Why We're Still Protesting

If you have wondered about reasons for impeaching the Chimp, here are 87 of them, summarized in a piece from Democrats.com (click on the post title for a link to the original story)


"Don't know nothin' about history..." went the old Simon and Garfunkel ballad. According to the Bush countdown clock, as I write today there are only 662 more days of this administration remaining. But that’s still plenty of time for Bush to order another ill-considered, poorly planned, understaffed and poorly equipped, exit plan-less foreign expedition as even now Russian intelligence is reporting a flurry of American military activity near the Iranian borders. Another George - (Santayana, in "The Life of Reason") - counseled us, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

We Americans are notorious for our short attention spans and historical amnesia. So, courtesy of Wirearchy let’s refresh ourselves on what the past six years have wrought for our nation and the world under the mis-administration of the first president to sport an Ivy-league M.B.A.

1. Walter Reed outpatient treatment
2. Fired 8 US attorneys for trumped up reasons; political interference
3. Scooter Libby/Plamegate
4. Iraq: lack of preparation for occupation, looting, including the National Museum, too few troops, lack of training, lack of equipment, lack of securing loose Iraqi munitions, disbanding the Iraqi army, banning the Baathists, the CPA, Paul Bremer, losing tons of money literally, lack of international inclusion in reconstruction and security, weak Constitution, formation of sectarian parties, weak government
5. Afghanistan and the resurgent Taliban and opium production
6. Iran and saber rattling
7. North Korea, ditching the 1994 agreement because of dubious uranium program, the plutonium program which led to a fizzled first nuclear test, and something like a return to the 1994 agreement
8. Osama bin Laden, where are you? Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and terrorism
9. Civilian contractors
10. The Military Commissions Act: torture, indefinite detention, the end of habeas corpus, and kangaroo courts
11. Hurricanes Rita and Katrina, the destruction of New Orleans, and the aftermath
12. NSA wiretapping
13. SWIFT surveillance of financial transactions
14. Black prisons and extraordinary rendition
15. Homeland Security: white elephant (organization), black hole (money)
16. K Street Lobbyists, Jack Abramoff, North Marianas
17. Kyle “Dusty” Foggo and the CIA follies
18. Duke Cunningham
19. Tom Delay
20. Mark Foley
21. Cheney and Energy Policy
22. Tax cuts for the wealthiest
23. Global warming: refusal to join Kyoto, denial of manmade origin, continued reliance on fossil and carbon based fuels, little movement on CAFE standards and conservation, political interference in scientific reports (Good guys: Hansen, Peltz; bad guys: Cooney, Deutsch), listening to Michael Crichton
24. Terri Schiavo
25. Big budget deficits and vastly increased national debt
26. The stacking of the federal judiciary
27. Medicare
28. Medicare Part D
29. Healthcare (in general)
30. Cooked intelligence and the Office of Strategic Plans/ Doug Feith
31. 2000 Presidential election
32. 2004 Presidential election
33. Attempts to torpedo the 911 Commission
34. Failure to implement 911 recommendations
35. Marginalization of the UN; Appointment of John Bolton
36. Preventive war doctrine
37. Loss of US reputation internationally
38. No serious attempt to achieve peace between Israelis and Palestinians
39. Underfunding of basic research
40. Alberto Gonzales
41. FDA: drug testing
42. EPA: mercury levels for coal plants
43. Porter Goss and the gutting of the CIA
44. Militarization of intelligence
45. Rampant cronyism
46. Signing statements
47. Unilateral Executive doctrine
48. Overuse and abuse of the National Guard and Reserves; posse comitatus
49. Increasing unpreparedness of US ground forces (Army and Marines)
50. US balance of trade deficit
51. 2005 Grassley Bankruptcy bill
52. Mexican cross border trucking and safety concerns
53. Karl Rove’s security clearance and no firing of Libby co-conspirators
54. Detention of families for immigration violations; ICE raids
55. Dubai Ports deal
56. The Patriot Act; the Patriot Act extension
57. Attempts to privatize Social Security
58. The War on Science
59. David Safavian, former head of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy
60. Presidential adviser Claude Allen stealing from Target
61. Bush casually admits about lying about decision to fire Rumsfeld
62. Armstrong Williams and paid propagandists
63. Decimation of the Labor Department
64. Net neutrality and media policies
65. Backing Israel while it destroyed Lebanon
66. Presidential Daily Brief 8/01: Bin Laden determined to attack in US
67. EPA chief Christie Todd Whitman declares Ground Zero safe for cleanup
68. Sago mining disaster hearings and MHSA’s David Dye who walked out of the hearings
69. Harriet Miers nomination to the Supreme Court
70. Vetoing stem cell research
71. Attack on Plan B contraception, staffing Women’s Health positions with religious conservatives: Dr. Eric Keroack at Health and Human Services who thought birth control demeaning to women and Dr. David Hager at FDA who tried to keep Plan B prescription only. His wife contended in divorce proceedings that he had repeatedly sodomized her without her consent.
72. Clear Skies Act and Healthy Forest Restoration Act
73. Missile defense shield that doesn’t work; withdrawal from ABM Treaty
74. Leandro Aragoncillo naturalized Filipino-American in Cheney’s office (previously Gore’s) accused of spying for the Philippines and possibly France, pled guilty to unlawfully possessing secret US government documents
75. Defunding overseas AIDS programs that promoted condom use for prevention.
76. Call for a constitutional amendment declaring marriage to be between one man and one woman.
77. Opening up Bristol Bay, the last pristine large-scale salmon fishery in the world, to oil drilling
78. Accusation that Clintons trashed the White House before leaving, including stealing the Ws from keyboards
79. Gannon/Guckert a working male prostitute in the White House press corps
80. Native American trust funds and the Trust Responsibility to Indian Country
81. Selling creationist materials at the Grand Canyon gift shop claiming it was 6000 years old
82. Banning photographing return of coffins of slain American soldiers
83. False military reporting: Pat Tillman, Jessica Lynch
84. AIPAC espionage scandal; former DOD employee Lawrence Franklin pled guilty to passing information on Iran to Israel through two AIPAC employees
85. Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, Bagram
86. Asserted right to open US mail
87. February 29, 2004 overthrow of the constitutional president of Haiti, Mr. Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

Sad But True

Report Says Interior Official Overrode Work of Scientists

This story from today's New York Times simply must be fabricated. How on earth could we ever believe that a disciplined and highly trained scientist in the Department of the Interior could ever override the work of other scientists? Wait. She's not a scientist, she's an engineer. Wait, this is the Bush Administration - it could care less about ethics. Wait. I must still be dreaming.

Read on and be repulsed. The sad thing is that none of this was technically illegal. And the beat goes on.

Report Says Interior Official Overrode Work of Scientists

By FELICITY BARRINGER

Published: March 29, 2007

WASHINGTON, March 28 — A top-ranking official overseeing the Fish and Wildlife Service at the Interior Department rode roughshod over agency scientists, and decisions made on her watch may not survive court challenges, investigators within the Interior Department have found.

Their report, sent to Congress this week by the department’s inspector general, does not accuse the official, Julie A. MacDonald, the deputy assistant secretary for fish, wildlife and parks, of any crime. But it does find that she violated federal rules when she sent internal agency documents to industry lobbyists.

Ms. MacDonald, an engineer by training, has provoked complaints from some wildlife biologists and lawyers in the agency for aggressive advocacy for industries’ views of the science that underlies agency decisions. The words of more than a dozen high-ranking career employees, from Interior Department headquarters and regional offices in California and Oregon, who are quoted usually by title in the report, describe a manager determined to see that agency findings and the underlying science conform with policy goals.

In recent years, agency lawyers reported, 75 percent of the Western offices’ findings on endangered-species status reviews and critical-habitat determinations were sent to Washington without any assurance from career lawyers and biologists that they were valid. Court challenges from both industry and environmentalists are a regular occurrence at the fish and wildlife agency. Making decisions that are vulnerable increases the risk that time-consuming, labor-intensive scientific and regulatory work must be redone.

