It is a rare occasion that the occupation of Iraq generates anything other than very bad news. Today, however, the terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has been killed in a raid northeast of Baghdad.
Why should anyone's murder be good news?
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was the mastermind of the insurgents in Iraq, and they have been killing US marines. He was also directly responsible for many of the kidnappings and beheadings in Iraq. He killed civilians intentionally, simply to foster pandemonium and force our soldiers into hardened bunkers. It must be admitted that he was an extraordinary tactician whose plans were effective.
This news may generate confidence among Iraqis for new prime minister Nuri al-Maliki. He may now be able to convince many Iraqis to abandon the insurgency.
Read all about it
A moment passes very quickly so I hope Nuri seizes this opportunity. This could be a legitimate chance to turn a real corner and those come few and far between.
This moment is also a victory for US soldiers and they could use a boost of morale. They are still in great danger, but at least for a moment they can feel a sense of accomplishment.
Thursday, June 08, 2006
An Inconvenient Truth
I think that history will remember Al Gore as a person that identified, then promoted, the era-defining Ideas of our time.
He helped make the internet happen.
Now, he wants to invigorate the people to do something about global warming while there is yet time to do something about it.
In this BBC interview he compares the changes needed to halt global warming to the changes needed to halt ozone-layer depletion. Can anyone honestly say, looking back on it now, that their life was made intolerable by the removal of Cloro-Floro-Carbons (CFCs) from their hairspray?
Let's revive America's can-do spirit
I think that Al Gore rightly points out that we would be so much better off today if president Bush had said, after invading Afghanistan, "Let's kick the oil habit".
It is high time to usher in a new era.
To that end, here is a very painless first-step you can take:
Compact fluorescent Bulbs
He helped make the internet happen.
Now, he wants to invigorate the people to do something about global warming while there is yet time to do something about it.
In this BBC interview he compares the changes needed to halt global warming to the changes needed to halt ozone-layer depletion. Can anyone honestly say, looking back on it now, that their life was made intolerable by the removal of Cloro-Floro-Carbons (CFCs) from their hairspray?
Let's revive America's can-do spirit
I think that Al Gore rightly points out that we would be so much better off today if president Bush had said, after invading Afghanistan, "Let's kick the oil habit".
It is high time to usher in a new era.
To that end, here is a very painless first-step you can take:
Compact fluorescent Bulbs
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Immigration
As I thought about the wall that Republicans wish to build in Texas to keep the Hispanic American-opportunity-seekers out, my mind wandered twice.
One. I hope they mean to build it on Texas' northern border.
Two. Maybe we should close Ellis Island and the statue of liberty.
At the base of the statue are these words:
Perhaps we should have those words scrubbed off if we build that wall, or change them to:
One. I hope they mean to build it on Texas' northern border.
Two. Maybe we should close Ellis Island and the statue of liberty.
At the base of the statue are these words:
The New Colossus
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles.
From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome;
her mild eyes command the air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame,
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
with silent lips.
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
Emma Lazarus, New York City, 1883
Perhaps we should have those words scrubbed off if we build that wall, or change them to:
The Post-911 Colossus
Like the brazen giant of Greek fame
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is Hope imprisoned, and her name
Mother of Empire.
From her fiery-hand glows world-wide contempt;
her wild eyes survey the ground-zero harbor that twin towers framed,
"Keep, ancient lands, your gloried poor!" cries she
through pursed lips.
"Keep your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
Keep the wretched refuse on your teeming shore,
Keep these, the homeless, tempest-tossed from me.
The way is blocked through the golden door.
Ugly Moe 2006
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Harry Reid on the gay marriage amendment
Harry Reid and I don't see eye-to-eye on marriage. He feels it ought to be between a man and a woman. I feel that our private lives are not the business of government.
I also feel that a marriage license is like a fishing license, and ought not be denied to anybody. All that ought to be required is consent of all parties and perhaps close-kin restrictions and age restrictions (to prevent child molestation).
I also believe that churches ought to be able to control the types of marriage ceremonies that take place with their blessing.
Both Harry Reid and I agree, however, that the current push by president Bush to ban gay marriages with a constitutional amendment is a tremendous waste of everybody's time. Mr. Reid's statement on that matter is here repeated in full because I believe it is very well put. All highlighting was added by me.
In Nevada today, gas prices are over $3.00 a gallon. Fill-ups at the tank cause emptiness at the bank. This Administration, the most friendly-to-oil Presidency in our history, refuses to buck Big Oil or the auto manufacturers. Our citizens are literally choking on the lack of alternative fuel. Few incentives for energy created by the sun, the wind, or the Earth’s geothermal reserves has this Administration endorsed.
Raging in Iraq is an intractable war. Our soldiers are fighting valiantly, but we have Abu Ghraib and Haditha—where 24 or more civilians were allegedly killed by our own—and no policy for winning the peace. However, Secretary Rumsfeld continues in his job with the full backing of the President. Not a reprimand, not a suggestion that his Defense Secretary is at fault.
We have a national debt that President Bush won’t acknowledge, but our children, their children, and their children’s children will have to acknowledge the generations of debt created by President Bush’s economic policies. Federal red ink as far as one can see. America is becoming continually more dependent on loans from China, Japan, Saudi Arabia and England.
Our world is changing as we speak as a result of global warming—a condition our President does not acknowledge, let alone attempt to reverse.
Today nearly 46 million Americans have absolutely no health insurance. Millions more of our countrymen have inadequate health insurance. This Administration has come forward with nothing of substance to address this national emergency.
Seniors in Nevada and each of the 50 states are struggling to survive. Some physicians refuse to take Medicare patients. The President’s Medicare prescription drug plan has been a gift to HMO’s, insurance companies, and drug companies and a nightmare for seniors.
Education for many of our graduating high school seniors has become a goal too far. Student loans and Pell grants are not a priority of the Bush Administration. The ability to obtain a college education is becoming more and more based on how much money your parents have instead of how much academic potential our youth have.
Crime remains a national worry, but money from the federal government to our states for crime fighting and crime prevention is being drastically cut. Successful anti-crime programs such as the COPS program are being eliminated by President Bush, much to the consternation of police officers across America.
A trade policy that is continually eroding America’s favorable balance of payments seems to be the watchword of the Bush Administration. This trade policy causes America to be less and less globally competitive.
The scientific community cries for help. They believe dread diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Lou Gehrig’s, Parkinson’s, and diabetes could be moderated and prevented, but President Bush emphatically says NO to allowing scientists to study and research the healing powers of stem cells. He refuses to keep hope alive for the suffering people of our great country.
In spite of the many serious problems we have just discussed, what is the United States Senate going to debate this week?
A new energy policy? NO.
Will we debate the raging war in Iraq? NO.
Will we address our staggering national debt? NO.
Will we address the seriousness of global warming – NO
Will we address the aging of America? NO.
Will we address America’s education dilemma? NO.
Will we address rising crime statistics? NO.
Will we debate our county’s trade imbalance? NO.
Will we debate Stem Cell Research? NO.
But what we will spend most of the week on is a constitutional amendment that will fail by a large margin, a constitutional amendment on Same Sex Marriage—an effort that failed to pick up a simple majority, when we recently voted on it. Remember, an Amendment to our Constitution requires 67 votes.
I believe marriage should be between a man and a woman. I believe in our federal system of government, described to me in college as a central whole divided among self governing parts. Those self governing parts—the 50 states—have already decided this on their own in state after state.
.
.
.
[UM: This is where Harry and I part company. This attitude would have left the Mason-Dixon line intact and left black Americans to follow the drinking gourd.]
.
.
.
For example, in Nevada the constitution was amended to prevent same sex marriage. Congress and President Clinton passed a law that gave the states the guarantee that their individual laws regarding marriage would be respected.
.
.
.
[UM: I part company with Clinton too and for the same reasons.]
.
.
.
The Defense of Marriage Act creates an exception to the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the Constitution so that no state can force its laws of marriage on another.
So why are we being directed by the President and this Republican majority to debate an Amendment to the Constitution, a document inspired more than two centuries ago? Why would we be asked to change this American masterpiece?
Will it next be to constitutionally dictate the cause of divorce, or military service, or even what America’s religion must be?
So for me it is clear the reason for this debate is to divide our society, to pit one against another. This is another one of the President’s efforts to frighten, to distort, to distract, and to confuse America. It is this Administration’s way of avoiding the tough, real problems that American citizens are confronted with each and every day:
High Gas Prices.
The War in Iraq.
The National Debt.
Health Care.
Senior Citizens.
Education.
Crime.
Trade Policy.
Stem Cell Research.
Each issue begging the President’s attention, each issue being ignored—valuable time in the Senate spent on an issue that today is without hope of passing.
These issues are not Democratic issues. These issues are not Republican issues. There must be bipartisan efforts to address America’s ills.
I will vote no on the Motion to Proceed, as it is not a measure meant to bring America together. Rather, it is an effort to cover and conceal the issues necessary to make America more competitive, caring, considerate and stronger.
Together, America Can Do Better.
I also feel that a marriage license is like a fishing license, and ought not be denied to anybody. All that ought to be required is consent of all parties and perhaps close-kin restrictions and age restrictions (to prevent child molestation).
I also believe that churches ought to be able to control the types of marriage ceremonies that take place with their blessing.
Both Harry Reid and I agree, however, that the current push by president Bush to ban gay marriages with a constitutional amendment is a tremendous waste of everybody's time. Mr. Reid's statement on that matter is here repeated in full because I believe it is very well put. All highlighting was added by me.
In Nevada today, gas prices are over $3.00 a gallon. Fill-ups at the tank cause emptiness at the bank. This Administration, the most friendly-to-oil Presidency in our history, refuses to buck Big Oil or the auto manufacturers. Our citizens are literally choking on the lack of alternative fuel. Few incentives for energy created by the sun, the wind, or the Earth’s geothermal reserves has this Administration endorsed.
Raging in Iraq is an intractable war. Our soldiers are fighting valiantly, but we have Abu Ghraib and Haditha—where 24 or more civilians were allegedly killed by our own—and no policy for winning the peace. However, Secretary Rumsfeld continues in his job with the full backing of the President. Not a reprimand, not a suggestion that his Defense Secretary is at fault.
We have a national debt that President Bush won’t acknowledge, but our children, their children, and their children’s children will have to acknowledge the generations of debt created by President Bush’s economic policies. Federal red ink as far as one can see. America is becoming continually more dependent on loans from China, Japan, Saudi Arabia and England.
Our world is changing as we speak as a result of global warming—a condition our President does not acknowledge, let alone attempt to reverse.
Today nearly 46 million Americans have absolutely no health insurance. Millions more of our countrymen have inadequate health insurance. This Administration has come forward with nothing of substance to address this national emergency.
Seniors in Nevada and each of the 50 states are struggling to survive. Some physicians refuse to take Medicare patients. The President’s Medicare prescription drug plan has been a gift to HMO’s, insurance companies, and drug companies and a nightmare for seniors.
Education for many of our graduating high school seniors has become a goal too far. Student loans and Pell grants are not a priority of the Bush Administration. The ability to obtain a college education is becoming more and more based on how much money your parents have instead of how much academic potential our youth have.
Crime remains a national worry, but money from the federal government to our states for crime fighting and crime prevention is being drastically cut. Successful anti-crime programs such as the COPS program are being eliminated by President Bush, much to the consternation of police officers across America.
A trade policy that is continually eroding America’s favorable balance of payments seems to be the watchword of the Bush Administration. This trade policy causes America to be less and less globally competitive.
The scientific community cries for help. They believe dread diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Lou Gehrig’s, Parkinson’s, and diabetes could be moderated and prevented, but President Bush emphatically says NO to allowing scientists to study and research the healing powers of stem cells. He refuses to keep hope alive for the suffering people of our great country.
In spite of the many serious problems we have just discussed, what is the United States Senate going to debate this week?
A new energy policy? NO.
Will we debate the raging war in Iraq? NO.
Will we address our staggering national debt? NO.
Will we address the seriousness of global warming – NO
Will we address the aging of America? NO.
Will we address America’s education dilemma? NO.
Will we address rising crime statistics? NO.
Will we debate our county’s trade imbalance? NO.
Will we debate Stem Cell Research? NO.
But what we will spend most of the week on is a constitutional amendment that will fail by a large margin, a constitutional amendment on Same Sex Marriage—an effort that failed to pick up a simple majority, when we recently voted on it. Remember, an Amendment to our Constitution requires 67 votes.
I believe marriage should be between a man and a woman. I believe in our federal system of government, described to me in college as a central whole divided among self governing parts. Those self governing parts—the 50 states—have already decided this on their own in state after state.
.
.
.
[UM: This is where Harry and I part company. This attitude would have left the Mason-Dixon line intact and left black Americans to follow the drinking gourd.]
.
.
.
For example, in Nevada the constitution was amended to prevent same sex marriage. Congress and President Clinton passed a law that gave the states the guarantee that their individual laws regarding marriage would be respected.
.
.
.
[UM: I part company with Clinton too and for the same reasons.]
.
.
.
The Defense of Marriage Act creates an exception to the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the Constitution so that no state can force its laws of marriage on another.
So why are we being directed by the President and this Republican majority to debate an Amendment to the Constitution, a document inspired more than two centuries ago? Why would we be asked to change this American masterpiece?
Will it next be to constitutionally dictate the cause of divorce, or military service, or even what America’s religion must be?
So for me it is clear the reason for this debate is to divide our society, to pit one against another. This is another one of the President’s efforts to frighten, to distort, to distract, and to confuse America. It is this Administration’s way of avoiding the tough, real problems that American citizens are confronted with each and every day:
High Gas Prices.
The War in Iraq.
The National Debt.
Health Care.
Senior Citizens.
Education.
Crime.
Trade Policy.
Stem Cell Research.
Each issue begging the President’s attention, each issue being ignored—valuable time in the Senate spent on an issue that today is without hope of passing.
These issues are not Democratic issues. These issues are not Republican issues. There must be bipartisan efforts to address America’s ills.
I will vote no on the Motion to Proceed, as it is not a measure meant to bring America together. Rather, it is an effort to cover and conceal the issues necessary to make America more competitive, caring, considerate and stronger.
Together, America Can Do Better.
Monday, June 05, 2006
On Greatness
America cannot be both great and unjust. America can be strong and unjust, but that's a common bully, and unworthy of admiration.
