The Bush Pep Talk on Katrina

O.k., this photo captures Bush's finest moment but after this photo things in the country under his watch have pretty much tanked.

Now, I am very critical of the man and I do not hate him but goddamn he has failed to respond very well with this hurricane disaster (which is now a humanitarian crisis).

The Bush World Trade Center speach was stirring and inspirational to all Americans. There he was standing on the rubble rallying everyone.

So where the FUCK is he now?!! I have to say his "pep talk" this afternoon was weak and very uninspiring. He should have gone down there immediately. He should be there still rolling up his sleeves and taking off his suit. Vowing to stay as long as he could.

At least vowing to stay as long as his damn vacation. He needs to be taking a boat out and visiting as many people as possible. Helping to rescue people. Seen filling sand bags, ANYTHING!!

I hear that he is going to be down there friday, FRIDAY!! What's SO important that he can't be down there NOW!! For Christ's sake he flew OVER the area today? Why didn't he land the plane, put on his "Commander-in-Chief" jacket and get out amongst the masses in need of some leadership.

THAT'S the kind of leader ship we need right now. Not some "phoned in" speach finding him sitting his ass comfortably in Washington D.C.

Goddamn it i'm pissed off with our "Commander-in-Chief" and this disaster has pushed me over the edge.

One of the main reasons why the Gulf Coast area was hit with such a monster of a hurricane is because of rising ocean temp's due to global warming and the Bush administration STILL says the science is "inconclusive." Well GODDAMN IT is the Hurricane Katrina aftermath enough science for you BUSH?!!!! We have fucked around too long with global warming and now nature is lowering the hammer on us.

Oh yeah and fill up your gas tanks now because the prices are being jacking up as I type and will go up higher this weekend.

Oh yeah, where is the Army, Navy and National Guard in the numbers we need to protect the levees from a terrorist attack?? Now would be the perfect time for terrorists to hit New Orleans.

Of course we all now that the numbers of these troops are pinned down in Iraq. Well, Dubya now our Gulf Port LOOKS like an Iraqi war zone!

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Bush Stays the Course on Golf Course

When Bush says he is going to "stay the course" I think he means the golf course and not Iraq. No wonder he is confused about Iraq. He's thinking about golf in the back of his a.d.d. mind when he should be tinkering and changing his Iraq policy.

Besides, when facing a growing, deadly insurgency is "stay the course" really an appropriate or adequate war plan?

I think we all know the answer to this question.


On Hurricane Katrina? I'm surprised that Bush has not yet blamed the hurricane on Saddam Hussein.

Seriously.

W. stands for Worst President E V E R.

Now watch this drive.

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Is Bush Afraid of Katrina?

I don't know but I think the man has lost any sense of leadership that he might have had. He is clueless. He showed up in Florida in 2004 during the election to help out his brother's state but now he's too busy to fly down there? This is probably the worst disaster in America since the rebuilding after the civil war!

Bush said a few words today regarding the hurrican disaster from a script. Even his "compassion" and "feelings" have to be scripted. These basic words are not enough. I want to see footage of Bush sticking his head out the window of the Marine 1 helicopter as he fly's over the devastation.

P.S.~Let's all donate some money to the red cross. I have family just outside New Orleans, Louisiana and would appreciate any donation you can give.

(Photo: New Orleans under water. Photo credit: CNN)

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Killed Soldier Questioned "fucktarded" War in Iraq

This from Raw Story:

"Before he died when his truck overturned during combat in Baghdad, Sgt. Thomas Strickland, 27, posted an entry on his weblog sharing his anger about the situation in Iraq," in which he questioned the United States' 'fucktarded' Iraq war plan, Rogers Cadenhead reports on his site, DrudgeRetort.com.


Here's the full entry from his blog, two days before he was killed:

MotherFucker.

I'm back home.

Mahmudijah.

The Mahm.

St. Michael.

What have you.

My truck, which I left here in good working order, is destroyed mostly.

The insurgency is on the rise in our area, with a most impressive coordinated assault on one of my sister FOBs (St. Joe) under their belt. Apparently they have enough folks and sophistication in my back yard where they can simultaneously place accurate mortar rounds on three seperate locations (at least 30k apart) to tie up any ground mounted quick reaction forces, as well as offer up multiple RPG strikes on the guard towers at Joe. These RPG attacks really bring out the QRF who face their own ambush as they come out the gate, at least 12 insurgents occupying buildings with an overwatch position to Joe's only entrance armed with more rpg's and small arms. The only possible responses are tanks or Apaches. Luckily we have both on call. 12 dead insurgents, destroyed buildings, a compromised FOB, sustained, accurate and unaswered indirect fire and lots o unanswered questions later... I'm here.

What the fuck has my chain of command been doing? We were winning somewhat when I left. And now we're being pinned down in our own fucking homes? Insurgents are pushing locals out of their homes and taking over my area at will? What kind of fucktarded plan have we been half-assedly executing? Obviously the kind that neglects sound contact with locals. Obviously the kind that gives further distance to unbridged gaps between soldiers and locals. Obviously the kind that has shown enough weakness when confronted by the insugency that it has been encouraged to grow.

Back home (the USA kind) I have no home, no job, and my commander in chief is on vacation (he's about 20 days behind Ronald Reagan right now in the race to become the most vacationing president ever. Hey W! we all got our fingers crossed! Here's to you and two more years of presidency...er vacationing!). Luckily pretty much everything that is important to me can fit into the back of a truck. Luckily I just paid off one of those.

In their fear to build relationships and get out of their hiding holes the FOBbits above me have fucked my friends and I.

We've just completed the first 1/4 of our tour. we've sent 4 of 24 members of this platoon home with injuries.

Thankfully we're not like another who has sent 8 home in body bags...but we got 9 months to go.

Stay true lambs, REV

GOI: It does not get more real then that friends.

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Some Fake News and Some Real News

President Bush is to have said to say that he, "Would have asked the Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama National Guard to help in the hurricane Katrina relief effort but unfortunately thousands of them are stationed in Iraq and are otherwise disposed."

This is an obvious fake quote made up by yours truely, however, it is not too far from the truth. The National Guard is meant to protect the home front and is specifically trained to handle disaster relief efforts not fight in deceptive never-ending wars.

I think that there is some tragic irony in the fact that Bush was at one time "in" the Alabama National Guard and now the current guard is too "otherwise disposed" in his war in Iraq (aprox. 1,500) to fully respond to the needs of the citizens in their home state! No worries, however, they are taking care of the needs (or are they?) of the Iraqi citizens thousands of miles from the home front they are supposed to protect. Again, great, GREAT planning King George!!!

Speaking of the 51st state of the union (Iraq) the highest ranking Sunni Muslim Arab (who happens to be one of the two vice-presidents and a moderate) is now severly critizing the "constitution."

Ho hum though, right? Freedom is still on the march, april, june, july and on and on an on we still march. Wait a minute? What was it again we are marching in Iraq for? Oh yeah, freedom to oppress the Sunni minority in Iraq by the other ethnic groups. O.k, I'm back on track now Sergeant.

I heard on the radio this afternoon that a returning Iraqi war vet went to "Camp Casey" in Crawford and was shown the "bird" on several occasions by counter-demostrators who supposedly "support the troops." I guess nothing says "I support the troops" like flying the middle finger in soldiers faces. Kind of ironic how it was many liberals (shamefully) who flipped off returning Vietnam vets and now the shoe is on the other foot. Hmmm. I'm sure there is some great message in there to flush out but I'm tired and hungry so i am going to leave you all now.

Play nice.

