What I Want for Christmas
I would like my faith back, thank you very much. I have become disgusted with my fellow Christians because they are so willing to suck up to the powerful in this world. I was so disgusted that I had to get in more than a few digs. Sometimes we have to talk bad about our people, which can mean our fellow citizens, our racial or ethnic group or in this case our coreligionists. Because of Christian wimpiness and cooperation with evil this Christmas is indeed a shameful one. Black Commentator is my vehicle for venting.
Thursday, December 23, 2004
Bush is Still Wired
The man is either certifiably crazy, has tourettes, or he's talking to someone via a mic in his tie.
Bush is still getting audio help. There is no jacket "badly made jacket," but what excuse will the White House use this time. Actually they won't have to use an excuse because the corporate media will let him off the hook again. A description and video are here.
The man is either certifiably crazy, has tourettes, or he's talking to someone via a mic in his tie.
Bush is still getting audio help. There is no jacket "badly made jacket," but what excuse will the White House use this time. Actually they won't have to use an excuse because the corporate media will let him off the hook again. A description and video are here.
Thursday, December 16, 2004
Challenge to Ohio Electors
I have learned that Sherole Eaton, a Deputy Director of Board of Elections in Hocking County, Ohio, has first hand knowledge of inappropriate and likely illegal election tampering in the Ohio presidential election in violation of federal and state law.
Congressman John Conyers
Keith Olbermann of MSNBC is still on the Ohio vote theft story. Perhaps they are making up for dumping Phil Donahue in favor of Chris Matthews. No they aren't, but I can dream.
Rep. John Conyers and other members of Congress are prepared to formally challenge Ohio's electors. Conyers has done an outstanding job of ferreting out the story of Ohio electronic vote theft. Conyers has done what John Kerry refused to do. He will prove that another presidential election was stolen.
I have learned that Sherole Eaton, a Deputy Director of Board of Elections in Hocking County, Ohio, has first hand knowledge of inappropriate and likely illegal election tampering in the Ohio presidential election in violation of federal and state law.
Congressman John Conyers
Keith Olbermann of MSNBC is still on the Ohio vote theft story. Perhaps they are making up for dumping Phil Donahue in favor of Chris Matthews. No they aren't, but I can dream.
Rep. John Conyers and other members of Congress are prepared to formally challenge Ohio's electors. Conyers has done an outstanding job of ferreting out the story of Ohio electronic vote theft. Conyers has done what John Kerry refused to do. He will prove that another presidential election was stolen.
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
Is There a Kerik Nanny?
To paraphrase the old saw, if this nanny hadn't existed, the White House or Kerik might have been awfully tempted to invent her. And perhaps they did.
Who is Bernard Kerik's nanny? You know, the one who was in the U.S. illegally and scuttled his nomination as Homeland Security czar.
Does such a person exist? Josh Marshall asks the pertinent questions.
To paraphrase the old saw, if this nanny hadn't existed, the White House or Kerik might have been awfully tempted to invent her. And perhaps they did.
Who is Bernard Kerik's nanny? You know, the one who was in the U.S. illegally and scuttled his nomination as Homeland Security czar.
Does such a person exist? Josh Marshall asks the pertinent questions.
Monday, December 13, 2004
But Wait, There's More
In 1998 a judge signed an arrest warrant for Bernard Kerik, would be chief of Homeland Security.
In 1998 a judge signed an arrest warrant for Bernard Kerik, would be chief of Homeland Security.
Haste Makes Waste
I forgot to mention. A former Bernard Kerik girlfriend, literary agent Judith Regan, hired a bodyguard to protect her from Kerik after they broke up. So much dirt, too little time.
I forgot to mention. A former Bernard Kerik girlfriend, literary agent Judith Regan, hired a bodyguard to protect her from Kerik after they broke up. So much dirt, too little time.
Nanny Schnanny
Bernard Kerik claims he withdrew his nomination as Secretary of Homeland Security because his nanny was an illegal alien. Don't make me laugh.
Kerik harassed an employee of New York City's Corrections Department on behalf of a former girlfriend. Like anyone associated with Rudy Giuliani he was making a fortune by pimping 9/11. Potential conflicts of interest with a taser manufacturer that does business with Homeland Security were bound to come up. The New York Times (registration required) has part of the story, and Newsday has even more sordid details.
The most disgraceful part of this story is the continued wimpiness of democrats. Apparently none of them were going to raise the issue of unethical and possibly illegal activities committed by Kerik. Senators Clinton and Schumer were enthusiastically supporting his nomination.
Bernard Kerik claims he withdrew his nomination as Secretary of Homeland Security because his nanny was an illegal alien. Don't make me laugh.
Kerik harassed an employee of New York City's Corrections Department on behalf of a former girlfriend. Like anyone associated with Rudy Giuliani he was making a fortune by pimping 9/11. Potential conflicts of interest with a taser manufacturer that does business with Homeland Security were bound to come up. The New York Times (registration required) has part of the story, and Newsday has even more sordid details.
The most disgraceful part of this story is the continued wimpiness of democrats. Apparently none of them were going to raise the issue of unethical and possibly illegal activities committed by Kerik. Senators Clinton and Schumer were enthusiastically supporting his nomination.
Friday, December 10, 2004
Homeless Vets and Armless Babies
Who knew they would be screwed so very quickly? Iraq War vets are already showing up in homeless shelters across the country.
Like veterans of every other war that has ever been fought they are coming home physically and mentally traumatized.
"We had a few situations where, I guess, people were trying to get out of the country. They would come right at us and they would not stop," Brown said. "We had to open fire on them. It was really tough. A lot of soldiers, like me, had trouble with that."
"That was the hardest part," Brown said. "Not only were there men, but there were women and children -- really little children. There would be babies with arms blown off. It was something hard to live with."
Hard to live with for this soldier, not hard for Bush, Rumsfeld or the media who have let them have their way. We now have soldiers doing what the press is supposed to do. The poor guy who asked Rumsfeld about scrounging for material to make armor is now being villified by the right wing who claim to support the troops.
Drudge claims that the soldier was "coached" by a reporter. So what? The facts are simple, soldiers are ill equipped and Rumsfeld blew off their complaints. It won't take long for the hacks of the mainstream media to pick up where Drudge left off.
Who knew they would be screwed so very quickly? Iraq War vets are already showing up in homeless shelters across the country.
Like veterans of every other war that has ever been fought they are coming home physically and mentally traumatized.
"We had a few situations where, I guess, people were trying to get out of the country. They would come right at us and they would not stop," Brown said. "We had to open fire on them. It was really tough. A lot of soldiers, like me, had trouble with that."
"That was the hardest part," Brown said. "Not only were there men, but there were women and children -- really little children. There would be babies with arms blown off. It was something hard to live with."
Hard to live with for this soldier, not hard for Bush, Rumsfeld or the media who have let them have their way. We now have soldiers doing what the press is supposed to do. The poor guy who asked Rumsfeld about scrounging for material to make armor is now being villified by the right wing who claim to support the troops.
Drudge claims that the soldier was "coached" by a reporter. So what? The facts are simple, soldiers are ill equipped and Rumsfeld blew off their complaints. It won't take long for the hacks of the mainstream media to pick up where Drudge left off.
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
Bhopal, India
Twenty years ago an industrial accident at a Dow/Union Carbide plant in Bhopal killed between 7,000 and 10,000 people in the days immediately following the accident and an additional 15,000 since.
According to the Amnesty International report, Clouds of Injustice:
Despite determined efforts by survivors to secure justice, they have been denied adequate compensation and appropriate and timely medical assistance and rehabilitation. Union Carbide Corporation (UCC), then owner of the pesticide factory in Bhopal, and Dow Chemical, which merged with UCC in 2001, have publicly denied all responsibility for the leak and the resulting damage. Astonishingly, no one has been held responsible.
The likelihood is that no one will ever be held responsible. If the old saying "What goes around comes around" is true then Americans shouldn't complain about Indians taking their jobs. We should see it all as karmic debt.
Twenty years ago an industrial accident at a Dow/Union Carbide plant in Bhopal killed between 7,000 and 10,000 people in the days immediately following the accident and an additional 15,000 since.
According to the Amnesty International report, Clouds of Injustice:
Despite determined efforts by survivors to secure justice, they have been denied adequate compensation and appropriate and timely medical assistance and rehabilitation. Union Carbide Corporation (UCC), then owner of the pesticide factory in Bhopal, and Dow Chemical, which merged with UCC in 2001, have publicly denied all responsibility for the leak and the resulting damage. Astonishingly, no one has been held responsible.
The likelihood is that no one will ever be held responsible. If the old saying "What goes around comes around" is true then Americans shouldn't complain about Indians taking their jobs. We should see it all as karmic debt.
Monday, November 29, 2004
Fascism Watch
"The subject's expression should be neutral (non-smiling) with both eyes open, and mouth closed. A smile with a closed jaw is allowed but is not preferred."
If you smile too much you can't get a visa to enter the United States. Not only are our activities and movements controlled, but now our very facial expressions have been deemed dangerous.
"The subject's expression should be neutral (non-smiling) with both eyes open, and mouth closed. A smile with a closed jaw is allowed but is not preferred."
If you smile too much you can't get a visa to enter the United States. Not only are our activities and movements controlled, but now our very facial expressions have been deemed dangerous.
Domestic Violence
It recently occurred to me that Democrats are like children in a dysfunctional family. They see dad drunk and passed out on the floor but mom assures them that he is only lying on the floor because he is tired from working so hard for them all.
Dems have to start saying that the Democratic National Committee is drunk on the floor. It isn't tired from working hard for us, it is just a no good drunk. It doesn't value its family, it won't even defend it. The Greens and Libertarians demand vote counts while the Dems insist there is no reason to do so.
Now we are told to admire our drunk parent and everything will be fine. The only problem is that it never works out, as pointed out in the blog, Deride and Conquer.
And watch the Democratic Party leadership walk on eggshells, try to meet him, please him, wash the windows better, get out that spot, distance themselves from gays and civil rights. See them cry for the attention and affection and approval of the President and his followers. Watch us squirm. Watch us descend into a world of crazy-making, where logic does not work and the other side tells us we are nuts when we rely on facts. A world where, worst of all, we begin to believe we are crazy.
While the author is talking about Republicans, I think that the description works for the Democratic party as well. Democrats are the victims of Democratic party abuse before the Republicans even have a chance to lay a hand on us. The people who run our party don't care about us at all. Our lousy nominee even squirreled away money that could have been used to prevent vote fraud or help Congressional candidates.
Sorry, I forgot. He was just working hard for us.
It recently occurred to me that Democrats are like children in a dysfunctional family. They see dad drunk and passed out on the floor but mom assures them that he is only lying on the floor because he is tired from working so hard for them all.
Dems have to start saying that the Democratic National Committee is drunk on the floor. It isn't tired from working hard for us, it is just a no good drunk. It doesn't value its family, it won't even defend it. The Greens and Libertarians demand vote counts while the Dems insist there is no reason to do so.
Now we are told to admire our drunk parent and everything will be fine. The only problem is that it never works out, as pointed out in the blog, Deride and Conquer.
And watch the Democratic Party leadership walk on eggshells, try to meet him, please him, wash the windows better, get out that spot, distance themselves from gays and civil rights. See them cry for the attention and affection and approval of the President and his followers. Watch us squirm. Watch us descend into a world of crazy-making, where logic does not work and the other side tells us we are nuts when we rely on facts. A world where, worst of all, we begin to believe we are crazy.
While the author is talking about Republicans, I think that the description works for the Democratic party as well. Democrats are the victims of Democratic party abuse before the Republicans even have a chance to lay a hand on us. The people who run our party don't care about us at all. Our lousy nominee even squirreled away money that could have been used to prevent vote fraud or help Congressional candidates.
Sorry, I forgot. He was just working hard for us.
Wednesday, November 24, 2004
Happy Thanksgiving
But Thanksgiving is not just a twisted fable, and the mythology it nurtures is itself inherently evil. The real-life events – subsequently revised – were perfectly understood at the time as the first, definitive triumphs of the genocidal European project in New England. The near-erasure of Native Americans in Massachusetts and, soon thereafter, from most of the remainder of the northern English colonial seaboard was the true mission of the Pilgrim enterprise – Act One of the American Dream. African Slavery commenced contemporaneously – an overlapping and ultimately inseparable Act Two.
Black Commentator
"But for the natives in these parts, God hath so pursued them, as for 300 miles space the greatest part of them are swept away by smallpox which still continues among them. So as God hath thereby cleared our title to this place, those who remain in these parts, being in all not 50, have put themselves under our protection."
John Winthrop founder of the Massachusetts Bay Colony
I always enjoy Thanksgiving. I like to eat good food, spend time with family and friends and think about what I am grateful for in my life. The history behind the holiday is an ugly and evil one, however. When the Pilgrims thanked God in those days they were thankful that their efforts to eradicate of the Native American population were moving along as planned.
Have a happy Thanksgiving, but skip the genocidal thoughts as you enjoy your turkey.
But Thanksgiving is not just a twisted fable, and the mythology it nurtures is itself inherently evil. The real-life events – subsequently revised – were perfectly understood at the time as the first, definitive triumphs of the genocidal European project in New England. The near-erasure of Native Americans in Massachusetts and, soon thereafter, from most of the remainder of the northern English colonial seaboard was the true mission of the Pilgrim enterprise – Act One of the American Dream. African Slavery commenced contemporaneously – an overlapping and ultimately inseparable Act Two.
Black Commentator
"But for the natives in these parts, God hath so pursued them, as for 300 miles space the greatest part of them are swept away by smallpox which still continues among them. So as God hath thereby cleared our title to this place, those who remain in these parts, being in all not 50, have put themselves under our protection."
John Winthrop founder of the Massachusetts Bay Colony
I always enjoy Thanksgiving. I like to eat good food, spend time with family and friends and think about what I am grateful for in my life. The history behind the holiday is an ugly and evil one, however. When the Pilgrims thanked God in those days they were thankful that their efforts to eradicate of the Native American population were moving along as planned.
Have a happy Thanksgiving, but skip the genocidal thoughts as you enjoy your turkey.
Sunday, November 21, 2004
Fascism Watch
"And at the last minute, Republican leaders tried to slip in a provision that would give certain committee chairman and their staffers unlimited access to any American's tax return, with none of the standard privacy protections applying. "
"And at the last minute, Republican leaders tried to slip in a provision that would give certain committee chairman and their staffers unlimited access to any American's tax return, with none of the standard privacy protections applying. "
The World Hates America
I have never seen U.S. Secret Service agents get into a fight, literally, with security from another nation's government, until now. Bush had to intervene, literally, and extricate one of his agents from a shoving match with Chilean security. It sounds like the recent Pistons NBA fracas.
Of course, bad feelings ensued and the APEC conference dinner that Bush was scheduled to attend was cancelled. According to the Guardian, "The dinner planned for Bush and 200 others by Chilean President Ricardo Lagos was reportedly scrapped after Chile was unwilling to accept security measures sought by the U.S. Secret Service, including a demand that all guests pass through metal detectors."
I guess foreign diplomats don't want to be treated badly. They have some nerve. The world hates the U.S. and it is only going to get worse.