For America to be great Americans must be great, and as long as Americans cheerlead the suffering of others then America is very far from greatness.
Haditha
The man I hold most responsible for the American decline of greatness is president Bush, who strikes me as being in his last throes but who will no doubt spend every remaining day of his tenure hostile to human decency.
I find him tiresome as he uses his time blaming homosexuals for the high divorce rates of Bible-belt Christians. He looks small, petulant, unimaginative, and the opposite of a great leader to me.
For America to be great Americans must be great, and as long as Americans cheerlead the suffering of others then America is very far from greatness.
Haditha
The man I hold most responsible for the American decline of greatness is president Bush, who strikes me as being in his last throes but who will no doubt spend every remaining day of his tenure hostile to human decency.
I find him tiresome as he uses his time blaming homosexuals for the high divorce rates of Bible-belt Christians. He looks small, petulant, unimaginative, and the opposite of a great leader to me.
Friday, June 02, 2006
Ohio math
RFK JR. Dares to utter aloud what many voters in Ohio have been whispering to each other.
"THE 2004 ELECTION WAS STOLEN!", he sez.
I wonder if John Kerry will feel that 350,000 Ohio votes is worth looking into?
Go tell it on the mountain
Maybe you can't fool most of the people most of the time after all?
ADDENDUM: Greg Palast has reached the same conclusion as RFK Jr.
Read all about it
"THE 2004 ELECTION WAS STOLEN!", he sez.
I wonder if John Kerry will feel that 350,000 Ohio votes is worth looking into?
Go tell it on the mountain
Maybe you can't fool most of the people most of the time after all?
ADDENDUM: Greg Palast has reached the same conclusion as RFK Jr.
Read all about it
Thursday, June 01, 2006
'Granny D' on youth
This speech by Doris "Granny D" Haddock discusses a dark and a bright future for the looming environmental crisis.
Voices of experience?
Both scenarios start with Mother Nature (or Lover Nature as I prefer to call her) doling out an age of consequences and the difference between the two futures will rely on our responses.
Will the entrenched politicians react badly and enslave the masses in gigantic police states, building their thrones upon sinking ships rather than seeking the dry land of a harmonious life?
Hopefully not.
Dorris feels the way to make a bright future possible is to empower the young.
Since about 1945 human beings have been born into a world that could be destroyed at any moment in a number of different calamities. I sometimes wonder if the reason we have Reason is because of this moment.
I don't think the eon-taking process of evolution is adequate to save humanity. If we continue to ignore Reason (the scientific community) we will perish as fools. That process has already begun. The glaciers are melting, the oceans are rising, the weather is starting to change, the sky isn't quite as blue as it used to be, the vistas not quite as clear.
When I am confronted with a global-warming denier I like to point out something irrefutable. Mercury is closer to the Sun than Venus, yet Venus is hotter (hot enough to melt lead on its' surface). The reason for this is Venus has an atmosphere with a lot of Carbon in it.
I sometimes wonder what they think when they look up in the night sky and see sparkling Venus. Couldn't it be that the God they admire so much put Venus there specifically to draw attention to the dangers of global warming?
People are attracted to beautiful things aren't they?
Venus rhymes with Penis
and hangs low in the sky.
It does not need Viagra to
attract my naked eye.
Voices of experience?
Both scenarios start with Mother Nature (or Lover Nature as I prefer to call her) doling out an age of consequences and the difference between the two futures will rely on our responses.
Will the entrenched politicians react badly and enslave the masses in gigantic police states, building their thrones upon sinking ships rather than seeking the dry land of a harmonious life?
Hopefully not.
Dorris feels the way to make a bright future possible is to empower the young.
Since about 1945 human beings have been born into a world that could be destroyed at any moment in a number of different calamities. I sometimes wonder if the reason we have Reason is because of this moment.
I don't think the eon-taking process of evolution is adequate to save humanity. If we continue to ignore Reason (the scientific community) we will perish as fools. That process has already begun. The glaciers are melting, the oceans are rising, the weather is starting to change, the sky isn't quite as blue as it used to be, the vistas not quite as clear.
When I am confronted with a global-warming denier I like to point out something irrefutable. Mercury is closer to the Sun than Venus, yet Venus is hotter (hot enough to melt lead on its' surface). The reason for this is Venus has an atmosphere with a lot of Carbon in it.
I sometimes wonder what they think when they look up in the night sky and see sparkling Venus. Couldn't it be that the God they admire so much put Venus there specifically to draw attention to the dangers of global warming?
People are attracted to beautiful things aren't they?
Venus rhymes with Penis
and hangs low in the sky.
It does not need Viagra to
attract my naked eye.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Our looming crises
While the Bush administration has been a failure on many levels, it has reserved its' broadest failure for our energy supplies.
China is kicking our bottom all over the globe in this department in large part due to our international pariah status.
Andy Griffith always kept Barney Fife's bullets because he knew that Barney would shoot himself in the foot. Barney Fife, to further indulge the analogy, is president Bush. Andy Griffith was supposed to be played by Dick Cheney, but my suspicion is that he suffers from dementia.
Now Barney Fife has plenty of bullets and Andy Griffith is instead egging him on and people are being tortured in Mayberry.
Back to reality.
In this editorial Noam Chomsky claims that US hostility is driving our current oil suppliers into China's arms.
Funding China's rise
What will power US implements of destruction if we persist in making so many enemies?
What will happen to our economy when China not only holds much of our debt, but also the tools to wreak havoc with our economy?
Why hasn't Congress gone to work on Bush's impeachment yet?
China is kicking our bottom all over the globe in this department in large part due to our international pariah status.
Andy Griffith always kept Barney Fife's bullets because he knew that Barney would shoot himself in the foot. Barney Fife, to further indulge the analogy, is president Bush. Andy Griffith was supposed to be played by Dick Cheney, but my suspicion is that he suffers from dementia.
Now Barney Fife has plenty of bullets and Andy Griffith is instead egging him on and people are being tortured in Mayberry.
Back to reality.
In this editorial Noam Chomsky claims that US hostility is driving our current oil suppliers into China's arms.
Funding China's rise
What will power US implements of destruction if we persist in making so many enemies?
What will happen to our economy when China not only holds much of our debt, but also the tools to wreak havoc with our economy?
Why hasn't Congress gone to work on Bush's impeachment yet?
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Rumsfeld's replacement
I was thinking the other day that fighting Al Qaeda must be a lot like fighting an infectious disease.
I then realized that an interesting candidate to replace Donald Rumsfeld might be none other than Microsoft's Bill Gates.
He is very well qualified to handle a large organization and now has experience combating infectious diseases all around the globe.
I then realized that an interesting candidate to replace Donald Rumsfeld might be none other than Microsoft's Bill Gates.
He is very well qualified to handle a large organization and now has experience combating infectious diseases all around the globe.
Monday, May 29, 2006
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is reserved for reflecting upon those that have passed.
There is plenty to reflect upon in this time of madness and deceit. There are plenty of thorns upon this tree which yields no fruit.
Today, though, I wish to remember two dozen Iraqi civilians.
Scandal may undermine Iraq effort
It is disheartening to reflect that unlike Osama, Iraqis never attacked us, and that they therefore are being killed innocently.
It is disheartening to reflect that these particular people were killed after Saddam's removal from power anyway, and they were therefore murdered without the thinnest of pretexts.
It is doubly disheartening to see how little understanding such suffering generates in the hearts and minds of those most responsible for this catastrophe:
Self aggrandizement
I think that president Bush is a total failure - as a leader, as a follower of Christ, and as a human being. I view his life as the epitome of wasted potential.
How does one born with everything handed to them become so mean and hateful?
All the worlds major religions would answer it is because of a failure to develop love and compassion, which implies a self-centered outlook.
I'm not sure how a man with children manages that. He must be quite committed to selfish behavior.
There is plenty to reflect upon in this time of madness and deceit. There are plenty of thorns upon this tree which yields no fruit.
Today, though, I wish to remember two dozen Iraqi civilians.
Scandal may undermine Iraq effort
It is disheartening to reflect that unlike Osama, Iraqis never attacked us, and that they therefore are being killed innocently.
It is disheartening to reflect that these particular people were killed after Saddam's removal from power anyway, and they were therefore murdered without the thinnest of pretexts.
It is doubly disheartening to see how little understanding such suffering generates in the hearts and minds of those most responsible for this catastrophe:
Self aggrandizement
I think that president Bush is a total failure - as a leader, as a follower of Christ, and as a human being. I view his life as the epitome of wasted potential.
How does one born with everything handed to them become so mean and hateful?
All the worlds major religions would answer it is because of a failure to develop love and compassion, which implies a self-centered outlook.
I'm not sure how a man with children manages that. He must be quite committed to selfish behavior.
Friday, May 26, 2006
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Damocrats
Rep. William Jefferson tossed the democrats a hanging breaking ball and they swung and missed.
This corrupt representative took bribes in the amount of 100,000 dollars and stashed it in his freezer. The FBI filmed him accepting the extortion money (or pay-to-play money if you prefer).
The FBI then obtained a warrant and searched his office.
Unless you want to argue that Congress should be above the law, then there is no basis for opposing the actions of the FBI.
That doesn't stop Nancy Pelosi from joining Dennis Hastert in a fit of pique, though, in a bipartisan moment of utter ridiculousness:
Return of Jefferson Files Is Sought
Since I believe that Justice is the one word that can best describe the democratic party (when it is successful), it is easy to see that Nancy Pelosi is damaging democrats chances of winning influence in November. What she ought to do is cut ties and denounce Rep. Jefferson's activities, cut off his reelection funding, and personally see to it that a terrific candidate runs against him.
As to his race, the color at issue is green, not black. Mr Jefferson shamed his party and if anyone should be mad at him it is the Congressional Black Caucus (unless they want to take the ludicrous position that it is racist to prosecute a crook if he is black).
I think that ethical education in our schools is long overdue. It can be rationally-based and secular in nature and would help Americans distinguish good behavior from bad in times like these.
A man caught stealing from the public should not seek our apologies.
This corrupt representative took bribes in the amount of 100,000 dollars and stashed it in his freezer. The FBI filmed him accepting the extortion money (or pay-to-play money if you prefer).
The FBI then obtained a warrant and searched his office.
Unless you want to argue that Congress should be above the law, then there is no basis for opposing the actions of the FBI.
That doesn't stop Nancy Pelosi from joining Dennis Hastert in a fit of pique, though, in a bipartisan moment of utter ridiculousness:
Return of Jefferson Files Is Sought
Since I believe that Justice is the one word that can best describe the democratic party (when it is successful), it is easy to see that Nancy Pelosi is damaging democrats chances of winning influence in November. What she ought to do is cut ties and denounce Rep. Jefferson's activities, cut off his reelection funding, and personally see to it that a terrific candidate runs against him.
As to his race, the color at issue is green, not black. Mr Jefferson shamed his party and if anyone should be mad at him it is the Congressional Black Caucus (unless they want to take the ludicrous position that it is racist to prosecute a crook if he is black).
I think that ethical education in our schools is long overdue. It can be rationally-based and secular in nature and would help Americans distinguish good behavior from bad in times like these.
A man caught stealing from the public should not seek our apologies.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Vacation
I am going on vacation until May 22nd. I thought I'd
leave you with something crucial to know.
During the Cuban missile crisis the Ruskies sent us two letters. One was full of bravado for the Russian generals, and the other was a negotiating framework. President John F. Kennedy ignored the bravado and paid attention to the policy letter. The crisis ended without resorting to nuclear explosions.
The Iranians seem to have taken the same approach as the Russians by sending us two letters. President Bush, however, has all but ignored the policy letter and continues to excite the prospects of confrontation.
The fact of the policy letter remains, though, and I think it is important that Americans familiarize themselves with its' existence (if not its' contents). Hassan Rohani, representing Ayatollah Khameini (Iran's Supreme Leader), presented the policy letter to Time magazine:
Olive branch?
What I really want from president Bush is to go fish for fish in his stocked fish pond on his stocked ranch. He seems to enjoy that and it is, I think, where he belongs.
To consider for a moment that he holds the whole world in his hands is my idea of a world on fire (HELLFIRE specifically).
He´s got the the tiny little baby,
in his hands,
He´s got the the tiny little baby,
in his hands,
He´s got the whole world in his hands.
He´s got you and me, brother,
in his hands,
He´s got you and me, brother,
in his hands,
He´s got the whole world in his hands.
He's got ev'rybody here,
in his hands.
He's got ev'rybody here,
in his hands.
He´s got the whole world in his hands.
ADDENDUM: Iran's president says he is ready to negotiate Details here.
leave you with something crucial to know.
During the Cuban missile crisis the Ruskies sent us two letters. One was full of bravado for the Russian generals, and the other was a negotiating framework. President John F. Kennedy ignored the bravado and paid attention to the policy letter. The crisis ended without resorting to nuclear explosions.
The Iranians seem to have taken the same approach as the Russians by sending us two letters. President Bush, however, has all but ignored the policy letter and continues to excite the prospects of confrontation.
The fact of the policy letter remains, though, and I think it is important that Americans familiarize themselves with its' existence (if not its' contents). Hassan Rohani, representing Ayatollah Khameini (Iran's Supreme Leader), presented the policy letter to Time magazine:
Olive branch?
What I really want from president Bush is to go fish for fish in his stocked fish pond on his stocked ranch. He seems to enjoy that and it is, I think, where he belongs.
To consider for a moment that he holds the whole world in his hands is my idea of a world on fire (HELLFIRE specifically).
He´s got the the tiny little baby,
in his hands,
He´s got the the tiny little baby,
in his hands,
He´s got the whole world in his hands.
He´s got you and me, brother,
in his hands,
He´s got you and me, brother,
in his hands,
He´s got the whole world in his hands.
He's got ev'rybody here,
in his hands.
He's got ev'rybody here,
in his hands.
He´s got the whole world in his hands.
ADDENDUM: Iran's president says he is ready to negotiate Details here.
How low can he go?
I don't follow president Bush's poll numbers very closely because it is obvious that they don't matter. He isn't running again. If American opinion of him is low it is because of his bad policy decisions, and it is these misguided policies that need to be watched closely.
