Lies and the Lying Liars who Tell Them

I thought the Bush Administration was supposed to usher in an era of American politics and leadership, one which returned honesty, humility, and integrity to the White House and Capitol Hill. No so it would seem, not so at all; every day seems to bring revelations of new Republican wrongdoing. One has to wonder where will it all end.

Today Tom Delay admitted that he had once again thumbed his pasty nose at the law and the rules of the House by failing to disclose contributions to his legal defense fund. Senate Majority leader Bill Frist continues to obfuscate the truth about his HCA stock sell which netted him million of dollars days before the company reported deepening losses. And then there is what is now being referred to as Plamegate a deepening scandal in which now the Vice President may now be knee deep in, and has lied about, both to the American people and perhaps to a Federal Grand Jury.

It is the height of irony and hypocrisy that some high ranking Republican politicians and political pundits actually have the audacity to advance the notion that perhaps lying to Federal Grand Jury is not such a bad thing after all. Excuse me, but didn’t the Republicans impeach a President over perjury charges? How now is it okay for high government officials to stay in office for the same offense? Do they (the Republicans) think our memory that short? They must to spew such nonsense.

BBC NEWS | Middle East | US death toll in Iraq hits 2,000

BBC NEWS | Middle East | US death toll in Iraq hits 2,000
Is it enough to be disgusted at the obscene waste of human life this very ill-advised war has cost on both sides? Is protesting enough if impassioned cries to get our of Iraq land on deaf ears, closed minds, and cold hearts?

In America this is the poor mans war; it was recently reported that a disproportionate number of the U.S. Serviceman being killed in Bushs’ War are from rural America. Those in the city apparently have better things to do with their time and lives. City dwellers seem detached from this War, it has become a side show, an occasional annoyance on the evening news. Life for most of us goes on as it always had, and perhaps that needs to change.

2000 Americans dead and rising, and we may never know how many Iraqis have given their lives for this unjust, un-noble and illegal cause. Was, and is the War worth the sacrifice of so many for so little tangible gain? I say NO, NO, NO!! But how are we now to disentangle ourselves from the morass Bush and his arrogant posse have led us into? We cannot cut and run, for Iraq is already become Afghanistan II only worse for what better proving (and hunting) ground could terrorist hope for then the one we’ve provided for them in Iraq? It is maddening to give prolonged thought to, and maddening still to think that more then half the population of America thought it was a good idea to invade and occupy a sovereign nation.

2000 Americans dead and rising…for what, for what, for what?

Bush: Military action against Syria Last option - Mideast/N. Africa - MSNBC.com

Bush: Military action against Syria Last option - Mideast/N. Africa - MSNBC.com: "former Lebanese premier Rafik al-Hariri."
So are we in the business of invading other countries (as a last option of course) because they oppose us on well, anything? What is the ludicrous talk of invading Syria as a last resort? Are we back in 1914 when all it took the simple assassination of one man to start a World War and bring about the death of millions? Has the United States under George W. (kick me I’m stupid) Bush becomes the world’s bully, threatening counties with military action if they don’t kowtow and give us what we demand?

Not that Syria has much to fear from the United States military, sad to say. The Army is in no condition to invade Marco Island, let alone a large country like Syria with a rather large standing Army; ditto for the Marines. The most Syria has to fear is a few cruise missiles fired its way from U.S. Navy ships in the Mediterranean of Air Force bombers, probably out of Iraq. Little more could be done, and even that is nonsense.

If the Syrian government is responsible for the assignation of former Lebanese premier Rafik al-Hariri, then the United Nation should hold the country account. The United States should not act unilaterally, or in concert with Great Britain; use the U.N. and let that be the end of it. Enough talk of WAR, WAR, WAR!!

Prelude to a Leak - Newsweek National News - MSNBC.com

Prelude to a Leak - Newsweek National News - MSNBC.comOh what a tangled web they weaved when first they sought to deceive—the American public, and the People trust. The much lauded and ever changing goals for the Iraqi invasion have all gone by the way side, side lined and supplanted by the stupefying ineptness in which the invasion and resulting occupation is being handled. War is always supposed to be a last resort, a nasty little thing we never aspire to unless America and Americans are directly threatened.

