Aung San Suu Kyi, A House Arrest Is Not A Home
From RickB for Ten Percent

Stark Apologizes - Who Got To Him?
From Polishifter for Pissed On Politcs

Rep. Stark apologized yesterday for his remarks that the U.S. keeps sending troops to Iraq "to get blown up for the president's amusement."

I don't know why Rep. Stark apologized. I wish he hadn't. I can only guess what type of political machinations goes on behind the scenes. What strong arm tactics were used to get Stark to apologize? Did Rahm Emmanuel threaten to pull financial support for his re-election? Did Pelosi and Hoyer threaten to prevent some legislation he supports from coming to a vote in the House? Did an envoy from the Bush Administration show up at Stark's office with some secret photographs he wished no one to see?

My guess is that several Democrats approached him and said that if he apologizes they wouldn't vote for censure.

Either way, I don't hold it against you Rep. Stark. I think your words needed to be said and heard. There is something sick and demented about Bush that America needs to come to grips with. Bush is obsessed with war and carnage. Bush personally ordered torture. The first thought in Bush's mind when dealing with foreign entanglements is a bombing campaign. As a kid he stuck firecrackers in the butts of frogs and blew them up for his amusement. Bush is a psychopath; that's what Stark's comment alluded to and that's what Americans need to start realizing.

Just enough for living in the city .....
From Distributorcap NY

Stevie Wonder summed it up quite well...

I thought I had a small apartment.

At 550 sq ft (yes 550), I wouldnt have what someone would call a lot of room to spread out. But at Manhattan prices, 550 sq ft is about anyone short of Bill Gates or a FOH (Friend of Halliburton) can afford these days. One bedrooms apts. with the same amount of space in some luxury buildings (my building ain't) are over $1 million now. That is $1,818 per square foot. And for the cool mill you get no yard, laundry in the basement and an obstructed view. But you do get a flushing toilet and granite tops.

Minimalism is the mantra. You learn to economize, never shop at Sam's Club and not keep that much stuff around that you really do not need. No extra shoes, coats, no newspapers, only 2-3 umbrellas, no old halloween costumes, no bicycle, no lawnmower, you can't save the cartons, keep just enough towels, no extra supply of shampoo (but extra toilet paper of course, you never know when George Bush will kill all the trees thinking they cause pollution like Ronald Reagan did).

But I do live in one of the best (and most fun) neighborhoods of Manhattan. I have a 7 minute commute to work, plenty of sun streaming through the windows, Trader Joe's is around the corner, the East Village and some of the best restaurants is a 10 minute walk, Cosmic Cantina serves a helluva a burrito, there are no buildings with a Trump in their name, and there are homeless people all over the subway station near Union Square --- life is all about trade-offs.

You learn to manage. Oh how I envy all you guys west, north and south of the Hudson for the space......and a full stove, dishwasher and refrigerator....and a garbage disposal.

Then again, if you compare me to someone seeking an apartment in London, I really have it pretty good. If one thinks New York City is expensive, how about making ends meet in London:

77 square feet of heaven -- smaller than my kitchen. All for a bargain basement price of $335,000 -- you do the math. (psst - $4,350 per sq ft). And the place needs work!

I would be it is a LOT cheaper to buy a place in downtown Baghdad. You don't have electricity or clean water, but you do have Halliburton and Blackwater.

Ebony vs. Ivory
By Randal Graves for L'ennui mélodieux

Veeery interesting.

It was not quite 2:30 a.m. in Washington on Tuesday when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California asked President Bush to declare an emergency because of the wildfires raging in his state. An hour or so later, the request - pre-approved by Mr. Bush before he left the Oval Office on Monday evening - was granted.

Wow, that was fast, Mr. President. Way to keep on top of things. Sounds like someone has been reading a newspaper watching something other than children's cartoons. Wondering why? Don't. Just peruse the following chart:

 

 

 

 

 

When one, and by one, I mean über-capitalist closet racists, has an opportunity through a natural disaster to remake, through a diabolical, laissez-faire crucible, a city predominantly minority and poor - one of those rarest of groups hated even more than DFHs - into a sparkly, cracker wonderland, one doesn't pass on such a precious, heavenly gift. Barkeep, another round for the Americans for Tax Reform. Minstrels, play.

The Republicans screw the middle class (again)
From The Richmond Democrat

"Y'all look at me!"
From Tengrain for Mock, Paper, Scissors

So-Called People of Faith and Values Voters
From James for Genius of Insanity

I'm am so sick and tired of hearing about "values voters" and "people of faith" already!!! Sweet JESUS!!!! This is simply code for "Christian values" and the Christian faith. They use the word as if Christians are the only ones who have "values" or "faith." They are en elitist group of people who honestly think that people of other religions couldn't possibly have any values and forget about Atheists and secular humanists. If Christians had a lock on values then the dictionaries would define the word, "values" this way: "The beliefs and guiding principles of Christianity."

Sadly it seems that the only values some of these "Christians" care about are abortion and being against anything related to homosexuality and any other alternative lifestyle. They say that they are "pro-life" and "pro-family" yet they don't seem concerned that our environment and atmosphere are degrading to the point of endangering the life, health and safety of their beloved children, grandchildren and "snowflake babies." They are "pro-family" yet how many of those rabidly anti-choice people adopt children warehoused in orphanages? They say that they are "pro-family" but they are against a committed, stable homosexual couple from adopting those needy children from those orphanages. They are o.k. with single family homes (as they should be) but are not o.k. with a two parent household. A household where the parents happen to be gay but are otherwise very capable of raising healthy children which increases their chances of being productive members of society. They say that they are "pro-family" and "pro-life" and yet they vote down SCHIP, a program designed to give health care for needy children. They claim to be "pro-life" but many of them support an unnecessary war that is killing and destroying so many lives.

I'm not saying all Christians live and believe all of these things but many "Christian's" do. They talk of fidelity in marriage and yet many other religions believe the same thing, as do many Atheists and secular humanists. Just because you aren't "Christian" doesn't mean that you are "pro-divorce." What kind of thinking is that??? That non-"Christians" are going around trying to get people to divorce?? Absurd thinking.