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(picture credit: www.cnn.com)

Sunni Negotiators Reject Draft Constitution

Associated Press
Updated: 10:02 a.m. ET Aug. 28, 2005

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqi negotiators finished the country’s new constitution Sunday without the endorsement of Sunni Arabs who helped prepare it, dealing a blow to the Bush administration and setting the stage for a bitter campaign leading up to an October referendum.

Fundamental differences

After two months of talks, negotiators for the Shiite-Kurd bloc and the Sunnis remain divided over fundamental issues that include:

-Whether Iraq should be turned into a federal state or decentralized by granting more power to provincial authorities;

-How the country’s oil wealth will be divided;

-Whether Baath Party members should be purged from government; and

-Whether Iraq will be considered an Arab or Islamic nation.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

Bush hailed the draft as a great success and dismissed the Sunni objections (Sunni's represent 20% of the country) as "as the opinion of a few" and that the Sunni objections "won’t derail a transition to democracy."

GOI: Yeah, now that we've rolled over 20% of the Iraqi people we can make way for "true democracy." Just because they have reasonable demands doesn't mean that "democracy" shouldn't keep pushing ahead doest it?? After all, "freedom's on the march" isn't it?? (rolls eyes). Yeah, on the march right over the backs of 20% of the Iraqi population!

Snubbing the Sunni Iraqi's is not a good step toward unification of a strong Iraq. They should have debated as long as it took to get a concensus rather then send the draft constitution to the public without the approval of Sunni negotiators.

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The Numbers Do Not Lie

The following numbers come from The Seattle Times:

Bush is taking 5 weeks vacation which is the longest presidential vacation in 36 years. And he's taking this vacation during an unraveling war.

August 3, 2005 marked the 319th day that Bush has spent, entirely or partially on his ranch in Crawford.

23-The number of U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq in the month of August alone.

1,874-the total of U.S. soldiers killed in the Iraq war as of August 3, 2005.

Number of days since Bush said he would get Osama bin Laden "dead or alive?"-1,445 days

What has Bush had to say about bin Laden since?: "So I don't know where he is. You know, I just don't spend that much time on him, Kelly, to be honest with you."

What about recent poll numbers?

This from The Washington Post:

The Harris Poll is out today, showing President Bush's approval rating down sharply over the past two months to 40 percent (GOI: 58% had a negative opinion of Bush. Actually I'm surprised it's not higher). Just two days ago, the American Research Group also found it down sharply, to 36 percent.

In both cases, those are all-time lows for Bush that put him in dangerously unpopular territory. And the results lead inescapably to the conclusion that the American people are deeply unhappy with the war in Iraq and blame the president.

GOI: Sweet. That's our President

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Iraq on the Brink of a Meltdown

Supporters of Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr demonstrate in Iraq while the country's future hangs in the balance.

Constitutional talks have failed to a first time and now the possibility of civil war is very palpable.

This from Telegraph News in the UK:

The impression of growing crisis in Iraq was reinforced when a new front erupted in the violent rebellion, with Shia Muslims fighting each other with guns and rocket-propelled grenades.

As the two-day death toll around Iraq reached 100, fighting between two powerful Shiite militias in the southern city of Najaf subsided, with 19 reported dead overall. The clashes Wednesday night and Thursday between the Mahdi Army, loyal to Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr, and fighters allegedly linked to the government-allied Badr Organization were the deadliest between Iraqi militia forces since the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003.

Ibrahim al-Jaafari, the prime minister, made an emergency television appeal for peace and sent two police commando units to Najaf where the fighting had started.

Throughout the day in Baghdad, politicians bickered over how to proceed with the constitution without driving the country to civil war.

As night fell, the government's official spokesman, Laith Kubba, announced that a final version of the document had been decided and compromise reached on three issues, although he did not say which. Sunni leaders said that no consensus had been reached.

GOI: Shi'ite in-fighting is a troubling development in an ever unfolding situation. Some Sadr supporters are threatening to side with Sunni's who oppose federalism in the constitution. This is starting to develop into a very complicated process. I hope that the country can survive these growing pains with a true democracy developing. It looks like, however, that even best case scenarios show an Islamic Republic with a twist of Democracy.

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Still No Agreement in Iraq

This from MSNBC:

In a statement, the head of the National Assembly’s media department, Bishro Ibrahim, said there would be no vote before the midnight deadline on Thursday and that no date for a new session had been set.

GOI: I am not so worried that they have not met a compromise as I am that no new session date had been set. However, there are factions in the government that believe that they do not need to meet to approve a constitution:

Separately, a government spokesman Laith Kubba told Reuters that parliament did not need to formally meet to approve the charter because it had effectively been passed on Monday, although he did not indicate that the sides had overcome differences.

GOI: This is a dangerous attitude as it suggests that the Kurds and Shia plan on rolling over the Sunni and presenting their (Kurds and Shia) version of the constitution to the country. This brought threats of civil war from the Sunni:

Sunnis, who have remained fiercely opposed to the charter, say it could lead to civil war.

"Laith Kubba has been saying that we solved the disputes for a month now, but so far we have not gotten anywhere," Hussein al-Falluja, a Sunni member of the constitution panel, told Reuters. "If this constitution continues to include federalism it should be put in the bin and done again."

GOI: Federalism is not the only issue, however, with the Sunni:

Sunni Arabs also insisted elections to a new interim assembly should be held because of disputes over the document, a Sunni in the drafting panel said.

"The draft is illegal ... We will take this to a federal court if the constitution passes through parliament, which by law should be dissolved since the deadline was not met."

Shi'ite In-Fighting:

He called on rival Islamist leader Abdul Aziz al-Hakim of the Badr-allied Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) to condemn his own supporters for their part in clashes between the two men's armed supporters overnight.

Sadr, a strident nationalist whose followers deride rival Shi'ite Islamist leaders for their time in exile in Iran, has joined leaders of the Sunni Arab minority in denouncing the draft constitution as a recipe for the break-up of the state.

GOI: It doesn't look good when the majority Shia are already in-fighting. Then of course there are the Sunni insurgents already engaged in killing fellow Iraqi's. Iraq seems to be hanging together with string that appears to be loosening everyday.

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Fetus Pain Unlikely Before 3rd Trimester-Study

This from Reuters:

CHICAGO (Reuters) - A human fetus is unlikely to feel pain before the third trimester, when consciousness begins to form, researchers said on Tuesday in a report that could fuel debate over proposed U.S. abortion legislation.

Even if a fetus feels pain, doctors may not be able to anesthetize it without endangering the mother's health, including during an abortion, the researchers wrote in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Legislation under consideration by the U.S. Congress and some U.S. states would require doctors to inform women seeking abortions after the 22nd week of gestation that their fetus feels pain and offer to anesthetize the fetus.

Supporters of the legislation say that when a fetus displays a withdrawal reflex or hormonal stress response, that is evidence of fetal pain. But the researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, questioned that view, saying the responses may be automatic and not signs of discomfort (GOI: Not unlike Terri Schiavo).

Drawing on findings from thousands of medical-journal articles on the subject of fetal pain and related topics, the report's author, Susan Lee, wrote that "pain is a subjective sensory and emotional experience that requires the presence of consciousness."

Consciousness is created by brain connections between the thalamus and the cerebral cortex, and those do not begin to develop before the 23rd week and possibly not before the 30th week of gestation. The human gestation period is 38 weeks from conception.

GOI: The only thing that I will say about this report is that it seems to bolster the pro-choice arguement. I do not know of anyone who wants to see more abortions but it is comforting to know that the fetus does not feel pain if it is aborted before the 23rd week.

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Robertson's "Explanation"

After yesterday's incendiary comments by Pat Robertson he is not apologizes or even saying his comments advocated assassination!

Today CNN's program, "Your World Today" played a clip of Robertson trying to "explain" and distance himself from his assassination talk.

