Building Fences

It seems George Bush and the US Congress is in the business of building fences.

Fences are only a temporary solution to the illegal immigration problem facing America's southern border. Let's not forget the Berlin Wall in Europe. It only provided a short term solution that was never really good at keeping people from escaping East Germany, or for that matter, keeping people from entering from West Germany.

Now you can call me a communist or a radical, but I have some ideas of my own for this one too. Sometimes, conservatives call us bleeding heart liberals a touchy-feely bunch who can't get anything tough done. As a so-called bleeding heart liberal, I would use more force to secure the border. The border should be militarized for the short-term. As president, I would consider anyone trying to enter the US without proper papers and authorization as an invading force which will be met with all due force necessary to repel it. (You may infer as needed.)

Just a thought, after all...

Teacher Reverence

Of course, as a small child I was always shocked and amazed when I saw a teacher at a store or a restaurant. I thought they lived at school and they couldn't leave the confines of the school's brick or mortar, lest they perish.

Even though, we treat teachers like garbage today, it is surprising that the same belief holds true. Ironically, it holds true for parents too! I am a teacher and I see this first hand. Parents fear teachers...plain and simple, even the ones they didn't have as a child. Parents fear me, interesting!

I see kids at places I go, like the grocery store, mall, etc. They all have that look of awe on their faces, like "Wow! My teacher is outside the school! Is the world still spinning?" Perhaps, they think they should call the teacher police and have me arrested for violating my parole, but they usually get over it. Mom and dad, aunt and uncle, grandma and grandpa, seem to be a bit more calm too when they find out who I am. Perhaps, they have flashbacks of being beaten as a child with a ruler or paddle by their teachers. Who knows the reason? My thesis is this: mom and dad will threaten everything from murder, to getting a teacher fired, or simply a good old fashioned "cussin' out," but the fact-of-the-matter is they never live up to their threats when you meet them in person.

Now what is the purpose of this rant? Simply this: Adults and kids, pay attention, your teachers have lives. Lives that most of you may not imagine a teacher is capable or legally allowed to live! (Shocking, I know.) So when you see me at the convenient store buying a 20-ounce Mountain Dew, at the park, in Wal-Mart, or at the doctor's office to talk about going bald, remember that yes, I am allowed out of the school (occasionally). We aren't driven by stereotypes or old wives' tales. There is nothing in the school handbook that says we can't pose in lingerie on the Internet, get married, sing, dance, or cuss. No, I don't need to send home a permission form to my students' guardians when I decide that I am going on a vacation.

It's simple...don't be naive! Most likely when we see you in the store, we're going to run the other way and pray that you never saw us! HA! HA!

NSA has my phone records?

It would seem the NSA is simply not monitoring phone calls, without warrants, of American citizens who converse with terrorists (allegedly), but they are also storing a massive repository of phone related records of every single American after September 11, 2001!

George Bush has surely gone over the edge of all legal fairness relating to previous legal faux pas. It is certainly time for the United States Congress to exercise its Constitutional authority and call the president to answer for these atrocious abuses of every Americans' civil liberties. It is even more than sinister and illegal...it is outrageous!

President Bush stated they aren't "trolling" to breach our personal privacy. Then what do you call keeping a record of everyone whom I have called in the past 4+ years? HMMMMMM...?! To paraphrase Lou Dobbs, does George Bush really thing we are this foolish? Senators and Representatives, from both parties, seem to be railing against Bush these days. This will send what Republican-base Bush might retain running for the woods to distance themselves from this recent bit of knowledge.

Bush is surely in his last days, if this pans out the way we understand it to be today.

The irony is while Bush was discussing this issue, and how it doesn't violate our basic Constitutional liberties and rights, you can see the portrait of George Washington over Bush's right shoulder. Washington seems to be looking out, over Bush's shoulder, reminding us that we are Americans and we cannot discharge our rights and liberties that he and so many of our forefathers--and foremothers--fought.

Let's not forget the many things we take for granted. Let's not forget the message Washington would send us if he were with us today. Oppression and tyranny start when people become complacent. We lose a bit of our humanity, our freedom, everytime we allow George Bush, or any other person, to railroad what we know to be morally and ethically correct. It takes a greater patriot to stand up and tell us what is wrong with our government, and with our leaders, than it does to comply and become subservient.

It's time to hold President Bush accountable for his numerous crimes!

Ambien

US Representative Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) had an incident with the prescription sleep aid Ambien. It has been said that those who take Ambien suffer from strange and unitended incidents, where they sleepwalk, sleepdrive, sleepeat, etc., without any knowledge of the activities afterward. They engage in activities which they should only be doing while awake. Like when Representative Kennedy was on his way to "vote" at the Capitol at 3am.

There will surely be more research into this drug!

Read the Washington Post article about this subject.

Conspiracy

They found a million barrels of oil just laying around, huh? Maybe it was in the basement collecting dust, simply overlooked for a little while.

Yeah, right!

May Day, Part 2

Okay, so May Day was a total waste of time. I thought the apocalypse or something was supposed to happen. I guess living in Kentucky, I didn't see these "big" things happen. All I saw on television, however, were a few protests and people bitching about legislation and human rights. But that's what makes American great, after all. In the end, I think the pro-immigrant movement hurt itself through its May Day festivities. It only proved to Washington that perhaps we can live without immigrants, overall as a nation.

Who knows...but it wasn't what I thought!

Tomorrow's May Day Right?

You wouldn't know that tomorrow is May 1 from watching the news. It is the day when immigrants and those who support amnesty for illegal aliens are supposed to cripple the American economy. I think that deserves a little more attention from the news than what movie is #1 at the box office.

Let's "rush" Limbaugh to Jail!

Rush Limbaugh is dealing (pardon the pun) himself out of a jail sentence. I wonder why it took three years to get to this point anyhow?

An average person would have already been sentenced to prison. No deals! Look at how they did poor Martha! All she did was deal in some stocks. Rush illegally acquired prescriptions drugs and abused them.

The moral of this story: if you're a Republican crooney then you can do whatever the hell you want!

Iran calling the shots now

Iran has put some conditions on the United Nations. It says that it will allow members of the IAEA to inspect its nuclear facilities if the UN Security Council backs off.

I think it's time to set Iran straight on a few things. First, it can't dictate policy to the rest of the world. Next, we should go ahead and take out these facilities while we know where they are at. While we have our heads buried in the sand they are going to be moving components of their program around the country. Then when they unveil their nuclear weapons program, we'll have no clue where it is!

Good going there George Bush!

Gas going Down?

I noticed today that the price of gas has dropped in some places almost 25-cents.

This tells me that there probably was a little bit of price gouging going on by oil companies and local stations. Since Bush said he would investigate the price of gas, and causes for its sharp increase, people seem to be lowering things down a bit. I hope that they truly do find out there was price gouging and then an antitrust commission is convened to investigate the BIG oil companies.

Oh, and for the $100 rebate the US Senate Republicans wanted to send us...FUCK THAT!

Iran, Iran, Iran

What will we do with Iran? It is now the redheaded step-child of the international community. No one wants to even think about it, much less discipline it.

From what I know, Iran is now the foremost threat to our security. Not just the security of the United States, but that of the entire world. The Middle East is a volatile place. People there hate each other over religious and family issues. Iranian President Ahmadinejad is working hard to bring trouble to his country. His rhetoric is offensive, almost like he is begging for a confrontation with the West.

I am not sure what he means when he says that Iran's nuclear program is irreversible. I suppose he means that the IAEA can go suck a long one, and leave him the hell alone. I imagine the CIA is working overtime in Tehran this evening. It wouldn't surprise me that the United Nations moves forward with sanctions against Iran. Iran certainly is more dangerous than Iraq ever was. They now possess the "atom." We just must make sure they can't refine that atom further and then attach it to missile. To me the options are obvious, Bush must take direct action, along with the United Nations, to shut down Iran's nuclear program (I didn't say invade). I am talking about airstrikes against the facilities where uranium is being enriched. These attacks can take place from naval ships in the Persian Gulf and from B-52 bombers way overhead. Sure, this will piss someone off, but I think we will all be pissed off when Iran nukes Israel or China.

As for Israel, I am not sure what Ahmadinejad's motivation is for attacking Israel verbally. I believe it is a way to somehow create support for Iran with other Muslim nations. I believe, if anything, such rhetoric only serves to distance other Muslim nations from Iran. Today, the president of Palenstine stated that Hamas-led government should recognize Israel as an authentic nation. Iran has always been the ugly duckling of the Muslim nations. It is primarily Shi'ite in its worship of Allah. I believe other Muslim nations are wary of the Ayatollah, who is the "bigwig" of Iran's theocracy.

Basically, Iran is cruising for a bruising. It will simply take a concise aerial strike of Iran's nuclear facilities. That's all! We can leave the Iranians to be in charge of their own government. Of course, we can keep a closer eye on them and make sure they tow the line, or risk another strike.

Simply, Iran cannot be allowed to possess and utilize nuclear energy and technology!

McKinney should pack up

We've heard a lot about US Representative Cynthia McKinney in the news lately. Even though she is a fellow Democrat, I believe her theatrics are more appropriate for the other side of the aisle.

First, she punched a Capitol Policeman, who was only doing his duty. They tried to play the race card, but I'm afraid we are all tired of that card being played. If I was a member of Congress, I would wear my lapel pin, or be willing to identify myself to the security that helps me secure and alive. I think that is common sense. I won't feel like I am being profiled, or other nonsense like that.

Second, she has now called one of her interns as "a fool."