I have never seen U.S. Secret Service agents get into a fight, literally, with security from another nation's government, until now. Bush had to intervene, literally, and extricate one of his agents from a shoving match with Chilean security. It sounds like the recent Pistons NBA fracas.
Of course, bad feelings ensued and the APEC conference dinner that Bush was scheduled to attend was cancelled. According to the Guardian, "The dinner planned for Bush and 200 others by Chilean President Ricardo Lagos was reportedly scrapped after Chile was unwilling to accept security measures sought by the U.S. Secret Service, including a demand that all guests pass through metal detectors."
I guess foreign diplomats don't want to be treated badly. They have some nerve. The world hates the U.S. and it is only going to get worse.
Friday, November 19, 2004
Proof of Vote Fraud
"What are these polling place tapes doing in your dumpster?"
God bless Bev Harris. While Terry McAuliffe says there is no need to count the vote and John Kerry reveals that he was squirreling away campaign money that should have spent, Bev went mano a mano, literally, with the Volusia County, Florida Board of Elections.
Meanwhile back in Ohio, Dennis Kucinich supports the Green party effort to count every vote. Yes, I said Green party. Black Commentator says more about the shame of Democrats lagging behind while the Greens do the work.
Who is the Terrorist?
"The enemy has got a face. He's called Satan. He's in Fallujah and we're going to destroy him."
Col. Gary Brandl
Satan is in Fallujah, but of course Satan is everywhere. He may even be in the U.S. army, the White House, the halls of Congress and the Attorney General's office.
"What are these polling place tapes doing in your dumpster?"
God bless Bev Harris. While Terry McAuliffe says there is no need to count the vote and John Kerry reveals that he was squirreling away campaign money that should have spent, Bev went mano a mano, literally, with the Volusia County, Florida Board of Elections.
Meanwhile back in Ohio, Dennis Kucinich supports the Green party effort to count every vote. Yes, I said Green party. Black Commentator says more about the shame of Democrats lagging behind while the Greens do the work.
Who is the Terrorist?
"The enemy has got a face. He's called Satan. He's in Fallujah and we're going to destroy him."
Col. Gary Brandl
Satan is in Fallujah, but of course Satan is everywhere. He may even be in the U.S. army, the White House, the halls of Congress and the Attorney General's office.
Wednesday, November 17, 2004
Black Men and Blondes
ABC used images of a naked white woman seducing a black man to advertise both football and a prime time soap opera. Does this mean we have true equality in America? No, but we have to enjoy the phony outrage while it lasts.
Speaking of Interracial Relationships
Doesn't she look giddy and girlish? How will she live without being down the hall from him?
ABC used images of a naked white woman seducing a black man to advertise both football and a prime time soap opera. Does this mean we have true equality in America? No, but we have to enjoy the phony outrage while it lasts.
Speaking of Interracial Relationships
Doesn't she look giddy and girlish? How will she live without being down the hall from him?
Tuesday, November 16, 2004
No, You Can't Run Again
No, no, one thousand times no. John Kerry should not be allowed to think about running again. Senator Waffler suddenly became decisive, but about the wrong issue. He couldn't come up with a coherent message on Iraq, but he was coherent about throwing in the towel without demanding a vote count.
It is real simple. Tell him no. If you hosted a Moveon party, tell him no. If you left your home state to canvas door to door in Ohio or Pennsylvania, tell him no. If you helped register voters, tell him no. Kerry and the Democratic party left you in the lurch. They were just not worthy of your time, passion and commitment and you must tell them so.
Call his Washington office at (202) 224-2742 or fax at (202) 224-8525. Keep it short and sweet. "There is no way in hell I will do anything to help you lose again. Forget about it."
Who is demanding vote recounts? Terry McAuliffe said no, but the Libertarians and Greens have said yes. We spent four years villifying the Greens and they demand what Democrats will not. Ain't that a kick in the ass.
No, no, one thousand times no. John Kerry should not be allowed to think about running again. Senator Waffler suddenly became decisive, but about the wrong issue. He couldn't come up with a coherent message on Iraq, but he was coherent about throwing in the towel without demanding a vote count.
It is real simple. Tell him no. If you hosted a Moveon party, tell him no. If you left your home state to canvas door to door in Ohio or Pennsylvania, tell him no. If you helped register voters, tell him no. Kerry and the Democratic party left you in the lurch. They were just not worthy of your time, passion and commitment and you must tell them so.
Call his Washington office at (202) 224-2742 or fax at (202) 224-8525. Keep it short and sweet. "There is no way in hell I will do anything to help you lose again. Forget about it."
Who is demanding vote recounts? Terry McAuliffe said no, but the Libertarians and Greens have said yes. We spent four years villifying the Greens and they demand what Democrats will not. Ain't that a kick in the ass.
Colin and Condi in the News
Colin is out, Condi is in. Who cares? They are just two of the administration evil doers. I don't make excuses for them because they are colored. I said it all in Black Commentator a few months ago.
Colin is out, Condi is in. Who cares? They are just two of the administration evil doers. I don't make excuses for them because they are colored. I said it all in Black Commentator a few months ago.
Monday, November 15, 2004
President Arnold Schwarzenegger
Before November 2nd I made the terrible prediction that Arnold Schwarzenegger can be elected president. If the idiots who run the Democratic party can't beat Bush, they can't beat anyone else either, including a former actor. Get used to it. Say it over and over again, President Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Before November 2nd I made the terrible prediction that Arnold Schwarzenegger can be elected president. If the idiots who run the Democratic party can't beat Bush, they can't beat anyone else either, including a former actor. Get used to it. Say it over and over again, President Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Little Change in Latino Vote
Don't believe everything you read. There has been a lot of hot air about Bush showing increased support among Latinos. There is just one small problem. It isn't true. Read all about it.
Don't believe everything you read. There has been a lot of hot air about Bush showing increased support among Latinos. There is just one small problem. It isn't true. Read all about it.
Thursday, November 11, 2004
Why We Lost
Kerry himself mused as late as April, “What is our message?” If Kerry didn’t know his own message he should never have run in the first place. Bush had a message. “Stay the course.” The course can be crooked, it can be broken, but if a candidate acts like he knows where he is going, millions will follow.
Who wrote these brilliant words? I did. Check out this week's Black Commentator to get the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
Arianna Huffington has a better grasp on the inside scoop than I do. She tells us why Carville, Begala, Shrum and company should be shown the door. Curiously, Salon readers tore into her when she criticized the Kerry campaign last week. I don't get it.
Democrats have written and spoken endlessly since last week about what went wrong and where we should go from here. Very few have been willing to say that Kerry himself was a large part of the problem. Gore was immediately treated like an outcast and he actually beat Bush. This time around no one wants to say that we had a bad candidate. If the disconnect makes sense to anyone out there please explain it all to me.
Kerry himself mused as late as April, “What is our message?” If Kerry didn’t know his own message he should never have run in the first place. Bush had a message. “Stay the course.” The course can be crooked, it can be broken, but if a candidate acts like he knows where he is going, millions will follow.
Who wrote these brilliant words? I did. Check out this week's Black Commentator to get the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
Arianna Huffington has a better grasp on the inside scoop than I do. She tells us why Carville, Begala, Shrum and company should be shown the door. Curiously, Salon readers tore into her when she criticized the Kerry campaign last week. I don't get it.
Democrats have written and spoken endlessly since last week about what went wrong and where we should go from here. Very few have been willing to say that Kerry himself was a large part of the problem. Gore was immediately treated like an outcast and he actually beat Bush. This time around no one wants to say that we had a bad candidate. If the disconnect makes sense to anyone out there please explain it all to me.
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
Don't Even Think of Running Again
After a year of lack luster campaigning, an unclear message, and a premature concession, John Kerry is now "fired up." Gee John, it is a bit late for that. We are told that he is even considering another run in 2008. No way. No way in hell.
Anyone who had anything to do with the Kerry campaign must disappear. Unnamed aides point out that Reagan ran for president twice before he won. They neglect to point out that his failures were in getting his party's nomination, but once he got it he won. That is a very big difference.
Reports of election fraud are still coming out and yet we must also admit that Kerry was the wrong candidate in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Democrats can't win until we get rid of the idiots who run our party. They don't have a clue about much of anything. As Slate pointed out, Democrats don't even know how to frame the social security debate.
As spin doctors, Democrats kill vigorous patients. Meanwhile, Karl Rove can nurse a relic back to health. For example, the Democrats' version of "tough talk" is to accuse Bush of proposing to "privatize" Social Security. But "privatize" is a dirty word only to hard core liberals: For everyone else, it's a way to make the public sector more responsive and efficient. Bush doesn't propose to "privatize" Social Security. He proposes to eliminate it and replace it with glorified 401(k) plans—the same plans that have kept so many senior citizens working into their golden years after the stock market tanked in 2001. He plans to eliminate Social Security—still the most popular federal program in American history. George Bush wants to eliminate Social Security. Say this three times. Now say it every time you speak to the press, no matter what question the reporter asks you.
The same man who couldn't frame easy issues can't run again. Period.
After a year of lack luster campaigning, an unclear message, and a premature concession, John Kerry is now "fired up." Gee John, it is a bit late for that. We are told that he is even considering another run in 2008. No way. No way in hell.
Anyone who had anything to do with the Kerry campaign must disappear. Unnamed aides point out that Reagan ran for president twice before he won. They neglect to point out that his failures were in getting his party's nomination, but once he got it he won. That is a very big difference.
Reports of election fraud are still coming out and yet we must also admit that Kerry was the wrong candidate in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Democrats can't win until we get rid of the idiots who run our party. They don't have a clue about much of anything. As Slate pointed out, Democrats don't even know how to frame the social security debate.
As spin doctors, Democrats kill vigorous patients. Meanwhile, Karl Rove can nurse a relic back to health. For example, the Democrats' version of "tough talk" is to accuse Bush of proposing to "privatize" Social Security. But "privatize" is a dirty word only to hard core liberals: For everyone else, it's a way to make the public sector more responsive and efficient. Bush doesn't propose to "privatize" Social Security. He proposes to eliminate it and replace it with glorified 401(k) plans—the same plans that have kept so many senior citizens working into their golden years after the stock market tanked in 2001. He plans to eliminate Social Security—still the most popular federal program in American history. George Bush wants to eliminate Social Security. Say this three times. Now say it every time you speak to the press, no matter what question the reporter asks you.
The same man who couldn't frame easy issues can't run again. Period.
Tuesday, November 09, 2004
Monday, November 08, 2004
Thanks for Nothing Kerry
We can add Iraqi doctors to the long list of people who want to kick Kerry's ass for conceding too quickly. Your eyes do not deceive you. Iraqi doctors, nurses, and patients were searched, hand cuffed and otherwise humiliated in Fallujah. They were the lucky ones. They weren't killed. The Bushmen were waiting until after the election to attack the people of that city. If the election were still in limbo, and it should be, this would not have happened.
Fallujah
The Muslims are right. We are the infidels. What will the bible thumpers and the Catholic bishops say about this photo?
Jerry Falwell has already declared that God is pro war, so he won't have any problem defending this desecration. The bishops should deny communion to whomever used the symbol of the Christian God to celebrate an instrument of death. On the other hand, I'm not holding my breath.
Et tu MSNBC?
It has been less than a week since the gutless wonder, aka John Kerry, conceded way too soon. The truth is starting to come out, but who would have thought that MSNBC would have been part of the investigation?
MSNBC lags in cable news ratings because it keeps trying to be a poor conservative's Fox. Why watch? If you like Fox you'll watch Fox, not a pale imitation.
Keith Olbermann is breaking with his lame brethren and declaring that he smells a rat. The rat in this case is Warren County, Ohio, where the county elections building is under lock down while the vote count is underway. Olbermann is still partly in denial, asking silly questions like, "Who fixed the exit polls?" They weren't fixed. They were right, as exit polls almost always are. Voters said they voted for Kerry because they did.
In short, the Bushmen cheated again and the truth is beginning to come out.
It has been less than a week since the gutless wonder, aka John Kerry, conceded way too soon. The truth is starting to come out, but who would have thought that MSNBC would have been part of the investigation?
MSNBC lags in cable news ratings because it keeps trying to be a poor conservative's Fox. Why watch? If you like Fox you'll watch Fox, not a pale imitation.
Keith Olbermann is breaking with his lame brethren and declaring that he smells a rat. The rat in this case is Warren County, Ohio, where the county elections building is under lock down while the vote count is underway. Olbermann is still partly in denial, asking silly questions like, "Who fixed the exit polls?" They weren't fixed. They were right, as exit polls almost always are. Voters said they voted for Kerry because they did.
In short, the Bushmen cheated again and the truth is beginning to come out.
Kerry Punked Out
I was both wrong and right about Kerry. I didn't think he could win. I was wrong about that. He won, but I always thought he was a gutless empty suit. I was right about that.
I thought Kerry was going to fight for every vote. A lot of us were under this misapprehension and some of us are very, very angry. Thanks for nothing JFK.
I was both wrong and right about Kerry. I didn't think he could win. I was wrong about that. He won, but I always thought he was a gutless empty suit. I was right about that.
I thought Kerry was going to fight for every vote. A lot of us were under this misapprehension and some of us are very, very angry. Thanks for nothing JFK.
Saturday, November 06, 2004
The Election was Hacked. Which U.S. Senator Will Stop Another Theft of Democracy?
In Common Dreams Thom Hartmann explains that an ordinary PC can alter votes in electronic voting machines and that it happened in Florida.
One of the most memorable scenes in Fahrenheit 9/11 is the official verification of the electoral college vote that could have been stopped if just one United States Senator had stepped forward and said, "No." Who will step forward? Can one Senator be persuaded to stop the Bush vote theft?
In Common Dreams Thom Hartmann explains that an ordinary PC can alter votes in electronic voting machines and that it happened in Florida.
One of the most memorable scenes in Fahrenheit 9/11 is the official verification of the electoral college vote that could have been stopped if just one United States Senator had stepped forward and said, "No." Who will step forward? Can one Senator be persuaded to stop the Bush vote theft?
Friday, November 05, 2004
The Big Steal of 2004
"Black Box Voting has taken the position that fraud took place in the 2004 election through electronic voting machines. We base this on hard evidence, documents obtained in public records requests, inside information, and other data indicative of manipulation of electronic voting systems. What we do not know is the specific scope of the fraud. We are working now to compile the proof, based not on soft evidence -- red flags, exit polls -- but core documents obtained by Black Box Voting in the most massive Freedom of Information action in history."
Black Box Voting needs your help. They need money, $50,000 to be exact, to file Freedom of Information requests. They need lawyers, they need computer experts willing to go public with proof of fraud. The DNC had an army of lawyers, or so we were told. They weren't willing to deploy them in Ohio, so it was all meaningless.
Corporate control endangers every aspect of our lives already. Now Diebold "We will deliver Ohio's electoral votes to President Bush" and others are truly stealing our democracy. We need to draw a line in the sand to maintain our voting rights.
Do We Need a Bible Thumper?
It is always dangerous to ascribe causes and effects, especially where clueless Democratic pundits and politicians are concerned. Ever since Tuesday an erroneous consensus has formed about the power of the religious right. Andrew Kohut of the Pew Research Center spoke these words of caution in today's New York Times.