Jesus spoke often of giving to the poor and abstaining from too much wealth and yet many of these so-called "Christians" make money at any expense and refuse to pay their fair share in taxes to help the poor, sick and needy. They don't want their "hard earned money" to help someone else. Hmmm, I wonder what Jesus would think of that? Then there are all those preachers who make millions off of Jesus and yet often don't come close to living up to his example. While at the same time condemning others.

Then there is the value that Jesus taught of renouncing violence, turning the other cheek. Yet many of these "Christians" are pro-death penalty and pro-war, "get them before they get you." Sound like the "pre-emptive strike doctrine" at all? Somehow that doesn't seem to be in keeping with "turn the other cheek." They are more interested it seems in building more bombs then building peace through dialogue. To many, the symbolism of turning the other cheek means being patient, forgiving and being willing to solve problems non-violently and using war only when all else fails and when the world is united in believing in the necessity of that war.

Then there is the value of forgiving sins, they love to have their sins forgiven but have a hard time forgiving others. Yes, we all have difficulty with doing this sometimes but other religions believe in forgiving too. As do Atheists and secular humanists. Forgiving others is a basic understanding in humanity. We have learned over the evolution of our species that the only way that we can progress and succeed is through compromise and forgiving each other when necessary. And of course these "Christians" are the only ones who believe it is important to try and love your enemy. Never mind the Hindu Gandhi and the Buddhist Dalai Lama who are two amazing examples of the shocking ability of non-"Christians" to love their enemies and forgive.

Today's "Christians" have tacked on other "values" that they consider "Christian values" as well. And somehow they believe that these would be endorsed by their savior, Jesus Christ. These include supporting prayer in school despite Jesus saying that prayer should be personal and done in private. Forcing prayer on non-"Christian" students doesn't seem very inline with "loving thy neighbor." If they honestly believe in that value then they wouldn't want to impose their beliefs upon their neighbors because such an act clearly hurts, offends and disrespects non-"Christians." I think that hurting, offending and disrespecting your neighbor wouldn't be endorsed by the Jesus that I grew up reading in the Bible. Perhaps though I missed that part in the 3 times that I read the entire book. That was sarcasm by the way.

And I know that these "Christians" want to marginalize homosexuals and honestly believe that such acts are sins but I seem to remember there being something in the Bible that went like this, "Hate the sin but love the sinner." To the rational mind that means that you don't have to like homosexuality but you do have a duty to protect them and their right to use the "free will" that they were given by the very "Christian" "God" that these "Christians" claim to be following. This duty to protect others and love they neighbor would seem by most to include adding violent acts against homosexuals to the hate crimes list but the modern "Christian" didn't seem to get that memo. I wonder sometimes if they've ever really cracked that Bible that they love to shove down everyones' throats and wave in everyones face.

Then there is this so-called "value" that "Christians" have a duty to prevent birth control options from being supported and emphasized in society, this despite such actions being so irresponsible as to increase the risk of people (especially teen-agers) in getting a life threatening sexual disease. How is that pro-life? Here's the thing, their "God" "created" us with a sexual drive and any sensible person knows that the majority of humans will engage in that very natural act. It's an instinct of survival and you can not just shut off an instinct, especially one that demands the survival of the human race!!

Thus, If the chances are that most young people will have sex before marriage then wouldn't the pro-life action be to support sexual education that includes how to protect our kids from getting diseases that could kill them?? And teaching abstinence only is playing with a loaded gun because you can not prevent all (or even most) hormone juiced youngsters from engaging in sex and if they don't know how to protect themselves then they will end up pregnant at a young age. And while there are many success stories of young mothers and fathers making it, there is also an increased chance of them not making it. Such young couples are often driven apart due to the heavy responsibility placed upon such young minds not yet always capable of handling such a responsibility. How is driving young families apart a pro-family? Or they will get a life-long disease or a death sentence via HIV/AIDS.

Finally, these "Christians" think that censorship of anything sexual is helping their children respect sex and have a healthy and happy sex life when they are married. Yet here's the thing, I was raised that way and it did the opposite. I was totally unprepared for sex, terrified of the act and was told my whole life not to engage in sex before marriage and then when I was married I was told to go for it and have sex. However, you can't just "turn it on" after being conditioned all throughout your young years that sex is dangerous and that sex without a whole list of conditions is bad. Repressing sexuality is an exercise in futility that can lead to deviant behavior and abnormal guilt, shame as well as violent sexual acting out.

Then there is this sentiment out there amongst some Christians that the ten commandments are unique and therefore the only basis for a system of government and guide for humanity. Their elitist thinking prevents them from honest investigation which breeds ignorance and intolerance. If one performs but a basic search into the great world religions then they will find that most of them have a similar set of guidelines to the ten commandments. They either conveniently forget this or shamelessly shut off the minds to such realities.

And as for Atheists, they understand the importance of not killing, not lying, not stealing, etc. It doesn't take a "God" to figure out that doing such things brings harm to our loved ones, hurts society and restricts our personal freedoms. You don't need a "God" to know how to act in a society. We are the product of countless generations and they have figured out what works and what does not. Whether it was from a "God" or through just trial and error it doesn't matter how you got to that conclusion, it just matters that we all know how to act and how not to act. There are some general guidelines that most societies follow and the rest is trusted and left up to the individual to decide for themselves. As it should be.

You are free to believe whatever you like but when you start to infringe on the beliefs of others then you are out of line. Everyone is a value voter. There are very few people in human society who have no values and most of them are locked up in prisons or mental wards.

BlogRush Bans Bawdy Blogger Babes
From Ron Chusid for Liberal Values

BlogRush keeps advising snappy titles which will get noticed in their widget, and I bet this title will get some attention. BlogRush is a clever idea which helps bring traffic into blogs by providing a widget which shows links to posts in five other blogs. In return, other blogs have links back to your blog. Some have complained that it didn’t work ideally, but its free and brought in some new readers making it worthwhile. The links have also led me to some new blogs with interesting material.

Such a set up without monitoring was perfect for spammers, making it necessary for BlogRush to manually review every blog in the network. I received an email telling me that 10,000 blogs have been removed, and mine had been approved.