This year is all about elections, especially for the House of Representatives. I believe Representative McKinney (D-GA) must remove her name from the ballot on the Democratic ticket. She must endorse a fellow Democrat to take her spot. There is simply too much baggage attached to this person. I suppose we will wait and see what the people of Georgia's 4th Congressional district will do. After all, it's their decision.

I just hate to see Democrats suffer at this time of great opportunity. Personally, I'm looking forward to a Democrat controlled Congress in January 2007!

The BIG 2-0-0

Wow, my 200th post! I think I should celebrate with some Dom Perignon! Ha! Ha!

Hostel is hostile to my patience

Alright, I just watched the movie Hostel and it is about 1.75 hours of my life I wish I had back. I read the reviews and many people said it was a thriller unlike any other in the past 20 years. So of course, that got my attention and I was excited to finally see it. But for what it's worth, I'll rate it up there with those Jason and Freddy Kruger movies from the 80s which were really, really sad.

I suppose I am more into psychological thrillers, like SAW and SAW II. Now those are some freakishly good movies. Hostel never came close to the the Saw duo, however. The whole movie was based on these three guys who wanted to get some "pussy" across Europe, so of course they end up in Bratislav, Slovakia. The first 45 minutes is a three man frat party, plain and simple. These "college" guys bang every girl they meet, except for the one who is a closet homosexual (that's how I interpreted his actions, poor thing being forced to think about vaginas and breasts).

The only thing that kept me to the end was the character Paxton. If he hadn't been cute, I would have stopped it way before the end. :) The conclusion, however, was hurried and predictable. (Just like my review of it.)

The parts where the people are being tortured in this dungeon of "pain and fear" are very cheesy, at best. The lights are off most of the time and all you can hear are the screams of people in the theater wanting their money back! You only catch a short glimpse of someone puking, losing an eye or finger throughout the whole film. And honestly, those parts weren't even remotely scary. (Am I demented? Perhaps.)

If you enjoy psychological thrillers, this one is definitely not going to make you smile or feel that sensation of your skin crawling at the end. It doesn't even leave you thinking, "Wow! What if...?" The plot is not even feasible, honestly. I don't think even in Slovakia you could run this "Elite Hunters" club. The movie is an insult to anyone from eastern Europe. From the underlying theme of the movie, it would seem the police in eastern Europe are so corrupt and immoral they allow big wigs from around the world to spend their "dollars" and "Euros" to kill people so openly for pleasure. It's preposterous!

Hostel, puhlease!

Happy Earth Day

Now gas is $3.15/gallon for premium. That's how much I paid this afternoon at the BP.

Now they say we are running out of gas, with shortages reported on the east coast! What will we do? I think George Bush needs to fly Air Force One around a little bit more to figure this one out. It's ironic that he celebrated Earth Day in California by calling for less waste of gas, energy efficient cars, and alternatives to fossil fuels. I suppose the president doesn't have to heed his own advice. He can fuel that Boeing 747 up anytime he wants, and we the taxpayers flip the bill!

How convenient for him! Thanks, George! Why don't you do something more constructive to fix this problem, rather than blowing smoke up your own ass?!

I got mauled tonight!

No, it wasn't some wild beast from deep inside the forest. It wasn't some deranged animal with the first signs of rabies. It was my cat.

Even though, she is declawed (the front claws), she is still a formidable opponent. She got outside so I decided to be the "man" and go out and bring her back into the fold--the straight and narrow, you know. Of course, she had other plans for me.

I had to entice her from her hiding place with her bag of kitty food. That worked; boy did it work! So when her back was turned, I reached down and grabbed her up into my arms. I was so proud of myself. I started walking back toward the house, when she suddenly rebels and uses her back claws to shred my forearms. In less than a second, she inflicted five superficial cuts to my right forearm, and then one deeper cut to my left forearm. Sufficed to say, mom says another mm and it would require stitches. And to beat it all, the damn cat got away again!

I haven't seen her since. I've been too busy licking my wounds to care! I just hope this shit doesn't scar. I'm very much allergic to pain and my forearms looked (notice past tense) good.

Fuck it...that's what Mederma is for, right? Too bad there's none in this house!

What will we do?

The price of gas is still on the rise. Honestly, there seems to be no end in sight. Luckily, for now, the Senate is asking questions. Maybe that will be enough to let the gas/oil producers know it's not okay to gouge us and increase their production to bring the price down again to more acceptable levels.

Recently, I found a gas receipt where I paid $1.09/gallon for gas. It was in 2002! It's almost $2 less than we pay today for premium gasoline! That's not so long ago, eh?

Higher Oil Prices?

Chadian President Idriss Deby has threatened to cut off his country's pipeline on Tuesday if the payments from British accounts for Chadian oil aren't made. How might this effect the price of crude on the world market?

I suspect it will lead to another so-called "panic" and result in a spike in the price of crude; thereby, increasing the price of gas for us at the pump!

Alas, there's always another excuse to put billions into the oil industries pocket.

Mexicans have Conservatives on the Run

Today, while I was driving, I heard Rush Limbaugh on the radio talking about how the Mexicans are ruining the US. He said that they are going to celebrate the Soviet Communist holiday of May Day (May 1) by taking the American economy down a peg or two, through an economic boycott. Firstly, May Day predates the Soviet Union by a long, long time. May Day is celebrated by people, and countries, all around the world as a day to celebrate spring and new beginnings. It only became associated with the "worker" in recent times (so everyone gets a day off [is that so bad?]). Why can't we just stop the lies, intimidation and fear?

Anyhow, it would seem this whole immigration issue has the right wing fascists really uptight just before this year's Congressional elections. It almost sounded like Rush wanted to discredit anyone who isn't a conservative, evangelical Caucasian male. Apparently, if you aren't this type of person, then you are certainly part of the problem (liberal/communist/Marxist/socialist/black/Jew/woman).

As for his view that liberals are whimps who are losers in life, that is simple to answer: liberals aren't the ones chosing to forget the middle class and use hard working, decent people, who are the bedrock of our nation as a stepping stone to destroy the economy and environment. Not to mention, the use of unilateral strikes and illegal wars to make themselves feel better. Now who is lonely and pathetic? Republicans are chumps, and in November they are going to be treated exactly the way they deserve, with a big, fat, pink slip from the American taxpayers/voters!

I feel very sad that radio stations choose to air such hate and skewed views of humanity. I do agree with him, however, on one simple point: the conservatives are going out this fall, with or without the Mexicans.

I just hope Rush can handle it! He might, however, get hooked on pills again. :)

Iran: Can you feel the love...and hate?

Recently, Iran has proclaimed its joined the elite "Nuclear Club." It says, however, its intentions are peaceful and only meant to procure clean, nuclear power for the people of Iran. Of course, this sounds lovely and benign, but today the same president of Iran, who expresses his peaceful intentions, stated Israel, or Zionist regime, is a threat to Islam.

So, what else might nuclear technology come in handy for? I can't imagine! Are we really so stupid?

Civil War

The president of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, stated that Iraq is currently heading in the direction of civil war.

"Mr Mubarak had told al-Arabiya TV on Saturday that civil war in Iraq 'was on the doorstep.'

"'Civil war has almost started among Shias, Sunnis, Kurds and those who are coming from Asia,' he said.

"However, Iraq's leaders appear to be divided on the issue.
Speaking a day after suicide bombings in a Baghdad mosque left 90 dead, the deputy interior minister told the BBC on Saturday the country had been in a state of undeclared civil conflict for a year or more."

Source

Iran in the Crosshairs?

"The U.S. administration is stepping up plans for a possible air strike on Iran, despite publicly pushing for a diplomatic solution to a dispute over its nuclear ambitions, according to a report by influential investigative journalist Seymour Hersh.

"Hersh's story in the April 17 issue of the New Yorker magazine, mostly citing unidentified current and former officials, says President George W. Bush views Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as a 'potential Adolf Hitler,' and sees 'regime change' in Tehran as the ultimate goal.

'This White House believes that the only way to solve the problem is to change the power structure in Iran, and that means war,' Hersh quotes an unidentified senior Pentagon adviser on the war on terror as saying.

The White House, without denying the report, reiterated that it was pursuing a diplomatic solution. 'We are not going to discuss military planning,' said spokesman Blair Jones.

"'The IAEA (The International Atomic Energy Agency) and the UN Security Council have spoken clearly: Iran must return to full and sustained suspension of its enrichment and reprocessing activities.'

"Iran insists it only wants nuclear technology for power generation. Washington believes Iran is trying to build an atomic bomb and refuses to rule out an attack to deal with what it says is one of the biggest threats to regional stability.

"Its attempts to take action against Iran have been frustrated by the reluctance of fellow United Nations Security Council veto-holders Russia and China to consider sanctions."

Source

It would seem G.W. Bush is up to it again. He is going after part 2 of his axis of evil. He even went as far as to label the president of Iran as "Adolf Hitler." It sounds pretty serious. I just wonder if any of Bush's generals, who he relies on for intelligence and when to increase/decrease the military in Iraq, have bothered to tell him that such a move would be highly costly and dangerous to the welfare and integrity of the United States?

Even a selective airstrike against targets inside of Iran could only prove to provoke them further. They may undertake a full-force military invasion of Iraq. I doubt Tehran is as gullible and crippled as Baghdad was three years ago on Freedom Day. Out of the people I know from Iran, they are a truly arrogant and proud people. They probably would fight to the last man, for real! Instead of shaming the Iranian people into "regime change," Bush may move them to US policy change in the Middle East, especially when you have someone like the Ayatollah who is really pulling the strings and running the government behind the scenes.

