BBC NEWS | Americas | US 'should not rule out torture'
ACK!!
Friday, January 14, 2005
Thursday, January 13, 2005
BBC NEWS | Americas | US gives up search for Iraq WMD
BBC NEWS | Americas | US gives up search for Iraq WMD
Hell, he won the election, and no one except the rest of the world seems to give a shit that the Iraq affair was indeed an adventure that we could have done without. Bush likes to say that history will decide if his decisions were justified. So far, the tales are not to his favor.
Hell, he won the election, and no one except the rest of the world seems to give a shit that the Iraq affair was indeed an adventure that we could have done without. Bush likes to say that history will decide if his decisions were justified. So far, the tales are not to his favor.
Monday, January 10, 2005
BBC NEWS | World | Americas | Soldier cleared in drowning case
BBC NEWS | World | Americas | Soldier cleared in drowning case
Who the hell knows who the insurgents are now. They could be Al Queda, Hussein loyalists, Sunni, Shi'ite, whatever. They may or may not even be Islamic extremists. But they all see themselves as freedom fightrers, opposing an occupational tyranny that could really give half a damn about them.
When we excuse the actions of our soldiers overseas, we do several things. We invite the harsh critisims of or enemies and allies alike. We play into the fears of ordinariy citizens that fear we are in Iraq to take oil from the ground at gunpoint. We add fuel to the fire to those who would harm us, and we legitimize the prejudices they hold against us.
The sad fact of the matter is that we, as a country, really don't seem to give a shit. Two things should have happened after Sept. 11, 2001 - we should have dissected the event to its smallest pieces and addressed the shortcomings that allowed such an event to happen, and we should had debated openly why someone thought that the only way to get the American public's atention was to try to park a plane inside a building. Instead, we put duct tape on our windows and beat up on the Arab-Americans and immigrants for the crime of being Arabs.
We are numb to the news because of overexposure, so we say. We disregard that there are people that have become numb because it's their reality. We simply turn the channel.
Who the hell knows who the insurgents are now. They could be Al Queda, Hussein loyalists, Sunni, Shi'ite, whatever. They may or may not even be Islamic extremists. But they all see themselves as freedom fightrers, opposing an occupational tyranny that could really give half a damn about them.
When we excuse the actions of our soldiers overseas, we do several things. We invite the harsh critisims of or enemies and allies alike. We play into the fears of ordinariy citizens that fear we are in Iraq to take oil from the ground at gunpoint. We add fuel to the fire to those who would harm us, and we legitimize the prejudices they hold against us.
The sad fact of the matter is that we, as a country, really don't seem to give a shit. Two things should have happened after Sept. 11, 2001 - we should have dissected the event to its smallest pieces and addressed the shortcomings that allowed such an event to happen, and we should had debated openly why someone thought that the only way to get the American public's atention was to try to park a plane inside a building. Instead, we put duct tape on our windows and beat up on the Arab-Americans and immigrants for the crime of being Arabs.
We are numb to the news because of overexposure, so we say. We disregard that there are people that have become numb because it's their reality. We simply turn the channel.
BBC NEWS | Middle East | Abu Ghraib pyramids 'not wrong'
BBC NEWS | Middle East | Abu Ghraib pyramids 'not wrong'
As I read this article, a lump rose to my throat, and I had to hold back my breakfast. There is a genuinely cavalier attitude to our actions in the Middle East, and the real victims are the people who never pick up a gun. To be certain, the soldier certainly deserves the right of representation that he denied his victims (read: prisoners). Radical factions see this as another brick in the wall. I don't think that Bush could have given Bin Laden a better birthday / wedding present than to invade Iraq.
As I read this article, a lump rose to my throat, and I had to hold back my breakfast. There is a genuinely cavalier attitude to our actions in the Middle East, and the real victims are the people who never pick up a gun. To be certain, the soldier certainly deserves the right of representation that he denied his victims (read: prisoners). Radical factions see this as another brick in the wall. I don't think that Bush could have given Bin Laden a better birthday / wedding present than to invade Iraq.
