Gay Marriage Wins A Stunning Victory in Massachusetts

Massachusetts lawmakers on Thursday blocked a proposed constitutional amendment banning gay marriage from reaching voters, a stunning victory for gay marriage advocates and a devastating blow to efforts to reverse a historic 2003 court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage.

Will New York be next to allow Gay marriage? Hopefully so.

In Health Care, Cost Isn’t Proof of High Quality

Stark evidence that high medical payments do not necessarily buy high-quality patient care is presented in a hospital study set for release today.

In a Pennsylvania government survey of the state’s 60 hospitals that perform heart bypass surgery, the best-paid hospital received nearly $100,000, on average, for the operation while the least-paid got less than $20,000. At both, patients had comparable lengths of stay and death rates.

And among the 20 hospitals serving metropolitan Philadelphia, two of the highest paid actually had higher-than-expected death rates, the survey found.

One of the main problems with our health care system is that people do believe that higher costs result in better care. This report ends those thoughts. Our health care system is a mess with the United States spending more per capita than all other nations and getting less in the way of results. Many hospitals are on the brink of bankruptcy due to low insurance reimbursements. Who is making all the money in the health care industry? The insurance and pharmaceutical companies are making record profits while close to 50 million people go without insurance.

I would recommend that all citizens go to see the new Michael Moore movie "Sicko" which examines the health care industry. Even Fox News described it as brilliant. We can not truly fix the problem until we understand its causes.

Palestine on the Brink of Civil War

The recent fighting between Hamas and Fatah has brought the Palestinian Territory close to an all out civil war.

President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah faced the further collapse of his power in Gaza today as fierce fighting continued and Hamas fighters took over the headquarters of Fatah’s Preventive Security forces in Gaza City.

Aides to Mr. Abbas say he is expected to announce an “important decision” later today. He is under pressure from within Fatah and from his Western allies to suspend participation in the so-called unity government with Hamas, which began in March, or to declare a full state of emergency.

Hamas forces consolidated their control over much of Gaza on Wednesday, taking command of the main north-south road and blowing up a Fatah headquarters in Khan Yunis, in the south.

This is another casualty of the Iraq War. The Bush administration has neglected the Palestinian issue and this is the result. They encouraged the Israeli-Lebanon conflict which destabilized Lebanon and resulted in the current fighting within that country. The failed Bush policies could soon result in three civil wars within the region. Those civil wars will further damage United States interests in the region and put Israel at risk. This is the worst case scenario coming true.

Producer Prices Rise 0.9% in May

Led by another big gain in energy prices, wholesale prices rose a greater-than-expected 0.9% in May, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

Energy prices jumped 4.1%, the biggest increase in six months. Wholesale gasoline prices rose 10.2%.
The core producer price index, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, rose 0.2%, the first increase in three months.

I love how they exclude food and energy prices. What they are saying is that as long as you do not eat or drive inflation is under control. I guess Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie will be happy with this report.

Pentagon: Iraqi Violence Still Rising

Violence in Iraq, as measured by casualties among troops and civilians, has edged higher despite the U.S.-led security push in Baghdad, the Pentagon told Congress on Wednesday.

In its required quarterly report on security, political and economic developments in Iraq, covering the February-May period, the Pentagon also raised questions about Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's ability to fulfill a pledge made in January to prohibit political interference in security operations and to allow no safe havens for sectarian militias.

What more does this administration need to see to make them admit that this war is lost? General Petraeus recently stated that the surge was going well. Is this what he describes as going well?

The Democrats have funded this war through September. The United States has been put in a no win situation in Iraq. If we leave the violence will most certainly get worse but staying is not an option. This war is draining our treasury and saddling future generations with debt. Who wins in this situation? This is the Bush legacy.

Musharraf's Political Longevity Doubtful: US Analysts

Analysts in the US have expressed doubt whether Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf will be able continue his regime for much longer, which they feel would come as a stinging blow to Washington in the war against terrorism.

'There is the potential rosy Pakistan next spring, with some sort of negotiated relationship where the military feel reasonably comfortable with a new civilian government,' he said, adding, 'But that is if we get that far. For the Chief Justice issue crisis, the political debate, the street protests that have been associated with that, people are raising questions about Musharraf's stability in a way that I have not quite heard before.'

Another analyst Spencer Ackerman says that both within the US intelligence community and in Pakistan, there's a growing belief that Musharraf's days are drawing to a close- and possibly within the next few months.

What would a new goverment in Pakistan look like? The Pakistani people are vehemently Anti-American and Islamic fundamentalists operate freely in many parts of the country and they already possess nuclear capabilities. If the goverment falls into radical hands they could overnight become the most dangerous nation on earth.

Military Plan Against Iran Is Ready

Predicting that Iran will obtain a nuclear weapon within three years and claiming to have a strike plan in place, senior American military officers have told The Jerusalem Post they support President George W. Bush's stance to do everything necessary to stop the Islamic Republic's race for nuclear power.

Predictions within the US military are that Bush will do what is needed to stop Teheran before he leaves office in 2009, including possibly launching a military strike against its nuclear facilities.

This should be alarming to every U.S. citizen. How can we financially and emotionally support yet another war? I feel like I am living in a time capsule and all the propaganda that was used to start the Iraq War is being used again to start a war with Iran.

A war with Iran will lead to even greater turmoil in the Middle East and a substantial rise in world oil prices. That would lead to a recession within the United States as people are forced to spend even more on energy. How can we believe anything that this administration tell us? They have proven themselves to be liars.

According to a high-ranking American military officer, the US Navy and Air Force would play the primary roles in any military action taken against Iran. One idea under consideration is a naval blockade designed to cut off Iran's oil exports.

Could this be the reason that both of our top military men will now be from the Navy?

It is time for the people of the United States to take action to stop this future war.

Iraqis Failing To Meet U.S. Benchmarks

Iraq’s political leaders have failed to reach agreements on nearly every law that the Americans have demanded as benchmarks.

Kurds have blocked a vote in Parliament on a new oil law. Shiite clerics have stymied an American-backed plan for reintegrating former Baathists into government. Sunnis are demanding that a constitutional review include more power for the next president.

And even if one or two of the proposals are approved — the oil law appears the most likely, officials said — doubts are spreading about whether the current benchmarks can ever halt the cycle of violence gripping Iraq’s communities.

Isn't the oil law really all we care about anyway.

Foreclosures Rise 90%

Home foreclosures in May jumped 90 percent from a year earlier, reflecting a poor spring housing market and foreshadowing even higher levels later in 2007, real estate data firm RealtyTrac said Tuesday.

The May foreclosures - a sum of default notices, auction sale notices and bank repossessions - totaled 176,137, up 19 percent from April, the firm said in its May 2007 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report.

"After a barely perceptible dip in April, foreclosure activity roared back with a vengeance in May," James Saccacio, chief executive officer of RealtyTrac, said in a statement.

With home prices already recording record drops, this news will only fuel the fire. Will the weakness in the housing market extend to other segments of the economy? So far it has not as retail sales have remained strong.

Can this continue with a negative savings rate and energy prices that are still climbing? History would tell us no and with the recent GDP showing near stagnant growth our economic future does not seem so rosy.

Senate Democrats Unveil New Iraq Strategy

Senate Democratic leaders late Tuesday unveiled a trio of amendments to the defense authorization bill that represent the majority’s next effort to force a turnaround in the Iraq war and isolate the White House from its Republican supporters.

The first amendment, crafted chiefly by Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), mandates the start of a troop withdrawal from Iraq within 120 days of passage. The second amendment, crafted chiefly by Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.), would set strong troop readiness standards and ensure a minimum period between Iraq deployments.

The third amendment, a hotly sought goal of Reid’s that was crafted chiefly by Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.), would block spending on a future military presence in Iraq after April 2008, save for troops on counter-terrorism and training missions.

A possible fourth vote could come on revoking Congress’s original 2002 war authorization, a tactic favored by many but agreed upon by few. Sen. Joseph Biden (D-Del.) has suggested “de-authorization” followed by a new, targeted mission, while Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) have suggested forcing President Bush to seek a new authorization from Congress.

I constantly hear how the Democrats were elected to stop the war and have done nothing. The truth is that they need 60 votes in order to end any filibuster on Iraq and they do not have those votes. They have 49 votes plus Tim Johnson who is still recovering from brain surgery. Joe Lieberman is an independent and votes with the President on the War. The only real way to stop this war is to pressure the Republicans who will not vote against the President. The American people need to understand this and aim there anger where it belongs.

Iran Is Arming Taliban, U.S. Envoy Claims

A senior U.S. diplomat accused Iran on Tuesday of transferring weapons to Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan.

Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns, speaking to reporters in Paris, said Iran was funding insurrections across the Middle East — and “Iran is now even transferring arms to the Taliban in Afghanistan.”