The report, citing a lawyer in the Sacramento office, noted that Ms. MacDonald lobbied for a decision to combine three different populations of the California tiger salamander into one, thus excluding it from the endangered-species list, and making the decision legally vulnerable. A federal district judge overturned it in 2005., saying the decision was made “without even a semblance of agency reasoning.”

Ms. MacDonald, who said through a spokesman that she had not seen the inspector general’s report, declined requests for an interview.

When the inspector general asked her “why she ignored or discounted” legal opinions from the regional offices, the report said, “MacDonald replied it was a matter of policy, it was what worked best, and it was the result of the risk balancing that takes place” between pursuing policy goals and ensuring decisions have an adequate basis.

She also denied giving preferential treatment to a California Farm Bureau lobbyist who was a friend, or to any of his clients.

The inspector general also found that Ms. MacDonald had sent internal government documents by e-mail to a lawyer for the Pacific Legal Foundation — a property-rights group that frequently challenges endangered-species decisions.

She twice sent internal Environmental Protection Agency documents — one involving water quality management — to individuals whose e-mail addresses ended in “chevrontexaco.com,” the report said.

The inspector general’s investigation started after an anonymous complaint that Ms. MacDonald’s conduct was unethical and illegal.

A copy of the report was sent to Representative Nick J. Rahall II, Democrat of West Virginia and chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources; his office provided a copy to The New York Times.

In a statement, Mr. Rahall said he would hold hearings to conduct “a sweeping review on whether politics is infiltrating decisions governing” endangered species.

Injured Troops Request Extended Tours To Avoid Being Sent To Walter Reed

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed Confesses To Confessing Under Torture

The Poor Muskrat's March on Washington

It was about 34 years ago today, while sitting around in our basement apartment outside River Falls Wisconsin that my room mate Tom "Mad Dog" Nelson and I hatched the idea for a Poor Muskrat's March on Washington. The idea may have had it's genesis in what seemed like a half pound of very high grade herb that Mad Dog and I had been inhaling at warp speed for most of the late afternoon. It and a couple bottles of low grade Boone's Farm Strawberry Hill made us ready to tackle any issue.

Growing up in the north woods of the great state of Wisconsin my family wasn't what you would call one of Bush's "elite." My dad was an artificial inseminator, otherwise known as a "bull cheater." He made enough for us to get by but it wasn't an extravagant existence. I owned about 100 sheep and also 18 Jersey cows. These added to our income. After graduation from High School in May 1969, I decided to attend the University of Wisconsin at River Falls where I majored in Earth Science and Biology for my Bachelors Degree, and later in Biology for my Master's Degree.

When I started college in August 1969, room, board, and tuition for 18 credits cost $401 per quarter or $1203 a year (funny, I pay more than that each month in extortionate rent on a one-bedroom apartment now!). Because the combined income from the dairy cows and sheep helped defray family costs, I needed another source of income.

Ever since I was a little kid I had fantasized about living in northern Canada where I would live off the land and make money by trapping fur bearers for their pelts. In late October 1963 I set my first traps (all 10 of them) during each weekend of the trapping season and wound up the first year catching 5 Muskrats and 1 Mink for which I received a grand total of $6.25! However by the time college came around I knew much more about how to catch fur bearers and had become quite proficient at it. Ultimately I was good enough at it that I caught enough Muskrats, Mink and Raccoon in the fall, and Beaver and Red Fox in winter, that I could pay for all of my room, board and tuition each of four years as an undergraduate. Because of their abundance and relative stupidity (I've often wondered if Muskrats aren't Repugnicans) I caught one hell of a lot of Muskrats.

First quarter of my freshman year in college the University of Wisconsin at River Falls gave me as a roommate a Baptist kid from near Milwaukee named David W. He was 18 years old and had never drank, swore, smoked anything, been out with a girl or stayed out after 10 at night in his entire life. He was also a member of the campus "Young Repugnicans." They put him in a room with me.

Clashed isn't an appropriate word to describe how David and I got along. I spent that first quarter in college working feverishly to drive him from my dorm room. David would wake up every morning at 6:00 am and take a shower. He would return and then stand in front of the mirror popping zits (he had no shortage of them) until 7:00 am when he would grab his books and say "I'm going to go feed my face." (as if I cared?) He would return in the late afternoon and sit at his desk to study. This is a kid from just outside of Milwaukee in the great State of Wisconsin yet the
little bastard would listen to or watch nothing but ball games from Minnesota. Name a Minnesota team and David was a fan. He would sit at his desk with two radios playing; one tuned to a Twins game the other to a Gophers game. This was in WISCONSIN for Christs sake - the state where it is a genetically inherited trait to despise everything related to and about Minnesota. One night David walked down to the basement of Johnson Hall to watch Star Trek with all of us and promptly left when he was pelted with a barrage of beer bottles. We didn't want the traitor anywhere near us.

No matter what I did or said nothing would drive David from the room. I'd come home drunk and puke on the floor. David was still there. I once brought home a female "friend" who stayed in my bed all night not four feet from David's head but nothing in the thrashing and moaning for most of the night caused David to want to leave. Nothing moved him from the room. Nothing.

The 1969 trapping season in northern Wisconsin began on Saturday October 25 and I trapped heavily near home that first week. The trapping season in the central zone (where River Falls was located) began on Saturday November 1. I moved all of my traps and equipment to River Falls and trapped a large wetland near Roberts that was crawling with Muskrats. In the first week of the central zone season I caught 150 Muskrats, 1 Mink and 1 Raccoon. I had no place to skin them, stretch them, or hang them up to dry so I did all of that in my dorm room (209 Johnson Hall probably still smells of muskrat skins). You could walk in the front door of Johnson Hall and smell my room on the south wing of 2nd floor. Being used to the smell of Muskrat skins I rather enjoyed the experience but it was the breaking point for David. At the end of the quarter, two weeks later, he quit college, joined the Army and went to Vietnam. His name isn't on the Wall, so I assume he came back.

That first year I caught more than enough critters to pay for all of my tuition and housing and food. The trend was set for the rest of my college career.

By the time my senior year in college came around I was quite fervent in my love for and respect of Muskrats. This may be related to my college nickname of "Muskrat" that an old girl friend Robbie Pitsch (who I missed out on marrying by _ that much) affectionately called me for many years to come. I once gave a senior seminar titled "Muskrat - King of the Fur Bearers". There was virtually nothing about them that I didn't know and couldn't recite.

Which brings us to 34 years ago this week.

In our herb-induced haze, Mad Dog and I started talking about social injustice. This was back when people gave a shit about social injustice. Both being Earth Science and Biology majors we turned the conversation into environmental injustice. As we toked away and drank we slurred the conversation in the direction of how to apply social issues to the environment (isn't it great what herb can do to your thinking?)

In 1968 Washington DC saw the "Poor People's March on Washington." This was back in the days when we had a real President who actually cared about something other than his own net worth. Thousands of people converged on Washington to march on the Capitol demanding justice for the poor people (that would be the non-Republic Party people) of the nation.

Emboldened by that knowledge Mad Dog and I decided that the most important environmental issue we could tackle (other than over population that at the time we were more than willing to contribute to) was wetland protection and trying to stop the draining of wetlands. From the 1950s to the 1970s the United States was destroying an average of 458,000 acres of wetlands every year in this country. Muskrats used to live in those 458,000 acres that had been turned into housing developments or surplus hard red spring wheat. Something had to be done.

After maybe the 8th or 9th passing of the bong, Mad Dog and I decided what we would do was to organize the "Poor Muskrats March on Washington." The concept was simple (had to be, we were stoned out of our gourds) but the implementation might take a bit of coordination.

