Contact me:  pjbullard38@hotmail.com

QUESTIONS WORTH PONDERING

8/2/2007    This morning a bridge collapsed in Minnesota.  Horrible tragedy where dozens of people may have died.  On CNN they are speculating that maybe a quarter of the bridges in the U.S. are in need of extensive repair.  They also mentioned the cost would run in the trillions of dollars. 

    So the Question:  With safety a primary concern, where will the $$ come from?  Iraq maybe???

I read Anna Quinlan (love her articles) in Newsweek last night and she posed a question I had not thought about.  The Supreme Court may rule that Abortion may be a crime.

    So the Questions:  Is the woman who has one - a criminal?  If so - How much JAIL TIME???

Imigration and Drugs.  Another CNN news report said there may be 20 million illegals who have come to the U.S. through Mexico.  The Drug Cartels in Mexico assist in transporting the illegals to enhance their distribution of illegal drugs.

    So the Question:  Why don't we commit our Armed Forces to fight a war on our territory?  Why should we spend TRILLIONS on Iraq and line the pockets of those who cozy up to the Bush Administration?  Why don't we just identify hard core drugs and simply say anyone guilty of distribution of these drugs in the U.S. will be punished by HANGING?

Final Question:  The American Drug Companies are making obscene profits and the U.S. is rated one of the worst countries in the world for health care for all Americans.  I admit that some like myself are fortunate, and others who are wealthy have few if any problems.  But the average citizen of the U.S. is in deep doo doo when it comes to affordable health care.  When PUSH comes to SHOVE - the elected lawmakers of this country will do nothing because their re-elections are bankrolled by the drug companies.

    So the Question:  Throw every single one of the lawmakers out of office and start over?  Yeah, I know I'm dreaming!!

There are other important questions but this was all I want to start with.

POWER IS A SEDUCTIVE MISTRESS

7/16/2007  The Bush Administration has misused and contorted the power of the Executive Branch like no other administration.  They have tried to rewrite the constitution.  With the good fortune of having the Presidency in the last 6 years plus, President Bush has appointed conservative justices to the Supreme Court that will impact the laws of the U.S. for possibly decades.  The Republican Congress of 2001-2006 became so addicted to power they matched or exceeded the democrats during their power glory days.  In the long term it is the ordinary average American citizen who is left turning in the political warfare winds that primarily benefits the top tiers of the economic scales.  This has been evident in the many Republican efforts over the last 6 years. 

We are nearing the full throttle of election politics for 2008.  I want to take a moment to encourage Americans to reverse the number of  Republican seats in the Senate.  Chip away at some more of the Republican seats in the House of Representatives.  There is a good possibility that a democratic President will be in office.  CAUTION:  Democrats are also Power Mongers.  Somehow we need to send a message to those we elect that the priorities of the American people are for ALL of the American people.   I realize I am being idealistic.  I sit here and think that it would be nice to shift the winds of power every 4 years.  But that is term limits - and there is no way in hell or eternity that politicians will ever pass that power to the American voting public.

GET OUT OF JAIL, FREE!!

7/11/2007  Please note the date 7/11/07.  Scooter Libby - You are the lucky winner of the Political Sweepstakes of the year!  I acknowledge that the action occurred a few days ago.  That action of course was President Bush commuting Libby's 30-month prison sentence.  Why?  Because the President thought it was "excessive."  As Governor of Texas, Bush signed 152 death warrants.  In not a single one of those cases was the punishment "excessive."  Not one of those inmates--not even the mentally ill or the mentally retarded, not the battered wife or the born-again woman for whom the pope pleaded--deserved to have his or her sentence commuted to life without possibility of parole. 

Let's take a step further and examine a motive.  The commutation of Libby's sentence will impede or stop any investigation into exactly what information the Bush administration had about Iraq before the war began.  Bush also did the commutation without consulting the Justice Department.  This is normally standard procedure.   Also by commuting his sentence, Bush is rewarding someone for not implicating those above him, Cheney & Bush - DUH!!!!   And if Bush did reward Libby for lying under oath to protect the President and Vice-President, then COMMUTING HIS PRISON SENTENCE WOULD APPEAR TO BE OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE.

Obstruction of Justice in order to avoid accountability for actions is more than unreasonable and unjustifiable - it is unforgiveable.

YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS STUFF UP unless your Stephen King that is!

(By the way go back aways and read my entry dated  3/8/2007)

REPUBLICAN DEFENSIVE

6/10/2007  This morning I watched Meet the Press with guest Gen. Colin Powell.  He made all the specific points in why it was right to invade Iraq.  I will reiterate a point that I believe is correct and have previously expounded on.  VP Dick Cheney, Gen. Powell and Geo W.'s daddy (whom I actually like) were hounded in the Gulf War for their political decision to not get Saddam.  When Push comes to shove in the Gulf War of 2003, President Geo. W. Bush, Dick Cheney and Powell wanted to get Saddam - and to hell with any reasonable reasons and proof that contradicted them.  They deserve shame and should get it appropriately in the history lessons.

SCOOTER LIBBY was found guilty.  Now most of the Republican candidates for President and Republicans across the country want Mr. Libby pardoned by President Bush.  Newspaper editorials from across the country were mostly unified when they stated this week that Mr. Libby should NOT be pardoned.  But I will bet that Scooter will serve only until Jan 20, 2009 and on that day he will receive his pardon.

IT ALL COMES BACK

5/24/2007  Remember when you were just a little kid.  You did something wrong, and when you were confronted with the dastardly misdeed, you would not own up to it!  Now dwell for a moment on the fact that back then, in hindsight it was truly nothing at all and you should have acknowledged your misdeed.  Think also for a moment about the significance of being an adult, highly educated, good parental stock, and you used all the political machinery available to get you elected to the Office of President, United State of America.  You are now acknowledged as the "Leader of the Free World." 

George Bush was such a man.  And he must now look back and acknowledge that his largest mistake in his lifetime was to make war against a country who had no business being invaded by the United States, Great Britain or other participating countries.  George Bush and his political cohorts provoked a war in Iraq misusing Intelligence data to persuade many to follow his dastardly misdeed.  As he did when he was a youngster, he will never admit to his wrongdoing, and he will do everything he can to continue to justify and prolong actions that will have a negative impact of the United States for many years to come.  Actions as a child have no comparison to actions as a Leader of the Free World.

To me that falls under the head of being labeled the "worst President in the history of the United States.  I have said so many times in this log.  So what's the big deal?  Former President Jimmy Carter went out on a limb and virtually said the same thing a few days ago.  Carter has been criticized for breaking protocol as a former President labeling Bush as he did.  The White House responded by saying Carter is "irrelevant."  Carter was not one of our great President's, but Jimmy Carter has proven himself to be worthy as a peacemaker, versus a war maker.  He has many accomplishments in his lifetime, certainly more than George Bush.  Jimmy Carter has it right on target.  George Bush will achieve much of the infamy that Saddam Hussein achieved when historical records are written.

AND IT KEEPS COMING BACK

The political news on TV and in the newspapers is about Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.  Last week it was about Paul Wolfowitz who finally relinquished his position as President of the World Bank.  Now the former While House liaison to the AG, Monica Goodling has come forward to tell us of the misdeeds of AG Gonzales in the firing of justice department prosecutors.  She confirmed to Congress that party affiliations were involved which is a violation of law.  She also confirmed that AG Gonzales knew about it and lied or misled Congress.  This also comes on the heels of Deputy AG Paul McNulty who dates back to the former AG John Ashcroft revealing that Gonzales tried to coerce Ashcroft to participate in spying on Americans while Ashcroft was seriously ill in a critical care unit.  Ashcroft refused.

So it seems that all misdeeds grow greater with our age, power and probably the almighty dollar.  And the adverse affects are significantly harmful to us as citizens and the world.  When will we begin to get political leaders who act like the exceptional adults we expect.  Don't hold your breath.

JERRY FALWELL:  May he rest in peace - I did not care for the man but I do know that many others revered him.  I prefer religion to be separate from government and a personal objective.  He had personal wealth, his own jet, and loved to mix it up with politics.  I often questioned his true loyalty: was it his love of god, or his love of using god to make him wealthy and influential.  Preferably I like men and women who serve God teaching us about Jesus Christ and the virtues of leading a good life.

LOGIC REVERSAL

4/25/2007  Senator John McCain will officially announce his Presidential Campaign today.  He is unequivocal in his support of the Iraq War.  Also to keep up with McCain's announcement Rudy Giuliani stated yesterday that if the Democrat's win the 2008 Presidential Election there will be another 9-11.

MY POINT:  Both men are wrong for one major significant reason.  If the Republicans continue in the Presidency their war efforts will weaken the U.S. military to a major degree, but more importantly the interior defense of the U.S. itself is wide open to more terrorist activity because our military and monetary assets are diverted to fight a war we likely can't win.  Our military men and women are being asked to serve tours way to long without adequate relief.  Without a draft we will never have enough volunteers to keep up the rotation of troops on an adequate basis.  No one wants the draft at least in any significant numbers. 

BUSH HAS NO SHAME

4/6/2007  Yesterday I noted on CNN that President Bush said the war in Iraq was about EVIL and NOT about Civil War.  This President will continue until his death bed that Iraq was about fighting terrorists.  His total disregard for the facts, no WMD, no Al Qaeda presence, and certainly no Nuclear Weapons was an attempt to justify his war decision.  I will always believe his Iraq war decision was for political purposes.  Oil maybe, re-election in 2004 definitely, and possibly the retribution for his father not using the opportunity in the Gulf War to remove Saddam Hussein.  I keep thinking Saddam would have kept Iraq from self-destructing had President Bush not fulfilled his grandiose plans.  Saddam unquestionably was an evil man, but have you also looked at North Korea and Iran.  Bush never went after the leaders of those countries.

Bush has no shame.  He has little or no feelings for the hundreds of thousands of Iraqi's who have died in civil war as a result of the turmoil we created in Iraq.  Bush has no shame.  U.S. military casualties were 244 during the first 3 months of 2007 as opposed to 148 during the same period in 2006 - a 65 percent increase.  Bush has no same.  Injuries from IED's has led to thousands of injuries to the head, limbs and bodies of American servicemen and women, as well as innocent Iraqi civilians.  Bush wants the U.S. to stay in Iraq until after his Presidency - as does John McCain - all for political reasons.  Bush has no shame.

Extending the time and forces with further loss of lives and additional money is not going to solve this crisis.  The members of Congress have a duty to preserve the lives of those in America first and foremost.  Bush will not - because he has no shame!!!

BUSH IS NIXON ALL OVER AGAIN

3/27/2007  Former President Nixon resigned the Presidency in disgrace.  Richard Nixon was not a bad person, but he was corrupted by the political system and power!  The same goes for President Bush.  He is actually a likeable guy, except after awhile you want to wipe that damn grin on his face in the mud.   What Watergate did to Nixon, Bush is going to realize one of these days, that his stubborn and determined position to invade Iraq and get rid of Saddam was only the beginning of his downfall.  Now you add to his stubborn and determined personality quirks, the misuse of government power and the conversion to Nixonion politics is complete.  Karl Rove and Dick Cheney are similar to the same advisors VP that Nixon had at his side.  Now add an Attorney General who will do anything for his President regardless of Right or Wrong, the final topping.  President Bush deserves to be impeached as President Clinton was forced to face the same issue. 

The White House will assert that the President needs honest advice from his politically appointed advisors.  However, this Presidency who enjoyed six years of Republican Congressional domination is now learning that the excesses of their political power was far too extreme for democracy to flourish as it was intended by our founding fathers.  Oh they will throw 9-11 at us, and that event did change how we need to approach world affairs, but Bush, Cheney, Rove and Company (CIA if you wish) have made major errors that have negatively impacted the United States for at least the next 10 years or so.  The next President of the U.S. will have an immense leadership task to bring back prestige to the United States. 

NEWS EVENTS THIS WEEK

3/8/2007    Scooter Libby was found guilty!  He will receive a pardon and my guess is he will never do a day in jail.

                  Walter Reed Hospital.  The conditions are abominable and someone should take responsibility.  I suggest the President and Congress.  They are the ones who diverted all the money to Iraq.

                   Ann Coulter is a terrific example of how Republican's will manage the next two years of electioneering.  Disgusting!!  America needs to wake up to the mindset of the rich and powerful and to what lengths they will go to keep POWER!!

                   Down in Florida, in a city named Largo, DISCRIMINATION raised its ugly head when a City Manager who for 13 years or more did a fine job was fired within 7 days after HE announced HE would seek a SEX CHANGE to become a SHE.  What gets me the most is that GOD proclaims this to be the correct way to go.  I think that is the ultimate hypocrisy.  God had forgiveness and understanding for all human beings. 

CAMPAIGN FINANCE

2/23/2007  Today Gov. Tom Vilsack dropped out of the Presidential race.  It's a damn shame - Presidential politics as well as ANY national elective office (Senator/Representative) is all BASED ON $$.  NOT THE BEST CANDIDATE - but who can raise the most money and bullshit the voters better than the other candidates.  We the American public are forced to vote for the candidates who wind up on top.  That is why I wrote the fictional novel, "Republican Bastards".  Yes it is a farce, but when you get down to the bottom line it is what politics is all about.  $$ Money $$ not the best candidates for the country.  I don't do this for money and my book was not about making me money.  You can buy it cheaply on www.amazon.com.   Otherwise I will not promote it. 

I sure wish we could take everyone of those yokels who run for President and stuff their asses full of money and then set them on fire.  Not to kill anyone but just to let them know money may buy them power but were damn sick of money ruling our lives politically.  Tom Vilsack and many other good politicians might possibly be much better in elective offices than the jackasses we now have to choose between rather they be Republican or Democrat.

JOHN MC CAIN

2/20/2007  Senator McCain has always managed to twist my mind into convoluting convictions.  Today, the morning news and TV clips tell us that the Senator has labeled the former SecDef Rumsfeld as the worst in the history of the U.S.  Imagine my chagrin.  I think their is a basis for that opinion.  I have already on a number of occasions labeled President Bush as the worst President in the history of this country.  What infuriates me about Senator McCain is that he continues to stump and support President Bush in Iraq.  The Senator withheld his now exposed opinions on Rumsfeld for the last two years and particularly the last Presidential Election and the Congressional Elections.  I like some qualities of Senator McCain, but I sure as hell hope this weasel does not become a serious candidate for the Republican nomination in 2008.  Based on his theory we could be in Iraq for another 6-8 years fighting Al Qaeda, civil war etc., and being the Commander in Chief would give him the power to influence us into more wars with Iran and others.  Go home to Arizona Senator and suck your wife's thumb.  Why do they give Hillary such a difficult time about not wanting to admit her vote to authorize War in Iraq?  Senator McCain wants to wage war for several more years to come.  At least Hillary is willing to admit her vote was based on information at the time and that President Bush and Rumsfeld mismanaged the opportunity.  ON that subject I have no disagreement.

CRYING WOLF

2/12/2007  A fairy tale from our childhood taught us not to cry wolf.  Essentially when we review the beginnings of the war in Iraq the Bush Administration did cry wolf when it came to Saddam, weapons of mass destruction, Al Qaeda and nuclear capabilities.   Now we hear from the Pentagon that Iran is shipping weapons into Iraq to the Insurgents that are killing our military personnel.  Is this the cry of Wolf once again?? 

I am inclined to believe that Iran is doing exactly what the Pentagon says.  The problem is:  Who will believe them even if the evidence is over-whelming??  This administration has little credibility with foreign allies, and here at home approximately 70 percent of the country has a high degree of doubt when it comes to President Bush, Cheney etc.  Even if we do find that Iran is the culprit, what realistic course of action is possible?  A war against Iran?  That won't fly unless a major provocation occurs. 

I guess the only answer is (was):  Don't cry wolf unless it's true, verifiable, and the Congress and American People are fully informed to make smart decisions and evaluate alternatives.

JANUARY 2007

2/1/2007  A lot of political activity in January.  The first female Speaker of the House.  The Democrats pushed through long overdue legislation.  The President's poll figures dropped to unprecedented levels below 30 percent.  What a waste of time listening to the State of the Union message.  One of my hero's died:  Molly Ivins.  Evidence is beginning to show Iran is deeply involved in Iraq.  Many more American's lost their lives in Iraq with 12 dying in a single crash.  I want to say that Robert Gates is a big improvement over Donald Rumsfeld.  He is less caustic in his analysis and remarks.  Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld were a trio of war burners.  New Presidential candidates for 2008 began to strut through the U.S. telling us why they should be the next President, and why others should not.  The economy looks good from Wall Street, but from downtown America many are suffering economically to make ends meet as we now find out that our savings for 2006 was less than our spending.  That signals a problem if not corrected - personal debt is matching the national deficit trend.  Another major development is that we are now seeing a sharp GOP divide with many Senators and Congressman openly avoiding any form of Bush activity.  John Warner and Chuck Hagel must be a big thorn in the ass to President Bush.  Mr. Cheney is showing his colors in the Scooter Libby trial and they look like those of a big wide rectum.  I hate to say it, but Jimmy Carter should have used a little bit more judgment in his book contrasting Palestine and Israel.   The political message from the country is CHANGE.  So now that the 2008 Presidential campaign is starting early and is getting in full swing, it will be interesting to see how CHANGE will occur, if it occurs at all.

SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE

1/12/2007  The Senate Armed Services Committee (10 members) was unanimously against escalating, broaden, expand, increase (choose the one you like) the war in Iraq.  President Bush knows full well these strategies have not worked in the past, but wants one last opportunity to make the major mistake of his Presidency into a last ditch attempt to create success.  Their is no doubt that every person in the U.S. would like to see a victory, or success but this is not your traditional type of war.  It is a civil war in Iraq, and your enemies are unseen and well financed.  I presume the President will win out in the "short run" and we will send the additional troops because no Senator wants to go on record as pulling funding (that results in the deaths of our troops). 

So let there be no more than a 90-120 period where if success is not becoming evident, and the Iraq political process is broken then we should leave them to their own fate.  Our fighting forces are brave men, but they should not be subjected to American politics whereby a President is trying to preserve a legacy that began with deception for invading Iraq in the first place.

MILITARY COMMAND IN IRAQ??

1/6/2006  In the next few days President Bush will announce that several thousand troops will be extended in Iraq, and ask thousands more who are on their 3rd, and 4th deployments or more to serve more time.  I just want to go on record that its a dumb move.  The change over in military command does not make any difference.  I think the change in command is fine, but the action itself will only bring more hatred towards America and more military deaths.  A terrorist insurgency within a country that is basically unfriendly surrounded by countries who fuel terrorism with lots of money and trained/suicide fighters is a lost cause.  Another year or more will pass and how many more trillion wasted?

2007 ISSUES

1/3/2007  The Budget Deficit must be a major goal of the new Democratic Congress.  Social Security Reform is also a necessity as it is closely aligned with reducing future deficits.  We should not invade Iran, but wouldn't it feel good to just bomb the living crap out of that big bag of shit until it was reduced to oblivion?  Today the President endorsed getting rid of "earmarks".  Reminds me that it is a cue from President Clinton's attempts to steal Republican ideas.  At least he gave Democrats credit, but now it's up to the Democrats to live up to some very tall talk and "walk the walk". 

But I have one more issue I want to express an opinion on.  President Bush is expected to increase the Armed Forces within Iraq by more than 30,000 troops.  Yee gads, our troops are already overtaxed when it comes to service in Iraq and Afghanistan.  So General Shalikashvilli has raised the issue of whether we should openly allow gays to serve in the military.  I hated gays when I was in the military.  But in hindsight, never once was I harassed by a gay (queers we referred to them) in my entire 20 year career.  In fact, I believe it has been proven under the "don't ask, don't tell" policy that gays can serve honorably.  So I say "why not give it a try".  I'm a little bit less fond of the idea of bringing in foreign fighters with the promise of citizenship, but when we obviously are unable to recruit our own young men, then we have to weigh the options.  The fact is the young men age 18-25 in this country are either too lazy, too rich, or too spoiled to provide some service to our country.  Kind of sad - I think about my pension, benefits and how well I enjoy my retirement years, and know I made a good decision.  How many of these new young adults will be working well into their 70's to get the same satisfaction I now enjoy and have for several years?

PRESIDENTIAL AMBITION

12-19-2006  Over the past few weeks we have seen a lot of speculation about the possible 2008 Democratic Candidate for President.  Hillary Clinton had been getting most of the press and the money while developing a network across the country to press her bid to be the first woman elected to the Presidency.  Then all of a sudden, with a new book and press coverage overwhelmingly positive, along comes Barak Obama from Illinois.  Then this week Evan Bayh gave up his bid to become President.  It all appears that the race is off to an early start and with the STAR power of Clinton and Obama no other democrat has any reasonable chance.  Thankfully John Kerry will be eliminated.  Will Al Gore as rumored jump in.  I think Gore will only become a candidate if their is a deadlock on Clinton and Obama.  My personal choice is Obama!!!  Clinton is much too divisive.  Obama will have a very wide appeal across the board.  As far as his qualifications are concerned, he is intelligent, has an excellent grasp of world affairs and will be able to view alternatives for the U.S. without the interference of biased relationships across the country.  We need that type of leadership for at least the next 8 years to regain a measure of respect for ourselves as well as from the world. 

IRAQ COMMISSION REPORT

12-06-2006  This morning many of us were fortunate to watch all the News broadcasts about the Iraq Commission Recommendations from Chairman Baker and Vice-Chairman Hamilton.  I have not seen all 79 of the recommendations yet, however, I have excellent feelings that their 9-months of work was deliberative and extremely well thought out.  I hope the Legislative and Executive Dept's will now embrace ALL of those recommendations.   WHY?  We need to bring this country together, before we can begin to bring Iraq together.  I listened to Q & A for the better part of 2 hours and I became confident that the bi-partisan commission has the best interests of the U.S. and many other countries of the world in perspective.  I have been preaching that this administration lacked good diplomacy skills.  This is a starting point where we should have been over 3 years ago.  Let's not blow it - embrace this commission's findings and give it the chance it deserves.

SENATOR CHUCK HAGEL (R)

11/29/06  Sen. Hagel had a very nice OP-ED piece in the morning newspapers explaining his take on the IRAQ War.  I believe that Sen. Hagel has Presidential ambitions.  I hope he does run.  This Republican is a moderate with an excellent track record of working with Republicans and Democrats and seeking middle of the road alternatives that most Americans could embrace.  I am not enamored with any of the proposed Democrats at this point who may run for President.  Sen. Hagel certainly could be a viable alternative to an unfavorable Democrat who is unable to unify the party and present a clear vision for the American people.  Sen. Obama is also interesting and maybe he and Hagel ought to get together and plan a UNITY campaign.  I would go vote for it.  All the other Democrats are just too damn divisive and carry baggage much too heavy.  Hell, I think I would do something I've never done before.  Call the Hagel/Obama team and work my ass of for their election. 

CIVIL WAR IN IRAQ

11/27/06  YES - There is unquestionably a civil war in Iraq.  The Bush administration continues to deny it.  NBC has officially announced they will now refer to Iraq as a civil war.  Gen. Barry McCaffrey an analyst for NBC News indicated in an appearance this morning that he believes the civil war has been going on for approximately 18 months. 

The ramifications are extremely important to Americans and the world at large.  We could have as many as three different civil wars going on in the middle east at the same time.  Then you consider that Syria and Iran are most likely funding and fueling the uprisings, it doesn't take long for even the most naive to understand President Bush is in deep shit, to say nothing that he has lied repeatedly to the American Public.  It was easy to kill a former Russian Spy with a new process no one has ever heard of.  Have you stopped yet to think how easy it might possibly be to slip massive amounts of that chemical product into the American Food Supply?

It is obvious that for the next several years, without a miracle intervention, the world will be in extreme turmoil in the middle east.  AND the chances of another 9-1-1 affect in the U.S. is a possibility.  My belief is we should find a quick and honorable exit strategy for all our forces in the middle east.  Bring them back home except for the Navy, and then dramatically increase our internal security and external strike capabilities.  And if STAR WARS technology is truly possible, develop it, and make our country strong and secure.  The stronger we are militarily and economically, the more true friends we will find, and trading partnerships that make America a better country for all to live in. 

WILL DEMOCRATS SELF-DESTRUCT????

