So long & Good Riddance to 07; 13 more months of W. Bush

George W. Bush & co. are getting more arrogant by the day. With the complicity of fellow Republicans in Congress the supposedly dominant Democratic-controlled Congress seem powerless to stop Bush's pernicious policies and insidious agendae. Wake up Nancy Pelosi and the rest of the well-meaning but lackluster Democrats. It's bad enough that Dems won't impeach the Chipacabre-in-Chief, but they make little or no efffort to stop Bush's ruinous ideology from permanently destroying the rights and the fabric of this nation written in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. "Of the People, By the People, For the People", not of, by and for the Robber Barons aka the Corporations. Also, contrary to what conservative types say, it's We the People not Us the 'Market'. In many instances relying on the market, especially when it comes to health care is the worst thing to do, except for those few who benefit with market ideology. I am currently reading a book about how the U.S. tax system is rigged in favor of the Super Rich. If enough people read this book, they'd likely be rioting in the streets over Bush's tax policies of Corporate Welfare and favoritism toward the most privileged and well-off individuals in this country, while simultaneously showing nothing but disdain toward the 'little people, the poor and the downtrodden. I'll review this book sometime in 2008. With the exception of members and supporters of the Spawn of Nepotism, George W. Bush and co., have a Happy New Year and Party like its January 20, 2009. (Bush's official last day.

Anti-Bush Poetry, Part 4 and Related Commentary

Poetry: "Stop-Loss Soldier"
Stop-Loss Soldier, Back in Iraq
I could always go AWOL and never look back
Instead I'll do another tour
'Cuz our Pres. ain't Albert Gore.
And risk my life on death's door.
There is no glory in being dead
Or stuck in a wheelchair or trundle bed.
There is no glory in being maimed
To Bush this war is just a game.
If I die Bush is to blame.
He won't care or know my name.
Sent back to Iraq I've been there three times.
Don't want to go back, this war is a crime.
Stop-Loss soldier, I'm back in Iraq
I thought I was free, but my future's been ransacked.

Due to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan our military forces are spread so thin that many soldier's whose terms of service are supposed to be up find that they are coerced to stay in as cannon fodder or reluctant combat soldiers. These unfortunate individuals are referrred to in military parlance as "stop-loss soldiers." This is an unfortunate result of an all volunteer military service. I'm sure the recruiters emphasize the good points of being a soldier, but glance over or omit the drawbacks like potential death, permanent disability or stop-loss conscription.
Perhaps these stop-loss soldiers could go home if all the so-called armchair patriots, especially those who have supported the war all along, have supported Bush, or who drive military-style SUVs like hummer trucks would only enlist or encourage their overprivileged offspring to enlist.

Extraordinary Renditions: Worst Than You Think

I took a month-long sabbatical from blogging and a lot happened while I was away from my keyboard. I won't go into most of that today because I am appalled at how bad so-called 'extraordinary renditions' or U.S. government-sponsored abductions for the purpose of clandestine torture in secret prisons abroad, has become. On WBUR, a Boston-based National Public Radio station, www.wbur.org, one of the afternoon programs last week focused on renditions. I missed some of the program, but in one instance an American citizen of foreign descent (probably an Arab) was detained and abducted and then sent to Morocco where he was tortured for more than six months. The torture likely included so-called waterboarding, a controversial technique which simulates drowning (and which the Bush administration denies is "torture"). As far as I'm concerned if it looks like torture, it feels like torture and it presumedly traumatizes like torture, then waterboarding is torture and is unAmerican at least and illegal at most. Anyway what appalled me about this unfortunate and likely completely innocent victim of this ruthless and unjust Bush policy is that the Moroccan inquisitor/torturer utilized razor blades on the poor fellow's genitals in order to expedite a confession or for information. I don't know about you, but if someone is willing to lacerate my cojones then I would be willing to tell him anything. My imagination would make up so much stuff I could tell lies that would make a Bush republican jealous. As time keeps marching on, I hope Bush pays for his Gestapo tactics before his whole gallery of rogues flies out of office like the plague that it is on January 20, 2009. I'm sure there will be a huge celebration that day to rival New Years Eve. BTW, in a previous column I erred in saying Bush and co. would be gone by Jan. 9, 2009. Unless he's impeached, becomes incapacitated, or dies in office we're stuck with him 'til 1/20/'09. 9/11 is something to mourn. 1/20/'09 will be something to celebrate, if he and his cronies don't thoroughly ruin the nation and the world by then.