I thought this meant the end of spam blogs, but yesterday I found that a couple of real blogs I discovered through BlogRush were also being removed. Blue Gal and Just a Girl in Short Shorts were both removed, presumably for violating the rule against including “obscene or disgusting material of any kind.” Well, I guess I won’t risk posting any more pictures of Dick Cheney.

I’ll leave it to readers to check out these blogs to determine if they find them obscene or disgusting. This also leaves me wondering about the marketing acumen of this outfit. A libertarian lesbian in short shorts might not be the sort of person Disney would want representing them. (Besides, they have those nude photos of Vanessa Hudgen on line to provide them with publicity.) However, the internet is a different sort of place, and this is exactly what is likely to attract the attention of bloggers who spend too much time on line. Perhaps they need to do what BuzzFeed does in offering an option to “Only show tame buzz - some of my readers are prudes.”

(Aside to Blue Gal and Becky: I hope you don’t find the word “Babes” to be offensive or demeaning. I needed a noun beginning with a B and the other one which came to mind seemed sort of rude to apply to people I don’t even know, and it might have gotten me banned from BlogRush.)

Please Mr. Postman
Posted by Hector Diego for The Walrus Speaks

I must have heard the Marvelette's version of "Please Mister Postman" many times--because my older siblings had the radio playing constantly--but the song made no impression on me...until I heard John's lead vocal, George and Paul singing background harmony, and Ringo's creative drumming.

It was like that scene in the Wizard of Oz where Dorothy looks out of the house that the cyclone transported to the Land of Oz, which is in color, whereas the previous scenes were in black and white. Hearing the Beatles do Please Mr. Postman brought the song to life for me.

I remember my hair standing on end, and my foot tapping as if it had a mind of its own.

For the first time in my life, without encouragement from anyone but John, Paul, George, and Ringo...I began to sing.

Get this widget | Track details | eSnips Social DNA

Dream Act expected to pass
By Phil in NY for E-News Daily

D.C. - According to an article in this morning's USA Today, congress is expected to have a showdown on what the Democrats are calling, "the dream act" bill.

The bill, known as the DREAM (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors) Act, would grant legal status to children and young adults who arrived here before the age of 16 and who have lived in the USA at least five years — if they complete two years of post-secondary education or two years of military service. - USA Today

Personally, I feel this is a great bill that's necessary. I don't think its fair that children of immigrants are being sent back when they know nothing about their native country. They speak English, and most of them are doing pretty well in school. It's just horrific to me that young adults are being torn out of colleges and Universities because blowhard's like Lou Dobbs accuse these people of using up resources.

Secondly, the country of Mexico is under such tyranny right now as well as extreme poverty with no employment to speak of, of course Mexicans are willing to risk everything in order to support and feed their families. Who wouldn't in that situation?

Its easy for Americans to sit on their thrones, as they drive their SUV'S, eat great meals on a regular basis and lounge around in climate control. I think it would be funny if we take half these bigots, drop them in the middle of Mexico, and then say to them, "There you go, have at it!"

Photo Courtesy of:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/freshelectrons/133256184/

Michael Chertoff Wants to Talk to You!
By Mary Ellen for The Divine Democrat

Who woulda thunk it? Michael Chertoff has a blog, called The Leadership Journal. I guess the media isn't working hard enough to spread his propaganda, so he figures he'll use the "internets" to grab a few more sheep. This is fairly new, it started in September, and there aren't too many posts yet. I'll give you a preview of what's to come, however. I just have to hold my nose and go in for the dive. Here goes....

PRIVACY AND SECURITY

This is a warning, get your barf bags ready and donn your hip boots. This post is full of crap. Everything printed in yellow is a direct quote from Michael "I've got a gut feeling" Chertoff.

But what about the tension between privacy and security? Is it true that whatever we do to strengthen our security must be at the expense of privacy?

It is not. Our efforts to secure our homeland need not harm our privacy. Rather, in many cases they can actually strengthen it.

A great example is our efforts to create secure identification. By creating secure driver’s licenses and travel documents, we can reduce the egregious privacy violation of identity theft.

Another example is the way we screen the estimated 80 million travelers who fly here annually from other countries. Our strategy is to collect a little information about each visitor--just enough to help us decide who might be a potential security risk. When compared to the alternatives–-searching everyone, searching no one, or the hit-or-miss strategy of random searches--we’ve found that this is the best way to maximize security while at the same time maximizing privacy.

Privacy and security are fundamental rights and we will continue to defend both in our post-9/11 world.

Of course, we all know now that Bush started spying on Americans 6 months BEFORE 9/11. So, this whole load of merde about "our post 9/11 world" is an outright lie.

Just think of Skelator Chertoff saying this to you, "Our strategy is to collect a little information about each visitor--just enough to help us decide who might be a potential security risk." I don't know about you, but I just got chills down my spine.

151 MILES

Many readers have asked about border security, in particular building a fence along our nation’s Southern border. Let me take a moment to update you on where we stand with respect to fence construction and explain how fencing fits into our overall strategy.

In this post, Chertoff started with his reassurance that everything is all hunkey- dory in Homeland Security land in regards to border patrol. Just imagine...they have a strategy! Here's what Michael "I've got a gut feeling" Chertoff has to say;

Last year, our Department made a commitment to have 145 miles of pedestrian fencing – including 70 miles of new fencing – in place on the Southern border by the end of this fiscal year. Well, the fiscal year ended September 30th. As of today, we have more than 151 miles of fence on the Southern border and 72 miles of new fence, which exceeds our goal. We also have 114 miles of vehicle fencing, with plans to reach 300 miles by the end of next year.

The problem is, it's a bunch of bullcr@p. If you scroll down to the comment section, someone responded with this: "Your report of 151 miles of fencing being completed is disputed by many groups and even Congressman Tancredo's office, which says only 15 miles have actually been constructed.His office is to call you today about it and I have even called to insure a correction is made. How can you allow such an error to be made and allow it to remain on your website for days?" (This post has been up since October 1st, no correction has been made.)