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Food for thought . . .
"It is not anti-Semitic to criticize the policies of the state of Israel." -- Colin Powell
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
For the love of the game!
He must have some nekkid pictures of Bush or somethin'!
"Beneath that rough and gruff, no-nonsense demeanor is a good human being who cares deeply about the military and deeply about the grief that war causes."
George W. Bush, speaking of Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
"Beneath that rough and gruff, no-nonsense demeanor is a good human being who cares deeply about the military and deeply about the grief that war causes."
George W. Bush, speaking of Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
Sunday, December 19, 2004
BBC NEWS | Middle East | Rumsfeld faces Iraq letters row
BBC NEWS | Middle East | Rumsfeld faces Iraq letters row
Kind Ole' King George sent mother a note
when he heard that mother was gone -
It was, I recall, in the form of a scroll,
with gold leaf and all -
And I found it one day, in a drawer
old photographs, hidden away -
And my eyes still grow dim as I saw as
His Majesty signed in own rubber stamp.
When the Tigers Broke Free
Roger Waters (The Wall)
Kind Ole' King George sent mother a note
when he heard that mother was gone -
It was, I recall, in the form of a scroll,
with gold leaf and all -
And I found it one day, in a drawer
old photographs, hidden away -
And my eyes still grow dim as I saw as
His Majesty signed in own rubber stamp.
When the Tigers Broke Free
Roger Waters (The Wall)
Thursday, December 09, 2004
BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Gunman kills guitarist on stage
BBC NEWS Entertainment Gunman kills guitarist on stage
We must be doing something right(!?) when we wind up on the front page of the BBC web site. Let's here it for gun culture!!!!
We must be doing something right(!?) when we wind up on the front page of the BBC web site. Let's here it for gun culture!!!!
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
BBC NEWS | Americas | US forces 'hid Iraq prison abuse'
BBC NEWS | Americas | US forces 'hid Iraq prison abuse': "Both documents were dated 25 June 2004. "
The self-proclaimed defenders of truth, democracy, and individual freedom (as long as it suits our interests). Thank god these people are all christian! Otherwise, their concience would drive them to suicide!
The self-proclaimed defenders of truth, democracy, and individual freedom (as long as it suits our interests). Thank god these people are all christian! Otherwise, their concience would drive them to suicide!
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | US rejects climate policy attacks
BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | US rejects climate policy attacks
As American citizens, we like to see ourselves as the kind of people who would do the right thing. I think this is what Kerry missed in all the talk about the 'Red States.' I know Bush wouldn't go against his daddy's buddies on this one; I don't have much reason to believe that Kerry would have either. Nader would have been all over this. I believe that Cobb of the Green party (which one?) would have been all over this one as well. Maybe it's time for a new party - the appeal of the Greens without the superimposed righteousness of liberalism. These people are not our friends.
As American citizens, we like to see ourselves as the kind of people who would do the right thing. I think this is what Kerry missed in all the talk about the 'Red States.' I know Bush wouldn't go against his daddy's buddies on this one; I don't have much reason to believe that Kerry would have either. Nader would have been all over this. I believe that Cobb of the Green party (which one?) would have been all over this one as well. Maybe it's time for a new party - the appeal of the Greens without the superimposed righteousness of liberalism. These people are not our friends.
Saturday, December 04, 2004
Lest we Forget (Part I)
"If I were an Arab leader, I would never sign an agreement with Israel. It is normal; we have taken their country. It is true God promised it to us, but how could that interest them? Our God is not theirs. There has been Anti-Semitism, the Nazis, Hitler, Auschwitz, but was that their fault? They see but one thing: we have come and we have stolen their country. Why would they accept that?"
David Ben Gurion (the first Israeli Prime Minister)
David Ben Gurion (the first Israeli Prime Minister)
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
Kettle's Calling the Pot Black Again!