"Bushmaster(s)" in the white House

In the poem "Dead Center" by Dinah Kudatsky which won Honorable Mention in a 2005 War Poetry contest www.winningwriters.com , the poet referred to George Dubya Bush as a "Bushmaster", a venomous snake. I'd say she doesn't go far enough. Karl Rove, Veep Dick Cheney, Condie Rice, and many of the rogue's gallery of Bushies are all toxic or venomous to our government and the nation as a whole. We'll all be better off once they finally leave office en masse on or B4 January 9, 2009. Unfortunately, Mitt Romney or another conservative Republican con artist may be able to fool enough voters to continue Bush's pernicious policies and insidious agendae for several years to come. As for the present, Bush wants to make permanent his Stasi-like domestic surveillance program and unfortunately it looks like the dominant Democrats will cave on it and most Republicans will tenaciously support whatever Dubya wants especially if it is detrimental to everyone else. On the positive side, Bush showed his true colors in threatening to reject legislation to enable children whose parents are too well-off for Medicare but too poor to afford their own insurance to be able to get government subsidies to at least be able to insure their children. This will likely come back to haunt the Republican Party in the next election and damn am I glad about it.

"9/11 is No Joke"

Hosting an anti-Bush blog, I would be totally remiss to not include an entry on the 6th anniversary of the infamous September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the U.S. Anyone who saw Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" knows that Bush was in a classroom reading a children's book about sheep or goats to a class of young children while "the attack on America" transpired. After Andrew Card whispered in Dubya Bush's ear that the country was under attack, Bush had a deer in the headlights look in his eyes and continued reading to the class for several critical minutes. In spite of Bush's initial failure to lead or act Presidential, Dubya basically owes his so-called 're-election' (he wasn't really elected to begin with) to what happened on that September 11. Paraphrasing from Abe lincoln, "You can fool some of the people all of the time...", but in Bush's case all that counts is to fool enough people to get elected or the first time out to be appointed by the Supreme Court.
According to a recent article, the federal government has declared nearly a quarter of a million documents or similar items as classified, supposedly in the name of "National Security", the standard excuse to hide governmental incompetence, malfeasance, deception, lies, and fraud. For more information on this check out OpenThegovernment.org .
As for possible Republican successors to Bush's egregious legacy: Although I loathe the possibility that Mitt for Brains Romney might do for the nation what he has done for Massachusetts and I have little or no respect for how John McCain has kowtowed and shown deference to Bush's blatant lies and mistakes, I think it is shameful how Rudy Giulliani is exploiting the events of 9/11/2001 to try to reach the highest office in the land. As I see it, they all basically suck. Hopefully, the next President won't be so secretive and will honor FOIA (the Freedom Of Information Act.). The more the government does in secret, the less it benefits the Common Man and the individual citizen.

Hated Osama Returns

Like ants at a picnic or rain on a parade, Osama bin Laden has crawled out from under his rock to ruin our false sense of security. As could be expected, Bush continues to do little or nothing to capture the hateful, hypocritical madman. After all, if Osama didn't mastermind the infamous events of 9/11/2001 Bush wouldn't likely have made it for a second term in office. If 'the ends justify the means' 9/11 was a nifty way for Bush to push through his pernicious policies and insidious agendae. Thanks to Osama's terrorist plotting and acts, Bush fooled enough people to ruin things for the rest of us for many years or decades to come. It will take a long time and some real leadership to undo the damage Bush has already done, plus what additional havoc the Bush cabal will wreak by 1/20/2009 or his impeachment, whichever comes first. Hopefully, Bush clone Mitt for Brains Romney or similar conservative candidates will lose to whatever Democratic or Independent nominee who will have the onerous challenge of counteracting the Bush/Cheney dystopian vision of citizen-surveillance, never-ending pre-emptive warfare, censor-bullying by the FCC, secrecy, lies, deceit, and blatant high crimes and misdemeanors.

"No Child Left Behind": All Dropouts Left Behind

I'm sure George Dubya Bush's so-called "No Child Left Behind" had the best of intentions. All 50 states are required to have students having certain minimal standards of excellence in certain subjects in order for them to graduate into 'the real world' or into college or other forms of higher education. Unfortunately, Standardized Testing, in many cases has the opposite of the intended effect.
In Massachusetts, for instance, the MCAS test or Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment Test was instituted in the last ten years. First, I believe the test was required of all students of late Middle School or early High School years. At first the test was required, but passing it was not required in order to graduate from High School. Gradually though, the test was given in the late Middle School years and a different version was given in 10th grade. This time, passing the MCAS exam was required in order to be able to graduate two years later. First, it was mandatory to pass an English exam. Then, a math exam was added and soon passing that was also mandatory in order to graduate. In the near future, passing a Science exam will also be required in order to graduate from Public Schools. Public School has gotten much tougher, and the powers that be have managed to take all the fun out of learning.
For most students, passing rigorous exams will make them more prepared for working, future careers or college, except that teachers have no choice but to notoriously 'teach to the test'. Art, music, phys. ed. and other kinds of learning now get short shrift in public schools, except for certain varsity sports. On the other hand, students with disabilities and less-motivated students are unable to graduate in many cases if they are incapable of passing the MCAS or similar Standardized tests. A lot of students have dropped out of school in frustration over these Standardized tests. If these students are not accommodated or given the help they need to pass such exams and later graduate, they may leave frustrating, unfulfilled lives with few or no prospects, work low-paying dead-end jobs, or even turn to crime. No Child Left behind indeed!