However the latest CBS/New York Times poll is Nixonian-low. Lower than I have ever seen. So low, I thought they should be illustrated by playing a game. On the left are categories. On the right are poll numbers. See if you can guess which numbers go with which categories. The answers are provided at the link below:
Answers Here
However the latest CBS/New York Times poll is Nixonian-low. Lower than I have ever seen. So low, I thought they should be illustrated by playing a game. On the left are categories. On the right are poll numbers. See if you can guess which numbers go with which categories. The answers are provided at the link below:
| Do you approve of the way George W. Bush is handling‚… | Approval Ratings |
| ‚…his job as president? | 13% |
| ‚…the economy? | 26% |
| ‚…the issue of immigration? | 27% |
| ‚…the campaign against terrorism? | 28% |
| ‚…the situation in | 29% |
| ‚…foreign policy? | 31% |
| ‚…the issue of gas prices? | 46% |
Answers Here
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Ode to Bush?
I Don't Want Your Millions, Mister
I don't want your millions, Mister,
I don't want your diamond ring,
All I want is the right to live, Mister,
Give me back my job again.
I don't want your Rolls-Royce, Mister,
I don't want your pleasure yacht,
All I want is food for my babies,
Give to me my old job back.
We worked to build this country, Mister,
While you enjoyed a life of ease,
You've stolen all that we built, Mister,
Now our children starve and freeze.
Think me dumb if you wish, Mister,
Call me green, or blue or red;
This one thing I sure know, Mister,
My hungry babies must be fed.
You'd think this song was written in 2006 for president George W. Bush. It is instead a folk song collected by Alan Lomax and published in "The Folk Songs of North America".
Perhaps I'll learn to play and sing it.
I don't want your millions, Mister,
I don't want your diamond ring,
All I want is the right to live, Mister,
Give me back my job again.
I don't want your Rolls-Royce, Mister,
I don't want your pleasure yacht,
All I want is food for my babies,
Give to me my old job back.
We worked to build this country, Mister,
While you enjoyed a life of ease,
You've stolen all that we built, Mister,
Now our children starve and freeze.
Think me dumb if you wish, Mister,
Call me green, or blue or red;
This one thing I sure know, Mister,
My hungry babies must be fed.
You'd think this song was written in 2006 for president George W. Bush. It is instead a folk song collected by Alan Lomax and published in "The Folk Songs of North America".
Perhaps I'll learn to play and sing it.
Monday, May 08, 2006
Goss gone
Porter Goss, a political appointee akin to Michael Brown, was driven out of the CIA.
There is much speculation that he was tied to the Watergate poker parties which disgraced "Duke" Cunningham.
Hookers, Poker, and Pioneers
Isn't it curious that one Bush appointment after another turns out to be corrupt, underqualified, or scandalous?
It makes me wonder if the president admires anyone that isn't robed in flaws.
There is much speculation that he was tied to the Watergate poker parties which disgraced "Duke" Cunningham.
Hookers, Poker, and Pioneers
Isn't it curious that one Bush appointment after another turns out to be corrupt, underqualified, or scandalous?
It makes me wonder if the president admires anyone that isn't robed in flaws.
Friday, May 05, 2006
This is America?
This is a very interesting video in and of itself, but there are many finer points which also attract my attention.
In the cookie jar
Ray McGovern is a CIA alumni of some 27 years and worked at a level high enough to provide briefings for George H.W. Bush.
In the video he confronts Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld with his own words and asks him, "Did you lie?"
As I said the video is interesting in and of itself.
What is also interesting, though, is how hostile the crowd is to Mr. McGovern. I find that inexcusable considering his service record.
Someone that has spent a lifetime defending America deserves, at minimum, courtesy and respect. I think that Donald Rumsfeld, to his credit, agrees and at one point seems to interrupt Ray's ejection (while he asks "This is America?").
Mr. Rumsfeld's respect doesn't seem to go so far as to answer Mr. McGovern's questions honestly, but I expect answering the question truthfully would make it easy to convict him as a war criminal.
What seems left hanging in the air is Donald Rumsfeld did say two things demonstrably false:
1. He knew where the weapons of mass destruction were located (near Tikrit).
2. There was bullet-proof evidence of an Iraq/Al Qaeda link.
What also seems to hang in the air is a room so partisan that what matters is not, "What is True?" but "What color are your politics?".
I also would like to compliment Keith Olbermann of MSNBC for fact-checking Ray's questions for the audience. I wish more so-called news broadcasts contained such context.
Facts matter, aye?
In the cookie jar
Ray McGovern is a CIA alumni of some 27 years and worked at a level high enough to provide briefings for George H.W. Bush.
In the video he confronts Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld with his own words and asks him, "Did you lie?"
As I said the video is interesting in and of itself.
What is also interesting, though, is how hostile the crowd is to Mr. McGovern. I find that inexcusable considering his service record.
Someone that has spent a lifetime defending America deserves, at minimum, courtesy and respect. I think that Donald Rumsfeld, to his credit, agrees and at one point seems to interrupt Ray's ejection (while he asks "This is America?").
Mr. Rumsfeld's respect doesn't seem to go so far as to answer Mr. McGovern's questions honestly, but I expect answering the question truthfully would make it easy to convict him as a war criminal.
What seems left hanging in the air is Donald Rumsfeld did say two things demonstrably false:
1. He knew where the weapons of mass destruction were located (near Tikrit).
2. There was bullet-proof evidence of an Iraq/Al Qaeda link.
What also seems to hang in the air is a room so partisan that what matters is not, "What is True?" but "What color are your politics?".
I also would like to compliment Keith Olbermann of MSNBC for fact-checking Ray's questions for the audience. I wish more so-called news broadcasts contained such context.
Facts matter, aye?
Thursday, May 04, 2006
The bouncing ball
Those that identify undercover agents are the most insidious of traitors.
- George H.W. Bush -
Iran, says president George W. Bush, is a member of the "axis of evil" and furthermore a grave and gathering threat to US interests.
However, one Karl Rove blew Valerie Plame's cover WHILE SHE WAS PART OF AN OPERATION TRACKING PROLIFERATION OF NUCLEAR MATERIALS INTO IRAN.
Karl Rove, of course, still maintains his job and George W. Bush's respect:
Valerie's work
Equally disturbing is the knowledge that the office of one Richard Cheney knew Plame's work was important to US national security interests:
Details Here
I have always wondered why everyone assumed Valerie had her cover blown to punish ambassador Joseph Wilson.
Is there a credible reason to assume that?
Could it be she had her cover blown because she knows a lot about Iran's nuclear program?
Was it, in other words, a preemptive strike against the Truth?
- George H.W. Bush -
Iran, says president George W. Bush, is a member of the "axis of evil" and furthermore a grave and gathering threat to US interests.
However, one Karl Rove blew Valerie Plame's cover WHILE SHE WAS PART OF AN OPERATION TRACKING PROLIFERATION OF NUCLEAR MATERIALS INTO IRAN.
Karl Rove, of course, still maintains his job and George W. Bush's respect:
Valerie's work
Equally disturbing is the knowledge that the office of one Richard Cheney knew Plame's work was important to US national security interests:
Details Here
I have always wondered why everyone assumed Valerie had her cover blown to punish ambassador Joseph Wilson.
Is there a credible reason to assume that?
Could it be she had her cover blown because she knows a lot about Iran's nuclear program?
Was it, in other words, a preemptive strike against the Truth?
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Colbert Clobbers
If you would like to watch Stephen Colbert humiliate president Bush as he sits mere feet from him, then click the link below:
Misery Accomplished
I can't help but wonder if those who invited Mr. Colbert to speak at the Whitehouse A.P. dinner did so accidentally or intentionally.
Misery Accomplished
I can't help but wonder if those who invited Mr. Colbert to speak at the Whitehouse A.P. dinner did so accidentally or intentionally.
Going in circles
President Bush seems like a character from a Greek fairytale to me. There was, for instance Narcissus, who was so captivated with his own reflection in a pool that he grew roots and became the flower by that name.
I think President Bush would fit right in as Centrifugal, the man that perpetually turns corners without ever realizing he's going in circles. Convinced his goal is just around the corner and just out of reach, and unable to change his mind, fate drives him around and around and around. Madness keeps him on course and the paranoia of losing ground refreshes his conviction.
Turning Another Corner in Iraq
I think President Bush would fit right in as Centrifugal, the man that perpetually turns corners without ever realizing he's going in circles. Convinced his goal is just around the corner and just out of reach, and unable to change his mind, fate drives him around and around and around. Madness keeps him on course and the paranoia of losing ground refreshes his conviction.
Turning Another Corner in Iraq
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
750 Reasons to Impeach
President Bush has quietly claimed the authority to disobey more than 750 laws enacted since he took office, asserting that he has the power to set aside any statute passed by Congress when it conflicts with his interpretation of the Constitution.
Charlie Savage of Boston Globe
Charlie Savage of Boston Globe
Monday, May 01, 2006
Voices from New York
One reason I like the internet and blogging is that when the mainstream media takes away, the internets giveth.
In New York this weekend hundreds of thousands turned out for anti-war protests (or at least anti-Iraq-war protests) and they were all but ignored by the network viewsmen.
Don't these marchers deserve to receive the coverage and attention of a Terry Schiavo melodrama or an Elian Gonzalez moment?
I, for one, would like to know what makes someone leave the comfort of their confines and chant slogans more than I would like to know about, say, the annual plight of shark attack victims.
Wouldn't you?
Thanks to the internets you can.
Give impeachment a chance
In New York this weekend hundreds of thousands turned out for anti-war protests (or at least anti-Iraq-war protests) and they were all but ignored by the network viewsmen.
Don't these marchers deserve to receive the coverage and attention of a Terry Schiavo melodrama or an Elian Gonzalez moment?
I, for one, would like to know what makes someone leave the comfort of their confines and chant slogans more than I would like to know about, say, the annual plight of shark attack victims.
Wouldn't you?
Thanks to the internets you can.
Give impeachment a chance
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Viva HJR0125!
Have you heard about section 603 of the Jefferson's Manual of the Rules of the United States House of Representatives?
You will.
Illuminating Illinois
You will.
Illuminating Illinois
Zbignoway
Zbigniew Brezienski wrote an OpEd for the International Herald Tribune which categorizes the stupidity of preemptively striking Iran and you can read it here:
Do not attack Iran
While I agree with many of his points, I still say the most salient point is that the Bush administration is too incompetent to undertake any more wars.
You can't expect Jimmy Olson to do Superman's job.
Do not attack Iran
While I agree with many of his points, I still say the most salient point is that the Bush administration is too incompetent to undertake any more wars.
You can't expect Jimmy Olson to do Superman's job.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
The before death
Many religions are focused on the afterlife, but it also seems sensible to fret a bit about the beforedeath period of our existence.
Whatever the rosy scenario that awaits us eternally I see no reason to condemn us in the interim to a waiting room without kindness.
Also interesting to me is the before life period. If I have an immortal soul then how could I possibly have a beginning?
If you think about it either the chicken or the egg must have come first. The same applies to the tree and the seed. The baby or the adult.
Also, I have also not been able to understand why human beings have evolved from both a male and a female. How can it be that two parts of a whole evolved separately, in the same timeframe to within decades, and able to survive and propagate cooperatively?
Perhaps the first humans were androgynous? At least that would decrease the unlikelihood of a man/woman parallel evolution.
They would also have to have been capable of survival from birth. If not, that would of necessity be true for their ancestors until eventually it is true.
I find the creator myth unacceptable as an explanation. Who created the creator? The creator's creator? And so on...
How did we begin?
Isn't that a fascinating puzzle?
Whatever the rosy scenario that awaits us eternally I see no reason to condemn us in the interim to a waiting room without kindness.
Also interesting to me is the before life period. If I have an immortal soul then how could I possibly have a beginning?
If you think about it either the chicken or the egg must have come first. The same applies to the tree and the seed. The baby or the adult.
Also, I have also not been able to understand why human beings have evolved from both a male and a female. How can it be that two parts of a whole evolved separately, in the same timeframe to within decades, and able to survive and propagate cooperatively?
Perhaps the first humans were androgynous? At least that would decrease the unlikelihood of a man/woman parallel evolution.
They would also have to have been capable of survival from birth. If not, that would of necessity be true for their ancestors until eventually it is true.
I find the creator myth unacceptable as an explanation. Who created the creator? The creator's creator? And so on...
How did we begin?
Isn't that a fascinating puzzle?
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
8 little general boys
Retired general Paul Van Riper becomes the 8th general to call for Donald Rumsfeld's retirement. Said Mr. Riper, "If I were president I would have relieved him [Mr. Rumsfeld] 3 years ago."
Video here
I say again that president Bush can maintain morale or maintain Rumsfeld but he cannot do both at once.
Video here
I say again that president Bush can maintain morale or maintain Rumsfeld but he cannot do both at once.
Monday, April 24, 2006
New Neil
Neil Young has a new album coming out and he talks about it here in a CNN segment (hosted by You Tube).
At least one song called "Impeach the President" is bound to discomfit the Bush dead enders (the reds), but if this album
is anything like his previous album it will be supercalifragilisticexpealladocious.
It's a long song
If Neil isn't your thing, then perhaps you'd be interested in this Pink video. She sings a simple, powerful, song live called...
Dear Mr. President
The end seems near for president Bush. He is the nude emperor defiant now and our role is simply to keep up the laughter.
At least one song called "Impeach the President" is bound to discomfit the Bush dead enders (the reds), but if this album
is anything like his previous album it will be supercalifragilisticexpealladocious.
It's a long song
If Neil isn't your thing, then perhaps you'd be interested in this Pink video. She sings a simple, powerful, song live called...
Dear Mr. President
The end seems near for president Bush. He is the nude emperor defiant now and our role is simply to keep up the laughter.
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Decider's Blues
President Bush thinks that Donald Rumsfeld is doing a heck of a job. "I'm the decider.", he decidedly says, while ignoring bipartisan and military calls for his dismissal.
I have no idea upon what evidence he bases his opinion, but I assume it has nothing to do with the way things are going in Iraq.
For instance, gunmen in Baghdad entered two primary schools and beheaded two teachers in front of their students.
Details here
If those are the fruits of competent leadership I'll eat my hat.
I have no idea upon what evidence he bases his opinion, but I assume it has nothing to do with the way things are going in Iraq.
For instance, gunmen in Baghdad entered two primary schools and beheaded two teachers in front of their students.