BBC NEWS Middle East US senator calls on Annan to quit
Who else but a Republican (or any other) senator would have the balls to call Annan a profiteer over the war. Where were these calls when we found out that the war in Iraq was based on a lie and the president stonewalled any effort to show otherwise? How's this? They're all dirty! They're all taking turns washing their feet in Iraqi blood.
Who else but a Republican (or any other) senator would have the balls to call Annan a profiteer over the war. Where were these calls when we found out that the war in Iraq was based on a lie and the president stonewalled any effort to show otherwise? How's this? They're all dirty! They're all taking turns washing their feet in Iraqi blood.
Friday, November 26, 2004
BBC NEWS | Europe | Ukraine rivals seek end to crisis
BBC NEWS | Europe | Ukraine rivals seek end to crisis
Here's a bit of humor (unless you live in the region). A contested election, wide allegations of voter fraud, and our fearless leader (Bush) chiming in about 'free and fair'. After the last election, we've proven that the stupid truly lead the stupid. I think the pot actually called the kettle 'black!' this time.
Here's a bit of humor (unless you live in the region). A contested election, wide allegations of voter fraud, and our fearless leader (Bush) chiming in about 'free and fair'. After the last election, we've proven that the stupid truly lead the stupid. I think the pot actually called the kettle 'black!' this time.
Tuesday, November 16, 2004
Rice picked to be top US diplomat
Rice picked to be top US diplomat
So now we havew it. Powell leaves his post to prime himself for a 2008 presidential bid, and the Dragon Lady gets a promotion. Maybe Kerry will run again and go after Dean's famous 'Confederate flags on the pick-up truck' sect.
So now we havew it. Powell leaves his post to prime himself for a 2008 presidential bid, and the Dragon Lady gets a promotion. Maybe Kerry will run again and go after Dean's famous 'Confederate flags on the pick-up truck' sect.
Monday, November 15, 2004
BBC NEWS | Americas | CIA whistleblower sees 'long war'
BBC NEWS | Americas | CIA whistleblower sees 'long war': "antagonism to the US was based on 'a specific set of US policies that have been in gear for 30 years and have not been reviewed, have not been debated, have not been questioned"
Here we go again. This time, at least, Kerry is mentioned as having his head up his ass as well. When politicians say things like 'they are attacking our way of life', they disregard everything. I'm sure some of them don't like our way of life. A lot of fundemental christians don't like our way of life. We have the same end result from 2 different angles. Bush, Clinton, and everyone else who had the power were dead wrong to back Isreal so fervently. If they really wanted to do some good, they would back off support of Isreal 100%; then they will have to deal with the Palistine issue on their own. If there is another war and Isreal wins, fine; if they lose, that's fine, too. America is supposed to be 'by the people, of the people, for the people', but when it comes to foriegn affairs, dollar signs supplant people without pause.
Here we go again. This time, at least, Kerry is mentioned as having his head up his ass as well. When politicians say things like 'they are attacking our way of life', they disregard everything. I'm sure some of them don't like our way of life. A lot of fundemental christians don't like our way of life. We have the same end result from 2 different angles. Bush, Clinton, and everyone else who had the power were dead wrong to back Isreal so fervently. If they really wanted to do some good, they would back off support of Isreal 100%; then they will have to deal with the Palistine issue on their own. If there is another war and Isreal wins, fine; if they lose, that's fine, too. America is supposed to be 'by the people, of the people, for the people', but when it comes to foriegn affairs, dollar signs supplant people without pause.
Sunday, November 07, 2004
Another Letter to Michael Moore
I love getting your letters, but . . .
I sold my vote to ‘Beat Bush’ with a man that sounded an awful lot like him. I gave into the ‘somebody new’ argument when I could have voted my conscience and worked to build a party that truly reflected my beliefs. A Kerry supporter told me that a vote for Green this time around was a wasted vote – in light of what happened, I would argue that I really wasted my vote on Kerry.
