REPUBLICAN BUDGET PLAN OF THE WEEK
We need 70 billion dollars worth of 'temporary' cuts in capital gains and dividends. So to fund those cuts we need to cut 12 billion in medicaid, 14 billion in student aid, and 848 million in food stamp aid. Let them eat cake.
RELIGION NOT SCIENCE
We need to reject over-the-counter sale of 'Plan B' (morning after) contraceptive medication because our conservative base doesn't like it. How do we influence the scientists at the Food and Drug Administation to prevent over-the-counter sales? Convince the agency that younger adolescents might engage in unsafe sexual behavior with Plan B available even though this is an age-based criterion never before raised for an over-the-counter contraceptive.
LIES ABOUT IRAQ
Everyone had access to the same intelligence that Bush used to justify invading Iraq. Does anyone actually believe this? Even President Clinton was convinced that the intelligence indicated Iraq wanted to pursue a nuclear weapons program. Bush was actually working with the same intelligence that Clinton used. Old intelligence! And, Clinton was convinced that pressure and inspections were working to prevent Iraq from proceeding with their nuclear ambitions. Bush thought there was soon going to be a mushroom cloud. Same intelligence, different conclusions. What is really bothersome to me is that Bush convinced a majority of people in this country that Iraq was involved with the 9/11 attacks. He didn't come right out and say so, but he was always sure to talk about Sadam Hussain, the war on terror and 9/11 at the same time, over and over and over. I think a sizable minority of people still think Iraq was involved in the 9/11 attacks.
HABEAS CORPUS
Republicans denied the right of Habeas Corpus in the reconstruction period after the Civil War and they are trying to do the same thing now to persons being held by the USA in our base in Cuba. It was wrong in the 1860's and it is wrong now.
TORTURE
Not much to say here, but I never thought our country would be debating whether torture is legal or not.
I agree with Jimmy Carter. Something is fundamentally wrong with our country right now and we are sitting around like sheep to the slaughter letting it happen.
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Friday, November 11, 2005
Presidential Medal of Freedom
Unlike retired CIA director George Tenet, two people I respect recently received the presidential Medal of Freedom.
Paul Rusesabagina, the hotel manager of 'Hotel Rwanda' fame
and
Muhammad Ali, a guy who knew the Vietnam War was wrong
Paul Rusesabagina, the hotel manager of 'Hotel Rwanda' fame
and
Muhammad Ali, a guy who knew the Vietnam War was wrong
Guess Who is Saying This...
...in March, 2003, Bush, in perhaps the greatest strategic blunder in U.S. history, invaded an Arab nation that had not attacked us, did not want war with us, and did not threaten us—to strip it of weapons we now know it did not have.
Result: Shia and Kurds have been liberated from Saddam, but Iran has a new ally in southern Iraq, Osama has a new base camp in the Sunni Triangle, the Arab and Islamic world have been radicalized against the United States, and copy-cat killers of Al Qaida have been targeting our remaining allies in Europe and the Middle East: Spain, Britain, Egypt and Jordan. And, lest we forget, 2055 Americans are dead and Walter Reed is filling up.
Pat Buchanan
Result: Shia and Kurds have been liberated from Saddam, but Iran has a new ally in southern Iraq, Osama has a new base camp in the Sunni Triangle, the Arab and Islamic world have been radicalized against the United States, and copy-cat killers of Al Qaida have been targeting our remaining allies in Europe and the Middle East: Spain, Britain, Egypt and Jordan. And, lest we forget, 2055 Americans are dead and Walter Reed is filling up.
Pat Buchanan
WARNING! - Tinfoil Hats Proved Not to Work!
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
White Phosphorus in Fallujah
I've been following this story since Monday. International press reported that white phosphorus was used as an anti-personnel weapon during the fighting in Fallujah last year. It first sounded too much like a conspiracy theory so I thought let's see what develops. Evidently there are pictures and video of people severely burned. White phosphorus is normally used either as a white smoke marker or as a means of lighting an area at night. We'll see if this makes the mainstream media or not.