Robertson said that there is more then one way to "take him out" including kidnapping.

Okkkkk, so now we are kidnapping a democratically elected leader of a sovereign nation? That's not much better then killing the guy. Besides, how many people believe that the phrase, "take him out" does not involve killing. It could yes include kidnapping but the end result is usually death.

As for Hugo Chavez? Well, it appears that these comments and his reaction are making him look like a champion for the poor who is being stalked by the "evil, imperialistic empire."

This guy has already survived a two-day failed coup and was reinstated as a populist leader of Venezuela with it's fourth largest oil reserves in the world.

These vicious attacks from Bush's guy Pat Robertson (Bush has yet to condemn or speak out at all on the comments) are seeming to rally support around chavez in Venezuela right before elections (71% of Venezuelans support Chavez which are WAY higher numbers then Bush. Latest approval today from CNN for Bush = 40%):

``The evangelist's declarations are terrible for the U.S. in that they
totally back up Chavez,'' Leon said in a telephone interview from Caracas. ``It
is absolutely going to have the opposite effect on Chavez than the U.S. wants.
It's something that resonates with the country's poor.''

Now Chavez is saying he wants to sell poorer Americans cheaper gas!! Now THAT's an energy policy!! Our own President doesn't even advocate for such a policy! No wonder the "oil administration" and their neo-con supporters want this guy dead!! Chavez is starting to look like a real champion for the poor.

UPDATE: Pat Robertson just released a statement where he apologized for this call for assassination of Huge Chavez. Well, it is about time. Makes me wonder though if he would have apologized without this huge outrage from the public. I also think he received some "gentle prodding" from the Bush administration to apologize.

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Assassin Pat Robertson?

Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson has suggested that American agents assassinate Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to stop his country from becoming ``a launching pad for communist infiltration and Muslim extremism.''

An official of a theological watchdog group on Tuesday criticized Robertson's statement as ``chilling.''

Robertson's comment's:

``We have the ability to take him out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that ability,'' Robertson said Monday on the Christian Broadcast Network's ``The 700 Club.''

``We don't need another $200 billion war to get rid of one, you know, strong-arm dictator,'' he continued.

``It's a whole lot easier to have some of the covert operatives do the job and then get it over with.''

``You know, I don't know about this doctrine of assassination, but if he thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think that we really ought to go ahead and do it,'' Robertson said. ``It's a whole lot cheaper than starting a war ... and I don't think any oil shipments will stop.''

GOI: Obviously this Christian zealot does not know how to read because if he did then he would have the commandment, "Thou shall not kill" burned into his memory. Robertson's demand is illegal since President Ford to Reagan have said assassination of head's of state is illegal.

Robertson's comments are sickenly irresponsible since he is a pillar in the Christian community being the head of the Christian Coalition and the nationally syndciated Christian program, "The 700 Club."

Even more disturbing about his comments is that they mirror extremist Muslim clerics calling for the assassination of western leaders.

He should apologize and retract such incendiary comments and Bush should speak out and condemn these remarks. Especially since Bush has relied heavily on the efforts of right-wing Christian extremists such as Robertson for becoming President in 2000 and 2004.

He needs to distance himself from Robertson's comments.

UPDATE: I've been thinking about this some more and marinating it in my brain while listening to radio shows and I think that he should loose his television license. If we fined CBS big time for the infamous Janet Jackson boob exposure then surely this qualifies for a huge fine and more!

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Utah Protests Bush in the Reddest of Red States

George W. Bush goes to the Republican stronghold of Utah and receives a protest.

He was in Utah to address the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

His words, though warmly received by those in attendance, came at a time when the president is facing increased criticism and weakened support for his policies in Iraq. In Utah, where Bush was elected with 71.5 percent support in 2004, more than 44 percent say the U.S. effort to bring stability to Iraq is going badly, according to a poll conducted earlier this summer by Brigham Young University.

From The Salt Lake Tribune:

In downtown Salt Lake City's Pioneer Park, an estimated 1,000 anti-war protesters gathered to speak and demonstrate against the continuing fighting in Iraq.

GOI: You know you're a bad Republican President when you even draw a protest in Utah which is one of the reddest of red states. I lived in Utah for a few years and I know how conservative that they are traditionally. Such a protest like this one is very rare there and something that I think should be seen as momumental. When a state that re-elected the President with 71.5% now holds a large protest and 44% admit that things in Iraq are going badly then things really are not looking good for the President. He just does not have the support of confidence of the American people anymore. This is sad since we all want to have trust and confidence in our Commander-in-Chief.

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Sunni's Snubbed with Constitution

By Ellen Knickmeyer and Jon
Finer
Washington Post Foreign Service
Monday, August 22, 2005; 10:42 AM

BAGHDAD, Aug. 22 -- Shiites and Kurds were sending a draft constitution to parliament on Monday that would fundamentally change Iraq, transforming the country into a loose federation, with a weak central administration governed by Islamic law, negotiators said.

The draft, slated for action by a Monday deadline, would be a sweeping rejection of the demands of Iraq's disaffected Sunni minority, which has called the proposed federal system the start of the breakup of Iraq. Shiites and Kurds indicated they were in no mood to compromise.

GOI: I guess it is a good thing that they finally hammered out a draft but I am afraid that this will not change anything as the Sunni's were snubbed. This will probably just fuel the rebel Sunni fighters even more and perhaps recruit moderate Sunni's who feel disaffected by this draft. It appears now that the Sunni's will probably not accept this constitution (in it's present form) during October's referendum. The Shi'ite's and Kurds also agreed on a form of federalism:

Key provisions of the draft would formalize an already autonomous Kurdish state in the north, under a federal system. The rest of the country also would be allowed to form federal systems -- opening the way for the demand by the dominant Shiite Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq to create a southern Shiite sub-state out of up to half of Iraq's 18 regions.

GOI: This agreement on federalism between the Kurds and the Shia makes me uneasy as a weak central government would unlikely be able to have any influence on the actions of an autonomous Kurdistan and Shi'ite sub-state who have their own militias/armies already.

No so fast, however. The Sunni are digging in their heals and doubt that a midnight compromise will be reached.

It also appears as well that Iraq will be an Islamic state:

The draft also stipulates that Iraq is an Islamic state and that no law can contradict the principles of Islam, Shiite and Kurdish negotiators said. Opponents have charged that last provision would subject Iraqis to religious edicts by individual clerics.

The Shiite and Kurdish negotiators also said draft calls for the presence of Islamic clerics on the court that would interpret the constitution. Family matters such as divorce, marriage or inheritance would be decided either by religious law or civil law as an individual chooses -- a condition that opponents say would likely lead to women being forced into unfavorable rulings for them by opponents demanding judgments under Islamic law.

GOI: Well, I guess democracy is no longer on the march. The Iraqi's appear to be on the verge of using democracy to create a theocratic federalist state. Placing Islamic clerics on the court to interpret the constitution would be like placing Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson on our Supreme Court.

God I hope they can get all of this figured out before the midnight dead-line. Everyone send them positive energy so that they can find a compromise that protects democracy rather then limits or crushes it entirely.

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Militias Run Iraq Because of Weak Central Government

Militias on the Rise Across Iraq
Shiite and Kurdish Groups Seizing Control, Instilling Fear in North and South

By Anthony Shadid and Steve Fainaru
Washington Post Foreign ServiceSunday, August 21, 2005; Page A01

BASRA, Iraq -- Shiite and Kurdish militias, often operating as part of Iraqi government security forces, have carried out a wave of abductions, assassinations and other acts of intimidation, consolidating their control over territory across northern and southern Iraq and deepening the country's divide along ethnic and sectarian lines, according to political leaders, families of the victims, human rights activists and Iraqi officials.