As time and numerous news stories have revealed, Saddam was no threat; at least not to America or its citizens. Now 2000 dead American serviceman and as yet un-enumerated dead Iraqis later, the Middle East is worse off then when we invaded. Bush ruins everything he touches, and his Administration is an abysmal failure, mired by scandal, and shoot through with corruption and ineffectual leadership at every level.

It is becoming increasingly evident to this American citizen that Bush and his arrogant cronies have set up a shadow government and are keeping their own counsel, creating a family of inbred siblings who have taken America down a dangerous and disastrous road to ruin. I would like to thank my fellow citizens—those who voted for Bush not once, but twice—for their lack of reflective thought and hysterical political blindness. Are you proud?

CNN.com - Arrest warrant Issued for DeLay - Oct 19, 2005

CNN.com - Arrest warrant Issued for DeLay - Oct 19, 2005
Excuse me while I rosin up my bow and tune my singing voice! Who said a little bit of humility is good for the soul? Well Tom Delay is about is about to be humbled before the American people, whose interests he has worked so long and hard to undermine. V. Edward to Tom: please, please rise to the occasion and refuse to appear before the Court! That way the music can continue as they haul you away in handcuffs; what a party that would be!

Did Vanity Fair lighten Beyonce's skin? - Access Hollywood - MSNBC.com

Did Vanity Fair lighten Beyonce's skin? - Access Hollywood - MSNBC.com
Despite protestations to the contrary, there is a fair chance that Vanity Fair has lighten Beyonce’s skin. Magazines have been lightning Black folks skins for decades; I guess they thought we wouldn’t notice, or just blame it on lighting. It’s a shame that that in 2005 the face of beauty still has to come wrapped in a white or near off-white package in order to be appreciated.

Black—or-brown—is beautiful and every time I look at my wife I sigh, she is so damn beautiful!

CNN.com - Chertoff, Chao promote guest worker program - Oct 18, 2005

CNN.com - Chertoff, Chao promote guest worker program - Oct 18, 2005
All I can say is: it’s about time! The U.S. immigration policy has been just plain stupid for far too long; an illegal immigrant should be an illegal immigrant no matter what his or her nationality. It has taken the Bush Administration far too long to address this issue; it is now some four years after 9/11 and we are just now moving to close our Southern Border!!

But for all of the bravado this announcement entailed, predictably a crucial element was missing; namely a promised crackdown on employers who employ illegal aliens. After all without jobs, there would be little reason to risk life and limb to come here. And no I do not buy the argument that illegal aliens are filling jobs Americans do not want. Granted they may be true in some very low level service jobs, but not in industries such as construction, warehousing, food service, call centers, highway construction, and other (living wage) jobs that have traditionally gone to lower class or teenage Americans. The runaway greed of American business must be addressed with equal vigor if the illegal immigration problem is ever going to brought under control.

CNN.com - E-mails show FEMA infighting, frustration - Oct 18, 2005

CNN.com - E-mails show FEMA infighting, frustration - Oct 18, 2005

It is quite clear to the American citizen that Bush’s culture of incompetence has permeated every corner of the Federal Government save the military and they have had their moment over the last five years. FEMA used to be a government agency that worked and worked well; not so under Bush and the Republican regime.

There is general feeling among those of us who did not vote for Bush (those of use still capable of rational and reasoned thought) that the man has ruined our country—both internationally and domestically; the can do country and society has devolved into the cannot nation. Bush’s mediocrity has sickened the nation with a cancer, and it will take bold leadership to cure it. Bush’s lack of leadership, intellect, vision, wisdom, and inability to see beyond his arrogant nose has led us to this place. But I don’t blame him, he never claimed to be a deep thinker and has proved this time and again; I blame the people who were dim-witted enough to put him in the White House, not once, but twice. Shame on you!

CNN.com - Bush's job rating continues to drop - Oct 17, 2005

CNN.com - Bush's job?rating continues to drop - Oct 17, 2005
I would cry if I weren’t so happy! Gloat, gloat, gloat! I wonder how many, if any Republicans are having buyer’s remorse? Its still hard for me to believe that more then half the voting public reelected this Moron to a second term…

Iraqi constitution seems likely to pass - Conflict in Iraq - MSNBC.com

Iraqi constitution seems likely to pass - Conflict in Iraq - MSNBC.com
And so it begins, and continues, but to what end, to what end? Given the s0-called low level Civil War already underway in Iraq, can a piece of paper no matter how noble really make a difference of the people do not believe in its cause? The Iraqi Constitution is already flawed, and as written has already sowed the seeds of oppression into the soured soil of the fledging Iraqi democracy.