I sold my vote to ‘Beat Bush’ with a man that sounded an awful lot like him. I gave into the ‘somebody new’ argument when I could have voted my conscience and worked to build a party that truly reflected my beliefs. A Kerry supporter told me that a vote for Green this time around was a wasted vote – in light of what happened, I would argue that I really wasted my vote on Kerry.
Against My better Judgement
Against My better Judgement, I voted for Kerry. Yes, I am a Demo-holic. I was left with Kerry after the Democrats successfully removed my alternatives from the Ohio ballot, and pulled the same bullshit scare tactics Cheney-style (thanks, Al Franken!) to get the indies to go Democratic. In the mean while, we were all so focused on how bad Bush was that we didn't really care that Kerry was as good as we could put against him. Calls from Michael Moore to the tune of 'sure, he'a a dick, but he's our dick! Get 'em in there!' don't inspire much. So basically the xians got off their ass this time and voted their concience. We, on the other hand, didn't seem to have one.
Can't blame Nader this time - and in the meantime, third party activism has been set back 10 years.
Thank you Kerry, for being so god damned useless. You lost the race to the bottom - Republicrats this time around. Guess we'll all just lament the loss of our favorite Republican president - Bill Clinton.
Can't blame Nader this time - and in the meantime, third party activism has been set back 10 years.
Thank you Kerry, for being so god damned useless. You lost the race to the bottom - Republicrats this time around. Guess we'll all just lament the loss of our favorite Republican president - Bill Clinton.
Wednesday, November 03, 2004
An open letter to Micheal Moore
You and your friends have a lot to do the next four years. I would say that it’s pretty safe to say that Cheeny (intentional) won’t be elected president in 2008 (maybe), but I would say that it’s time to get to work and get things right this time.
1. It’s time for the Democrats to admit that Nader (or any other 3rd party) did not lose the election for Kerry.
This is very important. The dirty tricks they pulled to keep Nader off the ballot made me sick to my stomach, and it should have made every other Democrat sick, too. When I pulled the lever (pushed the button, really) for Kerry, that thought was foremost in my mind. This was the kind of maneuvering I would expect from the Republicans.
2. George Bush is not a moron.
Sure, he’s not too bright, but he and his appeal were vastly underrated.
3. It’s time to build real alliances with the real Left.
This election was not a referendum to elect Kerry; it was a referendum to beat Bush. If we’ve learned anything, that is not enough. The ‘somebody else’ message is not that powerful a motivator. Let’s face it; Kerry was not the man we needed to go against Bush; no matter what Al Franken says, Kerry voted for the war and the PATRIOT act. I saw your movie, by the way, and noted that NO senator had signed the petition to back the action Gore needed to challenge the election. That certainly included Kerry and Edwards. In fact, I would have been more motivated and excited if Dean (or Edwards) were on the ticket.
4. Educate the voter.
There was so much time and energy wasted on accusing one another about the voting irregularities that it seems no one made it an issue to make sure that people knew their rights and how to ensure them. Get in there and work on laws that make political advertising ON THE PUBLIC airwaves a required service of broadcasters. Shake a few cages, build up a real base, and make sure that the Republicans can’t pull another Florida because people know their rights! Imagine if moveon.org spent a few dollars in each state showing voters how to check their voter registration status?
5. The Democrats need to quit taking it laying down, or move out of the way.
There is a perceived race to the middle; it’s really a race to the right. Kerry wasn’t able to inspire the youth vote because he’s ‘one of them (politicians)’ and they know it. Clinton was able to inspire the slacker generation to get off their ass and into the polls.