In this instance, however, I agree with US policy-makers, we cannot allow Iran to have nuclear capabilities, even for peaceful use (which I do not believe). Iran has repeatedly verbalized its contempt for Israel, and such weapons, I am sure, would find a place on the tip of some mid-range ballistic missile, or in the backpack of some serious suicide bomber in downtown Tel Aviv!

George Bush should have taken greater care to gauge his enemies and place them into order in regards to their direct immediate and future threats to the United States and its allies. Now, we are stuck in a hopeless war (like Vietnam), which we will never win. We have already been defeated, and Iraq is locked in a civil war, which they can only decide ultimately. If Bush had attacked Iran first, we can be certain (mostly) that Saddam wouldn't have come to the aid of his blood enemies, the Iranians. Now, however, we have regime stagnation in Iraq, and Iran has vowed to aid its Shi'ite brethren in Iraq from the Sunnis who subjugated them for decades! American airstrikes can only go so far, when the Iranians invade the eastern borders of Iraq!

This is truly a conundrum for the United Nations to work out. The US cannot afford anymore unilateral "nation building." The cost of such policies in Iraq has already proven too great in money and American lives!

Bush is not the president to make such a decision for us at this time!

Meryl Streep, I love you!

If you have watched Meryl Streep's recent movies, to wit: Prime and The Manchurian Candidate, you will have seen my very own mother (not Meryl Streep, perse, but her characters).

In both movies, she plays a doting and overbearing mother who is bent on running the life of her son. That sounds so very reminiscent of my own mother. Her characters even says things and displays body language that gives me chills. I'm like, "Mom, is that you?!" I just love when she uses a bit of motherly advice that is laced with guilt and shame. It works everytime!

Moreover, I have found the actress to portray my mother when they make the movie of my life. You see, Megan Mullally is playing the part of me. So we will have an all-star cast! Megan Mullally and Meryl Streep.

Now, I must cast the parts for my brothers and father. I'll let you know how that turns out!

I wonder if Ina Garten is available? Hmmm....

Happy Freedom Day!

Today is Freedom Day in Iraq. I am sure everyone in Iraq is celebrating.

Wait! It's just more American propaganda! I doubt many people in Iraq could care less, much less celebrate the day their country was taken over by another country.

Interesting how history is written by the victors. I doubt many Iraqis three years ago thought their country would be engaged in a civil war today.

As my French friend says, "Mon ami, c'est la vie!"

Gas News

Today, at the BP, I paid $2.95/gallon for premium gas. How rude!

In other news, last week it was revealed that ExxonMobil is now the NUMBER ONE corporation in the world for revenues over the past 12 months. It made $340,000,000,000 ($340 billion) in revenue! It beat Wal-Mart's $316,000,000,000 revenue, which took Wal-Mart from the top, where it has been for the past four years! Imagine someone taking the top seat away from Wal-Mart, I'm appalled. ExxonMobil made $147,000,000,000 more than General Motors (which is #3) in the same time period! So are we paying more for gas than the automobiles it goes in? Seems so!

Mostly I'm upset because ExxonMobil couldn't have done it without the inflated gas prices over the past 1.5 years. Our government has done nothing to halt this upward spiral from this unchecked monopoly.

Is it surprising that three out of the top 10 revenue making companies in the world last year are oil giants (ExxonMobil, $340bn; Chevron, $190bn; ConocoPhillips, $167bn)?

So in the past year, the three biggest oil companies made $697,000,000,000!!!!! That's almost $1,000,000,000,000 (one trillion dollars) split between three companies!

Now how much did ExxonMobil grow from 2004 to 2006, you ask? ExxonMobil's profits grew by 42.6%. I wonder how much its net revenues will total between now and 2007? From the rise in the price of gas lately, I'd bet on another 42.6%!

When will this greed and price gouging stop? When we decide that it will!

Somewhere in Saudi Arabia a sheik is happy!

Bitchy Bush

"President Bush blamed Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid on Saturday for the potentially fatal blow dealt to compromise immigration legislation.

"The landmark bill, which would offer eventual citizenship to millions of illegal immigrants, fell victim Friday to internal disputes in both parties.
But Bush -- echoing earlier complaints from Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tennessee -- sought to place all the blame on Reid, D-Nevada, who refused to permit votes on more than three Republican-backed amendments.

"'I call on the Senate minority leader to end his blocking tactics and allow the Senate to do its work and pass a fair, effective immigration reform bill,' Bush said in his weekly radio address.

"Hailed as a bipartisan breakthrough earlier in the week, the immigration measure would have provided for stronger border security, regulated the future entry of foreign workers and created a complex new set of regulations for the estimated 11 million immigrants in the country illegally."

Source

Eh, blow it out your pie hole Bush. Republicans are going down in November and you're shaking in your boots!

Bush Authorized Leak that Libby is paying for?

"Vice President Dick Cheney's former top aide told prosecutors President Bush authorized the leak of sensitive intelligence information about Iraq, according to court papers filed by prosecutors in the CIA leak case. Before his indictment, I. Lewis Libby testified to the grand jury investigating the CIA leak that Cheney told him to pass on information and that it was Bush who authorized the disclosure, the court papers say. According to the documents, the authorization led to the July 8, 2003, conversation between Libby and New York Times reporter Judith Miller."
Source

Poetry

Stars shine and die
Like mortals below whom they delight
Mars and Venus, each a different light overhead
Yet, they stand and swing far apart

My heart bleeds like a river inside of me
It aches and wails a song of misery
Delight is on my mind hours on end
The words are within, not without

The tears well on the outside like floods
But their heat is inside like flames
My emotions are almost dulled
Since I know you'll be gone

Awhile, I'll pretend the sun still shines
And the world still turns
But inside I'll be lost and alone
Misery's sorrow, a pet to be used

Mishandled are my emotions
Laid aside on a shelf--forgotten, but missed
The tears will dry and become bitter
With loneliness as my companion, I can still sigh--
Regret
Dream
Hope

Poetry

THOUGHTS

Ancient thoughts

Bury me in silent repose.

I remember months, years

Which haunt my thoughts and dreams--

From a while ago.

I see you face as it was,

But today it is different--

Long and round

Your eyes remain unchanged,

Light and dark

They peer out from the confines of my prison inside

Chained to the processes of my desire,

However distant, I know, I breathe

I need through substitution, I try

Your hold resigns me for a while longer

I'll sigh and groan, lust more, of course

Changes are never sincere, only skin deep

I feel yours in my dreams, my desires.

Iran Missile Tests

It seems that in Bush's so-called axis of evil, he chose poorly when he attacked Iraq.

Iran has just made a second missile test, which is capable of taking out large naval vessels (maybe American ships?). Now, all they need is a nice nuclear warhead to attach to the top of that missile. Wouldn't that be just lovely?

I'm disgusted by the whole thing. Condi Rice was right when she said there have been thousands of mistakes related to the occupation of Iraq. Let's send them to the top, where they belong. The buck stops with Bush.

IMPEACH BUSH NOW!

Dick Aide calls for Bush Censure

The aide of former President Dick Nixon has called for the United States Senate to censure Bush...perhaps, even impeach him!

OMG! I've been saying that for how long now? January 20, 2001?

I think so!

They lie!

I've been to the muthafuckin' mountain top!

:)

Gas is on the rise again, no fooling!

Today, I paid $2.89 for premium gasoline at BP. It looks like we are heading back up to the $3 mark. People, however, aren't making the same noise they were making this time last year. The petroleum industry is smart. They play the numbers. If you raise the price too high, people will bitch, then you drop the price down about 15% to a number where people will relax. Then, you work to slowly raise the price to a higher number. If you do it in a systematic manner, people will not complain because they are fickle and they stop paying attention. A dime a month is a pretty safe bet at this time, because people have seen gas prices at $3+ in the past, so they won't complain on a mass scale.

What a shame!

Age is a number!

A 250 year old tortoise! FUCK!

It's older than the United States....that's awesome!

Immigration

The question of immigration is a hot topic at the moment. And of course, I have a few ideas about it.

Without going into the concept of out-sourcing, let's talk about in-sourcing. In-sourcing is a new term for our lexicon. We look at large companies, mom-and-pop businesses, and then the average American looking to save a few bucks. By bringing in cheap labor from south of the border, we cheat ourselves. Every time a company hires an illegal immigrant they save a lot of money. They pay these people under the table for their services and half the wages they'd have to pay an honest American. What will an undocumented immigrant do? Call the IRS?

Duh! At half the legal wage, they are still making a handsome wage from the one they earned in Mexico or Central America. It's truly win-win for companies. In the end they can maintain their output at a reduced rate. But doesn't that sound good for our economy? NO!

We are moving jobs out of the United States to avoid taxation and wage restrictions. At the same time, we are moving immigrants into our country who work at companies which still fly the American flag out front. They take the place of the American man or woman who worked for $15/hour. Now, the illegal immigrant is making $3/hour. I believe it is wrong to punish the poor souls who have risked all to make it to our country. They honestly don't understand the politics and legalities of their actions (more or less, at least).

Instead we must severely punish companies which choose to in-source their labor (or at least fluff a portion thereof). Criminal/civil litigation (class action) should be brought against the company hiring illegal immigrants. In addition, the IRS must demand penalties, etc., be paid to their coffers for the loss in revenue as a result of using illegal, cheap labor to conduct business.

And of course, we must blame a Republican, who supports BIG business!

Oil & America

Oil is the quintessential staple of the American diet. It fuels our cars and it heats our homes. So what if it all suddenly went away...or most of it at least?

