of a presidential run, he should be the winner, despite Hillary's billions. I was absolutely proud to have voted for the Kerry/Edwards ticket. Kerry is a intelligent, competent man, Edwards the more compassionate of the two. Yes, on November 5th 2004, I hastily ripped off my Kerry/Edwards bumper sticker in anger. But with Kerry shooting back into the limelight (probably in response to all the attention Feingold is getting) America should realize its lost opportunity.
Can we imagine Tim McVeigh living freely among us after committing his heinous act in Oklahoma City? Well, Osama bin Laden is making video tapes, apparently still breathing the foul air he occupies.
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Populism is back
Thank God. According to polls conducted by USA Today, this country has had enough of neoconservatist foreign policy and globalist trade policy.
It started with Woodrow Wilson and will end with George W. Bush. Or will it? None of the GOP "favorites" have broken with the president on his singular, defining characteristic of his presidency: preemption. We will not wait to be attacked, but attack first, evidence later. "The world must be made safe for democracy" said President Wilson in a address to Congress in 1919.
This statement capitulated us into WWI and we haven't looked back since. John McCain believes in the Bush doctrine, so do Allen, Frist and Romney. Conservatives will not have a choice in 2008 worth a damn.
The Democratic Party will nominate Hillary Clinton, another hawk who believes we should forcibly disarm Iran, a country without any nukes. Progressive Populism's only hope is in Russ Feingold, a man who is unabashedly progressive and principled. Censure? Censure should have been on the table when the President lied about WMD to get us into the snakes lair that is Iraq.
What about the right? Will a silent populist like Buchanan throw his hat into the ring? On his site, American Cause, Buchanan lays out the case for true conservatism:
"What does old-time conservatism stand for? Limited government. Balanced budgets. A defense second to none. Secure borders. A trade policy that puts America and Americans first. And a foreign policy that keeps us out of wars that are not America's wars."
Although debatable, this sounds awful good to me and the rest of this country.
It started with Woodrow Wilson and will end with George W. Bush. Or will it? None of the GOP "favorites" have broken with the president on his singular, defining characteristic of his presidency: preemption. We will not wait to be attacked, but attack first, evidence later. "The world must be made safe for democracy" said President Wilson in a address to Congress in 1919.
This statement capitulated us into WWI and we haven't looked back since. John McCain believes in the Bush doctrine, so do Allen, Frist and Romney. Conservatives will not have a choice in 2008 worth a damn.
The Democratic Party will nominate Hillary Clinton, another hawk who believes we should forcibly disarm Iran, a country without any nukes. Progressive Populism's only hope is in Russ Feingold, a man who is unabashedly progressive and principled. Censure? Censure should have been on the table when the President lied about WMD to get us into the snakes lair that is Iraq.
What about the right? Will a silent populist like Buchanan throw his hat into the ring? On his site, American Cause, Buchanan lays out the case for true conservatism:
"What does old-time conservatism stand for? Limited government. Balanced budgets. A defense second to none. Secure borders. A trade policy that puts America and Americans first. And a foreign policy that keeps us out of wars that are not America's wars."
Although debatable, this sounds awful good to me and the rest of this country.
Saturday, April 15, 2006
It's up to Congress
I am one voice. Every blogger who is against this Iran hype should be heard. However, in tomorrow's NY Times, Richard Clarke, former counterterrorism chief lays the cards on the table:
"Congress must not permit the administration to launch another war whose outcome cannot be known, or worse, known all too well." (reuters.com)
"Congress must not permit the administration to launch another war whose outcome cannot be known, or worse, known all too well." (reuters.com)
Friday, April 14, 2006
it's official
Is there now any doubt that this president puts loyalty before country? Rumsfeld has been a disaster since day one (remember Old Europe?) and has overseen the freefall of credibility on the national stage.
