Parents Appaled At Kids Parties Out-Of-Control

Another no-brainer story. Seems parents are finally realizing that their kids’ parties are out of control. Picking up 7-year olds in a stretch limo for a birthday party, it seems is over the top. I’d say so!

What gets me is why parents are surprised and feel that they have no control of the situation. They are the parents, and it’s their job to control the situation. So what if FAO Schwartz has a $25,000 Sleepover party available. Don’t buy it for your little brats or they will grow up to be over-privileged asshole like their parents. We have a whole generation of effete snob kids being raised by social climbing parents. Now the parents wonder why their kids constantly expect more and more. I guess this just shows how money and intelligence do not necessarily go hand in hand.

I’ll bet that if you took a survey of these jokers who are throwing money at their kids instead of raising them you’d fine them to be politically right wing. I can tell you from personal experience that the last time I saw a bratty kid throwing a temper tantrum in the parking lot of a mall, they got into a car with a "W" sticker on the back. Serves you right "family values" voters.

Personally, I was glad to have a simple birthday party with paper hats and a piñata as a kid. I remember them fondly and all my friends seemed to have fun, especially when one of them missed the piñata and hit my cousin in the groin. It doesn’t get any better than that.

Boehner Says GOP "Low On New Ideas" - Duh!

Oh here’s a news flash! John Boehner, Republican House Minority Leader said in an interview that the party was running "low on new ideas". I would guess so when the "new" strategy for Bush in Iraq is to raise troop levels to what they were a few years ago and wait for the Iraqi’s to step up to the plate.

Face it, the GOP hasn’t had a new idea since Regan and most of them have been brain dead. The concept of constantly cutting taxes on the richest Americans and cutting services to the poorest Americans and trying to fund a war on the cheap are just not very good. Every allegedly new idea they come up with begins with the phrase "cut taxes". Guess what? It hasn’t helped the economy or the average American and they don’t care. They are bought and paid for by the wealthy and their job is to continue delivering more money to the rich. Simple isn’t it? They aren’t low on ideas, they have no ideas.

Impeach Bush Now Video - To Democrats

With thanks to Americablog for discovering this great video. It's the song all America should be singing.




Catchy isn't it?

US Military Sells Surplus To Iran And China

In its quest to grab a quick buck the US military has apparently sold surplus to Iran and China. Breaking its own rules parts for a Chinook helicopter ended up ion Iranian hands. Iran has also been trying to buy f-14 "tomcat" fighter jets as well.

I keep hearing the words of Lenin in my ears, "the Capitalists will sell us the rope with which we will hang them." The Bush administration rattles sabers at Iran and then sells them the same sabers. How much longer are we going to let these guys get away with their crap?

Evangelicals Back Fight Against Global Warming

It is refreshing when I find I agree with a conservative. That is the case with the National Association of Evangelicals who this week met with scientists in Georgia and issued a statement regarding the environment and global warming. "Whether God created the Earth in a millisecond or whether it evolved over billions of years, the issue we agree on is that it needs to be cared for today," said Rich Cizik, VP of government relations for the National Association of Evangelicals.

The group has taken the biblical charge that gives humankind dominion over the earth to heart and feel that we must be wise stewards of our gift. Perhaps this will encourage our government to make some kind of move toward easing carbon emissions and slowing global warming.

There was a buzz that the White House might change its position on the issue at the upcoming state of the union speech, but sources in the White House deny that possibility. Figures. Unless it can make a profit for big oil or industry, Bush will have no part of it. The Decider always decides to come down on the side of business and against the American Public.

Martin Luther King Day - Remember This Speech

Dr. King gave many memorable speeches in his brief lifetime. Everyone can quote from his "I Have a Dream" speech, but at this time when another tragic unjust war is tearing our country apart it may be good to remember this speech he gave on April 4, 1967 at Riverside Church in New York City.

"True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar. It comes to see
that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring." (M.L.King)

Ice Storm? We Ain't Got No Stinkin' Ice Storm.

So I have been huddled inside today watching the weather people on TV tell me how terrible the ice storm is going to be. Funny, they did this all day yesterday as well and guess what? No ice here. Dodged the bullet I guess, but to hear the TV talk you'd think it was a disaster of Biblical proportions. I guess any possible weather event is a ratings boost.

So, ended up going to church and having brunch with friends. No lines, either at communion or brunch, the one benefit of the predicted "no-show" weather.

Paula Abdul "Blotto" On AM TV Show!

Oh I know I will get in trouble over this, but it's one of my guilty pleasures. Almost as much fun as watching Takeshi's Castle, here's Paula Abdul, drunk on a morning talk show in Seattle.

I love watching celebrities melt down in public!

More Dangerous Heterosexuals! Mother Feeds Daughter Toilet Cleaning Acid.

Just when you thought it was safe for our kids we discover another dangerous heterosexual out there. Seems a German mother fed her daughter acidic toilet cleaner over 24 times in an effort to get her out of the way in a hospital for a while. Seems she didn’t want to have to bother taking care of her child. Later she scalded her daughter in hot bath water to try to collect accident insurance as well.

So next time you hear some idiot saying that gays are not fit to be parents, show them this little nightmare. Myself, I have no desire to have children, but I know that my gay and lesbian friends who do have them are much better parents than this woman. Why should her sexual orientation be any qualification for parenthood?

Princeton Scientists Discover "Off Switch" For HIV

Researchers at Princeton University think they have discovered an "off switch" for HIV the virus that causes AIDS. Thought this is not a cure, it may lead to a way to deactivate the virus and essentially send it into hibernation. That would have profound effects on patients with HIV and could extend their lives and halt the progress of the disease.

As great as this news is, I find myself melancholy hearing it. I immediately am overwhelmed by the memories of the many many friends I have lost to this disease and wonder what he world would be like had this development happened years ago. The AIDS crisis is more than a news story to me. It has been one of the defining events in my life. Though I am still HIV negative, I find it hard to understand why. I loved through the 70’s and 0’s just like everyone else, I just got lucky and never became positive. For that I am grateful, and saddened at the capriciousness of fate.

I pray that this development may not be just another false hope for an end to HIV and AIDS. I pray that no more people will become infected. I pray that our government will finally realize that we must fight the disease with not only education, but also action. I pray that the politicians who have bought into the lie of "abstinence only" education will wake up and become part of a solution.

Lots of prayers. They are not new either. I have prayed the same ones for years and I only hope hey will be answered before any more people die.

Senator Johnson Recovering And Talking

Senator Tim Johnson of South Dakota is recovering and responding to therapy after his brain surgery last month. Sources say he is forming words and his speech centers are undamaged. This is good news for all those praying for his speedy recovery.

Also bad news for Fox News who had already forecast his replacement and the Republicans reclaiming the Senate. Here's wishing a continued recover for Senator Johnson.

Bush Speaks - The World Yawns

So why no blog about Bush’s speech? That’s an easy one. What he said was not news or any surprise. The only scintilla of truth in his talking points was saying in the most passive voice imaginable, "Where mistakes have been made, the responsibility lies with me…."

And then there is the media being complicit in Bush’s lies by calling this a surge, it’s an escalation not a surge and everyone knows it. To use the deceptive terminology of the Administration the media is jumping on the propaganda bandwagon. Remember that next time someone feeds you that line of bullshit about "liberal media bias."

Lastly the Democratic response, while better than Bush’s speech is impotent. Bush has declared he will do whatever he wants regardless of Congress or the American public opinion. It is that kind of unilateral deciding that makes this "decider" a dangerous and reckless despot. I know I throw those words around here a lot and nobody would think I have any love for our President. True, but the words fit and the media is afraid to use them. Bush is behaving like a dictator. He makes pronouncements and signing statements that run contrary to constitutional process and that puts him outside the law. He would be prosecuted as a war criminal were he president of any other country.

Most importantly, Bush is talking like he plans to make war with Iran next. If he goes on unchecked, he will ignite a fire in the Middle East that will burn for centuries. Bush has some sort of warped crusader complex and if you add that to his recent dictatorial behavior and it spells trouble. Recently several commentators have compared him to Hitler. I think it may be an apt comparison. Though he has yet to start a "final solution" for his scapegoats, I am keeping a close watch. The day he decides that all Arab Americans need to be protected in special relocation camps is the day it will be too late.