But Andrew Kohut, president of the Pew Research Center, warned against placing too much emphasis on "values voters.''
He noted that the percentages of voters who said they attended church once a week or opposed abortion were no greater than four years ago. In addition, a surprising 60 percent of voters said they favored some kind of legal recognition for same-sex couples, with 25 percent favoring marriage rights, and 35 percent favoring civil unions. Thirty-seven percent told pollsters that same-sex couples should not be granted any form of legal recognition.
Mr. Kohut also questioned whether the anti-gay-marriage initiatives that were on the ballot in 11 states helped galvanize conservative religious voters to vote for the president. After all, he said, Mr. Kerry won both Michigan and Oregon, two swing states where gay marriage propositions were on the ballot.
"After reading the newspapers this morning, we're getting a little carried away with the cultural and religious interpretation of this election," Mr. Kohut said. "It was a vote to some extent on values, but it was also a vote on John Kerry and how the American public felt about the way President Bush handled the war on terrorism."
"Black Box Voting has taken the position that fraud took place in the 2004 election through electronic voting machines. We base this on hard evidence, documents obtained in public records requests, inside information, and other data indicative of manipulation of electronic voting systems. What we do not know is the specific scope of the fraud. We are working now to compile the proof, based not on soft evidence -- red flags, exit polls -- but core documents obtained by Black Box Voting in the most massive Freedom of Information action in history."
Black Box Voting needs your help. They need money, $50,000 to be exact, to file Freedom of Information requests. They need lawyers, they need computer experts willing to go public with proof of fraud. The DNC had an army of lawyers, or so we were told. They weren't willing to deploy them in Ohio, so it was all meaningless.
Corporate control endangers every aspect of our lives already. Now Diebold "We will deliver Ohio's electoral votes to President Bush" and others are truly stealing our democracy. We need to draw a line in the sand to maintain our voting rights.
Do We Need a Bible Thumper?
It is always dangerous to ascribe causes and effects, especially where clueless Democratic pundits and politicians are concerned. Ever since Tuesday an erroneous consensus has formed about the power of the religious right. Andrew Kohut of the Pew Research Center spoke these words of caution in today's New York Times.
But Andrew Kohut, president of the Pew Research Center, warned against placing too much emphasis on "values voters.''
He noted that the percentages of voters who said they attended church once a week or opposed abortion were no greater than four years ago. In addition, a surprising 60 percent of voters said they favored some kind of legal recognition for same-sex couples, with 25 percent favoring marriage rights, and 35 percent favoring civil unions. Thirty-seven percent told pollsters that same-sex couples should not be granted any form of legal recognition.
Mr. Kohut also questioned whether the anti-gay-marriage initiatives that were on the ballot in 11 states helped galvanize conservative religious voters to vote for the president. After all, he said, Mr. Kerry won both Michigan and Oregon, two swing states where gay marriage propositions were on the ballot.
"After reading the newspapers this morning, we're getting a little carried away with the cultural and religious interpretation of this election," Mr. Kohut said. "It was a vote to some extent on values, but it was also a vote on John Kerry and how the American public felt about the way President Bush handled the war on terrorism."
Thursday, November 04, 2004
"God is pro war."
Jerry Falwell
"Blessed [are] the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."
Jesus
Matthew 5:9
Jerry Falwell
"Blessed [are] the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."
Jesus
Matthew 5:9
Timidity Loses
We have all had to listen to bad analysis of the election results. We need a red stater. We need a bible thumper. We need a red state bible thumper. Actually we just needed a decent candidate. As you can see from the previous post I don't agree with her first sentence, but I think that
Arianna Huffington does a good job of explaining why it was so close. They stole it again, but if we had had a better candidate, it would have been much harder for them to cheat.
We have all had to listen to bad analysis of the election results. We need a red stater. We need a bible thumper. We need a red state bible thumper. Actually we just needed a decent candidate. As you can see from the previous post I don't agree with her first sentence, but I think that
Arianna Huffington does a good job of explaining why it was so close. They stole it again, but if we had had a better candidate, it would have been much harder for them to cheat.
Did Kerry Win in Ohio?
Greg Palast says that he did. I seem to remember John Edwards saying that the Democrats would fight for every ballot. What a bunch of punks.
Greg Palast says that he did. I seem to remember John Edwards saying that the Democrats would fight for every ballot. What a bunch of punks.
Wednesday, November 03, 2004
Post Mortem
I don't know quite what to say this afternoon. This year has been very hard for me politically, and being the kind of person I am it has therefore taken an emotional toll as well.
As the presidential campaign began in 2003 I frankly was not very engaged. I didn't believe that the Democratic party knew how to beat Bush and I didn't see any of the Democratic candidates being able to take him. But I am a believer in the old adage, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. When the mainstream media and mainstream politicians began attacking Howard Dean I took a second look at him and I liked what I saw.
I thought that Dean could beat Bush. I believed that we needed a candidate who wasn't afraid to define the GOP, instead of waiting for them to define Democrats. I thought we needed an anti-war candidate. We needed someone who would say that the occupation of Iraq was a huge mistake. Despite Kerry's vote in favor, Bush's lies would have made it easy for him to say that he based his vote on a belief in the existence of WMD. Instead he insisted that he still would have supported the occupation. Doug Ireland tells us why this was a fatal error.
When the Dean campaign was destroyed by the corporate media and the DNC and DLC I was very, very angry, but I realized I had to accept it and move on to the probable nominee, John Kerry. I then got my second kick in the stomach as I watched Kerry campaign. He was clearly an empty suit. He allowed himself to be framed as a flip flopper and the most liberal Democrat in the Senate. Because there was no response from him or the DNC the words stuck. Just one week ago I heard someone who said he wanted Kerry to win refer to him as the most liberal Senator.
In the past month I became more optimistic about Kerry's chances. The increases in new voters made me think that Kerry could pull it off. Unfortunately, I was right the first time. I was right when I decided to miss most of the Democratic convention. I didn't see the Dems having a clue, not even a tiny clue, about how to convey a message that voters needed to hear in order to vote for them.
Rather than repeat myself I will refer you to what I have said already in my Black Commentator column. In my September 9th column, The Unthinkable, Bush Wins I spoke of my frustration that Kerry and the Dems continued to dismiss the Democratic base, especially the peace movement. How is it possible for a sitting president to have 400,000 people take to the streets against him at his convention while the opposition acts as though nothing happened?
On September 30th I talked about what we should do today. In the November 3rd Movement I said the following.
"The clumsiness of John Kerry on the campaign trial is not only a reflection of Kerry the man, but of the dysfunction promoted by the hapless Democratic National Committee and the Democratic Leadership Conference. The only outcome worse than a Kerry defeat, would be continued deference to the people who made it happen. "
My friends, it is time to act on my long standing fantasy and give Terry McAuliffe a good old fashioned beat down. Bill Clinton needs a few licks as well. I held off linking to this Counter Punch piece about the true corruption of Terry McAuliffe, Bill Clinton's boy, and the entire party apparatus as well. The time has come to lay it all on the line. Our party is run by hacks and crooks, and the sooner we acknowledge it the sooner we can begin to change things.
We have to become the leadership. We have to run for office. The Democrats who let us down have to face primary challenges. If you say you want a revolution, and you ought to, now is the time to act like it.
I don't know quite what to say this afternoon. This year has been very hard for me politically, and being the kind of person I am it has therefore taken an emotional toll as well.
As the presidential campaign began in 2003 I frankly was not very engaged. I didn't believe that the Democratic party knew how to beat Bush and I didn't see any of the Democratic candidates being able to take him. But I am a believer in the old adage, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. When the mainstream media and mainstream politicians began attacking Howard Dean I took a second look at him and I liked what I saw.
I thought that Dean could beat Bush. I believed that we needed a candidate who wasn't afraid to define the GOP, instead of waiting for them to define Democrats. I thought we needed an anti-war candidate. We needed someone who would say that the occupation of Iraq was a huge mistake. Despite Kerry's vote in favor, Bush's lies would have made it easy for him to say that he based his vote on a belief in the existence of WMD. Instead he insisted that he still would have supported the occupation. Doug Ireland tells us why this was a fatal error.
When the Dean campaign was destroyed by the corporate media and the DNC and DLC I was very, very angry, but I realized I had to accept it and move on to the probable nominee, John Kerry. I then got my second kick in the stomach as I watched Kerry campaign. He was clearly an empty suit. He allowed himself to be framed as a flip flopper and the most liberal Democrat in the Senate. Because there was no response from him or the DNC the words stuck. Just one week ago I heard someone who said he wanted Kerry to win refer to him as the most liberal Senator.
In the past month I became more optimistic about Kerry's chances. The increases in new voters made me think that Kerry could pull it off. Unfortunately, I was right the first time. I was right when I decided to miss most of the Democratic convention. I didn't see the Dems having a clue, not even a tiny clue, about how to convey a message that voters needed to hear in order to vote for them.
Rather than repeat myself I will refer you to what I have said already in my Black Commentator column. In my September 9th column, The Unthinkable, Bush Wins I spoke of my frustration that Kerry and the Dems continued to dismiss the Democratic base, especially the peace movement. How is it possible for a sitting president to have 400,000 people take to the streets against him at his convention while the opposition acts as though nothing happened?
On September 30th I talked about what we should do today. In the November 3rd Movement I said the following.
"The clumsiness of John Kerry on the campaign trial is not only a reflection of Kerry the man, but of the dysfunction promoted by the hapless Democratic National Committee and the Democratic Leadership Conference. The only outcome worse than a Kerry defeat, would be continued deference to the people who made it happen. "
My friends, it is time to act on my long standing fantasy and give Terry McAuliffe a good old fashioned beat down. Bill Clinton needs a few licks as well. I held off linking to this Counter Punch piece about the true corruption of Terry McAuliffe, Bill Clinton's boy, and the entire party apparatus as well. The time has come to lay it all on the line. Our party is run by hacks and crooks, and the sooner we acknowledge it the sooner we can begin to change things.
We have to become the leadership. We have to run for office. The Democrats who let us down have to face primary challenges. If you say you want a revolution, and you ought to, now is the time to act like it.
Tuesday, November 02, 2004
Reasons for Optimism
Ohio shenanigans notwithstanding, I still say Kerry will win, although I am concerned about problems with provisional voting and electronic machines.
First the good news.
Ohio shenanigans notwithstanding, I still say Kerry will win, although I am concerned about problems with provisional voting and electronic machines.
First the good news.
- Polls are skewed towards Republicans. Let's not forget that 4 years ago polls showed Bush beating Gore. If polls show a dead heat, that means Kerry is actually ahead.
- Newly registered voters are anti-Bush. Even if only half of them vote, there are enough of them to put Kerry over the top.
- Because Kerry will win by a wider margin, the GOP needs to cheat a lot in order to win. They will need more than poll challengers in Ohio.
- Only the worst of the warmongers still support the occupation of Iraq. This election is the first opportunity for Americans to vote on the war, and they are voting no.
- Turn out will be much higher than last time. That helps Kerry.
Now the bad news.
- There are reports of voters choosing Kerry on electronic machines (scroll down) that instead show a vote for Bush.
- The rules for counting provisional ballots vary widely. Some states will count them right away, others have two weeks.
I should also add that high turn out means long lines, and that means that voting will go one past the time of official poll closings. We may not know the winner tonight or tomorrow, but I still say that all signs point to a Kerry win.
Facial Poll
I know it is unscientific, but I think we can tell who is going to win by looking at this man's face. George W. Bush has the real poll numbers and this is what he looks like on Election Day? Kerry will win and no one knows it better than George W. Bush.
I am sure that I'm not the only one who has noticed that Bush has aged, a lot, in just the past month. I think that his lack of qualifications for the office has taken its toll. Also, let us not forget that Bush skipped his August physical this year, with no plans to take it until after today.
I believe that he is physically ill, but I am not going to make any predictions about whether we will ever hear the truth about his condition.
I know it is unscientific, but I think we can tell who is going to win by looking at this man's face. George W. Bush has the real poll numbers and this is what he looks like on Election Day? Kerry will win and no one knows it better than George W. Bush.
I am sure that I'm not the only one who has noticed that Bush has aged, a lot, in just the past month. I think that his lack of qualifications for the office has taken its toll. Also, let us not forget that Bush skipped his August physical this year, with no plans to take it until after today.
I believe that he is physically ill, but I am not going to make any predictions about whether we will ever hear the truth about his condition.
Bad News from Ohio
In a 2 to 1 decision, an Ohio appellate court has ruled that Republicans can challenge voter eligibility in polling places. The ruling reversed two others made just yesterday.
In a 2 to 1 decision, an Ohio appellate court has ruled that Republicans can challenge voter eligibility in polling places. The ruling reversed two others made just yesterday.
Monday, November 01, 2004
Quotes of the Day
"I mean, look, we’re up against despotism. And whatever rhetoric they want to use and say, oh, we’re not despots, we’re good Americans -- well, everybody says that. But they’re not. They are the enemy. And they have targeted the American people. They don’t like them. They don’t care anything about them. They’re interested in corporate America. They’re interested in Halliburton and their companies. They’re interested in making money. And they hate the people who stand for the old republic. They just don’t like them."
Gore Vidal
"I don't really care about the electorate. . ."
Ann Coulter
"I mean, look, we’re up against despotism. And whatever rhetoric they want to use and say, oh, we’re not despots, we’re good Americans -- well, everybody says that. But they’re not. They are the enemy. And they have targeted the American people. They don’t like them. They don’t care anything about them. They’re interested in corporate America. They’re interested in Halliburton and their companies. They’re interested in making money. And they hate the people who stand for the old republic. They just don’t like them."
Gore Vidal
"I don't really care about the electorate. . ."
Ann Coulter
Vote Theft Watch
First the good news. In Ohio two federal judges have ruled that only poll workers can decide voter eligibility. Republican thuggery gets the boot.
Now the bad news. According to Greg Palast, because of voter roll purges, missing absentee ballots and vote "spoilage", Kerry starts out with a deficit of nearly one million votes.
It is important to tell the story of another Republican attempt to steal an election, but I say this much. They are going to have to steal much bigger to win this time around. Kerry will win all of the blue states and a couple more for good measure. The results may not be known tomorrow night, but I believe that the huge increases in voter participation will put him over the top.
The Republicans will challenge the results, but in the end it probably won't matter. At the end of last year I didn't think Kerry would be the nominee and I said so on numerous occasions. But I gladly take it all back.
Now, take deep breaths, and get up early tomorrow and vote.
First the good news. In Ohio two federal judges have ruled that only poll workers can decide voter eligibility. Republican thuggery gets the boot.
Now the bad news. According to Greg Palast, because of voter roll purges, missing absentee ballots and vote "spoilage", Kerry starts out with a deficit of nearly one million votes.
It is important to tell the story of another Republican attempt to steal an election, but I say this much. They are going to have to steal much bigger to win this time around. Kerry will win all of the blue states and a couple more for good measure. The results may not be known tomorrow night, but I believe that the huge increases in voter participation will put him over the top.
The Republicans will challenge the results, but in the end it probably won't matter. At the end of last year I didn't think Kerry would be the nominee and I said so on numerous occasions. But I gladly take it all back.