A Trip to Vermont
Yesterday Maureen and I went to the Burlington International Airport to pick up my mother (who was returning from FL). We decided to take the Crown Point bridge over to Burlington and then take the Cumberland head ferry on our return. I wanted to go through Crown Point because it was a nice bright but cool day. I wanted to stop at the Crown Point ruins of the forts built and used prior to and during the French and Indian War. There are alot more pictures and history if you click the link. Notice I said forts. The ruins of another fort, Ft. St. Frederic are also there. Click on link for picts and history. I don't want to use up all my free flickr space.
This is a picture taken from the 'walls' of the fort. In the foreground is the Officers barracks and further back is the Enlisted barracks. The inside of the fort is about 4 acres. Just below where I'm standing is the well that supplied the fort with water.
This picture is taken at the entrance to the fort. Officers barracks on the left, enlisted further back. There are the ruins of a third building that was the armory. A third barracks was to have been built, to the right, but never was finished.
This is an awesome place to be alone on a nice Spring or Fall day. You can wander around freely with no one to bother you. Sorta reminds me of when I visited Stonehenge back in 1975. You could park your car on the side of the road. Walk to the stones, climb on them, touch them etc. Those days are long gone. I'm sure the same will eventually happen at Crown Point.
This is a picture taken from the 'walls' of the fort. In the foreground is the Officers barracks and further back is the Enlisted barracks. The inside of the fort is about 4 acres. Just below where I'm standing is the well that supplied the fort with water.
This picture is taken at the entrance to the fort. Officers barracks on the left, enlisted further back. There are the ruins of a third building that was the armory. A third barracks was to have been built, to the right, but never was finished.
This is an awesome place to be alone on a nice Spring or Fall day. You can wander around freely with no one to bother you. Sorta reminds me of when I visited Stonehenge back in 1975. You could park your car on the side of the road. Walk to the stones, climb on them, touch them etc. Those days are long gone. I'm sure the same will eventually happen at Crown Point.
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
OOPS!
Rep. John Hostettler (Ind.) was one of 11 Republicans to oppose funds for rebuilding Katrina huricane damage. Yesterday, Rep. Hostettler asked President Bush for money to help victims of another natural disaster... the tornado that ripped through many areas in his 8th District in Indiana. The congressman did vote to help tsunami victims halfway around the world and rebuild Iraq but I guess aiding poor Americans drenched by hurricanes is different...unless of course a disaster hits your congressional district and you want to be re-elected.
Hippo Point Lake Naivasha Kenya
Julia just emailed from Kisumu. She is living with 3 other women her age and working at Covenant Home.
"today I took a group of kids to Hippo Point and we went on a boat ride which was a little sketchy, the boat was like a big cannoe and we shoved 25 people in it and I thought for a few mins it might sink but we made it to where we were headed. we didnt see any hippos but evidently they come to the field next to where I am staying at night, so hopefully I will see some."
Why do they always overload boats in developing countries? I doubt there were any life preservers. Who wants to hear about a boat load of orphans drowning or being attacked by hippos?
"today I took a group of kids to Hippo Point and we went on a boat ride which was a little sketchy, the boat was like a big cannoe and we shoved 25 people in it and I thought for a few mins it might sink but we made it to where we were headed. we didnt see any hippos but evidently they come to the field next to where I am staying at night, so hopefully I will see some."
Why do they always overload boats in developing countries? I doubt there were any life preservers. Who wants to hear about a boat load of orphans drowning or being attacked by hippos?
Monday, November 07, 2005
Bible Not True?
Turns out the Vatican does not believe the bible to be true in all instances
Some Christians want a literal interpretation of the story of creation, as told in Genesis, taught alongside Darwin’s theory of evolution in schools, believing “intelligent design” to be an equally plausible theory of how the world began.
But the first 11 chapters of Genesis, in which two different and at times conflicting stories of creation are told, are among those that this country’s Catholic bishops insist cannot be “historical”. At most, they say, they may contain “historical traces”.
