We've tried the Bush way, the stubborn way, the not working way, and it is time for a new course in Iraq.
It is crystal clear to me that George Bush doesn't understand America's strength or how to weild it. He doesn't understand that our Statue of Liberty drags chains of oppression in her wake and that her clear light is fueled with hope, not fear. He doesn't understand that every Iraqi will fight for their freedom if they only trust our motives, and the best way to inflate their trust is through transparency, not shady Halliburton-style deals.
This, I'm convinced, is George Bush's Achilles heel: He doesn't have faith in our Constitution, nor our will to be free. This is why he evades the truth, and why he tries to dictate to us; it is because he doesn't trust us.
John Kerry, on the other hand, wants to restore what was lost. If he begins to articlate the America I believe in, the one that was achingly desired in Tianamen square, then George Bush best get a new chain for his brush in Crawford.
Security and Strength for a New World
Hope burns brightest in the darkest nights. I am reminded of that as I look up into the night skies these days and see Venus, goddess of love and beauty. Look up!
Friday, May 28, 2004
Thursday, May 27, 2004
Shooting fish in a barrel
Republicans have mired themselves in a rhetorical swamp and sufficient thrashing on their part now ought to sink them. However, if you would like to engage in a bit of mud-flinging I suggest...
If a Republican attacks Kerry for attacking Bush DURING A TIME OF WAR!, calmly point out to them that Bush declared our Mission Accomplished. Therefore, you are simply being critical of a nation-building exercise which is something Bush himself engaged in while campaigning (i.e. "I'm worried about an opponent who uses nation building and the military in the same sentence").
If a Republican suggests a terror attack this summer is Al Quaeda's way of getting you to vote for Kerry, tell them you had decided to vote for Kerry a long time ago and weren't going to let any terrorist influence your vote because that would be cowardly.
If a Republican suggests Democrats are soft on terror, remind them that Democrats won two world wars and backed the Ruskies out of Cuba and that when the world trade center was bombed on Clinton's watch, the perps were caught, arrested, and sent to rot in prison (thank you James Carville).
When you think about it, the Republican strategy is to paint liberals as gloaters for being correct about Iraq. So, don't gloat. Talk about the need to restore our credibility abroad by taking a new course, away from the stubborn Bush policies that are bankrupting our children's America.
If you feel like gloating, think about the soldiers in Iraq for a moment and it will quickly pass. Our marines have served us and now it is time for us to serve them by driving the neo-cons out. It should be like shooting fish in a barrel, shouldn't it?
If a Republican attacks Kerry for attacking Bush DURING A TIME OF WAR!, calmly point out to them that Bush declared our Mission Accomplished. Therefore, you are simply being critical of a nation-building exercise which is something Bush himself engaged in while campaigning (i.e. "I'm worried about an opponent who uses nation building and the military in the same sentence").
If a Republican suggests a terror attack this summer is Al Quaeda's way of getting you to vote for Kerry, tell them you had decided to vote for Kerry a long time ago and weren't going to let any terrorist influence your vote because that would be cowardly.
If a Republican suggests Democrats are soft on terror, remind them that Democrats won two world wars and backed the Ruskies out of Cuba and that when the world trade center was bombed on Clinton's watch, the perps were caught, arrested, and sent to rot in prison (thank you James Carville).
When you think about it, the Republican strategy is to paint liberals as gloaters for being correct about Iraq. So, don't gloat. Talk about the need to restore our credibility abroad by taking a new course, away from the stubborn Bush policies that are bankrupting our children's America.
If you feel like gloating, think about the soldiers in Iraq for a moment and it will quickly pass. Our marines have served us and now it is time for us to serve them by driving the neo-cons out. It should be like shooting fish in a barrel, shouldn't it?
Hypocrisy or democracy?
Newsday reports that American forces are taking hostages and using them as bargaining chips.
Human poker chips
I hope the story isn't true, because I believe that when people see the American way of life that they want if for themselves and their children, and I believe the strength of our ideals will win hearts and minds, while the strength of our arms should only be used in self defense.
I fear that we are now doing things backwards, that is, using bombs to win hearts and minds and ideals in self-defense (i.e. the domino theory).
JFK said it best, "We must lead by force of example, not by force of arms."
Human poker chips
I hope the story isn't true, because I believe that when people see the American way of life that they want if for themselves and their children, and I believe the strength of our ideals will win hearts and minds, while the strength of our arms should only be used in self defense.
I fear that we are now doing things backwards, that is, using bombs to win hearts and minds and ideals in self-defense (i.e. the domino theory).
JFK said it best, "We must lead by force of example, not by force of arms."
Bush Has Humiliated Us
Al Gore is full of piss-and-vinegar these days. Here he is calling for the heads of those responsible for leading us into Iraq:
Humiliation, not Humility
Humiliation, not Humility
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
The Iranian Spy in the House of Bush
How badly were the neo-cons duped by Chalabi and Iran? Are our soldiers dying to promote Iran's foreign policy interests?
Duped by Iran
How incompetent is too incompetent for this Whitehouse?
Duped by Iran
How incompetent is too incompetent for this Whitehouse?
Now fear this!
U.S. counterterrorism and law enforcement officials had said Tuesday that new intelligence indicates that a group of terrorists already deployed inside the United States is preparing to launch a major attack this summer. This information was described by a senior counterterrorism official on condition of anonymity as extremely credible and backed by an unusually high level of corroboration.
Code Yellow
Wednesday afternoon, May 26th, Ashcroft and Ridge are to make an announcement clarifying the threat. If you tune in, remember that fear blocks spiritual growth. Here are a few of the expected details:
Ministers of silly walks
If you are like most Americans, me included, you have absolutely no idea what the Homeland Security Advisory System of alerts means (I assume Code Red means elections will be suspended and we will be living under martial law with Fuhrer Bush at the helm).
Here are a couple of official explanations to help you wade through the alert system:
Understanding the Alert System
Preparing your freedom bunker
ADDENDUM: CNN plans live coverage of Wednesday's 2 p.m. (1800 GMT) news conference with Attorney General John Ashcroft and FBI Director Robert Mueller.
Code Yellow
Wednesday afternoon, May 26th, Ashcroft and Ridge are to make an announcement clarifying the threat. If you tune in, remember that fear blocks spiritual growth. Here are a few of the expected details:
Ministers of silly walks
If you are like most Americans, me included, you have absolutely no idea what the Homeland Security Advisory System of alerts means (I assume Code Red means elections will be suspended and we will be living under martial law with Fuhrer Bush at the helm).
Here are a couple of official explanations to help you wade through the alert system:
Understanding the Alert System
Preparing your freedom bunker
ADDENDUM: CNN plans live coverage of Wednesday's 2 p.m. (1800 GMT) news conference with Attorney General John Ashcroft and FBI Director Robert Mueller.
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
GENEVA CONVENTION III
Ever wonder just exactly what the Geneva Convention relative to the treatment of prisoners of war actually says?
Wonder no more:
GENEVA CONVENTION III
After reading that, think about this:
"The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in times of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality." -- Dante
Wonder no more:
GENEVA CONVENTION III
After reading that, think about this:
"The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in times of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality." -- Dante
Plato on Patriotism
Plato depicted a classic dilemma which results from any effort to define morality by reference to an external authority (in Euthyphro). Here, I adapt the dilemma to our times.
Does my government approve of my actions because they are patriotic, or are my actions patriotic because my government approves of them?
If my actions are patriotic only because my government approves of them, then patriotic behavior is entirely arbitrary, depending upon the whims of the government.
If, on the other hand, the government approves of my actions because they are intrinsically patriotic, then there must be some divine source of values which we might come to know independently of the government (i.e. Bill of Rights, Constitution).
Socrates, though, felt a citizen should always obey the state. He seemed to equate residence with an implied contract that was morally binding. He, in fact, chose death over escape loosely based on that argument.
I wonder how Socrates would feel if patriotic action became equated with ideals which ran in contrast to the laws of the state?
Does my government approve of my actions because they are patriotic, or are my actions patriotic because my government approves of them?
If my actions are patriotic only because my government approves of them, then patriotic behavior is entirely arbitrary, depending upon the whims of the government.
If, on the other hand, the government approves of my actions because they are intrinsically patriotic, then there must be some divine source of values which we might come to know independently of the government (i.e. Bill of Rights, Constitution).
Socrates, though, felt a citizen should always obey the state. He seemed to equate residence with an implied contract that was morally binding. He, in fact, chose death over escape loosely based on that argument.
I wonder how Socrates would feel if patriotic action became equated with ideals which ran in contrast to the laws of the state?
Sorry
This is the America that I love. Click the link below to hear "Sorry". It is sheer genius.
Sorry
The site from whence this came is:
Levin and Lammers
Enjoy!
Sorry
The site from whence this came is:
Levin and Lammers
Enjoy!
Anthony Zinni is a Bush detractor
Here is what Anthony Zinni sounds like when on the attack, "I saw, at a minimum, true dereliction, negligence and irresponsibility, at worse, lying, incompetence and corruption."
I have often felt that Zinni would be an interesting running-mate for Kerry. I think he'd make short work of Cheney in a VP debate and would love to have the opportunity to do so.
Here's the story:
Zinni on 60 minutes II
I have often felt that Zinni would be an interesting running-mate for Kerry. I think he'd make short work of Cheney in a VP debate and would love to have the opportunity to do so.
Here's the story:
Zinni on 60 minutes II
A new CBS poll shows that 65% of Americans think the direction of the country is on the wrong track.
Na, na, na, Goodbye
Are they all a bunch of Iraqi dead-enders or foreign nationals? Are they all a bunch of unpatriotic Americans that can't stand freedom? Do they want to see America fail in Iraq? Have they no sense of loyalty to the War commander?
Will John Kerry fill the void of discontent with a show of leadership? Will he stand for the America we all believe in?
Tune in this November to find out.
Na, na, na, Goodbye
Are they all a bunch of Iraqi dead-enders or foreign nationals? Are they all a bunch of unpatriotic Americans that can't stand freedom? Do they want to see America fail in Iraq? Have they no sense of loyalty to the War commander?
Will John Kerry fill the void of discontent with a show of leadership? Will he stand for the America we all believe in?
Tune in this November to find out.
Monday, May 24, 2004
Our Darkest Days Are Here
Michael Moore said, in his Academy award acceptance speech, "anytime you've got the Pope and the Dixie Chicks against you, you're in trouble".
To that list, we can now add Walter Cronkite and Andy Rooney.
Andy Rooney's piece, which is short, sharp, and doesn't mince any words is here:
Rooney - Our Darkest Days Are Here
Walter's latest, which is longer but perhaps more weighty, is here:
Where do we go from here?
George Bush's goose is cooked.
To that list, we can now add Walter Cronkite and Andy Rooney.
Andy Rooney's piece, which is short, sharp, and doesn't mince any words is here:
Rooney - Our Darkest Days Are Here
Walter's latest, which is longer but perhaps more weighty, is here:
Where do we go from here?
George Bush's goose is cooked.
Beleagured Bush to Boost Believers
Tonight President George W. Bush will address the nation to try to convince we Americans that "staying the course" isn't dooming ourselves to more failure. If past performance is any indication of what to expect, we can expect the following:
1. The president will stiffly stammer his way through his speech. Many of us will be shocked at his glaring lack of skills, but the press will gush and applaud as if Abraham Lincoln himself were speaking.
2. There will be lots and lots of happy-talk, just like the Ruskies used to employ (i.e. the schools are getting fresh paint). And, just like the Ruskies, the population will know it is nothing more than warm wind.
3. There will be lots and lots of smirking. This cannot be helped.
4. There will be pandering to the far-right, perhaps a mention of a constitutional ban on gay marriage.
5. The president will seize every opportunity to portray detractors as unpatriotic rubes that would rather see America fail (again, we'd vote for George if that were the case).
My fantasy speech looks something like this:
1. The President will start with an apology to the American people.
2. He will follow this apology with the announcement of Ahmed Chalabi's arrest.
3. He will follow the arrest announcement with the sacking of Donald Rumsfeld, Douglas Feith, Richard Perle, Dick Cheney, and Condi Rice.
4. He will follow this sacking with a promise to close Guantanamo bay and Abu Ghraib and open new facilities properly operated under the nose of the Red Cross.
5. He will reach out to the international community and ask for forgiveness, explaining that his desire to protect Americans blinded his judgement to their warnings. Then, he would make an appeal for a renewed effort to resolve the Iraq conflict.
6. He will announce the formation of a unity government, by reaching across the aisle to appoint Bob Kerry his new National Security Advisor.
In short, I'd like to see Bush wipe the slate clean in a master stroke and restore credibility to the Whitehouse.
More on the speech here:
New world orderer
1. The president will stiffly stammer his way through his speech. Many of us will be shocked at his glaring lack of skills, but the press will gush and applaud as if Abraham Lincoln himself were speaking.
2. There will be lots and lots of happy-talk, just like the Ruskies used to employ (i.e. the schools are getting fresh paint). And, just like the Ruskies, the population will know it is nothing more than warm wind.
3. There will be lots and lots of smirking. This cannot be helped.
4. There will be pandering to the far-right, perhaps a mention of a constitutional ban on gay marriage.
5. The president will seize every opportunity to portray detractors as unpatriotic rubes that would rather see America fail (again, we'd vote for George if that were the case).
My fantasy speech looks something like this:
1. The President will start with an apology to the American people.
2. He will follow this apology with the announcement of Ahmed Chalabi's arrest.
3. He will follow the arrest announcement with the sacking of Donald Rumsfeld, Douglas Feith, Richard Perle, Dick Cheney, and Condi Rice.
4. He will follow this sacking with a promise to close Guantanamo bay and Abu Ghraib and open new facilities properly operated under the nose of the Red Cross.
5. He will reach out to the international community and ask for forgiveness, explaining that his desire to protect Americans blinded his judgement to their warnings. Then, he would make an appeal for a renewed effort to resolve the Iraq conflict.
6. He will announce the formation of a unity government, by reaching across the aisle to appoint Bob Kerry his new National Security Advisor.
In short, I'd like to see Bush wipe the slate clean in a master stroke and restore credibility to the Whitehouse.
More on the speech here:
New world orderer
Sunday, May 23, 2004
Bush fell down and broke his crown....
President Bush fell off his mountain bike while exercising on his ranch. His doctor, Richard Tubb, immediately attended the minor scrapes.
For those keeping score, that's one incident of choking on a pretzel, one fall from a Segway that wasn't turned on, and one fall from a mountain bike. If he isn't careful people will think he is as clumsy as Ford.
To fetch a pail of water
I immediately thought of Abbott and Costello when I heard this. I imagine the Presidential secret service force yelling "Look out for that bush!". George turns his head and says, "Look out for what?". The agent, "that bush!". George again, somewhat exasperated, "Look out for what?!?"
Crash!
For those keeping score, that's one incident of choking on a pretzel, one fall from a Segway that wasn't turned on, and one fall from a mountain bike. If he isn't careful people will think he is as clumsy as Ford.
To fetch a pail of water
I immediately thought of Abbott and Costello when I heard this. I imagine the Presidential secret service force yelling "Look out for that bush!". George turns his head and says, "Look out for what?". The agent, "that bush!". George again, somewhat exasperated, "Look out for what?!?"
Crash!