(P)Resident Evil or Forrest G.O.P."

George Dubya Bush also known as Forrest G.O.P. and sometimes President Evil continues to impose his idiotic ideology on America and the world in spite of and perhaps because of the great damage it does. Is Bush really an inept, oblivious idiot as he is so often depicted? Or, is he a pretty smart guy so blind to his own fallibility that he never would admit to any mistakes, never mind to atone for them? At the same time, is he so arrogant and stubborn that his flawed pernicious policies and insidious agendae must be imposed in his way regardless of who are what is harmed? Even if at the price of the complete ruination of this country, its economy and the environment? Thankfully, Bush has only 8 years of opportunity to devastate this country and the world. It is up to the voting public if his successor, whether Democrat, Republican, or Independent will be a force of positive outcomes or negative consequences like Bush has mostly been for the last six or so years.

Red State, Blue State

In this country, liberals are condemned for wanting to make the world a better place; while, in many cases conservatives are praised to the stratosphere for making the world a worse place. Under this administration there is a war of lies mostly fought by the poor. As usual, the rich are getting richer while the poor are getting poorer or nowhere at all. Survivors of disasters in New Orleans are pretty much on their own or SOL. Ditto with anyone who wants to better themselves but who doesn't have the money or resources to do so. Also, mortgage weasels continue to prey on vulnerable people destined to lose their home and little or nothing is being done about it. That is, except another taxpayer funded bailout. Under Bush, most of us are up the old creek of effluent without a paddle. If you're not outraged and frustrated you're not paying atention. If you're religious pray for better future leadership, while the Bush/Ceney cabal continues to prey on our economy, our environment and our fears.

Romney vs. (S)Hrillery?

For better or for worst, the next presidential runoff may come down to the influence of money (Mitt Romney) and nepotism (SHrillery Rodham Clinton). Another election with the Lesser or the the Greater of Two Evils vying to be the Leader of a Less Free World after all the damage Bush will have done to the country after he leaves on or around January 9, 2009. After enduring romney's reign as governor of my state first full time and gradually little or not at all I certainly do not want him to ever become President, especially since he seems to share much of Dubya Bush's insidious and pernicious ideology on the war, social issues, etc. Plus he appears to have little or no regard for the poor and less fortunate in this country.
On the other hand, SHrillery Clinton is not a heck of a lot better. If she's nominated I'll most likely reluctantly support her, but her shrill voice and her support of the U.S.A Patriot ACT, among other things makes her less than my favorite choice of Democrats. Also, many Republicans despise her and everything she stands for, so she may be more of a liability than an asset if she is to be our nominee. In my view she is a better choice than any Republican nominee, but that ain't saying much. Hopefully who ever wins will stop this foolish war of lies and learn to balance freedom and American rights with security, rather than taking away our hard-won freedoms.

Good Riddance to Rove

After six years of misrule, "Bush's Brain" aka Karl Rove is resigning or retiring as George Dubya Bush's advisor. Rove is responsible for all sorts of shenanigans done by and bahalf of the George W. Bush administration. It seems there was nothing Rove would not stoop to to further his candidates he supported and his political party, the G.O.P. Diabolically deceptive people like Rove ought be jailed before they think of retiring. I say Karl Rove has done to politics what Don King has done to boxing, a big negative taint which won't likely be forgiven or forgotten any time soon. Hasta la vista Rove! Goodbye and Good Riddance. As my late father used to say, "May your sins find you out." And may karma curse you 'til your final breath. You have perpetrated the ruination of this country, its Constitution and our Bill of Rights.
Chinese Olympics: The International Olympics Committee made a colossal blunder in awarding the 2008 Olympics to blatant Human Rights violator and Tianaman Square massacre deniers China. It is bad enough how China mistreats its own people, but homes are being razed to make way for space for the upcoming games (a ruthless version of Eminent Domain), and acccording to a recent news article toilers are being worked to the bone for long hours for little and sometimes no pay at all. I wouldn't put it past the Chinese government to use prison slave labor for Olympian projects. If there was any justice the brutal Chinese government would either never have been awarded the Olympics in the first place or the offer should be rescinded.

Anti-Bush Poetry, Part 3

Are we prepared for Disaster? Bush is still there. Impeach him! Faster. Faster. / Though I'm sure He thinks he's the Master...