We have our refineries along the Gulf of Mexico. They are certainly vulnerable, Hurricane Katrina taught us that last year. We primarily rely on oil from the Middle East. Saudi Arabia, the largest oil exporter in the world, and the United States largest partner in oil, is vulnerable to terrorism. If it weren't for the crude that sits beneath their deserts, they would be nothing but a Bedouin nation of poor, deprived people. We need their supply of oil to keep our country operating smoothly.

Although, I am not keen on the idea of destroying pristine national refuges for our own greed, we must come to terms, however, with our own vulnerability when it comes to this issue. We must be realistic.

We have been talking about alternative fuel cars for decades, but it is true we are probably no closer to making this a reality now than we were 15 years ago. There are certainly steps being taken by car manufacturers to address this growing dread among our country, but it is one that we will not easily embrace. The United States must face facts: either we switch our petroleum-based cars for those that run on renewable resources immediately, which can be grown in our own backyards, or we must prepare ourselves for extracting our own resources of crude in Alaska.

It seems easy to say we will depart from our petroleum-based transportation, but as long as automobile manufacturers are allowed to continue to roll out vehicles with combustible engines driven by gasoline and diesel, then we will never make it over this looming disaster when it occurs. The government must place a moratorium on the production of gasoline engines and require that all new vehicles be fitted with engines which run on renewable fuels, such as ethanol. As logic dictates, as older cars are scrapped then our dependence on foreign oil is diminished, until we can arrive at a place in the future where our dependence on oil is diminished completely or less than 10% of where we are today.

Can you imagine a country that is no longer dependent on oil? The big oil companies, and countries like Saudi Arabia, will lobby Washington against such a bold step, but it is one that we must wise-up to and understand is coming. Otherwise, we will be left with a nation of cars that no longer can be used, homes that no longer can be heated, because we chose to give into big business and turn a blind eye to the facts which are staring us so boldly in the eye.

Saddam's Fate

I wonder what Saddam's fate will be since his trial will never be over?

I'll give you one guess...just look at Slobodan Milosevic!

Iran's Nuclear Program

The Russians were our only hope for hammering out an agreement with the Iranians for uranium enrichment. It seems that has failed.

Iranians turned down a compromise to have their uranium processed by Russians at a Russian location and then transferred to Iran for use as nuclear power.

It would seem the intent of Iran is not to have have a peaceful nuclear program. They are looking to become the next nuclear power in the Middle East. The United States has miscalculated the Iran-factor when it went to war in Iraq. Our forces are now engaged in a hopeless battle in Iraq as it fights a civil war. George Bush's "axis of evil" policy has failed. He allowed the two most powerful nations in this axis to slip through. Basically, I believe the US may have chosen the weakest member of the axis to make a point, which has only strengthened the military resolve of Iran and North Korea, while weakening our own!

Certainly, we will have to look to Europe to resolve the Iran issue; considering, the United States does not have the military presence and force to resolve the Iran issue unilaterally. Perhaps, China can keep North Korea in check. We can only hope!

Milosevic Never Gets Justice

Former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic died yesterday in the custody of the United Nation International Court of Justice in The Hague. His four year stint in The Hague was a miscarriage of justice. The extent of a speedy trial should have been extended to him, and every individual currently on trial in the ICJ. Of course, we knew before the case ever started the ICJ judges were going to find Milosevic guilty and sentence him to life imprisonment. It was a given fact, so why the need for four years?

As for Saddam, his case should be heard before the ICJ also. Of course, he is deserving of a speedy trial that should take weeks, not years! In jurisprudence, I believe every defendant should have the right to face his/her accusers in open court. So there shouldn't be any shields or faces being covered. All elements of the proceedings should be held in open court. If they level the implication, they should stand in open court and state as much! Habeas corpus, for Christ's sake!

Just like Milosevic, Saddam will be denied justice in the interest of American politics. He was sentenced to death before the court in Iraq ever assembled.

Step One: South Dakota

Isn't it odd how suddenly South Dakota has enacted a law that limits abortion just at the same moment there are now two Bush lackeys on the Supreme Court?

What has happened is these groups have devised a way to reverse Roe v. Wade (1973). They will start with a state, such as South Dakota, which will easily enact such a law. Groups, like the ACLU, will challenge it's legality in the federal courts. Now, once the issue goes from the state level to the Supreme Court they will push to reverse the Roe v. Wade decision, which will limit abortion in all 50 states!

The best thing to do is simply ignore the law enacted in South Dakota and understand that 49 other states are protected from such limitations of civil rights. Basically, they want this issue before the US Supreme Court.

Let's not allow that to happen!

Impeach Bush

The momentum to impeach Bush if finally catching some steam!

The Fox Is Going to Guard the Hen House

Why can't the United States allow American companies to manage our ports? Wow! What a novel idea.

As Iraqis Prepare for Civil War...

As Iraqis prepare for civil war, we has Americans must reevaluate our Constitutional offices. It's time to hold Bush accountable for his crimes against humanity. For the first time, we are seeing how incompetent our military really is. It was during the Persian Gulf War, in 1990, we saw how incompetent the Soviet military was. And what happened? Within a year, the Soviet Union fell apart. If we can't manage one big family squabble in a desert nation, how can we really expect to hold off a real military threat from a nation with superior armed forces? I don't believe it is the men and women who serve our country bringing us down, it's the leadership who dishonors us all.

And yes, I'm still a patriot.

Oops! Sorry!

Lt. Governor Pence was in Florida on vacation, so he was too busy to run state business.

My mistake!!!

Let's Solve the Iraq Problem Now!

Iraqis are not Americans. Let's say that right off the bat. They do not understand the concept of democracy and republic. It is 100% foreign, and 180-degrees opposite, of anything they have dealt with before.

Now, we say we gave them democracy, but we didn't. They are the same people they were 4 years ago. The only thing we did is allow them to open Pandora's box and let out all these evils into their society and now we have to pay for it over-and-over!

As long as their is undeniable freedom for everyone in Iraq, there will be ongoing terrorism. It is my belief that the vast majority of Iraqis simply want to be left alone to survive without bothering any other person. I admire that and respect that; it's how it should be, however, we are left with these persistant zealots who falsely murder and plunder in the name of their religion. They take to the streets with mob mentality. They respect no law, because to them the law does not exist, because Saddam is gone. The United States is not Saddam, by any means. They are not going to respond to threats and idle promises of retaliation if they fail to meet the newest restrictions imposed on them, such as the failed curfews now in effect across Iraq.

I am not a violent person, but if we are going to truly bring democracy and stability to the people of Iraq then we must give them a snow ball's chance in hell for a viable sovereign nation. We must act accordingly and expeditiously. Here's what we must do to solve this problem:

• We must quash the mob first. The US must use its superior military to destroy the resistance to our nation building. Not simply quell an uprising, but obliterate any hope for future uprisings. This entails the use of violent offensive force. In any area where people are assembled, we must dispense of them immediately. This will send a message to the people who would seek to undermine our authority that we will not accept it and it will be met with deadly force in all cases.
• People respond to mob mentality. So they will respond to mob justice. If American tanks roll into the outskirts of their demonstrations or mass rallies and let off a few bombs and missiles into the crowd, then they will think twice about future subversive engagements if they see their comrades-in-arms on the ground dead.
• Next, crush the will of the people. If they want to bomb mosques, let's help them! The policy is simple: if you decide to blow up a Sunni mosque, then we will blow up five Shi'ite mosques. This can go on until every mosque and religious center in Iraq lays in rubble. The Iraqis may decide.
• All the borders must be secured and guarded to the best of our ability. No one can come into the country and no one may leave the country without military approval. Anyone seen at the border will be shot and then interrogated later (if available for comment).

Machiavelli had it right: it is better to be a ruler who is hated than one who is loved. People respect fear. This policy I have mentioned is not a long-term solution. It is simply a short-term policy that says "we are in charge." Relax, stay home, go to work, live your life peacefully, but don't cross us or there will be dire and immediate consequences, not pussy-footing around issues and problems. We must remember justice is limited to those civilized few who accept its consequences. As Americans, we live our lives in peace and mutual toleration. We understand the rule of law is concrete and it applies to us all. We seldom give ourselves over to vigilante justice, and we certainly would not tolerate violent protests in our streets!

I now agree the US cannot withdraw from Iraq. There is too much at stake at the moment. We have Iran which is beginning a nuclear program. If we abandon Iraq, then we leave Iran free to expand its borders and influence in the Middle East by encroaching upon Iraq.

We must work to contain Iraq immediately. Not wait for their failed electoral process to go any further. In its infancy, it has already failed. They need a strong colonial master to show them the straight and narrow. Considering, we put them on the path to democracy; we must not fail by letting them stray too far from its narrow course.

Every child needs a strong parent, after all!

Fletcher in PJs

Governor Ernie Fletcher has been in the hospital for over a week now with gall-bladder surgery and complications. The Lexington Herald-Leader reported his top three aides are taking care of his duties for him. My one question is don't we pay the lieutenant governor to conduct the duties of the executive when the governor is incapacitated?

I didn't realize we had elected his three top aides for this job!

Even if the governor is not unconscious, we should expect Lt. Governor Steve Pence to run the governor's office until the governor is again able to resume his duties as executive!

Doesn't it all make too much sense???

Bush wants to replace foreign oil???

Bush announced he wants to replace America's reliance on foreign crude with natural, renewable resources!

King George better be careful. He is treading thin ice with his Middle East pals. Big foreign oil is what funds his pet projects. Even though, he is backing the Dubai company's right to operate American ports, one-hundred percent! So, he isn't totally cutting off his constituency; however, I am sure they were "warned" ahead of time to expect Bush's announcement. I'm sure they understand "good" American politics.