"Munsters" actress Yvonne De Carlo dies at 84

Though she will probably be remembered as the spooky wife of TV’s Fred Munster, Yvonne De Carlo was a famous leading lady in numerous films. Playing Moses wife in the "Ten Commandments" opposite Charlton Heston and in dozens of westerns, she was often cast as the romantic leading lady.

Miss De Carlo died today at age 84 in Hollywood with her son in attendance. She will be fondly remembered and greatly missed.

Retailers back Warner combo DVD

In a move that I am intensely interested in Warner Home Video has decided to publish its new titles in both Blu-Ray and HD-DVD on the same disk. As a producer, I have been watching this struggle for a while and waiting before jumping in with both feet into the HD pool. This move is welcomed by retailers who have been working to convince consumers to upgrade their DVD players to one of the new HD formats.

Right now I record all my HD programs on digital tape format, and have yet to release anything for the public in a HD version. My hope is that this will not deteriorate into a Betamax/VHS war and a format will be settled on soon.

For those who have not gone to HDTV yet, let me tell you it's worth every penny. The experience is well beyond conventional video.

Feingold, Sununu Introduce Data Mining Reporting Bill

Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI) and John Sununu (R-NH) have reintroduced legislation requiring federal agencies to report to Congress on the use and development of data mining programs. This bill can be seen as a response to the illegal wiretap activity authorized by Bush and roundly condemned by the American public. More on Raw Story.

Snow Tells Congress - Bush Will Do As He Pleases

Watching the White House press conference yesterday was a surreal experience. Tony Snow, chief apologist for the administration basically told the press that Bush would do whatever he wants, Congress be damned. Here are his words verbatim when referring to a possible move by Congress to limit funds for the war: "You know, Congress has the power of the purse…. The President has the ability to exercise his own authority if he thinks Congress has voted the wrong way."

Snow was asserting what Bush has believed all along that he is a "unitary executive" or in more realistic terms a dictator. The decider, now dictator will take whatever measures he wants even though the American people and Congress oppose him. When asked about the November election Snow said Bush does not read it as a referendum on the war. "The President believes that -- if you take a look… at the elections, you can read any number of messages."

Why aren’t Americans marching on Washington demanding this megalomaniac resign for the good of the country? Bush and his cronies are effectively ruling like third world despots and must be called for their actions. We must pressure our Congresspersons to Impeach this criminal regime before there is no freedom to do so left.

Former Regan Aide Says "Bush Like Hitler" - Duhhh!

I guess it takes a former Regan cabinet member to call a spade a spade. Paul Craig Roberts, former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury under Ronald Regan says, "Bush is like Hitler. He blames defeats on his military commanders, not on his own insane policy."

The quote is in an interview on the libertarian website Antiwar.com. I guess it takes a conservative to make the obvious comparison before anyone will believe it.

Senator Fiengold Asks Bush To Explain Signing Statement Regarding Opening Mail Without A Warrant

I wish Russ Fiengold was my senator, instead I have that Bush lapdog Kay Bailey Hutchinson who is a rubber stamp for any Bush initiative. Senator Fiengold, on the other hand, has shown some balls and wrote our criminal-in-chief a letter demanding to know the details of Bush’s latest signing statement. That’s the one that gives him the ability to open the mail without a warrant. I call it the "ability" as opposed to the "right" since the whole issue is suspect and most likely unconstitutional.

I can only hope to see more of these kinds of calls from the Democrats and in the future a reversal of the sweeping powers claimed by Bush. His authority, at least according to Alberto Gonzales, is one of a "unitary executive", a term that disguises the more proper term, "dictator".

Photo Proves Bush Is A Lying Sleezeball

Well looks like the folks over at CREW (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington) have the goods on "W". The White House has gone to a lot of trouble to distance themselves from Jack Abramoff, but here he is smiling with George in a photo opp.

Gotta wonder how much money Jack gave Bush to get this photo in 2003?

Over 1000 People Spell "Impeach" On San Francisco Beach

Over 1000 people gathered in Nancy Pelosi's district, on Ocean Beach in San Francisco, to spell out the message "IMPEACH!" "America is a great country," said event organizer Brad Newsham, a local cab driver and author. "But President Bush has betrayed our faith. He mislead us into a disastrous war, and is trampling on our Constitution. He has to go. Now. I hope Nancy Pelosi is listening today."

A majority of Americans share Newsham's sentiments. A 2006 Zogby poll found that 52% of Americans agreed with the statement: "If President Bush wiretapped American citizens without the approval of a judge, do you agree or disagree that Congress should consider holding him accountable through impeachment?" (photo by John Montgomery)

New York Stinks - Or At Least Its Mayors Explanation Does

In an amazing show of bravado, Mayor Bloomberg of NYC told anxious citizens that the noxious gas smell was "not dangerous". When asked what it was, he said they had no idea. OK, maybe my logic skills need a little polishing but just because you don’t know what it is does not make it benign. It was not natural gas, but it had traces of the material normally added to natural gas to give it its odor. That is a long way from knowing what the odor was caused by and declaring it safe. If you remember the World Trade Center site was declared safe only a couple of days after the event and now workers at the site report major health problems.

Calm down everyone, nothing to worry about, no problems. What a bunch of malarkey! It sounds like Bloomberg is getting his dialogue out of a 1950’s movie rather than from any kind of scientific research. If I were a New Yorker, I’d keep my eyes and ears open. Whatever that smell was it was not normal and my guess is that in a few weeks we will really find what it is.

Terrorism? Probably not, but industrial accidents are often not revealed until weeks and months after to diffuse blame.

Bush "Flip-Flops" On Troop Levels In Iraq

I have to say I get tired of writing about the lies President Bush tells. Just 18 months ago he said sending more troops to Iraq was a bad idea, and today he wants more troops! The guy can’t make up his mind, and worse he has no idea of what he wants to achieve. His excuse for not sending more troops was that he didn’t want the Iraqis to become too dependent on us for security, and now that’s the main problem, security.

His generals told him it was a bad idea to send a "surge" of troops, and so he fires the generals. I can’t believe that Bush is coming up with this crap on his own, I only hope that whoever is feeding him this stuff will either stop it or take a moment to really evaluate what is going on in Iraq. We need an exit strategy, not an escalation strategy.

US Greases Wheels For Exxon And Others To Exploit Iraq Oil

For those of you who might be either asleep or brain-dead, today proof of the real reason for the Iraq war surfaced in the form of…drum roll…OIL! Yep, the US Government handed over to Exxon, BP and Shell the rights to exploit Iraqi oil. Our puppet government in Iraq is cooperating as the US helps write the laws that will give western oil companies the green light.

The controversial law will meet some resistance in the Iraqi parliament, but I suspect it will go through with enough US arm-twisting. Yes, it was all about oil, just like everyone thought. Another Iraq war fact confirmed. Too bad nobody made this crap public before we went and destroyed the lives of thousands of Iraqis and American soldiers.

Musical Chairs IN The White House? Watch Condi & Cheney

So DC is abuzz this weekend about the John Negroponte move. Why would he take what was in essence a demotion to leave the CIA and become Condi’s right hand boy? Well here’s the rumor, one which I predicted over a year ago. Condi will move into Dick Cheney’s seat when he resigns for "medical reasons" and that will give her a secure post for a run at the White House in 2008. Negroponte will move into the Secretary of State seat and Bush will have another lapdog in place.

Others have their opinions and I am sure there will be lots of chatter about this in the near future.

Israel Plans Nuclear Attack On Iran

And so as Israel goes CRAZY, he rest of the world gets screwed. The crazy Israeli’s are reportedly planning a tactical nuclear attack on Iran to take out their uranium enrichment facilities. Oh that’s a great idea! Start World War 3 for real by attacking an Arab country with nuclear weapons. And who will bear the brunt of the retaliation that will come from this? The United States. Israel bombs Iran and every terrorist in the world will attack us, because we are unquestioning allies of Israel. Why do we support them when they do so much to provoke wars in the Middle East? I have no idea.

Fox News broke the story and I am sure they will beat the war drums loudly as they can to drum up a diversion from the current disaster in Iraq. Here’s a Fox News Alert: Nuclear War is not an option, and if Israel starts it we should put them on the outlaw state list just like Iran and North Korea. Enough of this double standard crap. Time for us to call it like it is, Israel is a belligerent Nuclear power with a hair trigger and as such they are dangerous. They are not the kind of allies we need.