'Electing' George Dubya Bush had an exorbitant price/ what he's doing to the country isn't so nice.../ Thank God he won't be there (in the White House) thrice./ Pre-Emptive War was thought of by Ms. Rice./ VP Cheney epitomizes vice...

"Blue State Proud": We're Blue State Proud./Let's form a Crowd/ and Yell Real Loud/ 'til Bush Is Out Of Office/ May Karl Rove's Skin Metastisize In Each And Every Orifice.
They're Red State Loud./They're so Damned Proud/ for Voting For That Jerk. [G.W. Bush]/When all Good Jobs Are Outsourced What will they all do for work?/ Thanks to Dubya's Budget Cuts We can't go back to School...(tbc?)If you still support him you must be a fool...

American Stasy? Part 1

Last year's Best Foreign Film Oscar went to "The Lives Of Others", a chilling tale about how the Stasy (pronounced Stahzee), the Orwellian East German Secret Police would spy on everyone behind the Berlin Wall with audio and other kinds of sophisticated (at the time) surveillance, often ruining lives and sometimes leading to innocent people being detained or driven to suicide. This went on until the Berlin Wall came down and East and West Germany were reunited some time in the late eighties or early nineties.
Nearly twenty years later the Dubya Bush administration opens mail, eavesdrops on telephone calls, and voyeuristically checks on E-mail correspondence, in the name of phony national security. Perhaps this has been going on for years, including the chilling "See something. Say something." mantra seemingly lifted from "1984". It is bad enough that Bush's minions have blatantly been spying on American's since about the last six years, but now Congress, including many Democrats have given in to granting Bush the power to do what he was doing against the law and against the Constitution. Shame on them.

Anti-Bush Poetry, Part 2

The Fishing Boats Have Run Ashore/ The Fisheries Have Said, "No More."/ Our Water's Warm To The Earth's Core/ Fishermen Are Shown The Door/ Bottom Line Is Through The Floor/ Save The Earth Like Albert Gore/ Prices Rising At The Store/ As Bush Prevailed In 2004/ God Forbid Us If We're Poor.

"Stifle The Rifles" cont'd: Duty, Honor, Country, What a Crock!/ Just Be A Dove, Not A Hawk/ Stifle The Rifles, Stop The War, give Forein Aid To The Homeless And Poor. Stifle The Rifles, Stop The War/ Send Foreign-Aid Money TO America's Poor/ Feed The Hungry, Save The Whales/ In The Mid-East It's Time To Bail.

Where Has Our Freedom Been Sent?!/ The Bush Administration Stifles Dissent./ While Extraordinary Renditions Outsources Torture Against Our Traditions./ Do As You Will But Harm None/ While Bush Imposes 'Compassionate Democracy'At The Point Of A Gun... (tbc?)

"Stifle the Rifle" (anti-Bush Poetry, Part 1)

"Stifle the Rifle" War is a Crime Against Humanity./ Pre-Emptive War is Absolute Insanity./Bush and Cheney Could Drive One To Profanity./ Dubya's Policies Are Pure Inanity./
Stifle the Rifles.Stop the War! The Motives Of Bush Are Rot(ten) To The Core./ Stifle The rifles. Stop The War! It's Time To Show George Bush The Door/ Stifle The Rifles. Stop the War! Instead Help Out Those Who Sleep On The Floor./ Stifle The rifles. Stop The War! I Bet Now You Wish You Voted For Gore./ Stifle The Rifles. Stop The War. Give Much Of That Money For Our Homeless and Poor. /Stifle The Rifles. ...

Cindy Sheehan Considers a run For Congress?

Human Thorn-in-George W. Bush's side Cindy Sheehan is considering running against current Democratic Speaker Of The House Nancy Pelosi in California if Ms. Pelosi fails to bring articles of impeachment against George W. Bush. In case you are unaware of Cindy Sheehan, she is the mother of an Iraq War casualty (that's all he is to Dubya) who became a big-time anti-war protester. Other families who lost a child or children in Iraq or other war(s) have attacked her character as being 'unPatriotic' or even treasonous, but as former President Theodore Roosevelt once said (paraphrased), " It is never unPatriotic to oppose the President. Or, You can oppose the President and dislike those who govern and still love your country." Also, as Ben Franklin once said (paraphrased)," Those who are willing to give up any freedom for 'security' deserve neither freedom nor security". Anyway, I wish we had more people running with leadership and commitment like Cindy Sheehan rather than the typical politician who is willing to sell-out the average American for corporate donations and self-interest.

Bleep The Veep, Part 2

Good news for America and the world. According to a program on National Public Radio, apparently even the Republicans (Bush's Enablers) are disgusted with the antics of Evil Dick 'Darth' Cheney. Certain members of the Republican Congress apparently want to remove Cheney as veep and replace his Dangerousness with someone else, to be named later. Although there may not be enough Republican support for this, I hope it comes to pass and then Good Riddance to Cheney. Unfortunately, we'll still have to look to January 20, 2009 to finally be rid of Bush, but removing the malignant Cheney is a very good start. Alas, the appointment of Chief Justice Roberts and Sam Elite-o (very aptly named) to the Supreme Court will plague this country with Bush's pernicious policies and insidious agendae for many years or decades to come. If not for the manipulation of the 2000 Presidential election and 9/11 Bush and co. wouldn't likely have been handed the opportunity to thoroughly ruin the Federal government, the U.S. Constitution and our Bill of Rights, plus the economy and our environment.

The Demise of Jerry Falwell, the Epitomy of What's Wrong With Organized Religion

In case you haven't heard by now, Jerry Falwell, one of the most prominent leaders of the Religious Wrong, has died of heart trouble. This is pretty ironic, since when it came to nonbelievers and those who lived their lives contrary to his sanctimonious rhetoric he seemed to have no heart.
Rev. Falwell epitomized what is most wrong with Organized Religion today. Particularly, as preached by Right-Wing firebrands like Falwell, Pat Robertson and such domestic terrorists as the spokesmen of Operation Rescue and the like. Jerry Falwell may have meant well and been sincere in his beliefs, but his espousal of bigotry, intolerance, misogyny,actively attempting to impose his narrow-minded beliefs on everyone else through the political process, plus barely disguised hatred or contempt for those who disagreed with his Orwellian misnamed 'Moral Majority' (which was neither). In my book, he is a disgrace and gave religion a bad name, much like Jim Jones and poison Kool Aid, Falwell poisoned his followers with bigotry and intolerance. We also have Falwell to thank for many of the worst Right-Wing conservative con-artist politicians like George W. Bush.
Religious leaders like Falwell seem obsessed with sexual matters, in a repressed kind of way. People like him, who preach intolerance and expect everyone to think and act as he does are no better than Iranian or Talibani theocrats. I don't so much celebrate Falwell's death, but truly hope for the demise of the Reigious Wrong's political and censorial influence on all our lives. Unfortunately, at this time George W. seems to be the secular leader and standard-bearer of the Religious Wrong. Once he is gone, on or B4 January or 2009 hopefully this country will be more op0n and tolerant.

Help Retire Romney

The radio program "On Point" had about Republican Presidential contendor Mitt Romney today, former Massachusetts governor and a man who apparently will say anything to get elected President. It is fairly obvious that Romney shares much of the ideology that George W. Bush espouses. For instance, Mitt advocated sending up to 100,000 more troops to Iraq if he were elected to the Oval Office. Now, he is conveniently, anti-choice and anti-gay marriage when in the past he campaigned for governor and/or Senator (losing to Ted Kennedy) supporting gay rights and keeping abortion safe and legal. Now, he is cozying up to the Religious Wrong (right-wing Christian conservatives) and the extreme right-wing of the Republican Party, the very people who brought us the disastrous and pernicious and insidious policies and agendae of the Dubya Bush administration. Unless you want more of the same, I urge you to reject Mitt Romney, JOhn McCain And Rudy Guiliani, but especially the hapless but well-heeled Romney.
As for McCain and Romney, both men supported George W. Bush at the last Republican Presidential Convention, which John Kerry should have but didn't win, largely due to the lying bastards from the phony "Swiftboat Veterans For Truth" ads. One thing that ticks me off about McCain is that he had the opportunity to be John Kerry's running mate in the last Presidential election, but he turned it down. He stayed loyal to his party and George Dubya Bush, a man who shirked his National Guard duty during Vietnam and later questioned McCain's courage.
Tonight on "Nightline" I heard about the "Unity'08 Party" (or campaign), which hopes there will be a bipartisan Presidential ticket not beholden to either major party. I wish them luck, but after McCain refused to be John Kerry's running mate several years ago I'd be very surprised if such "Unity" comes to pass any time soon.

Why Tort Reform Is Not In Your Best Interest

Tonight (5/2/'07) on "Nightline" included a discussion about the latest frivolous lawsuit. An American attorney sued a Korean dry cleaner for many millions of dolars over a single damaged pair of pants. His $85 million lawsuit includes commuting back and forth from court in a rental car plus "emotional damages." No wonder people dislike lawyers. The dry cleaner had a sign advertising "Satisfaction Guearanteed." Every so often there are silly, frivolous or even outrageous lawsuits filed, but George W. Bush would like to curtail the rights of ordinary citizens to sue in nearly all cases, especially against corporations and corporate interests.
Tort or lawsuit reform may have some good points or intentions, but if it ever passes there will be a disparity of justice between the elite or affluent and the ordinary or the poor. The justice system is supposed to serve everyone, not just the wealthy Bush supporters and the corporations. If justice only serves the few then there is no justice at all in this country and the court system. In many cases, we need protection from the powerful, not the other way around.

"Dis(s)in' the G.O. P." (T-shirt Slogan Edition)

In April of 2007 at least 99 U.S. soldiers have lost their lives in Iraq so far and approximately 3,346 total fatal casualties have happened to U.S. families of our soldiers in the Iraq war. In spite of this fact, Republican U.S. congressmen overwhelmingly support George Dubya Bush like Yes men supporting Captain Ahab's singular pursuit of the White Whale. Anyway, the Republicans who hamper the ending of this seemingly endless war have apparently learned nothing from the results of the last congressional election, which put the Democrats in control of both Houses of Congress. On a lghter note, I just came across a catalogue chock full of anti-Bush and anti-Republican T-shirt and bumper sticker slogans. I'll share some of those with you including several of my own.
"United We Stand... Against George Dubya Bush & Co." " One Nation Under Fraud. With Liberty & Justice For None." [Includes a Grp. Photograph of Bush/Cheney/ Condie (Rice)/Donald Rumsfeld/ Paul Wolfowitz and perhaps such shills as Rush Limburger, Shawn Hannity & Ann(e) Coulter.
"G.O.P. = Greedy Old Pigs"; "Bill of Rights: 1791-2001 Slain By the PATRIOT ACT, Rest in Pieces" ; "War, What Is It Good For? [" Rewrites History, Creates a Diversion, Eliminates Surplus Labor, Feeds Arms Industry, Degrades the Environment, Increases Budget Deficit, Maximizes Fear & Control, Erodes Personal Freedom, Wastes Resources, Spreads Famine & Death...] ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!"
"Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people... it is true that most stupid people are conservative." -- John Stuart Mill
"Bush/Cheney '08: "Jail To The Chief" ; "The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything." -- Josef Stalin (and Florida's G.W. Bush 2000 Preidential campaign)
Front: "I made it clear to the world, that either you're with us or you're with the enemy. -- Pres. George W. Bush Back: "ENEMY"
"VOTE REPUBLICAN: Eat Tainted Meat, Breathe Poison Air, Drink Nasty Water, Help Only Yourself" [Believe all the Lies...]
"One Nation Under Surveillance" . That's all for now.

The Religious Wrong

A few days ago there was a report in Afghanistan that a Talibani 12 year old boy beheaded a perceived traitor or 'infidel' to the cause. Apparently, this child was brainwashed from an early age that any infidel or enemy of the Taliban is worthy of a brutal and ruthless death. This child hacked away at the so-called traitor or infidel's neck with a knife until the man was decapitated. In case you didn't know, the Taliban are a sect of Moslems who it seems are the epitomy of unquestioning intolerance. They want women to be "always subservient and subordinate, but never inferior", by being forbidden to travel out of their home on their own, forbidden to speak unless spoken to, forbidden to work outside the home, and most important, forbidden to be in any way educated. If a woman in Taliban- controlled society dares to not conform to these unjust and misogynistic rules they can be stoned to death or murdered, with no recourse. The Taliban were in charge in Afghanistan and even gave refuge to that hateful hypocrite Osama Bin Laden, but soon after September 11, 2001 we invaded Afghanistan and ousted the Taliban from power.
Meanwhile, in this country, the so-called "Religious Right" or "Christian Right" has been trying to impose their own brand of intolerance on nonbelievers in this country. These Harper Valley Hypocrites, or as I like to call them, "the Religious Wrong", preach "Do Unto Others", "Love Thy Neighbor", "What Would Jesus Do", and several other quaint adages, while showing hatred or contempt for anyone who dares to question, deviate, live or think for themselves, rather than to blindly follow Organized Crime and Religion. If God tolerates such spokesmen as the slimy Pat Robertson and the sleazy Jerry Falwell, among others, perhaps such a God is not worth following. In fact, I suspect many of these Biblethumpers are really working for the Other Guy, if you know what I mean. It is a real shame that the "Religious Wrong" have so much political influence these days, but hopefully when Bush is gone from politics their power will wane. If these Holier Than Thou people would support George Dubya Bush's Morally and Intellectually Bankrupt policies and agenda solely because he is anti-choice and anti-gay, then they deserve their nation to be ruined, not the rest of us. On the other hand, if not for G.D. gay marriage, perhaps John Kerry would have defeated Bush in 2004 and we wouldn't have suffered in so many ways from Bush's unapologetic pernicious policies and insidious agenda.

Hypocricy In Dubya's Own Words

A few days ago was to far the most brazen insurgent attack in Iraq. A man dressed in a business suit detonated a bomb in the Iraqi Parliament's cafeteria. Needless to say, there were many casualties. George Dubya Bush's response to this tragic situation was as follows: [somewhat paraphrased] "Those who are willing to kill innocent life are also willing to kill innocent Americans." As they say, who's the ink calling the kettle black? George Dubya Bush's unapologetic lie(s) resulted in a war in Iraq. So far, at least 3200 "innocent American" soldiers are dead and thousands more are physically maimed or mentally afflicted with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the like. In addition, tens of thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians are dead, maimed or have had their lives devastated in one way or another. Besides that, many of the so-called "Enemy Combatants" or suspected terrorists at Guantanamo Bay Prison, Abhu Grab in Iraq (or however it's called) and at secret "Renditions" prison facilities around the globe are completely innocent and are suffering physical, psychological and other abuse for no good reason. As they say, it is better for 100 guilty men to be free than for one innocent man to suffer. With the exception of course of El Presidente Bush and the Bleepin' Veep Cheney. They both act as if they can do whatever they want with impunity. Hopefully, their reign of terror will soon be coming to an end one way or another.

The Negatives Of Blind Loyalty

If you've read my posts B4 you should know where I stand on the almost inevitable eventual resignation or firing of George Dubya Bush's 2nd hand-picked Attorney General (the horrible John Ashcroft was his first disastrous pick) and Bush loyalist Alberto Gonzalez. Gonzalez was a Bush family friend for years B4 he advocated such Pernicious Policies & Insidious Agendae as Extaordinary Renditions (outsourcing torture), the classification of suspected terorists as "Enemy Combatants" with zero rights, plus many of the more appalling aspects of the frankly unAmerican and unjust USA PATRIOT ACT, not to mention the latest 'fine mess' about possibly lying about the reasons for the firing of many U.S. Attorneys for political rather than performance-related reasons.
Loyalty is generally a good quality to have. However, blind loyalty is never a good thing when it ignores, condones or overlooks the immoral, amoral, illegal, dishonest, unethical or dubiously ethical activity of Dubya Bush, his cronies, his administration, his campaign committee, the backwards-thinking, ethically-challenged right-wing social conservatives, or the so-called 'pundit' modern-day Snake-Oil salesmen & women who dominate the airways on talk radio and on Fox News on Cable TV.

"Bleep The Veep"

Vice President Dick Cheney is arrogant, belligerant, conniving, deceptive... sneaky... and he absolutely ought to be impeached and incarcerated. Most, if not all of President George Dubya Bush's pernicious policies and insidious agendae were created on behalf of Cheney. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if the odious USA PATRIOT ACT and the reprehensible and unAmerican concept of so-called 'extraordinary renditions' (outsourcing torture) were conceived and condoned out of Cheney's office. For the life of me, I can hardly believe why at this point George W. Bush isn't being impeached for his High Crimes and Misdemeanors. However, the wars going on and the succession of Cheney into Bush's role as alleged Leader Of The Free World would deter any Democrat from taking the steps to remove Bush from office B4 his 2nd term is expired. On the other hand, if Cheney were to be impeached and turned out of his office in well-deserved disgrace then Bush could be safely ousted as well, then Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi would succeed Bush and Cheney. Of course, with the undeclared war between Republicans and Democrats this will never happen, but I can dream dammit.
As far as I'm concerned, although Scooter Libby apparently deserved to be convicted of perjury or whatever he was convicted of, he was just a puppet and Cheney was the puppetmaster. It seems that Libby fell on his sword to protect his boss, as often seems to happen in politics. I've said my piece about Cheney for now, but I'm sure I'll have more to say about the varmint from Wyoming in the not too distant future.

Apology for Errors & The Biggest Myth About Iraq War

In my last post I wrote that the Citizen's Energy recieved much of its oil from the "Venezuelan oil company Chevron." This is incorrect. The benevolent Venezualan oil company is Citgo, not Chevron. I apologize to both Chevron and Citgo for this eror. According to a new advertisement for Citgo, "400,000 homes in 16 states" receive discounted fuel oil from Citgo. Meanwhile, Bush and co. cut fuel subsidies for the poor. Nothing the Bush administration does surprises me anymore. As Susan Sarandon's character said in the movie "Thelma & Louise", "You get what you settle for." If you voted for Bush, we all got what you settled for.
Speaking of errors, in one of my first postings I jumped the gun a bit. I asserted that 3000 American soldiers perished in Iraq B4 it reached that number a few weeks later. I apologize for that mistake as well. As I like to say, "I'm not always right, but I always write." By the way, now over 3100 soldiers have died on this war based on lies. To show how oblivious (or delusional) Bush is, he actually believes that the eventual exit of the British from Iraq is "a sign of our success" in the war.
One big myth or lie about this war is that it is being fought to "preserve our freedom". this may make me very unpopular among certain segments of the population, but the erosion of our rights, the shredding of our Constitution and the Bill of Rights by Dubya Bush and co., the passing and the very existence of the Orwellian USA PATRIOT ACT and other power secret power grabs by the government, plus so-called 'extraordinary renditions' (outsourcing torture) and the restriction of habeas corpus and the war on dissent, etc. would indicate otherwise. If we have to give up many of our rights and freedoms then the terrorists have already won. As far as I'm concerned, the Nixonian tactics of the Bush/Cheney administration are far more insidous than anything you may see on the fictional series "24".