11-10-2006    We are now in the calm between two storms.  How will the Democrats react in the next six crucial months?  How will the Republicans work with the new Democratic majority?  My prediction:  Don't hold your breath for very long, and don't get too excited and bet your butts at the casino!  The Presidential election is near and dear to the minds of candidates from both parties, and the rhetoric will destroy all attempts to reach accord on the major issues Congress avoided for the last two years.  And the Democrats will try to set an agenda that will infuriate Republicans and matters will deteriorate soon after the new Congress is sworn in.  Hope I'm wrong!

DEMOCRAT'S WIN HOUSE & SENATE

RUMMY IS GONE

11-8-2006    The voters spoke with their votes yesterday, and it is now apparent that the Democrats will control Congress for the next two years.  In a surprise move Bush FIRED Rumsfeld.  Long overdue, but Bush heard the voting machines loud and clear and knows that if he is to save any resemblance of his disastrous Presidency for history to at least crack a small amount of conciliation to voter sentiment.

10/31/2006    ELECTION 2006.  The Republican Bastards are doing everything they can to bring about a major change in Congress for the next two BUSH years.  One week prior to the election, and the polls are extremely favorable for a Congressional reversal in the House, and very possibly a Senate in at least a split at 50-50. 

IRAQ PARALLEL (Halliburton??)

10/22/2006  On CBS 60 Minutes tonight, a story revealed how an Iraqi Judge is seeking to find over 800 million dollars meant for the Iraqi Defense Fund.  It seems as though a number of Defense Ministry Officials high up in the Iraqi Department of Defense have absconded with the funds somewhere into the depths of the world.  The money was designated into private accounts of organizations assigned by the Iraqi Government.  Actually, if you recall Halliburton was awarded without competition from any other U.S. company large government contracts to support the U.S. military effort in Iraq.  In this case, the Iraqi officials representing those companies simply rolled the 800 million dollars into their own private coffers, and then fled.   Halliburton was much more honorable, they just lined their pockets and snubbed their noses.  

10-8-2006  THE FOLEY MESS:  Wait a moment:  THE REPUBLICAN MESS:  Ah, that's better.  NO - It's actually a CONSERVATIVE MESS.  Yeah, that's it!!  Are not Republicans suppose to be above such shenanigans?  Must drive the conservatives nuts.  Whatever the MESS let's hope the voters react accordingly and vote to balance the Congress.

"IRAQ - A PAINTED CORNER"

10-7-2006  It's simply this:  The U.S. has become a symbol for Terrorists.  Now John Warner has returned from Iraq and is sending signals that it's time for the U.S. to consider a phased withdrawal with a TIMETABLE.  Sounds like the appropriate strategy.  But Mr. President Bush has put us in the "Painted Corner".  We have to have a total victory in Vietnam (Ooops) Iraq.  The prestigious Mr. Henry Kissinger has endorsed that as the only solution. 

WHAT THE HELL ARE WE DOING IN BAGHDAD??

9/23/06  Listening to a CNN Reporter early this morning from Baghdad was a confirming indictment of the failed Bush policy initiative to invade Iraq and bring Democracy to the Middle East.  The young lady who was reporting rapidly got my attention by saying a senior terrorist leader and two of his followers were captured.  Immediately I got a small rush of satisfaction.  Great!!!  Attaboy to those military guys involved.  Then she goes on to say something like the following:  unquoted:  "It doesn't make any difference to the terrorists.  They expect to get captured.  They know that after them will come others and the process will continue."

Holy shit Bush, have you not realized yet, these Muslim fanatics have an inexhaustible supply of degenerate individuals waiting to sacrifice themselves for their insane beliefs.  The Koran can be interpreted in many ways AS THE POPE has found out.  These nut cases should be left to their own world of demise.  Let's get to hell out.  Simply warn those who think they can invade America that we will massively retaliate to the point of reducing a country to shreds.  Then if they regroup somewhere else we do the same thing. 

As far as Venezuelan President Chavez goes, just ignore the damn fool.  We recently had a massive oil penetration in the Gulf.  We need to continue to drill in the Gulf, and if necessary other places including Alaska.  But even more importantly, we need to address energy in other ways like manufacturing new lines of autos that are energy efficient.  Ford is finding out the hard way that they can't compete with Toyota.  I just bought a new Toyota Corolla and get 38 mpg.  Screw Ford and I did because I traded a Ford Taurus.  I have talked about the Environmental Warming for years on this site.  It's coming and their is no doubt about it.  The Wealthy and the Republican Bastards in the USA control the strings to improve air quality.  They won't do it.

Finally Wal-Mart, and now Target are going to help low-income Americans with $4.00 generic prescriptions.  What a great break.  Then I read in the paper that the "GOP to ease U.S. ban on Rx imports", a front page article.  So I guess Wal-Mart saw the wisdom of doing something right immediately to take some of the heat of their manpower/wage issues.  Doesn't matter how it happened, it happened.  And as far as the GOP goes, does it not make sense that they are politically trying to overcome several losses in the up-coming election just 45 days from now.  I could care less what it takes to make the citizens in our country enjoy a better life and be able to proudly step up to the counter and pay the bills.

PUMP POLITICS

9/15/06  Gas and Energy prices are dropping - but they will only drop until mid-November.   After they get your vote registered, you can expect the prices to rise again.  The question is:  How will the election results resonate in the halls of Congress?  And will the voters be swayed?  The Republicans are certainly down in the polls at this time, and that is why we shall see the typical tactics to move voter sentiment towards their candidates.  The polls are showing a 4-5 point improvement in President Bush's confidence ratings.  Even though he is up to 40 percent, President Bush should not have both houses of Congress in his pocket for another two years.  With two more years of a majority rule the war in Iraq will embroil us even further.  WE must find a dignified alternative that downsizes our presence in Iraq.  WE must concentrate more on our own national security at HOME.   WE must come together as a nation and solve problems with the environment and other national issues that are more pressing than BLOWING money into a continuing war in Iraq.   Victory was not possible in Vietnam - Why should we think Iraq will be different?   Terrorist extremists are an unseen enemy with unlimited growing resources, and will wear our resolve after many years.  Let's cut our losses!

ANOTHER HOT TOPIC:  The President is seeking to modify and/or clarify the GENEVA CONVENTION Act.   Americans and foreign countries do not trust President Bush.  It's no wonder considering his track record on getting us into the Iraq conflict.  He actually might have a point in clarifying the provisions of the Geneva Convention Act.  But he destroyed his credibility so much it is just a DUMB SHIT move at this point.    I was in the military for more than 20 years, and I would urge Congress to be careful when it comes to authorizing long term detention of prisoners that fall under the category of torture, without any rights.  That bell doesn't ring right!

ATTENTION:  Democratic Candidates

8/28/06    The message for Election 2006 should be short and concise.  On the War in Iraq:  "I love my country, and in the spirit of freedom of speech I would like to say this:  Bush and Cheney have done more to harm this country than help it.  Spending 8 billion a month on a war that goes nowhere does not make sense.  While we are pouring billions down the drain on a sand pile, our armed forces are being over-whelmed logistically bringing democracy to Iraq.  Would it not be money better spent taking those dollars and strengthening the defense of the United States against terrorists, making our country energy independent, and solving the many health issues facing Americans."

TERRORIST REMINDER

8/11/06    The British Intelligence Service was at its best in rounding up what is now a total of 24 terrorists hell bent on blowing up a lot of International air traffic.  It is being labeled as a potential 9-11.  The terrorists will not give up because they were foiled.  The World as a whole must be vigilant in keeping after the Muslim extremists.  These extremists will continue to try old and new methods of terrorism until they succeed.  What pisses me off more however, is that President Bush continues to tie these actions to our presence in Iraq by trying to justify the invasion because of the terrorist activity.  Iraq had nothing to do with 9-11.  But Iraq now has everything to do with fighting terrorism.  We have diverted our valuable resources, money and personnel to fight a war for democracy that would have been best done diplomatically. 

I am not alone in my opinion.  Thousands of Connecticut citizens ousted Sen. Joseph Lieberman from running as a Democrat this fall because he was a strong supporter of President Bush and the war in Iraq.  I can only hope that this will be an omen of success for Democrats this fall in the congressional races.  If we are going to win the war on terror, we need a sensible game plan that encompasses world wide diplomacy and getting as many nations as possible to join forces in the greatest war of our lives.  This is World War III and because of nuclear capabilities it could easily spill over into a horrible mess killing millions of citizens world wide.  The sooner we have leadership within the U.S. that is not consumed by greed such as in the Bush Administration, we will then be able to harness a collective effort against terrorism.  We need to leave Iraq to its civil war.  Regardless of how many military folks we leave there, they are going to kill each other anyway.  Regardless of how much money we pour into Iraq, the civil war factions will continue to destroy what we try to build.  Bush and company made a major error in invading Iraq.  We should leave democracy building to other countries and the U.N. 

HOT TOPICS - JULY 2006

7/22/06 Our great and prestigious President has vetoed LIFE in favor of LIFE.  Now what the hell does that mean??  The only veto this freaking President has ever cast in over 5 years was against Embryonic stem cell research on July 19th.  Families across America wake up every day facing deadly diseases and disabilities.  Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (a Doctor), Nancy Reagan, and many other distinguished citizens and medical scientists have strongly supported research to help us confront costly and debilitating diseases to Americans, many of them elderly.  This Republican Bastard Bush thinks otherwise.  He believes that these frozen embryo's should become little boys and girls.  So it's a matter of opinion but frankly speaking babies are easy to come by through the natural birth process and the delight will never go out of style.  So why not solve some of our deepest problem issues in the health area.

Go Israel - It's just too bad the world doesn't join in hand in hand and let terrorists around the world know we will no longer accept terrorism.  It would be awkward and difficult but America and many of the other large countries should just declare it's a THIRD WORLD WAR and warn them to get their shit together or else.

Environmental Scientists think that the Bush Administration decision to ease more clean air rules for thousands of aging industrial plants will increased air pollution.  Once more the REPUBLICAN BASTARDS rule COMMON SENSE.  $$ Money $$ will lead this country and other countries into environmental problems of monstrous consequences.  Bush and his mates could care less.  Put another $$ in the bank your freaking Republican Bastards.

And this week the OIL INDUSTRY reported record PROFITS.  Do I really have to say anything else????

    AGAIN !!

6/24/2006  The GOP led Congress on June 21, smothered a proposed election-year increase in the minimum wage.  The $5.15 per hour wage has been in effect for nearly a decade.  It is truly a disgrace that we force so many people to earn a wage far below the poverty line.  Republicans believe the minimum wage increase would wind up hurting the low-wage workers by costing many of them their jobs.  Hogwash, bullshit and just plain wrong!  These Republican Bastards try to protect the wealthy from paying reasonable wages so the rich can pocket more money for their own selfish pleasures.  The Republican Bastards continue to push an agenda that widens the gap between the poor, the middle class, and the rich.  What the hell do we need illegal's from other countries for.  We may as well force all low income Americans to work those menial jobs like they might in forced labor camps.  Ship all the illegal aliens out of the country because we have now created an American work force to take their place.

IRAQ WAR STRESS

6/3/06    Currently there is an investigation of American Soldiers fighting in Iraq that our combat troops are guilty of killing innocent civilians in retaliation I presume.  I never fought in combat in my military career, but I have talked with others who have.  There is a major factor to be considered in the Iraq War.  Enemy combatants are not visible.  They can be women, and children who act as suicide bombers.  They wear the same clothes as most of the civilians in Iraq.  Except if they are a combatant they probably carry a weapon.  But what if they don't carry open weapons?  George Bush and his cohorts placed these young men and women in Iraq in a totally new form of warfare.  The stressful conditions place enormous weight on their shoulders to act appropriately.  Frankly speaking, I can understand how they can over-react and kill innocent people.  I think we should give them the benefit of the doubt in most instances.  It is estimated that over 100,000 Iraqi's have been killed since the start of the War.  Many of them by their own members of the civilian populace.  George Bush will never admit it, but this War should never have been begun.  Hindsight has proven no WMD, no nuclear intention, and no Al Qaeda.  Only George's ambition to embroil us in a War for whatever gain he believed was of benefit to him personally.

CNN Poll.  On Thursday this week, CNN discussed a poll that said George Bush was the worst President of the last six decades.  I have gone even further and said he should be considered the worst President in the history of the United States.  I think I will eventually be proven correct. 

ENRON JUSTICE

5/25/2006  This is a great day for American justice.  Ken Lay and Jeffrey Skilling face many years in prison for their part in ripping off hundreds of ENRON employees of their pension plans.  Those two Republican Bastards are good examples of  white collar/executive greed at the expense of lower and middle class Americans.  It is also a tremendous victory for the Investors and the legal system.  And the jury deserves a lot of credit for making judicial sense of a very difficult and complex trial.

Now we have to continue on and get Lewis Scooter Libby, Cheney, Rove, and even Bush.  Those Republican Bastards have done worse deeds than Lay and Skilling and need to face a little bit of American Justice.  It may not happen in the courts, but I believe God will deliver them to the depths of hell.   (Yeah, I know - a few Democrats should go there also!!)

CURRENT HOT TOPICS

4/24/2006

IMMIGRATION BILL:  I rarely find agreement with President Bush.  However, I am in favor of the Kennedy, McCain proposed method of dealing with immigration.  President Bush also seems to be in that corner.  No way in hell, we can "send them back !"  We need to give the illegal immigrants an opportunity to earn citizenship.  But, I also admit that we need to strengthen the borders.

OIL CRISIS:  It's up to Congress to find methods to immediately address the outrageous profits and the even more outrageous CEO bonuses.  An article I read today said that "A recent Corporate Library analysis shows CEO's at 11 of the largest U.S. companies were on track to receive a total of $865 million in pay, despite their presiding over an overall loss of $640 billion in shareholder value."  Of course that is not to say someone like Lee Raymond of Exxon-Mobil did not produce mega profits for his company.  BUT, should he be rewarded at the rate of $6,000 per hour or $144,000 per day - By the way that is nearly $51 million annually.

So to the bottom line on the oil crisis:  Imagine a World with a billion cars.  About half of them averaging less than 22 miles per gallon.   Europe and the Far East are far ahead of Americans.  We in the U.S. need to get realistic.  In the last week I went from a Ford product in the mid 20's mile per gallon to a Toyota that will get in the mid to high 30's mpg.  My savings in my pocket is nearly $14.00 per tank.  The savings on the oil crisis is minimal but if thousands of Americans make the same move it begins to add up.  AND it might also be significant on reducing some of the outrageous profits the oil companies are raking in.

CONDOMS:  I guess the Pope is about to authorize a study of the use of condoms for Catholics.  It's about time, the Catholic Church got real about life and the impact of AIDS, and the population increase around the world.

ENVIRONMENTAL WARMING:  It really is here folks - smarten up - because it is going to dramatically affect our lives unless our respective leaders throughout the world acknowledge the consequences.

GENERAL RUMSFELD

4/12/2006    I have discussed the Sec. of Defense previously, and referred to him as General Rumsfeld.  He is the almighty and radiant seer in his mind and President Bush's mind (does he have one?).  This morning on CNN, yet another General called for Rumsfeld to resign.  The second recently retired General in a week.  In the last month, FOUR General's have come forth to make the same pronouncement.  The Pentagon in a news conference quickly replied with the Joint Chief, General Peter Pace, saying that these Generals had their opportunity on active duty to make their case.  In fact, these Generals were not doing their duty if they did not make their dissent know.   THAT IS PURE HOGWASH & BULLSHIT. 

The simple reason why?  General's Zinni, Shinseki, and others stepped forward and got slapped.  David McKay who is not in the military was ignored when it came to WMD.  The former CIA Director capitulated to Bush & Co.   All this does not go unnoticed by the Generals who value their careers.  They kept quiet and now they are free to finally speak their minds. 

BUSH, CHENEY, RUMSFELD and others are guilty of high crimes in their own pursuit of political conquest and private and personal gain.  In the future they will receive recognition of what they did by future historians.  That I am sure of.  TOTALLY NEGATIVE.  Not the legacy they would prefer.

GEORGE MITCHELL FOR PRESIDENT - 2008

3/30/2006    Yes, I proudly declare that George Mitchell should be the next President of the United States.  I want to be the first one on the bandwagon.  I know he does not want the job, but he could be influenced.  Former Senator Mitchell (and Majority Leader of the Senate) is one of the brightest, and most influential men we have had in America for many years.  Today I heard the announcement that Baseball Commissioner Selig had selected him to look into the Steroid matter.  Wonderful idea.  Mr. Mitchell has proven himself in the Ireland mess to the betterment of the World, Ireland, and the British Government.  Time and again this man has taken the road that would make our country and our world a better place.

Mr. Mitchell has now been out of national politics for nearly 10 years.  He should run as a Moderate period.  I have always held the theory that 70 percent of Americans are within a whisper of being in agreement on nearly all the issues that confront us.  It is the 15 percent on the radical conservative and the far left that drives American politics.  That 30 percent controls most of the wealth, and power to dominate the 70 percent of moderates in the Republican and Democratic parties. 

We need a Patriotic and loyal American Leader who knows the political ball field, and can expose the corruption in politics from each side of the two major political parties.  Mr. Mitchell could be challenged to call a strike a strike, and a ball a ball in the game of politics.  Going after political corruption (that I'm sure he recognizes more than most of us).  Mr. Mitchell has the intellect, and the temperament, as well as the common sense on how to solve problems.  More importantly, he knows who the good and evil leaders are in this country and could choose from both parties the right candidates to solve the problems facing America. 

I would love nothing better than to see a groundswell of folks all over this country get behind Mr. Mitchell and urge him to run for President in 2008.  As far as my motives go, I have never laid eyes on Mr. Mitchell in my life except on TV.  I simply want to see America in the hands of a man I can trust.  Not the Bushes, the Kennedy's, the Kerry's, the Clinton's, and all those damn Republican Bastards I deplore who want only to line the pockets of those who are already wealthy.

Come on America - Let's get a real President and back him to clean up politics and the mess Bush has gotten us into!!!!!!

IMPEACHMENT AND/OR CENSURE

3/19/2006  Senator Russ Feingold, (D) of Wisconsin has called for a censure of President Bush.  Their is even sentiment in some quarters for Impeachment of the President.  I have openly stated that President Bush is the worst President in my lifetime and I believe in the history of the United States.  However, I DO NOT support Impeachment.  It was not justified for President Clinton, and the same goes for President Bush.  The Censure is yet another matter.  However, it will not work when there is a Republican Congress so why even bring it up.  I would have supported a Censure of President Clinton for the Monica mess.  Go back into your hole Senator, and gather your material because you have a lot to work with.  Work hard to change the balance of Congress during 2006, and if Bush and Company don't see the forest from the trees, the Democrats will be favorably positioned to regain the White House in 2008.

AVERAGE FAMILY INCOME DECREASES

3/8/2006    I have been quiet lately on this site because the Republicans and President Bush have been in critical mass destruction mode.  I note the Democratic Party has also been content to be quiet as well.  Several major issues have been visually and vocally embarrassing for the Republicans.  Former FEMA Director Brown has been blowing Bush and gang out of the water with his attempts to rehabilitate himself, along with the Press finding out how disastrous the administration was on Hurricane Katrina.  Then add in the public's reaction to the revelation that many of our major ports would be managed by a foreign corporation in the UAE.  The Republican's in Congress are petrified because this year they all have to run for re-election. 

It is my understanding from reading various news accounts that the Democrats are quietly building a lot of new candidates that are veterans, and building campaign funds to assist them.  New blood in Congress would not be so bad, and maybe with all the problems we could have a better approach to solving the massive debt, and major issues that face our future. 

I want to point out that the Survey of Consumer Finances that is published every three years, the medium net worth of the bottom 40 percent of American families has declined by 2.3 %.   President Bush and the Republican Bastards have successfully driven a larger financial wedge between the wealthiest Americans and the bottom tier of Americans.  This has always been one of my great fears.  Are we heading for an era in our future, where low-income Americans will hardly be able to survive?   Low wages, and both parents working are still not enough to have a decent home, and enjoy an appropriate lifestyle.  Their liabilities are rising faster than there assets.  NOT GOOD.  There was one positive aspect of the report however, minorities have increased their incomes. 

KICKER:  In the last 9 years Congress has voted itself wage increases of $31,600.  The minimum wage remains at $5.15 for that same period of time.  A minimum wage annual income is:  $10,700. 

VICE versus NRA

2/15/2006    I'm not a hunter, (don't care much for guns) but I understand a tenet of the National Rifle Association is to "LOOK BEFORE YOU SHOOT".   We sure hope the victim of the shooting makes a full recovery.  The VP will not even address the incident in any way.  IF HE WAS A DECENT PERSON, HE WOULD TAKE THE OCCASION TO ADDRESS HUNTER SAFETY.  My biggest worry is that VP Cheney will resign his office and a new VP will step in.  Between Cheney and Bush we have a disaster for the Republicans.  I certainly do not want them to get their act in order now.  No need to worry though, Bush is the biggest Presidential joke in our history. 

"BALONEY - Politically speaking"

2/13/2006 Former FEMA Director Brown replied to his Republican Senate critics on Friday that it was "Baloney" that he did not inform the administration and keep them up to date on Hurricane Katrina.  Good for "Brownie, you're doing a helluva of job."  I believe after hearing all the discussion that the Bush Administration was just not "in the game".  They set their own agenda's, work to their own priorities, and damn it to hell if some horrible natural disaster occurs on a weekend to ruin their previously set plans.  I really loved it when I learned Sec. of Homeland Security Chertof decided it was more important to go to an unimportant meeting (comparatively speaking) rather than find out what the hell was truly needed in New Orleans. 

MORE BALONEY - We keep hearing about the NSA spying and the FISA Act is/was not good enough to work with.  The Bush administration and Cheney keep saying they don't want al Qaeda and our enemies to know we are spying on them.  WHAT THE HELL ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT??  The FISA Act authorized spying in 1978, and the Patriot Act passed in 2001 SERVED NOTICE to all our enemies we were going to be spying.  Isn't that the purpose of the NSA and CIA and others.  So the Bush Bastards are FULL OF BALONEY.  It is just an excuse to use Presidential Power to run the country rather than work with the Congress, and the Supreme Court.  If FISA isn't good enough, amend the law.  Same way with the Patriot Act.

BALONEY PLUS - President Bush says he really can't remember Jack Abramoff who is the poster boy of the largest lobbying scandal in our history.  Mr. Abramoff now says he met with Bush on possibly as many as ten occasions.  Bush knew his children's names, and his wife and was invited to the ranch in Texas for a gathering of campaign contributors.  Anyone who was as prolific as Mr. Abramoff was certainly well known and connected enough to warrant close personal attention by the President.  I think the President has been eating too much of that Bullshit his bulls leave in the pasture.

NO BALONEY - Scooter Libby may be ready to testify that VP Cheney authorized him to release misleading information from highly classified intelligence reports that Iraq was trying to obtain weapons of mass destruction.  

POLITICAL AFTERMATH

2/3/2006    The State of the Union Address is history - wasn't much at all in fact - Biggest headlines came from Congressman Bill Young's (R-FL) wife being asked to leave because she had a shirt on saying: "SUPPORT THE TROOPS".  Also Cindy Sheehan's shirt along with her person was handcuffed and led out and put in jail for 4 hours.  Her shirt was printed with the number of troops killed in Iraq.  Pretty mild.  Sheehan kept her shirt covered until someone asked what it said. 

So much for the Freedom of Speech - and it was silent speech at that, no protests - typical example of Bush being shielded from public expression.  If you don't agree with this President, you are a traitor or a sympathizer with some radical group.  I'm a novice blogger and I'm sure that myself and others who do the same are under scrutiny by the NSA.  When they shut us down, or put us in jail, because we exercise free speech then you will know concretely that this is no longer a democracy but a Kingdom controlled by Republican Bastards. 

The President says we are addicted to OIL!! -  Screw you Mr. President.  You and corporate America have encouraged that oil dependency.  I will not lay it entirely at the hands of Bush.  It's been going on for years.  Our environment is totally screwed up with the warmest temps ever recorded and you folks have done nothing or very little.  Corporate America might lose - well they are losing big time - large layoffs, pensions shot, and now they say we need to change.  Leadership is what we need in the United States, and this President doesn't cut it.  This Congress doesn't cut it.  AND believe me.   It's not limited to Republicans.  Some of the senior Democrats are just plain cut from the same cloth.  We need a massive house cleaning in both houses of Congress and I believe we would be better off with many more women in Congress than we are with the male ego's that now sit in their splendor.  This is not a vote for a New York Senator, or a Secretary of State, but a woman President might not be such a bad thing.  NO I'm not talking about the star of Commander in Chief on ABC.  Geena does look nice though!  Sometimes I would vote for Maureen Dowd because I do like her commentary.  Bush doesn't read it, but if enough Americans read her column's, then maybe that's why the poll ratings are so low for Bush.