White House Managing Defeat In Iraq

Senator Joe Biden (D) is probably right about the Bush strategy in Iraq. In a recent statement he claimed Bush was only postponing defeat in Iraq so the next president will "be the guy landing helicopters inside the Green Zone, taking people off the roof".

Meanwhile CNN tonight reported on a leak in the White House that spoke of a managed defeat in Iraq as the administrations new tactic. So my question is this, why didn’t Bush listen to the multitude of voices who told him this would happen? I suspect it is because he is a megalomaniac who will listen to no one but the voices in his head. He must be removed and the new Congress needs to start doing it now.

Bush Chops Heads Of Military In Iraq

In a move typical of Bush, he is replacing the top generals in the armed forces who are critical of him with loyalists. Seeming more like Queen Evileen in "The Wiz" Bush want’s "no bad news", and surrounds himself with yes men and people whose only qualifications is their loyalty to him.

To head ground forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, he has selected a Navy Admiral. The pesky John Abizaid is retiring and Bush wants a stooge in his place who will follow whatever crazy plan he comes up with without comment. Granted, the military should be responsive to the Commander in Chief, but they should also feel free to offer advice. Not with this President!

In other posts General Casey, a Bush critic has been bumped upstairs and made chief of staff of the Army, effectively pulling him out of the field.

Meanwhile, CBS news reports that no more than 9000 troops can be added for Bush’s planned "surge". He wanted 20,000 or 30,000 but the cold reality is there aren’t that many available. Look for lots of strum und drang about Bush’s plans vs. what can actually happen. I expect he will blame any failure on ABM (anybody but me).

Were I a conspiracy nut I would suspect Bush is planning a military backed take over of our government, replacing all the Generals with his patsies, but I will leave that to others. Besides, he will need a team of body guards when he is exiled to his land in Paraguay after the impeachment.

Wikileaks Site Will Offer Safe Harbor For Whistle Blowers

A new website called Wikileaks.org will serve as an uncensorable site for government whistle blowers. The site is designed to target government misdeeds in China, Russia, Central Eurasia, the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa, but you can expect to see western government items on it as well.

Their motto is a quote from Dr. Daniel Ellsberg. “We were young, we were foolish, we were arrogant, but we were right.”

Bush Claims Power To Open Your Mail Without A Warrant!

Our dictator, George W. Bush has granted himself new sweeping powers with the stroke of a pen and a signing statement. Now he can open your mail without a warrant. Another basic right is stolen and where is the outrage? This criminal continues to make up laws as he goes and steal American’s rights and no one is saying anything!

This latest crime is in the form of a signing statement that says he reserves to open mail without a warrant if he deems it an emergency. This makes him judge, and jury and gives him more unchecked power. If the Democratic Congress doesn’t move to remove this criminal, they have no right to assert they are for change. Write Nancy Pelosi and your congressperson and demand investigations and impeachment if it is warranted. We cannot let this go on any longer.

Exxon-Mobil Paid Groups To Misslead Public

Exxon-Mobil apparently paid several groups to publish bogus rebuttals to global warming. The Union of Concerned Scientists released a report that accuses the oil giant of using "tobacco company tactics" to spread misinformation. I guess this comes as no surprise from the company that had a campaign earlier last year about CO2 emissions: "some call it pollution, we call it life"

Bush Determined To Surge 20,000 More Troops Into Iraq

Bush seems very adept at thumbing his nose at America. Our government spent millions on the Iraq Study Group Report that suggested that withdrawal was the best option. Bush apparently never read it, or simply used it to light his Yule log. The commanders on the ground say a sudden surge is a bad idea, but Bush is no longer listening to them, if he ever did. The troops on the ground think a surge is a bad idea, and needless to say, Bush doesn’t give a fig about their opinions.

NBC reports Bush is preparing to send 20,000 more troops into the much of Iraq and he seems sure this is he "big idea" he needs to win the war. What he will get is more death, less stability and even lower ratings in the opinion polls. With luck, he will also get impeached!

It is now the Democrats time. They have to make a drastic change in the government to save our country more death and dishonor. Bush behaves like a despot and must be treated as such. His continued role as President serves no purpose but to bolster his ego. Our prestige abroad is shot and trust for American foreign policy is nonexistent. The only way to restore America’s credibility at home and in the world is to remove the Bush administration now. Impeachment is not an option, it is an obligation.

Report Says Halliburton Sells Nuclear Technology To Iran

So our patriotic Vice-President’s company, Halliburton has been doing business with Iran, and not just oil business, but nuclear "bidness" to boot! According to reports, the company sold key components of a reactor to Iran as recently as 2005. Now correct me if I am wrong, but isn’t Iran part of the "Axis of Evil"?

Since when do American companies defy US bans of business with "enemy" countries? Since when does an American firm try to profit by selling illegal supplies to a rogue nation? Oh yea, since Bush entered the White House! My bad. If Cheney does it or one of his cronies, it must be OK cause they are doing God’s work.

Impeachment may be too little too late.

Guantanamo Prisoner Abuse Escalates - FBI Witnesses It!

More proof that the Bush administration has run amok! Interrogators at Guantanamo are doing the same things that brought so much criticism previously, defacing the Koran and abusing prisoners and this time it’s the FBI that says so. The FBI reports a new sacrilege as well, a fake priest "baptizing" prisoners. Bush folks have sunk to a new low now using the Christian religion as a weapon. And what are they getting from these prisoners now that they haven’t gotten in the past YEARS? Why is the torture continuing and interrogation still going on long after any information these prisoners might have is out of date and useless?

Stop the Bush administration now. Demand Impeachment of the whole gang of thugs and let’s restore American justice and America’s reputation in the world.

Mannequin Molestor Faces Life In Prison

Well it is always nice to take a break from the crap of the political scene for a really odd story. Seems a guy who was recently released from prison for breaking into stores to "have his way" with store mannequins. He didn’t wait very long before he again smashed the window of a cleaning company and assaulted the mannequin dressed as a French maid. I am not making this up!

He now faces possible life in prison as a repeat offender for this stuff. This story though comical on the surface shows the problem with our current penal system. We warehouse offenders and do nothing to get to the root cause of their crimes. We just hold them and release them and then wonder why they break the law again.

This guy sounds like a guy with a fetish and he has no legal means of indulging it. It is probably because he has never understood why he is attracted to the storeroom dummies. Wouldn’t it make sense to work with him a little bit and find why he has the fetish and then help him find a less intrusive way to express it?
After all, I like leather; I just don’t go breaking into leather stores to indulge myself.

GOP Leaders Running Scared From Bush War Plans

Seems not even Republicans support Bush and McCain’s plan to "surge" another 30,000 troops into the quagmire of Iraq. The average Republican has to stand for election in 2008 and they are hesitant to back a looser now. Bush's plans have no support by either the generals in Iraq or the troops on the ground. Like most Bush decisions, this one is a go-it-alone thing. His ego and blind faith that he is God’s emissary on earth guiding him instead of reason and expertise.

Shooting from the hip might work in a "B" western, but in real life it usually gets folks killed. In this case it will be more Iraqi’s, innocent civilians and US troops. Bush is reckless, headstrong and misguided. He must be impeached ASAP!

Park Service No Longer Able To Speak The Truth About The Grand Canyon

The story that broke a couple of days ago about the Parks Department at the Grand Canyon not being able to tell visitors the age of the park really got me. The Bush administration has discouraged them from doing so because it might offend fundamentalists who believe the world is no older than 6000 years. OK, sounds like the home-school crowd is starting to affect the overall IQ of the country!

The availability of a book saying the Grand Canyon was a byproduct of Noah’s Flood at the canyon gift shop says it all. We have let a group of fringe fanatics force their wacko opinions down our throats as "alternative theories" long enough. Ask any geologist what he or she thinks about this theory and they will stare at you dumfounded. It is not a theory, it is a bad interpretation of scripture, and is both bad theology and bad science.

These backwoods bumpkins used to be laughed at. That was a good thing too, it often would teach them that they needed to get some real "book learnin" and join the 21st century. I respect other people’s faith, but there is a place for it and it’s not as official policy of the National Parks. Noah, Adam, Eve and the rest belong in a church. The problem with this kind of flimsy faith is that it would be more at home in the "Little Book of Bible Stories" than a real theological discussion. If your faith has not matured beyond the Bible story level, I suspect you live a pretty unexamined life. Adults should have a developed adult theology to guide them, not a bunch of bumper sticker phrases and charming fables.