What we planned was a two pronged approach.

First we were going to rent a Cessna and fly low over the marshes of America calling to arms all of the Muskrats we could find. Once we had 2 million of them in our camp, we were going to bring them all to Washington DC (don't be surprised if what follows sounds like something out of Jerry Rubin's book "Do It").

Once in Washington, Mad Dog was going to organize 1 million Muskrats and have them shut down all transportation systems into and out of Washington DC. All the Potomac River bridges would be blocked. All the rail lines. Everything. Once the city was secured I would take the other 1 million Muskrats and we would march on and then occupy and control the United States Capitol. When it was secure, the Million Muskrat March and I would remain in the Capitol building and not move until Congress passed mandatory legislation banning all forms of wetland loss in the country. Once we could say "mission accomplished" (but from a marsh not the deck of a boat 500 meters off the San Diego beach - and without a sign proclaiming the same) we would never have to worry again about homes for Muskrats because the wetlands would all be protected.

As the night dragged on we accepted the fact that there would probably be a few logistical obstacles that had to be overcome, but in our cannabis-induced euphoria we knew we could handle them.

History, of course, shows that the Poor Muskrats March on Washington has not yet happened. It might have been because of the logistics, or the inability of renting a Cessna, or it could be that when we slept off all that dope and Boone's Farm the next day we lost our direction.

Whatever the reason was then, the idea has never left my mind. To this day, every time I fly into or out of Washington National Airport (never EVER call it Washington Reagan airport) I look down at the bridges and streets of the city and fantasize about what they would have looked like then, or could look like in the near future, with 1 million Muskrats standing on their haunches, incisors bared, right paw clenched in a fist, and a look of "not in my wetland you won't" written across their furry little faces.

The Poor Muskrats March on Washington hasn't occurred - yet. But don't be surprised if some day before I move on to that great Muskrat marsh in the sky, you don't hear about a bunch of militant Muskrats swarming over the city sizing up the bridges leading out of Washington DC. The Captain and Tennille's song "Muskrat Love" playing in the background, and 1 million of them will rise up on their haunches and start chanting "Power to the Muskrats, Power to the Muskrats, Power to the Muskrats, Power to the Muskrats right on."

It could happen.

We the People Are Waking Up

Its unfortunate that it has taken this nation of sheeple 6 very long years to wake up to the fact that the Republic Party is made up of a bunch of crime-ridden yokels (click on the post title for the story).

As this report from the Pew Center shows, there is a extremely wide gap between the number of people who identify themselves now as a Democrat rather than a Republic Party member. This must drive the producers at the Faux Noise Network absolutely wild!

This gets back to the old adage about what goes around comes around. Finally we the people have come around to realizing the Bush Crime Family and the Republic Party have done nothing but lie and obfuscate since 1999 when the Failure-in-Chief announced its intention to run for president.

I cast my first vote in the 1972 Presidential election. I voted a straight Democratic Ticket. I have never missed a vote since 1972 and I have never voted outside the Democratic column - even if a friend was running for dog catcher on the Republic Party ticket I voted for the Democrat. Hopefully with the 2008 election just 19 months away, this enlightenment on the part of the public as to what a bunch of crooks the Republic Party is made up of will stay plastered in everyone's mind.

Heroic Secret Service Agent Takes Question Intended For Bush

Heroic Secret Service Agent Takes Question Intended For Bush

Our Commander -in- Cocaine

Is This Fair or Balanced???

Who says Faux Noise Network isn't fair or balanced???

My Plans for Eternity

I Have a Dream

But its different from the one MLK had.

High Crimes and Misdemeanors

Click on the post title for a fascinating discussion of what the framers had in mind when they were debating the impeachment proceedings of the Constitution. Then, after reading this, ask yourself if the description fits anyone you know. Like, for instance, a little pig named Gitmo Al who is struggling to stay on as Attorney General (funny how a real estate lawyer can be qualified to be the AG). Ask yourself also if the current resident of the White House may not qualify for a few high crimes and misdemeanors also. Moreso than, say, the recent recipient of a sloppy blowjob from an intern for instance.

Bush and the Obstruction of Justice

It was not hard to spot that White House and Justice Department officials, and members of Congress, may have violated 18 U.S.C. §§ 1501-1520, the federal obstruction of justice statute.

1. Misrepresentations to Congress. The relevant provision, 18 U.S.C. § 1505, is very broad. It is illegal to lie to Congress, and also to “impede” it in getting information. Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty indicated to Congress that the White House’s involvement in firing the United States attorneys was minimal, something that Justice Department e-mail messages suggest to be untrue.

If Mr. Sampson withheld the information from Mr. McNulty, who then misled Congress, Mr. Sampson may have violated § 1505.

2. Calling the Prosecutors. As part of the Sarbanes-Oxley reforms, Congress passed an extremely broad obstruction of justice provision, 18 U.S.C. § 1512 (c), which applies to anyone who corruptly “obstructs, influences, or impedes any official proceeding, or attempts to do so,” including U.S. attorney investigations.

3. Witness Tampering. 18 U.S.C. § 1512 (b) makes it illegal to intimidate Congressional witnesses. Michael Elston, Mr. McNulty’s chief of staff, contacted one of the fired attorneys, H. E. Cummins, and suggested, according to Mr. Cummins, that if he kept speaking out, there would be retaliation.

4. Firing the Attorneys. United States attorneys can be fired whenever a president wants, but not, as § 1512 (c) puts it, to corruptly obstruct, influence, or impede an official proceeding.

Let’s take the case of Carol Lam, United States attorney in San Diego. The day the news broke that Ms. Lam, who had already put one Republican congressman in jail, was investigating a second one, Mr. Sampson wrote an e-mail message referring to the “real problem we have right now with Carol Lam.” He said it made him think that it was time to start looking for a replacement.

http://www.nytimes.com/ 2007/ 03/ 19/ opinion/ 19mon4.html?ex=1331956800&en=ffab854496251b4b&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

A Compelling Case for Impeaching the Failure in Chief, Mr Chimp

Click on the post title to read a damning indictment of the Failure in Chief presented by America's real Mayor, Rocky Anderson of Salt Lake City.

The Real Reason the US Is Hated In the Middle East (for one example)

Confusing Rules in the Christian Bible

a) When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord (Lev 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

b) I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

c) I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev 15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

d) Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can’t I own Canadians?

e) I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?

f) A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an Abomination (Lev 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don’t agree. Can you settle this?

g) Lev 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?

h) Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev 19:27. How should they die?

i) I know from Lev 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

j) My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? (Lev 24:10-16) Couldn’t we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)

I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help.
Thank you again for reminding us that God’s word is eternal and unchanging.

A Racist, Homophobic Tirade from the US Army

(this is a copy of an email I sent to both Virginia senators today in response to an email by a racist, homophobic US Army recruiter named Marsha Ramode. Click on the post title to see her email).


Dear Senator Webb

I am enclosing an email I just sent to Marsha Ramode, a United States Army recruiter. The email contains a link to a racist, homophobic, tirade Ms Ramode sent to someone using a US Government email system.

Because you sit on the Armed Services Committee I thought you would want to see this misuse of government equipment (at a minimum). I'm sending this same message to Senator Warner also. Please have someone do something about this?

Dear Marcia.

Is this what "compassionate conservatism" looks like in the military these days?

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1153

Like you I am employed by the US Government (I am home on sick leave today). If I EVER used rambling homophobic terroristic language like yours in an email to ANYONE, even to a sea slug, and sent it out on my government email address I'd be fired before tomorrow morning.

When can we expect your resignation?

By the way, I'm sending your email showing your email address too my senators, Jim Webb and John Warner, both of whom sit on the Senate Armed Services Committee. I'm also copying this email to the White House. I'll be anxious to see how they react to your prejudice using a government email account.


Thank you.