While Iraqi representatives wrangle over the drafting of a constitution in Baghdad, the militias, and the Shiite and Kurdish parties that control them, are creating their own institutions of authority, unaccountable to elected governments, the activists and officials said. In Basra in the south, dominated by the Shiites, and Mosul in the north, ruled by the Kurds, as well as cities and villages around them, many residents have said they are powerless before the growing sway of the militias, which instill a climate of fear that many see as redolent of the era of former president Saddam Hussein.

GOI: Even when an official Iraqi police force is in place it is often infiltrated and dominated by these militia men.

The parties and their armed wings sometimes operate independently, and other times as part of Iraqi army and police units trained and equipped by the United States and Britain and controlled by the central government. Their growing authority has enabled them to control territory, confront their perceived enemies and provide patronage to their followers. Their ascendance has come about because of a power vacuum in Baghdad and their own success in the January parliamentary elections.

Since the formation of a government this spring, Basra, Iraq's second-largest city, has witnessed dozens of assassinations, which claimed members of the former ruling Baath Party, Sunni political leaders and officials of competing Shiite parties. Many have been carried out by uniformed men in police vehicles, according to political leaders and families of the victims, with some of the bullet-riddled bodies dumped at night in a trash-strewn parcel known as The Lot. The province's governor said in an interview that Shiite militias have penetrated the police force; an Iraqi official estimated that as many as 90 percent of officers were loyal to religious parties.

Read the rest of this compelling and fascinating article HERE.

GOI: This is a very troubling story but important to read. It's long but worth it.

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Possible Civil War in Iraq over Federalism Issue

This from Reuters:

By Michael Georgy and Luke Baker

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's national security adviser said on Friday Iraq would descend into civil war if federalism was not entrenched in the constitution.

GOI: Wikipedia defines federalism: Federalism is a system of government in which power is constitutionally divided between a central authority and constituent political units (like states or provinces). The two levels of government are interdependent, and share sovereignty.

Federalism is the "800 pound gorilla" in the room which remains the biggest problem for an Iraqi constitution.

National security adviser Mowaffaq al-Rubaie defended federalism this way:

Without federalism it means that no community interest has been addressed or fulfilled and therefore different communities will try to find and defend and fight for their rights," Mowaffaq al-Rubaie told Reuters in an interview.

GOI: However, not everyone sees federalism as a good thing. Several thousands of supporters of Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr denouce federalism saying it will rip Iraq apart rather then keep the peace. The is some truth in this position because federalism could further alienate the different parties in Iraq leading to a civil war. If, however, you have a strong central government you would have an easier time keeping the state together.

The powerful Kurds, however, demand autonomy that federalism would bring and now some within the Shi'ite population are calling for their own autonomous region in the south.

Kurds want to expand autonomy in their de facto state in the north, some Shi'ites are pushing for their own region in the south, and Sunni Arabs are fiercely opposed to federalism.

This federalist approach, however, is in direct disagreement with al-Sadr's Shi'ites which poses another problem; a split amongst the majority Shi'ites.

This places al-Sadr's supporters together with Sunni Arabs who vehemantly oppose federalism.

"Moqtada al-Sadr's concern is that Iraq must be united, not divided," said Fatah al-Sheikh, a Shi'ite member of parliament who is closely allied to Sadr and led one of the marches.

Sunnis, once dominant under Saddam Hussein, want a central government with tight control over oil resources near Kurdish areas in the north and in the Shi'ite south.

Without federalism, however, you also have a very real threat of revolt by the Kurds and large portions of the Shi'ite population.

So, are you confused yet? It is certainly a complicated issue and a compromise seems nearly impossible at this point. Someone is going to feel slighted and left out of the constitution which could also fuel a civil war and/or at the very least expand the rebel movement. It seems right now that the country is on a collision course toward major sectarian violence.

Right now sectarian violence is confined mostly amongst some radical Sunni and foreign fighters. However, if the constitution fails and the country slips into a greater civil war we could very well see everyone against everyone and that would be the worst possible outcome for all involved.

Stay tuned.

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Iraq Analogy

I heard this on a local radio station this morning in talking about the situation in Iraq:

When you're up to your ass in alligators it's hard to remember that your original intention was to drain the swamp.

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Gaza Pullout

I have mixed emotions about the pull out but mostly I think it is a good thing. I feel for the Jewish families that are being displaced, however, there has to be some movement in establishing a Palestinian state.

Israel invaded the Gaza strip some 30 years ago and moved in Jewish settlers to this dominately Palestinian land. That was wrong and now the state of Israel is making it right. Kudos to Ariel Sharon in taking these historic steps.

Now the Palestinians must show that they will end the violence to keep this process moving. They have to compromise on many issues as well. They will not see the eradication of the Jews from Israel and the more Palestinians realize this the sooner more compromise between the two sides can occur.


Watching the news the past few days I have been struck with the stubborn nature of some of these Jewish radicals. It has been a "no-no" in the past to criticize the Israeli Jews in any form or manner but they too hold some responsibility for creating the conditions that have sparked violence in Israel.




It must be pointed out that some Israeli's have created this cloud of entitlement regarding the land around them. That they should not have to compromise because God decread in their scriptures that they should have all of the land.

This is a form of religious extremism that is not too far off Islamic extremism. Followers of the great religions of the world must come to understand that they can not let their beliefs rule their every actions. Peace is blind to any religion. Modern geo-politics should not and can not be ruled by stubborn blindness to ones God in place of anything and anyone else. There should be plenty of room on this planet for everyone without having to kill some or marginalize others.

These are painful compromises that must be taken by both sides to help end the tension and violence.

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Limbaugh Smears Cindy Sheehan

This from MediaMatters:

Nationally syndicated radio host Rush Limbaugh equated the actions of Cindy Sheehan, the mother of a soldier killed in Iraq, with those of Bill Burkett, the retired Texas Air National Guard officer who provided CBS' 60 Minutes with unauthenticated documents regarding President Bush's National Guard record. Sheehan is currently staging an anti-war protest outside Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas. Limbaugh said that Sheehan's "story is nothing more than forged documents."

Sheehan's "story" is, in fact, that her son died while fighting in Iraq. A Humvee mechanic, Spc. Casey Sheehan was one of seven U.S. soldiers killed in Baghdad's Sadr City on April 4, 2004, by rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire.

From the August 15 broadcast of The Rush Limbaugh Show:

LIMBAUGH: I mean, Cindy Sheehan is just Bill Burkett. Her story is nothing more than forged documents. There's nothing about it that's real, including the mainstream media's glomming onto it. It's not real. It's nothing more than an attempt. It's the latest effort made by the coordinated left.

GOI: Hmmm, so I assume that Casey Sheehan's death wasn't real and that the coffin which Ms. Sheehan buried was empty?? Sorry Rush. Her pain and the loss of her son are all too real for those of us in the fact based community.

Cindy Sheehan Gains Boost

By now most of you probably know about the idiot arrested down in Crawford for mowing through Camp Casey the other night.

Some 800 white wooden crosses, bearing the names of soldiers killed in Iraq have lined the road near the area where Sheehan has pitched a tent. Witnesses said they saw a lorry dragging a pipe and chains drive over some of the crosses.

Larry Northern, 46, of nearby Waco, Texas, was arrested and charged with criminal mischief in connection with the incident.


I am sure that Mr. Northern is an ardent neo-con, uber-patriot, ulter-Christian and blind supporter of President Bush.

Now don't you find it ironic that such a person would mow down crosses with American flags on them representing fallen soldiers?? I thought these right-winger, Christians venerated the troops and the symbol of the cross and the flag. I guess anything goes for them as long as they are supporting their leader. This is a classic case of "party over country."