The Bible is true in passages relating to human salvation, they say, but continue: “We should not expect total accuracy from the Bible in other, secular matters.”
Untrue example:
Genesis iii, 16
God said to the woman [after she was beguiled by the serpent]: “I will greatly multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children, yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.”
True example:
Luke i
The Virgin Birth
xodus iii, 14
God reveals himself to Moses as: “I am who I am.”
Some Christians want a literal interpretation of the story of creation, as told in Genesis, taught alongside Darwin’s theory of evolution in schools, believing “intelligent design” to be an equally plausible theory of how the world began.
But the first 11 chapters of Genesis, in which two different and at times conflicting stories of creation are told, are among those that this country’s Catholic bishops insist cannot be “historical”. At most, they say, they may contain “historical traces”.
The Bible is true in passages relating to human salvation, they say, but continue: “We should not expect total accuracy from the Bible in other, secular matters.”
Untrue example:
Genesis iii, 16
God said to the woman [after she was beguiled by the serpent]: “I will greatly multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children, yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.”
True example:
Luke i
The Virgin Birth
xodus iii, 14
God reveals himself to Moses as: “I am who I am.”
Thursday, November 03, 2005
Julia in Kenya
Today is the last day of classes for Julia. In the next day or so she heads for Kisumu where she will be working at Covenant Home, an orphanage. Julia finally sent us a couple pictures out of the hundreds she has taken.
Julia talking to people who carry sticks.
Um I'm no expert, but should you really get so close to a rhino? I guess she was with experts when she took this picture, so Ok.
Julia and her classmates near a Baobob tree. I guess the 'lorry' in the background is their major means of transport. Julia is 5th from the left (standing). Only 16 students in this semesters class. Next semester has 30 students.
Julia talking to people who carry sticks.
Um I'm no expert, but should you really get so close to a rhino? I guess she was with experts when she took this picture, so Ok.
Julia and her classmates near a Baobob tree. I guess the 'lorry' in the background is their major means of transport. Julia is 5th from the left (standing). Only 16 students in this semesters class. Next semester has 30 students.
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Forged Yellowcake Documents - How Did We Get Them?
Oct 15, 2001 (shortly after 9/11). Italian Prime minister Berlusconi and SISMI Chief Nicolo Pollari make official visit to Wash. DC
Pollari meets with CIA and provides SISMI dossier containing 'evidence' that Iraq is attempting to purchase yellowcake from Niger. Gave same intel to Great Britain.
The British, the CIA and the US State Department declare the intel to be 'lacking in detail' and 'very limited' in scope.
Feb 2002, the report is resubmitted (description below tells how it got there) to Washington with embellishments. Joe Wilson goes to Niger and then declares the information could not be confirmed.
Sept 2002, Michael Ledeen, Cheney's 'Office of Special Plans' man in Italy sets up secret meeting between SISMI Chief Pollari and Deputy National Security Director Stephan Hadley. (It's not known whether this meeting has anything to do with anything yet, but someone should ask).
Two weeks prior to this meeting Elisabetta Burba of Panorama magazine (owned by Prime Minister Berlusconi) obtained documents from Rocco Martino, a former SISMI officer. He claims to have gotten them from Antonio Nucera, a former SISMI colonel. Nucera had some weird story about a Secretary at the Niger Embassy in Rome being involved.
The documents end up going to the US Embassy instead of the CIA station, thus bypassing agency analysts. They end up directly at the NSC and the Vice Presidents office.
Jan 28, 2003, The famous 16 words about Niger's uranium were used in the Presidents State of the Union address.
What we don't know. Who forged the documents and why? Could SISMI and the Office of Special Plans have been involved? Rocco Martino has stated that Italian and American governments were behind the forgeries.
There is not yet any evidence of an American connection, but there is little doubt that the Office of Special Plans circumvented procedures so that the documents were received by people that wanted to believe them.
Joe Wilson publicly denounced the documents in a New York Times editorial, thus the resulting attack on him and his wife.