I also wrote a post the other day, "PEEK-A-BOO, BUSH SEES YOU", where I wrote about the so-called "virtual fence" that was to be used. It has failed miserably because of camera glitches and many other problems. Millions of dollars has been sunk into this failed mess, yet for some reason, this isn't mentioned in this propaganda...er, I mean "article" written by the Homeland Security Blog.

PREVENTING IED ATTACKS

In this post, Chertoff makes us feel all warm and fuzzy and safe when he writes this; At our airports, we’ve deployed a full complement of screening tools and procedures, from bomb-sniffing “puffer” machines to explosives detection canine teams to Bomb Appraisal Officers trained to look at a person’s behavior for signs of malicious intent. We’re also stepping up security requirements for chemical sites and facilities, small planes, and small boats operating in U.S. waters.

Hmmm....the problem is, this report by CNN just came out about our airport security.

" WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Screeners failed to find most of the fake bombs smuggled by plainclothes investigators through checkpoints at two major airports from late 2005 until last fall, the Transportation Security Administration said Thursday.

The TSA now conducts daily testing, which has led to improvements at airports across the country, the agency said.

Investigators successfully smuggled 75 percent of the fake bombs through checkpoints at Los Angeles International Airport in California, and 60 percent through Chicago's O'Hare International Airport in Illinois, according to a report obtained by USA Today. In tests at California's San Francisco International Airport, where a private company conducts inspections, 20 percent of the contraband made it through security."

I'll lay odds on you, though, that NOT ONE grandma made it past those checkpoints before her shoes were removed and she was given a total body cavity check!

If you want to read more, feel free to check out his site. But if you decide to respond, you might want to check out his comment policy first. Michael "we only need a little information from you" Chertoff, does control this blog, so if you comment, remember...

 

BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING!

 

The Sovereign Nation of Iraq
By Blogenfreude for Agitprop

This should work out well:

The Iraqi government announced on Wednesday that it has decided to formally revoke the immunity from prosecution granted to private security companies operating in the war-ravaged country.

"The cabinet held a meeting yesterday and decided to scrap the article pertaining to security companies operating in Iraq that was issued by the CPA (Coalition Provision Authority) in 2004," government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said in a statement.

Dick Cheney will now replace the Iraqi government in 5, 4, 3, 2 ...

The nerve!  Like they can run their own country!  Please gentlemen, there are profits to be made and civilians to be killed.  If you get my drift.

There are good slogans ...
Posted by JJ for Unrepentant Old Hippie

... and there are great slogans. My definition of a Great Slogan is one whose nutty unintentional humour sneaks up on you, making you go "Huh?" because you're not sure you read it right, and then "Hahahahaha!" at the image it suddenly conjures up. GOP presidential contender Mitt Romney has such a slogan:

Hahahahaha! Pure gold.

Maybe we can have some oversight now that Billions have enriched corruptive cronies, Let's see some backbone, tie it to Bush's $46 Billion demand!
By James Joiner for An Average American Patriot

First I have to say, I was very peeved yesterday when Bush ignored California burning and just demanded another 46 Billion for his wars this year. I won't say I'm pleased because as bad as it is he did not have a choice now but he pledged Federal help and declared a state of emergency. I am very concerned still because with more than 10,000 sheltering in Qualcomm Stadium and pledges of help I am afraid for shades of Katrina. Anyway like you I am monitoring that situation but have moved back to Bush's new order wars and more specifically the grotesque amount of money spent while insistence of no oversight which is ludicrous. Now is the time to grow some backbone and put it too an end period.

Yesterday I discussed California burning primarily because I was disgusted that Bush did not mention it but only demanded 46 Billion more from Congress to fight his wars this year and he wants it now no strings attached. BS, now is the time to attach one string that has been purposely left unattached. Demand oversight or no money. He can't refuse!
Most of the $45.9 billion request is for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, bringing the expected cost of those conflicts to more than $192 billion for the budget year that began this month. The administration has already sought $147 billion for 2008. Most of that money goes to Iraq, which is currently costing the Pentagon an estimated $2 billion a week. Bush said the money will cover basic operating expenses, plus additional armored vehicles and countermeasures designed to protect U.S. troops from roadside bombs but we shall see. We can make sure it is not stolen as usual.

The president also called on Congress to finish the appropriations bills that fund the Pentagon and Department of Veterans Affairs before lawmakers' holiday recess, set to begin in mid-November. The request is bound to kick off another debate on Capitol Hill over the course of the Iraq war. Bush's last supplemental spending request led to a showdown with the Democratic leaders of Congress, who pushed for a withdrawal of American combat troops in 2008 -- a demand dropped after the president vetoed the measure. Unless Congress is part of Bush's new order plan they better grow some backbone!
Anyway Minutes after Bush spoke, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, warned the president not to expect Congress to "rubber-stamp" the latest request. "In the coming weeks, we will hold it up to the light of day and fight for the change of strategy and redeployment of troops that is long overdue," Reid said. He said the new request means the overall cost of the widely unpopular war now approaches $650 billion since the March 2003 invasion that toppled Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. Read more of Bush's demands
Bush did tie it to Billions in much needed armored vehicles and more than a Billion for spending on military health care so it should be okayed but not without an up to now necessary and ignored necessity
. We all know Billions have been stolen by unethical and corruptive contractors and others but as usual I wanted to research this before I let this go. This morning I found that The U.S. State Department is unable to account for most of $1.2 billion in funding that it gave to DynCorp International to train Iraqi police, a government report said Tuesday. The Department of State's Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) "did not have the information needed to identify what DynCorp provided under the contract or how funds were spent," the report said.
This blows me away $1.2 Billion? This is only one company and they don't even know what they spent it on? Another great sinner is Bechtel. Tuesday's report is the second in a series of financial reviews ordered by Congress and carried out by SIGIR looking into large Iraqi Relief and Reconstruction Fund projects. The first report, issued three months ago, criticized officials with the U.S. Agency for International Development for lack of oversight of their contract with Bechtel. Bechtel is a privately held, U.S. conglomerate of engineering, construction, and project management companies.
The idiocy in this report is astounding pleaseRead on
Then we hear more underhanded crap from our great American defenders at Blackwater-- A congressional committee investigating the performance of Blackwater USA questioned whether the private security firm may have evaded paying millions of dollars in taxes.
By classifying workers in Iraq as "independent contractors" rather than employees, Blackwater appears to have engaged in an "illegal tax scheme" that avoided an estimated $31 million in employment-related taxes in the last year of its contract alone, said Rep. Henry Waxman on Monday. Waxman, chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, also accused the North Carolina-based company of preventing a guard who discovered the practice "from contacting members of Congress or law enforcement officials."