Now, take deep breaths, and get up early tomorrow and vote.
Vote Theft in Wisconsin
It is clear that Kerry is ahead in Wisconsin. Otherwise, flyers like these wouldn't be around.
It is clear that Kerry is ahead in Wisconsin. Otherwise, flyers like these wouldn't be around.
There also wouldn't be attempts to disenfranchise voters like this one at the University of Wisconsin. Of course, the Republican wails of voter fraud are false. The vast majority of supposedly "bad" addresses do in fact exist.
Sunday, October 31, 2004
Vote Theft Watch
Wisconsin Republicans are trying to keep thousands of Milwaukee Democrats from voting. The GOP claims that the city has 37,000 "bad" addresses among registered voters and are demanding that voters have I.D. in order to vote.
According to the Republicans, a missing apartment number indicates fraud. Half of my mail is missing my apartment number. I would hate to think that I would lose my right to vote because of that omission.
It is all bogus of course. The Republicans have to cheat in order to win. As in Florida in 2000 their cheating M.O. means keeping Democrats from voting.
Wisconsin Republicans are trying to keep thousands of Milwaukee Democrats from voting. The GOP claims that the city has 37,000 "bad" addresses among registered voters and are demanding that voters have I.D. in order to vote.
According to the Republicans, a missing apartment number indicates fraud. Half of my mail is missing my apartment number. I would hate to think that I would lose my right to vote because of that omission.
It is all bogus of course. The Republicans have to cheat in order to win. As in Florida in 2000 their cheating M.O. means keeping Democrats from voting.
Saturday, October 30, 2004
Get Out the Vote (In the Comfort of Your Home)
Are you feeling guilty because you aren't canvassing door to door in a swing state? Get rid of that guilt and get busy!
Go to www.votercall.org. You can register to call some of the newly registered voters in swing states, all at your leisure. Well, don't get too leisurely. You have to act before Tuesday.
Are you feeling guilty because you aren't canvassing door to door in a swing state? Get rid of that guilt and get busy!
Go to www.votercall.org. You can register to call some of the newly registered voters in swing states, all at your leisure. Well, don't get too leisurely. You have to act before Tuesday.
Friday, October 29, 2004
The Black Vote and Election Day
Thanks for nothing founding fathers. The electoral college disenfranchises millions of Americans. Because it is winner take all, your vote doesn't count if you vote for the person who loses your state. Candidates are discouraged from even showing their faces in states that are not in play.
The effect on black voters is truly awful. Black Commentator has the story. Speaking of Black Commentator, I had to hand wring one last time before election day. I vent my spleen here.
Thanks for nothing founding fathers. The electoral college disenfranchises millions of Americans. Because it is winner take all, your vote doesn't count if you vote for the person who loses your state. Candidates are discouraged from even showing their faces in states that are not in play.
The effect on black voters is truly awful. Black Commentator has the story. Speaking of Black Commentator, I had to hand wring one last time before election day. I vent my spleen here.
Thursday, October 28, 2004
Trouble in the Buckeye State
"It's going to get worse, too: mark my words, when Democrats, civil rights attorneys, and voters themselves get visibly angry about this gambit, the GOPers will start whining about "potential violence" at the polls, and even pretend their goons are being intimidated and harassed. If nothing else, it will give them an excuse to go to court to contest Ohio's outcome if the state goes for Kerry.
Now I have no direct evidence that Karl Rove has planned and is executing this voter suppression strategy, though it's interesting that every Republican hack and pundit in the universe started singing like a cicada about "voter fraud" about a week before the Ohio story got into the national news. But it sure as hell fits Rove's M.O. like a glove. "
New Donkey
The more I read about Election Day, the more convinced I am that Ohio will be the main target of GOP chicanery. Polls show Kerry winning and that means the Republicans will have to cheat in order to win. They have already tipped their hand. They are complaining about voter fraud and Democratic voter intimidation. A Kerry victory in that state will be challenged in court.
I hope the reports of a Democratic legal swat team are accurate.
"It's going to get worse, too: mark my words, when Democrats, civil rights attorneys, and voters themselves get visibly angry about this gambit, the GOPers will start whining about "potential violence" at the polls, and even pretend their goons are being intimidated and harassed. If nothing else, it will give them an excuse to go to court to contest Ohio's outcome if the state goes for Kerry.
Now I have no direct evidence that Karl Rove has planned and is executing this voter suppression strategy, though it's interesting that every Republican hack and pundit in the universe started singing like a cicada about "voter fraud" about a week before the Ohio story got into the national news. But it sure as hell fits Rove's M.O. like a glove. "
New Donkey
The more I read about Election Day, the more convinced I am that Ohio will be the main target of GOP chicanery. Polls show Kerry winning and that means the Republicans will have to cheat in order to win. They have already tipped their hand. They are complaining about voter fraud and Democratic voter intimidation. A Kerry victory in that state will be challenged in court.
I hope the reports of a Democratic legal swat team are accurate.
Polls Show Kerry Winning
Four years ago polls showed Al Gore losing to George W. Bush. OK, he lost, but he won more votes than Bush did. Polls over estimate Republican strength and under estimate Democratic strength. Read about it all here.
Bush will have to do a lot of cheating between now and Tuesday in order to win. I don't see Kerry losing any of Al Gore's states, and I think he will pick up a few more. Even if the GOP succeeds in hijacking Florida again, it won't be enough. Not that they haven't tried. Palm Beach County, land of the butterfly ballot, has somehow neglected to put any early voting polling places in black neighborhoods. What a coincidence.
The GOP poll watcher intimidation planned for Ohio must be the result of some very bad polling numbers. Karl Rove knows better than the rest of us that it doesn't look good there.
If Kerry loses it will be because of cheating, lawsuits, and ultimately the Supreme Court.
Four years ago polls showed Al Gore losing to George W. Bush. OK, he lost, but he won more votes than Bush did. Polls over estimate Republican strength and under estimate Democratic strength. Read about it all here.
Bush will have to do a lot of cheating between now and Tuesday in order to win. I don't see Kerry losing any of Al Gore's states, and I think he will pick up a few more. Even if the GOP succeeds in hijacking Florida again, it won't be enough. Not that they haven't tried. Palm Beach County, land of the butterfly ballot, has somehow neglected to put any early voting polling places in black neighborhoods. What a coincidence.
The GOP poll watcher intimidation planned for Ohio must be the result of some very bad polling numbers. Karl Rove knows better than the rest of us that it doesn't look good there.
If Kerry loses it will be because of cheating, lawsuits, and ultimately the Supreme Court.
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
Lunar Eclipse
If you live in the western hemisphere, or western Africa or Europe, you have the chance to see a total lunar eclipse this evening. Fortunately, I am not in New York City. I am upstate and the lack of light pollution makes the eclipse a sight to behold.
The moon is now completely covered by the shadow of the earth and it is a purplish, brown color. It is a great distraction from nail biting time.
If you live in the western hemisphere, or western Africa or Europe, you have the chance to see a total lunar eclipse this evening. Fortunately, I am not in New York City. I am upstate and the lack of light pollution makes the eclipse a sight to behold.
The moon is now completely covered by the shadow of the earth and it is a purplish, brown color. It is a great distraction from nail biting time.
Vote Theft Watch
They have to cheat in order to win. If the Republican skewed polls show a dead heat that means only one thing. Kerry is ahead of Bush.
Ohio is going to be the new Florida. This week a judge ruled that provisional ballots must be cast in the correct precinct. If you vote at the wrong precinct your ballot won't be counted. Even worse, Republicans in that state have registered twice as many poll watchers as the Democrats have. These poll watchers will be able to challenge anyone's eligibility to vote.
Two weeks ago Black Commentator predicted that this crisis would take place. The DNC decided that the priority should be on legal challenges instead of on the ground foot soldiers. The result is that Kerry voters will be harassed and intimidated at the polls.
Actually, Florida is still Florida. Over 10,000 people who thought they are registered are not. They neglected to check a box stating that they are U.S. citizens. Of course, the form also requires a signature swearing citizenship. A judge ruled that signing the form is not enough. If the box isn't checked, no vote can be cast.
Greg Palast and the BBC once again run rings around their American colleagues. In Jacksonville Florida the GOP has a list of 1,800 people who they say are ineligible to vote. They are also filming people at early balloting locations in black neighborhoods.
Help get out the vote. If you live in a swing state or can get to one easily check out this site to find out how to help.
They have to cheat in order to win. If the Republican skewed polls show a dead heat that means only one thing. Kerry is ahead of Bush.
Ohio is going to be the new Florida. This week a judge ruled that provisional ballots must be cast in the correct precinct. If you vote at the wrong precinct your ballot won't be counted. Even worse, Republicans in that state have registered twice as many poll watchers as the Democrats have. These poll watchers will be able to challenge anyone's eligibility to vote.
Two weeks ago Black Commentator predicted that this crisis would take place. The DNC decided that the priority should be on legal challenges instead of on the ground foot soldiers. The result is that Kerry voters will be harassed and intimidated at the polls.
Actually, Florida is still Florida. Over 10,000 people who thought they are registered are not. They neglected to check a box stating that they are U.S. citizens. Of course, the form also requires a signature swearing citizenship. A judge ruled that signing the form is not enough. If the box isn't checked, no vote can be cast.
Greg Palast and the BBC once again run rings around their American colleagues. In Jacksonville Florida the GOP has a list of 1,800 people who they say are ineligible to vote. They are also filming people at early balloting locations in black neighborhoods.
Help get out the vote. If you live in a swing state or can get to one easily check out this site to find out how to help.
Friday, October 22, 2004
Confessing Christ in a World of Violence
Over 200 theologians and ethicists have signed this new confession of Christ. You can see the full text in Sojourners.
1. Jesus Christ, as attested in Holy Scripture, knows no national boundaries.
2. Christ commits Christians to a strong presumption against war.
3. Christ commands us to see not only the splinter in our adversary's eye, but also the beam in our own.
4. Christ shows us that enemy-love is the heart of the gospel.
5. Christ teaches us that humility is the virtue befitting forgiven sinners.
Christians must speak to these principles more adamantly than ever before. Our religion has been hijacked by extremists.
Over 200 theologians and ethicists have signed this new confession of Christ. You can see the full text in Sojourners.
1. Jesus Christ, as attested in Holy Scripture, knows no national boundaries.
2. Christ commits Christians to a strong presumption against war.
3. Christ commands us to see not only the splinter in our adversary's eye, but also the beam in our own.
4. Christ shows us that enemy-love is the heart of the gospel.
5. Christ teaches us that humility is the virtue befitting forgiven sinners.
Christians must speak to these principles more adamantly than ever before. Our religion has been hijacked by extremists.
Fascism Watch
There are too many scary aspects to this story. First, we have Pat Robertson, who predicted that God personally assured him of a Bush victory. God doesn't make political predictions and anyone who claims otherwise is practicing the 8th "identifying characteristic" of fascism, intertwining religion and politics (see yesterday's post).
Now Robertson's usually crazed ramblings are actually helpful. It seems that Robertson has said on more than one occassion that he had misgivings about the occupation of Iraq. He says he expressed those misgivings to Bush, but Bush assured him that "there would be no casualties."
The White House denies that Bush made such a statement but it does ring true. He wanted to invade so that means there wouldn't be any problems. In my October 17th post I quoted from Ron Susskind's NY Times article, "Without a Doubt," which scares even the already frightened with quotes such as this from an unnamed administration official.
''We're an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality. And while you're studying that reality -- judiciously, as you will -- we'll act again, creating other new realities, which you can study too, and that's how things will sort out. We're history's actors . . . and you, all of you, will be left to just study what we do."
When Bush said there would be no casualties he was creating his own reality.
There are too many scary aspects to this story. First, we have Pat Robertson, who predicted that God personally assured him of a Bush victory. God doesn't make political predictions and anyone who claims otherwise is practicing the 8th "identifying characteristic" of fascism, intertwining religion and politics (see yesterday's post).
Now Robertson's usually crazed ramblings are actually helpful. It seems that Robertson has said on more than one occassion that he had misgivings about the occupation of Iraq. He says he expressed those misgivings to Bush, but Bush assured him that "there would be no casualties."
The White House denies that Bush made such a statement but it does ring true. He wanted to invade so that means there wouldn't be any problems. In my October 17th post I quoted from Ron Susskind's NY Times article, "Without a Doubt," which scares even the already frightened with quotes such as this from an unnamed administration official.
''We're an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality. And while you're studying that reality -- judiciously, as you will -- we'll act again, creating other new realities, which you can study too, and that's how things will sort out. We're history's actors . . . and you, all of you, will be left to just study what we do."
When Bush said there would be no casualties he was creating his own reality.
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
Fascism Watch
I discovered a great site, Old American Century. In Wake Up and Smell the Fascism it gives us 14 characteristics common to fascist regimes. Check it out.
The Israeli Army Kills Palestinian Children
Over 500 Palestinian children have been killed by the Israeli army. These chilling words come from the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.
"Palestinian human rights groups speak of even higher numbers: 598 Palestinian children killed (up to age 17), according to the Palestinian Human Rights Monitoring Group, and 828 killed (up to age 18) according to the Red Crescent. Take note of the ages, too. According to B'Tselem, whose data are updated until about a month ago, 42 of the children who have been killed were 10; 20 were seven; and eight were two years old when they died. The youngest victims are 13 newborn infants who died at checkpoints during birth."
"The public indifference that accompanies this pageant of unrelieved suffering makes all Israelis accomplices to a crime. Even parents, who understand what anxiety for a child's fate means, turn away and don't want to hear about the anxiety harbored by the parent on the other side of the fence. Who would have believed that Israeli soldiers would kill hundreds of children and that the majority of Israelis would remain silent? Even the Palestinian children have become part of the dehumanization campaign: killing hundreds of them is no longer a big deal."
Over 500 Palestinian children have been killed by the Israeli army. These chilling words come from the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.
"Palestinian human rights groups speak of even higher numbers: 598 Palestinian children killed (up to age 17), according to the Palestinian Human Rights Monitoring Group, and 828 killed (up to age 18) according to the Red Crescent. Take note of the ages, too. According to B'Tselem, whose data are updated until about a month ago, 42 of the children who have been killed were 10; 20 were seven; and eight were two years old when they died. The youngest victims are 13 newborn infants who died at checkpoints during birth."
"The public indifference that accompanies this pageant of unrelieved suffering makes all Israelis accomplices to a crime. Even parents, who understand what anxiety for a child's fate means, turn away and don't want to hear about the anxiety harbored by the parent on the other side of the fence. Who would have believed that Israeli soldiers would kill hundreds of children and that the majority of Israelis would remain silent? Even the Palestinian children have become part of the dehumanization campaign: killing hundreds of them is no longer a big deal."
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
John Stewart vs. Tucker Carlson
John Stewart, host of Comedy Central's Daily Show, had quite a dust up with Paul Begala and Tucker Carlson last week. He told the Crossfire hosts that they were hurting America and he called Carlson the nickname for Richard. Viva Stewart!