In better news:

Antiwar protester Cindy Sheehan, whose son was killed in Iraq, is moving her camp closer to President George W. Bush's Texas ranch.

The piece of private property was offered by a relative of a man who had a fired shotgun in frustration over the protests, a source in the Sheehan camp said. The property owner is also a veteran.

"A neighbour of President Bush's has offered us his land," the source said. "It's got plenty of acreage for us, it's private land, we would have legal permission to be on it, it's much closer to the ranch -- in fact it's across the street from his (Bush's) church."

"We have taken him up on his offer," the source added.

The source said Fred Mattlage made the offer saying "I'm a veteran, I support what you all are doing and I want to offer you my land."

GOI: That is so awesome that his man would offer up his private land to Cindy and the other supporters. What a true American.

UPDATE: I've decided to pull down Larry Northern's contact information since I can not prove that this is the right guy. I do not want to flood an innocent man's inbox.

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"Noble Cause" in Iraq?

We keep hearing from the Bush administration and loyal sycophant neo-cons that American soldiers are fighting for a "noble cause" in Iraq. However, we never hear these people signing up to go and fight in Iraq for this "noble cause."

What was is the "noble cause?" Spreading democracy? Well, you can not force democracy onto people and it appears in Iraq that their constitution is going to curb women's rights. Also, Islam will play a major role in the structure of this government. Now, is that really "freedom on the march" as President Bush constantly repeats??

Of course not.

Some people claim the "noble cause" being defending America. How in the holy FUCK was Iraq EVER a threat to America. I can not believe that people are still believing and repeating this drivel. Especially now that we have not found any WMD stock piles attributed to Saddam Hussein!! There were NO CONNECTIONS between Saddam and Osama bin Laden and YET people STILL say that we had to go into Iraq because of 9/11!!! Now these are the same people who say that we have to fight in Iraq because of all the terrorists there now. Well, sheeple these terrorists didn't pour into Iraq until Bush bombed the fuck out of the country and created a huge power vacuum that was filled by the terrorists. So, it should appear obvious to anyone with even a sliver of brain that the invasion has created more terrorists and dangers for Americans then before the invasion. These people are like ostriches who love to bury their head in the sand.

Anyway.

They are sending men and women back to Iraq who are in their 30's and 40's so i'm sure they would be able to make the cut for the military.

Certainly the Bush twins could go over there and help out daddy's "noble cause" in some capacity.

Take for example ex-NFL player Pat Tillman who dropped out of a very successful and lucrative football career to fight in Iraq. There are plenty of flag waving, chest beating, uber-patriotic young men and women who find themselves in the same position as Tillman who could and should volunteer to fight as Tillman did.

If they believe that Iraq is a "noble cause" then they should be volunteering in mass numbers.

Noble cause my ass.

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Set Back

Iraq’s parliament agreed to a seven-day extension for leaders to complete a draft constitution after politicians failed to reach a midnight Monday deadline to agree on the charter.

There is a very real possibility, however, that the parliament will not draft a constitution in a week. If that happens then the parliament will be dissolved and there will be a new election.

NBC Nightly News reported that an agreement was not even close with some 50 issues in contention.

The most contentious issues: woman's rights, the role of Islam in the government and possible Kurdish autonomy.

But a Kurdish member of the drafting committee, Munthir al-Fadl, said that a constitution that doesn't fulfill Kurdish demands of "self-determination" and the authority of provincial governors, "will not succeed and will not even reach the gates of the National Assembly."

Also:

Two large explosions also were heard in Baghdad's "Green Zone" as the legislators were meeting to consider the draft constitution.

GOI: This is not good. I would probably vote to disband the parliament too if I was hearing explosions outside the building where I was meeting to create a constitution! MY GOD!!

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Less Safe Now Thanks to Dubya

So by now we all know that there were NO WMD's found by the invading troops and now they have found 1,500 gallons of poisons amongst insurgents. Thus, Iraq didn't have WMD's BEFORE the invasion and now they have them POST invasion.

Hmmm.

Nice.

Nice progress.

At this rate Iraqi insurgents will have nuclear capabilities by next year!!

ALRIGHT!!!

The only thing I can see this war accomplishing is a better trained and seasoned terrorist!!

Thanks King George.

Your invasion of Iraq has made the world less safe rather then more safe.

And loyal sycophants wonder why everyone is calling you the worst President in American history.

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Bush Ignores Cindy Sheehan

Bush drove by Cindy and her supporters (numbering in the hundreds according to Cindy on the Randi Rhodes radio show) and did not stop, wave or anything.

Where was he headed you might ask??

To a fund raising event.

Yep.

Thats right.

This from USA Today:

On Friday, Bush arrived before noon at a neighbor's ranch for a barbecue that was expected to raise at least $2 million for the Republican National Committee.

About 230 people were attending the fundraiser at Stan and Kathy Hickey's Broken Spoke Ranch, a 478-acre spread next to Bush's ranch. All have contributed at least $25,000 to the RNC, and many are "rangers," an honorary campaign title bestowed on those who raised $200,000 or more for Bush, or "pioneers," those who have raised $100,000 or more.

Cindy Sheehan, the California mother who started the vigil along the road leading to Bush's ranch, held a sign that read: "Why do you make time for donors and not for me?"

GOI: Something is really messed up in America when the President does not have time for a grieving mother and some 700 other American citizens!! He drives by the masses in his air conditioned motorcade like an All-Mighty king. Think of how many hearts he'd win over if he pulled over and addressed the crowd and answered a few questions?! Instead he chooses the path of the arrogant leader. Even during the height of the Vietnam War Richard Nixon met with protesters outside the Whitehouse late one night. If you can't even be as Presidential as Nixon you REALLY have your head up your ass.

I also want to address this right-wing accusation that Ms. Sheehan is politicizing the death of her son. First of all, EVERYTHING one does can be considered engaging in politics of one form or another. One's beliefs and opinions on everything relating to life can be considered political.

As for Ms. Sheehans using her son in a political way??

Without this war Cindy Sheehan (and thousands of other mothers) would still have their sons and there would be no need to "politicize" the death of her son.

Now, let's just look at the man who started this war shall we? Who politicized the deaths of the thousands of victims of the September 11th attacks to go to war in Iraq?

Bush.

Who politicized the fears of Americans about WMD's in Iraq that never have been found?

Bush.

Who further politicized the fears of Americans by saying Saddam Hussein was linked to al-Qaeda and the 9/11 attacks?

Bush.

Who politicized the deaths of Americans soliders killed in Iraq by standing on a air craft carrier in a flight suit during a war proclaiming: "Mission Accomplished."

Bush.

Who politicized and fueled the flames of the war by saying, "bring 'em on" to the Iraqi insurgents?

Bush.

Who politicized the War in Iraq and the War on Terror to gain re-election saying if Americans vote for Kerry we will get hit again?

Bush and Cheney.

True.
Her son signed up for the military and in doing so signed up for combat but he did not choose this war. A politician and our "leader" President Bush did that and lied to all Americans and the world to do so.

I am starting to think that Iraq is now going to be a mess for a long time to come. Perhaps for several generations or more and that the terrorists will simply wait us out. So now I'm really starting to wonder, "Why do we stay?"

There were no WMD's, we got rid of Saddam, Iraqi's voted and they have nearly finished a constitution. I am starting to wonder if it is not better to let them fight their own civil war and decide for themselves how they want to shape their government/country.

What a mess.

WAKE UP SHEEPLE!!!

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Iraqi Shias Demand Autonomy

This from The Guardian:

Iraq's Shia Muslims should have their own autonomous region across the south of the country, a leading Shia spokesman said today.