6. Democrats need to truly embrace their liberal base.
The reason people vote Nader is because they believe as I do; the two party system is a sham. Bipartisanship is becoming to mean agreeing with the Republicans, and people see that for themselves. The only effort anyone made to the Nader folks was to eliminate him from the ballot in Ohio and try to in Florida. As I said before, it made me ashamed to vote for any Democrat. What the Democrats should be doing (and there’s no way in hell they are going to) is to talk to Nader and the Greens and pick up that undecided. The country was split down the middle with a great big bunch of registered folks still not going to the polls. I’m sure that some folks were just too damn lazy, but what if Kerry made a real effort to Nader to consolidate efforts and pick up those votes? If Nader got high minded and turned him down, Kerry could gain points by the effort alone.
7. Invite the 3rd parties to the debates.
Not all of them; just the ones that have 3% of the public’s ear. The Green Party speaks to people, and the Democrats basically told them to fuck themselves in a fashionable way. When I saw the write in results, I was a little ashamed to see that Nader got 0 votes, and Cobb of the Green Party got only 24. The Democrats knew full well that if Green or Nader were on that ballot in Ohio, they would lose the votes. So they fought hard to keep them off. The result? They stayed home
8. Stop lying about Nader and the Green Party.
I saw the Green Party web site; they sought (and even petitioned) Nader’s candidacy for the Green Ticket. When he decided to run as an independent, they indorsed their own candidate. The Greens did not keep their mouths shut to vote Kerry.
9. Get a message.
The Democrats are poised to be the new Republicans – it’s really time for a change. The left needs to get its message straight and stop looking to the Democrats for leadership. They have proven consistently since 1996 that they just don’t have it anymore to beat the Republicans. There should be a disillusionment scale – it could be used to measure the turnover rate of Democratic and Republican faith in their party. I am willing to bet that the slide looks a whole lot better on the Republican side. That’s because they pull it together when it’s time to go. They are willing to stand behind any dumbass to get where they want. The Left in general is too busy infighting, and when anyone starts making a little money, they forget who they are and protect their interests.
10. Drop the ‘Elitists’.
Okay; Kerry is probably less of an elitist than Bush, but not by much. Both of them are in that realm that makes real people strain their necks when they look up. And I’m sure you know this being from a blue collar family – people who have never had to want for anything don’t understand what it is to be poor, homeless, jobless, or laid off. I know that there are some senators and congress members that know what its all about.
----------------------------------------------
That’s all I have. Usually, my rants never get any further than my blog, but this time, I had to say something. Everyone’s walking around scratching their heads and wondering ‘what happened?’ Bush should have gone down like a sack of doorknobs. Instead, his presidency was actually legitimized, despite everything he and his cronies pulled. We need to make sure this does not happen again.
1. It’s time for the Democrats to admit that Nader (or any other 3rd party) did not lose the election for Kerry.
This is very important. The dirty tricks they pulled to keep Nader off the ballot made me sick to my stomach, and it should have made every other Democrat sick, too. When I pulled the lever (pushed the button, really) for Kerry, that thought was foremost in my mind. This was the kind of maneuvering I would expect from the Republicans.
2. George Bush is not a moron.
Sure, he’s not too bright, but he and his appeal were vastly underrated.
3. It’s time to build real alliances with the real Left.
This election was not a referendum to elect Kerry; it was a referendum to beat Bush. If we’ve learned anything, that is not enough. The ‘somebody else’ message is not that powerful a motivator. Let’s face it; Kerry was not the man we needed to go against Bush; no matter what Al Franken says, Kerry voted for the war and the PATRIOT act. I saw your movie, by the way, and noted that NO senator had signed the petition to back the action Gore needed to challenge the election. That certainly included Kerry and Edwards. In fact, I would have been more motivated and excited if Dean (or Edwards) were on the ticket.
4. Educate the voter.
There was so much time and energy wasted on accusing one another about the voting irregularities that it seems no one made it an issue to make sure that people knew their rights and how to ensure them. Get in there and work on laws that make political advertising ON THE PUBLIC airwaves a required service of broadcasters. Shake a few cages, build up a real base, and make sure that the Republicans can’t pull another Florida because people know their rights! Imagine if moveon.org spent a few dollars in each state showing voters how to check their voter registration status?