Career generals say he has to go. Foreign policy experts, military analysts, everyone on the planet all say he should resign or be fired. Were we expecting a different reaction that the one we got today from the president? He will hunker down and defend the indefensible. How many lives have been lost due to Rumsfeld's negligence? None of this matters to Bush. He's gotta stick to his guns.
These people are dangerous.
Career generals say he has to go. Foreign policy experts, military analysts, everyone on the planet all say he should resign or be fired. Were we expecting a different reaction that the one we got today from the president? He will hunker down and defend the indefensible. How many lives have been lost due to Rumsfeld's negligence? None of this matters to Bush. He's gotta stick to his guns.
These people are dangerous.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
imminent?
"The ability to slightly enrich uranium is not the same as the ability to build a bomb. For the latter, you need at least 80% enrichment, which in turn would require about 16,000 small centrifuges hooked up to cascade. Iran does not have 16,000 centrifuges. It seems to have 180. Iran is a good ten years away from having a bomb, and since its leaders, including Supreme Jurisprudent Ali Khamenei, say they do not want an atomic bomb because it is Islamically immoral, you have to wonder if they will ever have a bomb."
Middle East expert (for I am not) Juan Cole on his blog today.
Rice, Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld are liars.
Middle East expert (for I am not) Juan Cole on his blog today.
Rice, Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld are liars.
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
The Un-War
This is going to be on my reading list very, very soon. Key bit of information:
Charles Pena argues that the war in Iraq is but one misstep in the Bush administration's "global war on terror." Terrorism is simply a tactic, however, not an enemy. Trying to eradicate it is a quixotic quest that does not focus on those responsible for 9/11. (courtesy potomac books inc)
Charles Pena argues that the war in Iraq is but one misstep in the Bush administration's "global war on terror." Terrorism is simply a tactic, however, not an enemy. Trying to eradicate it is a quixotic quest that does not focus on those responsible for 9/11. (courtesy potomac books inc)
it's called precedent
On this date in 1951, President Harry Truman relieves General Douglas MacArthur of overall command in Korea.
And Truman's approval numbers were much lower. Somewhere around where Cheney's are now. We are not dealing with a president who makes changes for the good of the country. Rumsfeld must be fired now.
And Truman's approval numbers were much lower. Somewhere around where Cheney's are now. We are not dealing with a president who makes changes for the good of the country. Rumsfeld must be fired now.
A Vice President we can all be proud of!
Firedoglake has the goods on the boos heard round the world. When your popularity is somewhere in the 20's you have to expect this.
Simply put, the american public are stuck with these two for another three years and they are not happy about it.
I've never linked to firedoglake before and I should be ashamed.
Simply put, the american public are stuck with these two for another three years and they are not happy about it.
I've never linked to firedoglake before and I should be ashamed.
Monday, April 10, 2006
Hershified
Seymour, that is. Writer of great, important pieces on government sneaking and planning. Listen, as long as Cheney is still in the game, this will continue. Bush is a follower, devoid of any reason and logic, as long as he's told this will keep GOP seats he's in for the long haul.
Hersh, appearing on Hardball today called Mahmoud Ahmadinejad what he truly is: a big mouth kid, who the mullah's keep in line. Sounds like Hitler to me.
I gotta say, this conservative revolt on the idea of Bush is really quite hilarious. To me, the choice on election day November 4 was a no-brainer. Did George W. Bush suddenly turn incompetent after the disgrace that was Katrina? Andrew Sullivan seems to think so. During the campaign six years ago it was apparent to all those with eyesight and hearing that he was laughable and unprepared to govern. That a large majority of American now understands this clearly is really sad. And I know, I'm not supposed to be talking about Bush anymore in this space. Sorry.
Hersh, appearing on Hardball today called Mahmoud Ahmadinejad what he truly is: a big mouth kid, who the mullah's keep in line. Sounds like Hitler to me.