Bush Administration Lamed by Cheney's Gun

Time released an article stating the premature beginning of the Bush Administration's "lame duck" period. What they say makes a lot of sense: Bush is now lamed by all the scandals that have befallen his impotent administration in the previous few short months!

Now King George has less than two years to his name and he is already playing defense against the war in Iraq, the NSA tragedy, and now Dick Cheney's lack of gun safety! I think the next few months will be even more tragic for the president. I foresee a Democratic majority in both houses of Congress. The American people are now officially fed up with the Bush propaganda machine that has been running this country for over five years now. It is too bad people didn't have the imagination to see all of this in 2004. If they had, we may have been spared all these problems.

I just think it is high time that Bush have some problems, which his lackeys can't fix for him!

Mohammad Newspaper Drawings

Here's the link to the infamous drawings in the flesh from the Danish newspaper, Jyllands-Posten, so to speak. I had a hard time locating these, and since so many people have died for them we should at least have a peak!

How many more?

I thought the cartoon snafu had finally died, but it seems that Libya had to put its two-cents-worth in before there can be any finality.

It is completely outrageous that human life is sacrificed over something as vulgar as a cartoon, even if it does portray Mohammad in a not so nice way. It's a caricature for Christ's sake, not the gospel!

The funny thing is the Iranians have renamed the Danish the "Flowers of Mohammad" or something like that. Now, you can't draw pictures of the man, but you can name breakfast foods after him. It is a sin to see him, but it's quite alright to have a puff pastry named after God's dearest and best prophet!

That's a lot hypocritical!

It's time for the governments of the world, especially Muslim countries, to proclaim this jihad against free speech at an end.

Finally!

Bunning Writes

Today, Senator Bunning wrote to me regarding my opposition to Samuel Alito. He is pretty happy with his decision! I'm so shocked!! HAHA! Yeah, right.

You have to be careful what you say these days or you'll get a face full of buckshot! LOL

Dick & Spiro Revival

Although, I wasn't yet born during the Watergate years, I know the recent incidents involving Dick and George are very similar. It's a bit of deja vou!

Now, we know that Dick Cheney ordered his chief-of-staff, Scooter, to leak classified CIA-information to the media to mislead the country about the war in Iraq. I notice how the issues are flowing upward now toward the top. It's like the Nile River flowing from the center of the forgotten parts of Africa to the brilliant and celebrated Mediterranean Sea. We're almost to the delta now!

It's time for King George to start feeling the fire that is now just inches from his feet. He misled our nation to engage in an illegal war. And for what? Nothing, really! Iraq is worse off than it was three years ago. Saddam at least lent himself to stability (you won't hear that on Fox News), even if he wasn't the nicest guy in the Middle East...but who is really?

Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean has called for Dick Cheney to resign if the accusations made by his former "Number One" pan out. It is certainly not out of the realm of probability and I'd place it in the realm of more than likely, or why else would we be at war? Americans needed a reason to fear and Dick and George gave them lots of false information to let them sleep easily every night!

This is not even related to the NSA issue that is also barking at Bush's feet! It looks like it's time to begin Leakgate!

If my history is accurate, Spiro resigned first followed by Dick Nixon, leaving us with Gerry Ford. I wonder if we are headed toward a few years with Denny Hastert????

It's time we shed the shackles of our nation's tyranny. Let's send Democrats to the US Congress this November and reclaim our democracy!

Dissociation among the Rank-and-File

It's interesting to note that some of Bush's own party are quietly dissociating themselves from him over the NSA controversy.

In the US House of Representatives, Rep. Heather Wilson (R-NM), who is the chairperson of the Subcommittee on Technical and Tactical Intelligence, has called for an investigation into Bush's covert authorization of illegal wiretapping through the NSA.

Earlier this week, Attorney-General Alberto Gonzalez appeared before the US Senate Judicial Committee to answer questions about the legality of Bush's NSA program. During which, Senator Biden likened the exchange to Samuel Alito's confirmation hearing--not very forthcoming. In addition, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) questioned Bush's policies through is disregard for the legislative branch's check-and-balance of the executive branch, which was unexpected! Of course, Attorney-General Gonzalez had nothing to say other than the president respects constitutional checks-and-balances. I was deeply impressed by Graham's assertion that future presidents may construe this precedent to indicate they can work extra-constitutionally anytime they deem the interests of the United States are at stake. What is the basis for these contentions?

It is very nice to see the Republican Party machine grinding a few gears!

Super Bowl

Like I'd ever watch!

HA!

Muslim Outrage....A LOT OVER THE TOP!

What happens when you let fanatic conservatives loose? You get Muslims enraged by a cartoon!

Firstly, I want to say that I believe everyone should be respected, to a point. There is a difference between having outrage and engaging public sentiment, but then it is another to resort to violence. No one was enslaved, no one was slaughtered, so what's all the hype about?

Respect ends the moment you engage in violence, in my opinion. Sure, someone drew Mohammad with a bomb turban. That is sacrilegious to Muslims, sure; however, where does good sense end and hysteria take over? I believe the answer is burning the Danish embassy in Syria!

The vice prime minister of Denmark, Bendt Bendtsen, reported that the cartoon version of Mohammad was akin to drawing "Jesus with an erect penis." Now, I have to say if I saw this picture I'd probably laugh heartily! It's pretty funny, actually, but I'm not a close-minded conservative zealot either.

I would imagine someone like Pat Robertson would be pissed to high heaven over the image, but I doubt he would storm the Danish embassy and torch it. Words are words, they aren't actions. People can hear, and people will care if your message has heart and genuine feeling. The only problem is these Muslim extremists aren't really upset over this cartoon, rather they are using it to promote their own selfish interests. What better than to prey on popular sentiment and hate to further your cause with violence? Just ask our very own conservative wanna-be zealot, King George!

Alito Confirmed

(Almost) along partisan lines, Alito became an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court. His lifetime appointment, along with John Roberts, will serve to undermine future rights and liberties for us!

Thank those who voted for Bush...I certainly DON'T deserve any thanks!

Alito wins Cloture

The Senate kills off an attempt to filibuster Samuel Alito's Supreme Court nomination with a 72-25 vote to end debate (CNN.com).

Oh boy...

Filibuster Alito Confirmation

FILIBUSTER ALITO!

Recently, I sent word to Kentucky's ultra-conservative senators, Bunning and McConnell, that I do not support Alito's confirmation as associate justice. Of course, being die-hard Bush lackeys, it fell on deaf ears, but they need to know not everyone in Kentucky supports Bush. After all, Kentucky is traditionally Democrat territory!

Democrats.com has started their Alito 48 campaign to support Senator John Kerry's leadership of a filibuster against this tragic nomination. We need to get all Democratic senators to join this cause and block the Sam Alito vote next week. Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) has already called for a cloture vote on Monday and then a final roll call on Tuesday morning!

Alito only needs a simple majority (51 votes) to be confirmed and take Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's place on the Supreme Court of the United States. We must support a more moderate stance on the Court. George Bush has been able to award a lifetime appoint to his conservative buddy, John Roberts, to the Court. Will we really allow him to appoint another Scalia or Thomas-wanna-be to the highest court in our land?

Our civil liberties are at stake; not for four years, or eight, but for a lifetime! Remember, a member of the Supreme Court serves at their own pleasure, which means they can retire when they wish (if ever). So in many cases, like with former Chief Justice William Rehnquist, you have to wait for the grim reaper to show up! NO JOKE!

How many more years can a 50-something man live in the 21st century?! Really, you have to consider 20+ years on the bench!

Please make sure you contact your state's TWO senators!

FILIBUSTER ALITO!

Wiretap Flop

What an arrogant prick?!

Need I really say more?

Alito loses key Democrats

Today, three Democrats on the Senate Judicial Committee stated they would not support Judge Samuel Alito's confirmation for the associate justice.

Further, they stated the Supreme Court stands as a final check for the over-zealous Bush Administration. The focus is on recent illegal use of the Executive authority to wiretap American citizens without court approval. I agree with their assessment, but I want to take it a step further.

The Supreme Court is not the only check to the president. The Congress of the United States has the authority and mandate to call the president to answer for his abuses of power. Accordingly, the Constitution gives them a little power called "impeachment." The United States House of Representatives has the authority to initiate impeachment proceedings against the president. I truly believe after the 2006 elections, there will be a change in the United States Congress. I have a great hope the Democrats will come to control both houses, but at least one of them.

In my final opinion, it is not the Supreme Court's exclusive authority to question the policies of the President of the United States. All branches of the federal government have the authority, and requirement, to keep each of the other branches in compliance and flying straight!

Clinton v. Bush

I was never more proud when I saw Hillary take on George Bush. It takes someone like Hillary to make a point regarding the issues relating to abuses and illegal actions taken by the "worst administration" in the history of our nation!

I also agree with her assessment of the United States House of Representatives as being a simple megaphone for Bush policies, or in words it's run like a "plantation." I think if Bush wanted to strip all Americans of their citizenship, the House would vote for the bill!

I am glad Hillary is talking like a candidate!

Hillary 2008!

eBay has poor customer care

I recently discovered the wonderful world of ebay. Or at least I thought it was wonderful.

I decided to sell an item. It was was a brand new--still in the wrapper even--and I had no use for it. So I decided, "Sell it on ebay!" I do the American thing and put it out there for sell. I get lots of hits and bids. I was overly excited. The person who won the item, however, decided they didn't want to pay for it. Ebay states clearly that non-bidders are still liable for entering a legal contract with the seller. I got an email from the buyer with some lame-ass story about how their home was broken into, their computer hacked, and then the perp magically bidding 3 times on my auction to drive the price up (go figure). I contact ebay and they inform me to make peace with the bidder, give them the benefit of the doubt, and let them out of the contract. Of course, instead of calling the bidder a flaming retard asshole for thinking I was so stupid, I follow ebay's advice (woe the negative feedback that I could have incurred). Now what does ebay do? Do they offer me my auction fees back for being a "good" guy? Do they let me relist my item without further cost? No, they stiff me for the cost of the auction!