Bush's "presidency" Explained in 7 Minutes 3 Seconds

(Click on the post title for the link to You Tube)

Wow. This guy left very little out. And all of what he sings is true. Too bad Bush is such a compassionate guy or maybe he'd get it. Then again

Iraqnam Veterans Memorial

Click on the post title to learn more about all of the > 3,200 American kids who have died for Bush and Cheney's lies in Iraqnam. Note that there are no close or distant relatives of any Administration war cheerleader or any neocon on this list. I wonder how that happened?

And for that matter there are no family of Faux Noise "reporters" or "anchors" or are any of Ann Coulter's family or Rush Limbaugh's family on this list. Coincidence?

Vast Illegal Spying by the New York Police Department

I just submitted the following information to the FBI through their "TIPS" hotline at this URL https://tips.fbi.gov/ The story that prompted this can be reached by clicking on the post title. I suggest that all loyal 'Merikuns also report this illegal spying to the FBI.

Dear FBI

As this story posted on the Dailkos blog

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/3/24/18632/9638,

as well as in today's New York Times indicate, the constitutionally protected rights of we the people to 1) freely assemble, 2) freely speak and 3) freely express our views, were violated by the New York Police Department in the run up to the 2004 Republic Party convention in New York city. Imagine that happening in a democracy???

Like you I am deeply concerned that this and other actions, primarily taken by the Bush Administration, are rapidly converting our democracy into a police state - and a radical theocracy on top of that.

Because all employees of the Justice Department are right now scurrying to cover your collective asses on top of the asses of the policital appointees above you, I assume that the FBI hasn't been able to work on this heinous violation of Federal law. And its Federal law because the New York Police Department crossed state lines and even international boundaries to illegally spy on law abiding citizens. Because of your CYA work load at the moment I'm submitting this information to you so that as soon as Gitmo Al Gonzales resigns and things cool down a bit at J Edgar's building, the super slueths at FBI can start investigating and arresting the NYPD thugs who violated the law.

My only concern, given the seriousness of the US Attorney purge is that you might not find a US Attorney in NYC willing to prosecute this case for fear of pissing off George Dumbya or KKKarl Rove.

However as a loyal 'Merikun I had to report this to you. Now go smoke em out and git em. K?

Craig Faanes
Loyal 'Merikun


NYT: Vast, illegal spying targeted protesters

by EZ writer

Sat Mar 24, 2007 at 03:09:02 PM PDT

I attended the protests at the GOP convention in 2004, flying in from the Rockies.
Turns out, political groups around the country were being spied on by New York’s finest.

Coming from The New York Times:

For at least a year before the 2004 Republican National Convention, teams of undercover New York City police officers traveled to cities across the country, Canada and Europe to conduct covert observations of people who planned to protest at the convention, according to police records and interviews.

From Albuquerque to Montreal, San Francisco to Miami, undercover New York police officers attended meetings of political groups, posing as sympathizers or fellow activists, the records show.

New York Times story is not on their Web site yet, but should be momentarily.

You have to wonder how many of the 1,800 or so arrests at the GOP convention protests were prefabricated.

Potential troublemakers were hardly the only ones to end up in the police files. In hundreds of reports stamped "NYPD Secret," the Intelligence Division chronicled the views and plans of people who had no apparent intention of breaking the law, the records show.

These included members of street theater companies, church groups and anti-war organizations, as well as environmentalists and people opposed to the death penalty, globalization and other government policies. Three New York City elected officials were cited in the reports.

Police records indicate that in addition to sharing information with other police departments, New York undercover officers were active themselves in at least 15 places outside New York -- including California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montreal, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and Washington, D.C. -- and in Europe.

This by the way, is all perfectly ILLEGAL:

Under a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, undercover surveillance of political groups is generally legal, but the police in New York -- like those in many other big cities -- have operated under special limits as a result of class-action lawsuits filed over police monitoring of civil rights and anti-war groups during the 1960s.

Cheney Says House Dems Dont Support Troops

Dear Dick

You know, Dick, that is such a perfect name for you. Dick. Sums it all up doesn't it, Dick? (click on the post title for the story)

You porcine cocksucker. You haven't said a truthful thing since taking office in 2001...why should anyone believe this drivel now? Have you ever considered that bringing troops home alive from Iraq is showing the utmost support for them? Thats a lot more supportive than letting them sleep in their own urine like YOUR administration has done at Walter Reed.

Seems to me that during the Vietnam war you didn't support the troops either. In fact you found FIVE different reasons to get FIVE deferrments from having to go to Nam. Was that supporting the troops?

If you want to support the troops you fat assed fuck, why not pick up a gun, hop on a C-5 leaving Andrews and go shoot some Iraqi's instead of Texas lawyers?? Or better yet, if you really want to support the troops have your daughters both sign up and go to Iraqnam. That will show us how much the Cheney family supports that troops.

These are all viable options Dick. Pick one or shut the fuck up. Nobody and I mean NOBODY believes your persistent lies any longer Dick. Nobody.

FBI Database on Suspected Turists

So THIS is where my regular reports submitted through the FBI "Tips" database go (click on the post title for the story)

I especially like this quote.

"But in addressing one problem, TIDE has spawned others. Ballooning from fewer than 100,000 files in 2003 to about 435,000, the growing database threatens to overwhelm the people who manage it. "The single biggest worry that I have is long-term quality control," said Russ Travers, in charge of TIDE at the National Counterterrorism Center in McLean. "

That is reason enough to continue submitting tips about me to the Tips database. Perhaps with luck I can contribute to overwhelming the system and making it crash. I wonder how many other innocent people are being threatened by this nonsensical database? Probably 434,999 of the 435,000 of us in the database.

I Wonder What Message They're Trying to Convey?

I See A Growth Industry Here

Will Someone PLEASE Volunteer?? Please?

The Surge is Working!! The Surge is Working!!

Here's evidence that the surge in Iraqnam is working - contrary to what those commie pinko bastards in the Democratic Party say.....(click on the headline for the story)

The reason this story shows that the surge is working is that this blast clearly should have killed at least 50 people and maybe more (this is that "one bomb a day" that First Laura was talking about)....but instead of killing 50 it only killed 47. PROOF that the surge is working

I can imagine that Faux Noise will lead with this story tomorrow

Takin It To the Streets....

....with apologies to the Doobie Brothers

This past weekend saw large and vocal demonstrations against the Bush war machine in every corner of the United States. We were joined in our outrage with Bush by people around the world, from Tokyo Japan to Prague Czech Republic and many places in between.

Who among us of the aging baby boomer generation would have ever thought back "then" that we would have to take the the streets again in our lifetimes to do battle against another out-of-control President who was leading the Nation through another country's civil war?

I was heartened during the People's March on the Pentagon in DC last Saturday to see people of many races involved. Black, white, brown, (even one woman with green hair) we were all there saying what needed to be said. The same could be said for the age distribution of the marchers. Some people were World War II veterans, some were in wheel chairs, many were mid-50s aging hippies like myself, most were college students (who will be the ones to have to pay for this mess in the future) and, good or bad, there were lots of grade school and younger kids in the crowd. Some parents brought their children to be a part of history. Others, unfortunately, were there so they know early in their lives how to take it to the streets 40 years from now when the next maniac "president" leads this country into another unjust war.

One of those getting early "training" was Jack, the 5-year old son of a colleague. This was his first protest against Bush and the Bush Crime Family. I certainly hope that it will be his last protest. However, something tells me that with the inability of humans to learn from history, this wont be his last protest. Jack's mom and dad are teaching him early and well how to deal with it if it has to be (didn't Crosby Stills Nash and Young once sing a song about teaching your children well)?