I gotta say, this conservative revolt on the idea of Bush is really quite hilarious. To me, the choice on election day November 4 was a no-brainer. Did George W. Bush suddenly turn incompetent after the disgrace that was Katrina? Andrew Sullivan seems to think so. During the campaign six years ago it was apparent to all those with eyesight and hearing that he was laughable and unprepared to govern. That a large majority of American now understands this clearly is really sad. And I know, I'm not supposed to be talking about Bush anymore in this space. Sorry.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Plamegate returns
Every day is another shred of evidence that in November of 2004 the american people put their faith and support behind a man who authorizes leaks, sanctions torture, randomly breaks the law as he sees fit, signs statments that negate signed legislation and is unprepared to govern at critical junctures.
This would be grounds for a vote of no confidence in a parlimentary system. A large majority of the country either dislikes or distrusts their current president and on a daily basis have to read more proof they are right.
John Kerry was on both CNN and MSNBC this afternoon discussing his future as a candidate. Can anyone dispute that a President Kerry would have us remain in Iraq? Can I say for certain, of course not, but what an improvement it would be, even my fellow conservatives would have to agree at this point. Kerry's loss was the closest since Kennedy/Nixon, rarely has a country paid for its last minute indecision.
There really is nothing to seriously analyze here about the president's role in the leak. This is how they operate. They don't represent you and I. Their focus in 2003 was continuing their control of a government that barely know how to operate.
So, at this point, George W. Bush is irrelevant, a lame duck in the starkest of terms. We are simply adrift waiting for either another preemptive war or more drip drop secrets revealed in the waning moments of a presidency.
This would be grounds for a vote of no confidence in a parlimentary system. A large majority of the country either dislikes or distrusts their current president and on a daily basis have to read more proof they are right.
John Kerry was on both CNN and MSNBC this afternoon discussing his future as a candidate. Can anyone dispute that a President Kerry would have us remain in Iraq? Can I say for certain, of course not, but what an improvement it would be, even my fellow conservatives would have to agree at this point. Kerry's loss was the closest since Kennedy/Nixon, rarely has a country paid for its last minute indecision.
There really is nothing to seriously analyze here about the president's role in the leak. This is how they operate. They don't represent you and I. Their focus in 2003 was continuing their control of a government that barely know how to operate.
So, at this point, George W. Bush is irrelevant, a lame duck in the starkest of terms. We are simply adrift waiting for either another preemptive war or more drip drop secrets revealed in the waning moments of a presidency.
Saturday, April 01, 2006
And so it began
The birth of neoconservatism began today, April 2nd in 1917 with President Woodrow Wilson asking Congress to declare war against Germany, saying "The world must be made safe for democracy."
Full text of Wilson's speech here.
Full text of Wilson's speech here.
Feingold's lonely quest
Censure hearings this past Friday offered up this quote by Russ Feingold, perhaps the quote of the year:
"If we in the Congress don't stand up for ourselves and for the American people, we have become complicit in the lawbreaking. A resolution of censure is the appropriate response, even a modest approach," he said. (courtesy sfgate.com)
Please explain to me the problem with this censure and why only four Democrats have lent their support. Seems to me this happened in 2002 and they got creamed.
"If we in the Congress don't stand up for ourselves and for the American people, we have become complicit in the lawbreaking. A resolution of censure is the appropriate response, even a modest approach," he said. (courtesy sfgate.com)
Please explain to me the problem with this censure and why only four Democrats have lent their support. Seems to me this happened in 2002 and they got creamed.
Next!
Joseph Cirincione's article here is a must read on the realities of Bush and Iran.
Can anyone say deja vu? Cheney, Rumsfeld and Rice will soon lead us on yet another campaign of folly in another Arab country. We are playing right into the hands of Al-Qaeda.
Neoconservatism is still kicking it seems.
Can anyone say deja vu? Cheney, Rumsfeld and Rice will soon lead us on yet another campaign of folly in another Arab country. We are playing right into the hands of Al-Qaeda.
Neoconservatism is still kicking it seems.