You can watch it all here. Because we have very few decent journalists left we must depend on stand up comics to do their job. Begala certainly doesn't do his. Twice in the interview the alleged Democrat leaps to Bush's defense. Only wimpy, sniveling Democrats are allowed on these shows.
John Stewart, host of Comedy Central's Daily Show, had quite a dust up with Paul Begala and Tucker Carlson last week. He told the Crossfire hosts that they were hurting America and he called Carlson the nickname for Richard. Viva Stewart!
You can watch it all here. Because we have very few decent journalists left we must depend on stand up comics to do their job. Begala certainly doesn't do his. Twice in the interview the alleged Democrat leaps to Bush's defense. Only wimpy, sniveling Democrats are allowed on these shows.
Vote Theft Watch
Florida Republicans are attempting to steal another election. Floridians were able to vote beginning yesterday and the fraud has already begun.
Salon gives examples of new tricks. Voters are receiving mysterious calls informing them that they can phote by phone or that their absentee ballots will be collected in person. The boards of elections in Florida's counties have made no such calls.
Florida Republicans are attempting to steal another election. Floridians were able to vote beginning yesterday and the fraud has already begun.
Salon gives examples of new tricks. Voters are receiving mysterious calls informing them that they can phote by phone or that their absentee ballots will be collected in person. The boards of elections in Florida's counties have made no such calls.
Monday, October 18, 2004
The Vote Theft Begins
As I said on October 15th, Bush can only win by cheating, and the cheating has begun. Kerry's name is missing from absentee ballots in Hamilton County, Ohio. A judge in Las Vegas has denied voter requests to re-register after their original registrations were destroyed by Republican operatives. In Michigan, voters are getting mysterious phone calls alleging, incorrectly, that the deadline for requesting absentee ballots has passed, and Theresa LePore is at it again. Salon reports that a Colorado judge has ruled that voters must provide ID, and Florida will not count provisional ballots cast in the wrong precinct.
As I said on October 15th, Bush can only win by cheating, and the cheating has begun. Kerry's name is missing from absentee ballots in Hamilton County, Ohio. A judge in Las Vegas has denied voter requests to re-register after their original registrations were destroyed by Republican operatives. In Michigan, voters are getting mysterious phone calls alleging, incorrectly, that the deadline for requesting absentee ballots has passed, and Theresa LePore is at it again. Salon reports that a Colorado judge has ruled that voters must provide ID, and Florida will not count provisional ballots cast in the wrong precinct.
Sinclair Broadcasting
Perhaps there will be more than one October surprise. One is coming from Sinclair broadcasting. Sinclair stations will broadcast Stolen Honor, an anti-Kerry screed that masquerades as a documentary.
What should you do? You should boycott advertisers. Of course a boycott is worthless unless the advertisers in question know that they are a target.
Check out Stolen Air Time. The aptly named site, Boycott Sinclair Advertisers, gives clear instructions for contacting advertisers. Everyone get busy.
Perhaps there will be more than one October surprise. One is coming from Sinclair broadcasting. Sinclair stations will broadcast Stolen Honor, an anti-Kerry screed that masquerades as a documentary.
What should you do? You should boycott advertisers. Of course a boycott is worthless unless the advertisers in question know that they are a target.
Check out Stolen Air Time. The aptly named site, Boycott Sinclair Advertisers, gives clear instructions for contacting advertisers. Everyone get busy.
Sunday, October 17, 2004
Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid
I was afraid of George W. Bush before I read the New York Times this morning. After reading an article in the Times magazine entitled, "Without a Doubt" my fear hit Richter scale levels (registration is required but it is free). This exchange took place in December 2002 when Democratic Congressman Tom Lantos suggested that Sweden was a good choice to provide peace keepers between the Israelis and Palestinians.
''I don't know why you're talking about Sweden,'' Bush said. ''They're the neutral one. They don't have an army.''
Lantos paused, a little shocked, and offered a gentlemanly reply: ''Mr. President, you may have thought that I said Switzerland. They're the ones that are historically neutral, without an army.'' Then Lantos mentioned, in a gracious aside, that the Swiss do have a tough national guard to protect the country in the event of invasion.
Bush held to his view. ''No, no, it's Sweden that has no army.''
The room went silent, until someone changed the subject.
A few weeks later, members of Congress and their spouses gathered with administration officials and other dignitaries for the White House Christmas party. The president saw Lantos and grabbed him by the shoulder. ''You were right,'' he said, with bonhomie. ''Sweden does have an army.''
The point of this story is not to say that Bush is stupid. The article doesn't say that Bush is stupid, but that he applies faith based principles to governing. If he believes that something is true, then it is true and no one should suggest otherwise.
The article doesn't really tell us anything new. I am surprised that the Times did some good reporting on Bush. Of course there will be howls of protest from the right that such a critical article was printed just two weeks before election day. They will be partly right. The Times knew this stuff from the beginning of the Bush administration and should have been giving its readers this awful news for the past four years. Their lack of reporting before the invasion of Iraq was inexcusably bad. It will go down in history as one of the worst mistakes the paper of record has ever made in its history.
I end this post with a quote from an unnamed White House aide.
''We're an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality. And while you're studying that reality -- judiciously, as you will -- we'll act again, creating other new realities, which you can study too, and that's how things will sort out. We're history's actors . . . and you, all of you, will be left to just study what we do.''
Well, now Iraq makes sense. They were creating an alternate reality. I suggest that anyone else who wants to do that should take up science fiction writing, not government.
I was afraid of George W. Bush before I read the New York Times this morning. After reading an article in the Times magazine entitled, "Without a Doubt" my fear hit Richter scale levels (registration is required but it is free). This exchange took place in December 2002 when Democratic Congressman Tom Lantos suggested that Sweden was a good choice to provide peace keepers between the Israelis and Palestinians.
''I don't know why you're talking about Sweden,'' Bush said. ''They're the neutral one. They don't have an army.''
Lantos paused, a little shocked, and offered a gentlemanly reply: ''Mr. President, you may have thought that I said Switzerland. They're the ones that are historically neutral, without an army.'' Then Lantos mentioned, in a gracious aside, that the Swiss do have a tough national guard to protect the country in the event of invasion.
Bush held to his view. ''No, no, it's Sweden that has no army.''
The room went silent, until someone changed the subject.
A few weeks later, members of Congress and their spouses gathered with administration officials and other dignitaries for the White House Christmas party. The president saw Lantos and grabbed him by the shoulder. ''You were right,'' he said, with bonhomie. ''Sweden does have an army.''
The point of this story is not to say that Bush is stupid. The article doesn't say that Bush is stupid, but that he applies faith based principles to governing. If he believes that something is true, then it is true and no one should suggest otherwise.
The article doesn't really tell us anything new. I am surprised that the Times did some good reporting on Bush. Of course there will be howls of protest from the right that such a critical article was printed just two weeks before election day. They will be partly right. The Times knew this stuff from the beginning of the Bush administration and should have been giving its readers this awful news for the past four years. Their lack of reporting before the invasion of Iraq was inexcusably bad. It will go down in history as one of the worst mistakes the paper of record has ever made in its history.
I end this post with a quote from an unnamed White House aide.
''We're an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality. And while you're studying that reality -- judiciously, as you will -- we'll act again, creating other new realities, which you can study too, and that's how things will sort out. We're history's actors . . . and you, all of you, will be left to just study what we do.''
Well, now Iraq makes sense. They were creating an alternate reality. I suggest that anyone else who wants to do that should take up science fiction writing, not government.
Fascism Watch
The words "civil liberties" are obscene. It is true. Three teachers in Oregon were escorted out of a Bush campaign event because they wore t-shirts with the words "Protect Our Civil Liberties." They were told the language on their shirts was obscene.
The words "civil liberties" are obscene. It is true. Three teachers in Oregon were escorted out of a Bush campaign event because they wore t-shirts with the words "Protect Our Civil Liberties." They were told the language on their shirts was obscene.
Friday, October 15, 2004
Will the Real al-Zarqawi Please Stand Up?
Does al-Zarqawi really behead people? Does he have one leg or just an injured leg? Does he even exist? Asia Times has the story.
Does al-Zarqawi really behead people? Does he have one leg or just an injured leg? Does he even exist? Asia Times has the story.
A Bigger Steal than in 2000
I have a lot of issues with Eric Alterman, primarily because he not only discounted the importance of the peace movement, but he actually said that we shouldn't protest. He also suffers badly from white liberal syndrome. At any rate, I still read him because he makes sense often enough.
"I am going to go on record here saying forget the polls, which were wrong last time and will be wrong again this time. If Bush somehow wins, it will require an even bigger steal than four years ago. Nobody who voted for Gore is voting for Bush. The Democrats have registered millions of new voters who don’t show up in the polls. Idiots who share Ralph Nader’s belief that there is not a “dime’s worth of difference” between the two candidates are far fewer than last time around. And lots more people have cell phones and can’t be reached by pollsters. I’m not saying Bush can’t win; I’m just saying I don’t think he can win honestly."
I have a lot of issues with Eric Alterman, primarily because he not only discounted the importance of the peace movement, but he actually said that we shouldn't protest. He also suffers badly from white liberal syndrome. At any rate, I still read him because he makes sense often enough.
"I am going to go on record here saying forget the polls, which were wrong last time and will be wrong again this time. If Bush somehow wins, it will require an even bigger steal than four years ago. Nobody who voted for Gore is voting for Bush. The Democrats have registered millions of new voters who don’t show up in the polls. Idiots who share Ralph Nader’s belief that there is not a “dime’s worth of difference” between the two candidates are far fewer than last time around. And lots more people have cell phones and can’t be reached by pollsters. I’m not saying Bush can’t win; I’m just saying I don’t think he can win honestly."
Thursday, October 14, 2004
Bush is Desperate
Even the boot licking punditry agree that Kerry won the debates. Polls show his numbers improving. That is all very good news, except for one problem.
The Bushmen are fanatics. They will not go quietly. They will attempt to cheat at the ballot box and God only knows what the October Surprise will be. I have more thoughts on the subject in Black Commentator.
By the way, after getting busted in the first debate, the president was still wearing something odd under his jacket. If they are still giving him audio assistance after already being caught, Bush must literally be incapable of thinking or speaking for himself anymore. After all, he has postponed his annual physical, which usually takes place in August, until after the election. Rumors are rampant. Was he wearing a defribrilator? Why did he want to talk to Kerry after the debate? As I pointed out in a September 26th post, at least one physician sees signs of "presenile dementia," a precursor to Alzheimers.
None of this rumor mongering would be necessary if they would just be honest. I know. Dream on.
Even the boot licking punditry agree that Kerry won the debates. Polls show his numbers improving. That is all very good news, except for one problem.
The Bushmen are fanatics. They will not go quietly. They will attempt to cheat at the ballot box and God only knows what the October Surprise will be. I have more thoughts on the subject in Black Commentator.
By the way, after getting busted in the first debate, the president was still wearing something odd under his jacket. If they are still giving him audio assistance after already being caught, Bush must literally be incapable of thinking or speaking for himself anymore. After all, he has postponed his annual physical, which usually takes place in August, until after the election. Rumors are rampant. Was he wearing a defribrilator? Why did he want to talk to Kerry after the debate? As I pointed out in a September 26th post, at least one physician sees signs of "presenile dementia," a precursor to Alzheimers.
None of this rumor mongering would be necessary if they would just be honest. I know. Dream on.
Vote Theft in 2004
First the good news. There have been significant increases in voter registration in swing states. Now the bad news. The Republicans know that they have to keep these new voters from getting to the voting booth.
The Democratic party is committed to fighting for the franchise, unfortunately there has been too much emphasis on after the fact lawsuits, and not enough on having poll watchers on the ground to counter GOP intimidation. Read it here in Black Commentator.
First the good news. There have been significant increases in voter registration in swing states. Now the bad news. The Republicans know that they have to keep these new voters from getting to the voting booth.
The Democratic party is committed to fighting for the franchise, unfortunately there has been too much emphasis on after the fact lawsuits, and not enough on having poll watchers on the ground to counter GOP intimidation. Read it here in Black Commentator.
Wednesday, October 13, 2004
Only the Onion
"Make no mistake: If Kerry becomes president, no one will be safe from me," Cheney told reporters. "Businesses, places of worship, schools, public parks: No place will offer you refuge. A vote for Kerry is a vote to die in your own bed at the hands of Dick Cheney."
I love the Onion, but the problem with this particular piece of satire is that it rings a little too true.
"Make no mistake: If Kerry becomes president, no one will be safe from me," Cheney told reporters. "Businesses, places of worship, schools, public parks: No place will offer you refuge. A vote for Kerry is a vote to die in your own bed at the hands of Dick Cheney."
I love the Onion, but the problem with this particular piece of satire is that it rings a little too true.
Tuesday, October 12, 2004
What is Wrong with this Picture?
No need to repeat myself, I said it all in Black Commentator earlier this year.
No need to repeat myself, I said it all in Black Commentator earlier this year.
Monday, October 11, 2004
Bush Flips His Lid!
Those words would make a great headline. Joe Citizen has suggestions for the next debate. He suggests, among other things, that Kerry call Bush a mama's boy. A presidential meltdown may be the result. It all sounds good to me.
Those words would make a great headline. Joe Citizen has suggestions for the next debate. He suggests, among other things, that Kerry call Bush a mama's boy. A presidential meltdown may be the result. It all sounds good to me.
Friday, October 08, 2004
Bloodshed
This photo of a pregnant Israeli woman injured in a terror attack in Taba was on the front page of the New York Times today.
I don't have a problem with this photo, but I wonder why images of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces never make the front page. Perhaps this photo of a dead Palestinian child should have made the cut back in May when the citizens of Rafah were under indiscriminate attack from Israel. Balance is a good thing in journalism, isn't it?
This photo of a pregnant Israeli woman injured in a terror attack in Taba was on the front page of the New York Times today.
I don't have a problem with this photo, but I wonder why images of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces never make the front page. Perhaps this photo of a dead Palestinian child should have made the cut back in May when the citizens of Rafah were under indiscriminate attack from Israel. Balance is a good thing in journalism, isn't it?
Bush Tripped Up by Fox
Who would have thunk it? Fox news inadvertently revealed that Bush may have had some electronic cheating assistance during his first debate with Kerry. Both campaigns insisted that no cameras be placed behind the lecterns. Fox, yes Fox, didn't follow the rule and voila, an object can clearly be seen under the president's jacket.
A few days ago I repeated a report that Bush had an implant in his head. Well I won't listen to that conspiracy theorist again. It seems that instead of brain surgery he may have had someone whispering in his ear. Stay tuned.
Who would have thunk it? Fox news inadvertently revealed that Bush may have had some electronic cheating assistance during his first debate with Kerry. Both campaigns insisted that no cameras be placed behind the lecterns. Fox, yes Fox, didn't follow the rule and voila, an object can clearly be seen under the president's jacket.
A few days ago I repeated a report that Bush had an implant in his head. Well I won't listen to that conspiracy theorist again. It seems that instead of brain surgery he may have had someone whispering in his ear. Stay tuned.
Thursday, October 07, 2004
Kerry and Iraq
What is Kerry's plan, such as it is, for Iraq? It is Thursday and that means Black Commentator has if not all the answers, all of the pertinent questions.