President Al Gore Testifying on Global Warming in the House

Gore: ‘If The Crib’s On Fire, You Don’t Speculate That The Baby Is Flame-Retardant’

Watch as the next President of the United States slaps the shit out of an irreverent Repugnican Dittohead Congressman from Texas who knows about global warming only what was in this morning's Republic Party talking points. (click on the post title to see the video)

An Update on the Iraqnam War from Senator John Kerry

Hi

Here on the fourth anniversary of the beginning of the Iraq War, I just wanted to drop a quick note to all of you, updating you on the state of progress in the Iraq debate and legislation in the Senate.

Last week, I voted for legislation I brought to the floor with Sen. Harry Reid, Sen. Biden and Sen. Levin, legislation that demands, once again, that we change course and set a deadline for the redeployment of our troops in Iraq.

You were there at the start, so I don't need to remind you that when Russ Feingold and I first introduced legislation to do exactly that, there were 13 of us in the Senate that voted for it. Now, in no small part because of all of your work pushing for change, nearly the entire Democratic caucus stood together in this important vote -- 48 Democrats strong.

I just wanted to thank you, all of you, for getting us this far. Your help (and courage because I know it isn't always easy to speak out) has shifted the debate a long way. We still have more fighting to do, of course; the legislation came up just short of passing. I'm an impatient person, but I've been in the Senate long enough to know that these things take time. That's the nature of legislating. And we can't stop until we finish this fight. I learned a long time ago that you support the troops by getting the policy right, and that's the only endgame here -- but progress is progress, and I want you to know and see what you've accomplished.

I'll let you know some of the ways you can help. But that's later; for now, I just wanted to send off this email to thank you for getting us this far. Together, we can do this.

John Kerry

P.S. I saw this article a while ago ... I hope it's as big a reminder for you as it is for me of why we must get this job done:

(click on the post title for the article)



Paid for by John Kerry for Senate.

TONIGHT: Gathering Of Eagles exposed on the air!

My friend JD at www.inyoufaceradio.net just emailed me this information about a certain-to-be-fireworks interview on In Your Face Radio this evening, March 21. She sent the email to two individuals at the Reich wing "Gathering of Eagles" group. Make sure to tune in to listen to this silver tongued progressive rip those lame brained clones to shreds. And if you want to phone in and add to the feeding frenzy while JD is tearing these nitwits apart, call this number 858-764-4449


Read on....

Oh this gets better and better. Hello Gathering of Eagles!

On my show tonight, I will devote, and expose, the hypocrisy that is the Gathering Of Eagles and your dribble about AMERICAN FREEDOMS. I'm honored to be banned from your forum so I may now EXPOSE the disease, and Nazi-esk tactics called the Gathering of Eagles, it's members and "they fought for your freedoms" bullshit.

However, I will extend an olive branch to anyone of you who wishes to counter my claims. See, that?s what Americans do. Real Americans honor the oppositions RIGHT to freedom of speech, even if they're off their rocker.

Boy oh boy won't tonight be FUN!!

Lovingly,

Jayisme (former Gathering of Eagles member and PROUD-pinko-commie-welfare grabbin - LIBERAL - ho)

AKA

JD
www.inyourfaceradio.net
"political talk without all the bullshit"
Weds 6p pst- 8p cst - 9p est

United States v George W Bush

Although we aren't at that place in our nation's history where there is a case before the Supremes with the lovely title like that of this post, we are rapidly heading in that direction.

Click on the post title for a link to the case.

Because of that, I think its important for everyone to reflect back to those great days in 1974 when Richard Nixon was doing things far less heinous and less illegal than the current dimwit. Because of that I have posted a link to the US Supreme Court case United States v Nixon 418 U.S. 683 (1974). This should serve as a reminder for those of us old enough to have lived through those days, and a wake up call for those new to the machinations of crooked Presidents, what we have to look forward to in the months leading up to Bush's impeachment.

One paragraph from this case that is instantly applicable to the current whining and hand wringing on Bush's part is this one. Read it and smile

4. Neither the doctrine of separation of powers nor the generalized need for confidentiality of high-level communications, without more, can sustain an absolute, unqualified Presidential privilege of immunity from judicial process under all circumstances. See, e. g., Marbury v. Madison, 1 Cranch 137, 177; Baker v. Carr, 369 U.S. 186, 211 . Absent a claim of need to protect military, diplomatic, or sensitive national security secrets, the confidentiality of [418 U.S. 683, 685] Presidential communications is not significantly diminished by producing material for a criminal trial under the protected conditions of in camera inspection, and any absolute executive privilege under Art. II of the Constitution would plainly conflict with the function of the courts under the Constitution. Pp. 703-707.

Mean Jean Schmidt (R-OH)

Mean Jean needs to be run from office in 2008, if not sooner, for this indefensible defense of the deplorable conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital (click on the post title for the story).

After hearing people like Mean Jean talk about the wounded veterans, I wonder if there is anyone left in the world who still buys into the Republic Party's "I support the troops” self-righteous posturing mantra?

Contrasting Vietnam and Iraqnam Protesting

(click on the post title for the story link)

This is SO good to see coming out. People are waking up finally!

Note the use a couple times of the chant "Hell no, we wont go"....from the Vietnam days.

Last Saturday we crossed the Potomac River with a 21st century version of that effective chant of old. Last weekend the students from the University of Wisconsin (with one aging reprobate carrying their banner with them) yelled "Hell No We Wont Go. We Wont Kill for Texaco".

Same sentiment as in years past. Better application to the situation now.

Why David Iglesias Was Fired

(click on the post title for the article).

It will now become almost comical watching the Reich wing nuts go ballistic on a fellow member of the Republic Party. Will they develop a Swift Boat Veterans for Lies group to thrash this person for speaking the truth about the Reich? My guess is yes. By the end of the day they will have lies about there about how Iglesias is actually a liberal as were the seven other US Attorney's who were fired. That will soon become the rallying cry of these sick bastards - eight "liberals" sneaked in under cover of darkness and joined their ranks so they had to fire them.

Its my solemn hope that these eight fired US Attorney's come over to our side by the 2008 election. Remember that more than 59,000,000 foolish people voted for Bush in 2004. We will convert them one at a time if needed. Here are eight just waiting to be shown the light. I think the bulb is burning brightly in a couple of them already.

Meet America's REAL Mayor

Dear Mayor Anderson

I hope by now you have received several thousand emals from those of us who were at the Pentagon on Saturday and heard you speak the truth, from your gut and your heart, about the illegal, immoral war we have been thrust into

I know it doesn't mean much but I wanted to add my thanks also. You are a true inspiration.

In a photo essay from the march one diarist asked this question about you in the caption by your picture. " Rocky Anderson, the Mayor of Salt Lake City. I'm not sure how a politician from the redest of red states is unafraid to speak in front of an "Answer" sign when his counterparts in Manhattan, Berkeley or Cambridge wouldn't. "
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/3/10/10441/5026

That is a question we all need to ask and have answered. Its my sincerest hope that you decide to run for Senate from Utah at the first available opportunity. We NEED your passion in Congress. We need your guts in the Congress. I hope you will consider making that move as soon as possible.

Rudy Gulliani is called "America's Mayor" because he parrots every talking point the Republic Party spews out. If anyone is America's Mayor, its you, Rocky, because you speak for what American's believe.

Good luck, and dont ever lose your 60's era passion.

The Epitome of Republic Party Stupidity

The following is a quote left in comments about the NIH Director coming out in favor of stem cell research. The comment was left on thinkprogress.org by someone who is not only terminally stupid but severely disoriented....what follows is exactly what she said


"it says right in the Bible not to conduct studies on embryonic stem cells! If god wanted us to live free of disease, he wouldn’t be giving us these diseases!
Comment by Jamie Kinstle Wapakoneta OH — March 20, 2007 @ 1:17 pm

If there really is a heaven it needs to help us.....now

While Wounded American Kids Sleep in Their Urine...