Details here
If those are the fruits of competent leadership I'll eat my hat.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
A good question
Richard Clarke, former national coordinator for security and counterterrorism, poses a simple question for Iran war planners.
How would bombing Iran serve American security interests?
In other words, he asks not how, but why.
Bombs That Would Backfire
How would bombing Iran serve American security interests?
In other words, he asks not how, but why.
Bombs That Would Backfire
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Nuts!
Recently I heard an odd noise in the house. When I looked up one of my cats had an intense, but dumb-struck gaze, fixated in the same direction.
I put down my book and followed her gaze and there on the floor was a very young eastern gray squirrel. It was so young it's eyes were not yet open and it seemed rather pissed off about it's isolation.
While my cat Lucille would have been only too happy to keep it company it was not the type I thought the poor little thing would enjoy.
But, what to do?
I captured it. That part was easy enough to decide and to execute.
I assumed that one or two of the squirrels on the lawn constantly assaulting my bird feeder must be it's parent(s). None of my cats were talking under interrogation, but I assumed one of them was the reason a squirrel that belonged on the outside was in the inside of my home.
I conjectured that the thing to do was to take the little guy outside and, as they say, let nature take it's coarse (much more poetic as a typo).
I would look out at the squirrel once in a while as it made circles on the lawn and slowly expanded its range. At one point a cat moved in, but squirrels can make a screech that animals with sensitive hearing don't enjoy. At least that is my guess as to what took place. The cat moved along. Perhaps it considered the challenge beneath it's prowess?
In a while longer I noticed a squirrel in the vicinity. In order not to scare it away I left the window because the mother and child reunion appeared only a motion away.
But then I heard a second screech and as I moved back to the window I saw that the newly arrived squirrel appeared to be having trouble picking up the little tyke.
Or so I thought....
What it was having a spot of difficulty doing was murdering the poor little thing!
This is a clear example of how good intentions and good actions can be thwarted by ignorance of crucial facts.
This is a clear example of why even moral values voters should use Reason if they truly care to express moral behavior.
It is true that fear or ignorance strengthen the likelihood of error, and their combination makes error unavoidable if not attractive.
We stand on the brink of watching these things combined on a nuclear-grand scale, whereas careful attention to the coarse of nature teaches the same lesson.
The blind led by the ignorant do not fare well, whatever the intent of the ignorant.
I put down my book and followed her gaze and there on the floor was a very young eastern gray squirrel. It was so young it's eyes were not yet open and it seemed rather pissed off about it's isolation.
While my cat Lucille would have been only too happy to keep it company it was not the type I thought the poor little thing would enjoy.
But, what to do?
I captured it. That part was easy enough to decide and to execute.
I assumed that one or two of the squirrels on the lawn constantly assaulting my bird feeder must be it's parent(s). None of my cats were talking under interrogation, but I assumed one of them was the reason a squirrel that belonged on the outside was in the inside of my home.
I conjectured that the thing to do was to take the little guy outside and, as they say, let nature take it's coarse (much more poetic as a typo).
I would look out at the squirrel once in a while as it made circles on the lawn and slowly expanded its range. At one point a cat moved in, but squirrels can make a screech that animals with sensitive hearing don't enjoy. At least that is my guess as to what took place. The cat moved along. Perhaps it considered the challenge beneath it's prowess?
In a while longer I noticed a squirrel in the vicinity. In order not to scare it away I left the window because the mother and child reunion appeared only a motion away.
But then I heard a second screech and as I moved back to the window I saw that the newly arrived squirrel appeared to be having trouble picking up the little tyke.
Or so I thought....
What it was having a spot of difficulty doing was murdering the poor little thing!
This is a clear example of how good intentions and good actions can be thwarted by ignorance of crucial facts.
This is a clear example of why even moral values voters should use Reason if they truly care to express moral behavior.
It is true that fear or ignorance strengthen the likelihood of error, and their combination makes error unavoidable if not attractive.
We stand on the brink of watching these things combined on a nuclear-grand scale, whereas careful attention to the coarse of nature teaches the same lesson.
The blind led by the ignorant do not fare well, whatever the intent of the ignorant.
Monday, April 17, 2006
Listen Donald
"[Donald Rumsfeld] has proved himself incompetent strategically, operationally and tactically. Mr. Rumsfeld must step down."
- General Paul Eaton, who oversaw training of Iraqi army troops, 2003-2004 -
"I really believe that we need a new secretary of defense because Secretary Rumsfeld carries way too much baggage with him. Specifically, I feel he has micromanaged the generals who are leading our forces there."
- retired Maj. Gen. Charles Swannack, former commander of the 82nd Airborne Division. -
"I think we need a fresh start … We need leadership up there (the Pentagon) that respects the military as they expect the military to respect them."
- Maj. Gen. John Batiste, commander 1st Infantry Division in Iraq, 2004-2005 -
"We won't get fooled again … Rumsfeld and many others unwilling to fundamentally change their approach should be replaced."
- Marines Lt. Gen. Gregory Newbold, director of operations of Joint Chiefs of Staff, 2000-2002 -
"The problem is that we've wasted three years … absolutely, Rumsfeld should resign."
- Marines Gen. Anthony Zinni, former chief of U.S. Central Command -
"A lot of them [other generals] are hugely frustrated. Rumsfeld gave the impression that military advice was neither required nor desired" in the planning for the Iraq war."
- Lt. Gen. Wallace Gregson, former commander of Marines forces in the Pacific Theater -
"Everyone pretty much thinks Rumsfeld and the bunch around him should be cleared out. [Rumsfeld and his advisers have] made fools of themselves, and totally underestimated what would be needed for a sustained conflict."
- Army Maj. Gen. John Riggs -
Click here for an article discussing the significance of such statements.
- General Paul Eaton, who oversaw training of Iraqi army troops, 2003-2004 -
"I really believe that we need a new secretary of defense because Secretary Rumsfeld carries way too much baggage with him. Specifically, I feel he has micromanaged the generals who are leading our forces there."
- retired Maj. Gen. Charles Swannack, former commander of the 82nd Airborne Division. -
"I think we need a fresh start … We need leadership up there (the Pentagon) that respects the military as they expect the military to respect them."
- Maj. Gen. John Batiste, commander 1st Infantry Division in Iraq, 2004-2005 -
"We won't get fooled again … Rumsfeld and many others unwilling to fundamentally change their approach should be replaced."
- Marines Lt. Gen. Gregory Newbold, director of operations of Joint Chiefs of Staff, 2000-2002 -
"The problem is that we've wasted three years … absolutely, Rumsfeld should resign."
- Marines Gen. Anthony Zinni, former chief of U.S. Central Command -
"A lot of them [other generals] are hugely frustrated. Rumsfeld gave the impression that military advice was neither required nor desired" in the planning for the Iraq war."
- Lt. Gen. Wallace Gregson, former commander of Marines forces in the Pacific Theater -
"Everyone pretty much thinks Rumsfeld and the bunch around him should be cleared out. [Rumsfeld and his advisers have] made fools of themselves, and totally underestimated what would be needed for a sustained conflict."
- Army Maj. Gen. John Riggs -
Click here for an article discussing the significance of such statements.
Friday, April 14, 2006
Bunker Bluster
What would attacking Iran with nuclear bunker busters mean for Iran's neighbors?
According to this video by the Union of Concerned Scientists, about 3 million people dead in Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan.
Whama Bama bOOM Boom
That's the trouble with nukes.
Very large explosions do not qualify as a plan.
Hatred is not a plan.
I say again that the motives of the Bush administration are irrelevant. To borrow a Clintonism, "It's the incompetence stupid".
According to this video by the Union of Concerned Scientists, about 3 million people dead in Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan.
Whama Bama bOOM Boom
That's the trouble with nukes.
Very large explosions do not qualify as a plan.
Hatred is not a plan.
I say again that the motives of the Bush administration are irrelevant. To borrow a Clintonism, "It's the incompetence stupid".
Osama free, pentagon spying on gays
It is curious to me that military officers swear an oath to the Constitution of the United States and yet a program at the pentagon has been spying on Americans organizing against the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.
Are gay people flying hijacked planes into tall buildings?
Don't we hand Osama a victory when we abandon the freedoms he reportedly "can't stand" without a fight?
What are we fighting for?
Are gay people flying hijacked planes into tall buildings?
Don't we hand Osama a victory when we abandon the freedoms he reportedly "can't stand" without a fight?
What are we fighting for?
Thursday, April 13, 2006
A quartet
Retired Major General John Batiste makes the fourth US general to publicly call for Donald Rumsfeld's dismissal:
Don you incompetent slut
Mr. Rumsfeld should have been fired a long time ago and the president can no longer sustain morale and Mr. Rumsfeld both.
Loyalty is generally commendable but it is tragic when carried too far. America's national security interests must come before Mr. Rumsfeld's hurt feelings.
Don you incompetent slut
Mr. Rumsfeld should have been fired a long time ago and the president can no longer sustain morale and Mr. Rumsfeld both.
Loyalty is generally commendable but it is tragic when carried too far. America's national security interests must come before Mr. Rumsfeld's hurt feelings.
I sez about Iran
Everywhere I look these days I see stories about Iran.
We're going to bomb Iran they say.
Our "plan" is apparently to bomb them and then the people of Iran will welcome us as liberators, then rise up and "regime change" their leaders.
Oh brother.
Albert Einstein had the perfect response for that one:
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."
It is my view that we do not want Iran to have nuclear weapons for the same reason we do not let children play with guns. It is also true, however, that we have a president in the whitehouse that couldn't orchestrate the complicated insertion of a pretzel in his mouth without choking.
Yes. Iran's president is insane and would no sooner have a nuclear weapon than he would be threatening our ally Israel. However, we can't send deputy Fife to do Andy Griffith's job.
The Bush administration has been such a catastrophic failure that I view their motives as irrelevant. The more important the venture, the less I want them to take it on.
What I sez is:
1. We admit that this is about Israel and about oil. We defend our allies and we need oil and no more needs to be said.
2. We suggest that Israel join NATO. Iran will then know an attack on one is an attack on all.
3. Oil dependence and oil wars are linked. We should about-face and raise CAFE standards, put windmills on every cell-phone tower, give tax breaks for solar panels, decentralize our power grid, convert government fleets to zero emission vehicles, develop tidal sources of electricity, and point this nation to the inevitable future.
4. We allow existing nuclear power plants to be replaced with modern facilities that also produce hydrogen. If we're gonna have them, let's have them as safe as possible. We should also fund research into nuclear waste re-use and decontamination. Let's set a goal of say, 50 years before we either shut down what we have (because research hasn't eliminated unsafe waste) or expand what we have.
5. Let us be guided by our successes rather than our failures. Historically embargos combined with inspections do a terrific job of containment. That should be our plan for Iran.
6. We also need a carrot. The historical carrot is technology.
In short this plan uses historically successful methods to deal with the immediate problem and simultaneously addresses the underlying conflict by making America energy self-sufficient.
The day we no longer need a product that enriches our enemies is a day we start to breathe easier.
We're going to bomb Iran they say.
Our "plan" is apparently to bomb them and then the people of Iran will welcome us as liberators, then rise up and "regime change" their leaders.
Oh brother.
Albert Einstein had the perfect response for that one:
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."
It is my view that we do not want Iran to have nuclear weapons for the same reason we do not let children play with guns. It is also true, however, that we have a president in the whitehouse that couldn't orchestrate the complicated insertion of a pretzel in his mouth without choking.
Yes. Iran's president is insane and would no sooner have a nuclear weapon than he would be threatening our ally Israel. However, we can't send deputy Fife to do Andy Griffith's job.
The Bush administration has been such a catastrophic failure that I view their motives as irrelevant. The more important the venture, the less I want them to take it on.
What I sez is:
1. We admit that this is about Israel and about oil. We defend our allies and we need oil and no more needs to be said.
2. We suggest that Israel join NATO. Iran will then know an attack on one is an attack on all.
3. Oil dependence and oil wars are linked. We should about-face and raise CAFE standards, put windmills on every cell-phone tower, give tax breaks for solar panels, decentralize our power grid, convert government fleets to zero emission vehicles, develop tidal sources of electricity, and point this nation to the inevitable future.
4. We allow existing nuclear power plants to be replaced with modern facilities that also produce hydrogen. If we're gonna have them, let's have them as safe as possible. We should also fund research into nuclear waste re-use and decontamination. Let's set a goal of say, 50 years before we either shut down what we have (because research hasn't eliminated unsafe waste) or expand what we have.
5. Let us be guided by our successes rather than our failures. Historically embargos combined with inspections do a terrific job of containment. That should be our plan for Iran.
6. We also need a carrot. The historical carrot is technology.
In short this plan uses historically successful methods to deal with the immediate problem and simultaneously addresses the underlying conflict by making America energy self-sufficient.
The day we no longer need a product that enriches our enemies is a day we start to breathe easier.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Trouble in the forest
There is disquiet in the woods.
Yet another general has come forward to call for Donald Rumsfeld's resignation. Yet another general has said this administration is trying to fight a war with rhetoric and it is costing us lives.
Recently retired Marine Corps lieutenant general Greg Newbold says:
"I now regret that I did not more openly challenge those who were determined to invade a country whose actions were peripheral to the real threat--al-Qaeda."
...
"The cost of flawed leadership continues to be paid in blood. The willingness of our forces to shoulder such a load should make it a sacred obligation for civilian and military leaders to get our defense policy right."
...
"To be sure, the Bush Administration and senior military officials are not alone in their culpability. Members of Congress--from both parties--defaulted in fulfilling their constitutional responsibility for oversight. Many in the media saw the warning signs and heard cautionary tales before the invasion from wise observers like former Central Command chiefs Joe Hoar and Tony Zinni but gave insufficient weight to their views."
...
Read entire editorial here
Yet another general has come forward to call for Donald Rumsfeld's resignation. Yet another general has said this administration is trying to fight a war with rhetoric and it is costing us lives.
Recently retired Marine Corps lieutenant general Greg Newbold says:
"I now regret that I did not more openly challenge those who were determined to invade a country whose actions were peripheral to the real threat--al-Qaeda."
...
"The cost of flawed leadership continues to be paid in blood. The willingness of our forces to shoulder such a load should make it a sacred obligation for civilian and military leaders to get our defense policy right."
...