What is Kerry's plan, such as it is, for Iraq? It is Thursday and that means Black Commentator has if not all the answers, all of the pertinent questions.
Wednesday, October 06, 2004
War Criminals
George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Colin Powell, Condi Rice, Paul Wolfowitz and all the neocons should be tried as war criminals. As we pesky anti-war protesters kept pointing out, Saddam Hussein did not have any WMDs when the U.S. and Britain made the case for war. Trade sanctions against Iraq and the threat of weapons inspections prevented him from having any weapons capability, even if he wanted it.
This announcement is made after the foreign policy presidential debate and now the president can stay in his bubble without having to think on his feet and answer questions about this news. What a coincidence.
The president and vice-president should be impeached for their actions. They lied to Congress and killed at least 12,000 Iraqis and 1,000 American soldiers in the process.
Oh, I forgot. The Republicans control both houses of congress. There will be no punishment for what they have done, unless Kerry manages to win and exposes these awful lies. Let's win first and talk about what Kerry must do with this information.
As you may recall, Bill Clinton was accused of stealing vases from the oval office when he left. I hope that democrats have the guts to reveal a true crime against humanity before Dubya goes out the door.
George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Colin Powell, Condi Rice, Paul Wolfowitz and all the neocons should be tried as war criminals. As we pesky anti-war protesters kept pointing out, Saddam Hussein did not have any WMDs when the U.S. and Britain made the case for war. Trade sanctions against Iraq and the threat of weapons inspections prevented him from having any weapons capability, even if he wanted it.
This announcement is made after the foreign policy presidential debate and now the president can stay in his bubble without having to think on his feet and answer questions about this news. What a coincidence.
The president and vice-president should be impeached for their actions. They lied to Congress and killed at least 12,000 Iraqis and 1,000 American soldiers in the process.
Oh, I forgot. The Republicans control both houses of congress. There will be no punishment for what they have done, unless Kerry manages to win and exposes these awful lies. Let's win first and talk about what Kerry must do with this information.
As you may recall, Bill Clinton was accused of stealing vases from the oval office when he left. I hope that democrats have the guts to reveal a true crime against humanity before Dubya goes out the door.
Tuesday, October 05, 2004
If John Kerry wins, despite his own limitations, and defeats what's probably the most dangerous administration in America's history, he'll have the peace movement to thank.
Paul Loeb
Working for Change tells us why Kerry should thank those of us who marched for peace. I expressed similar sentiments in Black Commentator.
Paul Loeb
Working for Change tells us why Kerry should thank those of us who marched for peace. I expressed similar sentiments in Black Commentator.
Monday, October 04, 2004
Surge in Voter Registration
A surge in voter registration in "swing" states is a reason for optimism. The theft of the 2000 election was a wake up call for apathetic Americans, especially apathetic Democratic leaning voters. It isn't clear how many of the new registrants will actually vote, but most of them are registering as Democrats. Even if all of them fail to show up at the polls on November 2nd, they could swing, pun intended, the election to Kerry.
But Don't Forget Iraq
Increased voter participation is a good thing, for many reasons, but let us not forget who can also determine who wins on Election Day. The Iraqis play as powerful a role as any group of Americans. Bush's incredible shrinking man performance last week gave Kerry a boost, but catastrophe in Iraq could do so as well. Will Americans unhappy with Bush but happy with dreams of empire turn their backs on him? Of course Black Commentator explains it all.
A surge in voter registration in "swing" states is a reason for optimism. The theft of the 2000 election was a wake up call for apathetic Americans, especially apathetic Democratic leaning voters. It isn't clear how many of the new registrants will actually vote, but most of them are registering as Democrats. Even if all of them fail to show up at the polls on November 2nd, they could swing, pun intended, the election to Kerry.
But Don't Forget Iraq
Increased voter participation is a good thing, for many reasons, but let us not forget who can also determine who wins on Election Day. The Iraqis play as powerful a role as any group of Americans. Bush's incredible shrinking man performance last week gave Kerry a boost, but catastrophe in Iraq could do so as well. Will Americans unhappy with Bush but happy with dreams of empire turn their backs on him? Of course Black Commentator explains it all.
Saturday, October 02, 2004
Does Bush Have a Brain Implant?
In the middle of an answer last night bush said, "now let me finish" as if someone was interrupting him- yet nobody did- he was talking to the person in his earpiece.
I'll believe anything about the Bushmen. Read it here.
In the middle of an answer last night bush said, "now let me finish" as if someone was interrupting him- yet nobody did- he was talking to the person in his earpiece.
I'll believe anything about the Bushmen. Read it here.
Friday, October 01, 2004
Kerry Wins Debate
Last night a friend called me 3 minutes before the debate was to begin. Among my other complaints, I grumbled about the very existence of presidential debates. They are in fact joint news conferences, not really debates, and the reality is often trumped by pro-republican spin among the talking heads.
My friend pointed out to me, that in the absence of real journalism and objectivity for democrats, they are the only opportunity for a candidate to present himself without the news media filter. How right he is. Kerry did well and Bush looked either cranky or confused. This line was Kerry's best.
"I made a mistake in how I talk about the war. But the president made a mistake in invading Iraq. Which is worse? I believe that when you know something's going wrong, you make it right."
Now we have to watch out for media bias, and Karl Rove's evil manipulations. We also have to be careful that we don't "misunderestimate" Bush. Like Kerry, he looked more relaxed as the night progressed. Maybe Rove will hypnotize him before the next debate and he will come out looking less like a deer in the head lights.
Kerry deserves credit for doing well, but I am superstititious. I won't relax unless I wake up on November 3rd and know that Kerry is president-elect.
November 3rd Movement
A Kerry victory is not a get out of jail free card. We still have lots of work to do. I don't want to see more triangulating and Dick Morris clones in a democratic White House. On November 3rd we need to organize anew. I thank Common Dreams for highlighting my thoughts on the subject.
Last night a friend called me 3 minutes before the debate was to begin. Among my other complaints, I grumbled about the very existence of presidential debates. They are in fact joint news conferences, not really debates, and the reality is often trumped by pro-republican spin among the talking heads.
My friend pointed out to me, that in the absence of real journalism and objectivity for democrats, they are the only opportunity for a candidate to present himself without the news media filter. How right he is. Kerry did well and Bush looked either cranky or confused. This line was Kerry's best.
"I made a mistake in how I talk about the war. But the president made a mistake in invading Iraq. Which is worse? I believe that when you know something's going wrong, you make it right."
Now we have to watch out for media bias, and Karl Rove's evil manipulations. We also have to be careful that we don't "misunderestimate" Bush. Like Kerry, he looked more relaxed as the night progressed. Maybe Rove will hypnotize him before the next debate and he will come out looking less like a deer in the head lights.
Kerry deserves credit for doing well, but I am superstititious. I won't relax unless I wake up on November 3rd and know that Kerry is president-elect.
November 3rd Movement
A Kerry victory is not a get out of jail free card. We still have lots of work to do. I don't want to see more triangulating and Dick Morris clones in a democratic White House. On November 3rd we need to organize anew. I thank Common Dreams for highlighting my thoughts on the subject.
Thursday, September 30, 2004
Kerry Haters for Kerry
When you watch John Kerry campaign, what do you do?
a. Start praying
b. Say, "Thanks for nothing Iowa."
c. Conclude that he is part of a diabolical Karl Rove conspiracy to put Bush back in the White House.
Cheer up. I have found a site that crystalizes my thoughts about this election. Kerry Haters for Kerry sums up my feelings about the guy we are depending on to save us, but who makes me grind my teeth in the dead of night.
Whatever happens in the debate tonight, cable news talking heads will say that Bush won. So, check out KH4K after it is over. It beats watching Chris Matthews tell you that Bush sealed the deal.
When you watch John Kerry campaign, what do you do?
a. Start praying
b. Say, "Thanks for nothing Iowa."
c. Conclude that he is part of a diabolical Karl Rove conspiracy to put Bush back in the White House.
Cheer up. I have found a site that crystalizes my thoughts about this election. Kerry Haters for Kerry sums up my feelings about the guy we are depending on to save us, but who makes me grind my teeth in the dead of night.
Whatever happens in the debate tonight, cable news talking heads will say that Bush won. So, check out KH4K after it is over. It beats watching Chris Matthews tell you that Bush sealed the deal.
Wednesday, September 29, 2004
Go Ahead, Wring Your Hands
Michael Moore and others have told the doomsayers among us to buck up and stop worrying about Kerry. As a doomsayer, I took great exception to Moore's advice. It assumes that in fact we have nothing to worry about, when in fact we have rung the alarm bells for very good reasons. Kerry isn't the best candidate we had to choose from, period. I wasn't imagining problems with his campaign. They are painfully obvious to anyone who was paying attention.
Having said that, I had started to feel better about Kerry's chances when I read about large increases in voter registration in swing states. I believe that most of those new registrants are anti-Bush. As I pointed out yesterday, I was also heartened when Gallup's bogus 12% give-away to Republicans was revealed.
Of course, our candidate had to ruin my new optimism by turning into the Kerry of old. In his September 29th post Doug Ireland gives the low down on a dismal Kerry interview with Diane Sawyer. According to Ireland, Kerry has compounded his $87 million Iraq aid gaffe "I voted for the $87 billion before I voted against it," by getting caught in a dopey lie. Read it here and yes, take out your hankies.
Michael Moore and others have told the doomsayers among us to buck up and stop worrying about Kerry. As a doomsayer, I took great exception to Moore's advice. It assumes that in fact we have nothing to worry about, when in fact we have rung the alarm bells for very good reasons. Kerry isn't the best candidate we had to choose from, period. I wasn't imagining problems with his campaign. They are painfully obvious to anyone who was paying attention.
Having said that, I had started to feel better about Kerry's chances when I read about large increases in voter registration in swing states. I believe that most of those new registrants are anti-Bush. As I pointed out yesterday, I was also heartened when Gallup's bogus 12% give-away to Republicans was revealed.
Of course, our candidate had to ruin my new optimism by turning into the Kerry of old. In his September 29th post Doug Ireland gives the low down on a dismal Kerry interview with Diane Sawyer. According to Ireland, Kerry has compounded his $87 million Iraq aid gaffe "I voted for the $87 billion before I voted against it," by getting caught in a dopey lie. Read it here and yes, take out your hankies.
Tuesday, September 28, 2004
Polls Skewed in Favor of Bush
The Gallup organization assumes that republicans vote more than democrats, 12% more to be exact. It is not surprising that their polls give Bush a sizable lead.
The Gallup organization assumes that republicans vote more than democrats, 12% more to be exact. It is not surprising that their polls give Bush a sizable lead.
"If you hate gay people one of your kids will be gay."
Chris Rock
Alan Keyes has a lesbian daughter. The same man who said that gays are inherently "hedonists", Mary Cheney included, is himself the father of one of the hedonists. Keyes was supposed to address the issue at an appearance last night, but he declined to do so.
Jenna Bush is a Drunk
Jenna Bush was seen at a "skanky" bar in Washington, drunk as a skunk.
Chris Rock
Alan Keyes has a lesbian daughter. The same man who said that gays are inherently "hedonists", Mary Cheney included, is himself the father of one of the hedonists. Keyes was supposed to address the issue at an appearance last night, but he declined to do so.
Jenna Bush is a Drunk
Jenna Bush was seen at a "skanky" bar in Washington, drunk as a skunk.
Iraqi Civilian Deaths
According to the Iraqi Health Ministry, from April 5th through September 19th, 4,387 Iraqi civilians were killed, most of them by the U.S. military. A total of 432 American soldiers were killed in the same period of time. The Iraqi people continue to bear the brunt of the suffering caused by the occupation of their country.
According to the Iraqi Health Ministry, from April 5th through September 19th, 4,387 Iraqi civilians were killed, most of them by the U.S. military. A total of 432 American soldiers were killed in the same period of time. The Iraqi people continue to bear the brunt of the suffering caused by the occupation of their country.
Monday, September 27, 2004
God and Florida
Many have joked that Florida's severe hurricane season is a message from an angry deity. Florida, or rather Jeb Bush, stole the 2000 election and God is angry.
I trust that the information below is correct. I don't claim to speak for God, but this map is interesting and amusing. If the information is not correct I hope someone will let me know.
Many have joked that Florida's severe hurricane season is a message from an angry deity. Florida, or rather Jeb Bush, stole the 2000 election and God is angry.
I trust that the information below is correct. I don't claim to speak for God, but this map is interesting and amusing. If the information is not correct I hope someone will let me know.
Sunday, September 26, 2004
Does Bush Have Presenile Dementia?
In a letter to Atlantic Monthly Joseph Price, M.D. made this observation about President Bush:
"Slowly developing cognitive deficits, as demonstrated so clearly by the President [sic], can represent only one diagnosis, and that is 'presenile dementia'! Presenile dementia is best described to nonmedical persons as a fairly typical Alzheimer's situation that develops significantly earlier in life, well before what is usually considered old age."
In a letter to Atlantic Monthly Joseph Price, M.D. made this observation about President Bush:
"Slowly developing cognitive deficits, as demonstrated so clearly by the President [sic], can represent only one diagnosis, and that is 'presenile dementia'! Presenile dementia is best described to nonmedical persons as a fairly typical Alzheimer's situation that develops significantly earlier in life, well before what is usually considered old age."
Friday, September 24, 2004
Fascism Watch
What to do with the outspoken mom of a dead soldier? The answer is simple. Discredit her. Sue Niederer had the nerve to speak out against the occupation of Iraq after her son, Seth Dvorin, was killed. Most recently she heckled Laura Bush in Hopewell Township, New Jersey.
Of course, her good deed didn't go unpunished. The Secret Service is now investigating her for threatening the president. In a Counterpunch interview Mrs. Niederer said that she wanted to "rip his head off." Gee, he did get her son killed. I have heard worse for less justification. Mrs. Niederer is learning that support for the troops and their families is just another lie. Anyone who endangers the Bush regime has to be done away with in some form or fashion, even the mothers of dead soldiers.
What to do with the outspoken mom of a dead soldier? The answer is simple. Discredit her. Sue Niederer had the nerve to speak out against the occupation of Iraq after her son, Seth Dvorin, was killed. Most recently she heckled Laura Bush in Hopewell Township, New Jersey.
Of course, her good deed didn't go unpunished. The Secret Service is now investigating her for threatening the president. In a Counterpunch interview Mrs. Niederer said that she wanted to "rip his head off." Gee, he did get her son killed. I have heard worse for less justification. Mrs. Niederer is learning that support for the troops and their families is just another lie. Anyone who endangers the Bush regime has to be done away with in some form or fashion, even the mothers of dead soldiers.
October Surprise
Karl Rove and the rest of the Bush gang are not resting on their diabolical laurels. They are planning an October surprise. Could it possibly be the trial of Saddam Hussein? The Guardian says it is a possibility.
The Guardian article also talks about the Iraqi scientists who have been incarcerated ever since the occupation began. Truth telling is their crime. They keep saying that there were no WMD and there hadn't been any for years. They may also talk about Reagan administration appeasement of Hussein when he had WMD and used it. Here is the photo of Donald Rumsfeld meeting Saddam on December 20, 1983.