How can this possibly be believed? The Taliban are Sunni fundamentalists that have an ancient hatred for the Shiite sect that runs Iran. Iran supported the U.S. effort to oust the Taliban. Are we once again being fed propaganda to get the American population ready for yet another war?

Religious Right Will Not Support Giuliani

A growing number of influential social conservatives are speaking out against Rudy Giuliani, with some threatening that they will take flight from the Republican Party in 2008 if the former New York mayor is the GOP nominee.

Giuliani's support for abortion rights and gay rights has not to date prevented him from winning the support of a sizable number of socially conservative voters, according to polls. But the continued strength of his candidacy is causing alarm among leaders of conservative advocacy groups, many of which have been major players in Republican politics.

How I love it when moderate Republicans are tossed under the bus by the so called religious conservatives. With less people registering as Republicans, can Giuliani put together enough support without religious conservatives to win the nomination? My guess is no. Giuliani will be the Howard Dean of 2008 and it could not happen to a nicer guy.

Vulture Funds and the 2008 Election

A vulture fund is a financial organization that specializes in buying securities in distressed environments, such as high-yield bonds in or near default, or equities that are in or near bankruptcy. Vulture funds target not only companies but also whole countries.

In the African country of Zambia, over 70 percent of people live in poverty. The average wage is just over a dollar a day, one in five people are infected with HIV/AIDS and life expectancy is merely 37.7 years. Yet, in the midst of qualifying for debt cancellation by G-8 nations, the Donegal Corporation, owned by American businessman Michael Sheehan, bought Zambian debt from Romania. In April, British courts awarded Donegal 15 million dollars, almost five times the value Donegal paid for the debt.

The morally bankrupt actions of vulture funds render the commitments to debt relief made by the U.S. and other wealthy nations meaningless. U.S. taxpayer money, pledged to provided relief and assistance through debt relief, will fall into the hands of these greedy corporations. At the upcoming G-8 Summit President Bush should call for a commitment by world leaders to address debt relief and vulture funds. The U.S. Treasury should follow the lead of U.K. Chancellor Gordon Brown and limit the awards vulture funds can claim for these debts. Congress must examine this practice and its impact on our overall foreign policy interests. The international community must employ effective means to protect countries like Zambia who have fallen prey to these vulture funds, including implementing fair and transparent international mechanisms to resolve these matters.

Greg Palast of the BBC last night posted this report. It is about 15 minutes long but well worth the investment of time. How can we do nothing while people are literally dying due to these vulture funds?

Michael Sheehan, the main owner of Donegal Corp. is also a huge contributor to the presidential campaign of Rudy Giuliani. Remember that old saying "You can judge a man by his friends", what does that say about Rudy Giuliani?

Immigration Debate from a Right Wing Wacko

Read this article and then remember that this man is a prominent right wing pundit.

Similarly, there are probably a lot of black American women who wouldn’t mind working as maids in prosperous white households, as used to be commonplace. I’m willing to bet, though, that there are large numbers of white people who would much rather not have a black maid. Not, again, because they fear a black maid would harm them, or be lazy or dishonest, but just because they would not feel comfortable in a master-servant relationship with a black person, after all the guilt-trip propaganda of the past 40 years.

So I guess feeling bad about enslaving people like animals is propaganda to these right wing freaks. How can people like this hold their heads up. Bigotry and racism is alive and well and writing at National Review Online.

U.S. Arming Sunni Insurgents in Iraq

The U.S. military is arming Sunni Insurgents if they promise to fight al Qaeda.

When I first heard this I thought this can't be possible but it is. Have we learned absolutely nothing from our years of arming the Mujaheddin in Afghanistan?

American commanders say they have successfully tested the strategy in Anbar Province west of Baghdad and have held talks with Sunni groups in at least four areas of central and north-central Iraq where the insurgency has been strong. In some cases, the American commanders say, the Sunni groups are suspected of involvement in past attacks on American troops or of having links to such groups. Some of these groups, they say, have been provided, usually through Iraqi military units allied with the Americans, with arms, ammunition, cash, fuel and supplies.

Most of our troops have been killed by Iraqi insurgents. What is to stop them from turning our own weapons on our soldiers. This administration is criminally negligent and should be removed.

Court Rules Against Bush in Enemy Combatant Case

The court rules that no evidence was present to continue holding a detainee indefinitely

In a major setback for Bush's policies in the war on terrorism adopted after the September 11 attacks, the appellate panel ruled 2-1 the U.S. government had no evidence to treat Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri as an "enemy combatant." The court ordered him released from military custody.

"The government cannot subject al-Marri to indefinite military detention. For in the United States, the military cannot seize and imprison civilians -- let alone imprison them indefinitely," Judge Diana Gribbon Motz wrote.

I am all for holding terrorism suspects but you must have evidence to do it. The idea that the American Government can and will hold people at will for years with no files charged is frightening. It is a complete departure from what we are as a nation and as a people. If the Government feels that someone is a terrorist then they need to prove that in a court of law. Without that protection, what is to stop them from doing that to you or me?

Those who say it is necessary to win the war on terrorism must realize if we resort to those tactics, we have already lost.

Donated Body Armor Goes Unused

Do you still think this administration supports the troops?

Just when you think they can't get any lower!!!

Making Poverty an Election Issue

The anti-poverty campaign of U2 frontman Bono is promoting a $30 million effort to pressure Republican and Democratic presidential candidates to make the oft-forgotten issue a priority.

Dubbed ONE Vote '08, the bipartisan political push aims to get President Bush's successor to commit to taking concrete steps in the first 100 days to combat hunger and disease while improving access to education and water across the globe.

Imagine if we could repair America's image and help so many. This is a campaign to get behind.

Old Problems Plague New Security Plan For Iraq

Three months after additional U.S. troops began pouring into Baghdad in the most recent effort to stanch violence in Iraq's capital, military observers are fretting that the same problems that torpedoed last summer's Baghdad security plan are cropping up again.

Violence is on the rise, Iraqi troops aren't showing up to secure neighborhoods, U.S. troops are having to revisit neighborhoods they'd already cleared, and Iraq's politicians haven't met any of their benchmarks.

I am not sure why this is a surprise. They have tried this type of surge before with the same lack of results. Iraq is in a civil war and nothing we can do will change that. The time to quell the violence was after the fall of Saddam but we had insufficient troops to accomplish that goal.

I believe we are in Iraq for one reason only, and that is oil. With the largest embassy in the world being built in Iraq and the recent discussion of a presence in Iraq for years to come, does anyone really believe it was for any other reason?

Pentagon Confirms It Sought To Build A 'Gay Bomb'

Read this for some good laughs. Why not just burn the $7.5 million dollars?

The plan for a so-called "love bomb" envisaged an aphrodisiac chemical that would provoke widespread homosexual behaviour among troops, causing what the military called a "distasteful but completely non-lethal" blow to morale.

Is it just me or are Pentagon officials really obsessed with all things Gay?

Bush Is Greeted Warmly in Albania

Maybe they only have Fox News in Albania.

Military cannons boomed a 21-gun-salute in his honor. Thousands jammed Scanderbeg Square in downtown Tirana, wearing Uncle Sam top hats in the sweltering sun, hoping to glimpse the presidential motorcade. The superlatives flowed so freely that Mr. Bush looked a tad sheepish when Prime Minister Sali Berisha proclaimed him “the greatest and most distinguished guest we have ever had in all times.”

Obviously they don't get many important visitors if this is the best one they have gotten. They need to remember that it was Clinton that helped the Albanian population of Kosovo. The Republicans could have cared less, after all there was no oil in Kosovo. When I read this I threw up a little in my own mouth.

The Heiress is Smarter Than The Media

You know the media sucks when even Paris Hilton recognizes it.

"I must also say that I was shocked to see all of the attention devoted to the amount of time I would spend in jail for what I had done by the media, public and city officials. I would hope going forward that the public and the media will focus on more important things, like the men and women serving our country in Iraq, Afghanistan and other places around the world."

Amen Paris!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sen. Lieberman Calls for U.S. Strike Against Iran

Is this guy for real?

How could Connecticut have re-elected this asswipe? Sure Joe lets start wars with all the countries that are against our Iraq operations. How about we start with Saudi Arabia? Who the hell do you think is funding the Sunni insurgents? Its certainly not Shiite Iran.

''I think we've got to be prepared to take aggressive military action against the Iranians to stop them from killing Americans in Iraq,'' Lieberman said. ''And to me, that would include a strike over the border into Iran, where we have good evidence that they have a base at which they are training these people coming back into Iraq to kill our soldiers.''

I just can't even tolerate his face on television anymore. He is a Bush crony that is too stupid to realize they are using him. When they are done they will throw him under the bus where he belongs since that is where he threw his constituents.