Abdel Aziz al-Hakim, head of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCRI), made his demands at a rally in the Shia holy city of Najaf just four days before Iraq's leaders are due to present a draft constitution.

GOI: This is not the kind of news that is going to help "build" the Iraqi government. The Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq want their own autnomous region just as the Kurds have in the north. This move is of extreme concern to the minority Sunni and moderate Shia in the center of the country as the south and the north have the largest oil fields. These demands threaten to destroy the Iraqi national government and fractor Iraq itself into three seperate states. These demands are especially trouble some since the majority Shia dominate the national government which is trying to hammer out a constitution. Hakim's call for autonomy, however, has opposition:

But Mr Hakim's demands were dismissed by minority Sunni Muslims and secular opponents, as well as rival Shias, in the national coalition government.
There are concerns about sectarian fights over the control of oil in the south of the country, coupled with fears that the area could fall under Iranian-style religious rule if it became an autonomous Shia region.

Iraq's leaders have promised to deliver a draft constitution on Monday, but the question of federalism and demands for autonomy from both the Shias and the Kurds have delayed negotiations.

GOI: These are not positive signs as they amount to sectarian tensions that have been threatening to boil over into civil war for months now.

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Mayor of Baghdad Ousted

Now here's a story you probably did not hear in the MSM:

Baghdad Mayor Ala' al-Tamimi has confirmed the news reported in the media on what he called "the occupation of Baghdad mayoral headquarters by Baghdad Governor Husayn al-Tahhan, [Baghdad] Governorate Council Chairman Mazin Makkiya, and a number of armed men." They attacked and beat a number of administrative employees at Baghdad Municipality, al-Tamimi says.

Al-Tamimi: Baghdad Governor Husayn al-Tahhan entered the municipality, accompanied by [Baghdad] Governorate Council President Mazin Makkiya and some 120 armed men. He summoned an assembly in my office where he announced that he was now assuming the post of acting mayor and that he is now expecting to receive orders. He was asked who had entitled him with this action as mayor is subordinate to the Council of Ministers. He replied [to the person who asked], "I am not receiving orders from you." Then he started, supported by the armed men, to arrest some administrative employees and beat some of them.

GOI: This is amazing!! This is like the Mayor of Washington D.C. or New York City being overthrown by the Governor of New York, Virginia or Maryland and this BARELY made Reuters and Radio Free Europe!!! This is not a good sign for the development of a stable Iraqi government.

The ousted Mayor Ala' al-Tamimi resigned soon after this incident.

---End of Tranmission---

UPDATE: This comes to us from the Left Coaster:

First off, a correction. I had posted earlier in the week that the mayor of Baghdad was tossed out at gunpoint by the SCIRI and their armed forces, while the central Iraqi government and our military did nothing. Commenter Jay Boilswater pointed me to Juan Cole’s analysis wherein Cole stated the SCIRI’s action was justified given that they had won the right in the much-lauded January elections to do what they wanted in the area. Jay is correct; Juan Cole is reporting that SCIRI does in fact have this right, no matter how bad it looks, and that Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari is now supporting the toppling of the mayor by SCIRI. Props to Jay.

GOI: Well, it does look bad and shows the fragility of the current Iraqi government.

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Donald Rumsfeld and Dr. Seuss

More and more I think that Donald Rumsfeld learned English from the Dr. Seuss books. The following is the kind of logic that you get from Rummy:

You don't know what you don't know.
You don't know what you do think you don't know

I do not like green eggs and ham
I do not like them in the car
I will not eat them from afar!

Up is down and down is UP!!

Isn't that picture of Rumsfeld and General FeldMarschall Maximilian Freiherr von Weichs freaky?!!

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Sheehan Update

Doesn't she look courageous and angelic?


Crawford Peace House is mobilizing support for Cindy Sheehan and they have asking for donations via paypal. I sent them $10 and if you can afford anything please donate to this courageous woman's cause.

Also, another email address of Bob Newman's to swarm is: Bobnewman@850koa.com

Keep the faith everyone and keep up the support for Cindy!!

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Cindy Sheehan a Terrorist??

There is a scum bag "radio broadcaster" here in Denver who is saying that Cindy Sheehan is keeping company with terrorists, communists and marxists in her protest. He also said that she is denigrating her son's sacrifice by speaking out against Bush and his war.

Here is his email addy:bobnewman@clearchannel.com. Let's flood his email box with support for Cindy and condemnation for his shameful attacks on her and her son.

I am SO TIRED of these right-wing zombie's preaching their hate and lies about this war!!! It makes me sick to hear these people lie and slime people like this sincere, heart-broken and courageous mother. Last time I checked this use to be a free country where you could protest as long and as loud as you wanted. She has lost a son to this war and that is a terrible, painful price that many of us will not have to face and if ANYONE has the right to speak out about this war it is her. And calling her names and smearing her good soul only makes these neo-conartists that much more offensive to middle America.

The gig is up and people all over the country are waking up to the deep, numbing sleep that this administration has put us under with this war. We realize that we were lied to and we demand some answers from our President who apparently is now the untouchable "King."

Well, you know what I say to that??

The Emperor isn't wearing any clothes.

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The Courage of Cindy Sheehan

Cindy Sheehan is protesting President Bush and his handling of the Iraqi war right outside his ranch in Crawford, Texas. She said she is going to stay through all of August if she's doesn't have a chance to meet with Bush.

Sheehans' soon Casey was killed last year in Iraq.

This from the The New York Times:

Seeking to head off exactly the situation that now seems to be unfolding, the administration sent two senior officials out from the ranch on Saturday afternoon to meet with her. But Ms. Sheehan said after talking to the officials - Stephen J. Hadley, the national security adviser, and Joe Hagin, a deputy White House chief of staff - that she would not back down in her demand to see the president.

Her success in drawing so much attention to her message - and leaving the White House in a face-off with an opponent who had to be treated very gently even as she aggressively attacked the president and his policies - seemed to stem from the confluence of several forces.
The deaths last week of 20 Marines from a single battalion has focused public attention on the unremitting pace of casualties in Iraq, providing her an opening to deliver her message that no more lives should be given to the war. At the same time, polls that show falling approval for Mr. Bush's handling of the war have left him open to challenge in a way that he was not when the nation appeared to be more strongly behind him.

It did not hurt her cause that she staged her protest, which she said was more or less spontaneous, at the doorstep of the White House press corps, which spends each August in Crawford with little to do, minimal access to Mr. Bush and his aides, and an eagerness for any new story.

Ms. Sheehan's story is certainly compelling. She is also articulate, aggressive in delivering her message and has information that most White House reporters have not heard before: how Mr. Bush handles himself when he meets behind closed doors with the families of soldiers killed in Iraq.

The White House has released few details of such sessions, which Mr. Bush holds regularly as he travels the country, but generally portrays them as emotional and an opportunity for the president to share the grief of the families. In Ms. Sheehan's telling, though, Mr. Bush did not know her son's name when she and her family met with him in June 2004 at Fort Lewis. Mr. Bush, she said, acted as if he were at a party and behaved disrespectfully toward her by referring to her as "Mom" throughout the meeting.

By Ms. Sheehan's account, Mr. Bush said to her that he could not imagine losing a loved one like an aunt or uncle or cousin. Ms. Sheehan said she broke in and told Mr. Bush that Casey was her son, and that she thought he could imagine what it would be like since he has two daughters and that he should think about what it would be like sending them off to war.

"I said, 'Trust me, you don't want to go there'," Ms. Sheehan said, recounting her exchange with the president. "He said, 'You're right, I don't.' I said, 'Well, thanks for putting me there.' "

GOI: Ms. Sheehan is one courageous woman and the longer the President refuses to meet with her the worse the situation will become for him. If he was a true "compassionate conservative" he would go out to meet her and talk to her face to face. That would win him some much needed points with the American public.