......the privileged few like "presidents" who skipped out on their national guard responsibilities, and "vice presidents" who got out of Nam with 5 deferments, or "first ladies" who get away with vehicular manslaughter in Texas, and other Republic Party supporters like former Senator Strom Thurmond get to live like this at Walter Reed (click on the post title for the story)

Do others see something wrong with this or is it just me?

Its unfortunate that Faux Noise Network wont do a story on this so the loyal war supporting Republic Party fringe living in trailer houses see how the other half live.

About Troop Support

The following was written by a friend from Long Island to be recited today at a Memorial for the Fallen (that I'm sure none of the Bush Administration will attend). She hits on some very good points. Good show, Joan!


This quote from a friend who was at the Pentagon March yesterday:

"Hey Bush, What do ya say. How Many Kids Have You Killed Today? I will never ever understand how those pro war people think that we are anti-troop. What is more supportive of kids in Iraq-nam than wanting to bring them home alive ?? Just makes no sense.”

Alive, yes. But what makes even less sense, what is now more unconscionable and egregious than sending them there in the first place,is what wounded troops and their families face when they get back. It’s a different form of loss of life.

The best way we can “Support our Troops,” is to ensure they are well taken care of when they get back.

So. Here’s what you can personally do to actively “Support our Troops.”

The next time you find yourself around someone who proclaims that they are “Supporting the Troops” by virtue of the magnet on their car, or the pin on their lapel – take a deep breath, screw up your courage, be a soldier, and ask them the following:

“What actions have you personally taken to support our troops?”

“Called your Congresspersons lately? Written the President?”

Then ask them:

• Do you know that over 23 thousand soldiers have been wounded in this war?

• Do you know that the Bush Administration had NO planning or budgeting for the troops returning from Iraq?

• Do you know that the Veteran’s Administration does not have guaranteed permanent continuing mandatory funding?

• Do you know that the way the Bush Administration “supports our troops” is by continually cutting the budget for the Veterans Administration (the VA), and privatizing many services deliberately forcing thousands of veterans out of the VA health care system?

• Do you know that our soldiers – your neighbors, friends and relatives – are surviving injuries in this war, injuries not survived in previous wars?

• Do you know that severe brain trauma loss of arms and legs loss of faces loss of eyes loss of hearing, Severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Divorce are the predominant life changing and society changing wounds of this now known to be unnecessary war?

• Do you know that because of lack of necessary funding for the VA, there is a backlog of more than one-half million pending benefits claims, and that processing times average six months for initial claims – and more than two years for appeals?

• Do you know that due to chronic funding shortfalls, VA hospitals are prevented from hiring additional nurses and other health care professionals to meet the growing demand for services and are forced to ration (ration!!!) care for our wounded.

Does building 18 at Walter Reed, the tip of the iceberg, ring a bell?”

Then ask them:

• “Now that you know the facts, what are you personally going to do to ‘Support our Troops’ –– besides slap a magnet on your car and go shopping...


When fascism comes to America, it will be bearing a cross and wrapped in the flag - Sinclair Lewis, 1935
What would Jesus do - about Bush?
Regime change begins at home. Keep at it. ( JT 2003)

The People's March on the Pentagon - A Recap

WOWOWOW...am I pumped!!

Just back now from a highly successful and very well attended march on the Pentagon to end the stupid illegal war for oil in Iraqnam.

I started out by boarding the Orange Line subway at East Falls and our first stop was Ballston where a bunch of people with anti-war placards got on. I talked with them and found out that they were among the 4,000 Christians who encircled the White House last night to protest Bush's illegal aggression. I will admit my prejudice here because when I heard the word "Christian" I automatically assumed they were the James Dobson / Jerry Falwell sort of pseudo Christians who parade around shoving their beliefs down the throats of others. As is too often the case with prejudice, of course, I was completely wrong about these people. Instead of fitting the stereotype they were as fervent and conversant as I am.

"No where in the bible Bush talks about does it say to invade peaceful countries because of lies" the fellow from Albany New York said to me. This guy and his family, it turns out, have been fishing on Red Cedar Lake about 8 miles northeast of my home town of Rice Lake, Wisconsin. Small world time.

The subway ride went like lightning and we sooner than expected arrived at Foggy Bottom metro. A metro cop standing there said to us "welcome to ground zero."

It was a quick walk to the corner of 23rd and Constitution where people were congregating. The first pleasant experience I had there was seeing and then listening to a group from the SDS. If you remember back from my day, the Students for a Democratic Society were some of the most fervent vocal opponents of the war in Vietnam. They stood on the corner shouting out their message. God DAMN it was good to see that students are getting mobile and vocal and fired up about an unjust war again. God DAMN it feels good.

I crossed Constitution and turned left to walk to the Vietnam War memorial. I wanted to hang out there because of the venom spewed by Sean Hannity and the Reich wing nuts at www.freerepublic.com who said that we the people wanted to desecrate the Vietnam Vets memorial. My singular purpose in getting there was to keep an eye on panel 30E, line 109 that contains, in perpetuity, my cousin Dean Beranek's name. I was prepared to bust the head of any asshole who desecrated my family and the only kid from my home town who died in Nam.

I didn't have to worry.

The area surrounding the Nam memorial was surrounded by maybe 1000 or so Ditto heads who were taunting anyone and every one who walked down the street carrying an anti-war sign. Many proudly displayed the fact that they were Vietnam Vets. Unfortunately they didn't understand why we were protesting.

It was rather insightful listening to these folks spew their venom. Thanks to my friend Mike I knew to respond to their taunts with "Ditto Rush" that I said over and over to these sad individuals. One particularly vile bastard yelled at me to "go to Canada, you motherfucker." To which I replied "you must be a Christian, huh Rush?" This tended to piss him off because the bastard lunged at me. Unfortunately for him there was a US Park Police officer standing between me and him. The cop caught the ditto head and I hope he arrested him. I just walked on. As my friend Jon used to say in the Keys "I love it that just by being here I piss people off." That's how I felt.

A group of us got together right near Constitution Gardens and massed there before walking back through the gauntlet of limpets. While standing there I saw a guy with a Vietnam Vet patch on his baseball cap (I, of course, was in my "2002 A Beach Odyssey" baseball cap from the 2002 Jimmy Buffett concert series). I walked up to this guy (who was a 1967 graduate of HS, so he was in Nam at a very bad time) and shook his hand. I said to him "You've heard stories but I want you to know that we were demonstrating against Nam to get you home." He said he didn't know that at first but believes it now. As we talked about things someone yelled "all Vets over here" - an attempt to get all the pro-war crowd together. The Vietnam Vet standing next to me holding an "out of Iraq now" placard wouldn't budge. One of the pro-war Hannity fans yelled at him and called him "yellow" for standing with us. This guy said "you're a disgrace to what I almost died for motherfucker". It got a little tense.

We walked back past the jackals and got ourselves surrounded by peaceful people again at 23rd and Constitution. Just before entering the assembly, I heard this guy with gray hair yelling "1, 2, 3, 4" and my ears perked up. Without thinking twice I automatically yelled back "We don't want your fucking war!" He looked at me and said "you've been through it before haven't you?" Yup. He was selling relict anti war buttons from my era and I purchased one that was rusted on the back and the pin was rusted and the front had two peace signs on it and the numbers and letters "1,2,3,4 W D W Y F W" Immediate flash back to college...wowowoww.

Walking through the assembly area, I saw a group of students with a huge banner for the "Campus Anti War Network" and their website www.revoltingstudents.com These kids were from the University of Wisconsin which I recognized because of the website. I stopped to talk with them and said that since I was an alumnus of the U system and had done my fair share of protest at Madison, would they mind if I hung out? Being typical Madison liberals they welcomed me to join them.

One kid asked me "Whats the best chant from your days protesting?" I immediately belted out "1, 2, 3, 4, We Don't Want Your Fucking War" I then said that I had been working on and failing to come up with a modern day answer to "Hey Hey LBJ, How Many Kids Have You Killed Today?" One Madison student said "Hey Bush, What do ya say. How Many Kids Have You Killed Today?" The tradition lives on.