So to the fundamentalists who may be offended by scientific fact, tough! Time to examine your whole faith journey and really give it some thought. A faith that is not based on any effort on your part is destined to fail you in a crisis. Read, learn, grow, use the wonderful mind God gifted you with. You will find many more blessings in your life that way.

Ford Criticizes Bush From The Grave

Now he tells us! Gerald Ford’s interview with Bob Woodward was held until his death, and that is a very unfortunate thing. Ford was highly critical of the Iraq war and the Bush administration in general. His views, those of a moderate conservative, would have gone a long way towards waking the sleeping majority of Americans who reelected Bush in 2004. It is tragic that Ford chose to hide his opinions until now, and more tragic that he is not alive to answer a few more questions.

I am sure more will come out about this historic interview, but it is all too late. What a poor legacy this will leave. Ford, willing to criticize the administration only after he is beyond the reach of any repercussions. A voice from the grave and from history now merely a feeble "I told you so."

Bush Ranked Villain By 1/4 Americans

How the mighty have fallen! George W. Bush, once seen as a hero by the majority of the country is now seen as the World’s Number One Villain by one in every four Americans. This mean’s he beats Saddam and Osama in some people’s books. Pretty durn sad, especially since I am one of those folks.

Only 13% of people polled voted Bush a hero. So much for his political capital. The AP/AOL poll ranked Bush as the #1 Bad Guy by a landslide. And I have to wonder why the Democrats will not impeach him and put him out of his misery?

New Year - No Good News

As the New Year approaches, I find myself thinking as a nation we are in somewhat better shape than last year, but still in mortal peril. Not from terrorists, though they pose a threat, but from a delusional President who continues to march our young soldiers into an unwinnable war he started.

As General Abizaid calls 3500 troops into "call forward" status, I feel a sense of dread. Looks like Bush has already used the Iraq Study Group report as kindling for his Yule log, and now wants to throw gasoline on the fires in Iraq. Adding more troops to an already muddled situation will achieve only more chaos and resentment from Iraqis and more death for our troops.

The other problem with Bush’s "surge" idea is that it will only delay the Iraqis from taking responsibility for their own security. Of course that is a tenuous thing itself. Every day more bombings and death squad reports hit the press. Iraq may be hopelessly broken and it falls at the feet of Bush and his cronies. There is no easy answer, and in my opinion there is no winning this thing. I am reminded of the "Pottery Barn" analogy put forth at the war’s start. So, how do you reassemble a broken pot? Well you use glue and patience and what you end up with is a pot that never looks as good as it did before. That’s what we have in Iraq, a country that as far as quality of life will never be as good as it was before. Did I like Saddam? Hell no, but there were other less lethal ways of removing him than to have an all out assault on the country.

What to do now? Well, investigations and perhaps impeachment of Bush and Cheney for a start. Even though the Democrats seem reluctant to do it, it needs to be done. Meanwhile we need to begin drawing down troops in Iraq and finding ways to deal with our allies and enemies in the Middle East in more effective ways. That is why the present administration must go, they will never understand that.

Of Polar Bears, Gerald Ford & Castro

As the arctic sea ice melts away the habitat of the polar bear is reduced, and finally the Bush administration has admitted it may be a problem. A source within the Interior Department leaked the information that the polar bear may soon be under the protection of the Endangered Species Act. They spoke under condition of anonymity, since the Bush folks don’t want to appear as though they are admitting the global warming may be a reality. Remember they create their own realities!

As Coca-Cola watches it’s most recognizable spokesbear disappear from the face of the earth, I suspect they may be considering ways to jump on the ecology friendly bandwagon. I suspect we will see Coke ads soon that encourage recycling and fuel economy. And while you’re at it, share a Coke and a smile!

Then there is the passing of another endangered creature, an ex-president of the US. Gerald Ford died last night. He will be fondly remembered as the man who ended the Republican Party’s long nightmare by pardoning Nixon. As the country’s only unelected president he held a unique position. His wife, Betty became a hero of many recovering addicts by publicly admitting her addiction and later starting the renowned Betty Ford Clinic. For that, so many American’s are grateful. Betty Ford made the subject of addiction an acceptable topic and brining it out of the closet led thousands to recovery.

Finally there is Fidel Castro. As he lingers in what has been described as a "near-death" state, he reaches another milestone. He has outlived yet another US president and defiantly maintained the sovereignty of Cuba in the face of the most vociferous detractors. Though I am no great fan of Communism, I have to admit that Fidel has held on to power much longer than I expected. My only hope is that once he passes, our country will come to its senses and begin normal relations with Cuba. I really miss the cigars.

James Brown Dead At 73 - His Music Lives On Forever

Soul Music legend James Brown died today. God rest the "Godfather of Soul", the hardest working man in show business. It is hard to imagine my life without his songs ringing in my head. "I feel good, like I knew that I would , now!" It only takes those few words to conjure up his image, dancing and sweating onstage while his band pounded out the tightest sound in soul.

Holiday Wishes And A Healthy New Year!

Merry Christmas, Joyous Kwanza and Happy Chanukah! Let’s hope next year is a better one for the entire world. My personal holiday wish is that all Americans will have affordable health care in the coming new year. It’s not as big a wish as world peace, and that’s always on my list, but it is something I think the new Congress could and should take up.

I have to say that I am ashamed that our prosperous and remarkable country is one of the only industrialized nations in the world that has no national health care system. Why can a country with as many political and economic problems as Mexico have a state run health system and we have none? Why, according to the Center for American Progress, do 45 million Americans lack health insurance today. millions more are struggling to pay premiums that are growing five times faster than wages, even as their benefits shrink.

What does this say about us as Americans? Having had a period of my life when I had no health insurance and little money to pay for health care I can tell you. It means you get sick and you suffer and with luck you get well on your own. If you get seriously sick, you end up in the county emergency room and you hope that the medication they prescribe is cheap enough that you can afford it. It means that if you do not have enough money for experimental treatments for rare diseases, you just suffer or die.

It all comes down to money. The rich get the medicine and health care they need and the poor get the leftovers and sometimes nothing at all. I can tell you from experience, I lived in fear of getting sick. A day sick meant a day without the ability to work and that meant falling further and further in debt.

Today, I am grateful that that has changed. I have expensive health insurance, but it covers most of what might happen. There is no excuse that millions of Americans should live in constant fear of getting sick through no fault of their own. It is a shame on our national identity. We must demand that the new Congress do something about it.

Here's an interesting plan that the Center for American Progress has proposed. There are others equally as novel and the point is it must be discussed and something MUST be done.

Island Vanishes In Rising Sea Levels - Dramatic Evidence Of Global Warming

Still denying Global Warming? Talk to the former residents of Lohachara in the bay of Bengal. This inhabited island has now vanished under the seas. Once home to 10,000 people the island is no longer above sea level. The rising sea levels will cause more such problem as the ice caps melt. It's time to do something if it isn't too late. Write your congressman and demand that the US reduce carbon emissions, buy a hybrid car, use less energy, take action now.

Greetings! Draft Board Gearing Up Test

Merry Christmas from the Selective Service! Looks like Bush is cranking up the rusty old Draft Board and getting it ready for work. The Selective Service Administration is running a test of its notification system, something that hasn’t been done since 1998. There are assurances from the officials that this does not signal a reinstatement of the draft, but in my book if it looks like a draft and quacks like a draft…its gonna be a draft!

Time to haul out your old protest signs and songs.

And it’s one, two, three what are we fightin’ for?
Don’t ask me I don’t give a f**k!
Next stop looks like Iraq.

(Appologies to Country Joe)

Bears Stop Hibernating - New Proof Of Global Warming

To all those idiots who deny the reality of Global Warming, here’s a wake up call. Seems like bears in northern Spain have stopped hibernating. I expect Senator Inhoff from Oklahoma is wondering how those liberal do-gooders managed to trick the bears into this behavior?

This is nature sending us an alarm. When animals start changing their instinctive behaviors we have a couple of important things happening. One is proof of evolution in their behavior to adapt to the climate, and second, proof of drastic climate change. We have to start looking at ways to stop the warming trend and it begins with a smaller carbon footprint. We have to make changes now, not later. Wake up Global Warming deniers!