Paris Hilton and the Art of Distraction

With so many serious issues to discuss why are the cable channels covering this Paris Hilton mess wall to wall? It is the art of distraction.

Americans need to demand real news from our news outlets. Anna Nicole Smith and paris Hilton do not count as real news. With daily bombings in Iraq and the replacement of General Peter Pace, this coverage is excessive and worthless.

The airwaves belong to the citizens. It is time we take them back.

General Peter Pace Out As Chairman of Joint Chiefs Of Staff

General Pace is out. He is being replaced by Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Friday.

This is the first time in 21 years that both CentCom and the Joint Chiefs of Staff have been headed by Navy men. Does that mean anything for the near future? The Navy would be needed for an invasion of Iran and we recently conducted war games off the coast of Iran using the Navy. Now the two most powerful men in the military are both Navy men. It sure feels like they are gearing up for War with Iran.

U.S. Trade Gap Lower Than Expected

The trade deficit narrowed in April, as American businesses exported more goods and services to meet rising demand from overseas.

Exports grew by $200 million while imports slowed by $3.6 billion, bringing the trade gap to $58.5 billion for the month. While that is still huge, it is down from the March deficit of $62.4 billion.

Wall Street welcomed this news and the market slide from the last few days seems to have leveled off. I do not see this as especially good news. Exports grew by just $200 million which is a drop in the bucket when you consider the excesive decline of the dollar in many places. One of the supposed benefits of a dropping dollar is increased exports. That would be the case but with our manufacturing base nearly gone we don't manufacture much that can be exported.

In order for the slumping dollar to help our enormous trade imbalance we need to resurrect our manufacturing base. For me the more important number in this report is the $3.6 Billion drop in imports. To me that signals the American consumer cutting back on spending and that signals lower economic growth within the United States and possibly a coming recession.

There are two Americas. The rich are doing extraordinarily well while the middle and lower classes are struggling economically. That is how I read this report.

Outsourcing Not Effective at 38% of Mid-Sized Companies

An astonishing 38 percent of all mid-sized companies report that their SG&A* (selling, general and administrative) outsourcing projects are less than fully effective, with 15 percent reporting they are now "worse off" after outsourcing. That's according to a new survey of CFOs and other senior financial executives at 35 blue-chip North American companies and divisions released today by AlixPartners LLP.

"The overriding reason companies aren't getting the returns they want," said Neal Ganguli, co-leader of the survey and a director at AlixPartners, "is that while companies rightfully devote a lot of energy to looking 'outward' as they outsource -- working to select the right vendors, etc. -- they all too often don't also look 'inward' enough, in order to adequately prepare themselves for all that successful outsourcing demands inside their own companies."

For instance, when asked to list reasons outsourcing projects were ineffective, the top reason given was "internal resource issues." This placed well above "poor vendor performance." By the same token, when asked why effective projects were effective, "management effort" (internal to the company itself) led the way.

Do you think this report will stop the trend of outsourcing our jobs to foreigners? Unfortunately unless it negatively effects the bottom line it will not stop.

Don’t Ask, Don’t Translate

Read this op-ed from an Arab Linquist fired for being Gay:

IMAGINE for a moment an American soldier deep in the Iraqi desert. His unit is about to head out when he receives a cable detailing an insurgent ambush right in his convoy’s path. With this information, he and his soldiers are now prepared for the danger that lies ahead.

Reports like these are regularly sent from military translators’ desks, providing critical, often life-saving intelligence to troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. But the military has a desperate shortage of linguists trained to translate such invaluable information and convey it to the war zone.

The lack of qualified translators has been a pressing issue for some time — the Army had filled only half its authorized positions for Arabic translators in 2001. Cables went untranslated on Sept. 10 that might have prevented the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11. Today, the American Embassy in Baghdad has nearly 1,000 personnel, but only a handful of fluent Arabic speakers.

I was an Arabic translator. After joining the Navy in 2003, I attended the Defense Language Institute, graduated in the top 10 percent of my class and then spent two years giving our troops the critical translation services they desperately needed. I was ready to serve in Iraq.

But I never got to. In March, I was ousted from the Navy under the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, which mandates dismissal if a service member is found to be gay.

My story begins almost a year ago when my roommate, who is also gay, was deployed to Falluja. We communicated the only way we could: using the military’s instant-messaging system on monitored government computers. These electronic conversations are lifelines, keeping soldiers sane while mortars land meters away.

Then, last October the annual inspection of my base, Fort Gordon, Ga., included a perusal of the government computer chat system; inspectors identified 70 service members whose use violated policy. The range of violations was broad: people were flagged for everything from profanity to outright discussions of explicit sexual activity. Among those charged were my former roommate and me. Our messages had included references to our social lives — comments that were otherwise unremarkable, except that they indicated we were both gay.

I could have written a statement denying that I was homosexual, but lying did not seem like the right thing to do. My roommate made the same decision, though he was allowed to remain in Iraq until the scheduled end of his tour.

The result was the termination of our careers, and the loss to the military of two more Arabic translators. The 68 other — heterosexual — service members remained on active duty, despite many having committed violations far more egregious than ours; the Pentagon apparently doesn’t consider hate speech, derogatory comments about women or sexual misconduct grounds for dismissal.

My supervisors did not want to lose me. Most of my peers knew I was gay, and that didn’t bother them. I was always accepted as a member of the team. And my experience was not anomalous: polls of veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan show an overwhelming majority are comfortable with gays. Many were aware of at least one gay person in their unit and had no problem with it.

“Don’t ask, don’t tell” does nothing but deprive the military of talent it needs and invade the privacy of gay service members just trying to do their jobs and live their lives. Political and military leaders who support the current law may believe that homosexual soldiers threaten unit cohesion and military readiness, but the real damage is caused by denying enlistment to patriotic Americans and wrenching qualified individuals out of effective military units. This does not serve the military or the nation well.

Consider: more than 58 Arabic linguists have been kicked out since “don’t ask, don’t tell” was instituted. How much valuable intelligence could those men and women be providing today to troops in harm’s way?

In addition to those translators, 11,000 other service members have been ousted since the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy was passed by Congress in 1993. Many held critical jobs in intelligence, medicine and counterterrorism. An untold number of closeted gay military members don’t re-enlist because of the pressure the law puts on them. This is the real cost of the ban — and, with our military so overcommitted and undermanned, it’s too high to pay.

In response to difficult recruiting prospects, the Army has already taken a number of steps, lengthening soldiers’ deployments to 15 months from 12, enlisting felons and extending the age limit to 42. Why then won’t Congress pass a bill like the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, which would repeal “don’t ask, don’t tell”? The bipartisan bill, by some analysts’ estimates, could add more than 41,000 soldiers — all gay, of course.

As the friends I once served with head off to 15-month deployments, I regret I’m not there to lessen their burden and to serve my country. I’m trained to fight, I speak Arabic and I’m willing to serve. No recruiter needs to make a persuasive argument to sign me up. I’m ready, and I’m waiting.

Stephen Benjamin is a former petty officer second class in the Navy.

Immigration Bill Appears Dead

President Bush suffered a devastating setback on his top domestic priority on Thursday as a broad immigration bill collapsed in the Senate amid an apparently irreconcilable partisan standoff.

Crafted by a bipartisan group of senators after three months of negotiations with the White House, the bill seeks to legalize millions of undocumented immigrants, create a temporary guest worker program, toughen security along the U.S. borders with Mexico and Canada, and crack down on employers who hire illegal workers.

Bush, who has called for immigration changes since the outset of his presidency, has aggressively committed his administration to passing the bill, even criticizing Republicans who denounce it.

If the bill isn't revived, it would mark the president's second defeat on the issue within the span of a year and would invite a political backlash in advance of the 2008 presidential election.

What I do not understand is why they don't have separate bills for each part of the immigration problem. Border security is the most pressing concern. If you do not stop the flow of undocumented workers into the country this bill, even if it is passed, will not solve the problem. A guest worker program is equivalent to indentured servitude and hurts the middle class and must be rejected UNLESS guest workers are paid similar wages to Americans in similar jobs.

The reason this bill is failing is because Liberal Democrats see the Guest Worker Program as bad for American workers and Conservatives see the bill as amnesty for those that entered the country illegally.

Doing nothing is the same as granting amnesty and allowing a guest worker program. Enforcement of employment laws is so poor that I believe you have a better chance of being struck by lightning then you do being fined for hiring an undocumented worker.

No immigration reform bill can succeed without help from the Government of Mexico and other Latin American nations whose economic policies force their poor populations to seek refuge in the United States. Immigration is one of the most complex isues currently facing the United States. Doing nothing only makes the problem grow.