I've been following this story closely because this is where the trial of Scooter Libby could eventually lead.
Pollari meets with CIA and provides SISMI dossier containing 'evidence' that Iraq is attempting to purchase yellowcake from Niger. Gave same intel to Great Britain.
The British, the CIA and the US State Department declare the intel to be 'lacking in detail' and 'very limited' in scope.
Feb 2002, the report is resubmitted (description below tells how it got there) to Washington with embellishments. Joe Wilson goes to Niger and then declares the information could not be confirmed.
Sept 2002, Michael Ledeen, Cheney's 'Office of Special Plans' man in Italy sets up secret meeting between SISMI Chief Pollari and Deputy National Security Director Stephan Hadley. (It's not known whether this meeting has anything to do with anything yet, but someone should ask).
Two weeks prior to this meeting Elisabetta Burba of Panorama magazine (owned by Prime Minister Berlusconi) obtained documents from Rocco Martino, a former SISMI officer. He claims to have gotten them from Antonio Nucera, a former SISMI colonel. Nucera had some weird story about a Secretary at the Niger Embassy in Rome being involved.
The documents end up going to the US Embassy instead of the CIA station, thus bypassing agency analysts. They end up directly at the NSC and the Vice Presidents office.
Jan 28, 2003, The famous 16 words about Niger's uranium were used in the Presidents State of the Union address.
What we don't know. Who forged the documents and why? Could SISMI and the Office of Special Plans have been involved? Rocco Martino has stated that Italian and American governments were behind the forgeries.
There is not yet any evidence of an American connection, but there is little doubt that the Office of Special Plans circumvented procedures so that the documents were received by people that wanted to believe them.
Joe Wilson publicly denounced the documents in a New York Times editorial, thus the resulting attack on him and his wife.
I've been following this story closely because this is where the trial of Scooter Libby could eventually lead.
Closed Senate Session Worked!
"U.S. Senators reached an agreement to monitor a congressional investigation into the Bush administration's use of intelligence about Iraq after Democrats forced an unusual closed session on the Senate floor to draw attention to the issue". (Bloomberg)
Are Democrats finally going to start acting like an opposition party? Yesterday was a first step in that direction. Are we getting closer to investigating the cover up of the forging of documents alleging that Iraq attempted to buy yellowcake uranium from Niger? This is what the Plame outing was actually all about.
Are Democrats finally going to start acting like an opposition party? Yesterday was a first step in that direction. Are we getting closer to investigating the cover up of the forging of documents alleging that Iraq attempted to buy yellowcake uranium from Niger? This is what the Plame outing was actually all about.
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
Senator Harry Reid Rocks!
This afternoon he invoked Rule 21 which had the result of putting the Senate into closed session. He wants the Senate Intelligence Comm. to start doing the oversight it promised it would do. Harry wants answers to the following questions:
o How did the Bush Administration assemble its case for war against Iraq?
o Who did Bush Administration officials listen to and who did they ignore?
o How did senior Administration officials manipulate or manufacture intelligence presented to the Congress and the American people?
o What was the role of the White House Iraq Group or WHIG, a group of senior White House officials tasked with marketing the war and taking down its critics?
o How did the Administration coordinate its efforts to attack individuals who dared to challenge the Administration’s assertions?
o Why has the Administration failed to provide Congress with the documents that will shed light on their misconduct and misstatements?
I'd add, who instigated the fake Italian yellowcake memos?
o How did the Bush Administration assemble its case for war against Iraq?
o Who did Bush Administration officials listen to and who did they ignore?
o How did senior Administration officials manipulate or manufacture intelligence presented to the Congress and the American people?
o What was the role of the White House Iraq Group or WHIG, a group of senior White House officials tasked with marketing the war and taking down its critics?
o How did the Administration coordinate its efforts to attack individuals who dared to challenge the Administration’s assertions?
o Why has the Administration failed to provide Congress with the documents that will shed light on their misconduct and misstatements?