I have long asserted that the tough decisions have yet to be made. There is a logical division within the failed Iraqi stated that with the right guidance, leadership and vision (never happen) could divided into three separate and equal states. To my thinking, this is the only way to bring real lasting peace to the war-ravaged country.

CNN.com - Crowds gather?for Millions More Movement - Oct 15, 2005

CNN.com - Crowds gather?for Millions More Movement - Oct 15, 2005
I am not sure what to think of the Million More March on Washington DC in view of the fact tat the Million Man Mach didn’t amount to any tangible change in the life of Black American males. Nor did it do much to change the fortunes of Black American families. There are stall far too many Black American families headed by Black women, and still far too many or our brethren in prison.

I think it is disingenuous of Farrakhan and the gang to charge America with “criminal neglect,” without taking the Major of New Orleans to task as well. It was he and not the federal government who was responsible for evacuating his city. I think the whole exercise is a waste of time and energy. What good will come of it all, probably nothing, but time will tell…

CNN.com - DeLay's campaign goes after prosecutor - Oct 14, 2005

CNN.com - DeLay's campaign goes after prosecutor - Oct 14, 2005

Oh Tom Delay has hit a new low going after the man who after all is said and done, is just doing his job. Would it be too much to ask for a sitting member of the United States House of Representatives to maintain some modicum of decorum in this situation and at the very least act like a man? A petulant child comes to mind after reading this story!

Prosecutor subpoenas DeLay phone records - Politics - MSNBC.com

Prosecutor subpoenas DeLay phone records - Politics - MSNBC.com

I am trying very hard not to gloat at Tom Delay’s misfortune, but it becoming an increasingly difficult undertaking. I have never disguised my intense dislike for this man and his one man crusade to undermine everything our Representative Democracy stands for. His arrogance makes my stomach turn and my blood boil. I am glad that our system of justice is immune—insofar as possible—from political upheaval and undue influence.

I, for one, hope to see Tom in orange sometime soon…

Shall We Dance and Fiddle Why the Republican Party Burns?

Is it right to gloat? Is it right to sing and dance a jig over the news of another's misfortune, or in this case the misfortune of an entire political party? When it's the Republican Party I think the answer should be an unqualified YES!

I can hardly conceal my glee at the unhappy and unenviable position the conservatives find themselves in scant a year from the mid-term election cycle. The Bush Administration continues to implode as the sheer weight of its stupefying, mind boggling incompetence makes itself felt throughout the Executive Branch and to the American people. The Vice President’s Chief of Staff Mr. Libby may have, and probably did, break the law by revealing the identity of a CIA operative, and the seemingly untouchable Mr. Rove may be ripe for indictment for the same offense (yes Virginia there is a Santa Clause and he is delivering my presents early this year)! But what can we expect, we have a less then laudable personage in the White House, who arrogance, stupidity, and general lack of ability, should have disqualified him from the job, but incredibly enough did not.

To add to the Party’s woes, Tom Delay, The Hammer has finally gotten nailed not once, but twice, and the Senate Majority Leader Bill Frisk is operating under a cloud of suspicion ala Martha Steward. The Party is in mounting disarray over the nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court, and their deep ties to the Religious Conservatives is now more of a nasty hindrance then a help as the apples of morality fall in discourse from the tree of self-righteous unity. And now it seems that the Republican Party is finding it increasingly difficult to recruit people willing to run against Democrats in the upcoming mid-term elections. Even they can see the damage Bush and his insular cronies have done to the nation and Party and want no part of it.

A recent Washington Post article started out by stating:

Republican politicians in multiple states have recently decided not to run for Senate next year, stirring anxiety among Washington operatives about the effectiveness of the party's recruiting efforts and whether this signals a broader decline in GOP congressional prospects.