Restore Habeas Corpus

Support the restoration of Habeas Corpus.

Senator Lynne Cheney?

What a frightening thought.

I am sure she would remain a right wing tool but what about on Gay issues? She is the mother of a lesbian and the grandmother of a child with two mommies. This could be very interesting should she be appointed. How will she vote when her husband is impeached?

U.S. adopts limits on clean water law enforcement

Do you still think they care at all about the environment or your safety?

The landmark U.S. law to fight water pollution will now apply only to bodies of water large enough for boats to use, and their adjacent wetlands, and will not automatically protect streams, the U.S. government said on Tuesday.

Environmental groups said they fear the new policy will muddy the purpose of the federal Clean Water Act and put many smaller bodies of water at risk. Democrats in Congress have introduced legislation mandating protection of creeks, estuaries and other watersheds.

The Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers wrote the new guidelines after the Supreme Court split a year ago in a case about which waters fall under the Clean Water Act.

Why would they not want to protect as much of the fresh water as possible? This is another sell out to big business to the detriment of our people and environment.

Novak: Rove-Protege Tim Griffin Joins Thompson Campaign

Does this mean that Rove will be supporting Fred Thompson

My guess is that Rove has looked at the Republican field and sees no one that can win. Fred Thompson would seem to be the best hope for the Republicans. It is so funny that Republicans rail against Hollywood then fall over themselves when an actor that happens to be Republican joins the race.

Immigration Bill Suffers Setback in Senate Vote

Last night after midnight a provision was added to the Immigration Reform Bill that would eliminate the guest worker program in 5 years.

By a vote of 49 to 48 shortly after midnight, the Senate approved an amendment by Senator Byron L. Dorgan, Democrat of North Dakota, to end the program after five years.

The temporary worker program is an important element of the “grand bargain” on immigration forged in three months of negotiations by a small bipartisan group of senators.

This amendment could potentially kill the bill and leave us with the status quo on immigration policy. Big business wants a guest worker program but Senator Dorgan knows correctly that this program will drive down wages for the lower and middle class workers.

Any guest worker program must include provisions for competitive wages for the guest workers. Without this, wages for all will be under pressure. Even if it is agreeed that minimum wage must be paid to all guest workers that does not stop the downward spiral in wages. Lets take construction jobs which are now some of the higher paying blue collar jobs available. If a competitive wage, for the area in which the job is offered, is not paid then all workers will suffer.

Senator Dorgan's amendment would require Congress to look at this program again in five years and analyze the pros and cons of continuing it. Big business wants an expansion of the H1-B Visa program which brings in skilled workers.

Steven A. Ballmer, the chief executive of Microsoft, was among the businessmen pleading with Congress to increase the number of H-1B visas and green cards available to skilled foreign professionals. Ginny Terzano, a spokeswoman for Microsoft, said such visas were urgently needed to help meet “a talent crisis” in the industry.

Those are white collar jobs that pay well. In a country of 300 Million people it seems absurd that they can not find qualified applicants. The visa program allows them to hire workers at lower wages and is a danger to the Middle Class.

Comprehensive reform is desperately needed but how to do this is the big question. Any reform must include comprehensive border security. Unless we can stop the flow of illegal immigrants into this country and reform bill will be worthless. The best way to stop the flow into the country is to attack the problem at its two base causes. The first is employers who hire undocumented workers. Without the possibility of a job the flow would stop immediately. The second is to help the governments of the region get their financial house in order so that people do not feel they need to leave their homeland in order to survive.

How exactly can we achieve those goals? That is the big question and one that is not so easy to answer. I would first set up a national database for employers for background checks on potential hires. It would be very easy in most cases to spot forged documents if a database was available from which to gather basic information on the social security number that was applying for the job. Employer fines would need to be raised to such a degree that hiring known undocumented workers would be the death knell for the business in question.

The second equally important task would be to get comprehensive economic reforms from the governments around the world that send us their poor. Most people have no desire to leave their homeland but many feel they have no choice if they are to provide for their family.

We must also look at the law that allows anyone born on United States soil to be born a United States citizen. What many immigrants will do is have a child while here. Those children are commonly called "Anchor Babies" that will anchor the family in the United States. What most immigrants do not realize is that the child can not sponsor the parents for citizenship until they reach the age of 21. Is it time to change the law that allows this automatic citizenship?

Immigration reform is one of the most difficult issues that our country faces. Any reform must be fair and preserve the human dignity of the immigrants. The vast majority of undocumented workers are decent hard working people who just want a better life for their families. Striking a balance that both preserves their dignity and protects the lower, working and middle class from further erosion of wages is the difficult task at hand.

Turkish Troops Enter Northern Iraq

On April 12, 2007 I posted this about the Turkish Military possibly entering Northern Iraq. It seems today they did just that.

Several thousand Turkish troops crossed into northern Iraq early Wednesday to chase Kurdish guerrillas who operate from bases there, Turkish security officials told The Associated Press.

Two senior security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media, said the raid was limited in scope and that it did not constitute the kind of large incursion that Turkish leaders have been discussing in recent weeks.

"It is not a major offensive and the number of troops is not in the tens of thousands," one of the officials told the AP by telephone. The official is based in southeast Turkey, where the military has been battling separatist Kurdish rebels since they took up arms in 1984.

The Middle East is a powder keg that is about to explode. The Lebanon Military is battling Islamic Militants in Tripoli, The Palestinians are close to civil war, Iraq is a disaster that is worsening and the saber rattling against Iran has begun. Just when you think the situation in the Middle East can get no worse, it does.

Republican Debate: Let The Gay bashing Begin

The Human Rights Campaign released the follwoing statement following last nights Republican debate:

New Hampshire Debate: GOP Candidates’ Support of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Puts National Security at Risk

Standing in Stark Contrast to Sunday Night’s Democratic Debate, No Republican Candidate Supports Repeal of Dishonorable Policy

WASHINGTON – When asked by CNN’s Wolf Blitzer to raise their hand if they support the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”, not a single Republican candidate’s hand went up in the air. The position of every single Republican candidate on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” not only stands in stark contrast to the unified support of repeal by all Democratic Presidential candidates but it is also out of step with the majority of the American people.

“America’s national security was sacrificed tonight in the name of divisive political maneuvering,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “Every single Republican candidate for President just looked the American people in the eye and voiced their support for a policy that is more concerned about the sexual orientation of an Arabic linguist than it is our military’s ability to decode the next piece of intelligence from terrorist groups.”

“I hope tonight’s debate wasn’t aired over the Armed Forces Network because otherwise over 60,000 gay and lesbian troops on active duty just heard a message of dishonor. For these candidates running to be the next Commander in Chief to dishonor the service of men and women standing on the streets of Baghdad and serving around the globe is shameful,” said Eric Alva, National Spokesman for the Human Rights Campaign and the first U.S. troop wounded in the Iraq War.

On March 12, 2007, USA Today reported, "Polls indicate growing acceptance of gay troops. A Harris Poll this month found that 55% supported allowing gays to serve openly, up from 48% in 2000. A Pew Research Center survey last year found that 60% favored gays serving openly, up from 52% in 1994. Support ran 3-to-1 among those younger than 30.

”The American people have moved forward. Unfortunately, the GOP candidates for President have not,” continued Solmonese. “Apparently, the GOP presidential candidates have decided to ally themselves with the extreme views of the right wing, instead of the vast majority of Americans. Not a single hand raised tonight spoke volumes about their willingness to discriminate against gay and lesbian servicemembers.”

During tonight’s New Hampshire debate aired on CNN, none of the Republican candidates for President supported repeal of the “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” (DADT) law that prevents gay and lesbian Americans from serving openly in the military. Mitt Romney actually supported repeal of DADT in 1994 but switched his position tonight. Ironically, Senator John McCain stated that while the U.S has a great military, "there aren't enough of them." Although, he went on to state his willingness to kick out gay and lesbian Americans wanting to serve.

Are You ready for $5.00 Per Gallon Gas?

Does that title send shivers down your spine? That is a distinct possibility if a huge cyclone now headed toward Oman reaches Iran.

This could be the most powerful storm to hit the Middle East since records were kept. It is the same as a category 5 hurricane. This storm could damage oil production facilities and make travel through the Straits of Harmuz impossible.

"If the storm hits Iran, it's a much bigger story than Oman, given how much bigger an oil producer Iran is," said Antoine Haff of FIMAT USA, a brokerage unit of Societe Generale. "At a minimum, it's likely to affect tanker traffic and to shut down some Omani oil production as a precautionary measure."

The oil companies will take any excuse they can to raise prices. Isn't ExxonMobil funding scientists that say Global warming is a myth? Sounds ironic right now.