"It is deplorable that a company that depends on federal tax dollars for over 90 percent of its business would even contemplate forbidding an employee to report corporate wrongdoing to Congress and federal law enforcement officials," the California Democrat wrote in a letter to Blackwater founder and CEO Erik Prince. more lies
Just one more benefit of working for Bush and more proof of why the insistence of no oversight. Stealing our money with Bush's blessings. I decided to look at the top 20 corruptors just in Iraq. Halibrton, Parsons, Custer Battles, etc with min boggling corruption to the tune of Billions. Please take a moment to Look at these horrific Boondoggles
Anyway as is becoming standard there are so many examples and stories of the corruption in Iraq, a million and a half, I decided to add the link and you can Look at them if you want
Like everything else with this idiot Bush and his corruptive benefactors have enjoyed their windfall long enough. Now comes the facade of concern. After more than four years and Billions in illicit gains at our expense A panel recommended to the State Department that the U.S. create a "central command center" to improve coordination among agencies using private security contractors in war zones, senior State Department officials and others familiar with the review told CNN Monday.
The panel also recommended a thorough examination of the rules of engagement, especially when using deadly force, the sources said. Led by Assistant Secretary of State Patrick Kennedy, the panel briefed Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Monday on its recommendations. Other members include retired Gen. George Joulwan, Ambassador Stapleton Roy and Ambassador Eric Boswell. Rice said the recommendations "point a very good way forward, and I intend to act on them expeditiously." Those familiar with the review said members found a lack of coordination and communication between U.S. diplomats and military officials and little oversight over private security contractors. just more belated concern

 

Again I say to Congress, demand oversight or refuse the 46 Billion, there is no way even the idiot could get away with saying no! Like everything else that has occurred on Bush's watch he has had his corruptive way and corruptive gains now once again he will put forth a facade of concern. He will act like he cares so he can use it and gain politically. This monkeys obvious underhanded crap is sickening. I refuse to believe he continues to abuse and misuse everything in his path and he just keeps getting away with it. we aren't this stupid! What the hell is wrong with our so called leaders? Are they all hoping to benefit from the crap Bush is pulling and about to dwarf?

Carlin's State of the Union
From Undeniable Liberal for Undeniable Liberalism

Olberman: George Carlin - 'This Country's Finished'

BLOG RECOMMENDATION

Although the blog is no longer coming up with any new posts - the author left the newspaper it was featured in - Corpus Obscura - is still an interesting place to peruse.  The idea was to feature the obituaries of people who were obscured by their own accomplishments (the last boxer to fight Muhammad Ali, the animator of Fred Flintstone, the tuba player from the Jaws theme, the first physician convicted of illegally performing an abortion in a hospital, etc)

Finger On The Pulse...Of All The Stupid Things...
From Sumo for Sumo Merriment

RepubliKLAN Nominee Gets Some DINO Love
By Jolly Roger for Reconstitution 2.0

I spend a lot of time ranting about the spineless “Persuadable” Pelosi, but she’s not the subject of today’s rant about a Democrat enabler from California. There’s one in the Senate who has traditionally been much worse than Pelosi, or even Reid.

Yes, of course I am talking about DINO Feinstein. A quick look at her voting record will show you someone who has been in near-lockstep with many of Chimpy’s policies since the moronic monkey was appointed to the Presidency. Whether it’s Chimpy’s love of war, or his hatred of Constitutional protections, Feinstein has been right there to back him up. Now let’s add a new category to the previously mentioned ones.

DINO also likes Chimpy’s racist, wingtard Judicial appointments. Let’s take a quick second to review a couple of previous decisions made by Leslie Southwick.

In 1998, Southwick joined a ruling in an employment case that upheld the reinstatement, without any punishment whatsoever, of a white state employee who was fired for calling an African American co-worker a “good ole nigger.” The court’s decision effectively ratified a hearing officer’s opinion that the slur was only “somewhat derogatory” and “was in effect calling the individual a ‘teacher’s pet.’” The Mississippi Supreme Court unanimously reversed the decision.

In 2001, Southwick joined a ruling that upheld a chancellor’s decision to take an eight-year-old girl away from her mother and award custody to the father, who had never married the mother, largely because the mother was living with another woman in a “lesbian home.” Southwick went even further by joining a gratuitously anti-gay concurrence which extolled Mississippi’s right under “the principles of Federalism” to treat “homosexual persons” as second-class citizens. The concurrence suggested that sexual orientation is a choice and stated that an adult is not “relieved of the consequences of his or her choice” – e.g. losing custody of one’s child.

I am profoundly disturbed by the second decision, though I am surely not in love with the first one. Did we not settle the second-class citizen thing with the 14th Amendment? In Mississippi, when you hear the word “Federalism,” you better believe that a whole bunch of other words lurk just beneath the surface.

So many frigging DINOS, so many gullible voters. Democratic voters really need to judge whether or not their representatives are looking out for THEIR interests. In cases like DINO Feinstein’s, the answer couldn’t be any clearer.

Republican senators are ready to try again to get one of President Bush’s judicial nominees from Mississippi onto the federal appeals court. But some Democrats seemed ready to put up a fight to keep Leslie Southwick off the bench.

“I am not convinced that he is the right nominee for this court at this time,” said Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The Senate was to take a test vote Wednesday on Southwick’s nomination. The law professor, judge and Justice Department employee was nominated by the White House to a seat on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which handles cases from Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas.

Southwick’s nomination has been controversial because some Democrats were concerned that his writings were racially insensitive. Several advocacy groups, including the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the AFL-CIO and the Congressional Black Caucus, have called for his defeat in the Senate.

Southwick has some supporters among Democrats, however, including Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. “Judge Southwick is a qualified, sensitive and circumspect person,” said Feinstein, who said the nominee was neither insensitive or a racist.