Karl Rove and the rest of the Bush gang are not resting on their diabolical laurels. They are planning an October surprise. Could it possibly be the trial of Saddam Hussein? The Guardian says it is a possibility.
The Guardian article also talks about the Iraqi scientists who have been incarcerated ever since the occupation began. Truth telling is their crime. They keep saying that there were no WMD and there hadn't been any for years. They may also talk about Reagan administration appeasement of Hussein when he had WMD and used it. Here is the photo of Donald Rumsfeld meeting Saddam on December 20, 1983.
Thursday, September 23, 2004
What a Coincidence
Is it coincidental that CBS was fined for Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction in the same week that Dan Rather had to admit that the Bush military documents weren't altogether kosher? No it isn't. The Bushites never let anything happen by chance. CBS was down, so the White House kicked them. Trust me.
Is it coincidental that CBS was fined for Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction in the same week that Dan Rather had to admit that the Bush military documents weren't altogether kosher? No it isn't. The Bushites never let anything happen by chance. CBS was down, so the White House kicked them. Trust me.
Wednesday, September 22, 2004
Fascism Watch
Did you fly within the United States in June of this year? If so, big brother will soon have more information than just your name, rank and serial number.
The TSA is proposing a new system, yes, yet another system that will allegedly make us all more secure. In order to put said system in place, they are asking airlines to give them all of the information they have on anyone who traveled anywhere by air in June of 2004. They will have all of the information that an airline or travel agent has about travelers.
Recently Ted Kennedy and Congressman John Lewis discovered themselves to be on the no fly list. Like many other Americans they had no idea why they were on the list and despite being members of congress were not taken off immediately. Lewis was advised to add his middle initial to flight reservations. Voila! His name didn't come up again. If that is security I want no part of it.
Of course, this is all another step on the path to greater government control of our lives. It is also handy to keep voters frightened right before election day. Only frightened people will vote for George W. Bush.
Did you fly within the United States in June of this year? If so, big brother will soon have more information than just your name, rank and serial number.
The TSA is proposing a new system, yes, yet another system that will allegedly make us all more secure. In order to put said system in place, they are asking airlines to give them all of the information they have on anyone who traveled anywhere by air in June of 2004. They will have all of the information that an airline or travel agent has about travelers.
Recently Ted Kennedy and Congressman John Lewis discovered themselves to be on the no fly list. Like many other Americans they had no idea why they were on the list and despite being members of congress were not taken off immediately. Lewis was advised to add his middle initial to flight reservations. Voila! His name didn't come up again. If that is security I want no part of it.
Of course, this is all another step on the path to greater government control of our lives. It is also handy to keep voters frightened right before election day. Only frightened people will vote for George W. Bush.
Tuesday, September 21, 2004
Fascism Watch
The military is preventing soldiers from accessing web sites that give Iraq casualty figures.
The military is preventing soldiers from accessing web sites that give Iraq casualty figures.
Monday, September 20, 2004
Fascism Watch
The Bush family is like the mafia. There is hell to pay if you cross them. Just ask Dan Rather or Bill Burkett. Take a look at Just Cut Out Their Tongues, a great piece in Common Dreams.
The flap about the CBS documents obscures some very important points. One, George W. Bush bragged to more than one person that his father pulled strings to get him into the Texas Air National Guard. Two, he was missing from duty for at least one year. Salon sums it up well.
In any case, the Common Dreams piece brings back old memories, of BCCI, of CIA chief William Casey dying suddenly when he was about to testify about the deal to keep hostages in Iran until after election day in 1980.
Something dastardly always happens when the Bushes and their henchman, Karl Rove, are around. Rove bugged his own office to make it look like an opponent had done it. He was probably behind the mysterious mailing of the Bush debate preparation tapes to Al Gore.
How did the right wing manage to raise questions about the authenticity of the documents within hours of the broadcast? It all stinks to me. Of course, if our so-called journalists paid any attention to the first Bush draft dodging story from the Boston Globe in 2000, none of this would matter.
The Bush family is like the mafia. There is hell to pay if you cross them. Just ask Dan Rather or Bill Burkett. Take a look at Just Cut Out Their Tongues, a great piece in Common Dreams.
The flap about the CBS documents obscures some very important points. One, George W. Bush bragged to more than one person that his father pulled strings to get him into the Texas Air National Guard. Two, he was missing from duty for at least one year. Salon sums it up well.
In any case, the Common Dreams piece brings back old memories, of BCCI, of CIA chief William Casey dying suddenly when he was about to testify about the deal to keep hostages in Iran until after election day in 1980.
Something dastardly always happens when the Bushes and their henchman, Karl Rove, are around. Rove bugged his own office to make it look like an opponent had done it. He was probably behind the mysterious mailing of the Bush debate preparation tapes to Al Gore.
How did the right wing manage to raise questions about the authenticity of the documents within hours of the broadcast? It all stinks to me. Of course, if our so-called journalists paid any attention to the first Bush draft dodging story from the Boston Globe in 2000, none of this would matter.
Friday, September 17, 2004
Kerry Comes Out Swinging?!
Do my eyes deceive? Am I hearing correctly? Did John Kerry actually hit the Bush administration where it hurts? Did he really talk about Dick Cheney getting $2 million from Halliburton since he became veep? Did he really make the following statement?
“As President, I will stop companies like Halliburton from profiting at the expense of our troops and taxpayers. I will stop companies from receiving no-bid contracts from the government when the president or vice president is still receiving compensation from that company. I will make sure that all government funds are properly accounted for. And as Commander in Chief, I will have two words for companies that cheat the U.S. military – ‘You’re fired.’”
For weeks I have been in a state of despair or rage because of Kerry's ineptness. I don't know what to believe about polls, but I am worried that none of them show Kerry ahead.
I hope that this speech is the beginning of a new theme against Bush, namely that he has been incompetent and corrupt, and not just in Iraq. Cheney's very obvious conflicts of interest are among the topics that should have been ongoing themes in Kerry's stump speech, but that is water under the bridge.
I have always felt that Kerry's pro-war vote was not necessarily a huge impediment. All he had to say was that he didn't vote for torture at Abu Ghraib or for Halliburton to steal tax payer money. Of course, in my dream Kerry says he was misled on Iraq and he is bringing the troops home. I know. Dream on. He could have said it but he blew it by saying that he would have voted yes even if he had known that no WMD would be found.
I kept reading that Kerry has made changes, that former Clinton staffers can put him over the top, but I didn't hear or see any improvements. The old proverb about the fish stinking from the head can be both positive and negative. It is all up to this candidate. If this is the beginning of a new Kerry, perhaps a sweet aroma can start from the head as well.
On the other hand, I hope that neither Kerry nor Edwards are being compensated by any corporations and that no one gets a no bid contract from the U.S. government. Hopefully, it was just a speech written in haste. I was hoping to have at least one post that was completely complementary of Kerry.
Do my eyes deceive? Am I hearing correctly? Did John Kerry actually hit the Bush administration where it hurts? Did he really talk about Dick Cheney getting $2 million from Halliburton since he became veep? Did he really make the following statement?
“As President, I will stop companies like Halliburton from profiting at the expense of our troops and taxpayers. I will stop companies from receiving no-bid contracts from the government when the president or vice president is still receiving compensation from that company. I will make sure that all government funds are properly accounted for. And as Commander in Chief, I will have two words for companies that cheat the U.S. military – ‘You’re fired.’”
For weeks I have been in a state of despair or rage because of Kerry's ineptness. I don't know what to believe about polls, but I am worried that none of them show Kerry ahead.
I hope that this speech is the beginning of a new theme against Bush, namely that he has been incompetent and corrupt, and not just in Iraq. Cheney's very obvious conflicts of interest are among the topics that should have been ongoing themes in Kerry's stump speech, but that is water under the bridge.
I have always felt that Kerry's pro-war vote was not necessarily a huge impediment. All he had to say was that he didn't vote for torture at Abu Ghraib or for Halliburton to steal tax payer money. Of course, in my dream Kerry says he was misled on Iraq and he is bringing the troops home. I know. Dream on. He could have said it but he blew it by saying that he would have voted yes even if he had known that no WMD would be found.
I kept reading that Kerry has made changes, that former Clinton staffers can put him over the top, but I didn't hear or see any improvements. The old proverb about the fish stinking from the head can be both positive and negative. It is all up to this candidate. If this is the beginning of a new Kerry, perhaps a sweet aroma can start from the head as well.
On the other hand, I hope that neither Kerry nor Edwards are being compensated by any corporations and that no one gets a no bid contract from the U.S. government. Hopefully, it was just a speech written in haste. I was hoping to have at least one post that was completely complementary of Kerry.
Fascism Watch
Re-enlist or die. Sounds like a bad Dick Cheney line, but according to soldiers at Fort Carson, Colorado, that is what they were told. Soldiers were told that they shouldn't get any big ideas about leaving the military. If they don't re-up they will be reassigned to units in Iraq.
Oops. I forgot myself for a moment. People like me don't support the troops. What do I know?Sorry I brought this up at all.
Re-enlist or die. Sounds like a bad Dick Cheney line, but according to soldiers at Fort Carson, Colorado, that is what they were told. Soldiers were told that they shouldn't get any big ideas about leaving the military. If they don't re-up they will be reassigned to units in Iraq.
Oops. I forgot myself for a moment. People like me don't support the troops. What do I know?Sorry I brought this up at all.
Fascism Watch
"President Bush You Killed My Son"
Sue Niederer isn't impressed with Laura Bush. She has good reason. Her son, army first lieutenant Seth Dvorin, was killed in Iraq. Ms. Niederer has not been silent in her grief. She interrupted Laura Bush who was speaking in Hamilton Township, New Jersey and was led away in handcuffs for her trouble.
The pro-war crowd drowned out her cries with shouts of "four more years." So much for supporting the troops.
"President Bush You Killed My Son"
Sue Niederer isn't impressed with Laura Bush. She has good reason. Her son, army first lieutenant Seth Dvorin, was killed in Iraq. Ms. Niederer has not been silent in her grief. She interrupted Laura Bush who was speaking in Hamilton Township, New Jersey and was led away in handcuffs for her trouble.
The pro-war crowd drowned out her cries with shouts of "four more years." So much for supporting the troops.
Kobe and Colin
What do Kobe Bryant and Colin Powell have in common? Check out my column in Black Commentator and find out.
What do Kobe Bryant and Colin Powell have in common? Check out my column in Black Commentator and find out.
Thursday, September 16, 2004
More Evidence of a Neck and Neck Race
The Pew Research Center poll also shows that the race is even.
The Pew Research Center poll also shows that the race is even.
Bush and Kerry Neck and Neck
To pay attention or not, that is the question. Should we look at polls at all? Well, if I see one that makes me more optimistic about Kerry I will take it. Harris Interactive shows Bush and Kerry neck and neck.
To pay attention or not, that is the question. Should we look at polls at all? Well, if I see one that makes me more optimistic about Kerry I will take it. Harris Interactive shows Bush and Kerry neck and neck.
Bush is not as dumb as his detractors allege. "He was just badly brought up, with no discipline, and no compassion."
Yoshi Tsurumi
George W. Bush was one of Tsurumi's student at Harvard business school. When Bush became president Tsurumi was motivated to become an American citizen. He thought, and quite rightly, that as an immigrant he wouldn't have the right to speak freely. Here are some very scary quotes from a Salon interview.
"He showed pathological lying habits and was in denial when challenged on his prejudices and biases. He would even deny saying something he just said 30 seconds ago. He was famous for that. Students jumped on him; I challenged him."
When asked to explain a particular comment, said Tsurumi, Bush would respond, "Oh, I never said that."
'The government doesn't have to help poor people -- because they are lazy.' I said, 'Well, could you explain that assumption?' Not only could he not explain it, he started backtracking on it, saying, 'No, I didn't say that.'"
"We were in a discussion of the New Deal, and he called Franklin Roosevelt's policies 'socialism.' He denounced labor unions, the Securities and Exchange Commission, Medicare, Social Security, you name it. He denounced the civil rights movement as socialism. To him, socialism and communism were the same thing. And when challenged to explain his prejudice, he could not defend his argument, either ideologically, polemically or academically."
"In class, he couldn't challenge them. But after class, he sometimes came up to me in the hallway and started bad-mouthing those students who had challenged him. He would complain that someone was drinking too much. It was innuendo and lies. So that's how I knew, behind his smile and his smirk, that he was a very insecure, cunning and vengeful guy."
'Lucky you. I understand there is a long waiting list for it. How'd you get in?' When he told me, he didn't seem ashamed or embarrassed. He thought he was entitled to all kinds of privileges and special deals. He was not the only one trying to twist all their connections to avoid Vietnam. But then, he was fanatically for the war."
These anecdotes won't get him out of office. Many people either don't care about these things or they wish that they could be as loutish as Bush and get away with it. Only a good campaign with a coherent message will get rid of Bush. Oh well, I guess we're toast.
Yoshi Tsurumi
George W. Bush was one of Tsurumi's student at Harvard business school. When Bush became president Tsurumi was motivated to become an American citizen. He thought, and quite rightly, that as an immigrant he wouldn't have the right to speak freely. Here are some very scary quotes from a Salon interview.
"He showed pathological lying habits and was in denial when challenged on his prejudices and biases. He would even deny saying something he just said 30 seconds ago. He was famous for that. Students jumped on him; I challenged him."
When asked to explain a particular comment, said Tsurumi, Bush would respond, "Oh, I never said that."
'The government doesn't have to help poor people -- because they are lazy.' I said, 'Well, could you explain that assumption?' Not only could he not explain it, he started backtracking on it, saying, 'No, I didn't say that.'"
"We were in a discussion of the New Deal, and he called Franklin Roosevelt's policies 'socialism.' He denounced labor unions, the Securities and Exchange Commission, Medicare, Social Security, you name it. He denounced the civil rights movement as socialism. To him, socialism and communism were the same thing. And when challenged to explain his prejudice, he could not defend his argument, either ideologically, polemically or academically."
"In class, he couldn't challenge them. But after class, he sometimes came up to me in the hallway and started bad-mouthing those students who had challenged him. He would complain that someone was drinking too much. It was innuendo and lies. So that's how I knew, behind his smile and his smirk, that he was a very insecure, cunning and vengeful guy."
'Lucky you. I understand there is a long waiting list for it. How'd you get in?' When he told me, he didn't seem ashamed or embarrassed. He thought he was entitled to all kinds of privileges and special deals. He was not the only one trying to twist all their connections to avoid Vietnam. But then, he was fanatically for the war."
These anecdotes won't get him out of office. Many people either don't care about these things or they wish that they could be as loutish as Bush and get away with it. Only a good campaign with a coherent message will get rid of Bush. Oh well, I guess we're toast.
Wednesday, September 15, 2004
Bring Me the Head of Mary Beth Cahill
Unfreakin' believable! I know that is not really a sentence but it sums up the rage and helplessness I feel about the presidential election. My apoplexy came about when I read stunningly clueless and assinine statements that emanated from the mouth of Mary Beth Cahill, John Kerry's campaign manager.
In an interview with syndicated columnist Ellen Goodman, Cahill confirmed my worst fears about the Kerry campaign.