The Real Reason For The Iraq War

Many have speculated about the real reason for the Iraq War. Is there anyone who still believes that it was the weapons of mass destruction, liberation of the Iraqi people, part of the war on terror or any of the other seemingly endless excuses for this disaster? Today while listening to Randi Rhodes of Air America I heard an interview with Antonia Juhasz, an analyst with Oil Change International. What she had to say was startling.

On march 13, 2007 she wrote an op-ed in the NY Times stating what she believes is the real reason for the war. In the article titled "Whose Oil Is It, Anyway?" she lays out who gains from this war.

TODAY more than three-quarters of the world’s oil is owned and controlled by governments. It wasn’t always this way.

Until about 35 years ago, the world’s oil was largely in the hands of seven corporations based in the United States and Europe. Those seven have since merged into four: ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell and BP. They are among the world’s largest and most powerful financial empires. But ever since they lost their exclusive control of the oil to the governments, the companies have been trying to get it back.

Lets think about what she is saying in detail. She believes our sons and daughters are dying to protect the profits of oil companies.

There is a law before the Iraqi Parliament which would give over control of most of Iraq's oil wealth to foreign oil companies to the detriment of the Iraqi people.

A new oil law set to go before the Iraqi Parliament this month would, if passed, go a long way toward helping the oil companies achieve their goal. The Iraq hydrocarbon law would take the majority of Iraq’s oil out of the exclusive hands of the Iraqi government and open it to international oil companies for a generation or more.

In March 2001, the National Energy Policy Development Group (better known as Vice President Dick Cheney’s energy task force), which included executives of America’s largest energy companies, recommended that the United States government support initiatives by Middle Eastern countries “to open up areas of their energy sectors to foreign investment.” One invasion and a great deal of political engineering by the Bush administration later, this is exactly what the proposed Iraq oil law would achieve. It does so to the benefit of the companies, but to the great detriment of Iraq’s economy, democracy and sovereignty.

Now we know why Dick Cheney has kept whom he met with such a closed secret. This sounds more like an episode of the Sopranos then it does legitimate energy policy. This is theft pure and simple, but wait it gets even better.

The foreign companies would not have to invest their earnings in the Iraqi economy, partner with Iraqi companies, hire Iraqi workers or share new technologies. They could even ride out Iraq’s current “instability” by signing contracts now, while the Iraqi government is at its weakest, and then wait at least two years before even setting foot in the country. The vast majority of Iraq’s oil would then be left underground for at least two years rather than being used for the country’s economic development.

Passage of this law which allows oil companies to rape Iraq is part of the benchmarks included in the new war funding bill.

Since the invasion of Iraq, the Bush administration has been aggressive in shepherding the oil law toward passage. It is one of the president’s benchmarks for the government of Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, a fact that Mr. Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Gen. William Casey, Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad and other administration officials are publicly emphasizing with increasing urgency.

As more and more of our soldiers are killed I want you to remember that they are dying for ever larger oil company profits. Our tax dollars are being used for the largest heist in world history. Think of that as you put the yellow ribbon on the car but do nothing else to stop this war. Iran may be next unless we learn from our mistakes.

I have tried to lay this out in a way that is easy to understand. Please send this post to everyone you know and ask that they do the same. Imagine if the people of the United States realized exactly what was happening. I would suggest that everyone clicks the link on the side of this page and purchases this book by Antonia Juhasz then calls their elected officials and demand impeachment.

Libby Sentenced To Prison

Former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison Tuesday for lying and obstructing the CIA leak investigation.

A decision has not been made as to whether he will be allowed to remain free pending his appeal. Hopefully he will be required to report to prison immediately. As it was recently reported again, Valerie Plame was indeed a covert agent at the time her cover was blown by this administration. A quick background on this story was that her husband was sent to Africa to examine reports that Saddam Hussein had tried to buy yellow cake uranium from Niger and discovered the allegations were false. He further reported these findings to the CIA yet President Bush in his State of the Union Address in 2003 went on to state this as fact. This was the first reason for the war in Iraq.

What should not be lost in this discussion is the fate of those who worked with Ms. Plame around the world. Her outing certainly damaged national security and put those that she worked with at great risk. How can an administration that claims to call homeland security its number one priority willfully disclose the identification of a covert CIA agent? It should also not be forgotten that her undercover work for the CIA was involved with stopping the spread of weapons of mass destruction. This is a criminal administration that will do anything, including putting a covert agents life on the line, to further its political agenda.

So how soon will the pardon come? If he is sentenced to start serving his time immediately the call for a pardon will be intense among Libby's supporters. He broke the law and damaged national security 2.5 years sounds like a light sentence to me.

Gay Tolerance at Record Levels

Gay Tolerance in US at near record levels.

Today, 57 percent of the American public believes homosexuality should be sanctioned as an acceptable alternative lifestyle – the highest the Gallup Poll has recorded since 1982. Also indicating higher tolerance, 59 percent of Americans believe homosexual relations should be legal.

This report should make many heads in the religious right explode. This report should also make many in the republican party nervous. They count on gay issues to bring out their base. If that base shrinks it can only hurt the party. Many middle class people vote against their own best economic interests based on strong opposition to gay rights and other social issues. Each social issue lost to the party is a loss in votes.

The worst news for the GOP in this report is the views of younger Americans who now solidly support gay relationships. It is good to see that Americans are showing the tolerance that has made America the great country that it is.

Congressional Democrats Slide in Poll

The Democrats in Congress have seen their approval ratings plummet as the result of new war funding that does not include a timetable for withdrawal.

The shift away from the Democrats in Congress has occurred on two levels. In terms of their overall approval rating, the damage is almost entirely among people who strongly oppose the war in Iraq. In this group 69 percent approved of the Democrats in April, but just 54 percent still approve now -- a likely effect of the Democrats' failure to push a withdrawal timetable through Congress.

Their decline in leadership ratings vs. Bush is more broadly based -- that's occurred among war opponents and supporters alike, apparently reflecting more an assessment of their performance than an expression of support or opposition.

I am one of those people that understands the reasons why the Democrats caved in on the Iraq funding. Without a veto proof 67 votes in the Senate it was known that the President would veto any bill that included timetables. They also correctly understood that the President would use the veto as an excuse to tell the American people that the Democrats do not support the troops. The sad reality is that many Americans would fall for this lie. The correct course of action would have been to send the same bill with the funding that was requested again and again. The Democrats need a good spokesman who could explain the complex nature of the funding bill in such a way that the American people would understand.

The Democrats were elected to end this war and put this President in check until the next election. Now many do not think they are up to this task. I predict in September when the surge has failed on all levels that more Republicans will jump ship and join the Democrats on Iraq. No matter how the Democrats are perceived this is and will always be George W. Bush's war. That is the political calculation the Democrats are making. In the end that is correct but lives are being lost as a result of this lack of spine.

Terror Plot on JFK Maybe more Talk Than Action

A few days ago I posed this about the supposed plot to blow up JFK International Airport in NYC.

Today many are questioning exactly how much of this plot was real and how much was hyped by the authorities.

US authorities said Saturday they had averted an attack that could have resulted in "unfathomable damage, deaths, and destruction," and charged four alleged Islamic radicals with conspiracy to cause an explosion at the airport.

John Goglia, a former member of National Transportation Safety Board, said that if the plot had ever been carried out, it would likely have sparked a fire but little else, and certainly not the mass carnage authorities described.

"You could definitely reach the tank, definitely start the fire, but to get the kind of explosion that they were thinking that they were going to get... this is virtually impossible to do," he told AFP.

Now the real question should be what news were they trying to hide by breaking this story? Could it be the resignation of Tim Griffin who is becoming embroiled in the US Attorney firings? Seems Mr. Griffin was involved in a practice called caging which is a way to disenfranchise voters. Now that is the type of person we need as a US Attorney. Wake up America you are being duped once again.

Flying Home Today

I will be traveling the rest of the day and will post some interesting conversations I had with people in both Brazil and Argentina. I found their knowledge of the world excellent and their views thought provoking.

Civilian Death Toll in Iraq Surges

Wasn't the surge of troops supposed to quell the sectarian violence? According to this report the exact opposite is happening.

The number of civilians killed in Iraq jumped to nearly 2,000 in May, the highest monthly toll since the start of a U.S.-backed security crackdown in February, according to figures released on Saturday.

Militants blew up a strategic bridge that links Baghdad to the northern cities of Kirkuk and Arbil, and a mortar barrage on the Sunni enclave of Fadhil in mainly Shi'ite eastern Baghdad, killed 10 people and wounded 30, police said.

In Arbil, the capital of Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and Masoud Barzani, president of Kurdistan, urged Turkey not to send troops into the region to crush Kurdish separatist rebels believed to be hiding there.