So the Republican Bastards got together and elected John Boehner from Ohio to be the new majority leader of the House.  Big deal - all they will do is shuffle the deck and play the same old deck of cards.  Money and Greed will continue to be the primary purpose of the Republican Bastards in Congress.  Going with that theme, the Republican's rejected an extension of the Medicare prescription drug benefit deadline to allow more seniors to change their drug coverage.  The vast majority of seniors have not been able to understand the process because it was so complicated.  This will pose significant problems for poor older seniors and the disabled.  Congratulations you slimy bunch of Republican Bastards. 

Finally a word about Iran and Hamas.  Again it comes down to Leadership.  Iran is going to do what they are going to do.  Let it happen.  The world should get together as a team and say, "Iran, one misstep, and your country will be history."  So go ahead, but remember those words.  It takes Leadership working together to control arrogant nations.  North Korea, Iran and others should know the consequences by a world body acting in the best interests of the world.  Bush is not up to the job.   

Hamas.  Give it a break and let the process evolve.  The majority of the people voted for that government.  Democratic - Right!!!  The same thing applies to Hamas as it would Iran, North Korea etc.  You start your war, and the world will dump it's military might right back at you.  We should have done that in Iraq and we had no Leadership.  All we had was a group who wanted a war for all the wrong reasons.  Well now we are there and we have to make do - but we should always learn from our mistakes.

2006 STATE OF UNION

1/19/2006  We are nearing President Bush's State of the Union Speech next week.  I have a few suggestions.  He should start with digging our country out of its massive debt.  Maybe he ought to consider a veto on some of the outrageous spending bills the Republican Bastards keep sending him.  Our National debt is now computed to be over $8 trillion dollars.  Tell you what folks, your children are going to pay for that debt for generations to come.  What a nice legacy!  Most of the debt is to our foreign competitors like China, Japan and others.  It's now estimated that every child being born in the United States is $27,000 in debt.  Wow!!!

Bush wants MORE TAX CUTS.  Budget Cuts!  Forget them - Republican's are worse than any previous Democratic Congress in the history of this country.  A major part of Bush's speech to the nation will be to highlight HIS WAR  in Iraq.  Oh well, we are already in that mess and we have no choice to complete it.  John Murtha should be introduced as a HERO that he is, not for his war record in Vietnam, but for the fact that his remarks were a prelude to the Bush Administration beginning to hint that drawbacks in troops would begin some time in 2006.  Last, but not least, we need to address key issues, like cleaning up the Medicare Giveaway to big drug companies, and that other scandal of Congress getting to close to Lobbyists.  Beware of efforts by the President to get back to the Social Security mess.  When the President and his Republican colleagues in Congress show some red, white and blue that favors the American people, then we can address the difficult issues he favors.  In the meantime, don 't hold your breath, just get out and vote for good Democratic candidates across the country to replace the Republican Bastards in Congress during 2006.

SAGO MINE TRAGEDY

1/5/06    The New York Times reported today that the budget for the Mine Safety and Health Administration was cut by Congress approximately $4.9 million in 2005.  Additionally they report that the Bush Administration overloaded the MSHA with biased operatives from the coal, oil and gas industry that essentially undermined the safety procedures.  An example of a fine for example was $247.00 per day which is peanuts when you want to skip making the necessary precautions.  Also some of the miners were quick to point out that they did not have a union to represent them.  A union would traditionally put some heat on the MSHA and owners to improve worker safety. 

Sounds to me like we have an absentee Congress!

2006 CONGRESSIONAL HOUSECLEANING

1/5/06    It's time for a massive change in Congress.  Lobbying Reform!  Only a few days ago, you would have scoffed at the notion.  Now with the Jack Abramoff scandal front and center, we have a chance to clean up the stench.  The papers are saying that even Bush is returning $$, along with Dennis Hastert and others.  Even Hillary Clinton, Harry Reid and Bryan Dorgan were involved.  Good, damn it.  Whoever sucks up the easy money, should answer to the American public and judicial system if warranted.  Newt Gingrich has come front and center once again.  The GOP SOB is front stage as saying this: "You can't have a corrupt lobbyist unless you have a corrupt member of Congress or a corrupt staff."  I dislike Gingrich but have to admire him from a distance.  He did manage to overhaul the Congress in 1994 with his message.  And yes, it was appropriate because the damn Democrats had become almost as bad as the freaking Republicans have become over the last 8 years. 

It's time for the Congress to take back control of the power of "advise and consent" with oversight of the Executive Branch.  The Patriot Act should only be renewed for six months until they review the sections that Americans find inappropriate for a free society.  The Congress should also have an intensified investigation into the NSA to make sure it is working within the confines of Democracy - certainly not under the Dictatorial Powers of a LYING PRESIDENT.  And to that extent, it's time for the Congress to get on with the review of the Executive Branch's action as a result of 9-11.  In fact, it's way overdue because the Republican Bastards don't want to reveal information they know will destroy their own credibility along with that of the President's, and also the Vice-President who is the Puppeteer for this administration along with Karl Rove.

REFLECTION 2005

12/31/05    I have maintained this journal for more than 3 years for the sole purpose of tracking Republican political activity from my perspective.  I do not make a profit in any way.  One of the webs indicate that I do it for the purpose of selling my novel Republican Bastards.  That is entirely false, but they do not know that.  I have a son who promotes this web site more than I promote it.  I just don't give a shit.  That is why the site gets a low visitor count.  I do not promote the novel in any way, and in fact I occasionally give one away free, if asked.   The son who tells others about my site is a Republican.  He is well known in the Republican Party where he physically resides.  I love him dearly, not for promoting the site, but because he is the type of Republican everyone in the USA would love to have as a Representative to Congress or in the U.S. Senate.  He may well run someday.  I told him over Christmas that he was too damn good and moral to be a Republican.  He can't stand wrongdoing in any manner.  You can see the can of worms in that even if your naive, ignorant or what party you represent. 

I have always been an admirer of David Broder of the Washington Post.  I don't always agree with him, but he is a pundit that is more middle of the road, than someone like George Will for instance.  Then there are many others, too numerous to list that are pointedly strictly partisan whether they are Republican or Democrat.  I'm sure you would refer to me as partisan.  I consider myself a middle of the road Democrat.   I was asked recently about my background/views.  I said I was born in a very low middle class family.  My only escape was to graduate from high school (No $$ for College), join the service, and I did.  Dedicated over 20 years of my life to the U.S. Navy, and received a BS degree in Management.  I acquired a high rank from hard work.  I have always been interested in the programs to help others get themselves out of the woods and into the mainstream of life.  You say the word programs to Republicans and they go ape shit.  However, if the partisan bastards would only realize that if you give lower class and middle class Americans the ability to enjoy the full range of life, with good pay and benefits, they spend the $$ and that is what America is all about.  The rich can prosper, and so can the others in a variety of ways meaningful to all.

My term Republican Bastards was only meant to apply to approximately 25 percent of the Republicans.  Those are greedy, powerful bastards who can never have too much at the sacrifice of the lower and middle income classes.  Who are they?  BUSH BUSH & BUSH & COMPANY.  As far the Conservatives go, I like a vast majority of them and I consider myself as close to God as they do.  But I compare the elitist Republican Conservatives with BUSH and COMPANY.  Who you say?  Limbaugh who is wealthy beyond your dreams, Falwell and Robertson who are wealthy beyond your dreams,  and numerous others - but that will serve as an example.

There are many Republicans I admire who run the middle of the road.  Chuck Hagel is one of them.  I'm beginning to like Lindsey Graham a lot.  I'm not sure how to label John McCain because he can frustrate the hell out of me one moment, and the next  moment I want to put my hand out for a shake.  I'm not fond of Ted Kennedy or John Kerry (had no choice but to support him in 2004).   I really like Joe Biden, but he is a coward when it comes to putting himself in line for running for President.  He wants it given to him.  Hillary - she scares the shit out of the Republicans, and if she is the Democratic Candidate then I will support her.  But, hopefully some Democrat's who are not tainted by the Republicans scare tactics will emerge to run for office in 2006 and divide the power of the Executive Branch for the last two years of the Bush Occupation.  I would like to see a divided Congress where they are forced to deal with each other.  Rather than total domination by either party where they can ramrod legislation that benefits their individual pockets rather than the majority of the American people. 

I have one more point to make for this year.  AND IT IS VERY IMPORTANT.  Because Rove and Bush and Company are trying to establish how they were misled by the CIA etc. for bad intelligence going into the Iraq War.  THAT IS BULLSHIT.   Even after the facts came out, George Tenant was given one of those precious medals of Freedom etc.  The SOB would have been FIRED by any President for mishandling that information.  BUT THE TRUTH IS THIS.  Bush and Cheney, and Rumsfeld knew it all along, and they got TENANT to confirm it and smiled all the way to the OUTHOUSE.  That's where we are FOLKS!  In the outhouse of Iraq based on bogus information known to be untrue by our leaders to serve their own selfish purposes.  Think about it,  WHY WASN'T GEORGE TENANT FIRED????  He got the highest medal we can give to a civilian, and in the entire IRAQ WAR, we have only awarded ONE MEDAL OF HONOR to our military personnel. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2006 - MAY THE REPUBLICAN BASTARDS LIVE IN HELL FOR ETERNITY. 

KING GEORGE 1

USA - IMPERIAL DEMOCRACY?

12/17/05  King George, President of the USA, this morning appeared before the nation to inform us that he is above the law, and personally authorized the spying on Americans.  Of course, his interpretation of his powers will be highly disputed by the laws of our nation.  This will set off a national debate and Congressional action/inaction.  Bet on the inaction in the long run.  Sadly, no agreement in the Senate on modifying the Patriot Act.  The Republican Imperial Senate wants the folks across the nation to believe the Dem's are anti-American.  Looks as though we will have some interesting days ahead until November 2006.

FISHING EXPEDITION?

12/16/05  We have at times heard about the exploits of Vice President Dick Cheney's fishing exploits in Wyoming.  I recall when he went fishing with Supreme Court Justice Scalia.  The reason I bring this up is that on the national news today, the lead story was how Bush and Cheney were behind the secretive spying or listening in on thousands of Americans over the last few years under the Patriot Act.  The Republicans are trying to renew the Patriot Act without any changes.  The Democrats want revisions as do a large majority of American citizens.  I personally believe some modest revisions are appropriate, but we definitely need major portions of the Act.  I also believe it is time for Congress to determine the extent of the FISHING EXPEDITION into the lives of Americans where it is more than possible that information can be negatively utilized regarding a person or a families life.  Particularly, if it was not justified.  I for one believe the Republican Bastards in Government are not above using that information to destroy political opponents or average well-intentioned American citizens. 

I have no idea if Professor Sami Al Arian from Florida was a legitimate target or not.  He was found not guilty.  Been in jail for a couple of years, and is still being held pending deportation I believe.  Doesn't that make us a little uncomfortable that the Government can easily place you in jail when it wants, hold you there, and the distinct possibility you are not guilty exists?  Cripes the Government had a team of top lawyers and months to prepare.  Were they incompetent?  I know this, that if Professor Al Arian was truly guilty then 99.9% of all American citizens would want him in jail and found guilty.  That would not be a political issue.

I told my wife over the evening meal, the Republican's or the Government, whatever guise they want to use, could listen to me anytime.  They could dig into my private life as much as they want.  If they can dig up any shit on me, other than the fact I hate their damn way of life, then I know how corrupt they can be.  But the value of the Patriot Act appropriately used could reveal those who are truly enemies of America.  If they want to spy on me, go for it - after a while it should occur to the stupid bastards that they are wasting the Governments money, no less taking them away from going after the real culprits. 

I just don't care for the current batch of Republican Bastards.  So that's my story, AND I'M STICKING TO IT!  "Damn, this is really fun."

12/1/05  "CAN BUSH TURN HIS PRESIDENCY AROUND?"

This was the title of a column by Thomas L. Friedman in the New York Times only 2-3 days ago.  I clipped it, but forgot to put the date on it.  Mr. Friedman makes the point that Bush has had 3 terms in office.  I agree.  His first term was 9-11.  His second term was the period after winning re-election in Nov 2004 up to his inauguration in 2005.  Since then Bush, Cheney, Libby, Delay, Frist, and hoards of other Republicans have brought major discredit to the Bush Administration. 

I disagree with Mr. Friedman in only one way.  Bush has been a disaster since the beginning of the Iraq War.  Hell, I even reluctantly had to give him credit right after 9-11.  I had "bad feelings" about the war from the "get-go", but like many others we had to rely on what the various news services were reporting.  It's easy to be an average citizen, and influenced by the government that you are suppose to TRUST!  Our trust was betrayed by republican's with an agenda that was based on greed, and individual power.

Mr. Friedman ended his column saying, "Truly, I hope Bush rises to the challenge.  We do not have three years to waste.  To do that, though, he would need to become a very different third-term president, with a much more centrist agenda and style.  If he does, he still has time to be a bridge to the future.  If he does not, the resources he will have squandered and the size of the problems he will have ignored will put him in the running for one of our worst presidents ever."

AMEN!  I have been saying repeatedly that Bush will be the worst president in the history of the United States.  Of course, I would rather see our country make a terrific rebound and prove me wrong.  But these republican bastards in the Bush regime do not understand anything about common decency.  The are only about power, wealth and greed, and control over every aspect of our lives.

11/19/05  REPUBLICAN "SNAKES"

Republican's demonstrated to the citizens of the United States how "LOW" they could crawl and just how hideous they are this week.  I'm referring to the remarks towards Jack Murtha, Democratic Congressman.  Jack Murtha served heroically in Vietnam and was in "harms way", and earned two purple hearts, and a bronze star. 

Mr. Murtha was an early supporter of the Iraq War, and the Republicans loved his support at that time.  But, over the course of time and events, he has come to the conclusion that the United States should draw back from Iraq  Now the "F-ng" Republican Bastards from Dennis Hastert to Dick Cheney are calling Jack Murtha a COWARD.  Those two bird-brains never served a day in the military in their entire life.  This attack by the Republicans is very similar to how George Bush crucified John McCain in South Carolina in 2000, and John Kerry and the Swift Boat bullshit that occurred only a little over a year ago. 

I've said it before.  Republican's are tied only to the rich and the conservatives, and could give a shit less about the middle class and below.  We have conservatives in the middle class and below as well, and they need to get realistic because they also are getting screwed.  Watch the actions by the House only these last few days in how they are sticking it to those same people.  The Republican's are evil BASTARDS, and I hope the citizens of the U.S. will wake up and vote accordingly next fall to drop the assholes from Congress.  Strong language - not as strong as the actions and evil deeds of those I criticize.

DEMOCRATIC EXCITEMENT

11-3-05  Senator Harry Reid, how dare you challenge Sen. Frist?  I think you made him cry.  Oh those poor Republican Bastards will now have to actually reveal how much the administration distorted information leading us to war in Iraq.  Tsk Tsk

Democrats should cool their rhetoric towards the new Supreme Court nominee.  Judge Alito will undoubtedly be confirmed and then we will begin to watch the judicial opinions unfold favoring the Right.  In the long run, I'm confident that a political swing will be towards the middle, and many of our long-time Republican Bastards will be outside looking in.  Yes, I know.  The Supreme Court will be shaded for many years, but I think a solid Congress of Moderates and decent Dems could find constitutional remedies.  After the bullshit we have been through with Republicans (on the Right) in charge for the past 10 years, we will be ripe to make good changes.

Frankly, Democrats should go after Cheney and his crew of Republican Traitors.  Call them what they really are:  Traitors - Too Strong - NO - They put us in a war that was totally unjustified by lies and deception, they revealed a "deep cover" CIA operative to the press.  Speaking of Press, that no-good piece of shit Robert Novak, should be lined up and shot by CIA agents.  Stop and think, damn it!  How many other covert operatives had their covers blown and their lives put in jeopardy.  Novak stinks more than a pig sty.

When you think back about Bill Clinton being involved in a sex scandal and compare it to the last 5 years, with Bush, Rove, Rumsfeld, Cheney, Libby, Frist, DeLay, and the Christian Right theatrics, the 90's were calm.  This crew of Republican Bastards have ruined our economy, paid little attention to the environment, damaged foreign relations with friendly countries, encouraged more terrorism towards us, and made their supporters wealthy to the detriment of the average citizen.  WHAT A RECORD TO STAND ON!  May they all land in the depths of hell sooner than later. 

Gosh, I must be a little bit pissed off today.  Oh well, I will get over it.  I always do.

10/28/05    CIA LEAK INVESTIGATION.  Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald gave the citizens of the United States a valuable lesson in maintaining a straight line on the Valerie Plame disclosure by Lewis Libby.  He did not go out on the line making assertions that were not true.  He indicated he was neither Republican or Democrat.  He and his investigation team did a remarkable job and deserve a lot of credit.  It is now up to a jury of 12 men and women to determine if a crime was officially committed. 

You and I could only wish that political administrations would and could be so honest that investigations like this would never be necessary.  Maybe Mr. Fitzgerald will someday be a politician.  If he remains as honest and straightforward as he was in the news program, then he would deserve my vote regardless of the party he represented.  Unfortunately, its dream world because politicians are mostly corrupted by the process they serve.  50 percent are crooked as hell, 45 percent are severely bent, and maybe 5 percent are like Mr. Fitzgerald.

COMMANDER IN CHIEF

10/18/05  The new ABC show is a big hit I understand.  Word is out that the TV program is a prelude to a woman (Hillary Clinton) running for President.  I have to say the following:

    A Hillary Clinton administration might plunge us into a tragic and expensive quagmire of a war while offering one lie after another for why she sent our young men and women to the other side of the world to be crippled and maimed.  Her policies would likely be ruinous and turn our allies against us on the world stage.  (Or did this already occur 2-3 years ago?????)

    Under a Hillary Clinton presidency we would undoubtedly pile up enormous debt, even though her husband managed to balance the budget, pay down the debt, and leave a healthy surplus.  (If I recall this really did occur in the late 1990's!!!!!!)

    Hillary would probably appoint a bunch of incompetent cronies to key positions in government and reward them handsomely when they mismanaged their agencies and bungled their responsibilities.  (Gee, this sounds familiar only recently.....tsk, tsk!!)

    Under Hillary the economy would soon be in ruins; the poor could expect to have benefits cut even further while tax cuts are showered on the wealthy and lucrative, no-bid government contracts handed out to powerful corporations and well-connected insiders.  You could even expect to see corruption on a massive scale in a Hillary Clinton presidency.  Who knows, she might go so far as to have an energy bill written by the very energy companies it was suppose to regulate.

    Shall I continue? 

REPUBLICAN BASTARDS AT WORK

10/06/05  I'm sure you have seen the signs MEN AT WORK on construction sites.  In our government we now have a phrase that appropriately applies.  REPUBLICAN BASTARDS AT WORK!!  It is so pervasive that to find an appropriate beginning and ending is difficult if not impossible.  So I will ramble on as they jump into my head.

NO-BID Contracts:  Add to Iraq and the Halliburton no-bid contract, all the new  no-bid contracts awarded to companies who are involved in the cleanup and restoration in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  Minority companies were excluded and all gems went to the Republican Bastard supporters of the Bush Administration.

OREGON Assisted Suicide Law:  Roberts in his first act on the court has forcefully shown his stripes.  The State of Oregon will lose on this one.  Remember, I said earlier that Roberts will also come down hard against abortion.  That will have its beginning this fall.  The Republican Bastards will certainly be cheered by their conservative friends throughout the U.S.  I'm beginning to believe that women and minorities will return to the back seat of the bus.  Pendulum effect - I think it is quite possible.  Republican Bastards at Work.

HARRIET MIERS:  Democrats beware!!  This lady has never been married, no children, probably has never even had sex, and she will come down hard against Abortion.  This crap from conservatives is ALL SMOKE AND MIRRORS.  Bush is not suppose to ask a Supreme Court nominee ahead of selection how they come down on these issues.  But - it was done and if you are naive enough to believe otherwise, shame on you.  George Will was alarmed that Ms. Miers wasn't conservative.  What Bullshit - he knows that Bush has it wired and is just playing the game.  DEMOCRATS BEWARE - This lady will dramatically change our social fabric.  THE TWO BUSH PRESIDENTS HAVE APPOINTED THE SUPREME JUSTICES OF CONSERVATIVE IDEOLOGY.

IRAQ & TERRORISTS:  Bush is now attempting to deflect world and American opinion about what the Iraq War is about.  He is telling everyone that Iraq is a Terrorist Stronghold.  Well he is right on that!  BUT, Bush will not admit that when Saddam was the leader of the country, their was no or minimal terrorist activity.  Saddam did not allow it.  Yes, Saddam was an evil dictator - no doubt.  But would you rather have Iraq now or the pre-Iraq/Bush War.  What could have been a manageable situation is now totally out of control.  Bush is the most evil Republican Bastard to ever lead this country.  60% of the country is now leaning in that direction.

TOM DELAY:  This goes to the heart of the evil Republican Bastard's domination of politics, power and wealth.  The 1994 movement led by Newt Gingrich has been warped so much, that they now have reached a level of politics that is even more despicable than the Democrats at the height of their power.  Our country is in debt up to its ass to other countries around the world.  Our economy is taking a major hit from the Hurricanes, and the resulting increases in fuel oil.  The gap between the rich and the poor has become much wider.   Republican Bastards are power hungry, and wealth hungry to the point where it may force primitive replies from those who cannot maintain a reasonable existence.  Democracy is at its worst under the Bush Leadership.  Wake up American and go to the polls in 2006 and demand changes.  I will go on record that Democrats need stronger leadership and a better vision for the country to grasp.  Who's going to step up to the Plate??

* * *

9/16/05  Environment Concern:  I have long been interested in the failure of the Federal Government to protect us folks in the Northeast from acid rain.  We now have a news item on the front page of the Bangor Daily News telling us mercury samples are extremely high in swordfish, shark, mackerel, and tuna.  The part that hits me hard is that these samples were taken from the displays of several major food chains.  So the failure of the U.S. Congress and the Bush Administration continues when it comes to the environment.  We are not being protected because of political self-interests. 

FAILURE OF GOVERNMENT

9/13/05  Mother Nature proved how terribly unprepared the most powerful nation in the world could be in a time of need.  Where all the blame falls is on government.  A combination of government at all levels.  Democrat or Republican makes no difference.  The images that came across our television sets said it all.  I agree that a 9-11 style commission that is completely independent of government interference be convened to fully investigate the affects of Mother Nature (environmental), and governmental response.  Only then can we begin to understand future consequences not only with the environment, but also a response to what may be the most inevitable:  "Terrorism on the U.S. Mainland."  When the commission has completed its investigation, then the U.S. Congress should consider the recommendations and direct the current political administration to implement them.  Homeland Security should not be a political arm of a party.  It should be answerable directly to the U.S. Congress.

8/31/05  New Orleans hit with a Category 5 hurricane.  Many thoughts creep into my mind.   Devastating - Horrendous - Those poor people - How many died?  How many lost their homes?  I didn't know New Orleans was below sea level?  Oh Oh, the gas pumps will go wild!  Could the U.S. be better prepared to deal with natural disasters in the future?  Looters paradise??  Where's National Guard - oh yes, in Iraq!  (You all know what I think about that).  Where's President?  Maybe like 9-11 he's safely tucked away.  Where's Cheney? - (that one is easy - he's in a cave somewhere).  Watching CNN I guess Rumsfeld and Homeland Security Chief Chertof are running the ship.  How may weeks or months before Louisiana, Mississippi and other states will be able to recover? 

That is only a few of the questions that run through my mind.  My prayers are with everyone involved, but I sincerely hope that we will use this experience to be more prepared to deal with more natural disasters in the future.  The environment is warming and we were warned.  

8/28/05  Happy Birthday to my youngest son who is a staunch Republican and worse yet, a "damn Rush Limbaugh listener."  Holy Shit - how could that be? 