"To be sure, the Bush Administration and senior military officials are not alone in their culpability. Members of Congress--from both parties--defaulted in fulfilling their constitutional responsibility for oversight. Many in the media saw the warning signs and heard cautionary tales before the invasion from wise observers like former Central Command chiefs Joe Hoar and Tony Zinni but gave insufficient weight to their views."
...
Read entire editorial here
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
More Masturbatory Morality
Somehow 80% of evangelical Christians feel they are "under attack" in America. This is in spite of the fact the president of the United States is an evangelical Christian.
This is in spite of the fact that God's Own Party controls both houses of Congress and just installed superstition servants in the Supreme Court.
They should be under attack for their bigoted, intolerant, violent, science-harassing, red-faced angry crusades.
For the latest, click here
But they are not:
* Ballparks sing "God bless America" in open contradiction to their delusions.
* Our money says, in McCarthyite glory, "In God we trust" right on it.
* Christmas songs assault the airwaves every December.
* Jerry Fallwell would be in an insane asylum if he weren't considered religious instead of crazy.
* There are campaigns to preach the Bible in science classes (creationism is plagiarised from the wisdom of Solomon).
* Churches are not taxed.
* The federal government is now handing out tax money to religious charities.
These are all signs, dear readers, that evangelical Christians are not under attack.
It is homosexuals that are under attack.
Are they not creations of God to evangelicals?
This is in spite of the fact that God's Own Party controls both houses of Congress and just installed superstition servants in the Supreme Court.
They should be under attack for their bigoted, intolerant, violent, science-harassing, red-faced angry crusades.
For the latest, click here
But they are not:
* Ballparks sing "God bless America" in open contradiction to their delusions.
* Our money says, in McCarthyite glory, "In God we trust" right on it.
* Christmas songs assault the airwaves every December.
* Jerry Fallwell would be in an insane asylum if he weren't considered religious instead of crazy.
* There are campaigns to preach the Bible in science classes (creationism is plagiarised from the wisdom of Solomon).
* Churches are not taxed.
* The federal government is now handing out tax money to religious charities.
These are all signs, dear readers, that evangelical Christians are not under attack.
It is homosexuals that are under attack.
Are they not creations of God to evangelicals?
Monday, April 10, 2006
How Democrats win
I find the consistent combination of arrogance and inaptitude present in Washington democratic strategists nearly as frustrating as Donald Rumsfeld's when it comes to Iraq.
I'm not sure how many elections democrats are prepared to lose before they seek out consultants with successful track records, but when and if they are ready they should be prepared to hear David Sirota.
In this article he proposes a winning strategy that has actually won in point of fact, and not just in some self-promoter's imagination:
Getting off a dead horse
I'll paraphrase his "seven lessons" here, but you should read his article:
1. Fight the class war (promote economic justice).
2. Champion small business over big business (protect economic opportunity).
3. Protect Tom Joad (don't punish small farms with corporate handouts).
4. Turn the hunters and the exurbs green (protect natural recreational opportunities from land barons).
5. Become a Teddy Roosevelt clone (be for responsible businesses big or small).
6. Clean up government (promote transparency, stop no-bid contracts, spend public money on public needs).
7. Use the values prism (maintain your ethical principles and use them when speaking about issues).
There it is a platform with a proven record of success. Anyone that rejects these ideas as fringe ought to examine Joe Lieberman's popularity as a candidate in the last election.
Now that's fringe!
I'm not sure how many elections democrats are prepared to lose before they seek out consultants with successful track records, but when and if they are ready they should be prepared to hear David Sirota.
In this article he proposes a winning strategy that has actually won in point of fact, and not just in some self-promoter's imagination:
Getting off a dead horse
I'll paraphrase his "seven lessons" here, but you should read his article:
1. Fight the class war (promote economic justice).
2. Champion small business over big business (protect economic opportunity).
3. Protect Tom Joad (don't punish small farms with corporate handouts).
4. Turn the hunters and the exurbs green (protect natural recreational opportunities from land barons).
5. Become a Teddy Roosevelt clone (be for responsible businesses big or small).
6. Clean up government (promote transparency, stop no-bid contracts, spend public money on public needs).
7. Use the values prism (maintain your ethical principles and use them when speaking about issues).
There it is a platform with a proven record of success. Anyone that rejects these ideas as fringe ought to examine Joe Lieberman's popularity as a candidate in the last election.
Now that's fringe!
Saturday, April 08, 2006
Double standards
On July 7, 2005 bombers killed 52 people in London.
The western world was outraged, condemned the bombings, sent state condolences, and there was constant international news coverage.
On April 7, 2006 bombers killed 79 Iraqis and injured 158 in a triple suicide bombing.
The western world shrugs its shoulders and says next to nothing.
The most conservative estimate I can find shows that at least 10 times more Iraqis were killed via the Iraq war than died on 9/11.
And things continue to get worse.
Yawn.
The western world was outraged, condemned the bombings, sent state condolences, and there was constant international news coverage.
On April 7, 2006 bombers killed 79 Iraqis and injured 158 in a triple suicide bombing.
The western world shrugs its shoulders and says next to nothing.
The most conservative estimate I can find shows that at least 10 times more Iraqis were killed via the Iraq war than died on 9/11.
And things continue to get worse.
Yawn.
Friday, April 07, 2006
Kerry on Libby
I think it was Mark Twain that said, "A lie can cross the ocean before the Truth can put its' sneakers on".
Denis Diderot said, "We swallow greedily any lie that flatters us, but we sip only little by little at a truth we find bitter."
Now that the election of 2004 is long behind us, now that we're mired in Iraq and wallowing in national debt the US press is starting to reveal sneaker-clad Truths to the American people.
Here you can see Chris Matthews of Hardball ask John Kerry about Truths he, particularly, must find bitter. If the American voter only knew then what he knows now...
Find the leaker George
Denis Diderot said, "We swallow greedily any lie that flatters us, but we sip only little by little at a truth we find bitter."
Now that the election of 2004 is long behind us, now that we're mired in Iraq and wallowing in national debt the US press is starting to reveal sneaker-clad Truths to the American people.
Here you can see Chris Matthews of Hardball ask John Kerry about Truths he, particularly, must find bitter. If the American voter only knew then what he knows now...
Find the leaker George
John McCain on the spot
Jon Stewart admires John McCain because he takes strong stands on issues like campaign finance, torture, global warming, and fiscal responsibility.
When John McCain agreed to go down to "crazy base world" and speak at Jerry Fallwell's Liberty University Jon put John on the spot.
See John Squirm
Clearly John McCain wants to have it both ways, calling himself a maverick and pandering to religious fanatics, calling Bush campaign tactics "dirty" and then hiring two of his campaign people.
You can't have it both ways with Jon and it is one of my favorite things about him. He'll call you on it when you are a, (what's the word?)....Hypocrite.
When John McCain agreed to go down to "crazy base world" and speak at Jerry Fallwell's Liberty University Jon put John on the spot.
See John Squirm
Clearly John McCain wants to have it both ways, calling himself a maverick and pandering to religious fanatics, calling Bush campaign tactics "dirty" and then hiring two of his campaign people.
You can't have it both ways with Jon and it is one of my favorite things about him. He'll call you on it when you are a, (what's the word?)....Hypocrite.
Mandatory coverage
Massachusetts lawmakers just approved a bill to require residents to have health insurance.
I don't think I like that idea because it seems to confuse the effect with the cause, and then to prescribe the wrong cure.
What Americans need is health care not health insurance. Why reward the middlemen?
Here's to your health
What's to stop lawmakers from passing laws requiring residents to buy citrus fruit or exercise-gym memberships?
Can any lobby get lawmakers to make their wares mandatory, or just insurance industry lobbyists?
I want people to have health care, but this law strikes me as a Faustian victory and I will maintain my skepticism until I see happy citizens to go along with the happy lobbyists.
I don't think I like that idea because it seems to confuse the effect with the cause, and then to prescribe the wrong cure.
What Americans need is health care not health insurance. Why reward the middlemen?
Here's to your health
What's to stop lawmakers from passing laws requiring residents to buy citrus fruit or exercise-gym memberships?
Can any lobby get lawmakers to make their wares mandatory, or just insurance industry lobbyists?
I want people to have health care, but this law strikes me as a Faustian victory and I will maintain my skepticism until I see happy citizens to go along with the happy lobbyists.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Grand Old Pervert
Here are two news stories that go together like peas in a pod.
1. Sex tourism is thriving in the Bible Belt:
Brittany aged 16
2. Brian J. Doyle, the deputy press secretary for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security was arrested Tuesday for using the Internet to seduce what he thought was a teenage girl:
Soliciting teen sex
My wife feels there is so much corruption in the republican party right now that all the petty crimes could dilute the significance of the truly egregious ones, or else inflict corruption-fatigue upon voters.
I'm not sure where to file this crime, but it sets a pretty low bar for official behavior.
Moral values voters my arse!
Thorns do not grow on a lemon tree.
1. Sex tourism is thriving in the Bible Belt:
Brittany aged 16
2. Brian J. Doyle, the deputy press secretary for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security was arrested Tuesday for using the Internet to seduce what he thought was a teenage girl:
Soliciting teen sex
My wife feels there is so much corruption in the republican party right now that all the petty crimes could dilute the significance of the truly egregious ones, or else inflict corruption-fatigue upon voters.
I'm not sure where to file this crime, but it sets a pretty low bar for official behavior.
Moral values voters my arse!
Thorns do not grow on a lemon tree.
The promise of Genetics
It is tempting, as science leaps and bounds beyond our layman comprehension, to seek refuge from change in the unchanging.
Genetic engineering in particular is a field that generates much refuge seeking.
Genetic engineers are partly to blame for allowing market forces to advance life forces, and for arrogantly dismissing valid safety concerns regarding allergic reactions, super weeds, mono cultures, and human cloning.
However, we now seem to be on the verge of life-improving advances in medicine that are great and good.
Doctors have constructed 7 bladders from 7 patient's own cells and implanted them back into the patients with "good long-term results in all of them."
Not all bad
Just imagine the potential!
How about growing a new heart with good long-term results?
How about replacing that bad kidney with a fresh one?
Genetic engineering in particular is a field that generates much refuge seeking.
Genetic engineers are partly to blame for allowing market forces to advance life forces, and for arrogantly dismissing valid safety concerns regarding allergic reactions, super weeds, mono cultures, and human cloning.
However, we now seem to be on the verge of life-improving advances in medicine that are great and good.
Doctors have constructed 7 bladders from 7 patient's own cells and implanted them back into the patients with "good long-term results in all of them."
Not all bad
Just imagine the potential!
How about growing a new heart with good long-term results?
How about replacing that bad kidney with a fresh one?
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Lonely Russ
Russ Feingold has been unsupported by DC-area democrats as he tries to get a Censure resolution passed in the Senate.
I don't know why that is.
He is intelligent, capable, and makes morally and legally sound arguments. For instance, read his statement on the call to censure:
Constitutionally Correct
If you think about it many Americans have little in common. Life in Alaska, say, is very different from life in Florida. The people are different, the environment is different, the landmass isn't geographically continuous, and the culture is very different.
What unites them as Americans is the Constitution of the United States and Bill of Rights. In Alaska as well as in Florida you may speak freely, worship freely, carry guns, and peacefully assemble.
When the president breaks the laws unchallenged how can he expect to hold this nation united? When he does so he assaults social cohesion itself. He also sets the unpatriotic example that our democratic principles are worthy of contempt.
That DC democrats would abandon Russ shows an acquired lack of understanding of their purpose (which is to promote Justice).
A hero is not a man that engages a fight only when overwhelmingly confident of victory. A hero is a man that does what is right, prospects be damned.
I don't know why that is.
He is intelligent, capable, and makes morally and legally sound arguments. For instance, read his statement on the call to censure:
Constitutionally Correct
If you think about it many Americans have little in common. Life in Alaska, say, is very different from life in Florida. The people are different, the environment is different, the landmass isn't geographically continuous, and the culture is very different.
What unites them as Americans is the Constitution of the United States and Bill of Rights. In Alaska as well as in Florida you may speak freely, worship freely, carry guns, and peacefully assemble.
When the president breaks the laws unchallenged how can he expect to hold this nation united? When he does so he assaults social cohesion itself. He also sets the unpatriotic example that our democratic principles are worthy of contempt.
That DC democrats would abandon Russ shows an acquired lack of understanding of their purpose (which is to promote Justice).
A hero is not a man that engages a fight only when overwhelmingly confident of victory. A hero is a man that does what is right, prospects be damned.
To Become an American
A fantastic article about US immigration which says, essentially, the US does it right and we shouldn't trash our system to be more like France.
To Become an American
Thanks to Kevin Drum for posting the link.
To Become an American
Thanks to Kevin Drum for posting the link.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
A tip of the cap
This MSN headline is such a naked display of partisanship and creative use of propaganda that I must admit I am impressed:
Will DeLay withdrawal hurt Democrats?
Is MSN kidding?
Does it hurt?
It feels fantastic!
"Good riddance to bad rubbish", I sez.
Will DeLay withdrawal hurt Democrats?
Is MSN kidding?
Does it hurt?
It feels fantastic!
"Good riddance to bad rubbish", I sez.
Advancing the fear frontiers
I remember that last summer there were lots of rumors circulating that the United States would go to war with Iran.
This year seems to be no different and DEBKAfile is reporting that British military chiefs believe a US-led strike against Iran is inevitable.
That would be unbelievably stupid since Iran would likely respond by striking at our still insufficient Iraq force.
Iran Ho?
What makes one pause is a president that seems comfortable with failure.
This year seems to be no different and DEBKAfile is reporting that British military chiefs believe a US-led strike against Iran is inevitable.
That would be unbelievably stupid since Iran would likely respond by striking at our still insufficient Iraq force.
Iran Ho?
What makes one pause is a president that seems comfortable with failure.
Monday, April 03, 2006
Abortion rates rise
An ethics professor at Fuller Theological Seminary finds that abortion rates have risen during George W. Bush's presidency and the increase is linked to economic inequality:
Told ya so
It is a myth to think that Republicans are pro-life when their economic policies cause a rise in abortion rates. To support their economic policies is to support an increase in the abortion rate.
To believe otherwise is to suffer from delusion.
People generally have children either to increase their own happiness or because they are ignorant about birth control methods.
When you can't make ends meet working full-time, or when you cannot keep up with health-care premiums, an event highly unlikely to increase your happiness is another mouth to feed.
