Social Security: Autocrat Style

Nothing is sader display of our Democracy than the Social Security Road Show. The President's men, PICK the people who can attend. The questioners, REHEARSE before the president gets there all the answers. And any decenters are taken out not by Secret Service, but by Republicans who run these events. Who pays for these events? WE DO. ITS ALL ON THE TAXPAYER's DOLE. Recently in Denver, 3 taxpayers were removed from seeing their elected President by Local Republicans because they had "No Blood For Oil" Bumpers Sticker on the car they came in. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS OUTRAGE HERE IS THE AP ACCOUNT This of course is not the First Time. Bush also had a Blacklist of people who can't come in during his visit in Fargo.

Terry Schiavo: Proof Republican Hypocrisy

Terry Schiavo's case is tragic. But the tragedy happened years ago when a woman filled with all the negative images our society bombards woman with, decided to starve herself. During one of the Anorexic moments, she had a heart-attack where blood stopped flowing to her brain putting her in the vegetative state. 14 years later, a woman who will never recover from that state has a chance to bruttally be given her last right as a human, to pass to heaven. Who is there to stop that right. Republicans. You might say they have the right idea saving life. But this Case has shown anything, it has exposed Republicans for who they are, opportunistic hypocrites. They talked about the culture of life, but before Terry was on life support they do nothing to help her life. In fact if it were up to them her life would have ended much earlier. In their warped view of the culture of life, they cut all the services that supported her life. They have a bill that will cut Medicaid by $15 Billion. Medicaid pays for Terri Schiavo's care. In Florida alone it will cut $673 Million. 50 Million people country wide who use Medicaid are in danger of losing or severe cuts in services, including Terry Schiavo. His response: "The fact that they're tying a life issue to the budget process shows just how disconnected [they] are to reality" They want to cap Medical Malpractice at $250,000 its hard to begin with the hypocrisy there. Start with Terry, who won an award of $1 million for Doctor's malfesents. $750,000 of which was put in trust to keep her alive today. As per yesterday we see Sen. Santurum in a case I am familiar with, is suing to help his wife. Tom Delay used a similar award to keep his father alive and pay for his father's expenses. After he what, THATS RIGHT PULLED THE PLUG BECAUSE HE WAS IN A VEGITATIVE STATE. In 1999 Bush signs a law that says if a person is to poor to pay to keep the person on life support, the hospital may pull the plug. If they cap medical malpractice and cut medicade I garuntee there will be many more poor people getting plugs pooled. SEE THE CULTURE OF LIFE IS ONLY FOR THE RICH. The poor can go fuck themselves. That is aparently the message as no Republican even made a wisper about Sun, the newborn in Texas recently taken off life support because his mother could not pay to keep it on it. What makes it even worse, According to Jane Fleming Executive Director of the Young Democrats of America and former Executive Director of the Renfrew Center Foundation for Eating Disorders "Why is it ironic that Terri will die of starvation? Because the reason she had a heart attack, which has resulted in her current 15-year life and death struggle, was her life and death struggle with an eating disorder. The saddest part is that Terri is not alone, one in ten people who struggle with anorexia will die because of starvation, cardiac arrest or other complications, yet Republican leadership continues to block legislation to ensure full and equitable access to mental health treatment.... Representative Hastert, who is Speaker of the House and who decides what bills come to the floor for a vote, has blocked the bi-partisan Wellstone-Domenici Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act year after year from coming to the floor for a vote. The bill even specifically mentions the treatment of eating disorders. According to Hastert, passing this bill would cost the taxpayers and insurance companies too much money. The government and many independent studies have cited otherwise. Untreated mental illness costs us much more. Financially, the damages are estimated at a tremendous $113 billion annually. But the psychic toll is far greater – as we can see looking at individuals like Terri who never received the right care." They say nothing of Indian Children killed at a school shooting in Minnesota, do nothing to address the underlining issues of School violence. They call judges who stop the killing of Juveniles and the Mentally Challenged, "corrupt activist judges." Apparently the culture of life only refers to when you are fetus or on Death's door. They have been exposed as Charletans, the worst types of people. And yet the media and their minons are blind. Terry Schiavo's case is a tragedy, but what has happened since is even more disgusting. People should be ashamed for not pointing it out.

More Republican Hypocrisy

My Senator Really truly is a Schmuck... PLEASE READ AND FEEL FREE TO BE OUTRAGED ThinkProgress.org Speaking of politicians whose personal family decisions happen to conflict with their political demagoguing on health care issues, Josh Marshall brings our attention to Sen. Rick Santorum’s (R-PA) medical malpractice hypocrisy. In 1996, Santorum testified on behalf of his wife Karen, who was seeking $500,000 in pain and suffering against Dr. David Dolberg of Virginia, because of pain from his 1996 chiropractic treatment of her. Funny, that didn’t stop Santorum from supporting and voting for a bill in 2003 that would have capped awards for pain and suffering at $250,000. Josh Marshall's Talking Points Almost parody. From a 1999 article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ... A Virginia jury last night awarded the wife of Sen. Rick Santorum $350,000 in damages after she charged in a lawsuit that a Virginia chiropracter's negligence caused her permanent back pain. Deliberating more then six hours after a four-day trial in which Santorum, R-Pa., testified, the Fairfax County Circuit Court jury unanimously ruled for Karen Santorum. She had sought $500,000 against Dr. David Dolberg of Virginia, because of pain from his 1996 treatment of her. "Mrs. Santorum has been vindicated," said her Pittsburgh attorney Heather Heidelbaugh. "She was injured permanently through the actions of a chiropractor who acted negligently." Heidelbaugh, with the Pittsburgh law firm of Burns, White & Hickton, said Mrs. Santorum has "permanent back pain" and "permanent numbness" in one leg. Throughout the trial, Santorum aides declined to provide details. Yesterday, they issued a brief statement from the senator saying: "The court proceedings are a personal family matter. I will not be offering any further public comments, other than that I am not a party to the suit. But I am fully supportive of my wife." But Roll Call, a newspaper that covers Capitol Hill, reported that Santorum testified Monday that his wife might not be able to actively campaign for his re-election next year because of her pain. "She has always been intricately involved in my campaigns," he testified. This I found out aboutfrom MKV.

If Jesus returns, Karl Rove will kill him

This is from THE FREE PRESS IT IS HILARIOUS AND SO TRUE Harvey Wasserman If Jesus returns, Karl Rove will kill him March 22, 2005 As we enter another Easter Season, it's become all too obvious that if Christ returns, those who hate in his name will slime him, then kill him. Christ was a long-haired peace activist who would have been sickened to his soul by the war in Iraq. "Blessed are the peacemakers" Jesus said in his defining Sermon on the Mount. "Turn the other cheek...Love thy neighbor." Such hippie-radical ideals are the "Christian" right wing's worst nightmare. The GOP would never tolerate an upstart like Jesus gathering a following in the face of their corporate-fundamentalist crusade. These are self-proclaimed Christians who love power but would despise the actual Christ, just as they love a Zionist Israel but believe actual Jews are doomed to Hell. In the wake of Jesus's inspiring life of non-violent rebellion, a perverse liturgy weighted by twenty centuries of intolerant bloodthirsty bigotry has erupted in his name. Attacks on people of color, on nations with oil, on humans of the same gender who love each other, on youth who enjoy sex….all have become staples of a new fundamentalist crusade doing in Christ's name things that would have left him horrified. In large part through the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus came to be viewed as Divine because he spoke eloquently for a gracious, loving God. Karl Rove, Tom DeLay, George Bush and their corporate-fundamentalist minions speak to and for a very different kind of God, one at war with the Deity described by Christ. Bush-Rove's Master is a spiteful dictator, defined by hate and greed, intolerance and hypocrisy. Christ kicked the moneychangers out of the temple. Today's Republicans have enshrined them. Christ spoke of a God of compassion and joy. Today's "religious" right wingers worship Meanness of Spirit, a greed-driven war-loving totalitarianism. The only way to salvation, they say is THEIR way, through a nature-hating Authority that tramples all Jesus preached. As Tecumseh, the great Shawnee spirit-warrior, allegedly shouted at William Henry Harrison in the early 1800s: "When Jesus Christ came upon the Earth, you killed him. The son of your own God. And only after he was dead did you worship him and start killing those who would not. " If Christ came back today to resume preaching the Sermon on the Mount, Karl Rove would slime him in the media, then kill him outright, then turn his words into conservative hatespeak, then kill those who refuse to follow in his name. If Christ came back to organize against Bush's war, Rove's pet bloviators would shriek about Mary Magdalene. Isn't that her next to Christ in DaVinci's "Last Supper"? Wasn't she pregnant with Christ's bastard child. Who let her catch his blood dripping from the cross? Rush Limbaugh would demand to how this "Son of God" could have a relationship out of wedlock? Who was he to feed loaves and fishes to the undeserving poor, prolonging the existence of inferior racial stock? Who said he could attack those moneychangers who are the Elect of God and the sponsors of Rush's air time? Then O'Reilly would slime the Easter thing. A self-anointed "peace prophet" rising from the tomb? Poppycock, he'd say. Just another pinko hippie terrorist conspiracy theory. But if Christ persisted, and built a following like, say, Martin Luther King or Malcolm X, Cesar Chavez or Nelson Mandela…well….they'd kill him. They'd blame a patsy, like, say the Jews, or the terrorists, or the Willie Hortons. They'd designate a straw man to take the fall for the assassination. Rove would cloud his death in shadowy scandal. Stories would surface of unconfirmed debts. Or tainted investments. Maybe something about hashish, no stranger to the region. Hannity would feature some jilted lovers. There'd be rumors Jesus was gay. Talk of a love triangle. Ugly gossip about Mary and Judas. False leads about Jews wanting him dead. New doubts about that "virgin birth." Whatever it would take to slime the sheen off an anti-war "Son of God" and to turn his death tawdry, Rove would do. But would Jesus stand for the slaughter of 100,000 Iraqis in his name for oil and dubious Biblical prophecy? What would Christ think about a president in love with the torture chamber and electric chair? What would Jesus, who hated hypocrisy, say about a Bush who scampers back to prolong the life of a brain-dead woman, but who gleefully executed 150 people as governor and still more as president? How would Jesus cope with a self-proclaimed Divinity demanding the death penalty for children? And what would Jesus say about torture in American prisons, where much the same is being done to innocent inmates as was done to Christ himself on the way to Calvary? Mel Gibson's "Passion of the Christ" could serve as a documentary of the daily torture and slaughter among the 2.2 million prisoners held in the US military and civilian gulag, a barbaric prison system that makes the Romans' seem benign by comparison. Systematic sexual abuse by both prison guards and Catholic priests? The wholesale slaughter of Iraqi children? The debasement by corporate money of both church and state? Christ would lead the non-violent charge against these cornerstones of GOP rule---until Rove killed him. What would Jesus do about gay marriage? "Love they neighbor," he'd say. What business is it of those who use his name, he would ask, to prolong bigotry and intolerance just as 50 years ago those same cynical haters claimed Biblical sanction for laws preventing people of different colors from marrying one another. Christ would never stand for such bigotry. So Karl Rove would have him killed. Hitler claimed Christ was an Aryan supremacist. Now Rove, DeLay & company use him to sell dictatorial, greed-driven, gay-hating, war loving hypocrisy. Easter says otherwise. It should remind us that if Jesus returned to preach the Gandhian love-thy-neighbor subversion with which he challenged the Romans, Karl Rove would do what Pontius Pilate did. But Rove would be better at the spin.

Happy Easter: Retred

Posted this last year but I love it so here it is again HAPPY EASTER On This Easter Mel and I would like to remind you, DON'T forget to thank your local Jew for their part in creating the holiday. So to all my gentile friends, Happy Easter or as Mel and I like to call it... JEWISH APPRECIATION DAY

Rest in Piece: Pauline Gotthelf

It seems I have been going to to many of these things these days. My G-dmother Pauline Gotthelf recently passed away. She knew my Grandfather Ted Childs who just passed and I like to think that because they knew me they are hanging out in Heaven. i like to think that my family connected these two people's histories that would otherwise be as connected as the decendents of Adam and Eve. She is not a grandmother which seems to be confusing people, but a G-dmother. She was given to our family I suppose or volunteered to take in two recently converted husband and wife. She did so much more. When I was a kid she was like a Grandmother. Having never met my Father's mother and being so far from my Mother's Parents, it was nice to have someone so close who cared so much. She didn't need to take us in the way she did. But for as long as she lived, her and her husband Harry, who passed just 9 years ago, brought us into their house as family. Rosh Hashanna, Yom Kippur, Passover, or just special occassions, they had us over for dinner. She was apart of the most important days of my life. We were not related by blood, but she treated me like a grandson. She would alway say, "see him, this is my G-dson, he is going to be President someday." I am so thankful for your gift of love. Thank you.

Purim: Reminder of Survival

The story of Purim is a familiar one for jews. An evil man ploting to kill all Jews, a willing ruler who sets a date, and only through g-dly intervention and some luck we move on. The King got tired of his old queen, picks a new one who happens to also be Jewish. She tells him of the consequences of the plot, her death and we all live until today. But I think the deeper story of Purim is the continued convenent between G-d and man, or G-d and the Jewish people. To me our survival is proof itself of G-d's existence. Because only through the guidence of a ever abiding spritual presence are we able to not go the way of so many other civilizations. And while other languages and religions have come and gone, our still survives today, a miracle in itself. But it is also a reminder that as Jewish people we have a covenent of living standards with G-d. That we should be the moral standard for the world. More importantly, the state we set up as a haven for our religion should not be a moral paria, but a beaken of morality unseen on the earth. As the embodiment of our convenent with G-d, Israel should stand up to higher morality and I am saddened that instead Jews complain of a double standard. There should not only be a double standard for our actions, but we should live up to the highest standards of morality at all times. To many Jews have just lost touch with the foundations of our religion, Justice and Peace. The understanding of higher importance than simple survival or suburban G-ds. I think of people like my mother and other converts who bring new energy to a religion whose members are unfortunately loosing their spiritual centers. Purim is a time to remember our survival and thank g-d for it. It is also a time to recommit to the principals that make that convenent so special. Unabiding sense of morality, a commitment to justice and a never eneding strive for peace.

It Just Gets Better

I was going to post about something else, But this is just to good to be true. Gov. Bush Seeks to Take Custody of Schiavo PINELLAS PARK, Fla. - Terri Schiavo's parents saw their options vanish one by one Wednesday as a federal appeals court refused to reinsert her feeding tube and the Florida Legislature decided not to intervene in the epic struggle. Refusing to give up, Gov. Jeb Bush sought court permission to take custody of Schiavo. Finally the Democrats need do nothing. Republicans can destroy themselves over their own grandstanding and we need only watch. These people are sick. Sick. Sick. And it gets better. So the Washington Post Asks Delay how it can reconcile the bill to save Schiavo, and yet propose a budget cutting Medicade which paid for the care keeping her alive. This is the Response: DeLay's spokesman, Dan Allen, responded. Allen said, "The fact that they're tying a life issue to the budget process shows just how disconnected [they] are to reality." Allen's statement succinctly reveals exactly what is wrong with right-wing leaders like Tom DeLay. DeLay and his allies have divorced their conceptions of morality from their core responsibilities as legislators, like the budget. As a result, they are advancing amoral policies which have devastating effects on children, the sick and the indigent. BUT OF COURSE THIS IS A DIFFERENT TUNE WHEN WITH A DIFFERENT AUDIENCE. THEY ARE IMMORAL. THE BUDGET AS A MORAL DOCUMENT: Tom DeLay should read his mail. On Jan. 25, a group of 60 religious leaders from diverse faiths sent a letter to all 535 members of Congress. The letter said, "Despite its complexity, the budget is essentially a moral document – the specific expression of the values of the nation," and urged Congress to review the budget with six essential questions in mind, including: "Does the budget provide adequately for all of God's children, including the poor and sick, the old and very young?" and "Does the budget provide those in need with the assistance necessary to build self-reliant, purposeful lives?" The religious leaders who signed the document did so because they understand the impact that the federal budget has on the lives of Americans. Tom DeLay, apparently, does not. THE BUDGET IS A LIFE ISSUE: For many Americans, the federal budget is an issue of life and death. Tom DeLay is pushing Medicaid cuts of at least $15 billion over five years. (That would mean a loss of $673 million in Florida alone.) Medicaid currently "pays for health and long-term care services for over 50 million low-income and disabled individuals." States are already "struggling to fund their share of Medicaid's costs, and a number are significantly reducing coverage or benefits." DeLay's proposal would "reduce the federal commitment to Medicaid and shift costs to states which would increase the pressures that states are facing." If DeLay's version of the budget passes, the effect "would likely be to increase the number of low-income people in the United States who are uninsured or underinsured." According to the Institute of Medicine, lack of health insurance already "causes roughly 18,000 unnecessary deaths every year in the United States." AMORAL TAX POLICY: DeLay and his right-wing allies claim cuts in Medicaid and other vital services are necessary to achieve budget discipline. They see no shortage of cash, however, to shower on the wealthiest Americans. The House budget proposal "calls for $106 billion in tax cuts over the next five years." An analysis by the Urban Institute-Brookings Tax Policy Center reveals that 46 percent of the benefits "from the dividend and capital gains tax cuts accrue to the nation's small handful of people with incomes exceeding $1 million a year, a group that constitutes only 0.2 percent of U.S. households." Pursuing these policies while cutting health benefits for the most vulnerable shows how disconnected DeLay and his allies are from the struggles of many Americans.

Being an American

To often we as liberals in not wanting to offend, not wanting to tout our own, never say how great it is to be an American. Because it seems saying its great to be an American means it might not be so great to be a German, or French, argentine, or South African. Nationality is used to divide people, justify killing and sending poor kids to fight for greed. But we were given the gift of being born at this time when America is the center of democracy and many of the things that are great about the world. We as liberals should never have to defend criticizing this country, because it is that love and desire for this country to be all it can be is where the criticizing comes from. Republicans want to preserve their self-interests, they want to conserve their spots, defend their plutocracy. Liberals love this country’s freedom, its potential, its vision. I am an American, g-d chose to pick this as my birth place and I feel blessed at that opportunity. I love being an American, and I refuse to allow republicans to continue to work toward more disenfranchisement, lessoning of universal opportunity, destroying our public institutions of education and social security for the old. While we love this country, ALL of its citizens, its promise of opportunity and its beautiful expanses, they work to destroy it. We as liberals love this country and they hate everything it means to be an American and it is about time we start saying it.

The Politicization of Terri Schiavo

A person in the sanctity of a marriage have the right to make a decision about their lives. If a person does not want to be kept a live, a husband or wife would know best. Parents, brothers and sisters maybe close, but they really only know you as a perifery. Not the intimacy of a marriage. I don't know the Schiavo's I don't know there case, I will probably never meet them. But whatever they decide, let them decide it. Congressional Grandstanding in this instance is wrong and here is why: Progress Report A memo, which the AP reports was distributed by Senate leadership to right-wing members, called Schiavo "a great political issue" and urged senators to talk about her because "the pro-life base will be excited." Over the weekend, DeLay and Frist held special sessions of Congress to facilitate passage of a bill that would allow a federal court to overturn years of Florida jurisprudence – encompassing seven courts and 19 judges – and intervene in the Schiavo case. (Underscoring that this was about the politics of the Schiavo case and not policy, the bill was written explicitly to apply only to Terri Schiavo.) President Bush played his part in the spectacle, flying to Washington from his ranch in Crawford to sign the bill, even though waiting a few hours for the bill to be flown to him would likely "have made no difference in whether Ms. Schiavo lives." BUSH SIGNED LAW ALLOWING HOSPITALS TO DISCONTINUE LIFE SUPPORT: In a statement released early this morning, President Bush said he will "continue to stand on the side of those defending life for all Americans." But the facts make it hard to believe that Bush is standing on principle. In 1999, then Gov. Bush signed a law that "allows hospitals [to] discontinue life sustaining care, even if patient family members disagree." Just days ago the law permitted Texas Children's Hospital to remove the breathing tube from a 6-month-old boy named Sun Hudson. The law may soon be used to remove life support from Spiro Nikolouzos, a 68-year-old man. Bush has not commented on either case. DELAY VOTED TO SLASH FUNDING THAT PAID FOR SCHIAVO'S CARE: At every opportunity, Tom DeLay has sanctimoniously proclaimed his concern for the well-being of Terri Schiavo, saying he is only trying to ensure she has the chance "we all deserve." Schiavo's medications are paid for by Medicaid. Just last week, DeLay marshaled a budget resolution through the House of Representatives that would cut funding for Medicaid by at least $15 billion, threatening the quality of care for people like Terri Schiavo. Because the Senate voted to restore the funding, DeLay is threatening to hold up the entire budget process if he doesn't get his way. FRIST FIGHTING AGAINST FINANCIAL RECOVERY FOR PEOPLE LIKE SCHIAVO: Bill Frist has been positioning himself in the media as a champion for Schiavo's interests. Yet, much of Schiavo's medical care has been financed by $1,000,000 from two medical malpractice lawsuits Schiavo won after her heart attack 15 years ago. Frist has been leading the charge to limit recovery for people like Schiavo who are severely debilitated. If Frist is successful, people like Schiavo would not be able to recover any punitive damages no matter how severe their injuries.

New Dasani Commercial: Makes Me Never Want to Drink Dasani Again

I saw the most awful Dasani Commerical. It was a bear coming out of a cave scratching himself and he says. "you don't want that natural spring water. I was just in there and there are salmon spawning in there. you don't want water from there." then this over voice "Dasani, Salmon Free." Dasani Commercial was just wrong. That is the problem with suburbanites. They want to completely sterilize nature. G-d forbid there is some dirt, some nature around we don't want any of that. THAT IS SUCH A SAD STATEMENT ABOUT AMERICANS WHEN A SELLING POINT IS. OUR WATER IS NATURAL FREE. Of course the Salmon help cleanse the water, as do the rocks, dirt and other natural fultritions that make spring water so amazing. I am not saying that we should all drink bottled water. Every study shows that bottled water is just as clean as tap water 85% of the time. But at least true spring water is amazing, and its sad when Americans can be sold a drink based on our water is as far from nature as possible. I love coke, but that new Dasani commercial made it clear that I AM NEVER BUYING DASANI AGAIN if I can help it.

Why G-d do you allow yourself to suffer?

Why G-d do you allow yourself to suffer? Why do you allow your sons and daughters struggle painfully through this world, which must pain you. I do not know the strength required to allow your creations to create a world where oppression rains, violence persists and sadly your many wondrous names are often taken as the rationale for harming your creations. You could end this in time-span not categorized by time. And yet you allow us to make our mistakes, as we make our way through life. You are the only parent privy to every suffering, every mistake their children make. And yet you allow us to make ourselves better must endure seeing all of your creations suffer. We are given numerous guides written, personified by living saints, and given scope to your beauty through the curiosity of science, and even with firm words of guidance, we fail to act accordingly. What benevolence, I fail your vision daily, and I often question its wisdom. Even worse, I know I will continue to fail. But I promise to try to embrace your guidance and bring compassion to those around me.

The Religious Right’s Broken Promises

THIS IS JUST FUCKED UP From ThinkProgress.com The Radical Religious Right is trying to build an army of followers ready to fall in step behind its quest to redefine moral values. And here are some of the barking orders to women and African-Americans coming from The Promise Keepers, a right-wing, all-male religious movement: Tony Evans, co-editor of Seven Promises of a Promise Keeper: "Sit down with your wife and say something like this: 'Honey, I've made a terrible mistake. I've given you my role. I gave up leading this family, and I forced you to take my place. Now I must reclaim that role' . . . I'm not suggesting you ask for your role back' I'm urging you to take it back." Wellington Boone, editorial board member of Promise Keepers magazine New Man: "I want to boldly affirm Uncle Tom. The black community must stop criticizing Uncle Tom. He is a role model."

ANWAR = Evil Republicans

51 to 49 Republicans pass drilling in The Artic National Wildlife Refuge. They put the legislation in a budget bill so it could not be fillabustered by Democrats. The sad part while 6 Republicans voted for G-d's Creation, 3 Democrats voted for greed. Daniel K. Akaka (AK) I mean he is from there evil, but fine BUT: Daniel Inouye (D-HI) YOU ARE FROM A SOLIDLY DEMOCRATIC STATE, THAT WILL GET NO BENEFIT FROM THE DRILLING WHAT THE FUCK Mary L. Landrieu (D-LA) She was the deciding vote, and everytime there is a spill, wildlife destroyed, I hope she has nightmares. Because that is just shameful. 95% of the Northern Artic Shelf is open for exploration and yet this land the only part set aside, they want to drill in. We currently buy 25% of all the oil on the world market, currently we produce in America 3% of the oil we need to run our country. 3%... DO THE MATH. At best ANWAR would decrease our dependence on foreign oil by 1 to 2%. Meaning we would still depend 95% on foreign oil. This does nothing to decrease the depence. It would also do nothing to lower prices as OPEC could just cut production to keep prices high which it says it will do. So what is the purpose. Plain old fashioned greed. And it sad. Because only our rich wildlife will suffer

Some People Say George W. Bush is a Racist Prick

"this may not work because some people aren't capable of investing -- as if the investor class was only a certain type of person." President Bush yesterday on his Social Security Road Show Continuing on Blacks: "therefore, it seems to me to make sense, if I were a part of a group of people that were being disadvantaged by the Social Security system, that I'd at least like to have the opportunity to have some of the money I put in the system passable to my family." (they already can and do as studies have shown) WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE SAYING THAT. MAGICAL FAIRIES IN YOUR MIND THAT TALK TO HIM. OR THE ONLY PEOPLE HE ACTUALLY TALKS TO, ROVE AND CHENEY IF ANYONE IS SAYING PEOPLE OF COLOR CAN'T INVEST, I garuntee you they didn't vote for Kerry in '04. No one is saying that. NO ONE SAYS "CERTAIN PEOPLE" CAN'T INVEST. President Bush's pitch to Black people on Social Security Privatization is disgustingly hypocritical. From a President and Party that bemnoans Black Americans "using the race card," to get things we supposedly do not deserve and yet use the race card to get a plan that hurts black families is just sick. People opposed private accounts because they do nothing to fix long-term solvency. Raising the payroll tax on the rich would fix solvency for years to come. Apparently because of President Bush's speachs, Some PEOPLE SAY PRESIDENT BUSH IS A RACIST PRICK WHO WISHES HE WERE PRESIDENT IN 1930's ITALY WHERE HIS WORD WAS ALL THAT MATTERED. But that is just some people. not me, just some people

"Reality TV"

Reality TV is getting much better. Gone are the stupid Fox shows, and some of the other bad "Reality TV," There are some actual quality shows that are worth watching. Shows like The Contender, The Amazing Race, and even Extreme Home-make Over are acutally qaulity shows. The Contender has a compelling story about families and people while also highlighting the competition. It sometimes seems corny, until you realize it is very real to these people. The motivations for their fighting is just so interesting. The Amazing Race shows you competitions from around the world and brings interest in team dynamics. Extreme Homemakerover, is just a heart string puller. A cancer surviving 8 year old who wants to make over the Hospital she stayed in. If it weren't Reality, it would be laughed off TV as unrealistic and sappy. I think that is what makes these new Reality TV shows so good. They are uncomprimisingly emotional, the fact that the crews are just filming these people's realities makes the minipulation even more believing and heart pulling. Reality TV has had a rough start, but I hope more shows like this are the future, and less Will Marry a Midget for $1million. Or the horendous, Bachelor and Bachelorette, where you find "love" by producers who pick out 50 same looking boring people for you to fain interest in. G-d that show is awful.

Homeland Security Protecting You From your Freedoms

Although we on the left were clammoring for real protection (I am still waiting for that day). Homeland Security has done neither. Instead the Bush Administration has used the national security crisis as a red hearing to curtain civil liberties economic conservatives were never really keen about anyway. Of course these measures only superficially makes us safer, while never actually doing anything to make us safer. There are measures that could be addressed, but instead the Homeland Security is more interested in putting on a good show. Case in point, recent Inspecter General Clark Kent Ervin, Bush apointee, supporter and lifelong Republican who was forced out of the position for doing his job. The Inspector General's job is to raise concerns over waist and shortfalls in the agency. A job as a fiscal conservative he took seriously. To seriously it turns out. PETE YOST, Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON - The Homeland Security Department's former independent watchdog says he was twice summoned to then-Secretary Tom Ridge's office last year and asked why his reports criticizing the agency were being sent to Congress and whether they could be presented more favorably to the department. Ridge "was trying to get me not to give things to Congress and also to try to spin reports in a way most favorable to the department, and I resisted both of those," former Inspector General Clark Kent Ervin said Ervin said the two meetings with Ridge in June and September of 2004 were his lone one-on-one contacts with the secretary. Personally if I were Secretary of Homeland Security I would want to meet with the IG every week to make sure things were going well. But the admission (for which there is no dispute) that they met only twice is proof enough of the level of commitment they have to Homeland Secuirty. No this is just a ruise. Keep people scared, and make it look like you are trying. Third and critical to the survival of any curtailing of rights, make there an enemy that is threatening us. WWII it is the Japanese invaders amongst us. (to say nothing of Italians and Germans who easily out numbered the Japanese. As well as the numerous Nazi sympathizers in positions of power) Cold War the Russians, (lets face it the Russians used fear of the US to hold together their autocracy as well) Now the Arabs. I say that not to be deraugatory but to mock the sort of ingenius branding. Are there people of Middle Eastern Decent who have successfully carried out an attack against Americans, for sure. But these few do not represent the many. Nor are they alone. Muslims willing to be martyr's are not limited to Middle Easterners. Somalians, Morrocans, South Africans, Indonesians, English, Spanish, Phillapinos have all been linked to muslim extremist groups swearing our distruction. But making it Arabs makes it simpler. So we take away privacy, increase snooping, consolidate electronic information, end habius corpus all in the name of protecting America. But what are we protecting, if not an ideal embedded in our creation of a nation to be free of all these tyrannical things. And we make people scared of Arabs to distract from this chipping away at the American Institution of Freedom. This past week a Homeland security agent killed a teenager of Middle Eastern Dissent in point blank range. Douglas Bates, an off-duty federal Homeland Security agent fatally shot Bassim Chmait, a 20-year-old Arab-American aspiring rap artist and Saddleback College business major, during a Feb. 5 altercation outside Bates' Mission Viejo apartment. Bassim's three friends, who were with him at the time of the shooting, all had the same story: Bates shot Bassim at point-blank range after confronting the group, which was heading to a nearby party at roughly 1:30 a.m. Chmait added that an independent witness, a neighbor of Bates, confirmed their version of what happened. The witness I am talking about is a DEA agent, so he knows what he's talking about, 'He completely explains how angry the guy looked, his posture, his body language. . . . The witness said he was acting very aggressive, how he looked [angry] and how he was waving the gun around.' http://www.ocweekly.com/ink/05/27/news-schou.php Orange County DA Tony Rackauckas said that he could not press charges because of "conflicting evidence." The conflicting evidence seems to be, that Chmait is Arab and Bates works for Homeland Security. People are trying to pressure the DA to do something, at least open an indictment, but of course the Republican is refusing. Please call and put pressure. There are things we could be doing, but Republicans and Homeland Security Top Brass (because I believe its agents and officers are very serious about protecting our country) are not interested in truly making us safer. They are interested in keeping us scared and doing enough to make it seem like they are trying to stop it. So when the terrorist strike again they can get on TV and say, "we did what we could, and any American who says otherwise, hates America." Here are some of the Reports the IG said went unchanged: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050313/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/ridge_ig_conclusions_1 In May, he said disorganization and foundering management have prevented the department from collecting good information on lost and stolen passports and from stopping their use by people who could be security risks in the visa waiver program. That program allows citizens from certain foreign countries to enter the United States without a visa. _In June, he said people using stolen passports still are able to enter the country despite enhanced security checks. When U.S. border authorities discover such passports and deny entry, they sometimes gave the documents back to the travelers. _In August, he said the government hired air marshals who had been involved in cases of misconduct and did not hold them to a high enough disciplinary standard. _In September, he said the department has ceded to other agencies the important task of consolidating terrorist watch lists. _Also in September, he said the government assigned unqualified employees to Saudi Arabia, where they are supposed to ensure that terrorists do not get U.S. visas. _In October, he said the Transportation Security Administration overpaid The Boeing Co. by at least $49 million under an illegal contract to install explosive detection equipment at U.S. commercial airports. by PBU12

Compassion

Today while I was walking a dog, I met this nice old lady who engaged me in a discussion. Running behind I really was in a rush, but she had that look of a person in need of an ear, so I stopped. The dog seemed to sense it as well; eventhough he wanted to sniff her, she was to old for him to jump up to and lick so he just sat nicely (quite different from his normal puppy excitement) "Thats a nice dog, your just its walker aren't you" "Yes I am," "Yeah these yuppies don't know how to take care of their animals. They think just because they are alive they are ok. Bet they keep him locked up." "Yeah I mean he is just a puppy." I didn't really agree with how they kept him, but I am just the dog walker unfortunately I don't get to say how people treat their dogs. "I have been living with dogs for over 16 years I think I know a little bit better than you" "Probably" "Even had a horse once, but now I am stuck here. In this yuppie neighborhood. I hate this place people gossip, lock their dogs up, their kids up. Its terrible." "Ha I don't think I could live here either. " I laughed akwardly, but really I knew what she meant. I have nightmares of ending up in developments like this. "They are plotting against me, all of them, even that mail person." "really." I was more alarmed than inquisitive. "Yeah my landlord is plotting against me. He is in that big gray house down the street. I went to see if those workers were tapping the phones." She said this with a plea in her eyes that said please believe me I am NOT crazy. She looked lonley, frightened and sad. But paranoid I did not feel. I knoded agreement. "They are crazy he reads my mail makes sure I can't get my financial statements. When I leave he comes in and checks around goes through the place. He thinks he can because he owns the place." I kind of believed her, I mean there are so many assholes like that. People who take advantage of the elderly. I think of people I went to college with who would have no compulsion to invade and make paranoid simply because they could. I thought of a society that makes this easy, that says that because she is old and alone female she must be crazy. "The mailman is in on it. He is really mean to me. He is taking the mail overthere instead of to my place. He is up on charges because of it." I knodded again. Before she had ever said anything I didn't like the mailman. He was not nice to me and mean to the dog. The sweet puppy. "He will be nice now cause you are here. Please stay while I try to get my mail. He doesn't always give it to me. Please stay here." "of course." I then excused myself talked some more about how awful the yuppies were and left. I was busy had to get 4 more dogs. But I wanted to just listen to her more. People who met her would quickly determine she was crazy. Call her Paranoid. Maybe it was because she was dead on about the yuppies and how they treated their dogs, and how souless their lifestyle was. Maybe I sympathized with her desire to move out start over. I felt her lonliness, her desire to be believed. I did believe her. I believed her landlord could be so callous as to look through her mail and sort through her stuff. Because I believe a person who would own land and set to profit on old ladies was capable of it. I believed her that the mailman was evil. He seemed off to me. I wanted to give her a hug and say, please keep the faith you will be vindicated in the end. I wish I was right. "I can sense your nice. I like you." I wish I was nicer, I should come back sit with her. I should have done more. I should have complained with her. Because I think she was right.

More on the Morally Bankrupt Bill

Daily Kos Posted an explanation from a House Democratic Staffer. It is a good explanation so please read but I will sum it up. Basically because Democrats in evenly divide districts need to look good on the Buisness they will vote for Bill like this especially since it will pass anyway. Because most Americans are to busy or stupid to understand it, it will never catch up to them. What happened to standing up for this Bill because it is right. I know it is idealistic, working in the practical world it is not that simple. But in the Senate, as an opposition party, might as well start standing for something. Making a fuss. Wouldn't it been nice to see 44 Democrats standing on the news simply explaining how wrong this bill is and how they will protect you. Ah to dream of a real party. THE SHAME LIST AGAIN: (Bold names running in '08 or Reid Senate Majority Leader) Baucus (D-MT) Bayh (D-IN) Biden (D-DE) Bingaman (D-NM) Byrd (D-WV) Carper (D-DE) Conrad (D-ND) Inouye (D-HI)(what the fuck, you are in a safe seat in a Democratic state) Jeffords (I-VT)(he is just an independent, but we expected better from you) Johnson (D-SD) Kohl (D-WI) (Did you learn nothing from your Senior Senator, FRAUD) Landrieu (D-LA) Lincoln (D-AR) Nelson (D-FL) Nelson (D-NE) Pryor (D-AR) Reid (D-NV) Salazar (D-CO) Stabenow (D-MI)(Where they are loosing their Manufacturing base and people are struggling more and more. You are the poster child for cowardess) From a House Democratic staffer: Why did we lose so many votes on cloture on such an awful, venal piece of legislation? It's really a structural matter in terms of who Democrats end up soliciting for campaign donations. Most Dems have a pretty solid labor-environmental-trial lawyer base that they then try to build out from to amass a large enough war chest to scare off challengers. Groups that lack steady conflict with the labor-enviro-lawyer triumvirate offer the most attractive targets. That's why Dems end up cozied up to the technology and financial services industry--few labor issues since they're mostly not unionized/union organizer's targets, few environmental issues b/c they don't pump soot into the air, and relatively less contact with the trial lobby. Since campaign contributions play a significant role and Dems have demonstrably fewer targets, especially on K Street, many Dems end up VERY close to the industries that pushed hardest for the bill--namely the American Banker's Association and the credit card companies, although the credit card companies lean further right in their allocation of PAC dollars. This becomes amplified for vulnerable Democrats who often flock to groups like the New Democrats or Blue Dogs in order to establish their bona fides with the business community in order to secure their seats. Some of these so-called conservative, pro-business Dems are honestly out of step with the party but many are just struggling to field a credible re-elect effort in difficult districts. Given its growing strength vis-a-vis other organizations, it never hurts to have a few pro-Chamber votes if to do nothing more than lessen their enthusiasm for supporting a Republican who will vote with them 100% of the time. Lastly, once they got to 60 votes, I'm sure that opened the floodgates. Knowing that something will pass, likely won't be understood by the general public, and will matter a great deal to those with ready donations will do a great deal to motivate Reps and Senators to sign on board with bad policy. Unfortunately and inevitably, consumers end up worst off when this dynamic plays itself out, mainly because they lack the organization and clout that labor, environmental groups, and trial lawyers possess. The Consumer's Union usually ferrets out bad policy, but they lack the means to scare Reps and Senators away from voting against them because they're largely unorganized. If we take any lesson from the bankruptcy bill and Bush's slavish support of corporate interest groups, it's that we as progressives need to find a way to think of ways to give consumers' issues teeth. Then maybe bills like this won't even make it to the floor. If there's no penalty for voting for a pro-Chamber bill, Dems have an easier time peeling off and supporting bad legislation. If you need proof, just watch how many House members vote yes on the bill when it comes up. I bet it's at least 320+. Kos Explanation Vote for it, and your donations from the financial services sector continue to pour in, helping you stay in power. And this isn't the sort of high-profile issue that could ultimately cost you votes (and definitely not one that could spur attacks from a Republican opponent). Vote against a bankruptcy bill destined to pass anyway (remember, the GOP has its majorities) and you get very little political benefit while losing one of your main sources of election cash. The less cash-on-hand you have heading into the election season, the more likely you are to face a well-funded opponent. So why would a House Democrat vote against the bill? They won't. And while some of you may blame them anyway, that won't jibe with the reality on the ground. Of course, that's the House, where the GOP can do what it pleases. But what about the Senate, where a filibuster could've derailed the bill? As Democrats in the minority, we have to chose our battles, and do so judiciously. Social Security and judges are higher profile and offer bigger political rewards than the bankruptcy bill did. I don't blame Reid for refusing to enforce caucus discipline. But this is clearly Exhibit A of the corrosive effect of money in our political system -- a bill supported by nary a voter, yet pushed through by a powerful, rich industry. The credit card companies have had their risk reduced by a significant amount. Yet they will not lower rates to reflect their reduced risk. They will not be prevented from giving credit to those who can least afford it (like poor college students). They will do nothing except reap huge dividends on their capitol hill investments.

Why The Democratic Party Is a Sham.

I have worked and voted for Democrats for most of my life, but this is pathetic. Even Republican commentators wanted the opposition party to stand up for them. What did they do? Stand up for the people as Dems are supposed to, NO THEY VOTED FOR THE MORALLY BANKRUPT ACT. PATHETIC. This Bill makes it almost impossible for the 90% of Americans who go under unbearable debt due to the inequitable health care system, divorce, even women who cannot get their husbands to pay child support. Military Members who have predatory creditors getting them right before they ship off to war. All these people will not be able to start over as invisioned by the creators of Bankruptcy. 75 Voted for it. That is all the 55 Republicans (no surprise, they are evil beholden to corporations) 20 Democrats voted for this Bill INCLUDING OUR OWN SENATE LEADER SHAME. THE HIGHLIGHTED NAMES ARE THINKING ABOUT RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT IN 08. THEY SHOULD NOT EVEN BE CONSIDERED. Its about time the party of the people actually work FOR THE PEOPLE. THIS IS THE SHAME LIST. Baucus (D-MT) Bayh (D-IN) Biden (D-DE) Bingaman (D-NM) Byrd (D-WV) Carper (D-DE) Conrad (D-ND) Inouye (D-HI) (what the fuck, you are in a safe seat in a Democratic state) Jeffords (I-VT) (he is just an independent, but we expected better from you) Johnson (D-SD) Kohl (D-WI) (Did you learn nothing from your Senior Senator, FRAUD) Landrieu (D-LA) Lincoln (D-AR) Nelson (D-FL) Nelson (D-NE) Pryor (D-AR) Reid (D-NV) Salazar (D-CO) Stabenow (D-MI) (Where they are loosing their Manufacturing base and people are struggling more and more. You are the poster child for cowardess) IF YOU SENATOR IS ON THE LIST GIVE THEM A CALL TELL THEM HOW MUCH THEY SUCK.

Morally Bankrupt Bill

It looks like the Republicans will be able to pass this Bankruptcy Bill in the coming days. I know that people want to shy away from using blanket statements and often complaining that all politicians are the same. But this bill exemplifies a simple truth, REPUBLICANS ARE EVIL. There is no two ways about this. There is no way to split hairs, to be fair to both sides, this bill is solely about protecting the rich at the expense of the most vulnerable and it is a shame. Lets get into the bill, the bill was WRITTEN BY THE CREDIT CARD COMPANIES as they admitted in a financial services industry paper. As the New York Times reports, The main lobbying forces for the bill - a coalition that included Visa, MasterCard, the American Bankers Association, MBNA America, Capital One, Citicorp, the Ford Motor Credit Company and the General Motors Acceptance Corporation - spent more than $40 million in political fund-raising efforts and many millions more on lobbying efforts since 1989… Its proponents claim that the bill protects Credit Card Companies from people cheating the companies and filing for Bankruptcy. But the Companies already have a protection built in. Through the process of filing for bankruptcy if a judge deems that a person can afford to pay their debts, or that it was through frivolous spending, a payment plan can be demanded. By all reports this works very well. This Bill goes after a more vulnerable group. According to a Harvard University study, by Harvard law professor Elizabeth Warren, Insured, middle class families paying medical bills account for half of personal bankruptcies, Warren’s recent study shows. "90% of American bankruptcies are the result of personal crises: medical emergencies, job loss, divorce, or deaths of family members." Or According the Progress Reports, "CREDIT CARD COMPANIES ALREADY PROFIT FROM BANKRUPTCY:have managed to keep their profits rising steadily even as personal bankruptcies have soared." In other words, "companies have found ways to make money even on cardholders who eventually go broke." According to Robert Weed, a former aide to Newt Gingrich, "Most of the credit cards that end up in bankruptcy proceedings have already made a profit for the companies that issued them." Credit card companies claim reform is needed because individual bankruptcies are hurting their bottom line. It's not true. The LA Times reports, "by charging customers different interest rates depending on how likely they are to repay their debts and by adding substantial fees for an array of items such as late payments...the major card companies These companies are not hurting they took in $30 billion in profits last year, this will make it even better. This is the scariest part: "LOSING OWNERSHIP OF YOUR HUMAN CAPITAL: David A. Moss, a historian at Harvard, said, 'until now, the principle in this country has been that people's future human capital is their own. If a person gets on a financial treadmill, they can declare bankruptcy and have what can't be paid discharged. But that would change with this bill.'" Stay up to date on this. It’s a big one, and it’s moving fast. To get more information go Here: http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/bankruptcy/ or Here: http://getsickgobroke.com/ PLEASE CONTACT YOUR SENATOR, ESPECIALLY IF A DEMOCRAT WE NEED TO KEEP FIGHTING THIS IS BIG. These senators: Akaka (D-HI), Baucus (D-MT), Bayh (D-IN), Bingaman (D-NM), Cantwell (D-WA), Clinton (D-NY), Dorgan (D-ND), Feinstein (D-CA), Inouye (D-HI), Jeffords (I-VT), Leahy (D-VT), Levin (D-MI), Mikulski (D-MD), Murray (D-WA), Reid (D-NV), Schumer (D-NY), and Wyden (D-OR). Concerned constituents may wish to express concern of a repeat performance. Dial (202) 224-3121 to reach the Senate Switchboard, ask for your Senators' offices, and leave a clear message: "Do not vote for this MORALLY Bankruptcy bill." Need more information, here are some amendments offered to make the Bill more fair. Making millionaires pay their fair share, nope. Make the people in the military pay even if veterans of the most recent conflicts, YUP. They also stopped an amendment to make large corporations pay their fair share in bankruptcy, there is currently exemptions for companies with more than $1 million in profits. Oh yes. REPUBLICANS ARE THAT EVIL. "REJECTED – CLOSING LOOPHOLES FOR MILLIONAIRES: Under the bill, the very wealthy would be able to shield millions in assets after declaring bankruptcy by setting up "asset protection trusts." Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) introduced an amendment that "would have limited the use of the trusts to shield assets only up to $125,000." The amendment failed 39-56. Schumer lamented, "now we have a bill that says a family won't be protected if it has $50,000, but it will if it has $5 million." REJECTED – PROTECTIONS FOR THE ELDERLY: The bill will be especially hard on elderly Americans, who are bankrupted by medical bills with increasing frequency. Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) introduced an amendment that would have shielded their homes (up to a modest $75,000) from seizure after declaring bankruptcy. The amendment failed 40-59. REJECTED – PROTECTIONS FOR THE SICK: More than half of all bankruptcies result from families who are unable to pay medical bills. Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) introduced an amendment to exempt those who became bankrupt because of illness from the new restrictions. The amendment failed 39-58. REJECTED – COMPREHENSIVE PROTECTIONS FOR VETERANS: Many veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, away from their jobs for months or years, face financial hardship. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced an amendment that would have exempted service members and veterans from the new restrictions of filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The amendment failed 38-58. In an attempt to save face, the Senate leadership jammed through a bill that would protect only active-duty troops and a few very low-income veterans. The right-wing needs to realize that we need to continue to support our troops even after they come home."

International Women’s Day

This International Women’s Day I thought about writing about the increased attacks on Women’s rights around the world and our need to act. Or the attacks on Women’s rights and health here at home. I thought about highlighting the Nobel Price Winner Wangari Maathai, in exemplifying the simplicity social justice efforts can take to address complex issues. But I decided to dedicate this International Women’s Day to Black and Jewish Women. Although often facing different challenges, they are both instrumental in the survival of their respective communities (or in the case of my mother overlapping communities). Black Women are often single handedly holding together the black community. According to the Census Bureau single mothers with kids accounted for 22 percent of all black households. Many of these Women are not just mothers once, but were mothers during my mother’s generation and serving as primary caregivers once again as Grandmothers. Black Women’s roles in the Black community is not limited to holding together our crumbling families being attacked by the corporate elite, they are our strength and beauty. I think of my mother and grandmother who made strong Women, a normalicy and desirable. I thank Black Women for being proud of their bodies regardless of their natural curves or lack there of. The pride in the face of growing society pressure to look a certain way gives me strength. I thank Black Women like my grandmother who have sat countless children like myself on their knees rubbing cocoa butter into their hair. Explaining all the rules to some of life’s mundane activities. Jewish Women’s roles historically have been the same. When I was young I had lots of Bubbas and Zeddas who would fight to hold me. Coming from parents who were converts, my learning of Judaism came from these loving Women who would take me into their arms. In Judaism Women are responsible for education. When I was young I was lucky to have so many people who cared for my and my spiritual upbringing. So Happy International Women’s Day to all the Women who give us our identity, support our growth, and tirelessly work for the well being of our communities.

Donald Rumsfleld: A Portrait of Failure

Donald Rumsfeld was going to be criticized, as Secretary Department of War Defense there is necessary criticism innate in the job. But Rumsfeld’s legacy is one where he follows up one failure with a more spectacular one. Just when you thought the decision to under-man the invasion of Iraq and fail to prepare for the eventual power vacuum after American victory was bad enough, he follows it up with inept arming of our troops once they are there. Three years not enough to properly arm the troops or prepare to keep the peace, well fear not Abu Ghraib prison fresh with pictures is just around the corner. Whether it be the pumping of the “danger” of Sadaam, outsourcing the hunt to capture Osama Bin Laden, he is easily the worst Secretary we have had. And Last week he is finally be held accountable. The BBC Reported: Rumsfeld sued over prison abuse US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is being sued by two civil liberties group for allegedly authorising torture and then failing to stop it. The case - being heard in Mr Rumsfeld's home state of Illinois - focuses on an order he signed in December 2002 authorising new methods for interrogating prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. Both groups say the defence secretary later ignored overwhelming evidence that the policies resulted in prisoner abuse. "Secretary Rumsfeld bears direct and ultimate responsibility for this descent into horror by personally authorising unlawful interrogation techniques and by abdicating his legal duty to stop torture," said lead counsel Lucas Guttentag. AND According to CBS NEWS, “An independent commission agreed in August 2004 that Rumsfeld and other top Pentagon leaders contributed to an environment in which prisoners suffered sadistic abuse at Abu Ghraib. The members also concluded that the officials could be faulted for failed leadership and oversight.” Rumsfeld is not just dangerous to the DOD or democracy, Rumsfeld is dangerous to the troops. The complete lack of care for the well being of our troops is not just in his inability to properly prepare for the war; the short-sided belief that torture could give information about the insurgency is dangerous not just because it never leads to credible info, but when our troops our captured, they face the same treatment. Rumsfeld failure is not just administrative, his failure is costing American Troops their lives. As a Military Family Member I have to say its about time someone hold him accountable. By PBU10

Rest In Peace: Dr. Ted Childs

I have been trying to figure out what I can write about my grandfather. You could Eulogize my grandfather just by listing his gifts to humanity. Even with all the extensive accomplishments, it wouldn't even touch his importance. When I think of my grandfather, I think of the vision he instilled in me a vision I have been able to share and will pass on to his family. We were never close in the traditional senese. We never went fishing together, played ball together, I remember when we had our first coversation. You know where one person talks and another responds in kind. Normally my grandfather would just talk, tell stories and I would listen. My grandfather would say things like, "you can't make your bed like that and expect to be in the Military," as if that mattered to me. "What type of kid doesn't drink whole milk?" And when I became a vegetarian, "eat some chicken it won't kill you." More importantly he asked me probibing questions like "how do you identify yourself?" and then explaining that while I may see myself as Jewish, the world sees me as Black. Or little gifts of knowledge while he looked down mixing his grits, "We as Black people have an obligation to help one another. Just because you have made it doesn't mean you just forget the ones that haven't. And Just because some of them are to ignorant and tell you you ain't ghetto enough doesn't mean you stop trying. We have an obligation to help each other." Grandpa was so inspiring, but to me he is my guide; he is the high beackon I need to pass. Rest In Peace, I love you and miss you