AUGUST RECAP:  A lady/mother has grabbed the headlines.  Cindy Sheehan who lost her son to combat in Iraq has driven a lot of people (Bush supporters) nuts.  I want to make it clear, the vast majority of Americans including me support our troops in Iraq.  It's our obligation.  However, I should also like to point out that its also our obligation to let the President know that we know the decision to go to War in Iraq was based on lies.  If the lies had been unintentional, that would at least be in the favor of the President.  But in my opinion and I strongly believe the opinion of the vast majority of the American public that the lies were purposely conceived to support the decision that had already been made to depose Saddam and start the War in Iraq.  Their mistake was in believing they could easily and quickly do this.  Their mistakes have resulted in thousands of Iraqi citizens being killed (more than Saddam killed??) not to say the casualties suffered by some of the most well-trained U.S. troops in our history.

John McCain is fond of supporting President Bush, and how much the President grieves for each U.S. casualty.  Well, so do we all.  Maybe the President should have thought more seriously about that prior to lying to us.  But, then he might not have been re-elected President in 2004.

7/25/05  JOHN ROBERTS - SUPREME COURT NOMINEE should be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.  His history is supremely masked to cover his true identity.  Senate Democrats will make some hay, and when they do they should keep in mind he will be confirmed.  Therefore, Ask the questions that will not be answered.  Set the stage for the eventuality that future conservative decisions in the majority that are handed down with Justice Roberts in the affirmative can be questioned by the electorate at large.

Bush knew who his candidate was months ago.  He/they did a clever job of setting up their candidate.  They thought he would replace Rehnquist, not Sandra Day O'Connor.  That's why the woman Justice nomination did not occur. 

I strongly believe this continues to show (historically) that Bush will be the worst President in American history.  When they overturn Roe V Wade we will hear a loud roar across the nation.  It won't be the happiness of the conservatives, it will be the wake-up call of American women.  "Take it to the bank."

PUMP MADNESS

7/19/05  The average price of gas in my area is between 2.35 and 2.39 a gallon.  I just purchased a "pre-buy" for 1.87 for propane.  So what about those folks who have to live in New England during the winter?

Sacrifices somewhere will have to occur.  Food, Christmas, medical care, or something will certainly be eliminated or greatly reduced.  The average person does not make big bucks in Maine. 

I totally disagree with inflation reports informing us that inflation is not that high for the year..  When "GAS" goes up, it affects all prices on goods and services and those in the lower income range suffer the most.   For those of us who are retired, we get a cost of living increase.   Big deal really - it truly is!  Covers the annual cost of the Medicare increase (for some, not all), and leaves nothing else for food, gas etc.   Leaves a good feeling in the pit of your stomach knowing your contributing to your favorite charity:  The U.S. Government who spend like they have unlimited resources and make commitments that will forever lighten your wallet a little bit at a time - until when????

THE HOUSE OF BUSH

7/5/05 Do you hear a "creaking" noise in the Bush foundation of support.  His poll numbers are falling rapidly.  There are even some web sites out there discussing the "I" word.  Impeachment!!!  I won't go that far, but I still maintain that Bush is the worst President in the history of American Democracy.  The memo's that have surfaced in England support the theory that this President wanted to go to war with Iraq for all the wrong reasons.  I strongly believe that is correct.  WMD was fabricated.  Nuclear weapons was fabricated.  Even the terrorist 9-11 connection was attempted and disproved.  The War with Iraq has had disastrous economic ramifications for what will be many years to come.  To say nothing of all our service personnel who may have needlessly lost their lives in a "fabricated" war.  Add to that the thousands upon thousands of innocent Iraqi's who have been killed.  Democracy could have followed a better path with better leadership from the world's leadership council's.  Sometimes it is a slow and painful process, but history will prove it is a better alternative than what Bush has put us through.

Continuing with the House of Bush.  Some of the fury over privatizing social security is dying down.  However, I would like to point out that AARP has a terrific article in the July-August bulletin.  It explains how women could lose big in such an effort.  I never gave it any thought, and after reading the article I was blown away with the dramatic effect on how our Republican Bastard President would screw the generations of women in the future with his program of privatization. 

The Supreme Court nominee to replace Sandra Day O'Connor will bring another crack in the Bush House foundation.  But we should wait on this one and see what evolves before making further comment.

Finally, the foundation of Bush was cracked severely by the Karl Rove speech.  He clearly established the "Nixonian" characteristics of this administration.  May all of the Bush "Republican Bastards" live in a special kind of hell.  Maybe the same one that Saddam Hussein will live in - who knows? 

I do think their house is starting to crumble gradually. 

6/18/05  First THANKS to the Moderates in the U.S. Senate who ignored their own leadership and negotiated a Senate truce which is holding up.  They deserve a lot of credit for their "guts", particularly Lindsey Graham.  I have new found respect for that gentleman.

PENSIONS:  I grieve heavily for the many Americans who are losing their pensions left and right to the greedy mismanagement of funds.  The PBGC is in debt up to its ass and eventually something will have to give.  I blame it all on Congress who has "no balls" to enact and enforce the laws required to keep the American Dream alive.  It boils down to "Dishonest Capitalism" by the wealthy (corporate and individual).  We have had so many scandals, you can't count them on the fingers of your two hands.  The current Government spending is out of control with its borrowing.  More bad debt is bound to accumulate.  Within the last 24 hours, we have learned that 40 million Americans have potential Master Card fraud problems.  This President is so bad that none of these problems will be addressed on his watch.

THE CONSTITUTION: It does appear that George Bush will not get the Patriot Act in its entirety passed through Congress.  The Patriot Act does have its merit, but some provisions go way to far.  Americans cannot afford to become apathetic and indifferent about their civil liberties.  Justice Learned Hand once said: "Liberty lives in the hearts of men and women; if it dies there, no constitution, no law, no court can save it.  Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom."

TERRI SCHIAVO & GOV. JEB:  A published report of the autopsy findings this week found strongly in favor of the husbands (Michael) viewpoints.  These findings were done by professionals who were not biased politically.  Then in the last 24 hours I heard a news broadcast, Governor Jeb Bush is challenging the authenticity of the report and wants to return more than a decade to determine if Michael was complicit in her disablement.  Give me a freaking break.  I strongly believe the Bush family is a joke.  They pander to the Christian Right.  I know God forgives (he has to - I need it also), but the devil inside me just hopes that God has a special "hell" waiting for them.

BUSH'S IRAQ AND BRITISH SKEPTICISM.  Thank god the British released documentation about their pre-Iraq War jitters.  I have believed from Day 1, that this war was a creation of George Bush, Dick Cheney and other Administration insiders for the purpose of their own political advantage.  They are a proven bunch of liars, and if I had the power, they would all face a military court-martial, and sentenced to death.  They have killed thousands of innocent people, Americans and foreign nationals, and corrupted our economy for many years into the future.  I have confidence that as history is written in the next few decades, these Republican Bastards will be labeled for what they truly were:  Traitors to the principles of American Democracy.  

I started this with Pensions and will end it with the economy.  Every day their is an erosion of public confidence in Congress and the President.  The squeeze will continue by the "deep-pocketed" and influential groups to enact policies and legislation that benefit the few rather than the majority.  Health Care isn't being discussed.  The new energy policy if enacted will be wrong for the majority.  Congress will never police itself correctly.  The result is that their is an even faster growing income inequality.  Manufacturing jobs are being lost, and cutbacks are in store.  Credit Card and Pension losses are piling up.  The system is nearly broken and the police are no where in sight.  I have always maintained that if the low and middle class sectors are employed with a decent income, and health care and pensions are available, then our Democracy will be fulfilled.  The Founding Fathers would smile from heaven.  Right now they have a horrible frown on their faces.  Who can blame them!

ARMAGEDDON - America's Loss

5/23/04 WHERE TO BEGIN??  The policies of the Bush Administration if continued are bringing about the downfall of our once respected nation, at home, and abroad.

Iraq is a dismal failure.  The cost of the war alone in terms of $$ and casualties is demoralizing our nation as well as diminishing U.S. influence throughout the world.  AND to think - it was all conceived by a "pack of Bush lies".  Then along came Abu Ghraib - now the KORAN, and couple all that with an Iraqi government that will slip into civil war.  Even Afghanistan has its many issues because we diverted our attention from Osama to that evil terrorist that was ready to nuclear bomb the U.S. = Saddam?  And now we are about to send an Ambassador to the UN who emulates Bush strategy.  That is to lie, and distort to meet the agenda of a group of individuals who want nothing more than personal gain.

The resulting mess at home in America is leaving a STENCH that will permeate our lives for years. 

Social Security by Bush - very unpopular.  Yet, they continue to promulgate lies to support their positions even now.  And when pension plan defaults hit us smack in the eyes, they expect us to cave in.  Medicare is a worse problem and the Bush people ignore it.  The ugly Terri Schiavo mess was initiated by pressure from the Christian Right who through Tom Delay and others want to throw judges out of the judicial system, and replace them with their own conservative leaning agenda.  Expensive (to us in the U.S.) influence peddling by the wealthy, and special interests groups is driving up costs to the middle class and below beyond the pale.  Now we face Nuclear Detonation on Tuesday, May 24, 2005.  It will be the beginning of our demise as a democracy and signal the beginning of slavery to the Republican Agenda if not checked. 

The Republican Bastards in this country are bringing America to: ARMAGEDDON.  If they succeed in ramming through the new Patriot Act without some reasonable checks and balances for ordinary Americans, we will see the evaporation of the Bill of Rights.

Democrats deserve their share of shame.  It is time for the moderates in each party to put their foot down and become obstructionists to far-leaning agendas on each side of the political spectrum.  It is time to talk across the divide - before the divide deepens.

RETURN TO THE WILD WEST

IN FLORIDA ????

4/26/05  FLORIDA's SCARY NEW GUN LAW is not necessarily the crime deterrent that it is portrayed to be.  Today Governor Jeb Bush signed into law authorization for someone who believes it is about to be a crime victim the authority to shoot the person they believe threatens them.

Does that mean I should keep a gun in my home, and when someone I don't like knocks on my door, and I think he is going to threaten me, can I legally shoot him???

What if a car breaks down somewhere, and a stranger goes to knock on a door to get help or to request emergency aid???  Will he be shot as a danger to the occupant???

I can think of several more instances.  Use your imagination.  Watch out buddy, you may get shot by someone you know or don't know and they will walk cleanly away from any prosecution.

Sure, the law can also keep the real criminal from breaking into homes, cars, stores, etc.  But you know it's a guessing game on how many innocent victims will die each year for various reasons.

Come all ye folks to Florida, and bring your guns, and bag your first human!!!!!

POWER POLITICS

4/22/05  Judicial Filibuster/Ethics.  The proposed Republican attempt to modify the Senate rules to fit their interests goes against the grain of Democracy.  If they were to succeed in this effort, it could swing back to their own distaste if the Democrats regain control of the Senate in future years.  Lifetime Judicial appointments should be earned on the merits of previous court decisions and activity, not on their political appeal to a segment of Americans.  Otherwise, we will have future Tom Delay's telling the Judiciary how to make a decision.

We would all agree that democracy is preferable to communism.

POPE  JOHN PAUL

4/2/05 As a Protestant I deeply believe in God and prayer.  I once visited Vatican City and was within 20 feet of Pope Paul VI in 1971.  It was an over-whelming experience.  I weep along with Catholic's and others who admire the most active and successful Pope in my lifetime.  May he be in God's hands for eternity to share the wisdom of his lifetime.

3/31/05  Terri died this morning and may she rest in peace!  Too bad that the remainder of us have to be subject to the intense hatred that has been built up by the Religious Conservatives.  The only good thing that will come of it is that many Americans will now make their final intentions known via the "Living Will". 

Tom Delay now wants to control the courts and the decisions of the judiciary.  What a sorry bastard he is.  George Bush believes strongly in "erring on the side of LIFE!"  What a sorry bastard he is as well.  He sure didn't see it that way as Governor when he executed more prisoners than any Governor in History.  Or when he started a war in Iraq with "bogus information" that has left more than 1500 Americans dead, thousands wounded, and many more thousands of innocent Iraqi's dead.  And Governor Jeb.  He's just another sorry excuse who will someday run for President. 

The Schindler family whom we all have compassion for, ought to examine their own conduct from the perspective of a rational, living Terri if she could have told us in writing what her own thoughts of 16 years ago.  My bet is she would have said, "after a reasonable period of time, and medical intervention, Please let me die in peace." 

Michael, I think he did a credible job of acting on Terri's behalf, and tried to do the same for the Schindler's.  May his life become normal, if possible, in time.  As well for the Schindler's and the remainder of us.

3/19/05  Terri Schiavo - "MAY SHE DIE PEACEFULLY"

I agree with the courts.  Terri Schiavo should be permitted to find her final peace from the hell she has been in for approximately 15 years.  The tragic lesson is that we should be thinking early in our lives about "living will's".  I signed one in the early 1980's and it is still on file.

Another tragic lesson for voters to consider is the actions of members of Congress who would like to keep Terri alive for another 30-40 years in the shell that she now occupies.  Eventually, her own Mom and Dad (I do have compassion for them) will die.  Terri if the Republicans have their way will continue to live on with the aid of a feeding tube without so much as a caring close family member to visit her.  The press might not even post her picture in the paper or on TV.  Maybe all you "right-to-lifers" will visit her and send her cards and flowers.  I have no idea how much this will cost the American taxpayer but then conservatives could care less as it doesn't come directly from their pockets.

In my opinion, these Congressional Republicans are heartless bastards and that includes Governor Bush of Florida and his dilbert "little" older brother.  It takes guts to do the right thing, and most of them only want to pander to their conservative base for political purposes. 

Hopefully, Congress will not be able to intervene, but if they do I believe it may well serve as a major building block in the demise of the current Republican power hold on America. 

"BUSH IS A LYING REPUBLICAN BASTARD"

        THE BIG SOCIAL SECURITY PUSH

3/3/05  President Bush is about to go on a carefully scripted nationwide tour of States to educate Americans on why we need to adopt his social insecurity Plan on Privatization.  I STRONGLY BELIEVE A RADICAL OVERHAUL OF SOCIAL SECURITY IS A DISASTER IN THE WINGS.

Social Security is the ultimate retirement plan for America's lowest income citizens.  President Bush is a LIAR.  Social Security is not broke in 2018.  In 1983 we made significant adjustments to protect social security until 2028 when reserve Treasury bonds will need to be redeemed from the current trust fund reserves of $1.6 trillion.  In 2042 the principal reserves will be exhausted and the CBO says it might even be 2052. 

If we follow Bush's lead Americans may lose the Golden Watch.  In his 4 years as President he has made our budget deficit a looming calamity of runaway spending.  Health care costs alone will raise havoc with the baby boom generation. 

Bush and the Republican Congress promoted the most expensive legislation in the nation's history during his first term as he sharply reduced the means to finance it.  Bush and the Congress need a reality check.  It is up to us as concerned citizens to educate ourselves and not give in to the continued sleight of hand being dealt to us.

I continually keep in the back of my mind, the pension plans that have gone belly-up in the past few years.  According to the FDIC, taxpayers doled out $124 billion through 1999 because of the collapse of a number of financial institutions.  Bethlehem Steel, Consolidated Freightways, and US Airways defaulted on pension plans.  United Airlines will terminate $8.3 billion in pension funds it is estimated.  How soon we forget the ENRON debacle. 

Bush is the most evil President we have had in our history.  I'm only one person, and you can laugh if you want, but I do a lot of research, and my gut tells me the biggest personal disaster in the history of America is in Bush's hands.

BUSH - EUROPE + Miscellaneous

2-21-05 Our esteemed Leader is now over in Europe attempting to persuade foreign leaders (France, Germany and Russia) to be unified in supporting the Iraq Democracy process.  Where the hell was this attempt two years ago?  Hopefully Secretary Rice paved the way to some modicum of success.  Bush sure as hell couldn't do it on his own.

My anger quotient is high right now anyway.  I see where Greenspan has endorsed the idea of privatization.  Wisdom comes with age I understand.  I wish Greenspan would get some wisdom and disappear.  Maybe he can afford the 2 trillion it will take to finance Bush's scheme.  The U.S. can't afford it. 

2008 Politics.  Kerry and Edwards should disappear until 2020.  I think Gov. Dean will be an extremely effective party leader creating a stronger democrat base, and the dream tickets for President would be Clinton (she) and McCain (he) slugging it out for the top prize.  Bet we would get zillions of laughs, and restore some respectability to government when it was all over.  Regardless of the person elected - the U.S. would be the big winner.

    ONE-TWO PERCENT

2/12/05 SOCIAL SECURITY - NATIONAL DIALOGUE

It has been interesting and refreshing to read hundreds of letters from citizens all over the country regarding the social security insecurity.  It is refreshing because a large group of Republican members of Congress are weighing the impact of the content in those letters.  Social Security must be preserved and any modification to the existing program must never place it in jeopardy.  I strongly hope that Congress will use the social security platform now before the country to enact legislation that will encourage employers and employees to establish a separate investment program.

The President is appealing to the young to get his program.  The wise generation of Americans who have "been there and done that" know that a safety net is needed to protect the most vulnerable in our society (including ourselves) from the vicissitudes of the business cycle.  Investment discipline is a mind-numbing experience and subject to volatile forces.

I would recommend the ONE-TWO PERCENT program.  For any employee who is willing to participate with one-two percent of his salary in a national (protected) investment, employers would match the one-two percent.  This would be outside and in addition to the current social security program.  The Congress would have to find a financial incentive for the employer to participate.  The incentive would be obvious to the employee.  There would have to be an employer cap and employee investment safeguards because the large majority of investors would not have a clue how to protect the money.

There would be no 2 trillion dollar federal debt increase and for those who want to partially privatize, go for it.   This will appease those who want personal investment accounts and make it easier for low-income Americans to participate.  Fees to pay the program you say.  Of course - there's always a catch.  Let it come out of the pockets of the wall street whoremongers.  They will still benefit and no tears will be shed by Americans over additional annual budget costs.

And one last item.  Increase the minimum social security retirement eligibility age to 65.  Cripes there going to live into their 80's anyway.  Now let's move on to a national medical cost dialogue.  

STATE OF THE UNION - 2005

2/2/05 President Bush will go before the Congress and the nation tonight.  The Iraq Elections will be bragged about.  It's a military success much more so than a Republican success.  He will tell us the state of the union is great - but mention little about the deficit.  He will tell us how many jobs have been created, but nothing about how many jobs are still lagging since the beginning of his Presidency in 2001.  A great spin but in the current polls, nearly 50 percent of the country still does not give the President a favorable rating.

Numbers:  Economic forecasters have a saying, "give an economist a result you want, and he'll find the numbers to justify it"  Republican number crunchers will take the same data that the CBO uses and interpret it in widely disparate ways on everything from the federal budget deficit to the Social Security "insecurity".  The genesis will be political not scientific.  I'm not omniscient, but this is a crucial time in the economic transition for the next generation of Americans.  Good decision making will be required, and it will need the cooperation of the entire Congress working together. 

Medical costs have to be addressed.  The budget deficit needs to be seriously examined because it can have world-wide ramifications.  Immigration, Defense of the Homeland, and a gradual reduction in troops from Iraq must be addressed.  If Mr. Bush wants a favorable legacy he needs to get it right - sooner rather than later.

1/31/05  IRAQ ELECTION SUCCESS.  Congratulations to the people of Iraq for participating in large numbers in their first election.  The U.S. Military and other nations who participated should also be running high on fumes with their support of the election process.  Hopefully, this will now create an opportunity for the reduction in forces in Iraq.  It is important to support Iraqi's through a transition period in building their democracy. 

1/22/05 GLOBAL CRUSADE FOR DEMOCRACY

President Bush now wants to extend democracy to all nations of the world.  Do I recall correctly that in his inauguration of 2001 he was against nation building?  Exporting world-wide democracy is a major shift in our foreign policy.  I wonder what the world community thinks of this grand plan?

Ideals are wonderful aren't they?  We all have them in one way or another, but this President must believe in fairy tales.  I have two very important observations for all of you who care:

    1.  Nothing about Domestic policy?  Duh - why did he run for election to President of the U.S.?

    2.  We have an "All-volunteer military force" that is 1.4 million strong.  In Korea, back during the Korean War we had that many soldiers alone.  Considering the tribulations of Iraq and all the countries he wants to democratize, just how much manpower will be required?  My readings tell me that our current military is getting worn to the bone and the seams will eventually start to come apart.

Probably none of you are as skeptical as I am!  I must be wrong!

PROMISE & PERIL

1/20/05 Today, President Bush will resume his Presidency for 4 more years.  I used the heading "Promise & Peril" from the U.S. News and World Report issue dtd 1/24/05 because it was an apt description for the next 4 years.

Promise is always possible in our democracy because of the freedoms we enjoy.  America's zeal, creativity, and penchant to move in positive directions is our great strength.  Even in the issues that we face today, divided as we are, promise to excel is possible.  Individually, Americans are brighter, focused, and filled with optimism that the future has unlimited opportunity for success.

The Peril is in the deep divisions of our country.  Why?  Because the combined leadership of our political parties cannot agree on paths of correctness on significant issues.  I believe this is because of two opposing forces.  Those who believe in moderation, and those who believe in extremism.  I do not mean to imply that an entire party is extreme.  In fact, each party has extremists.  Some are pulled by wealth and power, others by values that are ingrained by the experiences of life.  The vast majority of Americans believe issues can be resolved and appropriate alternatives developed that will permit reasonable debate and decision making ability.

It is up to President Bush and the Congress to step up to the task of overcoming the conflicted interests with leadership that is not extreme.  A major challenge is the calling for great leadership.  Time to get it done.  Otherwise partisan bitterness will grow stronger and none of us want to imagine the alternatives. 

1-19-05  I may have to eat a few words I said below re: Officers.  My reason for this is that I received an email with a rationale I can accept.  That is most officers are so protective of their careers they would not generally make such an error in judgment.  However, I will still point out that this probably does not apply to civilian's who work with the military in the detainment of prisoners.  Particularly, those who work undercover and have nothing to lose in the pursuit of loosening the tongues of the prisoners.  Nuff said on this subject. 

1/16/05    GRANER VERDICT    "GUILTY"

                SENTENCE:  10 YEARS

Yes, Spc. Charles Graner, Jr. was certainly guilty and I give him a salute for acknowledging his guilt.  However, I sure would like to give a kick in the ass to those who let this man and the others to follow to sacrifice, for not coming forth and telling the truth.  As  a career military retiree I fully believe Spc. Graner was acting under orders (Yes, he carried them a step to far) from Military Intelligence and/or (CIA).  In my career the checks and balances were tight as a ship (no pun intended because I was in the U.S. Navy).  You could screw up and slip up but it generally did not go for long.  In this case, the abuse was carried out over weeks, if not months.  Someone in higher authority was complicit and my bet is that not a single officer will ever get the hotseat.  Tell you why - and you can bet the ranch on it.  "If even one officer ever gets implicated, the officer structure will crumble like shredded wheat."  Those officers are gutless bastards when it comes to their careers.  But enlisteds - make great sacrificial lambs.

So my Republican Bastards - live on - I hope eventually you get your sentence.

2005 REVERIE / CONCERNS

(Just a few - 1/12/05)

#1...   1300+ Military dead in Iraq - 13,000+ wounded - Thousands of Iraqi's dead, maimed, disrupted.  No WOM found - hunt now given up.

#2...    New Attorney General will be confirmed by Congress.  Democrats should put up a major stink.  Gonzales set the tone for Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo POW's.  Dem's - don't make the same mistake you made by endorsing the War in Iraq.

#3...    Domestically Social Security is on front burner by Bush.  It should be addressed along with Medicare costs.  However, most economic experts believe modification/tinkering will be best.  My bet is that if Bush gets his way, the privatization funds will become a Wall Street bonanza that will entice creative methods of diverting those funds to private gain and wind up being lost to future retirees.  And then what about those future retirees who know nothing about managing the money and will find ways to tap out the funds before they ever retire.

#4...    The Deficit is a Bush numbers fiasco for us.  They are already playing dirty tricks by disguising the "real debt" by using fictitious numbers, and hiding Iraq costs.  The Bush Bastards are not being upfront about the cost of privatizing social security.  There are some gains in the economy but not what they tell us, and interest rates and prices will continue to climb gradually.  Our Trade deficit is so bad it stinks.  I keep thinking that maybe they have a reason for the dollar to go south so bad.   I'm not wealthy so I don't travel overseas.