Told ya so
It is a myth to think that Republicans are pro-life when their economic policies cause a rise in abortion rates. To support their economic policies is to support an increase in the abortion rate.
To believe otherwise is to suffer from delusion.
People generally have children either to increase their own happiness or because they are ignorant about birth control methods.
When you can't make ends meet working full-time, or when you cannot keep up with health-care premiums, an event highly unlikely to increase your happiness is another mouth to feed.
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Today Only
BBC Two covered a march by Gulf War II veterans from Mississippi to Washington DC.
It is a condemnation of America's press when American veterans have to speak to a foreign press in order to reach me, an American citizen.
Watch this today. Pass the link to your friends. It is highly doubtful that you will see anything like it on your network news programs.
Click "Watch the latest programme"
Correction: The march seems to have been from Mobile, Alabama, to New Orleans (not Mississippi to Washington D.C.). Here is a link to a story on the story:
More details
It is a condemnation of America's press when American veterans have to speak to a foreign press in order to reach me, an American citizen.
Watch this today. Pass the link to your friends. It is highly doubtful that you will see anything like it on your network news programs.
Click "Watch the latest programme"
Correction: The march seems to have been from Mobile, Alabama, to New Orleans (not Mississippi to Washington D.C.). Here is a link to a story on the story:
More details
Saving Civility
What is it that separates reasonable politics from partisan politics?
Respect for the Truth on both sides of a debate and a willingness to be swayed by objective facts on both sides of a debate. Civility in either victory or defeat is required to maintain the environment.
What is present in uncivilized discourse?
An obstinate, faith-based irrational belief and unwillingness to listen to reason, and/or ignorance. Sometimes ignorance is manufactured by a secretive power structure and is not contemptible, other times it is sought in comfort or fear and is.
People on both the left and the right get far too much mileage out of angry shouts.
How did we get so far away from a nation that elected men like Paul Simon and George Mitchell and Bob Dole?
How did we as voters come to respect confidence over competence?
How did we fill up with so many people that cannot tolerate the harmless activities of others (i.e. choose a victimless crime)?
How do we restore credibility to Washington so that our government can promote rather than pervert the people's business?
How do we step back and correct this political environment of ours before life becomes so ugly that the birth rates in Western nations decline ever further?
I think it starts with politeness and proceeds with honesty and humility. We must cherish these things and learn to recognize these qualities in those we elect.
We must be willing to reject bad candidates even when they are associated with our favored party.
I am worried that we are never going to defeat political Islam as long as we are so divided and so uncommitted to things that really matter. We must honor human rights, democratic values, and kindness to each other as sacred.
Without recognizing the Good, we will not be able to recognize the things that undermine them.
There is nobody else to fix it but us.
Practice politeness before it's too late.
Respect for the Truth on both sides of a debate and a willingness to be swayed by objective facts on both sides of a debate. Civility in either victory or defeat is required to maintain the environment.
What is present in uncivilized discourse?
An obstinate, faith-based irrational belief and unwillingness to listen to reason, and/or ignorance. Sometimes ignorance is manufactured by a secretive power structure and is not contemptible, other times it is sought in comfort or fear and is.
People on both the left and the right get far too much mileage out of angry shouts.
How did we get so far away from a nation that elected men like Paul Simon and George Mitchell and Bob Dole?
How did we as voters come to respect confidence over competence?
How did we fill up with so many people that cannot tolerate the harmless activities of others (i.e. choose a victimless crime)?
How do we restore credibility to Washington so that our government can promote rather than pervert the people's business?
How do we step back and correct this political environment of ours before life becomes so ugly that the birth rates in Western nations decline ever further?
I think it starts with politeness and proceeds with honesty and humility. We must cherish these things and learn to recognize these qualities in those we elect.
We must be willing to reject bad candidates even when they are associated with our favored party.
I am worried that we are never going to defeat political Islam as long as we are so divided and so uncommitted to things that really matter. We must honor human rights, democratic values, and kindness to each other as sacred.
Without recognizing the Good, we will not be able to recognize the things that undermine them.
There is nobody else to fix it but us.
Practice politeness before it's too late.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
The revolution
Newt Gingrich was the poster-boy for the Republican revolution that was going to change Washington into a lean, kinder-gentler, efficiency machine.
Then the republicans took power and made an absolute mockery of the "Contract With America" promises. I blame this on electing people with allegiance to the holy trinity of money, power, and arrogance.
The "Contract with America" became the "Breach of Trust with Americans".
Small government fundamentalism was rendered quaint.
Pay as you go became hogs at the trough.
But...
Dreams don't die as easily as patriotism on K-Street and lies do not unmake honest desires.
The Republican revolution has become the Republican revulsion:
No Room for me in the RNC
Democrats must give these disenfranchised a home. I think they have a crack at it since there is no place else to go, but there is no guarantee we will see an increase in votes rather than sales of TV dinners on election night.
If John Edwards can team up with the right person I think he can capture those voters. What we need is a Walter Mondale type.
Then the republicans took power and made an absolute mockery of the "Contract With America" promises. I blame this on electing people with allegiance to the holy trinity of money, power, and arrogance.
The "Contract with America" became the "Breach of Trust with Americans".
Small government fundamentalism was rendered quaint.
Pay as you go became hogs at the trough.
But...
Dreams don't die as easily as patriotism on K-Street and lies do not unmake honest desires.
The Republican revolution has become the Republican revulsion:
No Room for me in the RNC
Democrats must give these disenfranchised a home. I think they have a crack at it since there is no place else to go, but there is no guarantee we will see an increase in votes rather than sales of TV dinners on election night.
If John Edwards can team up with the right person I think he can capture those voters. What we need is a Walter Mondale type.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
500,000 Pack Streets to Protest Immigration Bills
When half a million people come out and march in a city, even if it is the size of Los Angeles, that is worth paying attention to.
Shall we overcome?
It looks like president Bush is doing a good job of dividing Americans once again.
Shall we overcome?
It looks like president Bush is doing a good job of dividing Americans once again.
Sound familiar?
Not infrequently a man will engage in activities of which the purpose is destructive without regard to any construction that may come after. Frequently he will conceal this from himself by the belief that he is only sweeping away in order to build afresh, but it is generally possible to unmask this pretense,
When it is a pretense, by asking him what the subsequent construction is to be. On this subject it will be found that he will speak vaguely and without enthusiasm, whereas on the preliminary destruction he has spoken precisely and with zest. This applies to not a few revolutionaries and militarists and other apostles of violence. They are actuated, usually without their own knowledge, by hatred: the destruction of what they hate is their real purpose, and they are comparatively indifferent to the question of what is to come after it.
Bertrand Russell
The Conquest of Happiness
Page 166
I think president Bush makes a rather well-qualified apostle of violence, don't you?
"F--- Saddam, we're taking him out"
President Bush
Time, March 2002
When it is a pretense, by asking him what the subsequent construction is to be. On this subject it will be found that he will speak vaguely and without enthusiasm, whereas on the preliminary destruction he has spoken precisely and with zest. This applies to not a few revolutionaries and militarists and other apostles of violence. They are actuated, usually without their own knowledge, by hatred: the destruction of what they hate is their real purpose, and they are comparatively indifferent to the question of what is to come after it.
Bertrand Russell
The Conquest of Happiness
Page 166
I think president Bush makes a rather well-qualified apostle of violence, don't you?
"F--- Saddam, we're taking him out"
President Bush
Time, March 2002
Monday, March 27, 2006
War on Cheese
It is sometimes difficult to know where satire ends and comedy begins.
See the lines blur in this DailyShow piece about San Diego's war on cheese:
The Stink
See the lines blur in this DailyShow piece about San Diego's war on cheese:
The Stink
I know when I'm licked
New measurements of cosmic microwave background radiation further confirm that the universe formed by expansion in a trillionth of a second about 13.7 billion years ago.
In other words it looks like there was a very big bang which caused, well, everything to expand outwards from an itty bitty, teeny weeny, quantum-scale bobeenie.
Inflating the Universe
I know when I'm licked and I must change my opinion to fit the empirical data.
There was nothing (or anyway nothing that looked like much).
There was a big bang.
There was everything you see when you look at the sky at night.
That's hard to comprehend.
Where did all that energy come from?
How did the bobeenie (I'm sure there's a scientific name for it) form?
Could there ever have been a time before matter and energy?
Sometimes science poses more questions than answers.
In other words it looks like there was a very big bang which caused, well, everything to expand outwards from an itty bitty, teeny weeny, quantum-scale bobeenie.
Inflating the Universe
I know when I'm licked and I must change my opinion to fit the empirical data.
There was nothing (or anyway nothing that looked like much).
There was a big bang.
There was everything you see when you look at the sky at night.
That's hard to comprehend.
Where did all that energy come from?
How did the bobeenie (I'm sure there's a scientific name for it) form?
Could there ever have been a time before matter and energy?
Sometimes science poses more questions than answers.
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Sunday Sermon
Capital punishment killed Christ and torture tormented him, so I find these survey results incredibly illogical.
Catholics approve of torture more than the secular.
How does that make sense?
Is that belief indicative of a penchant for turning the other cheek?
Reason cannot be held responsible for this defection from the tenants of the Sermon on the Mount. Is this some sort of leap of faith (in torture)?
Nation: Americans, especially Catholics, approve of torture
Catholics approve of torture more than the secular.
How does that make sense?
Is that belief indicative of a penchant for turning the other cheek?
Reason cannot be held responsible for this defection from the tenants of the Sermon on the Mount. Is this some sort of leap of faith (in torture)?
Nation: Americans, especially Catholics, approve of torture
Friday, March 24, 2006
Truly funny
Excuse me while I laugh by bottom off:
Bush Blasts Democrats on Economic Issues
If you will remember, the deficit was going down and the debt was going down under Clinton. Also people were moving from poverty to the middle-class rather than the other way around.
Being "blasted" by Bush on economics is like being "blasted" by a pedophile priest on moral behavior.
Truly, nothing is as pathetic as misplaced conceit.
Bush Blasts Democrats on Economic Issues
If you will remember, the deficit was going down and the debt was going down under Clinton. Also people were moving from poverty to the middle-class rather than the other way around.
Being "blasted" by Bush on economics is like being "blasted" by a pedophile priest on moral behavior.
Truly, nothing is as pathetic as misplaced conceit.
Nowhere man
When president Bush brags about not "paying attention to polls", that is equivalent to saying that he doesn't pay attention to Americans. How else can he know what we want?
His "my way or the highway" arrogance is really quite tiring considering how dysfunctional his administration has been, and nothing is more pathetic than misplaced conceit.
When you have ideas that produce out of control spending, balooning defecits, mangled medicare, an Iraqi quagmire, appointments like Brownie and Harriet Meirs, a culture of torture, and nuclear proliferation, then maybe listening to somebody else's ideas isn't such a bad idea.
Nowhere plans for nobody
Perhaps the president thinks he's fooling people standing in front of Stepford Citizens that patronize his ego with softball questions and platitudes.
He isn't.
We all have eyes to see.
His "my way or the highway" arrogance is really quite tiring considering how dysfunctional his administration has been, and nothing is more pathetic than misplaced conceit.
When you have ideas that produce out of control spending, balooning defecits, mangled medicare, an Iraqi quagmire, appointments like Brownie and Harriet Meirs, a culture of torture, and nuclear proliferation, then maybe listening to somebody else's ideas isn't such a bad idea.
Nowhere plans for nobody
Perhaps the president thinks he's fooling people standing in front of Stepford Citizens that patronize his ego with softball questions and platitudes.
He isn't.
We all have eyes to see.
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Russ Feingold with Jon Stewart
If Russ Feingold wants to run for president in 2008 he has my vote.
Here he speaks with Jon Stewart about his resolution to Censure president Bush:
Russ Feingold with Jon Stewart
He made the right call on Iraq.
He made the right call on the "Patriot Act" (the most ironically named piece of legislation in US history - Al Franken).
He made the right call co-sponsoring the McCain Feingold bill.
And he made the right call on Censure.
ADDENDUM: Here is how beltway democratic leaders look to the rest of America (for example in their home states) in relation to the Censure resolution:
I tawt I taw a putty tat
Here he speaks with Jon Stewart about his resolution to Censure president Bush:
Russ Feingold with Jon Stewart
He made the right call on Iraq.
He made the right call on the "Patriot Act" (the most ironically named piece of legislation in US history - Al Franken).
He made the right call co-sponsoring the McCain Feingold bill.
And he made the right call on Censure.
ADDENDUM: Here is how beltway democratic leaders look to the rest of America (for example in their home states) in relation to the Censure resolution:
I tawt I taw a putty tat
Political Biology
Did you know that the Nazis had their own version of biology?
Here is a link to the German propaganda archive which exhibits an excerpt from a 5th grade biology textbook for girls.
Nazi Biology Text
The Nazis used even a lesson in biology to promote warfare and German superiority. For instance, note this early line from the above text which promotes the former, "Every animal that does not secure sufficient territory and guard it against other predators, or lacks the necessary strength and speed or caution and cleverness will fall prey to its enemies...The battle for existence is hard and unforgiving, but is the only way to maintain life. This struggle eliminates everything that is unfit for life, and selects everything that is able to survive."
As I watch our modern Inquisitors racing around America trying to promote their crackpot religious theories as science I cannot help but wonder what they hope to achieve by politicizing scientific curriculum.
Science cannot advance without intellectual freedom and without intellectual honesty. Societies that attempt to legislate their way to innovation fail, and empires that fail to maintain their innovative edge fall.
A few bad apples, they say, rot the barrel.
Here is a link to the German propaganda archive which exhibits an excerpt from a 5th grade biology textbook for girls.
Nazi Biology Text
The Nazis used even a lesson in biology to promote warfare and German superiority. For instance, note this early line from the above text which promotes the former, "Every animal that does not secure sufficient territory and guard it against other predators, or lacks the necessary strength and speed or caution and cleverness will fall prey to its enemies...The battle for existence is hard and unforgiving, but is the only way to maintain life. This struggle eliminates everything that is unfit for life, and selects everything that is able to survive."
As I watch our modern Inquisitors racing around America trying to promote their crackpot religious theories as science I cannot help but wonder what they hope to achieve by politicizing scientific curriculum.