Now, does this sound like good business practice? Of course not!

I have lodged a complaint with ebay over their policy. They told me to let the bidder out of the contract; thereby, leaving me still holding the item I don't want and also the charges for the auction because the bidder bailed! Don't get me wrong, it's not the $2.75 they allege I owe and I, subsequently, will refuse to pay, but the principle of the matter.

I informed them the first tenant of good business is to make the customer happy and leave them feeling in charge so they will come back for more. I was left holding a wet blanket and told to suck it up and be a good sport....oh, and pay them their $2.75. BAD BUSINESS! In the words of some ebayers, "F-, will not do business with again!"

SUCK IT!

How would we respond?

If Mexico, Canada, or some Caribbean nation launched missiles into the United States, how would we react?

I think it is unconscionable for us to be so arrogant as to launch missile strikes into the airspace of other nations. The United States, however, does not feel it is obligated to respect any other nation's sovereignty. Of course, I refer to the recent missile attack coordinated by the CIA and launched into Pakistan.

Who cares what the reason is. It is unfair of us to use our might to bully others. If Cuba launched a missile into Miami to try to kill some Cuban dissidents we'd be outraged and destroy Cuba for attacking our country, even if they are attempting to "weed out" Cuban terrorists/radicals.

So what's with the double standard?

Alito

I watched a small portion of the Alito hearings held by the Senate Judicial Committee. I was never surprised by anything the man said. He answered each question with the stealth of a politician; he never answered any question at all. I did notice, however, with some questions he becomes agitated. He had obviously been taught a defense mechanism to deal with his frustration and not outwardly show his anger. Several times he would almost be rubbing his thumbs together. He also would allow his hand to slam down against the table as he testified. This wasn't an occurrence that happened always. It only seemed to happen when Democrats questioned him.

Mostly, from his previous writings, he is a bigot who sees the world through an ultra-conservative agenda. He was the member of a Princeton club that advocated against the admittance of minorities and women to the ivy league school. Conveniently, he seemed to have "forgotten" he was ever a member of such a club, even though he listed it on a 1985 application for a job in the Reagan Administration. I find it a bit hard to swallow and highly suspicious.

We certainly do not need him on the bench of the Supreme Court of the United States. His record is clear...conservative. I have a filibuster in the back of my mind. So we can hope, at least.

I agree with what Senator Joe Biden of Delaware said regarding the hearings held by the Senate Judicial Committee on prospective federal judges. We simply should eliminate the process. They do not answer questions in a black and white manner. They always lean toward the middle. The Senate should simply vote on the record of the individual and dispense with the grand-standing and back slapping. It's the simple.

Smoting

The perennial presidential candidate and ultra-conservative loon, Pat Robertson, says God 'smote' Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for seeking peace in the Middle East. So essentially, God punished Sharon with a cerebral hemorrhage for "dividing" Israel. Wow! That's SOOOO logical!

Instead, could it be he is a very fat 77 year old man????? I can't honestly believe anyone would listen to the crap Robertson says. He's slowly losing his mind, because he's saying so much crap these days. I think it even embarrasses his "community" of loyal patrons.

I just wonder what we did for God to send the wrath of George Bush upon us? We've definitely been living in sin! Geesh!

This is one for the theologians, for sure!

Padilla Remanded

Today, the Supreme Court of the United States ordered the military to turn over "enemy combatant" American citizen Jose Padilla to the civilian courts. This is his first request with further filing for Petition for Writ of Certiorari (can Mr. Bush hold Americans and deny them their rights). I think this case should be handled by the inferior courts, initially, and then move along with the inevitable appeals process. I do think, however, the SCOTUS (through the writ) has the mandate to determine if such imprisonment of Americans is constitutional.

He is to be remanded to the jurisdiction of the US District Court of Southern Florida in Miami. He will be set free from a navy brig in South Carolina where he has spent the past several years. Habeas corpus is the right of every American, but this person has been denied this right for years, which is simply outrageous. I have the Constitutional right to know what charges are levied against me by the state in a court of law with due process; ergo, habeas corpus.

This is more than a simple test of individual liberties, but whether the president will comply with the Order of the SCOTUS and their final decision regarding this over zealous and illegal treatment of Americans by authorizing the military to hold them indefinitely without due process. Of course, the military loves to argue they are outside the jurisdiction of civilian courts, but even military courts are under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court (every American court--martial or civilian), considering they have the final word on all law.

An even further stretch is regarding the foreigners held by the US. The SCOTUS should order the military courts to present their cases against all foreign nationals they have in custody, such as the political prisoners in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, or release them. The countries where these people are citizens should be outraged their citizens are being held incommunicado.

Roberts wants a raise

Chief Justice Roberts is just a few short months into his tenure as America's top jurist and he is ready for a....raise.

When you give up a job like being a high profile D.C.-attorney you give up some BIG bucks. I guess the six digit salary paid by the American taxpayer, John Q. Public, to his judges isn't quite enough. If I was pulling down seven figures as a private litigator then I'd be pissed too. It's a nice, fancy title, but the pay is lousy, I agree!

Let all hardworking Americans get a raise...not just the suits in Washington!

Reagan is dead

Ronald Reagan has been dead for a while now, but we are still worrying about his would-be assassin, John Hinkley, Jr. This man has been locked inside a mental institution for over 20 years. I think we can breathe easy knowing he won't commit this crime again, considering the victim is taking a dirt nap now.

Why should we continue to spend our tax dollars on such a criminal? I say set the man free.

Memoirs of a Geisha

Okay, normally I don't do book reviews, but I couldn't pass up this one.

Arthur Golden's book, Memoirs of a Geisha, is a magnificent story of love, betrayal, jealousy, revenge...shall I go on? It takes place during Japan's expansion into the Pacific (i.e., before WWII) and during WWII. I always sort of knew what a geisha was, but really I had no idea until I read this book. A geisha isn't a prostitute, per se. She is a woman of necessity; she is an object of reverence by men who seek her company and fortune.

It starts out in a small, impoverished fishing village located in a remote part of Japan and ends on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan (quite a contrast)! As you read this book you are intrigued by the beauty of the geisha and her meaning for Japanese culture. They are born of the lower levels of society and brought forward to better themselves through hard work. A geisha is dependent on the good-will of men, who pay for her services. Of course, one might think these services are simply sexual in nature, but not in the sense of prostituting yourself for a one-night stand. It is so much more in-depth!

Memoirs takes you on a journey from poverty, to resentment, to opulence, back to poverty, and finally happiness and contentment for a brutalized and detached woman. Remember: you do not choose to become geisha, you become geisha because you have no other choice. This simple idea is really the thesis of the book, and my favorite line.

Where do I sign up? =)

Neal Boortz

Okay, so I'm driving down I-75 today and I tune in to this Knoxville station that was spewing this conservative, neo-Nazi propaganda, so I had to listen...for a bit, at least.

This guy's show, The Neal Boortz Show, is unlike anything I've ever heard in the United States. At first, I thought he was just your run-of-the-mill conservative who was ragging on the liberals. Boy was I wrong!

This show was more than gross. It filled my car and soul with hate and dread. I eventually had to turn it off, especially after the host (who wasn't Neal Boortz today, but I've heard him rant previously) advocated the use of nuclear weapons against terrorists. Further, he went on about how great the United States was for its use of the atom bomb which killed hundreds-of-thousands of innocent Japanese civilians just to "teach" the Japanese government a lesson during WWII (this is his joy in life).

I came home and found out how to spell "Boortz" by using my old friend Google. I found out he isn't a conservative, or even Republican, at all, he's a Libertarian. Libertarian, from Boortz's point-of-view, is one step from hoarding assault rifles and ammunition in a small cabin in Montana! It really made me feel thankful that conservatives are the majority sitting on the other side of the fence from me, not this freak! He's 100+ miles out of the American main-stream.

Here's the insanity I heard espoused on this talk radio show in a five minute--or so--timespan.

1. As I stated before, the approval of using nuclear weapons to solve our differences. (Sounds like instead of trying to solve issues in a constructive manner, we should just say "to hell" with everyone else and just nuke them.)
2. Executions should be put on "primetime" television for everyone to see. In fact, it sounded like this should be required viewing for all good and decent Americans. To make it worse, he said Americans should use a lottery system to see who gets to pull the switch and light the poor son-of-a-bitch up. This would be an excellent deterrent to crime in the United States, according to the show. I'm sorry, but that is just sad, which only shows deeper psychological issues for this man, simply based on his views. The death penalty is something to be loathed and ashamed of--a true relic of the past, which must, and will, be abolished in our nation.
3. The use of a "secret" police and military forces which will infiltrate our enemies and destroy them without regard to civilians. Not only was this to be used by American soldiers against foreign terrorists, but against the "bleeding heart liberals" in America who keep the military from doing its job. Sounds a bit too characteristic of Hitler's Gestalt staats-polizei (Gestapo). Someone didn't get enough hugs when he was younger!