#5...    The Republican Congress ("Republican Bastards") are running Congress with new rules that emulate a Dictatorship.  Tom Delay has been insulated from censor.  Overall this may be good.  Because if the media does its job correctly, it will bite the Republican's in the ass.

2005:  My wish for this year.  Peace in Iraq to enable us to meet the challenges we face domestically.  Our nation faces realities and crisis on many fronts.  This may be the most decisive period in the history of the United States.  We will require strong leadership from the President, the Congress, and citizens of the United States to bring about the paths of correctness.  A tall task for 2005 and I truly hope it is achievable.

12/21/04:  STATE OF DENIAL.  We are nearly into the New Year and will soon hear about Bush's State of the Union message for next year.  It will be, as it has been a STATE OF DENIAL.  Yesterday in his appearance before the media, he continued to support his Secretary of Defense and HIS war in Iraq.  Well, he will pay dearly for it in the future, but in the meantime we as Americans pay dearly for it every day.

The President continues to push his vow to change social security as we know it.  He continues in a STATE OF DENIAL when it comes to the budget deficit and the costs of his program on future generations.  He uses that cost instead to say that is why it needs to be done.  He's wrong, and it's not just me who says so.  Business Week, and many other established economic advisors/periodicals also believe his program is wrong.  Does social security need some tinkering.  YES - EMPHATICALLY SO!  But tinkering is a lot different than what this President wants.

DENIAL & MISTAKES = PRESIDENT BUSH = DISASTER FOR AMERICA. 

RUSSIAN PARADOX

12/12/04:    I can't help but keep thinking how Russian President Putin was so supportive of President Bush in winning the election.  Then lately we have been watching the Ukraine Election and the transformation of Victor Yushchenko's appearance that we now believe was brought on by dioxin poisoning.  Hmmmmm.  Then I thought back to when Russia had its horrible problems in Afghanistan.  Hmmmmm!!

Skip to the present.  Bush and Iraq.  Is that somewhat similar to Russia's problems in the 80's with Afghanistan.  The Russian economy also went to hell in a hand basket.  Putin was head of the KGB I believe.  You might say "bull", the American economy is good.  Yeah, sure is because we are in debt up to our ass, and it's going to get worse if Bush pushes through his agenda. 

I believe Putin who backed Yushchenko's opponent was attempting to widen his clout.  I believe he supported Bush because he believes the U.S. is heading on the road to hell.  (What's wrong with giving that his blessing).  Russia is growing stronger economically and will gain more if their oil dominance gets them there.  China will also get to be a much stronger country and to whom will they align themselves with????

We should always use history as a guideline.  Military leaders sure do!  The Republicans did to win elections.  The Democrats should (Dean?).  Most importantly our national leadership should take note of some of history's lessons and smarten up. 

I would not trust Putin - But Bush thinks he's a great ally.  Something's wrong with that picture!

DUMB (STUPID?) = WRONG

12-04-04 (Three more instances for Bush).

#1...Rumsfeld to stay on as Secretary of Defense.  The hot gossip is that Rummy wants to improve his legacy before stepping down.  Rumsfeld is a disaster on two fronts:  Iraq & Homeland Security.  He repeatedly ignored the General's on manpower strength in Iraq.  He weakened our efforts to secure the peace in post-war Iraq.  Not that many care, but he also deeply alienated our foreign allies.  And if you can believe that he strongly supports the Homeland Security Bill before Congress - YOU are blind and deaf. 

#2...Outgoing Sec. of Human Services, Tommy Thompson says publicly that he can't understand why the terrorists haven't targeted our nation's food supply.  STUPID - "Here it is, I guess you forgot it Bin Laden, so why don't you go for it."  Great move - what idiots will Bush have in the next administration.  Advertising is known for its results.  I can see only one redeeming value.  We will have to create more jobs to guard the nations food supply.  It makes sense now!

#3...Iraq Election Deadline.  TARGET - TARGET - TARGET - Has it occurred to anyone that by setting a hard defined election deadline date before securing the Iraq Homeland peace, you multiply the terrorist resistance.  Maybe that explains why the most deaths of our military forces in Iraq is now occurring and it should not escape our attention that Iraqi's are dying in the thousands. 

Rumsfeld and Bush - What a great team!! 

SECRETARY OF COMMERCE

11/30/04:  WoW!!  A terrific appointment to the position of Secretary of Commerce.  With America's trade deficit and the losing of jobs within the U.S., the appointment of Carlos Gutierrez from CEO of Kellogg to the Commerce position was a great choice.  Congratulations Mr. Bush.  Mr. Gutierrez has impressive credentials and a track record that is deserving of the million dollar bonuses top executives receive.  Too bad other executives who have opposite track records shame the example.  I express my best wishes for his success because if he can do what he did for Kellogg, then the U.S. is the beneficiary.

HOWEVER, if he has to follow a failed Bush business agenda from the period 2001-2004 then it is all for naught.  Let's hope NOT!!!

CHRISTIAN HYPOCRISY

11/26/04:  Like most Americans, I enjoyed the Thanksgiving holiday with friends.  I acknowledged silently about how thankful and fortunate our family has been in our lives, and turned my thoughts to others and places afar.. 

It occurs to me that as a person, and a Democrat, I have strong beliefs in God and Christian values.  Yet, if I were to believe the Christian Right then I must be going to go to hell.  I read it and I hear it over and over in the papers and on the tube.  One person wrote in a letter recently, "I cannot vote for the straight Democratic ticket anymore because above all, I am a Christian."  I believe the person who wrote that letter had good intent.  In fact, I think Christian Conservatives are decent people and like me and most mainstream Democrats, they only want a better country to live in.

Christian Conservatives might just find that most Democrats also have high moral values that Jesus himself would approve of like caring for the poor, opposing the death penalty and resorting to war only as a last resort.  They might also find that we believe Abortion is wrong, but that the methods to deal with the problem and other problems are multi-faceted.  And a few questions that Christian Conservatives might ponder are:

    Is it moral to discriminate against people because of their sexual orientation?  Is it moral to curtail stem cell research?  Is it moral to let the assault weapons ban expire?  Is it moral to not let the lower cost prescription drugs that are approved be available to senior citizens?  Is it moral in Texas to be pro-life and pro-death penalty?  Was it moral to take the country to war under false pretenses? 

Religious fundamentalism in the mid-east is at the root of all the evil that prevails in that area of the world.  Radicals have taken over the quest of terrorism in the name of (God??).  Hopefully, the Christian Right in the United States will not become the equal of the Radicals in the Middle East.  I strongly believe that Christian moderation stemming from the teaching of Jesus and Moses is an acceptable form of religion to Jesus and God whom we will be ultimately responsible to.  If I'm wrong, it won't be too many years before God will tell me.

For those who practice a strict interpretation of the Bible (there seem to be many interpretations), then I applaud them, but be cautious - you may be the ones who have to answer to God.

HISTORY LESSON:

T.E. Lawrence, The popular "Lawrence of Arabia," wrote these words of warning in August 1920:  (From St. Petersburg Times Nov 21, 2004)

The people of England have been led in Mesopotamia into a trap from which it will be hard to escape with dignity and honor.  They have been tricked into it by a steady withholding of information.  The Baghdad communiques are belated, insincere, incomplete.  Things have been far worse than we have been told, our administration more bloody and inefficient than the public knows.  It is a disgrace to our imperial record and may soon be too inflamed for any ordinary cure.  We are today not far from a disaster.  Our unfortunate troops, Indian and British, under hard conditions of climate and supply, are policing an immense area, paying dearly every day in lives for the willfully wrong policy of the civil administration Baghdad...

BE NICE!

11/17/04  YES, I will be nice.  Have to tell myself that you know.  Two weeks ago the concession by Kerry and acceptance by Bush set in motion the beginning of the next 4 years of THE LEGACY.  What form the Bush Legacy will provide to us, "All Americans" can only be speculated at this time.  The first 4 years were a dismal failure from Iraq to the economy and very importantly the environment.  The major issue facing Bush will be worsening of the "dollar".  A "dollar crash" could bring on a global recession.  Bush now has the opportunity to reverse those trends because he has the power of Congress (-IF-) properly utilized.  Will President Bush self-destruct or will this administration be an over-whelming success and I do not mean to conservatives; I mean to All Americans.

Right now the purges are in progress.  Thank God Ashcroft is gone.  And Powell was a major disappointment.  Rice:  I wouldn't bet either way on this one.  The CIA purge may not be in America's best interest.  It is not healthy when dissenting opinion by capable and qualified professionals is not considered.  In fact, history provides overwhelming evidence that purges in the world have led to leadership that evolves into the Stalin's and the Hitler's.  I do not mean to imply that President Bush is like that but I am saying contradictory and peaceful expressions of opposing viewpoints is healthy and has been proven to be so over two centuries in America.

No one knows what will happen.  I pray that President Bush can be beyond politics and reverse his current legacy to one that will make all Americans proud, and secure.  Was I nice or what?

11/03/2004  WHAT THE HELL WERE THEY THINKING????

The worst Presidential Record in our lifetime.  A man who has lied to and mislead the American public time and again.  He is now the President for FOUR more years and has a mandate.  Congratulations are in order to Bush and Rove for pulling off this Houdini Act.

This is a case where the Republican Party will come before the country.  More enormous tax cuts, raiding the U.S. Treasury for social security surplus, and job losses will continue to haunt us.  No less the unconscionable mess he has us in in Iraq.  A true compassionate has distorted the vision of the American electorate.  They will lick their wounds many times over the next 4 years.

Kerry deserves credit for coming out immediately after the results were ordained and reached out to President Bush in a conciliatory manner to try to bring our political divide together.  Bush in reply and to his credit (for how many days???) seemed to be in agreement. 

Shit - I hate the result and I make no bones about it.  But tell you what the Republican Bastards can now live on for four more years, because if you believe they will work in harmony with Democrats and the other countries of the world, I will gladly sell you this website for a million dollars.  No takers - what a surprise!!!

NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND - we need them to help pay future deficits!!!

6.2 Solution

10/23/04 DISMANTLE SOCIAL SECURITY.  Legislation has been introduced into Congress that would allow workers to place the full 6.2% of Social Security payroll taxes withheld from their check in privately managed stocks, bonds, and other market investments!

    This would be mandatory for young people entering the workforce in 2005.  It's also TWICE the amount in previous schemes previously considered.

The REPUBLICAN BASTARDS are going to jeopardize existing Social Security surpluses even further than they currently have. 

Have you ever given any consideration to where the money is going to be placed?  Have you ever thought about how many private pension plans have been stolen, bankrupted, and misused by Pension Management people/organizations?  ENRON?

GREEDY - POWERFUL - Wall Street bankers, lobbyists will make enormous profits and they are tied to the Republican Party!

All we have to do to make it happen is to RE-ELECT BUSH. 

Time for a change - John Kerry will become a great President and give our nation its dignity back, and help us to restore true democratic principles.

PSALM 2004

10/17/04    This Sunday seems an appropriate time to describe the woes of a second Bush administration for Americans across this once great nation.  (A friend of mine forwarded this to me and I believe it should be shared.)

Bush is my shepherd, I shall be in want.
He maketh me to lie down on park benches.
He leadeth me beside the still factories.
He restoreth my doubt about the Republican Party.
He leadeth me into the paths of unemployment for his cronies' sake.

Yea, though no weapons of mass destruction have been found, he
maketh me continue to fear evil.
His tax cuts for the rich and his deficit spending discomfort me.
He anointeth me with never-ending debt.
Verily my days of savings and assets are kaput. (as gas/fuel prices climbeth)!
Surely poverty and hard living shall follow me all the days of
his administration.
And my jobless child shall dwell in my basement forever.
Amen!

FRIDAY NIGHT DEBATE / ECONOMY

10/8/04  Tonight the two Presidential aspirants will fire all guns at each other in an attempt to convince the electorate that the economy "sucks" or that it is in great shape and we will all be swimming in financial win-falls.  What they might not tell us in the heat of battle is that during the past few years 80% of the fiscal deficit has been financed by foreigners, primarily the central banks of Japan and China.  Former Secretary of the Treasury, Robert Rubin under Clinton cautioned that large budget deficits could trigger a sudden loss of confidence in America by foreign lenders, causing a sharp decline in the dollar, a spike in U.S. interest rates, and a painful recession.

My source for the above information is Business Week, September 27, 2004.  Mr. Rubin was a terrific Secretary of the Treasury and helped the U.S. build a budget surplus.  If he's correct, Mr. Bush and Mr. Kerry will need more than angry words directed towards each other to restore confidence in America by foreign lenders, and restore confidence in the American public that they possess the leadership skills to avoid an economic catastrophe in the United States over the next four years.

* * *

"Listening to George W. Bush speak is like watching a drunk cross an icy street."                                            Tucker Carlson, Conservative commentator on "Crossfire"

10/4/04  DEBATE WINNER - KERRY IN A KICK ASS BEATING.  Bush looked like the incompetent President he has been for (4) years.  Now on to the VP Debate.

KEEP THIS IN MIND:  Cheney as SECDEF in 1992 was adamantly against going after Saddam.  He gave a speech in August 1992 and argued that taking over Iraq wouldn't be worth the cost in U.S. lives, and would lead to a quagmire.  This is a quote: "The question in my mind is how many additional American casualties is Saddam worth?"  And he answered his own question with, "And the answer is not very damned many.  So I think we got it right, both when we decided to expel him from Kuwait, but also when the President (Bush 41) made the decision that we'd achieved our objectives and we were not going to go get bogged down in the problems of trying to take over and govern Iraq."

There it is for all the REPUBLICAN BASTARDS to chew on!  Cheney went even further.  He said, " Once we had rounded him up and gotten rid of his government, then the question is what do you put in its place?  You know, you then have accepted the responsibility for governing Iraq."

MR. EDWARDS - Ask him Tuesday night, "What kind of government are you going to establish?  Is it going to be a Kurdish government, or a Shi'ia government, or a Sunni government, or maybe a government based on the old Baathist Party, or some mixture thereof?"  A democratic government?  In your freaking dreams.  Well maybe in 2099.

CHENEY IS NOTHING BUT A DAMN BOONDOGGLE.  He was a Vietnam War "no show" as was Bush, and Rumsfeld.  And Ashcroft.  Hell those birdbrains are the worst example of leaders this country has ever had as a collection.

I hope you kick his ass in the debate Senator Edwards.

PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE

9/29/04  A few days away from the first Presidential debate.  I have a few questions the media might pursue regarding George Bush's record and what he has said.

On 7/2/04 in the East Room of the White House, he said:  "The economy is stronger than it's been in 20 years."  (Hasn't this been the worst job loss under any President in the last 75 years?)

On 8/10/04 at a Pensacola, Florida rally he said, "Health care is now more accessible and more affordable."  (The Kaiser Family Foundation said on 8/3/04 that over 9 million people lost employer-provided health care in the last two years.  How would he answer that statistic?)

In his radio address on 2/3/01 and also from the Oval Office on 1/10/02 Mr. Bush discussed how pensions and social security were being protected.  (If I am correct, several articles from the AP 12/11/02, Washington Post 2/3/04, and the NY Times 5/15/03 expressed in detail that Mr. Bush paid for his tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans by raiding $500 billion from the Social Security Trust Fund.  And in his second term I would ask him if he will allow Wall Street Bankers to control his version of the social security privitization of individual retirement accounts.)

David Broder, one of the highly esteemed media political analysts says that the Media is lazy and has done a very poor job of getting the candidates to address the issues in this Presidential Election. 

Maybe they can get it going in this first debate by addressing the questions above.

9-11-04  THREE YEARS AND COUNTING

A moment of silence and reflection.  It is so appropriate that we recognize the terrible tragedy of 9-11 and remembering the victims. 

We move on as a democracy however, seeking answers about the new era of terrorism, financial challenges, and a myriad of continuing problems facing all the nations of the earth.  It simply means that more than ever before we need a world-wide effort to conquer and solve the mysteries.  Look no further than Russia and the horrible tragedy where school children died at the hands of terrorists.  Look no further than Florida and the devastation of the hurricane season.  Look no further than Iran and North Korea to realize that nuclear power in the wrong hands might multiply 9-11 by many times.  Look no further than the bulging national deficit and remind yourself that if the U.S. is financially encumbered how effective will we be in solving our own problems, no less recommending how other countries should look to us for example.

Ask yourself, "Is George Bush the Leader of the greatest nation on earth, truly fit to be the President during the next four years?"  He and the Republican Leaders want you to believe he is the right man for the job.

Remember how we got into the Iraq mess?  WOM destruction!  Uranium and nuclear Weapons in Iraq!  Terrorists in Iraq!  HE WAS RIGHT ON THAT ONE - NOW THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF TERRORISTS IN IRAQ.  In early 2001, just after Mr. Bush took office, the Office of Management and Budget predicted we would have surpluses amounting to billions of dollars.  In a little of three years, we went to a budget deficit of more than 400 billon dollars.

As I see it, many voters in the middle are unsure about KERRY.  No wonder, the Republicans did a terrific job of destroying his credibility.  Lies and deceit are a terrific campaign weapon.  The Republicans can absolutely lay claim to the World title. 

I say to all those voters in the middle, enough to make the difference, examine the issues, the past 3 years, and think seriously about who would more effectively lead the U.S. and the World to solving the difficult problems ahead. 

If you come up with George W. Bush, you ought to have your freaking head examined.  The problems will deteriorate over the next four years and then we will really be in deep doo doo.  I know in my heart that John Kerry will make a terrific and effective President.  I hope you will come to the same conclusion.   

LABOR DAY 2004

9/6/04  The polls now indicate George W. Bush will be re-elected President.  He has an 11-12% margin over John Kerry which is very impressive. 

The facts remain however, because our job market is still depressed by more than a million and a half.  Combine overall job loss with the fact that had not the Labor Dept reclassified "FAST FOOD" chain jobs as manufacturing jobs, the job loss would be much higher.  Examine the job market even further by looking at how many companies pay minimum wage or less than $7.50 hour for labor.  Then further examine the new Bush rules on "OVERTIME".  Many companies now do not have to pay overtime.  Some can innovatively create management positions to avoid paying overtime.  For example, an employer might now promote you to a job with a title of Assistant Manager for Trash Removal. 

Now let's proceed further.  Municipal government is paying more money for police patrols.  GAS anyone!  More money for heating!  More GAS!  It doesn't stop there if you are a municipal manager.  SO WHERE DOES THE MONEY COME FROM.  How about HIGHER REAL ESTATE TAXES!!!  That should warm your heart.  So now your a home owner, you are paying more for taxes, fuel, and you still haven't alleviated your concerns about health care, because those costs are increasing.  If that isn't enough the folks who insure your vehicles and homes are going to require higher premiums.

THE REAL KICKER.  If you are ONE of the millions who make less than $50,000 as a family in income, you are going to find yourself in the SHITTER.  Bush and the Republican Bastards who employ you are not going to increase your wages.  In fact, you will probably have less income to manage higher expenses.  THEN MR. BUSH says he will set up these new personal plans for you to invest in your own RETIREMENT and HEALTH CARE PLANS.  If you are that numb to think you folks in the less than $50,000 income frame can fit that additional expense in your budget, go for it!

You all think I'm kidding.  That's what FOUR MORE YEARS OF BUSH WILL BE LIKE.  Republicans and Conservatives who look at what I write think I'm looking for handouts for either myself or others in the less than $50,000 family income range.  WRONG!!!!!  I do extremely well because I planned well.  However, I truly have empathy for those who could not for a variety of reasons.  I want BIG BUSINESS and the Republicans and Democrats to provide good paying jobs with the benefits necessary to sustain a family who makes marginal incomes.  IF THEY DON'T - THEN THEY WILL PAY FOR IT THROUGH THE UNEMPLOYED INSURANCE, HEALTH CARE FOR THE POOR, FOOD ASSISTANCE ETC. AND POSSIBLY INCREASED CRIME.

I have always believed in the theory that a strong foundation holds the house up.  Those millions of people who work hard, and want to have decent lives with a decent income are THE FOUNDATION OF AMERICAN LABOR.

What will that foundation look like in 2008????????????????

EVE OF REPUBLICAN CONVENTION

8/30/04    What will be the theme and the Republican Agenda for the next 4 years? 

        Will it be the Deficit?  (Estimated near $477 billion this year)

        Will it be making the tax cuts permanent?  (Thereby increasing the deficit further)

        Will it be radically changing the Social Security program?  (Congress is already using the 2.4 trillion surplus for their pork spending)

        Will it be to improve the environmental concerns? (The Bush administration has the sorriest record in the history of this country)

        Will it be to establish Health Savings Accounts for all Americans or only those who are in the middle class and beyond income wise?  (My bet is that employers will not pay more than a dime on a hundred for those who need health care the most - in fact it will be much less than that percentage if they do it at all).

        The Republicans will refer to their prescription drug program as a savior for seniors.  (Hell it has been anything but!)  It is a disaster except for the drug companies.

        Of course they will talk about their leadership in the war on terrorism.  The drain on the money for that war in Iraq was not about Saddam as much as it was about revenge for Daddy, a boom for Halliburton, oil profits, and in my mind a way to suck the American's into following a decisive leader into another term in office. 

        The Republicans will support the Patriot Act, but certainly will not address all the issues of our civil rights which are eroding with each day they remain in office.

        IF MR. BUSH SHOULD WIN THIS ELECTION - GOD HELP US IN SOME WAY - PLEASE!!!  That is my religious doctrine!

8/15/04    Bush Administration Deception with Federal Regulations

Scott McClellan, the chief White House spokesman announced, "The President's commonsense policies reflect the values of America, whether it is cracking down on corporate wrongdoing or eliminating burdensome regulations to create jobs."

WHAT was he referring to?  He was referring to the Federal Register when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration published a regulation that would forbid the public release of some data relating to unsafe motor vehicles, saying that publicizing the information would cause "substantial competitive harm" to manufacturers.

It seems as though the Bush administration believes it is trying to balance the interests of consumers with the competitive needs of business.  It doesn't end there either.  Since Sept 11, 2001 Health rules, environmental regulations, energy initiatives, worker-safety standards and product-safety disclosure policies have been modified in ways that often please business and industry leaders. 

MY COMMENT:  Are we living in America?  Are we still fully enjoying the rights our citizens earned more than two centuries ago when the framers of the American Constitution and Bill of Rights worked diligently to safeguard for us? 

In my opinion this is Bush, Ashcroft and the Republican Bastards hard at work to solidify the wealth of America in their corner to the sacrifice of our constitutional rights. 

NEXT QUESTION:  Where will it end?  How long will it take if Bush wins re-election before we have no right to what should be public knowledge?  Come on now!!  Are those wealthy campaign dollars in the hands of the Republicans that important?  Enron was bad enough, and the environment is heading in the wrong direction, and if the Republicans continue to drive successfully, it won't make any difference whether we are fighting terrorism abroad and it makes its way to our shores.  Republican terrorism has already landed in America!

ROAD TO THE WHITE HOUSE 2004

"Do Dreams Come True?"

Will it be President Bush or Senator Kerry?  The President continues to forge on in his defense of the War with Iraq.  Senator Kerry bolstered by the 9-11 Panel's investigation has determined that the War was based on improper utilization of factual data.  What really irks me however is that the administration will continue to blame the intelligence community alone, when in fact the complete role of the administration will not be unveiled until after the election.

I frankly believe the war was a serious mistake.  The Senate Intelligence Committee stated their was no evidence that Saddam and Islamic terrorists plotted to kill Americans.  It seems that it was isolated to Bin Laden and al-Qaida.   The President has done a credible job of convincing all Republicans he was an innocent pawn of the CIA, FBI etc.  The Conservatives will strongly support the President and the Southern United States is practically a lock.  A stalemate will become very evident in the next few weeks which means that Kerry-Bush will come down to a close draw. 

So on the eve of the Democratic Convention, Kerry must perform a miracle if he has any chance to become President.  I hope he can pull it off. 

I recently viewed the Moore documentary "Fahrenheit 9-11" and was one of many applauding at the end of the film.  Very unusual in a movie theatre.  The Bush-Saudi link and other revelations were amazing.  To this date I believe Saudi Arabia is and should be considered an enemy to the United States.  Iran was and is one of our greatest threats.  So if Bush wins the election in November - then I think we should all get behind the President and declare war on Saudi Arabia, Iran and all those mid-eastern countries, take them over, give the Republicans all the oil profits (that way they don't have to drill in the Artic), and beg for handouts from our Republican and Conservative Slave Masters.  After we have defeated terrorism, then we can use our rights as gun owners that the NRA and Constitution guarantees to begin a new civil war of North versus South.  If we get a repeat then we will win the White House, imprison the Slave Owners and Religious Conservatives.