OK so lets examine this a bit further. Not only is the sectarian violence growing in Iraq but now Turkey is threatening military action to stop the Kurdish rebels. The Kurdish region was the one glimmer of success in Iraq. That success was started years ago because of the nearly autonomous government of the Kurdish region. The northern no fly zone in place to keep Saddam Hussein in check (which by the way was working)enabled them to grow and prosper. Turkey has said repeatedly that they will not allow a Kurdish state in their backyard from which the Kurdish rebels can plan and execute terrorist attacks. Didn't anyone in the Bush administration give any thought at all to the consequences of this war? It certainly appears they did not. This region could soon spiral out of control and we will only need to look to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. for the cause.

4 Charged in JFK Airport Terror Plot

Four Muslim men were foiled from carrying out a plot to destroy John F. Kennedy International Airport, kill thousands of people and trigger an economic catastrophe by blowing up a jet fuel artery that runs through populous residential neighborhoods, authorities said Saturday.

The plot, which the men code-named "Chicken Farm," never got past the planning stages, authorities said.

"The devastation that would be caused had this plot succeeded is just unthinkable," U.S. Attorney Roslynn R. Mauskopf said at a news conference, calling it "one of the most chilling plots imaginable."

Despite their "extraordinary efforts," the men never obtained any explosives, authorities said

Is it just me or does it seem that every time the news from Iraq worsens we are hit with some terror plot. This is the second one for the NY area in as many months. The last one targeted Fort Dix in New Jersey and that plot was also just in the planning stages. I hate to be cynical but at this point I am very skeptical of any terror plots. Remember how many times the terror level was raised as we approached the 2004 election?

British General Says There Is No Way To Win The War In Iraq

A former British army commander has said there was "no way" the war in Iraq could be won and that allied forces should withdraw.

General Sir Michael Rose, a former commander of the UN peace force in Bosnia during the 1990s, said the American and British forces in Iraq were in an impossible situation.

"There is no way we are going to win the war and (we should) withdraw and accept defeat because we are going to lose on a more important level if we don't," he said.

The Bush administration will never admit defeat. The problem with this war from the start was the that it should have never been fought. There were other ways to remove Saddam Hussein if that was indeed ever the true goal. You have to really wonder how all the supposed best military brains in the world could have got this so wrong or was the goal permanent occupation?

He said Iraq should have, in any case, been a low priority compared to the war in Afghanistan, various conflicts in Africa and the war against global terrorists.

General Pope correctly sees the War in Iraq as separate from the "war on terror". There are many brutal dictators throughout the world yet we either do nothing or support them politically. Why was Saddam different? I think the answer is that those other dictators are not sitting on the third largest oil reserves in the world. Is that a cynical view? Yes it is, but this administration has done nothing to dispel that feeling amongst many in the world. There is no winning this war and our options for the future are all bad. We must get out and let the people of Iraq sort out the mess that we have made of their country.

Friday Economic News

As usual Friday is the day that the government puts out all sorts of economic reports. The big headlines for the day:

Incomes see first drop In two years.

U.S. incomes fell surprisingly by 0.1 percent in April, the first drop in almost two years, but core consumer prices - a key measure of inflation - inched up a less-than-expected 0.1 percent, a Commerce Department report showed Friday.

May job growth stronger than expected but still not very good.

There was a net gain of 157,000 jobs in the month, up from the revised 80,000-job gain in April. Economists surveyed by Briefing.com had forecast that there would be a 135,000 gain in employment in May.

The unemployment rate stayed at 4.5 percent, the same as in April and in-line with economist forecasts.

The manufacturing sector lost an additional 19,000 jobs as our manufacturing base is further decimated. The one thing to remember is that the economy needs to add 150,000 jobs per month to keep up with new people entering the job market. The unemployment rate does not include those that have stopped looking for a job or are under-employed. Under the Clinton administration the economy added 22,000,000 jobs or 229,000 per month. Under the Bush administration the economy has added 5,360,000 jobs in 77 months for an average of 69,610.00 per month. This is one of the major reasons that the middle class is in decline and savings rates are at depression era levels. Our economy is strong for companies and the shareholders that control them. For the rest of us life is not quite as rosy.

US Death Toll At Least 122 in May

May was the third deadliest month for American troops since the start of the war.

At least 122 U.S. soldiers were killed in May throughout Iraq as the surge reached its peak. Violence continued unabated and the quagmire that is Iraq continued to drain the national treasury.

822,000 Iraqi´s Displaced Within Iraq

According to a report released on Sunday by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), an estimated 822,810 Iraqis are now displaced within their country.

Muhammad Abdul-Yassin, 39, was forced to leave his home nine months ago after continuous fighting near his home and being targeting by militias. He said he had to change his place of residence more than four times.

“There are no safe places in Iraq. Militants or insurgents find you wherever you are,” Abdul-Yassin said.

“Each time we arrived in a new camp, dozens of other families arrived with us. Most of the places are full to bursting and some of the displaced families are forced to sleep rough on the ground without tents until aid agencies can give them some protection and food. In the camp where we are staying now, we were forced to sleep in the open air for three days and drink dirty water because the aid agencies couldn’t reach us,” he said.

Lets put this in perspective. Iraq´s population was roughly 25 million before the war while the US population is roughly 300 million. That means that 9.8 million Americans would need to be forced from their homes to equal the percentage of Iraqis forced from their homes. That would be the entire cities of Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston and Dallas.

Still think the war was a good idea? Now ask yourself how you would feel if China came to our shores and the fighting caused all those people to flee. What would you think of China? Now you know what the people of Iraq think of us. Also remember these are the people displaced WITHIN IRAQ. That does not iclude the 2 million that have fled the country all together.

Is Joe Lieberman Insane?

Senator Joe Lieberman made a visit to Iraq and reported great progress. Is he aware that the casualty count for May will be the third highest since the start of the war? If that is progress what constitutes failure?

See him shopping at a local Iraqi market. I guess a flack jacket and helmet are the new fashionable attire for a day of shopping in the hot Iraqi sun. It must be some new form of weight control craze that just hasn't made it to our shores.

Joe Lieberman lost his primary in Connecticut due to his delusions about Iraq. Unfortunately the Republicans of Connecticut along with some very uninformed Democrats chose to send him back to the Senate as an independent instead of out to pasture where he truly belongs. I hope after the 2008 elections he will become completely irrelevant until he can finally be replaced in 2012.

As Lieberman walked out, he said that congressionally mandated withdrawal would be a "victory for al Qaeda and a victory for Iran."

What he neglects to say is that al Qaeda was not in Iraq before the war and that Iran is emboldened as a result of this war.

Fred Thompson To Join Republican Field

Fred Thompson will run for President.

The former Senator from Tennessee and current actor will form an exploratory committee to test the waters for a Presidential run. He is already polling third amongst Republicans before he even announced his intention to run.

I anticipate this announcement will be the beginning of the end of the Giuliani Campaign who was seen as the best hope of defeating the Democrats in 2008. This announcement will change all that.

Will We Be in Iraq For 50 Years?

President Bush sees our involvement in Korea as the model for our future in Iraq.

President Bush envisions a long-term U.S. troop presence in Iraq similar to the one in South Korea where American forces have helped keep an uneasy peace for more than 50 years, the White House said Wednesday.

Can you imagine the cost in lives and dollars for such an insane proposal? We are not viewed as occupiers by the people of South Korea but would be viewed as such by both the Sunni and Shiite populations of Iraq. Instead of looking at South Korea as a model for long term involvement you need to instead look at the Palestinian Territories. In September, when new war funding comes before Congress, we must demand a timetable for withdrawal. It is obvious that this administration doesn't just plan to pass this disaster off to the next President. They are planning to pass this disaster off to the next generation.

Nigerian State Files Criminal Suit Against Pfizer

Pfizer being investigated for using children as guinea pigs

The state government alleges Pfizer selected children and infants from crowds at a makeshift epidemic camp and gave about half of the group Trovan, which it says was untested at the time.

If this is true it validates every suspicion that people have about big pharmaceutical companies. Profits come before safety or ethics.

The Washington Post newspaper in the United States said it obtained internal Pfizer records that showed five children died after being treated with Trovan. However, "there is no indication in the documents that the drug was responsible for the deaths. Six children died while taking the comparison drug," the paper said.

Clinical trials are necessary for all drugs and I support that process. Using an unapproved drug on children in a poor country is a disgrace. If this allegation is true those involved should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of Nigerian law.

GDP Slowest Since 2002

Are we heading for recession.

The economy grew at its slowest pace since 2002 in the first three months of the year, according to a government report Thursday that was weaker than Wall Street expectations.

The Commerce Department's gross domestic product report, the broadest measure of the nation's economic activity, showed an annual growth rate of 0.6 percent in the first quarter. That's down from its initial estimate of 1.3 percent growth.