Another Fundamentalist Preacher In A Sex Scandal!

And the parade of fundamentalist Christian sex predators continues! Pastor Paul Williams of Bellveue Baptist Church near Memphis joins the latest gang of child molester clergy. Seems like Pastor Paul did a bit of under aged diddling a few years back and successfully covered it up until now.

Seems that some fundamentalist Christians are just born again child molesters.

Bush Looks Delusional At Press Conference

I keep coming up with the word delusional when I speak of President Bush. I just can’t help it after seeing the latest press conference. This is a man who last week said we were winning the Iraq was, and this week says we are not. He says instead that he "hopes" we can win. That is a very important statement in understanding the depth of his illness.

A delusional person lives in a world of hopes and imagination rather than reality. Bush fits in this role perfectly. He in some ways reminds me of Queen Evileen in the Broadway musical The Wiz, when she sings "don’t nobody bring me no bad news!"

Bush has surrounded himself with a cadre of yes men and women who are loyal to a fault and would rather see the country go down in flames than tell the President he is wrong. This is the same problem a certain German dictator had and it brought about the ruin of that country.
Someone has to tell him we are not only loosing whatever objective he may be imagining in Iraq, but we are destabilizing the entire region. Instead of concentrating on solving the Israeli/Palestinian problem, or finding Osama Ben Laden, we have been involved in what could best be described as "Petro-Adventurism" in Iraq. At the bidding of Exxon and the rest we have sent our troops into harms way and in the process destroyed a soverign countries infrastructure and thousands of lives in the process.

Our ship of state sails on blindly in a sea of falsified statistics and propaganda and yet the President, in his own words, "sleeps well at night". Sleeps well? Who but a madman could sleep well during this mess.

Bush needs to be treated like a sick person, and more importantly a sick person that has no business running a country. He and his entire cabinet need to step down and let Congress or maybe even the UN step in and restore a real government to our country. Yea, like that will ever happen!

Gingrich Blames Rove And Bush For GOP Losses

And so the GOP is eating its own. Newt Gingrich lays the blame for the lost election squarely at Karl Roves feet and turns his back on President Bush as the standard bearer of all things conservative. In the latest issue of Insight, Newt is characterized as having stayed silent for more than a year and is now coming out publicly to criticize the administration.

He also hints that he will not be a presidential candidate in 2008. Whew! That’s a relief. One less idiot to have cluttering up the airwaves with their clap trap. Now if we could just put a muzzle on McCain and his born again neocon act….

Bush Calls King's X On India Nuke Deal

Seems like King George just can't resist flaunting his imagined powers. He has issued a signing statement on the recent "Henry Hyde United States-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act". That act took over a year of wrangling top get it through Congress and now the President says he is not bound by the bill he just signed!

What kind of fantasy is he living in? This just shows that his signature is about as good as his word. He lies when he speaks, why not when he signs a bill? This guy is delusional beyond all reason. He must step down and take his toadies with him. The GOP needs to grow some cajones and have a real "come to Jesus meeting" with the guy. For the good of the country he must go and take Cheney with him. If the Democrats won't impeach him, then the GOP needs to step up to the plate and call for a resignation.

America is at risk, and someone must tell the Emperor he has no clothes.

Joe Barbera Dies - Boomer Generation Icon

What would my childhood have been without Hanna-Barbera? No Yogi Bear, no Flintstones, no Quick Draw McGraw? Luckily my generation was blessed with Joe Barbera and Bill Hanna whose pantheon of animated characters are imprinted deeply within our consciousness.

Bill Hanna went to the great cartoon land in the sky back in 2001 but last night the last half of that legendary team joined him. Goodbye to Joe Barbera and thanks for all the memories. Booboo is certainly boo-hooing right now.

Pentagon Opposes Troop Surge Idea

Seems like our delusional President is more and more at odds with the pentagon in how to handle the Iraq quagmire. Pentagon sources say the proposal to send a "surge" of another 20,000 or 30,000 troops is not a good strategy. Bush, apparently never having read the Iraq Study Group report still thinks this mess is "winnable" and refuses to listen to reason.

How much longer will the Generals continue to fight what they consider an unwinnable war? With everyone from the new Secretary of Defense on down saying we need to withdraw, what will be the final outcome? I sincerely hope the possibility of a military coup is off the table, however if Republicans have any balls left, they should ask Bush and Cheney to step down while our country is still in one piece.

Bush Library Plans Cause A Rucus

Looks like SMU wants no part of the Bush library. Wise decision. Professors are lobbying heavily against it. However, I have found a copy of the proposed plot plan showing the layout of the George W. Bush Presidential Library and I think they may be making a mistake. It is an innovative design.

Another Pastor Outed From Fundamentalist Church

The fundamentalist church lead by Ted Haggard is apparently rife with sexual predators. The pastor of young adult programs has stepped down admitting sexual impropriety with his flock. It is amazing how many closeted men are buried in fundamentalist churches. I guess they figure if they are ashamed of who they are they can hide in the least likely crowd . The big problem is that they hurt their congregations, themselves and out gays everywhere. They give a distorted impression of gay people and often times are themselves rabidly homophobic.

I call on all closeted gay men and women to come out and live proud and denounce the demon of homophobia! Now that would be a welcome revival.

Army Marine Recruiters Running Drugs In Tucson

"OK, so you don’t want to join the military, how about running cocaine for me?" That’s pretty much the question from military recruiters in Tucson, Arizona recently. A pair of military recruitment offices were busted for using the names of possible recruits in local high schools to solicit drug runners.

The recruiters, caught in an FBI sting operation were still recruiting up to 3 years after first being secretly videotaped by the FBI running drugs in uniform. Spokespersons for the military says they were kept on the job so as not to arouse suspicion during the lengthy sting operation.

This pitiful story speaks for itself. Marines and Army members using their influence to organize a drug ring, and IN UNIFORM! Granted this may be an isolated case, but it shows a pretty good lack of ethical training and leadership. I certainly hope this doesn’t tarnish the reputations of the thousands of loyal and ethical military men and women who are honest and sincere.

US Soldiers Teack Iraqi Kids Obscene Chant

Great! Another example of our soldiers taking out their frustrations on Iraqi children. In this stunning example of our military's fabulous PR machine, soldiers teach the kids to chant "F**k Iraq." I guess this is what happens when even the soldiers fighting realize it's fruitless and just give up. Next time we have a war, maybe we should teach our guys how to win hearts and minds, not how to create distrust and sow the seeds of their own destruction. These kids, like the previous video of Iraqi children being taunted with water are excellent training videos for new terrorists who hate the US. We should remember these incidents next time there is trouble in the Middle East and we wonder why they hate us?

Boiled Like Lobsters - The Real GOP Plan

A nice warm bath! That’s what the lobster thinks as the pot of water heats up. You see, you put them in the water before it boils and they never know they are being cooked until the die. Kind of like the slow and methodical removal of our rights as Americans. The GOP and the neocons have been carefully and slowly turning back the Bill of Rights in an attempt to lull us to sleep.

It’s just a little thing, taking away the right to hear the accusations against you, especially if you are not currently in trouble with the law. It’s just a little thing, holding a few "enemy combatants" without charges for years in isolation. It’s just a little thing, classifying every word spoken in the White House. It’s just a little thing making meetings that decide public policy "top secret". It’s just a little thing of having a religious organization with an official Pentagon office holding sanctioned prayers.

Pretty soon it will just be a little thing of censoring our right to comment on the Internet, and then a little more. Before we know it we will be drifting to sleep for good. Boiled in a pot of totalitarianism and under the thumb of a theocracy. We will taste delicious, as we are served up on a platter for the rich and powerful to feast on.

I look around me and I see everyone I know turning red. They are red with anger at the demise of our Democracy, but not angry enough to do anything. Like the hapless lobster, they will be bright red when they finally drift off, and they will never know what the real problem was.

It is time to take back our Democracy. It is time to take back our country and our very souls. The people in power in this administration are beyond corrupt. They are soulless. Not evil, just hollow. They have a vision of a country I cannot understand. A country ruled by a super wealthy oligarchy and governed with some kind of selective theocratic law. The problem is, unless you are part of their ruling elite, you are irrelevant.