Prominent Republicans have passed up races in North Dakota and West Virginia, both GOP-leaning states with potentially vulnerable Democratic incumbents. Earlier, Republican recruiters on Capitol Hill and at the White House failed to lure their first choices to run in Florida, Michigan and Vermont.

Oh how can I not gloat, how can I not sing a song of mirth and dance the jig of joy? Is this the beginning of the end of the Republican Party as we know it, a fracturing of the Party that could lead to the Democrats winning back the house and Senate and eventually the White House?

CNN.com - Admiral asks New Orleans residents?to delay return - Sep 17, 2005

CNN.com - Admiral asks New Orleans residents?to delay return - Sep 17, 2005

CNN.com

CNN.com

CNN.com - Federal judge?declares Pledge?unconstitutional - Sep 14, 2005

CNN.com - Federal judge?declares Pledge?unconstitutional - Sep 14, 2005

And the battled is joined anew. Laying aside the fact that I agree with the court for a moment, I think the Supreme Court will find it hard to dodge the bullet this time since parent have join the main litigant in the suit this time. While he may not have standing they certainly do. And with the Federal District Court in Virginia taking a different track of this case, the High Court almost has to hear the case in order to settle the dispute. All of this hinges on the 9th Circuit taking up the case; I think it a safe bet they will agree to hear the case.

Open Letter to Barack Obama, Senator Illinois

September 5, 2005

Senator Barack Obama
John C. Kluczynski Federal Office Building
230 South Dearborn St.
Suite 3900 (39th floor)
Chicago, Illinois 60604

Dear Mr. Obama et.al,

I, like most of my fellow Americans, was stunned, transfixed, one might say, as the human drama played (and continues to play) itself out in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. And I like most of my fellow citizens, be they black or white, or yellow or read or varying shades in between, are asking ourselves how could government at the local, state, and federal levels fail so catastrophically at one of its core functions: protecting the populace, and providing leadership in times of national crisis.

The most vexing problem—as I see it—in New Orleans, as well as Biloxi, Gulf Port and other communities devastated by Katrina, was and is the inability to evacuate the populace to a central location wherein food, water, adequate housing, and medical care could be provided.

It is clear that the government needs to establish and maintain—via FEMA and or American Red Cross personnel—a series of at least three, but as many as six, inland Regional Emergency Evacuation Centers (REEC). These government run and equipped centers could be used in case of dire national emergency to house large numbers of citizens, most of which would need to be evacuated from our nation’s cities. And by large, I mean in excess of 75,000 people. Not only could these emergency evacuation centers be utilized for natural calamities, but man-made emergency’s as well; e.g. (NBC) nuclear, biological, or chemical attack.

The REEC’s would need the ability to house and service up to 75,000 people in relative comfort, and provide basic modern human habitation needs; i.e. hot meals, clean running water, personal hygiene facilities, communications, limited transportation, financial services, security and entertainment. These centers could also be utilized and staffed by the American Red Cross.

I am well aware that the above is a large and some might say overwhelming task, but fortunately the country already has the infrastructure in place to make REEC’s a reality: abandoned, or soon to be abandoned military bases. These facilities, especially large bases, are and were small cities onto themselves, designed to support large military contingents and their families, and can provide, with limited additional monetary outlay, the necessary services to support a large population of displaced citizens.

All large military bases have barrack for single enlisted and officer personnel that could be used to house individual citizens, as well as single family homes that could be used for displaced families. Medical, dining, recreational, shopping, and communications facilities, electrical, facilities management, and sewage are also part of military establishments. In short closed, or soon-to-be-closed military bases would make the ideal REEC’s. All of the necessary food, water, and medical needs could be stockpiled at the REEC’s. The REEC’s would be staffed by skeleton crews of FEMA personnel when not otherwise in use.

Establishment of the REEC’s would represent a common-sense, economical solution to a very vexing problem facing our nation, one that is clearly demonstrated by the ongoing events along the Gulf Coast. The evacuated citizens are being dispersed throughout the nation, with little hope of returning to the lives they once knew. Still others are wandering around the devastated area, homeless, and hopeless. A place to be and recover from the event that tore their lives asunder would only hasten the healing process and return them the bosom of society, productive citizens.