5. The Democrats need to quit taking it laying down, or move out of the way.
There is a perceived race to the middle; it’s really a race to the right. Kerry wasn’t able to inspire the youth vote because he’s ‘one of them (politicians)’ and they know it. Clinton was able to inspire the slacker generation to get off their ass and into the polls.
6. Democrats need to truly embrace their liberal base.
The reason people vote Nader is because they believe as I do; the two party system is a sham. Bipartisanship is becoming to mean agreeing with the Republicans, and people see that for themselves. The only effort anyone made to the Nader folks was to eliminate him from the ballot in Ohio and try to in Florida. As I said before, it made me ashamed to vote for any Democrat. What the Democrats should be doing (and there’s no way in hell they are going to) is to talk to Nader and the Greens and pick up that undecided. The country was split down the middle with a great big bunch of registered folks still not going to the polls. I’m sure that some folks were just too damn lazy, but what if Kerry made a real effort to Nader to consolidate efforts and pick up those votes? If Nader got high minded and turned him down, Kerry could gain points by the effort alone.
7. Invite the 3rd parties to the debates.
Not all of them; just the ones that have 3% of the public’s ear. The Green Party speaks to people, and the Democrats basically told them to fuck themselves in a fashionable way. When I saw the write in results, I was a little ashamed to see that Nader got 0 votes, and Cobb of the Green Party got only 24. The Democrats knew full well that if Green or Nader were on that ballot in Ohio, they would lose the votes. So they fought hard to keep them off. The result? They stayed home
8. Stop lying about Nader and the Green Party.
I saw the Green Party web site; they sought (and even petitioned) Nader’s candidacy for the Green Ticket. When he decided to run as an independent, they indorsed their own candidate. The Greens did not keep their mouths shut to vote Kerry.
9. Get a message.
The Democrats are poised to be the new Republicans – it’s really time for a change. The left needs to get its message straight and stop looking to the Democrats for leadership. They have proven consistently since 1996 that they just don’t have it anymore to beat the Republicans. There should be a disillusionment scale – it could be used to measure the turnover rate of Democratic and Republican faith in their party. I am willing to bet that the slide looks a whole lot better on the Republican side. That’s because they pull it together when it’s time to go. They are willing to stand behind any dumbass to get where they want. The Left in general is too busy infighting, and when anyone starts making a little money, they forget who they are and protect their interests.
10. Drop the ‘Elitists’.
Okay; Kerry is probably less of an elitist than Bush, but not by much. Both of them are in that realm that makes real people strain their necks when they look up. And I’m sure you know this being from a blue collar family – people who have never had to want for anything don’t understand what it is to be poor, homeless, jobless, or laid off. I know that there are some senators and congress members that know what its all about.
----------------------------------------------
That’s all I have. Usually, my rants never get any further than my blog, but this time, I had to say something. Everyone’s walking around scratching their heads and wondering ‘what happened?’ Bush should have gone down like a sack of doorknobs. Instead, his presidency was actually legitimized, despite everything he and his cronies pulled. We need to make sure this does not happen again.
BBC NEWS | World | Americas | Kerry admits US election defeat
BBC NEWS | World | Americas | Kerry admits US election defeat
What was the point?
I can't say I'm disappointed. This time, they can't say that Nader spoiled the election. Kerry was just a weak candidate. It's like the Democrats didn't weally want to try to win, and gave up as soon they could. What a waste of time. Against my better judgement, I voted for Kerry. I will never vote Democrat again.
What was the point?
I can't say I'm disappointed. This time, they can't say that Nader spoiled the election. Kerry was just a weak candidate. It's like the Democrats didn't weally want to try to win, and gave up as soon they could. What a waste of time. Against my better judgement, I voted for Kerry. I will never vote Democrat again.
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