I'd add, who instigated the fake Italian yellowcake memos?
June 12, 2003
This is the day that Vice President Dick FU Cheney 'advised' Scooter Libby that Joe Wilson's wife, Valerie Plame, worked for the CIA. Shortly thereafter, Libby discussed Joe Wilson and his wife with members of the press. What else did Dick Cheney have to say to Scooter on June 12th? Did Scooter just decide to go ahead and 'out' Plame to the press on his own? If there is a trial I'm pretty sure the Dickster would be called to testify. Will he tell the truth?
Who Are the Judicial Activists?
How often has each justice voted to strike down a law passed by Congress?
Thomas: 65.63%
Kennedy: 64.06%
Scalia: 56.25%
Rehnquist: 46.88%
O'Connor: 46.77%
Souter: 42.19%
Stevens: 39.34%
Ginsburg: 39.06%
Breyer: 28.13%
Hmmmm, let's see. It would appear that the more 'liberal' justices (bottom 3) are less willing to 'legislate from the bench'. Who would have guessed?
Thomas: 65.63%
Kennedy: 64.06%
Scalia: 56.25%
Rehnquist: 46.88%
O'Connor: 46.77%
Souter: 42.19%
Stevens: 39.34%
Ginsburg: 39.06%
Breyer: 28.13%
Hmmmm, let's see. It would appear that the more 'liberal' justices (bottom 3) are less willing to 'legislate from the bench'. Who would have guessed?
The Green Mountains of Vermont
We went to the CVAC cross country meet last Saturday. It was held at the Plattsburgh beach on a beautiful Fall day. The beach is on Plattsburgh Bay where an important War of 1812 battle occurred on Sept 11, 1814. It was actually a land and naval battle. The American naval forces were commanded by 30 yr old Lt. Thomas Macdonough. The land forces were led by 32 yr old Brig. Alexander McComb. 5000 Yankees and Green Mt. Boys put to flight 14,000 British. The battle was a decisive win for the United States even though both land and naval forces were outnumbered by the British. An excellent history of the battle can be found here. Click on the maps.
Pictured are a portion of the Green Mt. Range in VT, still snow covered from our storm last week. You are looking across a penninsula, Cumberland Head, towards VT.
Monday, October 31, 2005
Hunger in America
The USDA report, Household Food Security in the United States, 2004, says that 38.2 million Americans live in households that suffer directly from hunger and food insecurity, including nearly 14 million children. That figure is up from 31 million Americans in 1999.
Are we a wonderful country full of caring people or what?
Are we a wonderful country full of caring people or what?
Close Call in Nairobi
From Julia:
Today during health class a woman was hit by a police car right outside of the ymca, evidently she was crossing the street and not paying attention, the policemen who hit her took her to the hospital… our health teacher told us it was good they got out of there fast because if they hadn’t the mob of people who had formed to view the accident would have burned the police car and beaten the policemen for hitting the woman. It was intense and it made me scared to cross the streets today.
Today during health class a woman was hit by a police car right outside of the ymca, evidently she was crossing the street and not paying attention, the policemen who hit her took her to the hospital… our health teacher told us it was good they got out of there fast because if they hadn’t the mob of people who had formed to view the accident would have burned the police car and beaten the policemen for hitting the woman. It was intense and it made me scared to cross the streets today.
What About Dick Cheney?
Recent Republican talking point is "there was no underlying crime". Well excuse me. It's kind of difficult to determine if there is an "underlying crime" when everybody is LYING. Scooter Libby is being squeezed. We now know he found out about Valerie Plame from Vice President Dick Cheney. He is lying to protect Cheney. Moreover, Cheney knew he was lying all along. I guess we will see if Scooter is willing to go to jail for Cheney. I don't think there will be a trial because that means Cheney would be called to testify, that just won't happen. Scooter will get 6 months followed by a pardon. The real criminals in the White House will get off scott free. I think we will learn a heck of a lot more about Treasongate if the Wilsons bring a civil lawsuit.
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