The Madison kids instinctively I think walked to the edge of the assembly area where a bunch of the pro-Bush people were chanting their taunts. The best chant of that situation was, "This Is Democracy. That is hypocrisy" and when we said hypocrisy we pointed at the pro-Bushies.

We stood around for what seemed like forever before finally talking off toward Memorial Bridge. I asked if I could hold up the edge of this huge banner that the Madison students were carrying and did so. We started our march. Before leaving for the bridge, while looking at all of the fantabulous placards, I have to admit that the one that won the award for the most to the point was a guy carrying a sign that read "Will Suck Cock for Impeachment." Unfortunately that's what it will take.

God DAMN it felt good.

As we walked along we were taunted by the pro-Bush wing nuts who looked so sad standing there with their ditto rings on.

Once over the Memorial Bridge and then turning south to go to the Pentagon, we were confronted by a huge sign from the Reich wing nuts admonishing us to not step foot on this "hallowed ground." which, of course, was Arlington Cemetery. Its actually quite scary to think that these poor slovenly bastards believe that our actions would any way defile the poor souls lying for eternity in Arlington. I guess I will never understand the mind of the Republic Party.

Once over the Memorial bridge the Reich wing nuts faded into the past. All along the route we were surrounded by people who put peace ahead of everything else. I will never ever understand how those pro war people think that we are anti-troop. What is more supportive of kids in Iraqnam than wanting to bring them home alive ?? Just makes no sense.

From the time we were assembled by the Lincoln Memorial until well after we started to disperse from the Pentagon, we were constantly being flown over by a helicopter that was probably FBI. More than once I stopped what I was doing and thrust my finger in the air at the bastards. This aerial harassment continued well into the afternoon.

There was tons of media coverage of the event including lots of people with press passes (but were they really??) photographing us as we marched over the Memorial Bridge. Once as I chanted "1,2, 3, 4....." one guy focused in on me and took probably 10 pictures. When he finished I asked him if he got enough. Saying he had, I stopped, wrote my name on a piece of paper, handed it to him and said "Good, send some of them to the FBI, I want them to have current pictures in my file."

There were lots of speeches at the Pentagon but I didn't really pay much attention except to Cindy Sheehan and America's mayor, Rockey Anderson from Salt Lake City. I checked in with my friends at www.inyourfaceradio.net several times to give them an update from the ground. My friend JD was broadcasting live and it was a rush being able to give the good folks there an immediate update.

One of the things I enjoyed the most was seeing how diverse the crowd was. Pick a skin color and those folks were there. Black, white, Arabic, Latino (some Cubanos also) Asian, Pacific Islanders, you name it.....folks were there saying what needed to be said. There were students from many campuses there but I have to admit that the University of Wisconsin students were the best prepared, most vocal, and made the biggest impact. I also enjoyed walking along and through the crowds earlier noticing that if there was one state represented heavily it was Wisconsin - Badger shirts, Badger jackets, Green Bay Packers coats. You name it, the great incomparable state of Wisconsin was here and heavily represented today. Makes me want to eat a bratwurst and some cheese curds just thinking about it.

There was also tons of media there. C-Span was broadcasting live and Faux Noise was there (curiously that asshole Sean Hannity was nowhere to be seen - I guess this morning's talking points didn't say to be there). I saw one van from Eurovision. I hope they were passing word back to Europe so people there realize that we are hate Bush and want to end this stupidity. Please world, know that we aren't all Bush supporters.

I was interviewed by two reporters. One was a fellow from a newspaper in Japan who asked me why I was there and what I hoped would happen. I said I was there because "killing for peace is like fucking for virginity." A little shocked he said "I don't think I can use that." I then said "I'm here because the President of this great country needs to be run from office before the constitution he swore to uphold no longer has any meaning."

The other reporter was from a newspaper in New York (not the Times). He asked me if this was my first anti-war demonstration. I said "no that happened on May 5, 1970, the day after the Ohio National Guard committed murder at Kent State." He asked me what I thought needed to happen to end the conflict in Iraq. I said "Impeach Bush" He said "do you think the Democrats will do any better?" I said "They can't do any worse." Then I added "and when Al Gore is in the White House you won't see nation after nation taking it to the streets to protest like what happened this week when Bush was in Latin America. With any democrat in power the United States will be respected again not reviled. That will bring us peace."

When it was about over...or was it when my bladder was about to explode??- I walked over to the University of Wisconsin students and said to their leader "thanks for letting me feel like a student again." He said "you haven't lost your passion have you?" Nope. I will take it to my grave.

Walking back to the Arlington Cemetery metro I talked with several people from my generation. To a person, we were shocked that we had done this 38 years ago..and never thought we would have to do it again. But here we are.

Arlington Cemetery metro was packed ...like freaking sardines. From there I connected in Rosslyn to come home and it was in the East Falls Church metro station that I saw the most poignant sign of the day - a sign that summed up why we were all in the streets. It was carried by a dad.

The sign said "Bring my son home from Iraq."

I walked over to this dad and said "we will."

Meet A Kid Killed in Iraq by Bush

(click on the post title for the video)

You are a miserable cocksucker Bush.

I piss on you from a considerable height.

Conservative Bias in Associated Press News Coverage

This email was just sent to the Associated Press in response to the consrvatively biased reporting of Valerie Plame's testimony yesterday. You can read the story by clicking on the post title. You can contact the Associated Press at info AT ap.org

Good Morning Associated Press

On this morning just before 10s of thousands of us march on the Pentagon in protest of one of many of the Bush Administrations illegal actions, its particularly disturbing to read this story by the AP regarding Valerie Plame's testimony yesterday on the Hill

Did your writer take her cue from talking points written and sent out by Roger Ailes at Faux News?

There was never an attempt to have Valerie Plame provide testimony to get to the bottom of why Robert Novak outed her. The purpose, and it was resoundingly accomplished, was to establish for the record that Valerie Plame was 1) a CIA operative, and 2) was a covert operative under the wording in the law. The law states that to be covert you must have worked overseas on a mission in the last 5 years. Valerie Plame did that.

Instead of pointing out the facts of the story, your conservative-biased writer instead focused on the "glamour" that Plame brought to the witness table. Would your biased writer have referred to her as the "coyote ugly" Valerie Plame if she weren't so attractive? I think not. So why the glamour hyperbole??

What about this statement - "Plame, the operative at the center of the leak scandal that resulted in last week's criminal conviction of a former top White House official, created more of a stir by her presence on Capitol Hill than by her testimony."? What does that do for the story other than having your biased reporter admit in her piece what Valerie did under oath - namely that she was a CIA operative.

Why did your reporter fail to mention that Karl Rove, Robert Novak and others directly involved in actually leaking her identify were conspicuously absent from yesterday's hearing?

Why did the Associate Press stoop to the level of the Faux Noise Network in your reporting?

Its unfortunate that the media have been so buffaloed by the right wing nut cases about alleged "liberal" bias that you now so obviously and openly flaunt conservative bias? I used to have respect for the Associated Press. Now, however, you are no better than Neil Cavuto or Bill O'Reilly.

A sad day for American journalism.

How Bush Can Repent For His Illegal Transgressions

I've been thiking alot lately about the nearly uncountable illegal things that Bush has done in the six very long years that he has occupied the White House. The list of impeachable offenses goes on and on. However, to give the stupid bastard a break I will stipulate that Deadeye Dick Cheney, the man with a permanent snarl, has done more illegal things and arranged more despicable occurrences than our "president", a man with the IQ of a limpet, could ever concoct.

So, as a way to make up for all of this illegality, I'm suggesting to the Chimp, right here and now, that he allow Deadeye Dick to remain as vice-resident, but ONLY on the condition that he have his stents and pacemaker removed.