Taking back the Congress for Democrats will have an effect only if we hold them to a plan of action to restore the rights that we have lost. Write your elected representative and tell them you expect them to act to reverse the horrible path that the Republicans have taken us down. Get involved with your local Democratic Party and make your voice heard. Take a few moments to climb to the rim of the pot and look out to see where we once were. It’s not too late, but we have to wake up to the problem and take action.

Tony Snow Says We Are Winning In Iraq - Wonder What Loosing Would Look Like?

More proof that Bush and his cronies are delusional comes in the form of Tony Snow, denier in chief. Today in a press conference he actually implied we are winning in Iraq. This in the face of the Iraq Study Group report that clearly states we are not winning. This in the face of the incoming Secretary of Defense who also feels we are not winning in Iraq.

Tony has to say it because if he doesn’t he will be fired. Someone has to tell the Emperor he has no clothes! Bush must be told we are loosing and we need to do something other than stay the course, but he will not listen.

McCain Declares War On Blogging

John McCain, the man who so convincingly masqueraded as a moderate is showing his true radical conservative stripes. His latest move is to introduce legislation that would effectively end blogging forever. He wants bloggers held responsible for all comments on their sites to prevent "child pornography". In other words he wants political dissent squelched and is using this as the excuse.

Check this story on Think Progress.

Tony Snow Doesn't Know - Anything!

Keith Olbermann compiled this litany of just what Mr. Snow doesn't know.
Thanks to Raw Story for uncovering this wealth of non-knowledge.

Former President Carter Dismisses His Critics - With Good Reason

Having just finished Jimmy Carter’s new book, "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid," I think the critics are warring over the title, not the facts contained within. No matter how you spin the situation in the Middle East, one thing is clear: the Israeli/Palestinian issue must be settled. Carter has unique knowledge of not only the facts but also the people involved. He has personal relationships with all the players and there is no one better qualified to assess the situation.

His book is a frank and open assessment of the problem and it’s possible solutions. What has critics upset is the title. That word "apartheid" is simply too hot to handle. After reading the book, I can think of no better word to describe the actions of the Israelis. They have walled up the Palestinians, restricted their commerce, movement and contact with the outside world. They have overwhelming military force aimed at them and have emasculated their police force. Top that off with the Israelis stubborn refusal to abide by the UN resolution 242 and you have a recipe for disaster.

Carter calls a spade a spade and for that he is vilified. Well the truth sometimes hurts, but it can set all the parties accept the facts and move beyond them towards a real solution. Unfortunately it seems that may be impossible for the foreseeable future. One of the main problems is the US lack of resolve to stay engaged in the process. If we took an active role in the peace process things might move forward, but the present administration has chosen to remain passive on this issue. By staying on the sidelines and not pushing both sides for an equitable peace, we only keep tensions high in the area.

To people offended by the title, if you haven’t read the book, then shut up. Titles are meant to be provocative and this is a subject on which everyone needs more information. This book is a great start in understanding the problem and the possible solutions. It is written by the foremost authority on the subject and we would all do well to heed his warnings.

Bush Delusional - Sees New Terrorist Threat From Space!

As further proof that Bush has lost touch with reality, his administration now claims he greatest threat to the country is a terrorist attacking our satellites. Yup, Star Wars! These Bozos are trying to recycle their old Star Wars crap but now hey are saying it is to keep the terrorists from attacking in outer space.

Funny how Osama Bin Laden is managing to jump from suicide bombers to space weapons. How will they do these attacks, smuggle suicide astronauts aboard the Space Shuttle?

It’s time we realize we have a dangerously out of control maniac at the helm of our ship of state. Bush is delusional and needs to be removed from office and treated or perhaps just locked away. His view of the war in Iraq is so twisted that he cannot or will not even consider the Iraq Study Group report. Instead he is thinking of increasing troop levels. Somebody get the butterfly net and lock this madman up, before he ends up endangering everyone in the country and the world for that matter.

Republican Bonilla Defeated In San Antonio

Another Texas county goes blue! Henry Bonilla, longtime Republican Congressman from San Antonio was defeated in a stunning victory by Democrat Ciro Rodriguez in a runoff election. Rodriguez’s victory completes the Democratic take over of the House of Representatives and Congress in general. Despite his 14 year incumbency, Bonilla could not maintain his position, and reflects a ruling by the US Supreme Court that Republicans had illegally divided up the areas Hispanic vote in their 2003 redistricting scam.

Christmas Video - Blue Christmas or Peace On Earth?

Please share the video below woth your friends for this Chirstmas season.

Anti-Gay Church Must Pay Marine's Family

Looks like Fred Phelps, the fringe Kansas preacher who has been picketing war vet funerals, is getting a little payback. A court has ordered him to pay $3,150 in court costs t othe father of a Marine whose funeral his group picketed.

Fred and his storefront church in Topeka get their rocks off by picketing funerals. They started with those of gay men who died of AIDS. Carrying such lovely "christian" signs as "God Hates Fags", they have now turned to the funerals of Iraq war veterans. In some kind of twisted logic, he puts the war at the feet of America’s gays and lesbians and feels that the death of our soldiers is God’s retribution on America.

Finally Fred is getting a little of his own medicine.

Another Evangelical Preacher Tossed Out Of The Closet

Another Evangelical preacher gay? Yeppers! Looks like the mega-churches are full of closeted gay men. In Colorado, the center of all homophobic Christian activity the 2100 member Grace Chapel saw the tearful goodbye of it’s pastor, Paul Barnes who admitted his homosexuality and resigned. Seems there is a spate of whistle blowing going on in the Christian Right churches. I have to wonder if this isn’t the beginning of a melt-down for the powerful Christian Dominionist movement? Personally, I hope so. These guys are making gay people’s lives miserable and it’s time they backed off.

Welcome US Senate Sergeant At Arms

Always good to have our nations legislative bodies reading my rants. Thanks for dropping by and hope you found something interesting.

Inhofe Still In Denial About Global Warming

James Inhofe, Republican wacko from Oklahoma, today expanded on his litany of untruths regarding global warming by claiming that the recent UN report proves it’s all a hoax. The report says nothing of the sort. It says human activity is the cause, that it’s still a big problem and that new figures further refine the timetable for catastrophe.


This corporate stooge is amazing in his denials. How could he have become the leader of the committee to investigate this subject is beyond me. Oh yea…BUSH!


Glad he is on his way out as chair. Pity he isn’t just on his way out the door of the senate, period. Must be enough home-schooled folks let in Oklahoma to keep him in office.

James Inhofe Fibs - AGAIN!

James Inhofe (R-OK) claimed on Fox News today that global warming is a hoax and stated that, "it was warmer in the 1930's than it is today". Of course Fox did not challenge him or even ask his source. Why? Because it was made up out of whole cloth....a lie.

Here's NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies' average global mean surface temperatures data at the right. When will the media call these liars what they are...LIARS!

John Lennon Speaks Across Decades - "Give Peace A Chance"

26 years ago, John Lennon stepped out of his apartment house in NYC and was gunned down by an assassin who sought fame and notoriety. It was a sad day for the world as one of the brightest creative flames of the 20th century was extinguished.

Today, it is fitting that someone remember him by singing his song "Give Peace a Chance". Perhaps soon, it may be sung in Iraq where the civil war we facilitated rages in ever increasing intensity. If the factions that were held in check by the brutal reign of Saddam could take a few moments and try to form a unity government, Iraq might have a "chance".

The Iraq Study Group has offered a possible pathway towards peace, and if Bush will take the recommended steps there might be at least a chance of peace. If he does nothing, which is his standard operating style, there will be more death to both Iraqi’s and American soldiers.

Take out the record player, Mr. Bush and play that old song of John’s. Remember the days when you smoked pot and were mellower. What the heck, why not try peace?

War On Christmas - Dubbya Aviator Doll

It's the Christmas gift that stays the course, the George Bush Action Figure. Dressed in his phony aviator outfit, little "W" gives a thumbs up declaring mission accomplished.

Perfect for all the young Republicans on your list. Also doubles as a voodoo doll or with optional strings as a puppet president, just like the real one!

Funny thing is, this toy is already marked down $15. By Christmas it might be a freebie, so be patient. (Sears.com)

UPDATE: Also available, the Bill Clinton Talking Action Figure. Finally a doll that has something worth hearing!