NEXT MORNING:  "Damn, wife, you wouldn't believe the dream I had last night!  I sure hope Kerry wins the White House in November."   Wife's response: "Knowing you, nothing would surprise me!"

JULY 4TH

7/2/04  This weekend is the period where we celebrate the Democracy of the United States and all the values the framers of the American Constitution and Declaration of Independence thoughtfully embraced.

I read a headline in a local paper two days ago, whereby President Bush urges democracy in the Mideast.  That is an admirable goal.  We all fully appreciate the freedoms we celebrate this weekend.  But, you have to step back a moment, and review the events of the last 3 years.  After 9-11 we appropriately went to Afghanistan and attempted to find and eliminate those who were responsible.  About 18 months later our Presidential leadership decided that Iraq needed to be free of Saddam and Democratized.  The President has tried to convince Americans that Iraq was tied into terrorism.  The 9-11 commission did not agree.  But Iraq was invaded, and Saddam was found (thankfully) and will stand trial.  Now Iraq is the largest hotbed of terrorism in the world and will continue to be for a long time.  Thousands of innocent Iraqi's have lost their lives and others continue to be in life-threatening jeopardy.  We have more than 800 military servicemen lives lost for Iraqi democracy.  More will die, and this doesn't begin to touch on those who were wounded, lost limbs etc. and the personal tragedy of all the families.  Maybe you can say that is the price of democracy as it was proven during the Revolutionary War. 

But this is the mideast.  Are we suppose to be the catalyst for all those countries to be democratized?  We may not like or prefer their form of governments.  But, do we truly have the right to make the decision?  To invade a middle eastern country unprovoked?   

I have stated previously that real leadership is working cohesively with other countries of the world in a spirit of common objectives and working to achieve what is possible for the good of mankind.  We should think about that during this holiday period, and also that we have a moral obligation to pressure our government leaders to think in those terms.  There is no time limit or deadline.  What there is - is an overwhelming requirement for intelligent decision making on behalf of our President with the world leadership to resolve the difficult problems on the face of this earth ranging from terrorism to the environment.

6/16/04  IRAQ TURNOVER.  It has been awhile since I commented and many events have occurred. 

    Abu Ghraib:  This goes all the way to the top general, and the Sec.Def.  (Sanchez and Rumsfeld).  Bush probably knew about it but will be insulated by his staff.  To lay the blame at the feet of a few soldiers is a travesty beyond that of going in to Iraq itself.  Nuff said.

    June 30th:  Nearly here and not too soon.  Bush actually wanted to avoid this and remain but has learned that the "fog from the bog" was so intense and deep beyond his expectations, he now has no alternative but to find a graceful escape.  Let the Iraqi's solve their own problems now that Saddam is gone, and let the world at large come into the gates as needed to provide support at Iraq's request.  Security is a major issue and we need to assist, but not be dominate.

    Elections:  The sooner the better - prior to January.  They will have their sovereign government, and our forces will be exited much faster.  We need to cut our losses militarily, economically, and equally important our international prestige which is as low as a "pile of dog shit."

6/1/04  "ECONOMY IS BEGINNING TO COOK".  So says Business Week and Zuckerman of U.S. News & World Report. 

Well, I think they could be correct because all the so-called economic indicators are humming.  Good News for Bush - BUT is it good news for the seniors in America?  Is it good news for the low to middle income layers of Americans who have family incomes of less than $50,000 per year?

I could give a crap whether those who are already well-off advance their pockets of wealth.  But Seniors over 65 who have marginal incomes are going to feel the pinch from the gas price spiral because it affects everything they need for life.  Heating fuel, food prices are escalating rapidly, and just today I found out that Medicare Part B premiums will jump 17% next January. 

Those folks in the less than $50,000 year income brackets will also be hard hit by gas prices even more than seniors.  Wages are still depressed for them, insurance and property taxes are zooming, food prices when you have children in the house is even more dramatic, and what about the cost of sending a child to college.  Tuition rates are going sky high. 

Just once I would like to see Congress have real compassion towards those who need it most.  Not free handouts, but opportunity for better wages,  lower interest rates targeted towards those who need homes, buy higher mileage autos, etc.  The SUV owners are those who have the cash and if they want to spend their $$ on gas let them.  Yes, I know I'm a radical liberal - and I admit it, but damn it seniors and low income Americans need to live too, and the wealth gaps are leaving far too many of them behind.   That too could have radical consequences on the pocketbooks of the wealthy if they don't stop and realize that equality and opportunity are linked.

WORSE THAN WATERGATE

5/3/04  I have recently read the novel by John Dean which describes the Bush/Cheney era as "Worse than Watergate".  I strongly recommend politically interested individuals to read the book.  Form your own conclusions.  My feelings are that many of the topics he discusses should be reviewed by the Justice Department, and taken seriously by Congress.  However, as the book pointedly reveals the Bush Administration will stonewall, outright lie, and deflect.  Worse than that they seem to have a habit of destroying those individuals who have brought any negative attention to their misdeeds.   Mr. Dean (Republican Counsel to President Nixon) was very good at corroborating the Bush/Cheney criminal offenses with overwhelming evidence.  I particularly was impressed about a Martha Stewart and Dick Cheney comparison which would have made Martha Stewart look like a saint.  Read the book and insist on investigations by your Congressional representative.

THE POTTERY BARN

4/25/04  I believe it was Theodore Roosevelt who said:  "To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public."

The Republican's would have you believe that Bush is sacred, and should be untouchable because Americans are at war in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Bush has wrapped himself in the Flag, as a war president to ensure his re-election.  However, Americans are being killed daily and our military is bogged down in Iraq, with no exit strategy, while al Qaeda regroups and finds new recruits. 

Now we hear from the Bush administration that we should not show photos of our war hero's in flag draped coffins.  "Oh, what a dirty little secret to embarrass the Bush Administration and the Pentagon."  Our fallen hero's should be honored for their sacrifice.  It's ironic that in North Korea they tried to suppress a tragic train crash, and here in the U.S. they want to suppress the fact that our service men and women are dying in Iraq.  "I'll say this, nobody died, when Clinton lied."

I guess Colin Powell was on record according to Bob Woodward in referring to the Iraq war as a Pottery Barn.  "You break it, you own it!" 

How many years and how much damage will ultimately be done so Bush could be re-elected for another 4 years.  "The legacy of George W. Bush."  

9/11 was tragic.  Also tragic is Why we went to war with Iraq; Why are millions of Americans out of work; How high will the deficit climb; How much was Social Security and Medicare looted to pay for the war; Why was the true cost of the Medicare legislation hidden from Congress; how high will inflation get and wreck havoc on low-income families; and how many years before our international good-will will be restored. 

Our train wreck was named BUSH.  And the Pottery Barn is crashing down all around us.

PRESIDENTIAL DISCONNECT FROM REALITY

4-13-04  President Bush is out of touch with reality.  He proves it over and over again.  Tonight in his press conference, he did not articulate a well defined policy why, when, and how we should have a defined EXIT STRATEGY from Iraq.  The reason is he doesn't listen to anyone except himself, or worse yet Dick Cheney.  Those two are behind a coordinated effort to BLAME EVERYONE ELSE for all the problems leading up to 9-11, and all the problems since 9-11.

It is obvious to most that President Bush and company have no more blame than many other persons and entities for 9-11.  Plenty of blame to spread around and that includes this President and his support staffs.  However, President Bush NEVER makes mistakes.  That's why he is out of touch with reality.  He is in a state of constant DENIAL.  The 9-11 commission should simply state the truths no matter where they fall.  Their recommendations should be strongly considered for implementation by a coordinated effort of Congress (R) & (D), and the Executive Branch.

The Iraq mess is Bush's making and barring a major miracle, the U.S. faces a horrendous number of problems in turning over Iraq to the Iraqi people by June 30, 2004.  We need a multi-national force.  BUT there will never be a multi-national force because BUSH alienated nearly all U.N. countries.  Which means the sacrifices required politically by this President to have that occur is not going to happen.  His pride and stubborn Texas persona will mean more American and Foreign National Deaths.  It will also mean more Iraqi deaths.  It will also mean more world-wide terrorism efforts against the great Satan.  It will mean that for those who are hopeful, there will be no immediate END to the Iraq mess, and Terrorism for possibly years. 

4/8/04  CHAOS FOR OUR MARINES:  Prayers across the nation and the world have to go out for the U.S. Marines and other military and support personnel fighting now in Iraqi cities.  How do you fight men, women and even children who are not easily identifiable as your enemy?  We are taking many casualties and I recall someone in the U.S. Government telling us more than a year ago, how much we would be welcomed in Iraq once Saddam was out of power.  I also recall a President who landed on an aircraft carrier in uniform (like he was Dukakis driving a tank) and then boldly telling us THE WAR IS OVER. 

I read an article this morning where George Will (conservative columnist) who generally will side with the Republicans on most matters raises questions about our adventure in Iraq.  The problem is not enough Republicans (not you Sens Hagel and McCain) are placing pressure on the Administration to face the facts about our ridiculous nation-building exercise into a foreign country that did not militarily (or by terrorist action) provoke our country to war.  We should NEVER view ourselves as higher than GOD when world issues are on the table.  As difficult as it is to solve world problems, those problems need to be addressed by the nations of the world collectively.

BUSH'S VIETNAM

4/5/04 Senator Kennedy was quoted today on CNN stating in effect that Iraq would be Bush's Vietnam.  I agree and IN FACT if you scroll half way down this web site to my entry on 7-11-03 I stated that position.  Iraq gets worse every single day it seems.  Bush and Rumsfeld always want you to believe we have Iraq under control when they should have followed the Military Leaders advice from the beginning.  More troops were needed to maintain control.  Now they are trying to increase the level of troops to meet the needs of security and stabilization of Iraq.  BUT IS IT TOO LATE??

Saddam was a Sunni.  Now a new young Sunni by the name of Al Sadr is gaining Sunni popularity to the point where he has hundreds of Iraqi Terrorists to protect him and to raise hell with the United States military control.  This is such a quagmire that it will unfortunately result in many U.S. deaths.  Our options are limited and no matter what alternatives we arrive at, the probable result will be huge death tolls on each side, and destruction of cities that will result in even more financial commitment to rebuild them.

This is Bush's Vietnam.  It really sucks to watch our military and civilian personnel die for the lies that were created to put us into the Iraqi conflict.  Our resources ($$ and military should have been on the first objective.  Al Qaeda.

BURIED IN THE SAND

4/2/04  How many Iraqi's were buried in the sand by Saddam?  President Bush decided over a year ago to liberate Iraq and remove Saddam.  I would have preferred we did it with the UN but we did it anyway and once underway we support the efforts of our military and all the support people.  Now the Iraqi's stand in the streets and as much as cheer on terrorists who maim and slaughter our people.  They forget all too soon that the U.S. military liberated Iraq from a ruthless Dictator who buried tens of thousands of their people in the Desert. 

I can get into the politics but I won't this time.  The U.S. should pursue with eagerness as they evidently are to make sure these occurrences are minimized and justice will prevail in the long run. 

The U.S. government can track a cow born in Canada over 3 years ago to a stall on a farm in the State of Washington, and then track the calves to their stalls.  Then they should be able to use the videotapes to find the "weasels" who slaughtered our men in Iraq. 

Where their is SMOKE their is FIRE!!!

3/29/04  I heard the above expression when I was a kid and for more than 60 years, it has proven to be true at least 99% of the time.

It seems the Republican's (BUSH Administration) have found many ways to criticize Mr. Clarke, Paul O'Neil, former Ambassador Joe Wilson and his wife (Valerie Plame), General Anthony Zinni, General Eric Shinseki, John DiIulio, Lawrence Lindsay, and even Senator John McCain.  Mostly all Republicans and loyal American Citizens.  They even went so LOW as to smother poor ol' Dick Foster (Chief Medicare Actuary) with complaints he was lying about the massive charade the Bush people pulled off when it persuaded members of Congress to pass the Medicare Legislation. 

Their is FIRE because the BUSH ADMINISTRATION is full of lies.  It is unimaginable to me that this growing picture still resonates as doubt in the American mindset.   I stop and think, "What the hell is the motive for their doubt?"  The lies have been blatantly obvious, the deception (Iraq, Medicare etc.) is a tragedy of immense proportions in terms of economic well-being for all Americans, and increased terrorism throughout the world.  WAKE UP AMERICA!!! 

3/26/04  A Republican friend of mine forwarded an email with the following amusing joke:

While visiting his niece, an elderly man had a heart attack.  The woman drove wildly to get him to the ER.  After a long wait the ER doctor appeared with a long face.  Sadly, he said, "I'm afraid that your uncle's brain is dead, but his heart is still beating."  "Oh dear!" cried the woman, her hands clasped against her cheeks with shock, "We've never had a Democrat in the family before!"

Another friend of mine who shares many of my political beliefs responded to the same email:

"Hilarious!  And TRUE!  If he had a functioning heart, he could not POSSIBLY have been a Republican!

Myself, I wonder if he was a "compassionate conservative?"

By George W.

I hereby approve the following message

I have created new jobs in India, and China.  We face a choice, we can go back to the job creation in 1990's.  We can also restore relationships with our former friends in countries throughout the world.  However, we do this at great risk because my tax cut package for the wealthiest of Americans will not be the centerpiece of our economic recovery.  I value our ability to raise havoc at any time with the Terrorist's of the world.  Therefore we should resolve to go it alone so that I get all the credit when we do get the infidel leaders.  This is a country of great resolve, and I resolve to do all I can to maintain the great status quo we now enjoy in this wonderful country.  I am your leader AND I APPROVE THIS MESSAGE.

March 20th will be the first anniversary of the conflict in Iraq President Bush decided was necessary to eliminate the weapons of mass destruction, the uranium deposits Iraq had acquired for making nuclear weapons, and the relationship of Saddam to the Al Qaeda terrorist network.

Bush was wrong on all three counts, except he did open the borders of Iraq to Al Qaeda terrorists since our occupation.  I was listening to a brief CNN conversation today (3/15/04) with Wolf Blitzer and Victoria Clark a Pentagon spokesperson.  She indicated that before the war, there were many "disbelievers".  If she talked about the three reasons I discussed above, then she was proven right.  If she was implying we couldn't win the conflict with Iraq - she joins Bush in the nitwit category.  If she was implying the U.S. could do it alone (without the UN or at least the majority) she was right again.  However, sometimes when your so stubborn as to be right, you lose.  The world community as a whole is disgusted with American foreign policy. 

Did the U.S. make the correct decision to invade Iraq?  It will take several more years to make that judgment.  I freely admit I was against the war without the UN.  My record is on these pages.  I'm glad Saddam and his evil sons are gone.  However, I fear that terrorism has increased, and that without a united effort from all the countries of the world, we will suffer from the deep roots of terrorism for many years.  I know this:  George W. Bush is not the person (Leader ??) to get the job done.  Is John Kerry?  At this point, we need a free world Leader to step forward, unite the world with strong leadership and find alternatives to fight terrorism, health problems, drug problems, and a wide myriad of problems.  We have two choices.  Bush is NOT.  Kerry has to be man (leader) to step forward and fill the void.  I submit I would rather go with Kerry.

3/11/04  MORE ON JOBS:  Reports are saying that jobs have been created.  By Whom?  It turns out that the Federal Government had a positive job creation record to date.  However, civilian job creation is in the negative numbers.  In other words "job loss".  I thought Bush did not want to create bigger government????  Guess it's the only way he has real control on hiring.  His cronies in the business world sure aren't opening the flood gates for job creation.  NAW - I'm wrong - just recalled those two (2) jobs he said was created in California on his campaign funding visit.  GOOD BOY BUSHY - YOU NITWIT.

3/6/04  MANUFACTURING JOBS REBOUND - YES !!

What great news.  Wait a minute.   Remember "fuzzy math?"  It turns out that the Bush Administration now is calling all "fast food jobs" manufacturing jobs.  Reason:  They have determined that it takes "heat" to make a hamburger.  Therefore these jobs can now be described as "manufacturing jobs."   It's true, damn it!  Mr. Bush promised 2.6 million new jobs this year and his version of "fuzzy math" will see to it that they occur.  Of course those McDonald's and Burger King jobs pay $5.25 an hour and we know how well we can live on those wages.  An 80 hour work-week at $5.25 an hour will provide more than $400 a week to pay the rent, buy the groceries, clothing etc.  Of course, the wife/mate will have to work 80 hours also.  Oh hell, with the kids, they can take care of themselves.  OH SHIT - I forget - those companies don't offer medical benefits to their employees.  OH WELL, they can take their social security and put it into a retirement account for the Government to steal later.

2004 ELECTION & ECONOMY ISSUES

3/3/2004    John Kerry has been anointed the Democratic Candidate through the Primary process.  GOOD CHOICE.  Dean was a great instigator in getting the anger process on center stage with the status quo across America.  Edwards reflects good potential for the future.  The others were never serious candidates, but they all joined together to express the issues facing the American People.  From this point the issues will be muddied by the Republicans because they have very little substance to deal the deck.  Expect a dirty election process.  The Republicans have tried it twice already and failed.  The Lady whom Kerry supposedly had an affair with has emphatically denied it.  The photo with John Kerry and Jane Fonda has been proven to be a fake.  These REPUBLICANS ARE DIRTY BASTARDS who are all about stroking the wealthy at the sacrifice of the poor and working class citizens of America. 

The American Economy is in the TANK - LITERALLY.  Gas prices are expected to hit the $3.00 a gallon level in some parts of the U.S.  Imagine if you will those who work for near minimum wages.  How in hell can they afford to maintain a vehicle?  Even if the prices run from $1.70 to $2.00 (low's forecasted) it will be devastating.  Businesses across the country will have increased operating expenses.  Prices at the counter are affected by the higher gas prices at the pump.

My primary concern has always been for those who have less, and I fear that in the last 4 years the Republicans have demolished the American Dream for many.  Low wages will breed more criminal activity.  Low wages means many more will have no affordable health care.  Low wages means less food on the table.  (I have to admit with a twisted sense of humor that because Americans are too fat - in some cases that isn't bad.  However, the eating habits of Americans is not really on my agenda.) 

All most Americans desire is an opportunity to have a decent job, and decent wages to establish a modest lifestyle.  Dreams like winning a lottery and having the opportunity to improve their status annually is a healthy mental process.  But the AMERICAN DREAM has been shattered for many Americans during the last three years.  It's time for new leadership who understands America's needs from the poorest to the wealthy.    John Kerry will present a more equal vision and strong leadership skills.  One of his first challenges will be to lead the world community to come together because we all have mutually entwined goals.  Mr. Bush has so angered the world community that it has suffered devastating world-wide conditions whereby the roots have grown so tightly, the process of normality is many times greater than it should have been.  I have a comfortable feeling the cure is now a vision we can all embrace.

2/15/04  LOVE THESE DAMN REPUBLICANS

The current Bush administration has reached the level of the Clinton Administration at its "critical mass" point.  They can provide me with daily doses of pot shots. 

"Dirty Politics" is the crap they're spreading about the Democrats keying on George Bush's National Guard Service.  His military record is important - I'm sure it has been greatly sanitized. But still no one seems to actually recall him being with them.  Seems incredible.  I compare that with his lack of criticism of the CIA in the WOM mystery.  Seems as if you took a country to war on mis-information by the Intelligence Agencies, you should be required to answer to thee  American Public and a little bit "pissed off" at those who gave you false information. 

These Republicans are all about wealth and more wealth for those who rub the Republican coffers.  They give a crap less about the low income folks who are trying to get a good job and support their families.  The Republicans are always going to try to find a way to shift the tax burden to the lower middle class income families and the generations that follow.  Most of those folks will have to work well into their 70's.  AND then you hear Greenspan tell a Congressional Committee they should lower social security payments. 

We need a little economic "pep talk"  How about this:  The Washington Post stated in January that a record number 375,000 jobless workers exhausted their unemployment benefits, the highest number ever recorded.  "I wonder if that is why the President believes we are creating more jobs, those people are no longer counted in the jobless statistics."   Nice going Mr. President.

2/12/04  Miscellaneous Comment:

Gay Marriage should never happen.  Gay unions are more plausible and should include appropriate rights provided the couples identify who is who.  HA HA.   George Bush's military status in the Guard is a reasonable question.  John Kerry's fidelity is also a reasonable question.  I believe each will be resolved to the satisfaction of no one.  CLONING for stem cell research is reasonable.  Cloning of humans is stupid.  We should get out of Iraq within 12 months.  We should intensify efforts to go after world-wide terrorism with a multi-lateral force of International volunteers under the leadership of the United Nations.  It can be done - but not with or under the Bush Administration.   George Bush WILL NOT BE RE-ELECTED.  Many registered Republican voters are informing me they dislike the Bush venture into Iraq and the resulting economic imbalance.   I believe the reason for their comments is because they are sensing that John Kerry will provide more stable leadership for the country.  Halliburton is a scoundrel and someone should go to jail - and Cheney should be included.                   

ABE LINCOLN

2/10/04  Read an interesting letter to the Editor of the local newspaper yesterday.  The writer was thinking about how Abraham Lincoln would be upset if he looked our government today.  The writer said: "Truly government of the people, by the people, for the people perished some time ago."

I agree.  I watched a segment on TV this morning about a Pharmacy that expects to go out of business leaving a community without one.  Over the past few months (and years) we have seen a huge deterioration in manufacturing job losses.  Not only men, but women in the household are sometimes trying to hold down two jobs.  What does that do for family values? 

Congress is out of touch.  Some of the reasons from my perspective are across the board.  The wealthy and the higher income bracket middle-class pocket their accumulations to their own benefit.  SO?  A healthy economy is when everyone is gainfully employed.  NOT SO AT THIS TIME.  We do not see "job creation" across the country.  We do see "job loss".  We do not see reasonably good wages for the poor and lower middle class to have the ability to maintain a decent standard of living and enjoy family values.  We see in the Sports World (and this is very important) selfish millionaires getting obscene salaries from Sports Owners/Moguls.  SO WHAT?  It distorts the entire economic balance - damn it.  Human nature for us is to be sports enthusiasts.  We either can't afford to attend sporting events, or if we do we PUT IT ON THE DAMN CREDIT CARD.  You know eventually the credit card will build up and then we have the multitudes of growing bankruptcies to deal with.  BUT THE WEALTHY, THE CONGRESS AND THE POLITICIANS CAN'T SEE THE TREES FROM THE FOREST.  "It will keep getting worse, and who knows how it will all end up."  When people get dumped on, and left out, crime increases, and hell may have a fury of its own. 

We just recently watched a horrific kidnapping on TV, and a resultant death.  SO?  These people belong in jails - HOWEVER - WE CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP THEM THERE!!  So they are released to society and who pays?  We all do - even the wealthy and the politicians. 

Mr. Bush - the economy is not getting better.  Unless its for the wealthy.  I would love nothing better than to throw the rich politicians out of office and have a citizen government.  BUT - THE ELECTION PROCESS IS GEARED TO HOW MUCH MONEY YOU CAN RAISE.  And that is a key factor. 

Abe Lincoln never would be President in today's United States of America.  I can visualize him in his grave with "tears in his eyes".

GREAT INTERVIEW WITH BUSH / RUSSERT ON MEET THE PRESS ON 2/8/04.

Mr. Russert asked the good, hard questions.  President Bush did a good job in providing his interpretation of the questions.  My wife many years ago dubbed me as Bullard "Bullshit", and I have proudly tried to uphold the reputation. 

Mr. Bush - You are also a good bullshit artist because you actually believe the crap you spread to the American People.  Anyone with half a brain (Die hard Republicans) will eat up the crap you spread as gospel or because they have other ulterior motives.   Democrats, Moderates, and Conservatives could easily see through the shroud of hidden lies from Mr. Bush.  DEMS should be able to take the clips of the Interview itself and use it over and over again, because Mr. President it is a great introspective on you and how irresponsible you have been as a President.  Good job Mr. Russert!  Go for it DEMS!!!!  KICK SOME BUSH ASS.  