Science cannot advance without intellectual freedom and without intellectual honesty. Societies that attempt to legislate their way to innovation fail, and empires that fail to maintain their innovative edge fall.
A few bad apples, they say, rot the barrel.
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Rumsfeld "bitch-slapped"
I have not been able to understand why president Bush keeps Donald Rumsfeld in his post. He has been responsible for much of the failure in Iraq and his failure is America's failure and Bush's failure.
The only way I can explain it is by pointing out that president Bush is a stupid man. He is stubborn, not curious, anti-intellectual, and generally wrong. In other words he is batting 1000 in the dumb derby.
Apparently the military establishment has finally had enough of Donald's incompetence. This letter in the New York Times by retired general Paul D. Eaton can only be described as a "bitch-slap".
Incompetent strategically, operationally and tactically
Democrats have been too slow to follow the lead of Mr. Murtha.
It is no longer excusable.
If you fail to lead when it matters it fails to matter if you lead.
The only way I can explain it is by pointing out that president Bush is a stupid man. He is stubborn, not curious, anti-intellectual, and generally wrong. In other words he is batting 1000 in the dumb derby.
Apparently the military establishment has finally had enough of Donald's incompetence. This letter in the New York Times by retired general Paul D. Eaton can only be described as a "bitch-slap".
Incompetent strategically, operationally and tactically
Democrats have been too slow to follow the lead of Mr. Murtha.
It is no longer excusable.
If you fail to lead when it matters it fails to matter if you lead.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Shariah Law
This is a pretty good example of why one should not tolerate the intolerant.
An Afghan man is being charged with converting from Islam to Christianity, which is punishable by death under Islamic law.
From an atheists point of view you have someone being murdered because they change one set of superstitious beliefs for another set of superstitious beliefs in an imaginary friend (God). Totally irrelevant seems to be the fact that Abdul Rahman was providing medical aid to Afghan refugees.
Won't Abdul's death mean that fewer Muslims will be aided now?
Where is Allah's greatness if he is happier killing Abdul than saving his patients?
Can a Muslim man repay great kindness with murder and maintain piety?
God Rocks
George "good-doer" Bush seems awful quiet about this and yet it seems like a perfect time to support moderate Muslims. Secondly, he would get to ride the white horse for his base, who believe in killing people for rejecting Christianity (as when they blow up abortion clinics).
I have never been less tempted by religion in my life.
Maybe it's time to invest in a cave.
An Afghan man is being charged with converting from Islam to Christianity, which is punishable by death under Islamic law.
From an atheists point of view you have someone being murdered because they change one set of superstitious beliefs for another set of superstitious beliefs in an imaginary friend (God). Totally irrelevant seems to be the fact that Abdul Rahman was providing medical aid to Afghan refugees.
Won't Abdul's death mean that fewer Muslims will be aided now?
Where is Allah's greatness if he is happier killing Abdul than saving his patients?
Can a Muslim man repay great kindness with murder and maintain piety?
God Rocks
George "good-doer" Bush seems awful quiet about this and yet it seems like a perfect time to support moderate Muslims. Secondly, he would get to ride the white horse for his base, who believe in killing people for rejecting Christianity (as when they blow up abortion clinics).
I have never been less tempted by religion in my life.
Maybe it's time to invest in a cave.
Carbonfund
Here is a site that lets you offset your carbon footprint, or in other words, do something about global warming:
Carbonfund
With politicians on the take as during the gilded age it seems folly to rely on them to be of benefit to humanity. They help themselves now even when their children pay the price.
In his song "Masters of War" Bob Dylan asked the question, "Is your money that good?"
Money is as relevant as your next meal, but beyond a certain point its' accrual seems more about power than purchase.
We'll have the last laugh (as we did with men like Robert S. McNamara), but its an unsatisfying laugh. Their salvation comes at our expense and much too late. In Mr. McNamara's case, by the time he put one foot in the grave and looked up to be horrified by the fact that power and money don't matter, he had to be equally horrified that nobody would listen to his advice (and here I'm specifically thinking of Donald Rumsfailed). It is as if the older, wiser, Mr. McNamara met the younger, more arrogant, Mr. McNamara.
I wonder if he liked what he saw when he looked in the mirror?
I wonder if his money was that good.
Carbonfund
With politicians on the take as during the gilded age it seems folly to rely on them to be of benefit to humanity. They help themselves now even when their children pay the price.
In his song "Masters of War" Bob Dylan asked the question, "Is your money that good?"
Money is as relevant as your next meal, but beyond a certain point its' accrual seems more about power than purchase.
We'll have the last laugh (as we did with men like Robert S. McNamara), but its an unsatisfying laugh. Their salvation comes at our expense and much too late. In Mr. McNamara's case, by the time he put one foot in the grave and looked up to be horrified by the fact that power and money don't matter, he had to be equally horrified that nobody would listen to his advice (and here I'm specifically thinking of Donald Rumsfailed). It is as if the older, wiser, Mr. McNamara met the younger, more arrogant, Mr. McNamara.
I wonder if he liked what he saw when he looked in the mirror?
I wonder if his money was that good.
Monday, March 20, 2006
Iraqihomophobia
"The best way to increase toleration is to multiply the number of individuals who enjoy real happiness and do not therefore find their chief pleasure in the infliction of pain upon their fellow men."
Bertrand Russell
Conquest of happiness
Page 110
Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani has issued a fatwa against gays and lesbians on his Web site, according to London-based LGBT (that's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) human rights groups OutRage (that's O, R).
Story here
Written in Arabic, the fatwa comes from a press conference in which Mr. Sistani was asked about the judgment on sodomy and lesbianism. Forbidden,” Sistani answered, according to OutRage, Punished, in fact, killed. The people involved should be killed in the worst, most severe way of killing.
If Bertrand's analysis is correct, then one must conclude Mr. Sistani is an unhappy man along with his followers.
Why is it that religion is so often used as a veil to cover the sadistic pleasure of persecution of others?
Is it because without religion all that is left is naked sadism and that is too unflatteringring a truth to accept about oneself?
Consider that in our era Charles Manson, L. Ron Hubbard, Marshall Herff Applewhite, Jim Jones, and Vernon Wayne Howell (aka David Koresh) have all formed religions.
Isn't that list reason enough to doubt the validity of religious beliefs, let alone tolerate their intolerance?
I end the way I began, with a quote from Bertrand Russell:
"Consider how much of unadulterated superstition goes into the make-up of the conventionally virtuous man, and reflect that while all kinds of imaginary moral dangers were guarded against by incredibly foolish prohibitions, the real moral dangers to which an adult is exposed were practically unmentioned. What are these really harmful acts to which the average man is tempted? Sharp practice in business of the sort not punished by law, harshness towards employees, cruelty towards wife and children, malevolence towards competitors, ferocity in political conflicts - these are the really harmful sins that are common among respectable and respected citizens. By means of these sins a man spreads misery in his immediate circle and does his bit towards destroying civilization.
Yet these are not the things that make him, when he is ill, regard himself as an outcast who has forfeited all claim to divine favor. These are not the things that cause him in nightmares to see visions of his mother bending reproachful glances upon him. Why is his subconscious morality thus divorced from reason? Because the ethic believed in by those who had charge of his infancy was silly; because it was not derived from any study of the individual's duty to the community; because it was made up of old scraps of irrational taboos; and because it contained within itself elements of morbidness derived from the spiritual sickness that troubled the dying Roman Empire.
Our nominal morality has been formulated by priests and mentally enslaved women. It is time that men who have to take a normal part in the normal life of the world learned to rebel against this sickly nonsense."
Bertrand Russell
The Conquest of Happiness
Pages 83-84.
Bertrand Russell
Conquest of happiness
Page 110
Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani has issued a fatwa against gays and lesbians on his Web site, according to London-based LGBT (that's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) human rights groups OutRage (that's O, R).
Story here
Written in Arabic, the fatwa comes from a press conference in which Mr. Sistani was asked about the judgment on sodomy and lesbianism. Forbidden,” Sistani answered, according to OutRage, Punished, in fact, killed. The people involved should be killed in the worst, most severe way of killing.
If Bertrand's analysis is correct, then one must conclude Mr. Sistani is an unhappy man along with his followers.
Why is it that religion is so often used as a veil to cover the sadistic pleasure of persecution of others?
Is it because without religion all that is left is naked sadism and that is too unflatteringring a truth to accept about oneself?
Consider that in our era Charles Manson, L. Ron Hubbard, Marshall Herff Applewhite, Jim Jones, and Vernon Wayne Howell (aka David Koresh) have all formed religions.
Isn't that list reason enough to doubt the validity of religious beliefs, let alone tolerate their intolerance?
I end the way I began, with a quote from Bertrand Russell:
"Consider how much of unadulterated superstition goes into the make-up of the conventionally virtuous man, and reflect that while all kinds of imaginary moral dangers were guarded against by incredibly foolish prohibitions, the real moral dangers to which an adult is exposed were practically unmentioned. What are these really harmful acts to which the average man is tempted? Sharp practice in business of the sort not punished by law, harshness towards employees, cruelty towards wife and children, malevolence towards competitors, ferocity in political conflicts - these are the really harmful sins that are common among respectable and respected citizens. By means of these sins a man spreads misery in his immediate circle and does his bit towards destroying civilization.
Yet these are not the things that make him, when he is ill, regard himself as an outcast who has forfeited all claim to divine favor. These are not the things that cause him in nightmares to see visions of his mother bending reproachful glances upon him. Why is his subconscious morality thus divorced from reason? Because the ethic believed in by those who had charge of his infancy was silly; because it was not derived from any study of the individual's duty to the community; because it was made up of old scraps of irrational taboos; and because it contained within itself elements of morbidness derived from the spiritual sickness that troubled the dying Roman Empire.
Our nominal morality has been formulated by priests and mentally enslaved women. It is time that men who have to take a normal part in the normal life of the world learned to rebel against this sickly nonsense."
Bertrand Russell
The Conquest of Happiness
Pages 83-84.
Friday, March 17, 2006
Did you know?
If fundamentalist Christians are really going to be taken seriously in America then we might want to start collecting stones because we'll be needing them in abundance.
Did you know that the biblical punishment for taking the Lord's name in vain is death (Leviticus 24:16)?
Did you know that the biblical punishment for working on the Sabbath is death (Exodus 31:15)?
Did you know that the biblical punishment for cursing one's father or mother is death (Exodus 21:17)?
Did you know that the biblical punishment for adultery is death (Leviticus 20:10)?
Did you know that the biblical punishment for homosexual sexual relations is death (Leviticus 20:13)
Sam Harris raises many of these points in his book, "The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason".
It is a book that takes a critical look at faith-based religions, while also proposing a way to study ethical problems scientifically.
People of faith will probably hate it because it points out the obvious, and I suppose people like me have little to gain other than entertainment in its pages, but if you are like me then there is much entertainment to be had.
The world would be so much better if "morality" promoted human happiness or at least averted human suffering. As Sam points out, "Any person who lies awake at night worrying about the private pleasures of other consenting adults has more than just too much time on his hands; he has some unjustifiable beliefs about the nature of right and wrong."
Did you know that the biblical punishment for taking the Lord's name in vain is death (Leviticus 24:16)?
Did you know that the biblical punishment for working on the Sabbath is death (Exodus 31:15)?
Did you know that the biblical punishment for cursing one's father or mother is death (Exodus 21:17)?
Did you know that the biblical punishment for adultery is death (Leviticus 20:10)?
Did you know that the biblical punishment for homosexual sexual relations is death (Leviticus 20:13)
Sam Harris raises many of these points in his book, "The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason".
It is a book that takes a critical look at faith-based religions, while also proposing a way to study ethical problems scientifically.
People of faith will probably hate it because it points out the obvious, and I suppose people like me have little to gain other than entertainment in its pages, but if you are like me then there is much entertainment to be had.
The world would be so much better if "morality" promoted human happiness or at least averted human suffering. As Sam points out, "Any person who lies awake at night worrying about the private pleasures of other consenting adults has more than just too much time on his hands; he has some unjustifiable beliefs about the nature of right and wrong."
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Cassandra Day
Sandra Day O'Conner was appointed by president Ronald Reagan to serve on the Supreme Court.
She just issued a strong warning that the US is headed towards dictatorship:
Sandra Say
ADDENDUM: Justice Ginsburg has just revealed the details of the threats against Judge Day and herself:
Story here
We seem to have an American Taliban in our midst and they seem to prefer the Republican party.
She just issued a strong warning that the US is headed towards dictatorship:
Sandra Say
ADDENDUM: Justice Ginsburg has just revealed the details of the threats against Judge Day and herself:
Story here
We seem to have an American Taliban in our midst and they seem to prefer the Republican party.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Go Sam
I have just finished Sam Harris' "End of Faith" and found it to be delightful, insightful, and somewhat frightful.
If you surf on over to Amazon you can read an interview with him. Here is one of my favorite quotes from the interview and the type of thing you will find in abundance in his book:
The interview
If you surf on over to Amazon you can read an interview with him. Here is one of my favorite quotes from the interview and the type of thing you will find in abundance in his book:
"The President of the United States has claimed, on more than one occasion, to be in dialogue with God. Now, if he said that he was talking to God through his hairdryer, this would precipitate a national emergency. I fail to see how the addition of a hairdryer makes the claim more ludicrous or more offensive."
The interview
Soviet-style press intimidation?
If this story replaced "Bush" with "Stalin" and "FBI" with "KGB" I'd have an easier time believing it. I suppose this serves to illustrate the depths denial will go to in defense of wishful thinking.
House of Bush strong-arms Media
If you would like to know more about Censorship, or Sanitization, or Whitewashing I offer this handy link:
propaganda around the world
"If Osama can't stand freedom then let us stand free", I sez.
House of Bush strong-arms Media
If you would like to know more about Censorship, or Sanitization, or Whitewashing I offer this handy link:
propaganda around the world
"If Osama can't stand freedom then let us stand free", I sez.
Monday, March 13, 2006
Fool me once...
On May 25th, 2004 President Bush used all of the bravado at his command and promised to tear down Abu Ghraib. For those with short memories here is a refresher link:
We will demolish the Abu Ghraib prison
But, on June 28th, 2005 that bravado was shown to be B-O-L-O-G-N-A because it was discovered that not only wasn't it "torn down", but it was in fact operating in excess of its capacity.
Why do I rehash this story?