The nation's economy grew at its slowest pace since the end of 2002 in the first quarter.
Economists surveyed by Briefing.com had forecast the growth rate would slow to 0.8 percent.

The National Bureau of Economic Research defines a recession as "a significant decline in economic activity spread across the economy, lasting more than a few months." According to this definition and the slowing growth rate are we already slipping into recession?

Another Country Found Adding Melamine To Exports

Read this post on Daily Kos

The FDA is failing us miserably and its time for action. This agency has been decimated during the past six years and our health is at stake because of it.

U.S. Government Fights To Keep Meatpackers From Testing All Slaughtered Cattle For Mad Cow

How many people were aware that less than 1% of all cows are tested for mad cow disease, which is fatal.

One company wants to test its entire herd for the disease and is being fought by the Agriculture Department. Why would the federal government want to fight this advance in public safety?

The Agriculture Department regulates the test and argued that widespread testing could lead to a false positive that would harm the meat industry.

A federal judge ruled in March that such tests must be allowed. U.S. District Judge James Robertson noted that Creekstone sought to use the same test the government relies on and said the government didn't have the authority to restrict it. - A federal judge ruled in March that such tests must be allowed. The ruling was scheduled to take effect June 1, but the Agriculture Department said Tuesday it would appeal, effectively delaying the testing until the court challenge has played out.

What the federal government is saying is that big business is more important than guaranteeing your safety. Soon eating will become like playing Russian Roulette. I will stay on top of this story.

More Gay Linguists Fired

Arab linguists that are so desperately needed by the Pentagon are being fired for being gay under the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy.

Do you still believe that our security is their first priority? Our government is being run by a bunch of religious wackos. There are only 6 people in our Iraqi Embassy in Baghdad that speak fluent Arabic. On September 10, 2001 a message came in that would have alerted authorities to the plot of 911 but was not translated until after 911 due to the lack of Arab linguists.

Democratic Rep. Marty Meehan, who has pushed for repeal of the law, organized the letter sent to Skelton requesting a hearing into the Arab linguist issue.

"At a time when our military is stretched to the limit and our cultural knowledge of the Middle East is dangerously deficient, I just can't believe that kicking out able, competent Arabic linguists is making our country any safer," Meehan said.

It is time that our government is run by sensible people who have the interests of all Americans at heart.

Nasa: 10 Years To Climate Tipping Point

I am sure that this report from NASA will make Oklahoma Senator James Inhofe´s head explode.

Senator Inhofe is one of those that say Global Warming is a myth. Now that NASA has weighed in on this subject with this neanderthal finally take his head out of his ass and do something? I doubt it. Thankfully Barbara Boxer now heads the Environment and Public Works Committee.

Climate change is real and needs action immediately before there is no turning back from what would be the largest catastrophe in world history.

Rules Hiding Trillions In Debt

The Federal Government is using Enron like accounting practicies to hide trillions in debt.

The federal government recorded a $1.3 trillion loss last year — far more than the official $248 billion deficit — when corporate-style accounting standards are used, a USA TODAY analysis shows.

The loss reflects a continued deterioration in the finances of Social Security and government retirement programs for civil servants and military personnel. The loss — equal to $11,434 per household — is more than Americans paid in income taxes in 2006.

"We're on an unsustainable path and doing a great disservice to future generations," says Chris Chocola, a former Republican member of Congress from Indiana and corporate chief executive who is pushing for more accurate federal accounting.

Do you still feel like the richest country on earth? Our national debt has the capability of destroying the middle class and turning the United States into Argentina. When will the American people demand that our financial house be put in order?

In Defense of Rosie O´Donnell

I was one of the people that saw yesterday's "The View" when Rosie O´Donnell and Elisabeth Hasselbeck had a heated argument over the Iraq War. I decided to post this defense of Rosie because I have seen her words so twisted by the media that it makes me sick.

What she originally said was how we are perceived by the Iraqi people. Never once did she call our troops terrorists and Elisabeth Hasselbeck knew that. She also knew of Rosie's financial support of a new hospital for wounded veterans in San Antonio. What Rosie was asking her was very clear. Did she think that Rosie thought our troops were terrorists. It was a simple yes or no answer that Elisabeth refused to give. The original statement of how the US is perceived by the Iraqi people is a correct one. We are viewed as terrorists. What is the definition of terrorism? According to the US Dept. of Defense it is "the unlawful use of -- or threatened use of -- force or violence against individuals or property to coerce or intimidate governments or societies, often to achieve political, religious, or ideological objectives.". If the Iraq War does not fit that description then would someone please tell me what doews. Here are some facts about Iraq since the invasion:

655,000 more people have died in Iraq since coalition forces arrived in March 2003 than would have died if the invasion had not occurred.

Less electricity than before the war.

35% Increase in Poverty Since the Invasion

60% unemployment

70% Rate of Inflation from 2005 to 2006

Women in Iraq are more unsafe than ever

A refugee crisis that is spiraling out of control

Production Sharing Agreements that will take most of Iraq's Oil Wealth for a generation and give it to big oil.

Now you tell me how the average Iraqi sees America. Their country is in shambles and they can barely leave their homes. Death and destruction is everywhere. Yes I would say the Iraqi people see us as terrorists. That is what Rosie was saying and she is correct. Never did she suggest that the troops were terrorists but that those who sent them are. That is a fact that is hard to deny.

Please someone pass these facts onto Elisabeth Hasselbeck. She said she deals in facts. I hate to tell her but Fox News is not facts and those that listen to Fox are being lied to plain and simple. Also someone should suggest to her that her third string quarterback husband should enlist. If she believes in this war so much let her have some "skin in the game".

Rosie O'Donnell gave both her money and her time for wounded troops. What exactly has Elisabeth given? Put up or shut up!!!!

The fact is that the Iraqi people were better off under a brutal dictator then they are now and that should make every single American sick to their stomach. Osama Bin Laden is still on the loose and plotting and scheming as we speak. When Elisabeth says how we are safer now because there was no attack since 911 I would ask her to remember that we were not attacked from February 1993 to September 2001. Bush has two years to go before he matches that record.

One other thought for Mrs. Hasselbeck: Waiting seven minutes during a nuclear attack could have meant the lives of countless thousands. If you truly believe that sitting in a classroom for seven minutes while the country was under attack was the best use of his time, then the hair dye has damaged your brain.

If our media would spend as much time examining the war and Bush policies as they do on Rosie maybe the American people would truly understand what is happening and demand change.

Gas Hikes Cost Econmy 20 Billion

While oil companies enjoy record profits, the average driver has already forked over an additional $146.00 per car this year.

"Spending billions more on gasoline constrains consumers' budgets, leaving less money available for other purchases," GAO's Thomas McCool said in written testimony to a House Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing on the cause of record prices.

Like many other energy experts, McCool said the GAO has found that current high pump costs are the result of a large amount of oil refining capacity being offline, strong gasoline demand and lower fuel inventories.

With record profits, why isn't money being spent to modernize refineries and allow greater capacity. The reason is simple. They are screwing us plain and simple. With less capacity and greater demand comes higher prices and higher profits. It is time to enact a windfall profits tax that would be used to reimburse taxpayers for this horribly corrupt practice.

Keith Olbermann On The Democrats

Keith Olbermann of MSNBC gave this amazing "Special Commentary". We must all call our elected officials and demand that they do not cave in on the Iraq Funding Bill. The Democrats were elected to end this war. If they think the American people do not fundamentally understand the bill that the President vetoed then they need to explain it. When the people understand completely they will stand with you and against this President. Grow a set for a sake of the hundreds possibly thousands of people who will die if you do not.

Was Al-Qaeda Using Iraq As A Base?

That is the title of an article in Time Magazine. My question is not why this article was written but the timing of the release of this classified information.

President Bush declassified portions of a 2005 intelligence assessment Tuesday that alleges that Osama bin Laden authorized allies in Iraq to plan operations both in and outside of that country targeting the U.S. The President very quickly put it to political use against the Democrats. On Wednesday, speaking at a commencement address to the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., he said: "The question for our elected leaders is: Do we comprehend the danger of an al-Qaeda victory in Iraq, and will we do what it takes to stop them? However difficult the fight in Iraq has become, we must win it. Al-Qaeda is public enemy number one for Iraq's young democracy, and al-Qaeda is public enemy number one for America, as well. And that is why we must support our troops, we must support the Iraqi government, and we must defeat al-Qaeda in Iraq."

The reasons for the declassification are very transparent, its to try to increase support for the Iraq War. The problem with this strategy is that Al-Qaeda had no presence in Iraq before our invasion. The hell that is Iraq is the result of our invasion and no amount of declassified information will change that. There are no good options left in Iraq. They are in a civil war that is escalating and our presence is only making matters worse. It is time for this war to end.