The saddest part is people called in to this show and supported such bigotry and hate. I am 100% certain the only people who frequent such a show are bigots, wife-beaters, and those who truly hate America. It is a sad truth, but when you relish in others' misery and pain you are a heartless and cowardly person. It takes a GREATER American to stand up and question the direction of our government, to wit: military expansion and imperialism; rather than one who chooses to file behind a blood thirsty tyrant and accept things without question. America is an ideal, not an absolute. Its foundation is created on the blood, sweat and tears of people who made us truly great. It wasn't built on those who chose to take the easy road out, but rather on great patriots like Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, and Hamilton (just a small, small few) who decided not to stand behind a failing imperialistic policy of a benign dictator and blindly accept what what came their way. No, these patriots stood up and decided to fashion their own destiny without constraints and regard for precedent or what someone thought about them in Great Britain. They questioned their leaders and decided their answers, or lack thereof, had little merit, nor were they in the best interest of the Colonists. The moment we give over to the elite, or the mob, we cease to exist as the United States of America. We begin to unravel at our very fabric. Perhaps in the minds of people like Neal Boortz, our founders were cowards and should have been shot for not following the will of their king. Who knows, really?

It is scary to think radio stations would support such views and then broadcast them to the world! I am not a proponent of constraining the First Amendment, but such views and shows really make me take a hard and candid look at my beliefs in the freedom of speech, but in the end I will tolerate their right to say it; however, I will not condone it by listening!

In the spirit of the holiday...

Since it is the holidays, I decided that I should devote at least one moment to something good I saw. Today, I read a story about how this little girl was discovered in Iraq suffering from spina bifida. They state this girl would have died without outside help. The marines (I think) were able to render aid and as a result she is going to be sent to Georgia for an operation to save her life.

I found this to be a very touching story. Even if it did involve the military and Iraq. Perhaps, the media should devote a little more time and effort to showing us this side of Iraq. I know there is a lot a of death and chaos, but we mustn't forget the caring, openly-human side of it.

Enemy Combatant

I agree the time has come for the United States Supreme Court to decide the powers of the president. Can the president imprison American citizens extra-constitutionally? The answer is simply, no. It is dangerous for the Executive branch to assume such widespread powers for itself.

It stands to reason that a nation which values its commitment to the rule of law would be content to turn over "enemy combatants" to the judicial branch for prosecution based on the facts and merits of each individual case. I suspect, however, the president is not able to make a viable case based on the facts which creates a problem for him. He asserts he has the authority to imprison Americans for years without due process.

How bogus is that?

Wiretaps in Article II...WOW!

Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez reports the president has the authority to conduct covert wiretaps of Americans. I must have missed that one in American National Government. Allegedly, this right is in the Constitution, but it must be written in invisible ink (maybe like in that movie, they must be confusing the Declaration of Independence with the Constitution). I am sure the framers of the Constitution wrote "wiretaps" in there. Are we so dumb? Really, this is what happens when you put your best buddies and cronies in important offices. They become sycophants. Basically, they will tell you not to worry as your house burns down (what fire? relax! you're so pretty today!).

Now, let's look at the next BIG issue for King George. It seems his buddies at the New York Times have unearthed some new information which disputes Bush's allegations of limiting the illegal wiretaps to Americans talking to terrorists. Instead, he authorized the intelligence community to go very deep into the very fabric of our lives. He was looking for patterns to our behaviors by monitoring our communications. And of course without warrants! I have always stated my communications are being monitored by the Department of Homeland Security, out of jest of course, but it seems I was more right than wrong!

With this new information, coupled with other new information that the FBI monitors Muslims for radiation (without warrants) in their homes and mosques, will really drive the House toward impeachment. There is just too much here even for Bush's Republican lackeys to save him.

How the mighty have fallen! Maybe we're looking at a Hastert Administration in the new year.

Is Alito finito?

Well, we are starting to talk about Alito again. His nomination hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee is coming up next month.

Alito will have a hard road to travel since the NSA faux pas of recent. He seems a bit more conservative with a more extensively published paper trail than Roberts. He espoused the overturning of Roe v. Wade during his tenure with the Reagan Administration. This simple fact may be enough to railroad his nomination and send Bush a message: find more moderate candidates to fill Supreme Court vacancies.

Beyond the abortion question, he seems to have advocated the ability to "wiretap" Americans without judicial consent. A potential Supreme Court justice who advocates the strict DE-construction of the US Constitution has no place on the federal bench, at any level!

Let's vote "finito" for Alito. (Isn't that cute?)

House trumps Senate

The Congress of the United States seems to be turmoil over the USA Patriot Act. The House of Representatives refused the six month extension of the Act made by the Senate, instead they opted for a one month extension. The ball is not in the Senate's corner. What's next? Very interesting!

Will King George really veto the bill? I surely hope so, then the Congress can recess without a resolution to the Act; thereby, allowing it die a nice quick death!

Spineless Senate Stands Down

The United States Senate agreed to allow provisions of the USA Patriot Act to continue for another six months while they investigate and hammer out the details of the bill for short term consideration.

It only shows that members of the Senate are spineless cowards who are unwilling to say "no" to the demands of an unaccountable despot (i.e., George Bush). The Act should have been allowed to sunset on December 31 without further consideration. Only then can we breathe knowing our liberties and rights are secure from an intrusive government.

If George Bush was truly concerned with terrorism he wouldn't have invaded Iraq. It is merely a tool he can use to install fear and avert anti-subversive activities within the United States.

Has anyone ever heard of Stalin?

Americans/Iraqis can't handle it

Today, Saddam alleged abuse by his American captures. It would seem, from his allegations, he was abused and tortured. With such an allegation out there from defendants of such a trial, there is little credibility left for the Iraqi tribunal which is hearing these proceedings.

I believe such proceedings must be transferred from American and Iraqi jurisdiction to the International Court of Justice in The Hague. This is the only way Saddam and his host of co-defendants can ever receive a fair trial. As it is, the trial will last for a long period of time. I do not believe anyone in the international community can credit this farce as legitimate or fair to either side. Justice must be impartial and fair for all parties! I can't kill someone and then expect a fair and impartial trial conducted by my victim's family!

It's all just stupid! Are we really such blind idiots?

Cheney backs Bush; how does an amendment become, well, an amendment, Senator Leslie?

Dick Cheney seems to concur that George Bush is not accountable to the US Constitution. He says the powers of the Executive have been eroding since the time of Watergate and Vietnam. What he doesn't mention is Article II of the United States Constitution. Moreover, the powers of the president cannot be limited by something as silly as a constitution, according to Cheney's innuendo.

Here's my advice, liberal to conservative: Instead of railroading the system at every turn, simply use the system's processes in your favor. There is a little stipulation in the Constitution you may use at any time to do the things you want, it's called Article V, or the amendment!

Now, if you're confused let me explain it to you. I'll even help you with the verbiage, too!

First, let's draft our amendment proposal.

"The President of the United States (hereinafter, 'POTUS') has the unfettered authority to do any damn thing he pleases at any damn time he chooses. Furthermore, his choices and actions may be outside the realm of common sense and good judgment. He is not restricted by any provision of the United States Constitution, to wit: the POTUS shall not be prosecuted nor held liable on any charge for any actions which may defame or endanger the welfare of the State. In addition, Congress may pass legislation limiting the Executive from engaging in certain activities, but the POTUS will determine their relevance, interpret and disregard the laws of the United States as he sees proper. Furthermore, the Supreme Court of the United States may ascertain certain laws are egregious and unconstitutional, but the POTUS will act extra-judiciously at times he determines a clear and present danger to the integrity of his Office and the State, to wit: covert surveillance of American citizens in the United States, which may include arresting Americans and subsequently send them to secret CIA prisons in foreign lands without due process of law."

Now that we have drafted your proposal you must submit it to either the House or Senate (this is the simplest route). In each house, you must accrue 2/3 of its membership in favor of your amendment. We're not done yet! Next, you must submit your proposal to the states. Now, if you get 3/4 of the states to ratify your proposal, then sir you have a bona fide amendment to the United States Constitution! It will be officially called the Twenty-eighth Amendment, or by lay persons, the Bush Screwed-Us-Over Amendment.

Congratulations!

More on Wiretaps

"I just want to assure the American people that, one, I've got the authority to do this; two, it is a necessary part of my job to protect you; and three, we're guarding your civil liberties," Bush said.

1. Where does it give you the authority to do this in the United States Constitution? Where does it give you the authority to undermine the courts and give yourself unfettered powers?

2. How does spying on me protect me?

3. My civil liberties are guarded by illegal activity? They are guarded by allowing a super-secret agency to spy on me without due process?

When will we show George Bush he is not above the law? When will we show him he is not above the Constitution?

Osama, who?

As we continue our war on terror, it would seem we have overlooked the head of the organization that led to 9/11.

That was person was Saddam, right? Ha! Yeah, right!

It's been over four years and we have no clue where Osama bin Laden is. In fact, it is ridiculous. If we put the might of our military and intelligence behind finding this single figure, we would have by now. Instead, we were tricked into pumping hundreds-of-billions of my dollars into fighting some god-forsaken war which is completely pointless and illegal!

When will we finally wake up and realize we have all been lied to and made fools of by George Bush?

Hocus Pocus Quashed

I am happy there are still some Federal courts out there willing to take on the important issues and set precedents that protect us from acts which are improper and unconstitutional.

In Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District, the US District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania struck down a practice which required teachers to preface their biology lessons with a statement which basically distorts their curriculum. They were required to profess nature is too diverse for Darwinism/evolution to explain; further, there must be a "intelligence" behind the creation of the universe, or basically life on earth in general.

The Establishment Clause of the United States Constitution forbids the state from endorsing religion of any kind. The policy of the Dover Area School District required religious contexts be placed on the study of biological sciences which directly influences and confuses students.

Religion is best left at home. It has no place in a public setting, whether that be a public school or county courthouse. Such acts only serve to flaunt individuals' insecurity with their own faith, which they erroneously force on their communities.