Seems fair and balanced to me.

A Timeline of Global Deception

Click on the post title for a link to the story

Everything you ever wanted to know about the Bush Administration's lies leading to the illegal war, and the decpetions that have occurred since the illegal invasion, are covered here.

Articles of Impeachment Against George Dubya Bush

It seems clear to me from the articles of impeachment that were drawn up for Nixon, that all we need to do is remove the words "Richard M Nixon" and replace them with "George Dubya Bush" and then spruce up the dates to make them more contemporary, and then move full steam ahead with impeachment. The only thing I would add is the name "Richard Snarl Cheney" next to every time the name "George Dubya Bush" is used. And when you look at it objectively and compare Nixon's crimes with what these assholes have done, Nixon's actions weren't 1/10th as reprehensible.




Article 1

RESOLVED, That Richard M. Nixon, President of the United States, is impeached for high crimes and misdemeanours, and that the following articles of impeachment to be exhibited to the Senate:
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT EXHIBITED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN THE NAME OF ITSELF AND OF ALL OF THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AGAINST RICHARD M. NIXON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, IN MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT OF ITS IMPEACHMENT AGAINST HIM FOR HIGH CRIMES AND MISDEMEANOURS.


ARTICLE 1

In his conduct of the office of President of the United States, Richard M. Nixon, in violation of his constitutional oath faithfully to execute the office of President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in violation of his consitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, has prevented, obstructed, and impeded the administration of justice, in that:

On June 17, 1972, and prior thereto, agents of the Committee for the Re-election of the President committed unlawful entry of the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee in Washington, District of Columbia, for the purpose of securing political intelligence. Subsequent thereto, Richard M. Nixon, using the powers of his high office, engaged personally and through his close subordinates and agents, in a course of conduct or plan designed to delay, impede, and obstruct the investigation of such illegal entry; to cover up, conceal and protect those responsible; and to conceal the existence and scope of other unlawful covert activities.

The means used to implement this course of conduct or plan included one or more of the following:

making false or misleading statements to lawfully authorized investigative officers and employees of the United States; withholding relevant and material evidence or information from lawfully authorized investigative officers and employees of the United States; approving, condoning, acquiescing in, and counselling witnesses with respect to the giving of false or misleading statements to lawfully authorized investigative officers and employees of the United States and false or misleading testimony in duly instituted judicial and congressional proceedings; interfering or endeavouring to interfere with the conduct of investigations by the Department of Justice of the United States, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the office of Watergate Special Prosecution Force, and Congressional Committees; approving, condoning, and acquiescing in, the surreptitious payment of substantial sums of money for the purpose of obtaining the silence or influencing the testimony of witnesses, potential witnesses or individuals who participated in such unlawful entry and other illegal activities; endeavouring to misuse the Central Intelligence Agency, an agency of the United States; disseminating information received from officers of the Department of Justice of the United States to subjects of investigations conducted by lawfully authorized investigative officers and employees of the United States, for the purpose of aiding and assisting such subjects in their attempts to avoid criminal liability;
making or causing to be made false or misleading public statements for the purpose of deceiving the people of the United States into believing that a thorough and complete investigation had been conducted with respect to allegations of misconduct on the part of personnel of the executive branch of the United States and personnel of the Committee for the Re-election of the President, and that there was no involvement of such personnel in such misconduct: or endeavouring to cause prospective defendants, and individuals duly tried and convicted, to expect favoured treatment and consideration in return for their silence or false testimony, or rewarding individuals for their silence or false testimony.

In all of this, Richard M. Nixon has acted in a manner contrary to his trust as President and subversive of constitutional government, to the great prejudice of the cause of law and justice and to the manifest injury of the people of the United States.

Wherefore Richard M. Nixon, by such conduct, warrants impeachment and trial, and removal from office.

Adopted 27-11 by the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives, at 7.07pm on Saturday, 27th July, 1974, in Room 2141 of the Rayburn Office Building, Washington D.C.



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Article 2

Using the powers of the office of President of the United States, Richard M. Nixon, in violation of his constitutional oath faithfully to execute the office of President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in disregard of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, has repeatedly engaged in conduct violating the constitutional rights of citizens, impairing the due and proper administration of justice and the conduct of lawful inquiries, or contravening the laws governing agencies of the executive branch and the purposed of these agencies.
This conduct has included one or more of the following:
He has, acting personally and through his subordinates and agents, endeavoured to obtain from the Internal Revenue Service, in violation of the constitutional rights of citizens, confidential information contained in income tax returns for purposed not authorized by law, and to cause, in violation of the constitutional rights of citizens, income tax audits or other income tax investigations to be intitiated or conducted in a discriminatory manner.

He misused the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Secret Service, and other executive personnel, in violation or disregard of the constitutional rights of citizens, by directing or authorizing such agencies or personnel to conduct or continue electronic surveillance or other investigations for purposes unrelated to national security, the enforcement of laws, or any other lawful function of his office; he did direct, authorize, or permit the use of information obtained thereby for purposes unrelated to national security, the enforcement of laws, or any other lawful function of his office; and he did direct the concealment of certain records made by the Federal Bureau of Investigation of electronic surveillance.
He has, acting personally and through his subordinates and agents, in violation or disregard of the constitutional rights of citizens, authorized and permitted to be maintained a secret investigative unit within the office of the President, financed in part with money derived from campaign contributions, which unlawfully utilized the resources of the Central Intelligence Agency, engaged in covert and unlawful activities, and attempted to prejudice the constitutional right of an accused to a fair trial.

He has failed to take care that the laws were faithfully executed by failing to act when he knew or had reason to know that his close subordinates endeavoured to impede and frustrate lawful inquiries by duly constituted executive, judicial and legislative entities concerning the unlawful entry into the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee, and the cover-up thereof, and concerning other unlawful activities including those relating to the confirmation of Richard Kleindienst as Attorney General of the United States, the electronic surveillance of private citizens, the break-in into the offices of Dr. Lewis Fielding, and the campaign financing practices of the Committee to Re-elect the President.
In disregard of the rule of law, he knowingly misused the executive power by interfering with agencies of the executive branch, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Criminal Division, and the Office of Watergate Special Prosecution Force, of the Department of Justice, and the Central Intelligence Agency, in violation of his duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed.
In all of this, Richard M. Nixon has acted in a manner contrary to his trust as President and subversive of constitutional government, to the great prejudice of the cause of law and justice and to the manifest injury of the people of the United States.

Wherefore Richard M. Nixon, by such conduct, warrants impeachment and trial, and removal from office.

Adopted 28-10 by the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives.


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Article 3

In his conduct of the office of President of the United States, Richard M. Nixon, contrary to his oath faithfully to execute the office of President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in violation of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, has failed without lawful cause or excuse to produce papers and things as directed by duly authorized subpoenas issued by the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives on April 11, 1974, May 15, 1974, May 30, 1974, and June 24, 1974, and willfully disobeyed such subpoenas. The subpoenaed papers and things were deemed necessary by the Committee in order to resolve by direct evidence fundamental, factual questions relating to Presidential direction, knowledge or approval of actions demonstrated by other evidence to be substantial grounds for impeachment of the President. In refusing to produce these papers and things Richard M. Nixon, substituting his judgment as to what materials were necessary for the inquiry, interposed the powers of the Presidency against the the lawful subpoenas of the House of Representatives, thereby assuming to himself functions and judgments necessary to the exercise of the sole power of impeachment vested by the Constitution in the House of Representatives.
In all of this, Richard M. Nixon has acted in a manner contrary to his trust as President and subversive of constitutional government, to the great prejudice of the cause of law and justice, and to the manifest injury of the people of the United States.

Wherefore, Richard M. Nixon, by such conduct, warrants impeachment and trial, and removal from office.

Adopted 21-17 by the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives.