I am no longer amazed at what some people will do or say for money/power/whatever. The "panel" which supposedly "examined" what was going on with our intelligence agencies prior to 9/11 has, as all other official groups, shown that the truth is something that is reserved for "the future" - meaning that it'll be dug up or someone will "confess" 20 years or more down the road.
I find it hard to believe that (even) the U.S. intelligence community mislead or misread the goings on in Iraq. We are burdened with leadership that bases decisions on superstition-based conventions, an idiot as president and a gaggle of smarmy hypocrites play acting as his keepers. I have this recurring dream in which as our own little Georgie struts in for a press conference, some head of state just bitch-slaps the little turd. Whoever did it would be annointed King of the World by all the people, that's for sure.
Hell, EVERYBODY knew, even the British, that Saddam had nothing. It's always comforting that hate, hypocrisy and greed seem to corrupt in the most spiteful, mean and slimy ways.
Now to the crux of the real problem, the media. We must acknowledge that the media, particularly TV news is no longer acting responsibly, and should be considered a viable target. Pick a network, boycott, write to sponsors and boycott them, bring the bastards to their knees. Get them one at a time. Make it so that it is no longer profitable to tell their lies. Follow the executives to their homes. Picket there. Leaflet their neighborhoods. Forget their offices. Make life so uncomfortable and stressful that they can't enjoy their money.
Don't blame the intelligence agencies, blame the leaders that sold us out. Blame Condi Rice, who IGNORED warnings of domestic attacks. Blame Rummy, who was more interested in playing with war toys than in countering any threat to our homeland. Blame it on the preachers in the churches of hate. Blame it on the fringe element of the Republican party, who are so caught up in their own propaganda that even they believe it. Blame it on yourself - you just sat on your ass until things got dire, and you know it. Then you went out and, once again, allowed yourself a choice between the lesser of two evils(some choice) and, yet again, allowed the Democratic party to try to be the Republican party.
Fix the media (we have the power to do so), fix the Democratic party, fix this mess that a bunch of greedy, power-hungry, theocratic hypocrites have created for us. These swine are trying their best to create an atmosphere of fear and repression similar to that which our ancestors fled when they came to this land.
Intelligence failure? Just the failure of the intelligence of the American people who let themselves be led by the sellers of fear and hate and voted for the closest thing to the Nazi party to appear in the world since 1946. whew! I think I need my coffee...

chaSaturn wrote:

Now to the crux of the real problem, the media. We must acknowledge that the media, particularly TV news is no longer acting responsibly, and should be considered a viable target. Pick a network, boycott, write to sponsors and boycott them, bring the bastards to their knees.

Good point, chaSaturn.
Here's what we can all do to stop the FOX bullshit network:
http://foxblocker.com/
This site gives you all the information you need to remove the FOX bullshit network from our lives.

And the perfect world leader for the job Viktor Yushenkove (sp) president of the Ukraine. Shame he wimped out. Is pulling his troops out of Iraq.

Rothgar the uninformed wrote:

And the perfect world leader for the job Viktor Yushenkove (sp) president of the Ukraine. Shame he wimped out. Is pulling his troops out of Iraq.

You are so uninformed (and deliberately so) that you cannot even look up the correct spelling of the name of the man who is a national hero in Ukraine (and BTW, it's not "the Ukraine", just Ukraine. You wouldn't say "the America", you would say America. Duh.
His name is Victor Yushenko, a man who was brave enough to attend a state dinner where his right wing facsist enemies tried to kill him by poisoning him with dioxin.
He won the election because the majority of Ukrainians are liberal, and they still have a free and fair media that covered the huge protests of a stolen election. UN monitors declared the election stolen (just like here in America) but in the case of Ukraine, the people heard the message from their media, and joined the protest, and got their LEADER freely and fairly elected.
Victor Yushenko is a liberal hero, having saved his country from the fascist doctrine of communism.
Yushenko rightly and wisely "fullfilled a campaign promise", and these words come straight from the mouth of another fascist, George W. Bush, by pulling out his country's troops engaged in an illegal and immoral war.
Yushenko did this because the PEOPLE of Ukraine made this a campaign issue, and it was their wish. Ukraine has been traditionally a liberal populace that has fought for years for political independence from fascist communist control. You hate them because they want freedom, even though your president wants freedom for them, but not for Americans or Iraqis.
Apparently, you are a deliberately uninformed anti-American who is bent on the destruction of democracy, voting rights, fair elections, real leadership, and honesty. You stand for lies and propaganda spewed from your television and from the ass of Rush Limbaugh, and the facts defy you.
You stand for the communist brand of fascism, and against democratic principles.
Why do you hate Ukrainians?
Why do you hate Americans?

Turn your goddammed teevee off and learn the truth.
Stop spreading lies about people whose names you cannot even be bothered to look up.

Reindeer, the Rothgar is indeed all that you say he (or she or it) is. Makes me shudder as I think of the words of James Madison (author of the Constitution), "Knowledge will forever govern ignorance..." As I read some of the postings herein, it becomes painfully obvious that the "people" are being deprived of the popular information needed to have a popular government.Yup. Mr. Madison was right...

You clearly misunderstood my comment!
Admittedly, it got a bit chopped up so I can see how you'd have misunderstood.

I was trying to saying that Victor Yushenko would have been the perfect world leader to have put Bush in his place.

BTW There is one area where we disagree! George Bush is the generally (if illegitimately) referred as the President of the United States so I used the same construction for Mr. Yushenko President of the Ukraine.

Your other accusations are way off base. I am proud to say that I was part of the 19% (or so) who have never approved of George Bush.

In my case, I disapproved of him because I find his policies to be an affront to good sense and the legacy of America. I remain a steadfastly loyal American, I just oppose the current Administration.

I don't hate the Ukrainians for their freedom -- Envy maybe but definitely not hate. I wish we were more like them.

Rothgar wrote:

"You clearly misunderstood my comment! Admittedly, it got a bit chopped up so I can see how you'd have misunderstood. I was trying to saying that Victor Yushenko would have been the perfect world leader to have put Bush in his place."

I apologize for my comments that were off base.
I misunderstood you completely.
It is not my intent to attack fellow liberals.
When I make a mistake, I admit it and try to correct it, unlike a neocon.
Sorry if my comments hurt you.

In my defense, I was confused by your seemingly contradictory statements.
Your second sentence:
"Shame he wimped out. Is pulling his troops out of Iraq."
would seem to insult Yushenko. It turns the first sentence into sarcasm, in my opinion.
You have not explained this comment, so I will wait to hear what you meant by "wimped out".

Rothgar wrote:

BTW There is one area where we disagree! George Bush is the generally (if illegitimately) referred as the President of the United States so I used the same construction for Mr. Yushenko President of the Ukraine.

Grammatically it is incorrect, but it would not have come up if I had not been bothered by comments that seemed to suggest that Victor Yushenko was a "wimp". Again, my apologies.

Rothgar wrote:

Your other accusations are way off base.

In light of your defense, I agree.

Rothgar wrote:

I am proud to say that I was part of the 19% (or so) who have never approved of George Bush.

Since Bush's approval rating is somewhere between 41% and 44%, you can be proud to say that you are part of the 66% or 69% majority of Americans who do not approve of the Bush administration, or two of every three people.
There are more of us than there are of them.
WE are the moral majority.

Rothgar wrote:

In my case, I disapproved of him because I find his policies to be an affront to good sense and the legacy of America.

Agreed. An assault on logic and rational thought, and an appeal to irrational and irresponsible behavior. He and his friends have crossed the line into evil. There is no denying it.

Rothgar wrote:

I remain a steadfastly loyal American, I just oppose the current Administration. I don't hate the Ukrainians for their freedom -- Envy maybe but definitely not hate. I wish we were more like them.

We have much in common with Ukranians.
We fight a tyrannical power that rigs elections and sabotages leaders in opposition. The difference is that Ukranians still enjoy a free and open press and free speech. They have not had religion thrown in the mix to confuse the weak minded and create false issues. They maintain the seperation of church and state, unlike here.
The odd part of the story of Ukranian freedom is that the Bushies falsely claim that they support them, when in fact, they support those that oppress them. Bush even called Vladamir Putin "Vlad" to indicate his friendship with an oppressive regime.

I also apologize for not being careful enough with my posting.

I bristled when I first read your reply. Then, as I reread my posting, I fully understood the confusion I had created. I plan to do a better job of editing my work.

When I referred to membership in the opposition 19%, I was speaking of that politically unfortunate period when Bush had an 81% approval rating. I am glad that so many others are coming to understand the mistakes, lies, and deceptions of the Bush era.

Rothgar,
Glad to have you here.
I remember Bush having an 81% rating, up from 41%, when he allowed a terrorist attack by four planes turning in the sky all day to do their worst, by having NORAD stand down. Bush allowed the attacks because he and his friends needed the war for oil. They needed a higher approval rating because they took a good economy and turned it to shit, and no one was happy with him on the economy. He was going to lose the next election. That much was certain.
I feel strongly that this approval rating was not deserved, so therefore, I don't give Bush any credit for it. The Republican compliant media hawked the same message over and over, which is that we needed to "stand united" behind our fascist usurper whose brother rigged an election for him.
We got screwed, and I believe the phony approval rating and the real wars were part of that.
Meanwhile, Where is Osama bin Laden. wanted "dead or alive". The nation's "highest priority"?
Hmmmm.

chaSaturn,

Right on brother, quoting James Madison.
If only more Americans knew of truly who our founding fathers were.
Benjamin Franklin is dear to my heart, because he was a scientist, like I am.
Franklin had failed experiments (two that nearly cost him his life and one that oost the life of a French scientist).
No doubt if Franklin were alive today, he would argue in favor of research using stem cells and for exploration into many avenues in science, and would therefore be vilified today as "unAmerican"' by the right wing crack smokers today who cannot be bothered to read a newspaper or research a simple story on the internet.
The average American today is content to have lies and propaganda fed to them through their teevee, because it requires no effort.
They either believe that government doesn't affect their lives (which is bullshit) or they believe the right wing fascist party line that says that government cannot do anything good, and should therefore be dismantled.
Franklin would have railed against these hateful anti-intellectuals, because he founded America's first secular lending library, first public school, first public firehouse, etc, etc. Franklin understood that only government organizations can do things that are good on a grand scale.
Franlin also would have fought hard against today's Republicans who want to supress and control our free speech, because Franklin's first and foremost job was as a publisher who was busy attacking the immoral conduct of the Mather family and the religious fascists of his day for their part in hanging 19 innocent people and terrorizing a young nation.
Americans have lost their identity because the right wing fascists are so busy telling us that we are something that we are not.
WE ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN NATION!
WE ARE NOT STANDING UNITED.
WE ARE NOT ONE MIND OR ONE VOICE, WE ARE MANY AND WILDLY DIVERSE.
WE ARE NOT THEOCRATIC NEO-FASCISTS BENT ON WORLD DOMINATION.
WE ARE A NATION OF PEACE, AND NOT PEACE BY WAY OF THE GUN.
WE ARE NOT A ONE PARTY STATE.

I'll second that Reindeer. Diversity is a virtue. But one thing we are not, is a nation of peace. We the people would prefer to live in peace but our history is one of continuous war. (northern) America has been plagued with war and war-mongering for over 500 years. The indigenous and partially indigenous amongst us can sing a song or two on that subject. Yet we can be proud of many, such as Ben Franklin who actually studied the Iroquois government - six tribes united as the Iroquois League - which believe it or not served as a model for what was to become the US Government. America has so very much to be proud of but without a better understanding of our real history : what really went down over the past 500 years....things you won't find in our school's history books, we cannot come full circle. I prefer to see it as a glove which, once turned inside out proves to be more fitting and enjoyable. Hiding the truth about Iraq and 9-1-1 or 9/11 if you prefer, is a matter of temporary deception. May the truth prevail. Power to religious and ethnic diversity in the Americas. Power to the people and justice to all....the surpressed, the meek and the humble, but also the proud and dispossessed.

Jayhawk wrote:

"But one thing we are not, is a nation of peace. We the people would prefer to live in peace but our history is one of continuous war. (northern) America has been plagued with war and war-mongering for over 500 years."

Good point, Jayhawk.
I was thinking about "We the People" during the period of The Great War (and referring in my head to persecution of people of peace as evidenced by the Centralia Massacre).
The anti-war movement has been strong in this country during WW2 as well, delaying entry into war until Germany declared it and Japan attacked.
Under the jack booted heel of George W., we now kill people for their resources, and we attack countries that were no threat to us, and had no weapons and no army or navy or air force and had no links to anyone who wanted to harm us.
In my mind, we are a nation of peace, but only if we rid ourselves of the evil warmongers who are destroying our country and destroying us.
To date, more than 1700 Americans have been destroyed by Bush and at least 17,000 innocent Iraqis, including wedding parties and child care centers. In one attack, 35 innocent children were murdered.
Jesus said: "And this new commandment I give you. Keep all the others, but add this: Love one another as I have loved you."
We need to stop the war, and show these fascist bastards that we are, in fact, a nation of peace, even if our government is not.

Thanks for the short history lesson on the Centralia Massacre. Yet another bit of history kept under lock and key and not mentioned in any of our school books, at least not the ones I toted around in the 60s and 70s. I'd like to increase the number of Iraqi casulties you mentioned to 100,000 + as a result of systematic precision bombing of Iraq's infrastructure and the 10 years of sanctions which followed. US casulties are at 1700+ as you mentioned - that is - MORE THAN ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED DEAD AMERICANS. Some prefer to compare this number with the number of soldiers who lost their lives on the very first day of the Battle of the Bulge or with the number of soldiers who lost their lives in Vietnam e.g. but we're not counting marbles here. Each and every life is precious, american and non-american ! The number of wounded, some seriously wounded, none of us really knows for certain (not to mention the psychological wounds). Just how many lives W. & friends have ruined as a result of this illegal War, including the families whos lives have also been ruined as a result, is difficult to tally. On the other hand, the number of and names of the war criminals are well known. They need be tried by international courts and if found guilty, punished to the maximum extent of the law. No bodyguards and no strolls on the beach at the expense of the taxpayers for the warmongering criminals. No diplomatic immunity. America could save its face by 1) impeaching Bush on solid proven grounds - which are readily available and known to all - and 2) by handing all american war criminals, and this includes quite a few persons no longer on the scene or in the news, by handing them over to international courts where they can be tried and eventually convicted .....and lastly 3) by preventing any further misuse of power, through legislative corrections or otherwise. Personally speaking, I don't see this happening, at all. America is and remains, the bully on the block. As 9-1-1 has shown and as future attacks on America and Americans inevitably will show, when pushed around......some people push back. Alea iacta est. The die has been cast.

Jayhawk wrote:

"Thanks for the short history lesson on the Centralia Massacre."

Any time.
Were you aware also that president Herbert Hoover had loyal American troops from the Great War shot and bayonetted?
Check out the Bonus Army March on Washington.
They protested near the Capitol building to attempt to urge Hoover to pay them what they were owed in back pay for their service to their country.
They were starving and destitute, thanks to the evil monetary policies of Hoover and Coolidge and the Republicans.
Senate Republicans answered the troops with a no vote, and Hoover and MacArthur answered the troops with bullets and bayonnetts, killing two babies and wounding hundreds, overwhelming local hospitals.
All of their worldly possesions were burned.
This is just another example of how democracy suffers under the heel of Republican fascism. The Republicans have a long history of a culture of death and destruction, and economic destruction is just one part of their evil agenda.

My oh my, such knowledge gaps on my part. I knew I should have paid more attention in school. Gramps didn't talk much about the depression but he did say times were really hard when he was a young man. I remember him saying they survived off the chicken coop and what little grew in the garden. Work was nowhere to be found. There was a lot of bartering going on. They had to barter to survive. I'm sure this bit of history will repeat itsself some day seeing as the only ones to learn out of it have for the most part gone to the great hunting grounds in the sky. Another aspect is that if and when America runs out of external foes to push around, she turns on her own. I'm not really certan that it makes much of a difference if the leaders at the time were Dems or Repugs. Warmongers are Warmongers. The majority of your Dems are Repug-lites any old how. Nonetheless, I'm really greatful for the history you've rolled out. My current focus as far as history goes, is on european history which in itsself is a tough cookie baked with way too much starch. And hey, I'm really glad you and Rothgar have reconciled. I'm sorry I didn't step in to mediate but ya'all quite nicely managed the matter yourselves. Getting back to the subject of this article posted by Caro and repeating part of what I've said before, the agencies were dead wrong on Iraq's WMDs.........and underlining what Caro has been saying all along.....make them (our leaders) accountable! For the top to point the finger at his subordinates is a prime example of very very bad leadership to say the least. Perhaps just a case of simply passing the buck? I say, Bush & Co. need be impeached !! The sooner the better. Putting Bernie Ebbers in jail is a sly way to show America that the current laws are okay and not in need of change (if you believe this, well, they've gotcha spoofed), but by putting W., Don and Dick etc. in jail, the whole World would see America is capable of changing for the good.

Jayhawk,
I didn't learn these bits of history in school. I learned them from friends like my buddies in Oregon who are union members through the IWW, (International Workers of the World) or through people I have met online, like FrondesVirga (aka Crasmane - an orginal RadioLeft poster from way back. She is studying for her Masters in History and is an expert on American history. Goethe Chose Mercy ) I also used to watch the History Channel (when I had cable), and being a fourth generation American of German decent, I have also studied the history of the German people to some extent, a horror show of religious wars and unbelievable ignorance and fear, like the burning of witches and the persecution and murder of Jewish communites, just for starters.
I have done some reading on our founding fathers (Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson), on evolution (Richard Leakey, Donald C. Johanson), on the human impact on life on earth and the environment (Edward O. Wilson) and on medicine. In addition to that, I am a programmer currently experimenting with PHP, and I have an interest in cryptography.
You make a good point about corruption affecting both houses. Take Joe Lieberman for example. He is a Republican that should declare himself as such.
On the matter of impeachment, that will not happen until Americans wake up and start voting for their best interests, and vote Democratic.
The first thing that needs to happen is to provide verifable voting machines.
That is why I am an activist working on getting verifiable voting made possible where I live in Colorado. So far it's working, and 92% of our voters voted Democratic here as a result, a huge increase over the 54% of the last election.
The next thing is to take back the House. That is where articles of impeachment come from. That won't happen while we still suffer under a Republican controlled media (for the most part).
So, my recommendation is to go to Verified Voting
and become an activist, if you are not already.
Then, work on shaping public opinion by writing letters to the editor of your local newspaper (if you are not already) and by writing your congresspersons. Try http://web.takebackthemedia.com/
And finally, work to get progressive and liberal minded people elected.
I recommend the Democracy for America website to learn about who is up and coming.
If everything goes well, we should start to see more Democrats take office who are true progressives in 2006.
We need to start now, and work as hard as we can.

Okay Reindeer, you've got me pinned. Admittedly, I belong to the roster of relatively inactive Americans. Sad but true. Although I have been an active member of a labour union for many many years, the activities I generally take part in of late are few and far in between. Blame this on resignation on my part. Blame it on laziness. Having invested loads of time and an ample amount of money in multiple local efforts, it's difficult to carry on in the same manner with the same old gusto only to see the expected results slip further and further out of reach. None of the above however, can or should be associated with american politics simply because of my (chosen) remoteness. No, I'm not on the moon but Europe is far enough away to be labeled remote to the US. It's quite a challange for me to become active in anything so far away. Sometimes, I like a challange. Sometimes. Submitting my US Tax return on time i.e. is always a challange. As for the local newspapers, I doubt they give a hoot what's going down in the US. I could write my congresspersons. Good point. I promise to ponder on this for a while. After all, I recently wrote to the President of CU in defense of a Professor there and you can bet your bottom dollar she is smarter than any of my Congresspersons. You've got me whipped. I've run out of excuses. Time to get even more envolved. Blogging is easy. To really make a difference we have to go deeper than this. Yet, Radio Left remains my "ear-to-the-ground" or political barometer for what's happening in the US. Thanks for the links : as one 60's song put it ..."it can't happen here".

correction : my letters of support for Ward Churchill went to CU's Interim Chancellor Phil Di- Stefano AND the Prez(now former Prez) which brings us to the subject of how the right is out on a witch hunt.....


borrowed from the Darknight Press website :
�Until we take responsibility for terrorism perpetrated in our name, and until we end that terror, we can�t stop the terror returned.� This is what Ward Churchill says. This is why the system wants to silence him. Silencing Churchill is part of a much larger agenda: to undermine academic freedom and silence dissent nationwide. We must not let that happen.

WHAT TO DO:
First, sign the Colorado AIM petition to the Colorado University Board of Regents to defend Ward Churchill and protect academic freedom:
http://www.coloradoaim.org/wardpetition.htm

Second, send letters of support to the CU Chancellor and Regents, and Governor Owens:
http://www.darknightpress.org/index.php?i=news&c=recent&view=36
To read letters of support, go to:
http://www.darknightpress.org/index.php?i=news&c=recent&view=29

Third, learn strategy and tactics for resisting this kind of attack:
�Why do you think we call it struggle?�
By FAITH ATTAGUILE
http://www.darknightpress.org/index.php?i=news&c=recent&view=30

End of explotation.

Q: Am I an American Indian ?
A: Does it matter ?

JayHawk, Make them accountable? We can't even vote that fratboy dirtbag out of office. Do you seriously believe he won TWO times? Vote? Maybe after taking a few election officials out for a good horsewhipping... Fool me once... etc. If the people in this country really gave a damn, every sturdy treebranch would be decorated with one politician or other. Living in fear is a crock. Wait until gas hits $5 a gallon and raises are a whopping nickel. You won't see very many "W" stickers in the rear windows of those obscene SUVs then - but it'll be too late. This country's gonna get what it deserves.

Hey chaSaturn,

to answer your question, no, I don't believe the punk won. The fraudulous election outcomes are all too obvious. I know all too well how easily electronic equipment can be manipulated as I worked in an R+D dept. for a major corp. for nearly two decades. Heck, anyone with half a brain knows we need a paper trail and that the machines cannot be trused. More from me on this at the Rant. And hey, let's be civil with one another. Afterall, we're on the same side. Perhaps more so than you can depict from what you seen coming off my keyboard thus far. Off to the Rant!

JayHawk,
Here is more history that I didn't know about until just now.
This from Women's Vote Center of Democrats.org
http://www.democrats.org/wvc/

HISTORY LESSON: REPUBLICAN OBSESSION WITH DESTROYING SOCIAL SECURITY
Social Security has been one of the most successful programs of its kind, reducing poverty rates among seniors from 50% when it was created, to 8.7% today according to the Congressional Budget Office. Yet since it was first created by Democratic President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Republicans have opposed the program and have sought to undermine and unravel this vital safety net for millions of Americans. This week, as we mark the 60th anniversary of the passing of President Roosevelt, we look back on these Republican attempts to undermine Social Security.

Number 5: Republican Party Scare Tactics, 1936 Election

"The Republican National Committee distributed millions of pay-envelope stuffers, posters and related materials to employers a week before the [1936] national election. These materials announced that payroll tax withholding was to begin on the following January 1 without mentioning the provision of benefits under the plan. One pamphlet pictured 'A New Deal Judge' saying, 'You're Sentenced To A Weekly Pay Reduction for All of Your Working Life. You'll Have to Serve the Sentence Unless You Help Reverse it Nov. 3 Election Day,'" [Schieber and Shoven, The Real Deal, p.53-54]

Number 4: Governor Alfred Landon, 1936 Republican Presidential Candidate

"Alfred Landon, the Republican candidate in 1936, lost in a landslide, in part because he called Social Security 'unjust, unworkable, stupidly drafted and wastefully financed.'" [Edward Berkowitz, San Jose Mercury News, 3/13/05]

Number 3: Senator Barry Goldwater, 1964 Republican Presidential Candidate

"I would like to suggest one change, that Social Security be made voluntary, that if a person can provide better for himself, let him do it,' Goldwater said in 1964, stirring one of the issues that hit him in the election he lost to Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson's landslide." [AP, 12/31/99]

Number 2: Ronald Regan in the 1980's

"President Reagan also suffered political fallout when his administration in May 1981, in an effort to find budget savings, proposed substantially reducing Social Security benefits for those who retired early at age 62 and cutting benefits for all recipients. The administration quickly backtracked in the face of criticism from congressional Democrats and Republicans alike."

"In 1986, the Reagan administration again proposed cutting Social Security costs, this time by scaling back annual cost-of living-increases. The Republican-controlled Senate voted in favor of the plan, but the Democratic-controlled House balked, and once again Reagan dropped the proposal." [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 9/15/02]

Number 1: Bush's Social Security Privatization Plan

Bush Administration Admits that Private Accounts Don't Help the Solvency of the Social Security System.
* Benefit Cuts Assumed to be Part of Any Final White House Plan.
* According to Bush's Own Social Security Administration, "Price Indexing" Would Cause Benefit Cuts of 10 Percent, Eventually Leading to 50 Percent Reductions.

Looks like a trend. A republican trend. Shows the Repugs aren't all to "conservative" when it comes to demolishing what little "social security" the lower income class has in the US. I'd say they are agressive and persistant, working off an older Agenda ; slaverly was abolished, therfore it must be replaced with a new form of slavery. Neither wise nor healthy. I'm glad I'm part of a different agenda. Still got some bucks coming from the US Social Security System though....if they don't f**k it up by then.

...or this agenda.

Folks, you're being distracted by this "Bush", "Repugs", Democrats" thing. With a few moments of serious thought, you should be able to conclude that there is no difference in essence between any of them. They all serve the same masters and will sell the U.S. down the long tube in the wink of an eye. An invisible shield surrounds the capital city and hasn't allowed anyone with "morals" or "principles" within in over 150 years. Whenever you are distracted to the point of arguing semantics and "the fine points", you have lost the thread of the discussion, which is, are we to live free and independent or, to be slaves to corporations who enjoy all the rights and privileges of a citizen without ANY of the responsibilities.
The sooner we all learn and understand what's REALLY happening, the better. The global corporations aren't racist or conscious of any cultural identities, their bottom line is increasing the wealth of owners. They'll have children working for 75 cents a day right here in this country as soon as they can. They had it this way in the 19th century and early 20th, until Americans wised up.
When 11 and 12 year olds, working for 16 cents an hour are producing shoes endorsed by sports heroes and sold for an amount equal to the weekly salaries of those working at minimum wage, it's time to look at the system. Who profits? Certainly not anyone doing any actual labor...
I haven't heard a single one of these Republicans or Democrats stand up and address this outrage, have you? Don't you find it curious when you note that the quality of education in this country dropped soon after the opposition to the Vietnam war became manifest? Can't have the masses knowing too much. Or, that the "independent" media lurched into reproduction of "official" news releases? We are at that time when good men have done nothing and evil is in triumph. The full might of the legislative and administrative powers of our government, proclaiming their membership in a culture of life, shreiking madly before the dutiful cameras, decried the death of a brain dead woman, who's parents, in a fight over an insurance award, used the media and power hungry politicians toward their own end. The same politicians who were so concerned about this single life find themseelves nearly flippant about the thousands they've murdered IN OUR NAME around the globe.
Enough. We'd be better off with no government than this farce we struggle under.
Whew! I felt like a rant.

ChaSaturn,
Allow me to respectfully disagree.
You wrote:

Folks, you're being distracted by this "Bush", "Repugs", Democrats" thing.

With all due respect to you, I am not distracted.
You may object to labels, so be it.
I find certain labels meaningful, and the truth to be the best tool to beat those that want to destroy democracy.
Republicans marched in lock step this week in voting down support for veterans benefits, and they stiffed veterans out of 1.98 billion dollars in health care. We Democrats are the ones who support the troops, because we sponsored the legislation to give them health care.
Their actions define the labels. I merely use the labels.
I didn't force the Republicans to screw brave soldiers out of their health care, they did that all by themselves.

With a few moments of serious thought,

My thoughts are not serious?
Wow. I have been called many things, but being called out for lack of seriousness is not a charge that I think that anyone could make stick.
If anything, I have been accused of being "morose", "alarmist", and lacking in humour. I do have faults, it's true, but if anything, I am too serious.
You are entitled to your opinion.

you should be able to conclude that there is no difference in essence between any of them. They all serve the same masters and will sell the U.S. down the long tube in the wink of an eye.

No differences? How do you come to that conclusion?
I can think of many, offhand, and without any effort.
Pick a topic, and we'll debate it, okay?
How do you account for the late Senator Wellstone? A man who never took a thin dime in PAC money, ever. A die hard liberal progressive who was hated by every conservative of note.
How do you account for Barney Frank, whose voting record speaks for itself?
How do you explain his liberal agenda?
I have personally met Barney Frank and help him get a local official on the ballot. He has impressed me that much.
What about Congressman Edward Markey?
You sell Democrats short, I think.
I'm not sure why.

An invisible shield surrounds the capital city and hasn't allowed anyone with "morals" or "principles" within in over 150 years.

So, Robert Kennedy was without morals?
The Capitol Police are not invisible, but I will admit that the money is sometimes hard to follow when it comes to Republicans and yes, some Democrats who do not follow the party platform. Corruption is rife in Congress, but there are many Democrats who are good and honest people, and we need to get behind them, in my opinion. We have nothing else to represent us, so if we don't like it, we have to actually do something about it.
I don't see the value or the benefit for us of talking about some mythical untouchable nature of elected representatives. We can still vote them out of office at this point.
See my rant on this subject on my blog, Reindeer's Rants:
http://reindeer.radioleft.com/blog

Whenever you are distracted to the point of arguing semantics and "the fine points", you have lost the thread of the discussion, which is, are we to live free and independent or, to be slaves to corporations who enjoy all the rights and privileges of a citizen without ANY of the responsibilities.

Like it or not, capitalism is the economic model that the United States is based upon. Republicans want a marketplace free from rules that protect people from greed and corruption. That is why We The People have been clamoring for campaign finance reform for more than a decade. The Republicans want to bring us back to the days of the Gilded Age, and Democrats (true Democrats) want to regulate corporations and modify capitalism to make it more safe for the average person. This struggle is not new, but the new part is that the media has been co-opted by the ultra right, and we have to get it back. That's why we are here, right? Corporations are not going anywhere, so we have to make them conform to our will, and judges are the current protection that the Republicans want to destroy, by destroying the filibuster, thereby crushing the minority voice, and usurping power. Let's not let them. Write to your representatives, and call them, and let them know that this is NOT acceptable.

The sooner we all learn and understand what's REALLY happening, the better.

I completely agree.

The global corporations aren't racist or conscious of any cultural identities, their bottom line is increasing the wealth of owners.

Then why do we have Equal Oportunity Employment (EOE) laws?
Historically, racism has been used for years as a tool, so has age, sexual orientation, and gender.
Only Democrats are fighting for these protections to continue.
Still not convinced? Check out the Human Rights Campaign.

They'll have children working for 75 cents a day right here in this country as soon as they can. They had it this way in the 19th century and early 20th, until Americans wised up. When 11 and 12 year olds, working for 16 cents an hour are producing shoes endorsed by sports heroes and sold for an amount equal to the weekly salaries of those working at minimum wage, it's time to look at the system. Who profits? Certainly not anyone doing any actual labor...

I completely agree. The Republicans and ultra right wing extremists want a return to the Gilded Age and Tammany Hall as well.

I haven't heard a single one of these Republicans or Democrats stand up and address this outrage, have you?

Yes, I have. Watch CSPAN or obtain transcripts of speeches.
Democrats are the only people standing up for unions, and in my opinion, unions are the only hope of average workers.

Don't you find it curious when you note that the quality of education in this country dropped soon after the opposition to the Vietnam war became manifest?

My experience with education growing up in Massachusetts doesn't match what you describe. I received a good education, if strong in some areas and weak in others.
Education cuts came in a big way when Ronald Reagan took office, especially higher ed. Cuts to the Pell Grant program and student loans forced me to leave college in 1985. I was not able to return to school until the economy recovered under the control of a Democratically controlled Congress in 1992.
I have found that funding is a big part of the quality of education, although money is not everything. Obviously I am not a fan of the No Child's Behind Is Left debacle, and neither are the states. Utah and Connecticut are both suing the federal government over it.

Can't have the masses knowing too much.

Agreed. That's why the Bush administration and the Republicans want to kill off the Freedom of Information Act, which was passed when a Republican scumbag of a president, Richard Nixon, abused his power and thought that he was above the law. Without that protection, we live in a fascist state.

Or, that the "independent" media lurched into reproduction of "official" news releases?

The Fairness Doctrine that protected Americans from propaganda went into the toilet with the Reagan/Bush administration in 1980. You can lay the blame at their feet. That, and an extreme consolidation of media ownership, also under Reagan/Bush, moreso when Bush was president for eight years. Don't forget that George H.W. Bush was deputy director of the fucking CIA. Secrets are a way of life with the Bushies. Why do you think that Dubya's first act as president was to have his father's records sealed, and his own records stored illegally in his father's library in Texas?

We are at that time when good men have done nothing and evil is in triumph. The full might of the legislative and administrative powers of our government, proclaiming their membership in a culture of life, shreiking madly before the dutiful cameras, decried the death of a brain dead woman, who's parents, in a fight over an insurance award, used the media and power hungry politicians toward their own end.

And the beauty of it is that three fourths of the population of this nation rejected the Congressional Activism and recognized the smell of it.
This time the Republicans reached too far in their power grab, and they are losing their supporters over it.
This is an issue that Democrats can win on in 2006.
We need to remind the voters when the time comes.

The same politicians who were so concerned about this single life find themseelves nearly flippant about the thousands they've murdered IN OUR NAME around the globe. Enough. We'd be better off with no government than this farce we struggle under.

Anarchy is not the way, but I don't believe that you are really serious about this last comment. A nation without laws is not a nation.
Republicans want to overrule judges so that they can have just the kind of non-government intervention that you seem to suggest.
Don't buy into it. The Republicans are the ones trying to destroy this wonderful democracy that we have. Many Democrats (like Senator Kennedy) are trying to save it.
Follow this link to help them:
http://www.tedkennedy.com/page/s/saynotomyers

There you go, Reindeer. Democrats this, Democrats that, as if they will EVER do anything different. The Democrats embraced NAFTA, WTO, World Bank and every other corporate ploy to circumvent the laws of this country and force us to submit to corporate rule.
The Dems controlled BOTH houses of congress while Nixon was president - so how did all that stuff get done. Dems were in majority when Ollie North ran a secret war out of the basement of the white house. They let him off the hook. Sen Dan Inouye from Hawaii came the closest to calling it what it was - on the record.
I haven't heard ONE SINGLE WORD from ANY democrat comparing this gang to Nazis. I haven't heard any serious objection to the FCC. No serious defense of the EPA and environmental laws. Why? Because they're all too committed to preserving the status quo. Paul Wellstone was murdered, just like Mel Carnahan and Jerry Littleton in Missouri. It worked for one Repug senator but a dead man beat Ashcroft - imagine that. Of course, in order to reward Herr Himmler, er, Ashcroft for all his evil, he was confirmed by a Democratic majority senate. Don't tell me about how wonderful Democrats are! Democrats gave us Justice Scalia and that putrid excuse for a judge, Clarence Thomas. Your argument that Republicans want "just the kind of non-government intervention" as I would prefer is bunk. They DON'T want non-intervention, they want a theocracy, wherein EVERY aspect of life is dictated and judged by one set of religious doctrine. Once again, GET A CLUE. This is NOT a political struggle. Rather, this is a cultural struggle, a class struggle. Speaking to this fact cost Dr. King his life. When Malcolm X saw the light and spoke the truth, they killed him, too. Bobby Kennedy saw the fight as between rich and poor. He died. None of the rest of these "heroes" have the balls to stand up and speak to the truth. John Edwards came close. Not getting elected probably saved his life. The truth, Reindeer, is scary. The government isn't the government. Putting trust in those institutions gives the corporate rulers even more power. Where does all that lobbying money come from - your local Shriners? They are ALL poisoned. All are compromised. Yes, no government WOULD be better. Anarchy is based on personal responsibility and community. We don't need Big Brother to guide us through life. A nation without laws sounds like a place where people trust one another. Laws create a heirarchy, which creates power in the hands of someone other than ourselves. And, yes, the educational system went swiftly downhill after the enormous amount of opposition to the war manifest.
The unions are a great example of what happens when you allow someone else to speak and act for you. The AF of L and the CIO were created as a "partnership" between business and labor. The IWW was getting too big and a strike, any strike, quickly shut down everything. Too much power was being exercised by "the people". Labeling the IWW a Communist-linked organization, the government and business forced the breakup into small trade unions, thus diminishing their power. Congress played a big hand in this one, too. Gee, I wonder why?
I love my country, I love and treasure diversity, I want to live free. So, why isn't it possible? Because I have been sold down the river by money- and power-hungry Democrats, as well as Republicans. True, I will give you this, The Repugs are worse but, who wants to vote for the lesser of two evils. That's no choice.

We have strayed way off topic, therefore,
I have moved this thread to Reindeer's Rants
To read my reply, go here:
http://reindeer.radioleft.com/blog/

i agree with especially one thing that the global world is looking only to improve their wealth.
-----
sathyan

connecticut drug rehab

ChaSaturn,

Since you expressed an interest on education reform, I thought you might like to check out this web site:
The Campaign for America's Future
and click on "Revitalizing Education"

Adequate Funding Must Be Provided for America's Children
Smart Spending on Education

"While wasted dollars may not improve learning, spending money on early childhood education, healthcare clinics within schools, as well as after-school and summer programs does lead to success."

Read more: Los Angeles Times, "Cheapskate Conservatives Cheat Students"
* LA Times Sunday Op-Ed Commentary

I'm split on this one. Both of you are right. I'll put it this way, the US is on the wrong track alltogether. Has been for ages. To turn this rig around and get it back on track, we need a lever....something to steer with. Our sole lever is the Democratic party. It is true that even if we can swing things a bit to the left, we'll most likely just end up in a different lane....going the same direction. The Corporate direction. This is capitalism. Yin for a while, Yang for a while but no real change in direction. If you haven't read "Gangs of America: The Rise in Corporate Power and Disabling of Democracy" by Ted Nance yet, then there's really no point in our discussing Corporate power. Sorry I don't know of any other book that covers the subject any better. Putting Democrats back into office would improve things ten-fold, no doubt - we're in it that deep, but even the Democrat's hands are tied once they reach office. There's only so much they can do without getting smacked royally on the fingers or even worse - see JFK. Anarchy on the other hand, "a political theory that holds all government authority to be unnecessary and undesirable and advocates a society based on voluntary cooperation of individuals and groups".....sounds great but will forever remain a theory. Let us loose to do as we please (all citizens) and we'll just end up killing each other.

We've gone astray of the original article posted by Caro in March. May I suggest we take it up at the Rant ?

JayHawk wrote:
"We've gone astray of the original article posted by Caro in March. May I suggest we take it up at the Rant ?"

Oh, please do. I created a space for us to do just that.
Reindeer's Rants