No More Paperless Voting?

So it seems Americans have caught on to the black-box voting fraud gimmick. The NY Times says Paperless-voting machines will be a thing of the past by 2008. So much for the Republicans sweeping the presidential election!

The problems that arose this election with these error prone gadgets may make a revote necessary in Florida where a record number of "undervotes" turned up. Remember the hanging chads in 2000? Combine this with the fact that these machines are easily hacked and the software is secret, making any oversight impossible.

Write your congressperson and tell them you want a paper ballot.

Inhofe Sees Media Bias Where There Is None

Lame duck Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) held hearings today on the media and their reporting of the global climate crisis. Of course Inhofe believes there is still controversy surrounding this issue. As he watches the waters of the ocean encroach on the shores of Ardmore, Oklahoma, he will probably still be skeptical.

He is the kind of intellect we can look forward to from the legion of home-schooled kids out there that have no understanding of real science. I guess Inhofe will believe the rising sea levels is another biblical style flood.

Buh-bye Jimmy!

Gas Prices Rise - Just In Time For Christmas

So back in October, I predicted the price of gasoline would rise after the elections. In fact it has an average of 8 cents a gallon nationwide and it is still climbing. According to industry experts this time of year gas prices usually remain stable. Of course these are the industry experts who are manipulating the prices.

Here’s my further prediction: Gas prices will continue to rise until the inauguration of the new congress, then they will skyrocket for a short time until there is an investigation of price fixing by oil companies. Once the investigation starts prices will drop again.

If anyone can’t see what’s happening, they it’s too late for them. Oil companies are gaming the system and screwing the consumer. Why was Cheney’s Energy Advisory board top secret? Because that is where they discussed this exact scenario. The American public is being screwed and with Bush in the White House we have no protection. Perhaps a Democratic Congress can stop this crap?

More Rats Leave The Bush Sinking Ship

From the latest Evans-Novak Political Report:

"Important Bush Administration officials are ready to leave the government rather than undergo two years of hell from Democratic committee chairmen in Congress. Leading the exodus are officials of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), fearing investigation by two chairmen, Representatives Henry Waxman (D-CA) and John Dingell (D-MI)."

Water On Mars - NASA Scientists Claim

NASA just had a press conference where they showed pictures of what scientists believe is water flowing on the surface of the planet. If these findings are confirmed it will mark a major step forward in our understanding of Mars and it’s geology. The question comes up, if there is flowing water, is their life?

With any luck, we will be able to answer that question in a few years.

Vice President's Lesbian Daughter Is Pregnant

Congratulations to Mary Cheney! She and her partner Heather Poe are expecting their first child. The couple have been together for 15 years and recently appeared together at a White House dinner honoring Prince Charles and Camilla.

Funny how their self-proclaimed "marriage" is no problem for the White House, but if my partner and I want to marry it’s out of the question. In fact Bush has pushed the anti-gay marriage amendment several times and yet his own vice president has a gay daughter. The depth of the hypocrisy in this administration knows no bottom.

Afghanistan Opium Crop Booms!

Wow! Booming economy in Afghanistan, at least in the narco-sector. This years opium crop is up 26% over last year. Great news for heroin addicts! White House drug policy czar John Walters called the news "disappointing."

Bolton Looking For TV Gig

Looks like John Bolton, recently dissed US ambassador to the UN is looking for a gig on the tube. According to Huffington Post he met with a talent management agency about possible work on the networks.

I suggest going into the Kids Vid buisness. He has the look already.

And so after a long Freedom of Information Act suit to gain records of visitors to the White House the Committee for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington received the documents at the left.

Notice the large areas with black boxes? That’s because the White House decided that all this information was "SECRET" without having it officially classified. Bush is playing dictator again, declaring things secret "just cause they are". Sounds like a petulant little child. We cannot afford to have a child in a seat of power. He must be removed ASAP. Urge your elected officials to investigate and impeach this dangerous man at the helm of our ship of state.

Federal Court To Hear Case Against Rumsfeld In Iraqi Torture

I just renewed my membership in the ACLU and now I know why. ACLU is filing suit in Federal Court against Donald Rumsfeld in connection with the torture scandal in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is the first time a court has examined the issue and it’s been way too long in coming.

This will add to the suit filed by Germans in the International Court and though there is little chance of that going anywhere it will complicate Donald’s life for a while. Consider it penance for complicating the lives of all those people he had tortured. Now my next question is, can a sitting President be prosicuted for war crimes?

John Bolton Resigns!

And another rat leaves the sinking Bush ship. John Bolton, appointed ambassador to the UN has tendered his resignation effective when his recess appointment expires. My guess is he doesn’t want a real hearing into his qualifications and his reported problems in management style.

Now, watching the days for Cheney to step down followed swiftly by Rove. Who wants odds on January?

Washington Post Calls Bush Worst President Ever

Like we need someone to tell us? Today a Washington Post Op-Ed called Bush the worst president ever. It cited his ability in the past six years to undo basic freedoms set in place by such documents as the Magna Carta. Way to go “W”!

Bottle Rocket + Video Camera = Generation Why?

And this is why America is doomed! Seems any kid with enough money for a video camera is trying to become famous for their lack of common sense. What is the kid with his pants down doing with that bottle rocket? You probably guessed it and it's painful to watch. I hope his trip to the emergency room was a funny as his friends thought this stunt was. If this is what our education programs are producing, then we've left all the kids behind, and no pun intended.

Generation Why? Bottle Rocket + Video Camera

And this is why America is doomed! Seems any kid with enough money for a video camera is trying to become famous for their lack of common sense. What is the kid with his pants down doing with that bottle rocket? You probably guessed it and it's painful to watch. I hope his trip to the emergency room was a funny as his friends thought this stunt was. If this is what our education programs are producing, then we've left all the kids behind, and no pun intended.

Riot In Mexican Congress

Mexico drifts closer and closer to an all out civil war. Seems like they are all the rage worldwide right now and I find it surprising that the US is involved in on half a world away and ignoring one on our border.

Our foreign policy is completely out of whack when we are sparking regional conflicts like Iraq and snubbing a country on the brink of chaos like Mexico. Time that our Congress and President wake up and read the news. Otherwise, we might end up with a refugee flood across our borders instead of a trickle of illegals.

Today in the Mexican Congress there was a riot with lawmakers exchanging blows and throwing chairs to prevent the President elect from addressing the body. His election, widely criticized as questionable has sparked several violent confrontations and a government in exile formed by his opposition.

Iraq In Chaos - Al-Sadir Faction Pulls Out Of Government

Things are happening fast in Iraq. Today the Al-Sadir loyalists pulled out of the government, and Al-Maliki’s summit with Bush is cancelled. Not to be a prophet of doom, but seems like Baghdad is falling into chaos.

As critics have long said, Bush’s scheme in Iraq would lead to chaos and all out civil war, and guess what? IT IS!

Our President is living in a dream world and refuses to see the reality on the ground. He must be removed from office to avoid further disaster here at home. When a person who is supposed to lead the country can’t face facts, we are in trouble. Call your congressperson and demand impeachment now.

Cheney Looking More And More Like Short-Timer

Well the office pools in DC are betting on the number of days Dick Cheney has left before he resigns for "health reasons" or the perennial "to spend more time with my family". I am betting on just over 30 days.

Why? Well, he has become a lead sinker on the line of the Neocons fishing for votes. He is also occupying prime real estate, the VP office. The GOP wants a viable candidate for President in there and not an aging war-horse. My guess is McCain will move comfortably into the office at Bush’s appointment and have a nice place to try for the top. Pretty early to speculate on running mates, but personally I see Condi Rice in there as well. Good combination? Only if you want more of the same disaster we have now.

My money is on a Democrat from Illinois.

Putting Up Christmas Lights Today

Decking the halls, or at least our house today and tomorrow. Putting up hundreds of LED Christmas lights and decorations. I got inspired to do the crazy geek Christmas thing and got software and controllers from Light-O-Rama. If you saw the video of the house with the synchronized lights list year, that's how they do it. Should be a festive season if my neighbors don't drive me out.