Instead???

There is apparently talk that she will be arrested on Thursday because Condi and Field Marshal Von Rumsfeld are coming to the ranch for a "policy meeting."

What a jackass.

He doesn't even have the time to meet with a woman who lost her son to his farce of a war. He is the President and therefore represents ALL Americans and of ALL Americans, the mother of a dead American soldier should have the right to meet with him everyday if she wants. Not only is he the worst President in American history he is now becoming one of the coldest hearted Presidents in history.

Check out Cindy's website for more details.

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Peter Jennings Dead at 67

Peter Jennings dies of lung cancer.

1938-2005

I grew up watching Peter Jennings and always loved his smooth delivery of the news. His greatest moment (in my opinion) came with his coverage of the September 11th disaster. He showed us his vulnerability and held our hand through the terrible moments following those attacks. My thoughts and compassion go out to his family and friends. He was the greatest news broadcaster that I have witnessed in my lifetime and perhaps ever. I know a lot of people would go with Walter Cronkite but having watched old footage of Crokite I have to give the nod to Jenning's cool and affectionate style of delivering the news. His memory will always live on within our hearts.

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Judy Miller Met With Cheney Aide Libby Soon Before Outing

I. "Scooter" Libby is Dick "Darth" Cheney's Chief of Staff and is in serious question regarding the CIA-Plame leak.

The lastest news came today via The American Prospect:

I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby, the chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, has told federal investigators that he met with New York Times reporter Judith Miller on July 8, 2003, and discussed CIA operative Valerie Plame, according to legal sources familiar with libby's account.

GOI: Uh-oh. Somebody is in TRAAA-BOLE. Now we know who Judith Miller is protecting. Or at least ONE of the people she is protecting. She could be protecting the V.P. and/or the President himself. The vice-president's aide does nothing unless it is approved by Cheney himself I am sure. That is what an aide does. The bidding of this boss. I would be quite shocked to learn that Cheney had NO idea that Libby and Rove were talking to Matt Cooper and Judy Miller respectively. Anyway, back to the article:

The meeting between Libby and Miller has been a central focus of the investigation by special prosecutor Patrick J. Fitzgerald as to whether any Bush administration official broke the law by unmasking Plame's identity or relied on classified information to discredit former Ambassador Joseph C. Wilson, according to sources close to the case as well as documents filed in federal court by Fitzgerald.

GOI: You gotta believe that indictments are coming down after all of this scrutiny. Fitzgerald is hot on the trail of something and I doubt it's a "goose chase." It is quite apparent that more then one person has broken the law here and it appears that a pattern and plan of smearing and deception by the Bush administration has been uncovered:

The meeting between Libby and Miller also occurred during a week of intense activity by Libby and White House deputy chief of staff Karl Rove aimed at discrediting Plame's husband, Wilson, who on July 6, 2003, had gone public in a New York Times opinion piece with allegations that the Bush administration was misrepresenting intelligence information to make the case to go to war with Iraq.

GOI: Huh, ironic that the very two people that are known to be under the scrutiny of Fitzgerald are the very same people who were intensely involved in discrediting Joe Wilson's claims. Hmm. Ya think Fitz is on to somethin' here?! That's the understatement of the year. Anyway, back we go to the article:

The new disclosure that Miller and Libby met on July 8, 2003, raises questions regarding claims by President Bush that he and everyone in his administration have done everything possible to assist Fitzgerald's grand-jury probe.

GOI: What?!! Bush might have LIED about something??? No. That can't be. It's not like he's ever done that before (coughing, "weapons of mass destruction in Iraq). Ahem, pardon me I just had to clear my throat. I think we can continue now:

Congressman Rush Holt, Democrat of New Jersey and a member of the House Intelligence Committee, while sidestepping the specifics as to whether Bush should order Libby to provide a personalized waiver for Miller, said in an interview Friday evening: "I would say the president has the power to help us get to the bottom of this matter. And we in Congress want to do this not so much for what has happened but to prevent such a thing from happening again."

GOI: Hmm, so if President Bush is not co-operating fully with this investigation then is that not obstruction of justice?? It couldn't possibley be a case of covering up for his "captains" could it??? Also, if Bush has nothing to hide then why doesn't he become more involved in helping Congress get to the bottom of the matter? Just something to think about.

Rove and Libby have reportedly claimed that they learned of the information from journalists.
But investigators have focused on whether Rove or Libby rather first learned about Plame's CIA employment and her possible role in recommending that her husband be sent to Niger from a classified State Department memo circulated to senior Bush administration officials in the days just prior to their conversations with journalists.

Dated June 10, 2003, the memo was written for Marc Grossman, then the undersecretary of state for political affairs. It mentioned Plame, her employment with the CIA, and her possible role in recommending her husband for the Niger mission because he had previously served in the region. The mention of Plame's CIA employment was classified "Secret" and was contained in the second paragraph of the three-page classified paper.

GOI: Rove: Oops, you mean I wasn't supposed to pass around that "CLASSIFED: SECRET MEMO" to all the top officials in the administration as if it were a dirty magazine?? My bad.

On July 8, Novak and Rove first spoke about Plame, according to numerous press accounts. That was also the day that Libby and Miller met in Washington, D.C., to discuss Plame.

GOI: Isn't it amazing that Rove and Libby were involved in talking to Novak and Miller on the same day? Sure, it looks like a planned, concerted effort but well, but nothing. The coincidence is damning.

On July 9, then-CIA director George Tenet ordered aides to draft a statement that the Niger information that the President relied on "did not rise to the level of certainty which should be required for the presidential speeches, and the CIA should have ensured that it was removed." Rove and Libby were reportedly involved in the drafting of that statement’s language.

Three days later, on July 11, Rove spoke about Plame to Cooper.

GOI: Fascinating that this all happens in a progessive, chronilogical pattern. I wonder why?

Two days later, on July 14, Novak published his column disclosing Plame's employment with the CIA, describing her as an "agency operative" and alleging that she suggested her husband for the Niger mission.

GOI: Wow, this article is the best time-line piece over this traitor-gate investigation that I have read yet.

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Introducing the "Osama Clock"

Remember this guy?? Yeah, the mastermind behind the September 11th attacks about whom GWB said "You know, I just don't spend that much time on him, Kelly, to be honest with you."

Well, that's painfully evident as It's been 1426 days since Bush said he would get Osama bin Laden "dead of alive."

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Falling, Free Falling.

GOI: I hate to link the lyrics of the great Tom Petty in the title to George W. Bush but it is appropriate today.

His poll numbers are falling, free falling.

Americans' approval of President Bush's handling of Iraq is at its lowest level yet, according to an AP-Ipsos poll that also found fewer than half now think he's honest.

A solid majority still see Bush as a strong and likable leader, though the president's confidence is seen as arrogance by a growing number.

Approval of Bush's handling of Iraq, which had been hovering in the low- to mid-40s most of the year, dipped to 38 percent.

GOI: However, since when has this arrogant S.O.B. cared about what Americans think?? Remember this is the guy who (during a Presidential debate last year) could not think of ANY mistakes he'd ever made. Good GOD George!! Not even stealing a cookie from the candy jar?? Anyway, the war is going terrible, members of his administration are under investigation and the poll numbers dip yet again. So what's a President to do?

Stay and try to fix things??

HELL No.

Hit the ranch for a month long vacation clearing brush and such.

I guess he thinks that his life is like a National Lampoon's vacation movie. What a terrible example to set. Soldiers are going into battle and dying under his command and orders and he goes on vacation??