Saturday, May 22, 2004
d'Or for Moore
Fahrenheit 9/11 has won the Palme d'Or best film award at the Cannes film festival. The last documentary to win this prize was Jacques Cousteau's "The Silent World" in 1956.
Here's the beef:
d'Or for Moore
I, for one, can't wait to see the movie.
Here's the beef:
d'Or for Moore
I, for one, can't wait to see the movie.
Born right the first time
Christian radicals seem incapable of reading the Sermon on the Mount with anything that passes for understanding. Where Jesus bade his followers to forgive, they preach holy war. Where Jesus bade his followers not to judge others, they run morality crusades. Where Jesus bade his followers to feed their enemies, their policy is to bomb the bejezus out of theirs. And, where Jesus asked his flock to feed and clothes the poor, their agenda is to oppress the needy for self-gain.
In other words, I think they are a bunch of hypocrites distorting the teachings of their "personal savior" to suit their personal ambitions. In other words, I think they wear the black hats in a Western and play the role of butler in a who-done-it.
PBS has analyzed the connection between Bush and Christian radicals (also called fundaMENTALists). You can watch the program here:
Bush and the Bible
In other words, I think they are a bunch of hypocrites distorting the teachings of their "personal savior" to suit their personal ambitions. In other words, I think they wear the black hats in a Western and play the role of butler in a who-done-it.
PBS has analyzed the connection between Bush and Christian radicals (also called fundaMENTALists). You can watch the program here:
Bush and the Bible
Friday, May 21, 2004
Pressure valve
All bad news and no play makes for a dull day.
In 1882 the planet Venus made a transit of the sun. John Philip Sousa (composer of Washington Post March and Stars and Stripes Forever) was so bedazzled that he wrote "Transit of Venus March". You can view the sheet music and also hear it here:
Background Reading: Music
On June 8th, 2004, Venus will again transit the sun. Nobody alive today has ever witnessed this event. For detailed information about the transit in your neck of the woods see:
Transit Predictions
Enjoy.
In 1882 the planet Venus made a transit of the sun. John Philip Sousa (composer of Washington Post March and Stars and Stripes Forever) was so bedazzled that he wrote "Transit of Venus March". You can view the sheet music and also hear it here:
Background Reading: Music
On June 8th, 2004, Venus will again transit the sun. Nobody alive today has ever witnessed this event. For detailed information about the transit in your neck of the woods see:
Transit Predictions
Enjoy.
Resign, Rumsfeld
Q: Who takes pictures of themselves engaging in criminal behavior?
A: Someone not concerned with being punished.
Q: Who is more likely to take the fall for abusing prisoners at Abu Ghraib, those giving orders or those carrying them out?
A: See this story: Bush Gives Rumsfeld Strong Endorsement for a hint.
Meanwhile, Rush Limbaugh feels our soldiers were "... having a good time, these people, you ever heard of emotional release? You [ever] heard of need to blow some steam off?"
Here are the sordid details. I don't know about you, but I will think twice about calling Rush for a good time.
New Abuse (washingtonpost.com)
Finally, Israel's intelligence services pointed out that this type of intelligence is "worse than useless because a broken man will say anything, and as soon as he gets the chance he will seek revenge". (I paraphrase)
By the way, we released hundreds of prisoners today from Abu Ghraib.
A: Someone not concerned with being punished.
Q: Who is more likely to take the fall for abusing prisoners at Abu Ghraib, those giving orders or those carrying them out?
A: See this story: Bush Gives Rumsfeld Strong Endorsement for a hint.
Meanwhile, Rush Limbaugh feels our soldiers were "... having a good time, these people, you ever heard of emotional release? You [ever] heard of need to blow some steam off?"
Here are the sordid details. I don't know about you, but I will think twice about calling Rush for a good time.
New Abuse (washingtonpost.com)
Finally, Israel's intelligence services pointed out that this type of intelligence is "worse than useless because a broken man will say anything, and as soon as he gets the chance he will seek revenge". (I paraphrase)
By the way, we released hundreds of prisoners today from Abu Ghraib.
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