Feinstein provided the winning vote for Southwick in the Senate Judiciary Committee in August, which approved his nomination on a 10-9 vote.

Republicans also are lined up solidly behind Southwick.

The Middle East Could Become Irrelevant
From Two Crows for Preserve, Protect and Defend

Wow, just wow -- that's all.
This is AWESOME!
I just saw a short piece on a documentary anthology [Beyond Tomorrow] on the Science Channel.

It seems a man has invented a new engine that runs on -- get this -- compressed air! So far, the engine is being used to power such things as forklifts. Well, except for the personal automobile of the inventor of the engine.
It was demonstrated that one of these forklifts can tow a full-sized pickup truck--with an engine that can be held in one hand. It weighs 12 kilos -- just under 26 1/2 pounds. And there's one on the drawing board that weighs in a SIX kilos! That's 13.2276 pounds.
It takes about 2 minutes to fill your tank and you will get about 2 hours of drive time. Compressed air isn't flammable -- so you can carry your fuel source with you. Start to run low, pull over and fill your tank wherever you are and just keep on truckin'. Then, every so often, stop at a filling station and refill your air tank.

Oh, and by the way -- I'm not sure of how it works but there's no transmission as we know it today. No gears, no cogs, no pistons. The air that fuels the engine also keeps all the moving parts from touching each other. So no oil for lubrication is needed.
The engine is much more efficient than internal combustion engines. In our cars today, much of the energy derived from the gasoline goes toward running the engine itself--so less is used to actually propel the wheels. The new engine doesn't work on these same principles. Almost all the fuel is used directly to propel the car forward and almost none is used to keep the engine, itself, running. It sounds suspiciously like a perpetual motion machine.

I'm not sure of his nationality but, not surprisingly, the man who invented the engine is some stripe of European. Also not surprisingly, there have been no news stories in this country about this engine that will take much less in the way of raw materials to manufacture, cost MUCH less than a standard engine to produce, will run on air and could save our species from itself almost single handedly.

I've been drooling over the Prius and vowing to buy one as soon as I could afford it. NO MORE. Now, I'm going to hold out for a car that needs no gasoline, no hydrogen, no batteries, just AIR!

Ecuador Demands Base Exchange
From TomCat for Politics Plus

NAPLES (Reuters) - Ecuador's leftist President Rafael Correa said Washington must let him open a military base in Miami if the United States wants to keep using an air base on Ecuador's Pacific coast.

Correa has refused to renew Washington's lease on the Manta air base, set to expire in 2009. U.S. officials say it is vital for counter-narcotics surveillance operations on Pacific drug-running routes.

"We'll renew the base on one condition: that they let us put a base in Miami -- an Ecuadorean base," Correa said in an interview during a trip to Italy.

"If there's no problem having foreign soldiers on a country's soil, surely they'll let us have an Ecuadorean base in the United States."...

Inserted from <Reuters UK>

I found this immensely entertaining, and would love to have seen Crawford Caligula's face when he learned of this.  Now if only out Congress had such nerve!

untitled
By Karen for Namaste'

Kudos to 'DownWithTyranny'

Counting commas
From Michael Erickson for Montana Netroots

Our domestic yellowcake situation…
By Shark-Fu for Angry Black Bitch

A bitch stands in solidarity with members of the Navajo Nation who have testified before Congress about the damage done through the use of Navajo land to test and mine for uranium.

The EPA estimates that there are 520 abandoned uranium mines in the Navajo Nation.

The Southwest Research and Information Center estimates there could be as many as 1,200 abandoned mines and related sites on Navajo land.

These sites pose a continued surface and groundwater contamination risk, continue to poison the land and put Navajo people at risk for illness and death.

Please take the time to read this article.

If your Representative is a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform please contact them and let them know how you, the people, feel about this issue.

All together now, people...

Sam Adams - a beer or a politician?
By Ron for Middle Earth Journal

It probably never occurred to Portlander Sam Adams that he should copyright his name but now that he is running for mayor it's become an issue.
What's in a name? Trademark protection
Web sites - Sam Adams the brewer challenges Sam Adams the politician

A fermenting beer brawl pits Boston's Samuel Adams (brewer, patriot) against Portland's Sam Adams (bicyclist, politician).

When Mayor Tom Potter said he wouldn't seek re-election last month, City Commissioner Sam Adams became the likely mayoral heir. Enterprising KEX radio hosts Mark Mason and Dave Anderson registered the Web addresses www.samadamsformayor.com and www.mayorsamadams.com, promising to give Adams those if he discussed his political future on their show. He did.

Everything was swell until last week, when Anderson got a letter from The Boston Beer Co.

"Boston Beer has used the trademarks SAM ADAMS\STRIP and SAMUEL ADAMS\STRIP since 1984," said the letter, which asked Anderson to give up the Web sites.

Portland's Sam Adams is amused and a bit concerned: His campaign staff consulted lawyers Tuesday. The slogan "Sam Adams for Portland Mayor" is already on his Web site (www.samforpdx.com) and soon may grace yard signs and bumper stickers.

"They say they've been using this trademark since 1984," Adams said. "I've been using it since 1963."

Boston Beer's Helen Bornemann said she didn't know there was a real Sam Adams running for mayor when she sent the letter. The brewery has previously run "Sam Adams for President" marketing campaigns, she said, and feared someone was ripping them off. Bornemann said she's willing to discuss Adams' use of the Web sites "probably for the length of the time the election is being held."

The radio hosts have taken the fight on-air, even broadcasting the sound of a listener pouring Sam Adams beer in the toilet.

"These big corporations have got to stop bullying people around," Anderson said.

Isn't that big of the brewer? The might consider letting Sam Adams use his own name.

Blackwater cheating on taxes now??
By Dusty for It's My Right to Be Left of the Center

Per a CNN writeup and Henry Waxman..they surely are:

The latest allegations stem from a March letter from the Internal Revenue Service to Blackwater that Waxman's committee obtained. The letter informs Blackwater that the IRS reviewed the case of a Blackwater worker in Afghanistan and determined that the individual should rightfully and legally be classed as an employee -- not an independent contractor -- for tax purposes. Such a finding would require the company to pay Social Security and Medicare taxes and unemployment insurance premiums for its employees. The letter finds the ruling "may be applicable to any other individuals engaged by the firm under similar circumstances."