Because on March 10, 2006 a military spokesman declared that Abu Ghraib will be "closed down" and it's detainees moved to "Camp Cropper".
Story here
Here is a Daily Show look at this story:
End of an Error
One thing to point out is that the worldwide condemnation is of the treatment of prisoners (it's the treatment stupid) and not so much the locality of that abuse. Camp Cropper may simply become the new Abu Ghraib if the culture of the guards isn't fixed.
It is interesting to note that a "Cropper" is one that crops, and a crop is the handle of a whip.
We will demolish the Abu Ghraib prison
But, on June 28th, 2005 that bravado was shown to be B-O-L-O-G-N-A because it was discovered that not only wasn't it "torn down", but it was in fact operating in excess of its capacity.
Why do I rehash this story?
Because on March 10, 2006 a military spokesman declared that Abu Ghraib will be "closed down" and it's detainees moved to "Camp Cropper".
Story here
Here is a Daily Show look at this story:
End of an Error
One thing to point out is that the worldwide condemnation is of the treatment of prisoners (it's the treatment stupid) and not so much the locality of that abuse. Camp Cropper may simply become the new Abu Ghraib if the culture of the guards isn't fixed.
It is interesting to note that a "Cropper" is one that crops, and a crop is the handle of a whip.
Friday, March 10, 2006
Mr. Bush's Asian Road Trip
The New York Times seems to be trying to make up for lost opportunities to challenge president Bush. In this editorial they really let him have it for his recent India/Pakistan roadtrip.
They, perhaps mercifully, left out mention of the UAE deal which is quite a trio of foreign policy bungles, sez I:
Mr. Bush's Asian Road Trip
ADDENDUM: The poll numbers for president Bush
They, perhaps mercifully, left out mention of the UAE deal which is quite a trio of foreign policy bungles, sez I:
Mr. Bush's Asian Road Trip
ADDENDUM: The poll numbers for president Bush
Late to the party
The newest wave of Bush-bashers appears to be Conservative Republicans of the Cato Institute:
Irresponsible, Inept, a Socialist
When democrats speak like that they are accused of being partisan America-haters, or sore losers unable to "get over" the election of 2004. It turns out they just reached the same conclusion as traditional Republicans, but sooner.
Irresponsible, Inept, a Socialist
When democrats speak like that they are accused of being partisan America-haters, or sore losers unable to "get over" the election of 2004. It turns out they just reached the same conclusion as traditional Republicans, but sooner.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
March madness
Did you know that over 1.5 million men and women are arrested in the United States each year due to our drug laws?
Did you know that about 400,000 men and women are in US prisons for nonviolent drug offenses?
Did you know that 1,000,000 others are currently on probation?
Did you know that violent criminals (i.e. murderers, rapists, child molesters) are regularly paroled to make room for them?
Did you know that 51% of violent criminals get out in 2 years or less (and 76% after 4 years), while the average sentence for a federal drug offence is 6.25 years?
Did you know that more people are imprisoned for nonviolent drug offenses in the US than are incarcerated in all of Western Europe (which has a larger population)?
Did you know that the cost of our drug war at the federal level is about $20 billion dollars a year?
Did you know that the total cost of our drug laws could be in excess of $100 billion dollars each year? (Source: M.S. Gazzaniga, "Legalizing Drugs: Just Say Yes," National Review, July 10, 1995, pp. 26-37)
Did you know the war on drugs consumes an estimated 50 percent of the trial time of our courts and the full-time dedication of 400,000+ police officers? (Source: W.F. Buckley Jr., "The War on Drugs Is Lost," National Review, Feb 12, 1996)
Did you know that in some states a person merely accused of a drug crime can have his property seized, and those who levied the accusation can profit to the tune of 25%?
Did you know that seized property can be seized and forfeited even if a defendant is found innocent?
Did you know one national survey found that 80% of property seizures occur without any criminal prosecution whatsoever? (Source)
Did you know the US government has recently sought approval to use a genetically engineered killer fungus designed to attack marijuana crops inside the US?
Isn't this insane?!?
The more I learn about our "War on Drugs" the more I am convinced our drug laws are a victory of ignorance.
Shouldn't we be spending some of this police and financial equity securing our ports and balancing our books?
What is being gained by this madness?
Did you know that about 400,000 men and women are in US prisons for nonviolent drug offenses?
Did you know that 1,000,000 others are currently on probation?
Did you know that violent criminals (i.e. murderers, rapists, child molesters) are regularly paroled to make room for them?
Did you know that 51% of violent criminals get out in 2 years or less (and 76% after 4 years), while the average sentence for a federal drug offence is 6.25 years?
Did you know that more people are imprisoned for nonviolent drug offenses in the US than are incarcerated in all of Western Europe (which has a larger population)?
Did you know that the cost of our drug war at the federal level is about $20 billion dollars a year?
Did you know that the total cost of our drug laws could be in excess of $100 billion dollars each year? (Source: M.S. Gazzaniga, "Legalizing Drugs: Just Say Yes," National Review, July 10, 1995, pp. 26-37)
Did you know the war on drugs consumes an estimated 50 percent of the trial time of our courts and the full-time dedication of 400,000+ police officers? (Source: W.F. Buckley Jr., "The War on Drugs Is Lost," National Review, Feb 12, 1996)
Did you know that in some states a person merely accused of a drug crime can have his property seized, and those who levied the accusation can profit to the tune of 25%?
Did you know that seized property can be seized and forfeited even if a defendant is found innocent?
Did you know one national survey found that 80% of property seizures occur without any criminal prosecution whatsoever? (Source)
Did you know the US government has recently sought approval to use a genetically engineered killer fungus designed to attack marijuana crops inside the US?
Isn't this insane?!?
The more I learn about our "War on Drugs" the more I am convinced our drug laws are a victory of ignorance.
Shouldn't we be spending some of this police and financial equity securing our ports and balancing our books?
What is being gained by this madness?
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
A cultural issue
Here's an idea for a cultural issue that promotes family values.
Why not force all commercials to be rated G on the grounds that they are invasions of privacy?
I can control the programs I watch and I specifically avoid violent ones, but every time some sadist comes out with a new axe-murdering movie (i.e. about every other week) I wind up seeing blood-soaked axes and horrified screaming despite my best efforts.
It totally ruins a peaceful meal.
Give me an odd looking clown selling hamburgers or hand-holders selling Coke again, sez I.
Why not force all commercials to be rated G on the grounds that they are invasions of privacy?
I can control the programs I watch and I specifically avoid violent ones, but every time some sadist comes out with a new axe-murdering movie (i.e. about every other week) I wind up seeing blood-soaked axes and horrified screaming despite my best efforts.
It totally ruins a peaceful meal.
Give me an odd looking clown selling hamburgers or hand-holders selling Coke again, sez I.
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Liberal Love
I'm not sure I'm a democrat, but I am sure I want healthcare available to all Americans.
I'm not sure I'm a democrat, but I want my government to account for itself Justly, openly, and humanely at home and abroad.
I'm not sure I'm a democrat, but I want to stop financing our collective destruction and increase social spending.
I'm not sure I'm a democrat, but I believe in a separation of Church and State, as well as a separation of Church and Science.
I'm not sure I'm a democrat, but I believe you can be pro business and pro people, but where they conflict you should be pro people.
I'm not sure I'm a democrat, but I dream of making the planet healthier rather than laying waste to it in an orgy of selfishness.
I'm not sure I'm a democrat, but I believe in the pursuit of Justice.
These are the things I believe in, which is why I'm not sure I'm a democrat.
Am I John Kerry?
Am I Hillary?
Am I Howard Dean?
Am I Barak Obama?
I'm not sure I'm a democrat, but I want my government to account for itself Justly, openly, and humanely at home and abroad.
I'm not sure I'm a democrat, but I want to stop financing our collective destruction and increase social spending.
I'm not sure I'm a democrat, but I believe in a separation of Church and State, as well as a separation of Church and Science.
I'm not sure I'm a democrat, but I believe you can be pro business and pro people, but where they conflict you should be pro people.
I'm not sure I'm a democrat, but I dream of making the planet healthier rather than laying waste to it in an orgy of selfishness.
I'm not sure I'm a democrat, but I believe in the pursuit of Justice.
These are the things I believe in, which is why I'm not sure I'm a democrat.
Am I John Kerry?
Am I Hillary?
Am I Howard Dean?
Am I Barak Obama?
Monday, March 06, 2006
Murtha
John Murtha has taken his campaign to get us out of Iraq public and he continues to press his points. Here, if you have QuickTime, you can see an interview he did:
Mr. Murtha
John Murtha is the formidable presence democrats need to recognize and support. He speaks with no nonsense and he takes none either.
Mr. Murtha
John Murtha is the formidable presence democrats need to recognize and support. He speaks with no nonsense and he takes none either.
Friday, March 03, 2006
Cancer ethics
The Merck drug company developed a product called Gardasil which is proving 100% effective at fighting the dominant strain of the virus causing cervical cancer.
Hallelully right?
Praise Jeebus right?
Wrong!
It turns out that the Family Research Council feels that administering such a product as part of a national inoculation is no way to promote abstinence and so they are opposing it.
I like to refer to this as masturbatory morality because practicing it is a wholly self-indulgent pleasure.
Isn't it morally indefensible to obstruct life-saving treatments for I-in-the-sky reasons?
If your God really wants you to make people suffer horrible illness, then aren't you worshiping a prick and isn't your servitude loathsome?
Hallelully right?
Praise Jeebus right?
Wrong!
It turns out that the Family Research Council feels that administering such a product as part of a national inoculation is no way to promote abstinence and so they are opposing it.
I like to refer to this as masturbatory morality because practicing it is a wholly self-indulgent pleasure.
Isn't it morally indefensible to obstruct life-saving treatments for I-in-the-sky reasons?
If your God really wants you to make people suffer horrible illness, then aren't you worshiping a prick and isn't your servitude loathsome?
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Friends and neighbors
When I learned that George W. Bush knew that New Orleans levees had been breached before going to a California fundraiser to play pretend guitar and mug for the cameras my opinion of him hit rock bottom.
The Associated Press now has a tape of our friend "Brownie" warning FEMA and warning the president that Katrina was going to be a big worry.
Please pass this to your friends in Biloxi, Mississippi and New Orleans, Louisiana.
Who could have predicted that
The Associated Press now has a tape of our friend "Brownie" warning FEMA and warning the president that Katrina was going to be a big worry.
Please pass this to your friends in Biloxi, Mississippi and New Orleans, Louisiana.
Who could have predicted that
Dave on George
David Letterman put together a new segment on his program called "George Bush Answers the tough questions":
Watch it here
I thought I would also add a link to support the questioner in the segment.
Congress cuts 12.7 billion from federal student loan program
If president Bush feels student loans need to be cut then he ought to defend his position rather than hide behind rhetoric and insolent smirks.
Watch it here
I thought I would also add a link to support the questioner in the segment.
Congress cuts 12.7 billion from federal student loan program
If president Bush feels student loans need to be cut then he ought to defend his position rather than hide behind rhetoric and insolent smirks.
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
On false prophets
I am not a religious person and I don't attend church.
But that doesn't mean I don't try to at least understand a little bit about it for curiosity's sake.
One thing I have been trying to understand are prophets (ones that hear divinely inspired revelations). How would one know whether a prophet were truly a prophet, a deceiver, or one deceived?
If I announce to the world that I can speak with animals ala Dr. Doolittle then I imagine there would be more than a few skeptical of my claim. But, suppose that my claim was truthful and you stood in disbelief.
Perhaps I might convince you of the validity of my claim by interviewing animals of your choice and asking them questions of your choice. Perhaps you and your dog are sole possessors of the details of a quail hunting trip and if I extracted such details you would be swayed.
Both your skepticism and my persuasion seem necessary to turn you into a true believer of my claims. I think that is as it should be.
When it comes to a prophet should we not subject them to the same test? Shouldn't they be called upon to speak with God and ask Him questions on our behalf before we believe their claims?
If God is the Creator and he watches over me and knows all that I do, then one speaking on his behalf ought to be able to correctly answer any question I pose, including things only God and I know the answer to.
At least we could convince ourselves that such a person had access to supernatural knowledge.
Next, I should think, we ought to try to discover if the prophet is an instrument of Satan (whom I presume can trick the prophet into unwitting support).
I am less clear on how to detect a deceived prophet. Perhaps the fruits of his tree (the results of his actions) would have to be examined to see if they promoted harm or not.
But, it seems to me that there is a danger of playing for the wrong team when prophets are accepted without skepticism, which is to say accepted "on faith".
Reason seems necessary to disambiguate a false prophet from a true prophet.
Perhaps that is why we are living in an age of intellectual haters?
Perhaps that is why our good war is being waged behind a curtain?
But that doesn't mean I don't try to at least understand a little bit about it for curiosity's sake.
One thing I have been trying to understand are prophets (ones that hear divinely inspired revelations). How would one know whether a prophet were truly a prophet, a deceiver, or one deceived?
If I announce to the world that I can speak with animals ala Dr. Doolittle then I imagine there would be more than a few skeptical of my claim. But, suppose that my claim was truthful and you stood in disbelief.
Perhaps I might convince you of the validity of my claim by interviewing animals of your choice and asking them questions of your choice. Perhaps you and your dog are sole possessors of the details of a quail hunting trip and if I extracted such details you would be swayed.
Both your skepticism and my persuasion seem necessary to turn you into a true believer of my claims. I think that is as it should be.
When it comes to a prophet should we not subject them to the same test? Shouldn't they be called upon to speak with God and ask Him questions on our behalf before we believe their claims?
If God is the Creator and he watches over me and knows all that I do, then one speaking on his behalf ought to be able to correctly answer any question I pose, including things only God and I know the answer to.
At least we could convince ourselves that such a person had access to supernatural knowledge.
Next, I should think, we ought to try to discover if the prophet is an instrument of Satan (whom I presume can trick the prophet into unwitting support).
I am less clear on how to detect a deceived prophet. Perhaps the fruits of his tree (the results of his actions) would have to be examined to see if they promoted harm or not.
But, it seems to me that there is a danger of playing for the wrong team when prophets are accepted without skepticism, which is to say accepted "on faith".
Reason seems necessary to disambiguate a false prophet from a true prophet.
Perhaps that is why we are living in an age of intellectual haters?
Perhaps that is why our good war is being waged behind a curtain?
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