NEPOTISM

January 31, 2004  I was watching Barbara Walters on 20/20 Friday evening and she announced that next week she would feature a segment on Nepotism with interviews on the Firestone family and the Trump family.  Pretty damn uninteresting (I thought).

At 4:00 a.m. Saturday morning, I awoke suddenly from a nightmare.  Firestone and Trump families are all about business.  My nightmare was about the Bush Family Nepotism.  Bush I (Recession), Bush II (Recession plus the greatest fiscal deficit in the history of the United States.  What if  Bush III is elected President.  AW SHIT.   Our kids will be shoveling shit for all the Republican Bastards until the end of the Century.   

I was looking for the nitroglycerin to prevent a heart attack.  Scary shit!!!

WMD

David Kay Blames Intelligence

1/26/04  David Kay is highly respected by members of Congress and the Bush Administration.  In today's news, Kay states in an interview with Tom Brokaw that he believes the President was betrayed by Intelligence Agencies on the subject of WMD. 

I want to pose the following thoughts.  "If Bush was betrayed by the Intelligence agencies, where in the hell is his outrage?"  "How come the CIA Director  or others weren't fired?"  I'm telling you they faithfully served their leader and gave him what he wanted.

We all know Bush's style after 3 years.  "My way or the highway!"  I'm do not believe Bush was mislead.  "If anything he would love to have you think he was mislead.  Hell he wanted to go after Saddam from Day #1 and we certainly have facts to support that!" 

BUSH IS A LIAR!!!  He lied about WMD, and he lied about the Uranium.  And he lied about the Terrorist connection.  BUSH IS A LIAR - PERIOD!"  NOW WE REALLY DO HAVE TERRORISTS IN IRAQ!!!!  Bush was so damn determined and blind, he actually brought about the worst scenario possible.  Iraq is now a nation filled with hatred and terrorists ready to take on the United States.

Brokaw and Tim Russert have their heads up their ass.  I honestly can't tell you what their political leanings are and that is the way it should be.  But, they softball Bush to the point where it makes you want to dry heave.  My guess is the millions they make place them in an ideal tax position when it comes to tax breaks for the wealthy from you know whom!  To say nothing of the access and privileges they receive from Political Leaders.  the least they could do is ask the difficult and proper questions, and demand accountability for the citizens of our democracy.  I'm just a no-body - but they failed us big time.  The rights of more than 250 million people are more important than "kissing ass" when it comes to invading other countries and watching our military risk their lives for questionable motives by President Bush and his gang of political thugs.

1/18/04  I read recently about a study reporting that the Iraq civilian casualty toll is 8,000 men, women and children have died since we went into our invasion in March 2003.  This does not include 20,000 more who have been injured.  We are now over 500 military dead, and who knows how many injured, and I was surprised to read that some of our military are committing suicide.  WOW! 

I guess Bush thinks it was worth it because we got Saddam.  The weapons of Mass Destruction are gone I guess.  AND the nuclear claim was deliberately bogus.  The CIA is working for Bush, not for American citizens.  I have seen or heard of nothing but "words" from our political leaders saying, "We need to find out if our intelligence is flawed."  Of Course our intelligence is flawed.  We elected Bush.

What also disturbs me is that we are placing heavy emphasis on our National Guard Reserves.  When it comes to suicidal terrorists, and no holds barred trickery, our Reservists were poorly trained and equipped.  Read the following history lesson:  

HISTORY LESSON - REVOLUTIONARY WAR

1/18/04  During the above war, the British occupied a country where they were not welcomed.  Eventually the American Colonialists drove the British out.  They did it by means of stealth and a new form of fighting that the British were unaccustomed with.  The Colonialists hid behind trees and resorted to many forms of combat that drove the traditional British insane.  "Stand up and fight", they must have wondered. 

Hmmm, I wonder if the Colonialists were considered "Terrorists"?  They won the conflict over a period of time.  But this is the USA.  We were called "Patriots". 

GO NEW ENGLAND - WIN THE SUPER BOWL

1/11/04  This week Paul O'Neil steps forward and confirms what I have always believed.  Bush was pre-determined 9-11 that he would have a go at Iraq and Saddam.  When 9-11 arrived, it strengthened his resolve at whatever cost.  He masked it with misleading information, knowing full well that the American public would support our military effort.  Many months later our military death toll continues to rise and the State Department complicit with the White House always places the positive spin factor to work.  We all knew Saddam was evil, but so were other Dictators in the World.  We never did finish our business in Afghanistan and now that is a mess.  If we were to continue Bush's doctrine's, we could be at war in various areas of the world indefinitely.  I have stated before on this site that I liked the first Geo. Bush and his wife, Barbara.  But this guy, George W. Bush is an evil bastard.  He doesn't give a damn how many military men and women die for his cause.  That he should win re-election in 2004.  Thanks, Mr. O'Neil for having the courage to speak out.  I'm sure you will become a Republican Outcast, but bless your heart for revealing the true side of George W. Bush.  (For you Republican lovers out there, he is the current President, who hid during the Vietnam War).  He was a freaking coward then, and he still is for committing our valiant troops to potential death in a country that should have only been invaded with the total cooperation of the United Nations.

WELCOME TO 2004

Saddam is in custody - And if you listen to the Republican's and some Pundits

The Country is heading in the right direction!

REALLY !!!!

Mr. Bush came into office, he says: "To solve problems and not to pass them on to future presidents and future generations." 

I hope he was able to keep a straight face.  The huge budget deficit he injected into the U.S. economy will be with us for the next 8 years.  Four more for Bush and at least four for Hillary to straighten out the mess Bush and the Republicans got us into. 

The huge subsidy for drugs and insurance companies (ala the new Medicare Bill) is a boom for Bush's re-election coffers.  In comparison, Bush has stifled all environmental efforts to clean up the atmosphere via the Clean Air Act.  The EPA with Bush's consent will let power plants and industries to increase pollution significantly and indefinitely.  Rarely a day passes that the Bush Administration does not confer huge benefits on favored corporations, at the public's expense.  Mr. Bush is the enemy of the environment, and the champion of Big Business.  Their is no tolerance for an intrusive federal government when it comes to Big Business.

Even a Republican Senator, Chuck Hagel of Nebraska believes the country has come "loose from its moorings". 

Ask the Manufacturer's in this country "If they are better off."  China sure as hell is benefiting from the Bush Administration.

The only Freedom of Information permitted in the U.S. is that afforded to the Vice President.  Cheney using the Courts will not have to discuss the Bush Oil Policy and their Enron collaboration.

The Bush foreign policy doctrine of "pre-emptive war" places the United States in direct opposition to many countries within the United Nations.  The new Bush doctrine is "to belittle our long-time allies, then demand their cooperation and money."

Iraq and Afghanistan are messes that will remain for years to come.  Bush's most notorious decision to invade Iraq will embroil the United States in heavy costs of American military lives and money for years in the future.  Bin Laden is still free and waging holy war on America which will eventually have it's damaging effects on U.S. soil.  

Their is much more, so in 2004 I will concentrate on how evil this President is and has been over the past three years. 

A final note.  Visit www.michaelmoore.com.  Read some of the letters he has collected from the troops in our military regarding their feelings about Mr. Bush.

"Presidential Meanderings"

11/23/04  Raiding the "Cookie Jar"  - Mr. Bush with the aid of the Republican Congress used $480 billion in excess Social Security payroll taxes to fund government programs in fiscal years 2002, 2003, and 2004.  The result is two-fold:  It disguises the true size of the operating deficit and places social security for future generations in deep doo doo!  Republican Bastards.

Commander in Chief??  Mr. Bush is above the fray when it comes to funerals for our brave soldiers who died in Iraq.  Neither the President or his close representatives have attended any of the funerals.  They are either too busy or don't want to be the focus of the grieving families.  Instead they prefer to attend Fundraisers.  According to Public Citizen Bush has attended 35 campaign fund-raisers since June 17th and will attend 7 more by the end of the year.  Cheney has attended 31 fundraisers.   Republican Bastards.

Fear mongering.  Maureen Dowd presents a terrific analysis of the new re-election ad by Bush as a pre-emptive campaign strategy.  The ad is currently blanketing Iowa.  Basically she tells about the ad flashing the words "terrorists and self-defense" in crimson.  I think Americans are well aware of the dangers to our people and our country.  But, Ms. Dowd made the observation that the ad's intention is to scare us much in the same way the President did when he made his case to the UN and his State of the Union address that Saddam had "weapons of mass destruction" and "uranium" to build nuclear weapons.  Republican Bastards.

As a friend of mine points out, "Bush is a train wreck in slow motion."  This nitwit of a President has blown our opportunities in Afghanistan.  The warlords are taking control, and a recent TV news program stated the production of Poppy is higher now than it was before we launched a war with Al Qaeda.  In Bush's rush for "Iraqification", he destabilized a whole region without any plan to restore order, and has made a hideous mess for America, it's few allies, and HAS CREATED MORE TERRORIST INTEREST AROUND THE WORLD.  Republican Bastards.

Bush gambled vast amounts of American money, influence, prestige, Iraqi and American lives to topple Saddam.  The world is not safer, The Iraqi people are in a state of flux and the prospect of strife and inner turmoil in Iraq will continue for many years.  We are now committed (without the full cooperation of the UN) and we have little alternative but to watch our brave military lose their lives for possibly years to come.  Republican Bastards.

The anti-deficit Concord Coalition has projected the 2008 on-budget deficit will be $692 Billion.  The net-budget deficit will be $457 billion, or twice the Bush Administration's projection. 

Now you know why I call them REPUBLICAN BASTARDS!!!!

YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR?

11/15/03    BUSH $200 million    -    DEAN $30 million

They both have rejected public financing.  Other than the parties and the candidates themselves WHO is shelling out all the cash?  What are the ramifications of PAY BACK once the winner has been selected in November 2004? 

Take a look back at the 2000 election.  Are you satisfied that the build up in the deficit was worth the price?  Have the policies of the Bush Administration been to your liking?  Jobs? Environment? Iraq? UN and International stalemate? Iran and North Korean Nuclear Potential?  Degradation of civil rights from the Patriot Act? 

If your happy - May GOD love you - OOPPPPs - Did I say that?

THIS WEB SITE IS FOR SALE

Contact: pjbullard38@hotmail.com

10-27-03  Iraq is still a mess and we are forced to dump more $$, lose more lives, and suffer on the home front economically because of George W. Bush lying and misleading the American Public.  WHY?  The Republican agenda to keep Bush in the White House through 2008 was based solely on the American Public supporting their President regardless of how poorly we fared internationally and at home.  This President is the equivalent of a traitor in war time.  It totally disgusts me, but I have to face facts.  The group of Democrats running for President are all excellent, decent men who want to bring prosperity and respect back to the United States of America for all of our citizens.  Unfortunately, none of them will have the campaign funds, or the guts to do what it really takes to beat Bush in 2004.  Dean might come close; Clark is a sentimental favorite as a military general but does not have the organization; and Kerry who was a favorite of mine going in does not possess the toughness to wage a mean and nasty campaign.  The rest of the Candidates are simply not up to the task of defeating Bush.  You might think I'm off the mark but I'm not.  BUSH AND THE REPUBLICANS are the most despicable politicians to hit the campaign trails since Richard Nixon.   They came out of the ashes from the Carter - Reagan campaign in 1980 and formulated political schemes that essentially used basic facts distorted to corrupt the American political landscape.  They put America through 2 economic downturns in the 1980's (one under Reagan and the other under Bush I in the late 80's and early 90's). 

Then came the Clinton's.  Unfortunately a potentially great American President was a nitwit in his personal life (wife).  An easy target, the Republicans devised many of their schemes to disrupt American politics to a level that was neither necessary or reasonable.  But, Clinton made it easy, and the whole nation suffered as a result.  We prospered economically for 6 of the 8 years Clinton was in office.  Even at the end of his term we had wonderful economic forecasts.  Bush claims that we were heading for a downturn economically when he took office.   That's possible, but what any good Leader would do to retain economic stabilization, Bush simply wanted to inject the Republican philosophy of economics into our lives.  It may have been great for the wealthy, but it sure as hell screwed the majority of Americans. 

Then came 9-11.  What a terrific break for Bush.  What a disaster it meant for America.  Bush used up international goodwill so rapidly, it was like dying of a terrible cancer.  Bush and Associates then conjured up their re-election campaign based on our personal American tragedy.  He failed to convince the international community of the need to invade Iraq.  He divided our military resources between Afghanistan and Iraq.  Bin Laden and Saddam are separately directing terrorist actions against us that will go on for possibly decades and eventually may hit us directly on American soil. 

I'm now in my retirement years, and I'm disillusioned with the nastiness that has taken over the American political system.  Republicans are not solely to blame.  Democrats are not exempt.  But, Republicans are masters and Democrats are amateurs in comparison.  If you don't believe me, then you need to sit down and look at the realities of the past 23 years. 

I would love to have someone take over this site and be able to continue the fight for good Democratic values for this country.  I will continue to comment as I desire but I want to focus my energies on my remaining years of leading a quality life with my family.  It is time for someone else to take up the fight that has more influence, and creative skills.       

SELF DESTRUCT MODE

10-1-03  The reason I have been absent from this page is that I'm over-whelmed with the politics of self-destruction by the Republicans.  Reminds me of that damn Bill Clinton and his miserable affair with Monica.  Now the tables are turned.  George Bush is the worst President in the history of the U.S.  Now he is embroiled in a CIA controversy because of political games and that in itself could be extremely damaging to Republicans.  As I have said previously, the critical footsteps of Americans are gaining rapidly in their criticism and awareness of just how bad this administration has performed.  So we democrats can simply sit back for awhile and savor the moment.  What's that old saying, "What comes around, goes around?"     

BUSH LACKS COMPASSION

9/15/03  The following was taken verbatim from a letter that was mailed to a newspaper and printed in the "Letters to the Editor".  The name of the individual is being withheld.  I wholeheartedly agree with the entire content of the letter.

George W. Bush is the worst example of a President that our country has seen in at least many decades.  If not its entire history.  He was called a "compassionate conservative" and promised to "leave no child behind."  He has plundered America's economy, and our nation has lost more than 2 million jobs in just his first two years in office.

He cut unemployment benefits for those who lost their jobs, cut health benefits for American veterans, cut federal education funding for nearly every state in the nation and has decimated funding for a number of agencies that provide services to many Americans and their children.

Bush has promoted and provided insane tax cuts for the rich while stomping on the ability of the middle class and poor to bring home a paycheck.  With the stroke of his pen, he has wiped out the collective bargaining rights of millions of Americans and offered to privatize good paying federal jobs so his exploitative friends at the top of America's corporations can become richer.  He has most recently reduced a scheduled pay raise for federal workers, saying that the country can't afford it.

The American public has never seen the wholesale "rob from the poor and give to the rich" scheme so heavily used until Bush came along.  Even Ronald Reagan was more diplomatic and circumspect, as he took care of his friends.  There is nothing "compassionate" about Bush and it is time for him to let loosen his grip on America and let us lick our wounds.  There is a great deal of healing to do.

#1 TERRORIST ??

WHO IS HE?

He resides in the United States.  He has committed hundreds of our military personnel to the ultimate fate.  He has permitted industry to maintain faulty existing environmental conditions that will lead to the early death of thousands of U.S. citizens with asthmatic or other related health problems.  He has pursued economic policies which are so devastating that even Herbert Hoover would smile.  This person smiles as he gives out checks for tax rebates to the wealthy and literally rapes the pocketbooks of the millions of people in the U.S. who have family incomes less than $50,000 annually (and those who suffer the most from the high gas prices).   He smiles even wider when he rakes in millions of dollars from those who are wealthy enough to promote his re-election.  He evaded the Vietnam War and then had the arrogance to fly aboard an aircraft carrier looking like a hero in a military pilots uniform.   

WE ALL KNOW WHO HE IS - BUBBA??    In your dreams Bush!! 

8-26-03  PSSST - Gas prices are zooming higher and higher  - The Bush Tax cuts are having their effect.  They help families with children pay for the higher gas price at the tank.

8-23-03 "Footsteps" Shhhh (Can you hear them?)  Shhhhh - listen carefully.  Ah - there they are - "Footsteps" - More and more people who voted for Bush in 2000 are telling me they dislike his approach to the economy and the resulting increase in terrorism around the world.  "Mr. Bush, can you hear those footsteps?"  I know I'm just some misguided Democrat to many - but you know what - Mr. Bush you are going to be history in 2004 if those "footsteps" keep gaining.  And you deserve to be history.   "You sir, are the most incompetent President in the last Century of the U.S.  We love your smile (smirk) though - It gives us a great feeling while we are being screwed and hammered  economically and watching American prestige diminish around the world.    

8-17-03  RECALL BUSH - CALIFORNIA STYLE

The majority of residents in California want to recall Gov. Gray Davis.  Not being from their state and faced with their problems, the Governor should face the scrutiny of a recall.  If that is so, why not President Bush.  Our esteemed President is nothing more than an incompetent nitwit.  He has proven it over and over again since his elevation to the Presidency by the Supreme Court.   

As the columnist Matthew Miller points out in a recent column REPUBLICANS HAVE AN HONESTY DEFICIT.   Republicans talk about cutting big government, and in fact they're calling for big increases in spending for Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, military pensions, civil service pensions, defense and INTEREST on the federal debt.  His irresponsible tax cuts and the deterioration of the nation's economy since he took office is reprehensible.  Many corporate executives used the tax cuts on dividends to increase payouts to those who were already wealthy.  The tax cuts did little or nothing to stimulate the economy. 

 9-11 was simple a convenient excuse to proceed with GOP agendas.   Bush was so intent on avenging his father's legacy of not finishing off Saddam he involved the U.S. on a massive war effort without the assistance of the United Nations.  American soldiers die, not UN soldiers.  Iraq is a mess, and costing citizens of the United States a bundle in unemployment, economic devastation to our states, and a ballooning national deficit.  BUSH IS AN INCOMPETENT NITWIT.  Remember Afghanistan?  It is rarely in the news now but the problems have become increasingly more acute.  WE (THE U.S.) CANNOT RESOLVE THE WORLD'S PROBLEMS BY OURSELVES!

The Bush administration has exaggerated problems and evidence in Iraq and possibly 9-11.  I recall an old phrase attributed to Republicans.  "Voodoo Economics"  The back-breaking budget deficits that YOUR CHILDREN will have to endure is simply unconscionable.  This is REPUBLICAN IRRESPONSIBILITY.  The Republicans have also been missing on the environment, and energy management. 

I THINK I MADE MY POINT - RECALL GEORGE W. BUSH !

One last point - The media - It's time for them to step forward and provide leadership that honestly depicts the fiscal meltdown in the United States, and the irresponsible leadership of President Bush.

* * * * * *

Bill Simon (R) of California is more competent to be Governor of California than Arnold Schwarzenegger.  I've yet to hear Arnold issued a single statement  other than deliberative phrases.  I doubt he is intelligent enough to stand up to close political scrutiny by the media or some of the reputable candidates for the office of Governor.

* * * * * *

8/8/03  ARNOLD FOR GOVERNOR.  I'm sure Arnold Schwarzenegger will make the most terrific governor the State of California has ever had since the immortal Ronald Reagan.  He will solve single-handedly all the intricate problems of debt management, health care, population decline, taxes, environmental concerns etc.  His vision far exceeds those of us who are only normal human beings.  His incredible feats of human endurance and beating incredible odds in all of his films will guide him as the most successful political leader in the history of California.  HOLY SHIT - DID I CONVINCE YOU?  Now I'm really sick!  What really pisses me off is how the media will feed off this and actually have a major positive role and impact on his election to office - "The next Governor of California."  (Please tell me he is ineligible for the Presidency because of his immigration to the U.S.)?

I've never wanted to run for any political office, but if Arnold can govern the State of California, I could govern the country.  (less the money I need to run of course)

Protect your civil rights - Did you know that Media Moguls have recently been given the sanction to own multiple media outlets, as well as the major newspaper in the same viewing area.  Log on to the site and determine if that is something you believe is in your best interests.  If not - sign the petition.

REDACT

7/28/03    The new popular word is REDACT.  It means EDIT.  In some pocket dictionaries you will not even find the word.  In fact, a new edition of Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus does not list the word redact.  If you look under edit you will find it.

My point is that the Administration and the Press now use that word to simply tell us that information was changed AFTER THE FACT to MEET THE NEEDS and MISLEAD the AMERICAN PUBLIC into believing BUSH BULLSHIT  about why we should GO TO WAR WITH IRAQ. 

"Give me a freaking break."  The damn press is eating up the word REDACT.  The vast majority of the people in the U.S. never heard of the word.  WHAT A NEAT WAY TO COVER YOUR ASS GEORGE W. BUSH.  The Press should be ashamed of their complicity in misleading the American Public.

JULY 23, 2003  -  WELL DONE TO OUR MILITARY IN IRAQ - THE DEMISE OF SADDAM HUSSEIN'S SONS IS GREAT NEWS.  Lot's of work to be done and many more lives will be lost unfortunately, but HOPE may be on the way if the United Nations will respond positively with troops, money and supplies to Iraq. 

What truly ANGERS me is that our esteemed President is only now acknowledging the need for UN support.  IF YOU ARE A FIRST TIME READER ON THIS SITE I have repeatedly said for months we needed the UN from the GET GO!  Only now that the President is starting to hear the polls and see negative trends is he responding.  

Cowboy Ike as I refer to President Bush and General of the United States (Rumsfeld) must be sleeping much easier knowing that Hussein son's are DEAD - No problems with trials etc.  Maybe a missed opportunity for intelligence but the conclusion was a good one.  Hopefully, our military will sooner (rather than later) find Hussein, WMD (?), and oh yes, that Al Qaeda Leader - Bin (Who) ?

* * 2003**

TWISTED LIES AND DISGUISED IGNORANCE

7-13-03  On "Meet the Press" General of the United States Rumsfeld's interview with Tim Russert was worthy of President Nixon in Watergate, Ronald Reagan in the Iran Contra interview, and President Clinton in Monica Gate.  If you believe the bullshit he put out regarding President Bush's State of the Union message in 2003, then I know of a "green bridge and several acres of swampland" that I can sell you in Washington, D.C. for $100.00.  (By the way, I have a new Bush joke in Political Jill below).

"BOSS TALK"

Phone ringing in CIA Headquarters, Langley, Va. in office of George Tenet.

"Hello, the Director's office, how may I assist you?"

"It's President Bush, Imelda, is my favorite CIA man available?" 

"Yes he is Mr. President, he's been expecting your call.  I'll put you through to him."  Buzzing is heard on the Director's intercom.  "Yes, Imelda?"  "It's the Boss on line 2 for you Mr. Tenet."  He murmur's to himself, "I hope to Christ he gets it right this time, I'm getting tired of taking the heat for that political meathead."  He pauses a moment to collect his thoughts.

"Yes, Mr. President, I got your message from Dick Cheney, and I'm prepared to issue a press release today taking total responsibility for the Uranium fiasco in the State of the Union Message.  Just for the hell of it though, what did your people do with that geo-political report we issued to your office October 14th, 2002 stating the Uranium from South Africa to Iraq was false, and our operatives had planted that to mislead and confuse Tony Blair."

 "It worked George, Tony and G10 sucked it up as you know, and we destroyed it as soon as they took the bait.   Congress swallowed the Brit's confirmation that Iraq was building nuclear weapons with the Uranium (ha ha ha) in my State of the Union message.  So here is how we do it.  You take the heat off me, and then I will give you a vote of confidence.  The matter will then be declared over by me.  Screw the Congress and those wanabe Dem's seeking the 2004 nomination.  You got it George?"

"Yes sir!"  The phone goes dead in the office of CIA Director George Tenet.  The BOSS has spoken!

IRAQ - VIETNAM - ECONOMY

7-11-2003    Maybe this date 7 / 11 will change and negate all that has transpired since Mr. Bush got us into the VIETNAM CONFLICT.  Did I say what I think I just said?  We need more than "lucky numbers" to get us out of this mess.

One American soldier per day is dying.  Tommy Franks said yesterday that he expects we will be in Vietnam (can't get that out of my mind - sorry!) rather Iraq for the next 2-4 years!!! HOLY SHIT  -  150,000 TROOPS - Christ even that has jumped up from 120,000 they only recently told us we needed.  NO URANIUM or WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION YET !  -  It's costing us BILLONS of dollars per month.  Several members of the United Nations DO NOT want to send support troops to Iraq.