"Win or lose, and my deep belief is he's going to win, you run a campaign you live with for the rest of your life. George Bush Sr. is forever tarred by the craven way he went after Dukakis."
Earth to Cahill! Where does one begin? "Win or lose?" Did Kerry's campaign manager actually say those words. How in the name of Sweet Jesus is she running Kerry's campaign if she publicly states that it is a "deep belief" that her boss will win? By the way, George Bush will forever be known as a president of the United States! He doesn't give a hoot about being tarred, and if John Kerry has any sense he doesn't care either.
Fundamentally, voters think elections are about them, not about candidates.
That statement is the stupidest thing I have ever heard in my life. Voters always make decisions about candidates. They make the decisions based on a variety of factors, but yes asshole, I mean Mary Beth, voters make decisions based on candidates! (Sorry readers. I nearly lost my religion.)
I'm almost done. My apoplexy is relapsing. This quote is the piece de resistance
Their entire strategy is to enlarge their base.
Unfreakin' believable! I know that is not really a sentence but it sums up the rage and helplessness I feel about the presidential election. My apoplexy came about when I read stunningly clueless and assinine statements that emanated from the mouth of Mary Beth Cahill, John Kerry's campaign manager.
In an interview with syndicated columnist Ellen Goodman, Cahill confirmed my worst fears about the Kerry campaign.
"Win or lose, and my deep belief is he's going to win, you run a campaign you live with for the rest of your life. George Bush Sr. is forever tarred by the craven way he went after Dukakis."
Earth to Cahill! Where does one begin? "Win or lose?" Did Kerry's campaign manager actually say those words. How in the name of Sweet Jesus is she running Kerry's campaign if she publicly states that it is a "deep belief" that her boss will win? By the way, George Bush will forever be known as a president of the United States! He doesn't give a hoot about being tarred, and if John Kerry has any sense he doesn't care either.
Fundamentally, voters think elections are about them, not about candidates.
That statement is the stupidest thing I have ever heard in my life. Voters always make decisions about candidates. They make the decisions based on a variety of factors, but yes asshole, I mean Mary Beth, voters make decisions based on candidates! (Sorry readers. I nearly lost my religion.)
I'm almost done. My apoplexy is relapsing. This quote is the piece de resistance
Their entire strategy is to enlarge their base.
Duh! No wonder Kerry is behind. Anybody with sense knows that a candidate must enlarge the party's base. That is how you win, dumbshit, I mean Mary Beth. (Sorry. Lost my religion again).
It is obvious that Cahill is an idiot. I suggest she read Black Commentator. This piece in last week's issue sums up perfectly what is wrong with Cahill and company. I knew it when I read it, but I had no idea that I would get confirmation from the mouth of the Kerry team.
I don't know what else to say, except that the fish stinks from the head. Cahill's thinking must be like that of her boss. Boys and girls, make your reservations for the Bush inaugural.
A Senator and the Hereafter
While walking down the street one day, a US Senator is tragically hit by a truck- and dies.His soul arrives in Heaven, and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.
"Welcome to Heaven, says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you.
"No problem, just let me in, says the man. "Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from Higher Up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in Hell and one in Heaven. Then you can choose where to spend Eternity."Really, there's no need to go to any fuss" says the Senator. "I've already made up my mind: I want to be in Heaven."
"I'm sorry, says St. Peter, "but we have our rules."And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to Hell. The doors open, and the Senator finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a club, and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.
Everyone is very happy and in evening dress.Everyone runs to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people. They play a friendly game of golf, and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne. Also present is the Devil, who really is a very friendly guy, and has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are all having such a good time that, before he realizes it, it is time to go.The crowd of friends and fellow politicians give the Senator a hearty farewell and wave while the elevator rises.
The elevator goes up, up, up and the door opens on Heaven, where St. Peter is waiting for him."Now," says St. Peter, "It's time for you to visit Heaven." So, 24 hours pass with the head of state joining as group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time, and before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by, and old St. Peter returns.
"Well then," says St. Peter, "You've spent a day in Hell and another in Heaven. Now choose your Eternity."The Senator reflects on the past 48 hours for a minute, then answers: "Well, I would never have said it before, I mean Heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in Hell."
So, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and the senator goes down, down, down to Hell.Now the doors of the elevator open, and the Senator finds himself in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags. As the Senator stands there in total amazement, the Devil comes over to him.
Putting his arm around the (now-shaking) Senator's shoulder, he grins."I don't understand," stammers the Senator. "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now all there is a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. WHAT HAPPENED?'
"The Devil looks at him, smiles, and says, "Yesterday we were campaigning! Today, you voted!"
While walking down the street one day, a US Senator is tragically hit by a truck- and dies.His soul arrives in Heaven, and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.
"Welcome to Heaven, says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you.
"No problem, just let me in, says the man. "Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from Higher Up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in Hell and one in Heaven. Then you can choose where to spend Eternity."Really, there's no need to go to any fuss" says the Senator. "I've already made up my mind: I want to be in Heaven."
"I'm sorry, says St. Peter, "but we have our rules."And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to Hell. The doors open, and the Senator finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a club, and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.
Everyone is very happy and in evening dress.Everyone runs to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people. They play a friendly game of golf, and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne. Also present is the Devil, who really is a very friendly guy, and has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are all having such a good time that, before he realizes it, it is time to go.The crowd of friends and fellow politicians give the Senator a hearty farewell and wave while the elevator rises.
The elevator goes up, up, up and the door opens on Heaven, where St. Peter is waiting for him."Now," says St. Peter, "It's time for you to visit Heaven." So, 24 hours pass with the head of state joining as group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time, and before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by, and old St. Peter returns.
"Well then," says St. Peter, "You've spent a day in Hell and another in Heaven. Now choose your Eternity."The Senator reflects on the past 48 hours for a minute, then answers: "Well, I would never have said it before, I mean Heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in Hell."
So, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and the senator goes down, down, down to Hell.Now the doors of the elevator open, and the Senator finds himself in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags. As the Senator stands there in total amazement, the Devil comes over to him.
Putting his arm around the (now-shaking) Senator's shoulder, he grins."I don't understand," stammers the Senator. "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now all there is a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. WHAT HAPPENED?'
"The Devil looks at him, smiles, and says, "Yesterday we were campaigning! Today, you voted!"
Tuesday, September 14, 2004
There is Justice, Sometimes
Lynne Gobell has a new job. As I reported earlier today, Gobell lost her job because her boss is a Bushite and a fasacist. She wouldn't back down when he demanded that she remove a Kerry/Edwards bumper sticker from her car. She was fired.
Luckily her story ended up in the news and today she has a new job working in the Kerry campaign. John Kerry personally made the offer.
Lynne Gobell has a new job. As I reported earlier today, Gobell lost her job because her boss is a Bushite and a fasacist. She wouldn't back down when he demanded that she remove a Kerry/Edwards bumper sticker from her car. She was fired.
Luckily her story ended up in the news and today she has a new job working in the Kerry campaign. John Kerry personally made the offer.
Why Republicans Beat Democrats
"They tell their candidates, "Actually, boss, we can't really win on the issues, so we'd better come up with something else." Well, after the past six weeks, we all know what that something else is. It's character. That is, make the election about the other guy's character."
Michael Tomasky
What is wrong with us Democrats? A lot of things, but one is an inability to understand the most basic rules of campaigning. Michael Tomasky explains it in American Prospect online.
What Else is Wrong?
Robert Scheer gets to another vexing question. Why does Bush get credit for fighting the "war on terror" when 9/11 happened on his watch? He gets the credit because Kerry won't take him on, and if he doesn't we had better get used to looking at Dubya.
"They tell their candidates, "Actually, boss, we can't really win on the issues, so we'd better come up with something else." Well, after the past six weeks, we all know what that something else is. It's character. That is, make the election about the other guy's character."
Michael Tomasky
What is wrong with us Democrats? A lot of things, but one is an inability to understand the most basic rules of campaigning. Michael Tomasky explains it in American Prospect online.
What Else is Wrong?
Robert Scheer gets to another vexing question. Why does Bush get credit for fighting the "war on terror" when 9/11 happened on his watch? He gets the credit because Kerry won't take him on, and if he doesn't we had better get used to looking at Dubya.
Monday, September 13, 2004
Republican Ghouls
I knew it. The Republicans are flesh eating zombies who plan to put an undead Ronald Reagan on the ticket in November. Read it here at Bush-Zombie Reagan. The site has not been updated since June, but my thanks go to Alternet for making me aware of it.
I knew it. The Republicans are flesh eating zombies who plan to put an undead Ronald Reagan on the ticket in November. Read it here at Bush-Zombie Reagan. The site has not been updated since June, but my thanks go to Alternet for making me aware of it.
Sunday, September 12, 2004
Saturday, September 11, 2004
Why I Don't Commemorate 9/11
Today I said a prayer for those who perished on 9/11. I prayed that they rest in peace. I prayed that their loved ones find healing. That's all I did today and it is all I will do on 9/11 in the future. I do not watch or take part in any official observances.
Newsday columnist Jimmy Breslin expresses my feelings pretty well in a Salon interview.
"I try not to pay attention to it," he says. "The anniversary is a day for exhibitionists, and for politicians trying to use it to their advantage. Who tried to use it more than Giuliani, the dog?" He uses another word, a gerund adjective, right before "dog."
"What would you want to be around it for? People I know don't care about it. I know the widow of a firefighter, and she doesn't want to hear anything about it. . . . In a recent column, Breslin observed that Osama bin Laden must need a new press agent, since no speaker at the Republican Convention was even willing to utter his name. "Well, one fellow mentioned it, he slipped up," he says. "It was [New York governor] George Pataki. And he had to make recompense with a scathing attack on Saddam Hussein, like he had anything to do with it."
Americans must also learn that many people around the world have suffered because of U.S. government foreign policy. The families of Afghans killed by American forces don't cry less than families of 9/11 victims. At least 11,000 Iraqis have been killed because of greedy people who want access to oil and an American military presence in a land that doesn't want it. The deaths of 2,700 people were used to cause suffering in Iraq. Someone needs to be brave and point that out to the American people. It won't be anyone running for office, so I volunteer for the assignment.
BTW, 9/11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows have been vocal in opposing military action against Afghanistan, an action taken in their name. They have bravely said "No thanks." In return for their great public service, Rush Limbaugh and the Wall Street Journal have attacked them as a Democratic front group and told outright lies about their mission. It seems that 9/11 families are deified only if they get their lines right.
Dick Cheney
Vote for us or die. That is essentially what Dick Cheney said this week. If he and Bush aren't back in office we are all toast. Of course the Democrats messed up their response as John Nichols points out in Common Dreams, but Nichols gives us a clearer, more frightening picture of the mind of Dick Cheney
It is true, of course, that the vice president would say anything and do anything in order to maintain his grip on power. But it does not necessarily follow that Cheney is simply carrying out a political hit. Indeed, if the past is prologue, there is every reason to assume that the vice president believes what he is saying about the damage that will befall the land if he and his minions are not working the levers of authority.
Few figures in American politics maintain a world view that is so consistently apocalyptic as does Cheney. Fewer still have allowed petty fears and profound ignorance to so dramatically warp their actions and public pronouncements.
Cheney's Cold War obsessions have frequently placed him on the wrong side of history, causing him to misread the geopolitical realities of regions around the world -- and of the key players within them. This is the man who was so certain that the African National Congress was a dangerous group that he regularly voted, as a member of Congress in the 1980s, against House resolutions calling for the release of Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners in South Africa.
Be afraid. Be very afraid.
Fascism Watch
I thought the Secret Service was an independent government entity whose main role was to protect the president and other officials. Boy did I ever get it wrong. Their new job is to help President Bush get elected. Not only is a loyalty oath required to attend a Bush/Cheney campaign event, but protesters are intentionally diverted and the press are told that they cannot attend events if they try to speak with demonstrators. The Seattle Times has the story from a Pennsylvania event.
BTW, if you are going to demonstrate against Bush, make sure you don't wear a wig.
Today I said a prayer for those who perished on 9/11. I prayed that they rest in peace. I prayed that their loved ones find healing. That's all I did today and it is all I will do on 9/11 in the future. I do not watch or take part in any official observances.
Newsday columnist Jimmy Breslin expresses my feelings pretty well in a Salon interview.
"I try not to pay attention to it," he says. "The anniversary is a day for exhibitionists, and for politicians trying to use it to their advantage. Who tried to use it more than Giuliani, the dog?" He uses another word, a gerund adjective, right before "dog."
"What would you want to be around it for? People I know don't care about it. I know the widow of a firefighter, and she doesn't want to hear anything about it. . . . In a recent column, Breslin observed that Osama bin Laden must need a new press agent, since no speaker at the Republican Convention was even willing to utter his name. "Well, one fellow mentioned it, he slipped up," he says. "It was [New York governor] George Pataki. And he had to make recompense with a scathing attack on Saddam Hussein, like he had anything to do with it."
Americans must also learn that many people around the world have suffered because of U.S. government foreign policy. The families of Afghans killed by American forces don't cry less than families of 9/11 victims. At least 11,000 Iraqis have been killed because of greedy people who want access to oil and an American military presence in a land that doesn't want it. The deaths of 2,700 people were used to cause suffering in Iraq. Someone needs to be brave and point that out to the American people. It won't be anyone running for office, so I volunteer for the assignment.
BTW, 9/11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows have been vocal in opposing military action against Afghanistan, an action taken in their name. They have bravely said "No thanks." In return for their great public service, Rush Limbaugh and the Wall Street Journal have attacked them as a Democratic front group and told outright lies about their mission. It seems that 9/11 families are deified only if they get their lines right.
Dick Cheney
Vote for us or die. That is essentially what Dick Cheney said this week. If he and Bush aren't back in office we are all toast. Of course the Democrats messed up their response as John Nichols points out in Common Dreams, but Nichols gives us a clearer, more frightening picture of the mind of Dick Cheney
It is true, of course, that the vice president would say anything and do anything in order to maintain his grip on power. But it does not necessarily follow that Cheney is simply carrying out a political hit. Indeed, if the past is prologue, there is every reason to assume that the vice president believes what he is saying about the damage that will befall the land if he and his minions are not working the levers of authority.
Few figures in American politics maintain a world view that is so consistently apocalyptic as does Cheney. Fewer still have allowed petty fears and profound ignorance to so dramatically warp their actions and public pronouncements.
Cheney's Cold War obsessions have frequently placed him on the wrong side of history, causing him to misread the geopolitical realities of regions around the world -- and of the key players within them. This is the man who was so certain that the African National Congress was a dangerous group that he regularly voted, as a member of Congress in the 1980s, against House resolutions calling for the release of Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners in South Africa.
Be afraid. Be very afraid.
Fascism Watch
I thought the Secret Service was an independent government entity whose main role was to protect the president and other officials. Boy did I ever get it wrong. Their new job is to help President Bush get elected. Not only is a loyalty oath required to attend a Bush/Cheney campaign event, but protesters are intentionally diverted and the press are told that they cannot attend events if they try to speak with demonstrators. The Seattle Times has the story from a Pennsylvania event.
BTW, if you are going to demonstrate against Bush, make sure you don't wear a wig.
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