There are plenty of reasons for paying employees as independant contractors..one is that they aren't really considered employees when listed as I.D.'s. That way, the company can avoid any nasty lawsuits over the actions of their employees..er..their contractors. Another is that the employees won't be able to collect unemployment or disability if injured on the job.

By classifying workers in Iraq as "independent contractors" rather than employees, Blackwater appears to have engaged in an "illegal tax scheme" that avoided an estimated $31 million in employment-related taxes in the last year of its contract alone, said Rep. Henry Waxman on Monday. Waxman, chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, also accused the North Carolina-based company of preventing a guard who discovered the practice "from contacting members of Congress or law enforcement officials."

I hope they get screwed over this and everything else they have done. Fuck Erik Prince and his theocratic, bullshit-spewing ass. It makes NO sense that the government would allow one of the biggest contractors to list their employees in this manner. Prince says the government is 'aware' of how they list their workers.

Get him Henry..you go dude.

Bush to veto ENDA
From Christopher for From the Left

When weasels like Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Congressman Barney Frank suggested passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) would be easier if transgendered people were jettisoned from the legislation, a firestorm of protests erupted, leading to more than 113 national and state LGBT organizations signing a letter pledging to oppose ENDA until protection of the transgendered is restored (conspicuously missing from this list is the Human Rights Campaign.)

ENDA, sans workplace protection for transgendered people, was passed by the House Education and Workforce Committee by a vote of 27-21. But it looks like Nancy Pelosi and Barney Frank have been played — bigtime.

The ChristianNewsWire reports the Concerned Women for America (CWA) are thanking President George Bush for signaling he will veto ENDA.

Matt Barber, CWA’s Policy Director for Cultural Issues, said:

“This dangerous bill would pit the government directly against the free exercise of religion, which is unconstitutional on its face.  Members of Congress should join the President and exercise their sworn duty to defend the U.S. Constitution by voting ‘no’ on ENDA.”

The Executive Office of the President issued the following Statement of Administration Policy:

H.R. 3685 would extend existing employment-discrimination provisions of Federal law, including those in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, to establish “a comprehensive Federal prohibition of employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.”  The bill raises concerns on constitutional and policy grounds, and if H.R. 3685 were presented to the President, his senior advisors would recommend that he veto the bill.

When will dolts like Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Congressman Barney Frank learn? Are they really so lame — so naive, to think by hanging transgendered people out to dry, that this president, who advocated a Constitutional amendment to make gay marriage illegal, might somehow be inclined to sign legislation that could be seen as being gay-positive?

It’s time for new Democratic leadership and her name isn’t Nancy Pelosi.

Nice Work, Senator Obama
By Jane Hamsher for Firedoglake

This is a very good thing:

“To be clear: Barack will support a filibuster of any bill that includes retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies.”

Thanks to everyone who called.  And by the way, I’m really looking forward to this.  Barack Obama is a brilliant and powerful speaker.  His participation in a filibuster against the telecoms should be a real show-stopper.  And I do not see retroactive immunity making its way out of the bill in any kind of a permanent way any time soon — Bush and McConnell have both pitched complete hissy fits demanding that it is of paramount importance in the war on terra — so I think the chances we are headed for a showdown are quite good.

Senator Clinton, you were saying?

McCain: "I will follow Osama Bin Laden to the gates of hell and I will shoot him with your products.”
Posted by GottaLaff for Cliff Schecter

While speaking at a company called Thompson, which bills itself as “America’s Master Gunmaker,” John McCain declared:"I will follow Osama Bin Laden to the gates of hell and I will shoot him with your products.”

We’re all for hunting down Osama, but the current administration has failed to do that over the past several years.

It’s a little difficult to imagine that John McCain would single-handedly take a gun made in New Hampshire, as president, chase across the world and personally find and shoot Osama to death.

Just what we need, another delusional cowpoke.

First, Rudy claims to have singlehandedly protected all of New York on 9/11, now McCain's going to use a hand gun to kill the most wanted man in the universe.

And they say libruls are idiotic.

Halloween Candy Nostalgia
From The Boomer Chronicles

As I kid I always hated when I went trick or treating and got an apple from someone. I thought that was the lamest thing you could get.

My favorite Halloween candies were Skybars and the $100,000 Bar (two candy bars I never ate outside of Halloween). I remember getting tons of Clark bars every year. I got Reese cups, too. I didn’t like either of them very much. But even if I didn’t like them, the candy bars were big, and I liked that. The 1960s (when I did most of my trick or treating) was the era of the full-size candy bar, not the minuscule things that pass as candy bars today.

I love Halloween, except for one thing: I hate when I hear about adults giving kids dangerous stuff in their treats. That kind of thing drives me crazy. I hope Halloween is exceedingly safe this year for everyone.

9/11 Responder to Lose His Home
From Amy Branham for Amy's Head

Many offer aid to Barnegat man who assisted at ground-zero
An emergency medical technician, whose medical and financial troubles following his work at the World Trade Center site have left him set to lose his Barnegat home at the end of this month, said he has been bombarded with calls and e-mails seeking to help him and his family.

Charlie Giles, 39, was working for Citywide Emergency Medical Services in New York City when he assisted at the World Trade Center after the attack in 2001. He moved to Barnegat in 2002. His health has since declined. His medical expenses and inability to work left him behind on his mortgage and his home went into foreclosure by March 2007. A sheriff's auction is scheduled for Oct. 30.

Private citizens and organizations including the FDNY EMS Retirees Association have contacted The Press of Atlantic City, which published Saturday a story about the upcoming sale, wanting to help Giles.

Strangers, businesses and media outlets from as far away as Florida apparently have reached out to Giles to give money or provide exposure in hopes of "shaming Wachovia into not taking his house," said John Feal.

Feal founded The FealGood Foundation, a New York-based nonprofit that helps Sept. 11 responders struggling to meet their financial and medical needs.

Producers for the Star Jones Show confirmed Giles is scheduled to appear on today's program at 3 p.m. on Court TV.