BUSH you got what you wanted - WAR - POPULARITY - 2004 Re-election - Yuk - We got VIETNAM ALL OVER AGAIN.     Plus an economy that is still in the tank!            

* * * * *

A new web site to visit for great information about our esteemed President George W. Bush

    * * * * *

SLAPPED AND SCREWED

by President Bush

* * * * *

Weapons of Mass Destruction

If you are looking for weapons of mass destruction, please click on the above site.  Type  weapons of mass destruction in the block.   CLICK "I'm feeling lucky".  Carefully read the error message.  You will learn all the details about the weapons of mass destruction.

* * * * *

It Matters

A terrific analysis of George W. Bush

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JULY 4, 2003

"A fresh new vision for the Democrat Party"

I have reviewed a new web site "2020 Democrats".  I am optimistic that if they succeed in their "grass roots" efforts across the country, we will have Democrats in our future with a fresh new vision of dealing with the problems that the United States and the World will encounter.  Stable economies across the globe, environmental issues, and a stronger United Nations is paramount to national world order.  My best wishes for success to this new and young group of democrats.  Please log onto their web site.  Let's follow their progress and support their quest.

CAMPAIGN FINANCE (6/22/03)

I wrote the novel Republican Bastards in the late 1990's to depict the many problems of campaign finance reform.  Congress eventually passed a new campaign finance bill.

Judge for yourself the following projected information by the media.

"In the first 3 months of 2003, nine Democratic hopefuls for the 2004 Presidential Election raised approximately 20 million dollars total."

"President Bush is expected to raise 20 million dollars in the next two weeks during his sweep of the country in order to raise money for his bid for re-election.  It is also projected by the media that within the next 12 months the total will reach 200 million."

TAX CUTS FOR THE WEALTHY - Really - Maybe they were tax cuts for the President's re-election.  Only the wealthy can provide that much funding.

One more thought!!  What is to be gained and by whom???

http://www.Reynoldswatch.com

6-21-03  I'm pleased to acknowledge a new web site above that was forwarded to me from New York State Democrats.  Congressman Tom Reynolds (R-NY26) personifies the title of Republican Bastard.  Thank you to the individual who forwarded this information to me.

LEGACY OF LIES (June 9, 2003)

President Bush is building his legacy.  The media and world attention is now starting to focus on the lies of President Bush and others in regards to hyping the Iraq War.  No question they lied about the supposed URANIUM Iraq was receiving from South Africa.  Condi Rice smoothes it over but the fact is the administration outright LIED to the American people and the World with the able assistance of Tony Blair. 

I am beginning to believe they ALSO LIED regarding evidence of WMD.  Condi Rice, Tony Blair, Powell, Rumsfeld and Bush are trying to either emphatically deny it by stating the evidence will eventually turn up and the discrediting of the CIA is heating up.  Those Weapons labs Iraq had may be real, but how many years ago were they discontinued?  The more the media digs, I believe they will find Bush lied about the Saddam connections to Al Qaeda.

Saddam was an evil man - no doubt about it.  We have lost a couple hundred military lives for a country who daily distrusts and hates us.  The Shiites and Mullahs will build angry resentment every day we remain in Iraq.  It's a no-win situation.  EXCEPT FOR BUSH.

Bush loves War - It will keep him in office - 6.1 % unemployment and layoffs still escalating weekly, gas prices going up for the summer travel season, state taxes and levies continue growing to meet unfunded federal statues and no relief in site except the President's Tax Cut.  HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!  (It's all Bubba's fault you know).  Bush loves his rich buddies so much he left off more than 10 million impoverished Americans with children including many of the service families now fighting and being killed in Iraq until the two Maine Senators started a movement to reverse the inequity.

Bush will beat the drums for war with Iran or any country (but not North Korea) so we will see his strong military leadership qualities and re-elect him.  We still haven't found any of the top 5 Al Qaeda leaders, we will never find Saddam, and we will be cleaning up and rebuilding Iraq for many months if not years.  And Afghanistan. 

Was Iraq worth it??  I submit it would have been worth it, if Bush had worked harder to get unified UN support .  He will say it was not possible.  Maybe because the world wasn't quite as gullible about WMD, Uranium nuclear potential, and Al Qaeda operatives using Iran and Saddam for a launching pad to destroy the Great Satan.    

May 2003

PATRIOT ACT  - I have said it before on this page.  This administration is determined to shred our civil liberties.  The Justice Department defends their attempts to have FBI agents visit public libraries and bookstores to find out what we read.  They also can use the Patriot Act to the nth degree to use wiretaps and label religious and political groups as terrorists. 

I'm all for getting the terrorists in this country and putting them away.  But this Bush Administration is scary.  They can put innocent people in custody for months or years without having to reveal WHY they are doing so.  Americans are entitled to due process and court procedure. 

The Total Information Awareness System is now a Pentagon project.  TIA will be an electronic street sweeper designed to short-circuit terrorist plans before they can be put into action.  But TIA also holds the potential for enormous abuse of individual privacy.  TIA will give the government the ability to track any individual's credit card records,  e-mails, government documents that contain your name, and of course the books you check out at your local public library.  They may monitor this web site.  I don't give a shit what they check on me, but it's the idea of it.  I'm sure they will laugh, because other than being an eccentric ole buzzard who dislikes REPUBLICAN BASTARDS and CONSERVATIVES the best they can do with me is find a traffic violation.  So screw you ASHCROFT.  I served over 20 years in the military - did a great job and I'm proud of it.  I just have the right everyone has to check out a book at the library without you poking your god-damned nose into what I read.  AND the last I knew, you rotten bastards, I even have the right to say what I think.  Even if you don't agree.

The Federal government should have some latitude to have expanded surveillance authority in the war against terror.  BUT NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. 

Bush isn't the leader we think he is.  He will scrounge up any reason to put our military into a conflict to appear as a leader.  I will admit he may be scary to 3rd world nations, but is that what we should be doing?  Now they are talking about Iran.  Well Iran is a bad place in our world I'm sure.  Why in the hell doesn't he go after Castro?  Mexico is a bad place too if you consider how many illegal drugs come across the border.  But he wants all those Mexicans in the USA to vote for him.  Politics you know is GOD ALMIGHTY. 

MARK FIORE ARCHIVE

Cartoonist & Animator - YOU WILL LOVE THIS SITE

TAX CUT MAN

http://sfgate.com/comics/fiore/

This months tax cut is your grandchildren's tax increase

April Notes:

Congrats to our U.S. Military.  Good job well done.  Cowboy Ike is standing tall and proud along with his administration stooges. 

It's Tax Day:  Pay your taxes.  Except for the rich.  Bush wants to give you a LARGE TAX BREAK.  That will shore up the Economy!!  Yes??  You know the economy will now zoom - obliterating any mistakes his Daddy did with ignoring the economy in 1992.  2004 - Good Move Bush!  I wonder if Congress agrees???

Where are those deadly WMD??  Oh I know where:  IN SYRIA!!  Let's get em Bushy.  Syria will be a little more difficult to defeat giving you enough time and wartime popularity to carry you into your second term.

Iran - You'd better watch out.  Santa is coming with a big BUSHY grin.  We will then Democratize all the Arab world rather they like it or not!  Hell Korea - who gives a BIG BLACK DUMP about you guys!

Do you suppose GOD would allow us to worship Bush as we do JESUS??  After-all Bush maybe the new savior for the Arab World.  There not only shaking in their sandals, but re-evaluating how they can kiss the big guy's backside.  I'm sure of it - Aren't You????

"DIRTY TRICKS"

3/26/03  Imagine this:  The Iraqi (enemy forces) are using dirty tricks against our military.  Dress in civilian clothes and then fire on our unsuspecting soldiers.  They also surrender and WHOOPS do the same.  Of course this may be against the rules of War.  WHOOPS AGAIN.  The rules of war are non-existent against Saddam.  AND it gets our guys killed or wounded. 

President Bush and General of the United States Rumsfeld put Saddam's back to the wall and said we are going to replace the regime in Iraq.  Now if you and I were Saddam (thank god we are not) what would you do?  I would pull out all stops.  The U.S. is going to kill me and my sons.  I'll make them bastards suffer before I die.  I will fight dirty and nasty down to the last second of our lives.

Bush - you and Rumsfeld are the biggest nincompoops to ever lead the U.S. to any war.  May god forgive you for all our guys who have to die because of your stupidity.  I know you will blame it on Saddam.  HEY - YOU PUT HIS BACK TO THE WALL - WHAT THE HELL DID YOU EXPECT?

3/25/03 The U.S. Senate today cut President Bush's tax plan in half from a request of $726 Billion dollars.  ARE YOU JOKING?  WE ARE AT WAR AND WE CUT TAXES.  Our grandchildren will be paying for these crazy Republican economic initiatives for several generations.  I have said it before, the unfortunate seniors of the next generation will work until they are 75.  The wealthy will retire between age 50-60.  When in the hell are the people of the U.S. going to wake up to the fact that George W. Bush is a blithering nincompoop when it comes to the economy and the deficit.

Or maybe he isn't such a fool after all - YOU ARE THE FOOLS and you will find out only after George W. is safely tucked away in his financial paradise. 

"AYE AYE, SIR"

3/25/03  TRY TO MAKE SENSE OUT OF NONSENSE ??

Today Gen. Barry McCaffrey, an NBC News Military Analyst was criticized by Sec. of Defense Rumsfeld, albeit not by name.  Gen. McCaffrey was instrumental in the success of the first Iraqi War as a battlefield Commander in charge of an Infantry Division. 

Gen. McCaffrey had expressed the opinion that not enough military assets were in place to sufficiently support the current war effort in Operation Freedom.  He may be correct, and only time will tell. 

As a military officer or enlisted, male or female, it is your training and your duty to obey the laws and commands of your superiors.  "Aye Aye Sir!"

So when the U.S. Military is ordered by their Commander in Chief or the Sec. of Defense to carry out a mission.  No questions are asked except what is the mission and what latitudes exist to get the mission accomplished.  "Aye Aye Sir!"

Retired Gen. McCaffrey is entitled to his observation under the First Amendment.  That is until the Bush Administration with the assistance of the Supreme Court strike the Amendment down.  Don't laugh, look up some of the provisions of the proposed Patriot Act II.  It's scary stuff. 

My point is that if the President had not been hell bent on replacing Saddam from Day 1 of his Presidency, we might be doing Operation Freedom with the backing of the U.N. and the worldwide community.  Bush did not even want to go to the U.N. in 2002.  He wants you to think he did, but he only did it because of pressure from Sec. of State Colin Powell and others.  Instead this President, unlike any other President in our history, thought he was God, President of the World, and make negative remarks toward foreign countries all over the globe.  He refused to listen, heed, and build the coalitions that his father #41 so masterfully coordinated. 

We will win Operation Freedom.  But at what cost?  How long will it take?  How many American and British lives will be lost?  How many innocent Iraqi lives will be sacrificed?  All because cowboy IKE didn't have the patience and diplomacy skills that the leader of the Free World should possess.  THINK ABOUT IT! 

PRESS CONFERENCE

3/7/03  Grade A Mr. President.  Maybe your finally learning how to communicate.  But questions still remain.  After UN discourse today it is evident war with Iraq will be within 72 hours of the March 17 deadline presented by Great Britain.  Once it begins we will certainly be supportive of our military.  Let us pray that all the educated birdbrains in the administration know what they are doing.  I'm less confident - I think it could drag for months with dug in Iraqi's in the streets of Baghdad.  A city of 5 million.  I will pray for a quick end.  But we should all be curious and cautious about backlash from various entities.

THE BIG LIE

Bush Pushes the Big Lie Toward the Brink

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary

WAR ON IRAQ

3/3/03 Congratulations to NBC Today Show.  A special town hall meeting with a panel of experts that represented an across the board political, military and terrorism viewpoints was extremely well presented.  IN FACT - I was impressed for the first time that the policy of Containment will not work.  Believe it or not the viewpoint came from Sen. Joe Biden, a Democrat from Delaware.

Maybe the Bush Republican Administration should suck it up and learn how to effectively communicate those WHY'S to the American public and the United Nations.  Then all that would be left is to logically answer the questions of how much ($$) - how long will we be there - and positive and negative impacts of such a military action.

Yes - I am persuadable on Iraq - But BUSH IS AN IDIOT ON THE ECONOMY AND ON THAT ISSUE I'M NOT BUDGING. 

PRE-EMPTIVE MILITARY FORCE

The case is being made that the President has the obligation to use pre-emptive military force in self-defense against adversaries who threaten U.S. national security.  Shit - I agree.  Hmmmm - let me think now.  North Korea seems to me should be first on the list.  Libya still supports Terrorism.  Case could be made against Iran of course.  Syria is certainly a prospect.  Hell even Saudi Arabia should be considered.  No question that Pakistan harbors terrorists within its borders.  YES, Iraq is on the list.  Should it be first??  Gotta start somewhere.  YUP Mr. Bush - you have many countries for us to consider pre-emptive military force against.  We probably should consider nuclear weapons.  We lack military strength in personnel numbers to take on all those countries at one time or even back to back.  DAMN - I just thought about something else.  WE HAVE TO ECONOMICALLY REBUILD ALL THOSE COUNTRIES. 

MR. BUSH - YOU OUR HERO!!!  I'm talking about what all those countries might be thinking when it comes to rebuilding.

WAR PROTESTS AROUND THE WORLD

http://www.hyperreal.org/~dana/

TELEMUNDO  Interview

2-20-03  In an interview segment on the morning news networks, George W. Bush deserves to receive an "ATTABOY".  He was calm, polite and came across as dignified with his approach towards Iraq indicating War would be a last resort.  And the U.S. would work with the United Nations. 

IS IT TO LATE??   Maybe he, and Rumsfeld are starting to wise up that their rhetoric of warmongering and threats toward the European Community were uncalled for.

WHAT GOES ROUND - COMES ROUND

An excerpt from David Gergen's article in U.S. News & World Report February 24.

"a few years ago, it became fashionable in conservative circles to treat our old allies with contempt.  Coming into office, George W. Bush was disinterested (never once had he been to Paris or Berlin), and since then, dismissive.  The White House ran roughshod over Europe on the environment, a world court, steel trade, and other issues.  In trying to build European support for a war against Saddam Hussein, the president has relied on pressure more than persuasion.  For months the United States made a hash of public arguments on Iraq.  Secretary of State Colin Powell made an overwhelming case of Saddam's perfidy at the U.N., but by then public attitudes in Europe had hardened."

I still remember when U.S. Presidents were tough behind the scenes and left the doors open for solution solving publicly.  NOT THIS PRESIDENT - HE WANTS THE WORLD TO KNOW HE IS A TOUGH GUY AND THE LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD.

HORRIBLE THOUGHT

It occurred to me in the middle of the night that it's possible our fearless leader could become the next Herbert Hoover.  OW!!  I'm not talking a recession but a DEPRESSION.  People jumping out of windows on wall street, people like you and I in food lines, sleeping on the streets at night.  Oh you say that can't happen.  Hope you're right.  Greenspan doesn't like cowboy Ike's spending plans, and frankly speaking I wish I could have my own Gov't Printing Press rattling 24 hours a day printing all the $$ I want.  AND I DON'T INTEND TO PAY IT BACK EITHER.  There - stuff that!

2-14-03  Received an email from a friend who said: 

    "If Dumbya wanted to play war, maybe he should have practiced by showing up for his Air Guard drills in 1970."  In another email he said, the "leader of the free world" is a marble-mouthed war-mongering nitwit!

Since I agree I decided to place the comments on the web site.  My problem is that Mr. Bush and Mr. Rumsfeld have destroyed for an indeterminate period of time our relationship with many foreign countries who have been friends of the U.S.  It may seem insignificant to Republicans and those who are so quick to go to war, but their attitude may have negative consequences to the U.S. for a decade or more. 

My assessment of father and son is as follows:

#41

"A class act with Integrity and honor"

#43

"Ruffian"

#41 & #43

Economically Challenged

PRESIDENTIAL SHAME

"DEFICITS FOREVER"

2/9/03:  Remember the President who recently promised in the State of the Union message that "we will not deny, we will not ignore, we will not pass along our problems to other Congresses, to other presidents and to other generations."  The same President radiated calm and assurance about the troubled economy.  "We delivered the largest tax relief in a generation."

Lets review some highlights (uh, excuse me LOWLIGHTS)

    U.S. Stocks have lost almost $5 trillion of value since Bush took office two years ago, a mind-blowing decline.  Don't blame it all on 9-11 as stocks fell much faster up to 9-10-01 than after.  On Jan 20, 2001 U.S. Stocks were valued at $14.7 trillion.  The first week of February 2003, stocks were valued at $9.9 trillion.

    Unemployment is up more than 40 percent in the past two years.

   On Jan 20, 2001 the CBO projected a $5.6 trillion surplus.  Mitch Daniels, the head of Bush's Office of Management and Budget says the fiscal 2003 deficit could be $300 billion, and that does not include the $175 Billion robbed from the Social Security surplus (Lockbox that turned into a leak box). 

    Hey you say we have low Fed rates.  Great for car and home loans.  But the Fed can't lower the rates any further and refi and car sales are starting to soften.   Now Bush parades a package of tax cuts to the wealthy and wants to further remove billions of dollars of investment income annually from the reach of the IRS.  THAT MEANS THE BURDEN OF FINANCING GOVERNMENT WOULD FALL EVEN MORE HEAVILY ON THOSE WHO DEPEND ON WAGES FOR THEIR LIVING.

War with Iraq, Aids, Medicare, Prescription Drugs, Homeland Security.  Where does it all END??  How much more will it all cost?? 

In the 1990's the Republicans screamed to balance the budget and reduce the deficit.  Now that a popular President is in office there is little resistance to deficits on the Republican side.  NOW THE REPUBLICANS ARE A BUNCH OF

TWO-FACE REPUBLICAN BASTARDS

                                                                2/4/03

Today's Memorial Service in Houston was moving and well orchestrated.  President Bush amplified the feelings of America in his tribute.  May we all reflect long and deeply about the courageous missions of our astronauts.  The space program should continue after appropriate review and modification.  It is unfortunate, but Congress and the Executive Branch over the last decade have been shortsighted in their funding for the NASA Space Program.  New Space vehicles are needed and hopefully the funding will now be available.

STATE OF UNION 1/28/03

CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES

THE STATE OF THE UNION SUCKS

What the President is expected to say:

I plan to wage war on Iraq - I expect to dole out millions to the wealthy - I will make it my quest to overturn the abortion law - AND I PROMISE YOU THAT AT THE END OF MY FOURTH TERM IN OFFICE I WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE 20 TRILLION DOLLAR BUDGET DEFICIT that former President Clinton was instrumental in creating

In his 2002 State of the Union Message, George Bush stated his budget would create jobs.  Tim Russert of NBC News says we lost 1.4 million jobs nationwide in 2002.

My Question:  How many jobs will we lose this year with the President's new budget???  Oh I forgot, It's President Clintons fault!!!!

* * * *

1/17/2003  It is time to publish my comments on the Iraq / North Korea policies of the Bush Administration.

Iraq is no threat to the United States or any of its allies.  They might be considered to be a threat to the security of Israel.  However, if Saddam ever attacked Israel, he would be history in less than a week. 

North Korea is a real threat to the security of South Korea, Japan, Okinawa, Philippines, Australia and possibly the mainland of the United States with nuclear warheads on ballistic missiles. 

We are already losing international support.  Polls indicate Germany, France and England with 70-80 percent disapproval of President Bush's doctrines against Iraq. 

WE NEED A POLICY of multi-lateral UN support for Iraq and North Korea that includes and engages all the countries of the civilized world.   That policy should be containment utilizing the resources of the United Nations including Russia and China for however long may be reasonable.  Subtle pressure and negotiation should be on the table.  When clear and over-whelming convincing evidence is available to the citizens of the United States and the United Nations then military action may be required. 

President Bush's saber-rattling policy and his Axis of Evil Statement is/was childish and reflects his Texas cowboy comic book experience.  With his actions he has infuriated public opinion against the United States abroad, and strengthened the resolve of Muslim terrorists, Saddam Hussein, and Pyongyang.

    ******

B is for Bush

B is for Bastard (as in Republican Bastard)

E is for the Economy and he still doesn't get it!!!
(Just like his Daddy)

10 JAN 2003

President Bush announced his 2003 economic plan and although he appropriately reduced the marriage penalty, he is still catering to the wealthy.  We now place our economic salvation in his hands, hoping the stock market will rebound, and investor confidence returns.  If Wall Street is a mirror of the economy, then let it be his legacy if he hopes to win the 2004 election.  BUT, wait a moment.  Wasn't he the Governor of Texas?  Of course he was.  THEN WHY IN THE HELL DID HE LEAVE ALL THE GOVERNORS OF THE UNITED STATES IN A BUDGETARY QUANDARY?  I guess he forgot that THEY ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET.  He can just let the DEFICITS run wild now and believe me - he intends to do exactly that.  Hey all you smart assholes out there - How are you going to pay for it?  When??  (Oh I see, your children will pay for it!!!)  Of course we could just increase the age of social security entitlement to 75.  That would have a nice effect on the budget.  Maybe Clinton wasn't the most moral President - but at least he knew how to grow the economy and how to get out of deficit spending.  I admit: The Jury Is Still Out!!! 

** 2002 **

HOLY SHIT - ANOTHER REPUBLICAN BASTARD FROM THE PAST

Henry Kissinger - Leave it to Geo. W.

The name does not inspire a feeling of trust.  This wily fox has now been anointed as guardian of the henhouse to chair the 9-11 investigation.  Oh sure!  We'll really find out what the Republican's knew and when they knew it.  The American public deserves better than to choose a former Republican Secretary of State who will brush over any information that will cast the current republican administration in bad light.  Our prayer is that Geo. Mitchell, a good Democrat will not let it happen.

WELCOME BACK THE REPUBLICAN BASTARDS FROM THE 80's

December 2002 - The season to be excited about Christmas and the coming New Year.  MAYBE NOT.  Some old Republican friends have just been given the keys to Santa's War on Terrorism.  The names should not inspire any of us to a high level of confidence.  Just the opposite in fact, if they follow their old ways of deception to the American Public.

    John Poindexter was appointed by Geo. W. to direct the "Total Information Awareness" program.  Elliot Abrams another Iran-Contra co-conspirator is now serving on the White House National Security Council.

    I was already concerned about an attack on our "civil liberties" with the policies of Geo W. carried out by Atty Gen. Ashcroft, but now with Poindexter, Abrams and several other ex-Iran-Contra jackasses the American privilege of privacy is going to be under attack.  Check out the web site:  www.bordc.org for further information about safeguarding our civil liberties.  New listing on Links.

    Poindexter and crew will be using the guise of Homeland Security to build a system that could invade your privacy when it comes to Internet Security, banking transactions, travel arrangements, credit card purchases, medical conditions, employment history, real estate transactions, car purchases, telephone records and any other information contained in computer database these days.  THAT'S SCARY !!!!!!!!

    Poindexter and Abrams deceived Congress back in the 1980's.  Their lack of ethics is what appealed to Geo W.  The Bush record is already one that routinely exaggerates in their ongoing campaign to justify war with Iraq.  After all, Geo W. has to finish his "Daddy's" unfinished war.

    In sum folks, this is another piece of the puzzle by Geo. W. and Atty Gen. Ashcroft strategy to erode civil liberties in pursuit of homeland security.

TEXAS PRESIDENTS

We have had three Presidents from the State of Texas

LBJ put us into the Vietnam War

BUSH 1 correctly involved us in the Gulf War

BUSH "W" wants to be the first President to involve the United States in a war that could be the first ever initiated by our democracy.

NOVEMBER 2002 ELECTIONS

YES -The Republicans now have control of both houses of Congress - first time since the 1950's.  The Democrats proved to be leaderless, without innovative ideas, candidates that came from the dark ages of politics, and no clue how to break the logjam other than praying for a political pendulum swing.  

SPEAKING OF REPUBLICANS

"If the Republicans will stop telling lies about us, we will stop telling the truth about them."

-- Adlai Stevenson (D-Ill)

"When the Republican Bastards stop telling lies to the American Public, then we will stop calling them Republican Bastards."

-- Phil Bullard (author: Republican Bastards) --

Fact is, they can't explain what THEY believe, and must resort to distorting the truth - (Miserable Republican Bastards)

***********