Oh Poo....

I watched Bush's speech hoping for a resignation!

What a let down!

Bush Going to Iraq for Christmas

George Bush contends the New York Times broke the law when it reported his ILLEGAL order allowing the NSA to conduct covert monitoring of American citizens. That is a bit of the pot calling the kettle black (or hypocrisy, if you're confused).

Now, he is going to make his big speech tonight on national tv, which will prove to be a tirade of his glorious achievements and accomplishments of bringing peace and democracy (through imperialism) to the Iraqi people. Surely, we must stand up against terrorists wherever they are, including the United States, by giving up our most basic liberties and freedoms (that's what I hear now). Through our war on terror, we have brought democracy to a nation terrorized for decades by a cold blooded killer (there's the rest of it). We will not yield, we are resolved to seeing this mission through, we will spread the gift of democracy this holiday season (there's some more).

Wow, it would seem I could be a Bush speech writer! I have all the tired lines memorized. Of course, Bush must think fast (or rather someone else think fast for him), if he is going to put this illegal NSA action behind him and beat his future impeachment. I believe he will hop on Air Force One, at my expense, and spend Christmas in Iraq with the boys and girls he sent to die. Of course, they will be highly selected and he will never venture outside the airplane hangar, but he will be in Iraq, right?

Bush is above the law?

Bush cites his use of a secret executive order giving the NSA permission to eavesdrop on Americans in the US as being legal and within his framework of powers as president.

Firstly, the NSA is barred by legislation from monitoring domestic communications and activities. Hello, Mr. Bush, this includes your little super covert executive order from 2002. There is nothing in the United States Constitution giving the president superseding powers over the laws of the United States, even during a time of alleged war!

Secondly, I think it is time someone gave Mr. Bush an accurate copy of the Constitution. He seems to be very much confused about his authority and responsibilities. He always refers to a copy of the constitution the rest of us have never seen. Is there a second, covert draft of the United States Constitution which was ratified by the Constitutional Convention?

I do not think so!

Republicans are in trouble. It's time for them to regroup or step out of the way!

Let the sun go down...

The US House passed a renewal of certain provisions of the Patriot USA Act during the previous week. This bill now has headed to the US Senate where it is not as popular, even among Bush's faithful.

I sincerely hope the filibuster agaisnt this bill will be successful and cloture cannot be invoked. I think this is truly one set of laws that I will be happy to see ride off into the sunset come December 31, 2005!

Bush going to the House?

Today, King George conceded the fact that he authorized illegal covert wiretaps of American citizens, in the United States, by the National Security Agency.

It would seem he hopes his admission before a national audience will candy coat his misuse of his powers and otherwise illegal activity. I do not believe it will save him in the long run.

With that said, Bush has his strongest support among his lackeys in the United States House of Representatives. He even managed to pass through another abuse of power, the renewal of the Patriot USA Act, which isn't getting the same acclaims from his fellow Republicans in the US Senate. We can only hope the US House of Representatives, after the 2006 election, gets the balls to bring articles of impeachment against Bush. I hope they also take into account the screw-ups and other vices committed by the Bush Administration and decide to draft these articles early next year. (This may save their own faces before the American public come election day.)

I think I could live (for a while) in an America where Bush is not president, even if the Congress is a Republican majority, which is another sad state of affairs, but you can only fight one battle at a time successfully.

Terrorists' Bill of Rights

This afternoon, Rush Limbaugh stated that by not renewing the Patriot USA Act, we are giving terrorists rights!

This conservative idealism has taken away my fundamental civil liberties and rights. I do not believe by allowing me, an American citizen, the rights and protections granted to me by the United States Constitution is going to endanger the welfare of our society.

Rush Limbaugh should go back on his drugs, or move to Cuba!

The Road of Bush's Impeachment

Finally, we are getting some teeth into the eventual impeachment of George Bush. He was accepted his role in misleading America about the WMDs in Iraq, which led to the war in Iraq, and he has now been accused by the New York Times for allowing the National Security Agency (NSA) conduct covert monitoring of Americans in the United States. Now, the Republican chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee is going to investigate these serious allegations of Bush authorizing the NSA to monitor and eavesdrop on American citizens inside the United States without proper court consent. Such an authorization by the President of the United States is a gross violation of his constitutional authority. If this proves true, Bush has acted illegally and outside the confines of his mandate as president, which can only lead to his impeachment and conviction.

Bush's abuses are finally catching up with him. When this happens the shit will hit the fan!

Iraqi Election in the US

This Iraqi election is fabulous, of course; however, I have some qualms about it.

Firstly, why are Iraqis who haven't set foot on Iraqi soil in 20+ years getting a vote in Iraq's parliamentary elections? If I am an American citizen and move to another country and take up residence there, I am no longer eligible to vote in local, state or federal elections. It's simple!

If I move to another part of Kentucky, I am not eligible to change my voter location for a month or participate in any election unless I am willing to travel back to the place where I am registered to vote.

Basically, if I move to Hawaii, then I can't expect to vote in local elections in my home state of Kentucky. So why are we allowing Iraqis who moved from their home country a voice in Iraq's government?

It doesn't make much sense, unless you are trying to influence the vote....oh wait, that's a whole different issue (or is it?).

People need to wake up and get real!

How about now?

George Bush gets more delusional every single day. Now he wants to compare the Iraqis to the founders of the US. Firstly, the founders of our nation were occupied by another country. So that would make us Great Britain, in a sense. Then they would have to rise up against us and defeat us in a war. So what is his point?

The Iraqis have nothing in common with our history. They did not decide to topple Saddam Hussein of their own free will. It took another country to make that decision for them. And quite honestly, I believe if they had a choice they would have kept Saddam! But the didn't have a choice, did they?

Next, we have gross reports of abuse in Iraqi prisons again. Now I ask, are we going to impeach Bush yet? It seems everything about this so-called war has violated the spirit of every international agreement since World War II!

I say this over and over, but if we impeached a man for getting a blowjob in the White House (and no one died) doesn't it stand to reason for us to hold accountable a man who squandered our nation's trust and swindled us out of billions of dollars for his own selfish greed and personal self-satisfying desire? Oh, and let's not forget all the thousands of people who have died, either, as a result!

IMPEACH BUSH WHILE WE STILL HAVE SOME DIGNITY!

Iraqi Civil War

I watched the Kurdish representative to the US today on CNN. He gives the impression that Kurdistan is independent of the central government in Baghdad. They are negotiating oil contracts for their region, independently. What does this mean for the Shi'a and Sunnis?

I believe Iraq will move into a period of civil war and independence of its parts after the withdrawal of American forces from Iraq (who knows when, though).

Patriot Act

I am a firm opponent to the Patriot Act from the beginning. Any time the government requests the right to operate outside the Constitution of the United States, then we should rise up and question the reasons behind such a request!

Of course, they decry 9/11. This excuse becomes less convincing each day. It is hard to use this fact almost five years after the fact. We are engaged in a war, which is the antithesis of what happened in 2001. We cannot compare the two in any manner. Iraq has nothing to do with the terrorist attacks on 9/11.

The Patriot Act overrides civil liberties of American citizens in favor of "Big Brother." I do not need someone keeping records of what I do. I am an American citizen whose liberties and rights are protected by a federal constitution.

I do not believe the Congress has the right, or power, to supersede these rights. They are constrained through charge and oath to respect and uphold the Constitution of the United States; therefore, if they work outside that framework they are acting unconstitutionally and illegally.

American Credibility

When we question the policies of the president, we are degrading our ability to wage war and giving the insurgents in Iraq more power?

The answer to this question is simple: NO! Opinions and opposition to such policies is not treason. When it comes to domestic and foreign policies, we cannot concern ourselves with the opinions of insurgents.

It is more democratic and American to question such policies! Republicans simply see it as attacking the president from a partisan point-of-view.

War in Iraq Going Downhill

Today, the polls show 68% of Americans question the direction of the American war in Iraq. It would seem they lack confidence in the fact George Bush has any clear plan for winning this war and leaving Iraq.

I find it ironic it has taken the bulk of American people this long to figure this simple fact out. King George never had a viable plan to exit Iraq, even from the beginning. He just wanted to go after Saddam.

Today, Iraq ONLY has 750 soldiers who can fight independently. This is over two years after the invasion of Iraq! This is simply unacceptable, to be modest! We must work quickly to ensure Iraqis can defend themselves in a viable way.

It would seem the Iraqis are not concerned with the defense of their own sovereignty. After decades of Saddam's rule, they are content to sit back and allow someone else to make the decisions for them. As long as George is president, I am confident this will be the case. His legacy looks more bleak everyday.

Only time will tell!

Condi vs. Hillary

Ha! Ha! I heard the cutest conservative radio talkshow on NPR this morning. The topic was who is going to stop Hillary from being president in 2009. The answer they came up with is Secretary of State Condeleeza (whatever) Rice. I literally about choked with laughter and had to pull over to let it all out without crashing!

I thought NPR was supposed to be serious, but they had a bit of comedy in their broadcast.

Firstly, there is no chance that Rice could take on Clinton. Hillary is a dynamo of political force. Hillary has the connections necessary to make a realistic bid for the White House.

Secondly, they made the accusation that Hillary must control every situation. It would seem that Rice could force her out of her "comfort zone" and Hillary would snap releasing anger and depravity all over the stage. What a joke!

Thirdly, Hillary has a secret weapon that Rice does not: he's called BILL CLINTON. I mean come on, who doesn't love Bill, really?

Fourthly, Rice has the look of a bulldog about to go AWOL!

In 2008, a Republican Rice against Democratic Clinton, there's no contest!