The Enemy Of Our Enemy...?

There is a big controversy in the news about Joe Kennedy's relationship with Hugo Chavez, 'dictator' of Venezuela. Former politician Joe Kennedy now runs Citizen's Energy, (or a similar name), which is renowned in New England for providing affordable fuel oil to Massachusetts residents who would otherwise be out in the cold. This discounted oil comes mostly from Venezuela. If you haven't been following the news: A few months ago Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez fanned controversy by referring to George W. Bush as "the Devil". While I despise Bush and everything he stands for I wouldn't call him a devil. Dick Cheney and Karl Rove, among other conservative and neo-conservative con-artists are arguably worse than the Devil with their straight-faced lies and propaganda spewed by their allies in the right-wing media. But I digress. It is a sad state of affairs when a dictator cares more about the plight of our poorest citizens than the so-called Leader Of The Free World and his buddies in the Petroleum Industry. Chevron, owned by Venezuela helps our poor and cold citizens while the Bush Administration, many members of Congress and domestic oil companies would let our poorest freeze and perhaps starve to death while they're at it. Meanwhile, Oil companies are yielding record profits. As for Hugo Chavez, he may be a horrible dictator by our standards, but at least he doesn't start pre-emptive wars wherever he feels like and he doesn't outsource suspected terrorists to secret prisons all over the world to be tortured, otherwise known as "Extraordinary Renditions" or in my parlance Why Won't We Impeach This S.O.B. Already???!!!

Bush Wants 20,000+ Additional Troops In Iraq

Tonight (Wed. Jan 10, '07) George Dubya Bush held a Press Conference revealing that he plans to send over 20,000 more troops to Iraq. What a fine mess he has gotten us into, and he thinks sending more troops will make things better at this point?? First he lies to start a war. From the start he refuses to acknowledge he is ever wrong. Now, as of New Years Day 3000+ American soldiers have perished not to mention tens of thousands of Iraqi civilian casualties or 'collateral damage.' In addition, there are now secret prisons in many parts of the world where so-called 'extraordinary renditions' or actually outsourced torture take place. Is this the America we ideally should be, "the home of the Free and the Brave? Now Bush wants to save the day or his legacy/reputation by putting even more U.S. soldiers in harm's way? What Big Cojones he must have! Also, his USA PATRIOT ACT, which all U.S Senators save Russ Feingold endorsed, is taking away many of the freedoms the military service is supposed to be defending. The more I know about Bush and Co. the less I like what I see. They break our laws with impunity with ne'er a fine or a fee. They won't impeach that lousy leach with his father's 'New World Order', but if I or we did the same we'd be detained, judge's order... So long for now.

Bush At Both Extemes Of Popularity Continuum

In a survey published in newspapers, (I believe it was by the Assocoated Press) George W. Bush was considered the "greatest hero" by about 6% of respondents and simultaneously the "greatest villain" by about 23% of respondents. Incredibly, gullible and naive respondents polled Bush ahead of Jesus Christ (religious & social conservatives?) at one end. Meanwhile, Bush was considered more of a villain than was Osama Bin Laden and the late 'bogeyman' Saddam Hussein. I have a feeling that many diehard Bush supporters would still support Dubya Bush even if he molested children and mutilated pets.
P.S. Anyone who happens to read this I urge you to not support the candidacy of my home-state Governor (ex-Governor) Mitt Romney. I urge you to not vote for this Machiavellian candidate with much of the exact odious ideology as George W. Bush and co. Don't give him the chance to do for the nation for what he has done (or failed to do) for Massachusetts. Stop Romney B4 He Even Starts! That goes for all of those who have supported Bush II over the years, especially most of those who supported the UnAmerican USA PATRIOT ACT.

Bush To Monitor Our Mail?

According to the Thursday January 4th issue of the New York Post George W. Bush made a "signing statement" allowing him to open anyone's mail on the pretext of a "national emergency". The Dubya Bush administration is like Doctor Strangelove as written by George Orwell and Charles Dickens. It is a dystopian Stalinist nightmare when your government can open your mail or monitor your telephone calls and E-mail correspondence in the name of so-called "National Security". In the name of true National Security why won't somebody impeach Bush and that venomous snake of a vice President who whispers in his ear???! According to former President James Madison," Of all the enemies of public liberty, war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded, because it comprises and develops the germ of every other. War is the parent of armies, and debts, and taxes are the known instruments of bringing the many under the domination of the few."