It is clear from the disaster of the past week, that the local, state and federal governments still lack a cohesive plan for sheltering, protecting, and caring for American citizens when disaster visits our shore. This to me is inexcusable so long after 9/11. Is the Department of Homeland Security just a hollow shell? With this round of base closing we have a chance to restore the ordinary citizen’s faith in the government, by establishing and funding REEC’s.

Its time to think outside the box; its time for visionaries and leaders to take the field and show the world that the globe only superpower is not run by a bunch of arrogant incompetent fools. Government has failed the people of the Gulf Coast by not being prepared, and by inept leadership. You Mr. Obama and the other visionaries of the U.S. Congress have it within your power to effect a change by adopting my proposal, or at least giving it considered thought. Can we as a nation afford another New Orleans? Don’t the American people deserve better?


With Regard,


Vincent Martin
Aurora, IL 60504


CC:
o Richard Durbin, Senator, Illinois
o Dennis Hastert, Representative, 14th District, Illinois & Speaker, U.S. House of Representatives.
o Michael Chertoff, Secretary, Department of Homeland Security
o Michael Brown, Director, Federal Emergency Management Administration

Is The White House Admitting Defeat in Iraq?

Now that the White House has drastically lowered expectations in Iraq, and as much as admitted that everything we have fought for was for naught, We The People have to ask the next logical question: was (and is) the violence, death and mayhem of the last three years worth the cost in American (and Iraqi) blood. And if the Administrations stated goals are no longer achievable, is this a U.S. defeat?

'What we expected to achieve was never realistic given the timetable or what unfolded on the ground," said a senior official involved in policy since the 2003 invasion. 'We are in a process of absorbing the factors of the situation we're in and shedding the unreality that dominated at the beginning.'

What was the point of this exercise in human suffering? One by one the President’s stated goals for Iraq have fallen by the wayside, as have our reasons for invading the nation in the first place. And now is seems as though our last (and best) stated goal--bringing democracy and the rule of law to a country led by a man clearly afflicted with a cult of personality disorder--has proven daunting to say the least. The insurgents are winning; the violence is ever escalating and ever more brutal; the Iraqi constitution looks as though it will deny more rights than it will affirm; the American people are growing restless, and the Administration has done that which it said it would never do: see a timetable for U.S. troop withdrawal.

But according to Bush as stated in his radio address yesterday,

Iraqis are taking control of their country, building a free nation that can govern itself, sustain itself and defend itself. And we're helping Iraqis succeed...

Really, where are the Iraqi people taking control of their country? How free will the Iraqi people be if the nation continues to be seized by indiscriminate terrorist sponsored violence? And if the U.S. military cannot defend the nation against the ongoing insurgency, how do we expect the Iraqi security forces to do so with far fewer people and far less lethal weapons and tactics when we pull out? Isn't it time for the Administration to admit that the insurgents/terrorists have now encamped themselves in Iraq for the long haul? And finally, where and how have we helped Iraq succeed? Succeed at what, becoming a terrorist proving ground; a fundamentalist Islamic state?

With these latest revelations from the White House, the Administration is setting the stage for an eventual U.S. withdrawal from Iraq with the mission wholly incomplete, carrier landings and grand pronouncements aside. We have in essence given up on Iraq after we failed to get it right time and time again. And what will we leave in our wake? Most certainly a fundamentalist Islamic nation whose temperament toward the United States is more hostile than the proceeding regime. Or worst yet, an Iraqi civil war that will destabilize the region, and put future oil deliveries in jeopardy. How will this Iraq act as the seed to spread democracy to the rest of the Middle East? Truth: we are being defeated in Iraq, spin it as you will, the administrations constant back-peddling, the lack of a coherent and workable policy, the increasing violence, and continued U.S. military deaths all point to a Vietnam--style defeat!

Failure in Iraq was almost a forgone conclusion. And my question is for what? In my estimation is that American fighting men and women and Iraqi civilians have died for nothing. Others (on this board) disagree and still hold the seriously myopic view that Iraq can be saved, can become this bastion of democracy that will be emulated throughout the Middle East. That train has left the station, and even the smoke from its fast moving locomotive has cleared the desert air. And they died for what?

U.S. Struggling to Get Soldiers Updated Armor - New York Times

U.S. Struggling to Get Soldiers Updated Armor - New York Times

Will the nightmare ever end?