Feal, also a Sept. 11 responder, said media attention has helped the causes of other clients and hopes it will do the same for Giles.

"We can't raise (enough) money by Friday to save that guy's life," Feal said. "We just care."

Giles has appealed the auction of his home and obtained three delays from Ocean County.

Giles pays about $1,000 each month to pay for prescriptions and doctor's visits. He estimated the community has raised about $5,000 before a Saturday fundraiser, where he received nearly $2,000 in donations, according to event organizer Tom King of Shamrock and Thistle, the Ocean County bag pipe band that hosted the soiree.

Feal has arranged a press conference and fundraiser for Giles 7:45 p.m. Friday at the Pinewoods Estates Firehouse, where Giles serves on the executive board.

To e-mail Emily Previti at The Press:
EPreviti@pressofac.com

Reflections
From Anon-Paranoid for America Weeps

Photo Credit: http://www.divadivas.com/water-divas.php

Every now and then one must stand back from ones self and see what really lies ahead of them. This is what I have had to do this past week. So much has happened that I'm no longer sure if I'm asleep and what I'm looking at and seeing isn't a dream.

Earlier last week I ran across a video of Ralph Nader explaining to a group why the Democrats pulled Impeachment of Der Fuhrer {Adolph} Bush and the Dark Lord Dick {Heinrich Himmler} Cheney from the table. Listen to what Congressman John Olver had to say about why there will be No Impeachment.

When I saw the video and heard the words spoken I got very angry and called Ms: Pelosi's office and left a very angry message. I called all the Democrats Traitors for not upholding their sworn oaths to protect the Constitution and said they were all Nazi Enablers. I condemned them for not removing the threat to our very existence since they were getting ready to take us into World War III. In fact I told her that if she wasn't going to uphold her oath she should resign and go spend time with her children before the mushroom clouds settle over her home.

I'm sure my message went over big time in her California office by her staff. Then of course we had Congressman Stark speak up and tell the truth about the veto of health care for children stating how we could not only afford the money for the War that the Decider wanted, but also the money to provide children with the medical help they and their families need.

How wonderful it was to finally see a Democrat stand up and speak truth to power. What occurred though was an immediate swift boating of the Congressman not only by the Republican Fascist Christian Nazi's, but also from his own party, including Ms: Pelosi. We all cheered over Congressman Starks clear and truthful comment. At last we had someone who was a opposition voice against the RFN's that had helped and enabled the destruction of our country and Constitution.

But no, that wouldn't last very long, this one member who decided to stand up for real American values and speak up. While we all congratulated the Congressman many of the Republican Nazi's screamed out in fake outrage. They all wanted an apology and what Congressman Stark gave them was not what they wanted.

Once again I was outraged that Ms: Pelosi would condemn someone for being truthful so I called her office again and left another message. This time though I even implied that the staff members were working for Nazi's and ask them how they liked betraying their country. I said that maybe Ms: Pelosi should give her Fuhrer a blow job and then maybe she could put Impeachment back on the table. I said that if they did not Impeach these Traitors who committed High Crimes and Misdemeanors than she would be complicit in War Crimes when the decider started World War III by attacking Iran and taking our country into another war.

I mentioned that they all abdicated their oaths to uphold the Constitution and were now all complicit in Treason and that they all should just resign since the Congress and Senate are now all irrelevant. It seemed that every time the Democrats had put the Nazi's on the defense that they just turned around and caved in while licking the boots of the Gestapo's underlings.

Mean while theres a severe drought in the south and raging fires in the west and what does the Decider do? He goes on television and tells the American people that he needs another 46 billion dollars for his war in Iraq and Afghanistan while ignoring health care for children. All the while water restrictions are going on in the south and the west is in flames. Then he goes fishing while our country is slowly being destroyed by the Global Warming that doesn't exist. After all bad weather is an act of God and not man made. We all know God is on our side, or so Der Fuhrer {Adolph} Bush says. And like Hitlers army who wore belt buckles that said God is with us we hear the same kind of talk by the Christian Republican Nazi's.

What is wrong with this picture? Am I in a dream and will I wake up to see the America I was born into? Or will I wake up and my nightmare will still be there in front on me? And it only gets worse in my dream.

Remember Katrina? Der Fuhrer's private army was on the streets in NOLA before even FEMA arrived. Fully armed mind you and the Oklahoma National Guard was following illegal orders and confiscating NOLA residents legally owned fire arms. A direct violation of the Second Amendment. They also evacuated many residents by plane and not telling them where they were taking them until the planes were in the air. Another violation of the Constitution. And now we wait for the heavy shoe to drop on us.

What is the heavy shoe you ask? Well how about Martial Law. Think it will never happen here? Think again. It is going to happen and as I have written about many times it will be soon now. It has been said the NOLA was a trial run for Martial Law and we just had a Military Exercise conducted last week for the possibility of Martial Law due to any thing that the Decider decides is a National Emergency anywhere in the United States {The Fourth Reich} or in the World.

And you think that you will still have a Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms? Think again. Like NOLA they will come and confiscate them. And how will they know who has legally owned arms? Think NRA. Who else has the most documented data of Americans who own weapons? The NRA, that's who.

Think about this, since before 9\11 they have been spying on American citizens communications. They know who speaks out against them in opposition of their policies and destruction of our Constitution. They have been gathering data and they will use it to cross reference the list they receive from the NRA for names of those who oppose them.

And what about the issue of Passports and National ID or Real ID? You can not fly without a passport and if your put on a no fly list you can not fly at all. National ID or Real ID they can track your movement throughout the former United States as you move from one state to the next. And what about getting out of the country? Remember the fence being built along the Mexican Border? Well do you really believe that the fence is to keep out illegal aliens {immigrants} or is it to keep American citizens in?

Are you ready for Martial Law? And if it comes what will you do? They have also worked with the clergy to get the American people to submit peacefully to Martial Law and will use them as Hitler's Gestapo convinced the catholics in the German Legislature to support the Enabling Act with the promise of making the church the official church of Germany. I myself don't trust either the church or the Nazi Regime and like the rest of the American people will have to decide what to do when they use the Military and