Way to support the troops there Georgie boy.

YeAHH!!
(flashes the thumbs up).

Someone make this nightmare stop.

PLEASE???

---End of Transmission---

Four more American soldiers killed in Iraq

Four more Marines died today

They're droppin' like flies over there. 24 dead in the month of August and we are only at August 4th and President Bush is on vacation during a war.

Niiiiiiice.

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Roberts Donated Help to Gay Rights Case

The L.A. Times:

Supreme Court nominee John G. Roberts Jr. worked behind the scenes for gay rights activists, and his legal expertise helped them persuade the Supreme Court to issue a landmark 1996 ruling protecting people from discrimination because of their sexual orientation.

GOI: I'm liking this guy more and more. It's starting to appear that Roberts is more moderate then first thought and that he might be the best candidate that liberals and moderates could have hoped for.

Stay tuned.

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Allegations of Another GOP Scandal

Raw Story reports on an article in Vanity Fair's September issue stating alleged Turkish bribes taken by GOP chief Dennis Hastert.

Vanity Fair's September edition, now out in New York but yet to hit national newsstands, packs a punch with an article about Sibel Edmonds, the FBI translator who has been gagged by the Bush Administration from revealing information about conversations she translated surrounding a seemingly major corruption scandal involving Turkish nationals and U.S. lawmakers, RAW STORY can reveal.

GOI: Wow, another Bush Neo-Republican White House scanda!! I'm SO SHOCKED!!! (I hope you picked up on the sarcasm there because I was laying it on pret'y thick).

"Sources familiar with this testimony say that, in addition to her allegations about the Dickersons, she reported hearing Turkish wiretap targets boast that they had a covert relationship with a very senior Republican indeed-Dennis Hastert, Republican congressman from Illinois and Speaker of the House since 1999. The targets reportedly discussed giving Hastert tens of thousands of dollars in surreptitious payments in exchange for political favors and information. 'The Dickersons,' says one official familiar with the case, 'are just the tip of the iceberg.'

"Some of the calls reportedly contained what sounded like references to large scale drug shipments and other crimes," writes Rose. "One name, however, apparently stood out-a man the Turkish callers often referred to by the nickname 'Denny boy.' It was Dennis Hastert. According to some of the wiretaps, the FBI's targets had arranged for thousands of dollars to be paid to Hastert's campaign funds in small checks. Under Federal Election Commission rules, donations of less than $200 are not required to be itemized in public filings.

"Hastert himself was never heard on the recordings, Edmonds told investigators and it is possible that the claims of covert payments were hollow boasts," Rose says. "Nevertheless, an examination of Hastert's federal filings shows that the level of un-itemized payments his campaigns received over many years was relatively high. Between April 1996 and December 2002, un-itemized personal donations to the Hastert for Congress fund amounted to $483,000. In contrast, un-itemized contributions to the same period to the committee run on behalf of the House majority leader, Tom DeLay, Republican of Texas, were only $99,000. An analysis of the filings of four other senior Republicans shows that only one, Clay Shaw, of Florida declared a higher total of un-itemized donations than Hastert during the same period: $552,000.

GOI: WOW!! "Denny boy" out corrupted Tom DeLay!!! Now that's gettin' after it!
The list of crooks and liars in the current Republican Congress and White House keeps growing.

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This Isn't Your Father's Republican Party

Having skirted budget restraints and approved nearly $300 billion in new spending and tax breaks before leaving town, Republican lawmakers are now determined to claim full credit for the congressional spending. Far from shying away from their accomplishments, lawmakers are embracing the pork, including graffiti eradication in the Bronx, $277 million in road projects for Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), and a $200,000 deer-avoidance system in New York.

When the year started, President Bush made spending restraint a mantra, laying out an austere budget that would freeze non-security discretionary spending for five years and setting firm cost limits on transportation and energy bills. But now, as Congress fills in the details of the budget plan, there is little interest in making deep cuts and enormous pressure to spend.

James's Comment: O.k., so under the current batch of Congressional Republicans we have seen record deficits along with massive tax cuts for the rich. Not to mention all the money being sunk into W's personal war in Iraq. So, how are we going to keep paying out more and more in new spending programs?? Where is the money going to come from? I'll tell you where. It is coming more and more via loans from China and Saudi Arabia. Do we really want to be in debt to China and Saudia Arabia?? I think not.

No one wants to say it but we NEED to eliminate the tax cuts for the rich. It's not a popular thing to say but taxes make a good society run. How else do people think that the government is going to get the money to work properly and represent everyone? Right now Bush and the Congressional Republicans have raided the treasury and our country is upside-down and wobbling because of it.

We need change in '06 and we need every concerned citizen to get out and vote next fall.

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George W. Bush Parody-Because I Got High

Go HERE to listen and click on title: AUDIO: George Bush-"Because I Got High"

Oh yeah and turn up your speakers for this one, it's a classic.

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Republican Narrowly Defeats Democrat in Ohio

This from The New York Times:

With all of the precincts reporting, Jean Schmidt, the Republican, had nearly 52 percent of the vote, edging out her challenger, Paul L. Hackett, a major in the Marine Forces Reserve, by about 4,000 votes.

But Mr. Hackett's showing was unexpectedly strong in this district, a Republican bastion that snakes along the Ohio River from affluent Cincinnati suburbs to struggling Appalachian hamlets. President Bush won the district with 64 percent of the vote last year, and Republicans have held its Congressional seat for two decades.

GOI: Hey Republicans! See that massive fireball gaining on you in your review mirror? Well, it's the democratic party about to scorch your candidates in '06. This election should have been a "slam dunk" for the Republican candidate and yet she was just barely elected.This election in Ohio shows that all Republican seats are vulnerable. Even in the reddest of red districts.

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Ohio Unit Hit Hard in Iraq

This from The Associated Press:

A Marine amphibious assault vehicle patrolling during combat operations in the Euphrates River valley hit a roadside bomb Wednesday, killing 14 Marines from the same Ohio battalion that lost six men two days ago. It was the single deadliest roadside bombing of U.S. troops in Iraq.

GOI: This is the same Marine unit which lost 6 soldiers the other day. Over all, 43 soldiers have died in 10 days. Despite these heavy losses their is discussion over a slight withdrawl of American troops in a year. Which is (ironically) right before the mid-term elections and cable "news" is avoiding this story like the plague. Nice (rolls eyes).

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Another Bloody Milestone

Over half a dozen (7) U.S. soldiers have died in western Iraq today according to USA Today. They are the only major American newspaper reporting that these 7 deaths have pushed the overall death toll to over 1,800 (1,801) to be exact. Actually I've heard that a lot more have died then this number reflects because they don't count you as a "war death" if you die in Germany or some place else where you might have been flown to for surgery, etc.

The L.A. Times is just reporting the combat deaths which sits at 1,656. I originally found the exact figures from Al Jazeera first!!

The two big newspapers: New York Times and The Washington Post didn't bother to post the 1,801 total. This is probably because these two papers have started to carry the water for the Bush administration over the war and are too scared to report the actual figures. Although The Wash Times reported it this way:

The deaths brought to 17 the number of military personnel who have died in the past week, many of them in the same region.

About 60 have been killed over the last month, according to wire service counts.

GOI: People deserve to know the body count in a war and it shows respect for every life that was lost. We want to know just how many of our brave men and women have sacrificed their lives for this illegal war.

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Recess on Bolton

Well, John Bolton couldn't get through the senate so King Bush appointed him to the United Nations. This is not much of a shock coming from a guy who was appointed to the U.S. Presidency in 2000 by the Supreme Court.

Bolton will have weakened credibility at the U.N., however. Bush might as well have appointed Micky Mouse.

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