Trent Lott Pressures For Rove Resignation

As I predicted, the pressure is on for Karl Rove to resign. Trent Lott, racist Senator from Mississippi has suggested it and many more of the GOP faithful are signing on to the "Dump Rove" bandwagon. I suspect it will be before the first of the year when Mr. Rove decides he needs to spend more time with his family. That will probably be after Bush tells him he’s doing a "heck of a job". That seems to be the GOP version of the Mafia kiss, once you get it, you are a short timer.

That said, you’re doing a heck of a job Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney.

Rumsfeld Authorized Torture At Abu Ghraib

Time to hold people accountable, starting with Rumsfeld! Former Brigadier General Janice Karpinski, who supervised Abu Ghraib prison under the US forces in Iraq, said in an interview with a Spanish newspaper that Donald Rumsfeld authorized the cruel and inhumane torture of prisoners.

If this is true there must be a full investigation and if the evidence shows it, prosecution for war crimes. Rumsfeld may have figured he could retire and step into oblivion, but if he is guilty, he must be called to account for his crimes.

Then, turn to his boss, George W. Bush and find out how much he knew or authorized. The American and Iraqi people must have an explanation.

Shiites Burn Sunni's Alive - Peace Is On The March

Gotta love that old time religion! Shiites grabbed 6 Sunni worshipers as they left a mosque today and doused them with gasoline and set them ablaze. Funny, I have read the Koran and I found nothing about this practice in there. If these guys are acting in the name of their religion, they must be reading a different Prophet.

Of course religious teachings never stopped Christians from lynching blacks in the South not so long ago, so I guess the words of the Prophet Mohammed might go just about as far with his followers. For that we should all morn. Iraq has descended into a crazy religious holy war and our presence is fanning the flames. (OK bad analogy.)

Tragedies like this will only increase as long as we keep our troops as occupiers in a nation in the midst of a civil war, and we do nothing to stop it. We must either become real peace keepers, by actually stopping this kind of stuff, or we should get out. Yes we broke it, and now I suspect no amount of armed force can put it back together again. I would suggest sending Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld over to personally try to stand between the warring factions and stop the war. Needless to say that will never happen, and it would do no good. What it would do is act as a wake up call for our alleged leaders to the gawd awful mess they have made. Somebody has to be made accountable.

Happy Thanksgiving

Here in Texas it’s a slightly warmer than usual Thanksgiving Day. 75 expected to be the high temperature, so no snow on the ground. Still it feels like Thanksgiving. I rose early to put the Turkey in the oven and later my family and friends will gather for the traditional food orgy that accompanies most Thanksgivings in the US.

I am reminded that while we feast much of the world starves. Americans will average over 3500 calories a day in the food we consume. Compare this to sub Saharan Africa where the average is only 2000 calories a day. That alone should be reason enough to give thanks. We are very lucky people.

For those who would challenge that claim saying, "luck has nothing to do with it, it’s hard work that makes us great". I would remind them that the subsistence farmer in South America works harder than most of us and he still barely ekes out a living. For that matter in this country there are hundreds of thousands of people working at minimum wage jobs, barely able to feed themselves without public assistance, and they work hard, very hard.

Hard work is important, but most of us are just plain lucky. Lucky to be born into a family with enough money to send us to school. Lucky to have the contacts and wealth to afford a good university. Lucky to be born with the right skin color or the right sexual organs to be successful with a minimum of obstacles in our way. For that we should be truly grateful, and give thanks.

Most importantly is the way we give thanks. I personally choose to show my gratitude to God and to my fellow human beings by making sure that at least a few people who might go to bed hungry are fed. I shop for several families’ Thanksgiving meal as part of my church benevolence program. I donate to charities to provide food and health care to the poor and underinsured. I pray with all my heart that my country can find a path to help the less fortunate of the world and ease the crippling affliction of hunger.

Not to be didactic, but for me, service is the best form of giving thanks. I only wish I could do more, but that is our lot as human beings. We can never be perfect, but we can strive for perfection and follow our better instincts.

At this festive time of year, I am grateful and wish everyone a joyful and bountiful Thanksgiving.

Jobless Rate Grows By 12,000 Last Week

The jobless rate jumped 12,000 people last week, even after adjustment for seasonal changes. This means that "good economy" Bush brags about is an illusion for at least 12,000 Americans last week. Isn’t it time we started doing something about it? Tax cuts for the rich do nothing to boost the economy. They already have all the Mercedes and Lexus they need and their investments don’t create jobs, only more money for speculators and the markets.

It’s time everyone in this country paid their fair share and helped get us back on track. Write your congressman or you newly elected congressman and let them know how you feel.

Video Of US Troops Teasing Thirsty Children - Not Good PR!

If there is any wonder some Iraqi’s hate us here is a pretty good reason. This video posted on YouTube show soldiers tempting Iraqi children with bottled water, then pulling away before giving it to them. Oh yes! That’s a funny joke! A real knee slapper.



Next time a roadside bomb kills an American GI we should have all the soldiers watch this video. Maybe they will understand why they are not winning the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people. Now before I get a thousand flames on this, I know this may be an isolated incident, but still it should not happen. If we are really there to help the Iraqi’s we should do so without making them grovel, teasing them or showing our cruel nature. Come on guys, you can do better than this. I believe in our troops good nature and best motives. Show these people you give a damn about them and they might return the favor sometime. Who knows, it might save your life?

Federal Judge Orders FBI To Celar Up Facts Surrounding Saudi Secret Flights After 9/11

Well anyone who remembers the accusations that Saudi royals and members of the Bin Laden family were secretly flow out of the US following 9/11 during the time when no air travel was allowed will be happy about this. A federal judge has ordered the FBI to clear up the fogy facts they presented in the 9/11 report.

He said their version of events strained credulity and wants things cleared up. This will play out in the courts but it’s a start to the real facts behind 9/11.

13th District Race In Florida Challenged - Recount or Revote Needed

Well it’s about time! The 13 District Congressional Election in Florida is officially being challenged. This is a district that used no-paper-trail electronic voting machines and had an astounding 15% undervote. Undervote means that voters cast ballots for NEITHER candidate in that district, but voted for other candidates and initiatives. That adds up to 17,000 votes and is way too fishy to go unchallenged.

Remember this is Florida, home of Kathrine Harris and the hanging chads. Elections have been finagled here before and this time it’s going to be brought into the open. The real answer is another election, which is part of what the Jennings camp is seeking. Let’s hope it works. The black box electronic voting machines are way too prone to hacking, tampering and downright fraud with no way to trace the problem.

TV's Kramer Goes On Racist Rant

It’s always sad when someone who you always thought was a funny guy turns out to be not so funny after all. This is the case of Michael Richards, Kramer of "Seinfeld" fame. He was apparently being heckled at a recent live appearance at the Laugh Factory in LA when he absolutely lost it. He starts shouting and calling audience members "nigger" and that is the milder stuff. Most of the audience gets up and leaves in disgust.

How can you blame them? He was not being funny; he was just spewing hate. Frustration or not, there is no excuse for what Richards did, and I hope the management of the Laugh Factory will not ask him to return. Pity that my assumptions about him were wrong. I figured he was a pretty nice guy with a twisted sense of humor. Instead he is trying the grab the title from Mel Gibson for "Bigot of the Year".

McCain Now Anti-Abortion - Massive Flip-Flop!

John McCain has sold his soul to the GOP. Who can I say this? Well look at his recent cuddle-fest with the Bush Junta. He was tarred and feathered by Bush operatives during the primaries and now he’s best buddies. Looks like a deal was made somewhere. Second bit of damning evidence? Now after firmly stating that he was pro choice, he now says he favors overturning Roe Vs Wade.

This is not just a "flip-flop" it’s a blatant move toward the hard right and the Falwell camp. McCain want’s a cozy seat as VP before the 2008 elections, and it doesn’t take a genius to anticipate Cheney stepping down soon to allow a possible contender to get a prized incumbency.

Watch for Cheney to suddenly have "health" concerns and move aside to allow a GOP hopeful to fill his seat. My bet is on McCain, but Condi Rice is another strong contender, unless the whole Bush-Rice affair blows up.

Houston Police Trample Union Picket Line

Houston Police, known in my younger days as pretty durn brutal, are earning their reputation again. They used horses to trample protesting members of the Janitor’s union. How heartless is that. Trample people who earn minimum wage and have no health insurance?

Once again they are doing the bidding of Exxon and Chevron who oppose the union. Call your congressman and stop this crap.