John Edwards Statement on the Iraq Funding Compromise

This statement was just released by Senator John Edwards:

"The so-called compromise under discussion in Congress that would give the president another blank check to continue his failed war is a serious mistake. Full funding is full funding, no matter what you call it. Every member of Congress who wants to support our troops and end the war should oppose this proposal. If you're in Congress, and you believe this war is wrong, I urge you to use every power you have to stop it if it's brought up for a vote. Block the blank check.

And I urge all Americans who want this war to end to tell your representatives in Congress that you will support them if they stand up to the president. Tell them you understand that when the president vetoes a bill that funds the troop and ends the war, he is the only person in America stopping support for the troops. It is time for this war to end. As I have said repeatedly, Congress should send the president the same bill he vetoed again and again until he realizes he has no choice but to start bringing our troops home. Anything less is everything he needs to prolong the war."

Bravo Senator Edwards. It is time that the Democrats grow a spine and stop this senseless war!!!!.

Monica Goodling To Testify Today

Monica Goodling, the former Justice Department Official, will testify today at 10:15. She was granted limited immunity from prosecution to testify in the fired United States attorneys scandal.

This could be the second Monica who opened her mouth at the wrong time and took down a President. The difference with this one is that the activities she will be discussing could very well be criminal. Alberto Gonzales has claimed the memory of an Alzheimer´s patient on this scandal. Lets see if Ms. Goodling´s testimony jogs his memory. What everyone needs to listen for is the real reasons for the firings. It is becoming more and more clear that the Justice Department was being used as an arm of the Republican Party. Prosecutors were expected to go after Democrats and not investigate Republicans. This should be very interesting television. You can watch this live on C-Span or stream it here.

Military Pay Increase Opposed By Bush Administration

The White house is trying to kill the Democratic plan to increase military pay 3.5% next year. The White House wants only 3%.

In a letter from the White House Office of Management and Budget to congressional committees overseeing the military, OMB director Rob Portman said Wednesday that the administration "strongly opposes" a Democratic plan to bump up military salaries by 3.5 percent instead of Bush's request for a 3 percent jump.

"The cost of increasing the FY 2008 military pay raise by an additional 0.5 percent is $265 million in FY 2008 and $7.3 billion" if similar raises are enacted over the next five years, Portman's office said in a six-page memo outlining concerns about the defense spending bill that was approved by the House early Friday and will be taken up by the Senate this week

Let me get this straight. The President professes to support the troops yet begrudges them a 2.5% additional pay raise over 5 years then what he proposed. This pay raise could be paid for with three weeks worth of expenditures from the Iraq War. I have an idea, how about we cancel the billions in oil company subsidies and use that to pay for this increase. The military is in Iraq fighting for their interests anyway. It only seems fair. Do you still believe that this President supports the troops? These people are disgusting with no redeeming qualities.

Are The Democrats Caving?

There are multiple reports that the Democratically controlled Congress will be sending a new war funding bill that will not include timetables for withdrawal from Iraq.

Party officials said Monday the next war spending bill most likely will fund military operations and not demand a time line to bring troops home, although it will contain other restrictions on Bush's Iraq policies.

I can understand the desire to make sure that the troops in the field are funded but the prior bill funded them completely. It was President Bush who vetoed that bill and put the safety of the troops at risk. Giving the President what he wants will do nothing to help end this disaster. The Democrats were put in control of both houses of Congress to get us out of this war. They need to stand firm and understand the American people are with them. If they roll over and play dead, to a President with the lowest approval ratings in a generation, they will cease to be relevant.

Gas Prices Continue To March Higher

Hold onto your wallets folks. The oil companies want more.

U.S. retail gasoline prices climbed to another record Monday, while crude oil futures were little changed amid concerns that domestic refiners are not producing enough gasoline to meet peak summer demand

A gallon of regular unleaded costs an average of $3.196 (84 cents a liter), up from $3.178 on Sunday, according to AAA and Oil Price Information Service. Prices are up 33.7 cents a gallon (9 cents a liter) from a month ago and 30.4 cents from a year ago, as demand remains strong, and a spate of planned and unexpected refinery shutdowns have constricted supply.

Why exactly are the refineries closing? Why don't they produce more when they are open? This is a deliberate attempt to further profit margins for the oil companies. When will Americans demand higher mileage standards? I am in Brazil and see thousands of small cars not sold in the United States made by American car companies. Why aren't these cars available. Its time to demand answers to these questions.

Jimmy Carter Is Right

Former President Jimmy Carter is today backing off his scathing criticism of the Bush Administration. In the Saturday article in the Arkansas-Democrat Gazette, he said that the Bush Administration was the worst in history for international relations. Today he said those remarks were careless.

I am in Brazil on vacation and I believe that what President Carter has said is the view of most of the worlds people. In my brief conversations with Brazilians, they have told me how much they hate President Bush. They have called him a killer, an idiot, a tyrant and the most dangerous man on earth. They have a real fear of him and are reluctant to have their government sign any trade agreements.

Brazilians have a long history of loving all things American. The movie theaters are filled with American movies, the malls filled with American products yet they distrust America and loathe President Bush. Anti-Americanism is high throughout South America and has contributed to the rise of leftist governments in Venezuela and Bolivia. Since President Bush started the Iraq War, I have seen firsthand the decline in the view of America.

Jimmy Carter is being diplomatic when he says his remarks were careless but a majority of the world shares that view. The image of America has been destroyed by the Bush Administration and made our nation less safe as a result.

Tainted Chinese Imports Common

If you have been reading this site you know that I have posted about the problems with imports of food and medicine from China. It is time for real action before there are more needless deaths as a result of tainted food from China. Are we so concerned with corporate profit and the desire for cheap imports that we are willing to allow a certain amount of death from imported Chinese products?

American companies are constantly trying to break into the Chinese market but roadblocks are erected at every turn. The people of the United States need to stand up and demand labels on all food products telling us where all ingredients are from. We must also demand that any incidents of rancid food or banned ingredients are publicly available. This is a matter of homeland security and national health. We must put health and welfare before corporate profits.

Everyone needs to read this entire article. It really made me sick to my stomach.

Iraq is Big Money for Al-Qaida

Funds to further terrorist activities by al-Qaida are coming from Iraq. This is just the latest proof that the war in Iraq has emboldened al-Qaida and made us less safe all around the world.

In one of the most troubling trends, U.S. officials said al-Qaida's command base in Pakistan increasingly is being funded by cash from Iraq, where the terrorist network's operatives are raising substantial sums from donations to the insurgency as well as kidnappings of wealthy Iraqis and other criminal activity.

The influx of money has bolstered al-Qaida's leadership ranks at a time when the core command is regrouping. The trend also signals a reversal in the traditional flow of al-Qaida funds, with the leadership surviving to a large extent on money from its most profitable franchise, rather than distributing funds from headquarters to distant cells.

Al-Qaida's efforts were aided, intelligence officials said, by Pakistan's withdrawal in September of tens of thousands of troops from tribal areas along the Afghanistan border where bin Laden and his top deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri, are believed to be hiding.

Pakistan, is our ally in name only and continues to be a safe haven for terrorists. If the Government of Pakistan falls it will quickly become the most dangerous nation on earth. The war in Iraq has misplaced our priorities and inflamed the next generation of Muslim men. Al-Qaida will have no trouble recruiting the next generation of terrorists. The Iraq War is a disaster on more levels than we can possibly imagine. We are left with no good options in Iraq. The daily bloodshed breeds the next generation of terrorists and pushes Iraq deeper into civil war. This is what happens when you choose war.

7 Soldiers Killed in Iraq

Seven American soldiers and a translator were killed in separate attacks in Baghdad and a city south of the capital, the U.S. military announced Sunday.

Six of the Americans — and the translator — died Saturday in a bombing in western Baghdad, the military said.

A soldier from the 13th Sustainment Command was killed and two were wounded when a blast struck their vehicle Saturday near Diwaniyah, a mostly Shiite city 130 kilometers (80 miles) south of Baghdad, the command said.

The names of the victims were mot announced until their families can be notified.

When will this madness end? The only surge I see is the surge in the number of our soldiers killed and maimed. When is President Bush going to accept the fact that peace is not coming to Iraq? His actions have plunged Iraq into a civil war and 140,000 U.S. troops are not enough to stop it.

Food Safety Oversight Changes Are Proposed

Lawmakers are pushing to put all food safety concerns under one federal agency

"I believe the food safety system is broken. It's collapsing," Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Connecticut, told CNN "We're unable to protect the public health. We're unable to protect public confidence in the food supply."

DeLauro has introduced the Food Safety Act of 2007, which would create a Food Safety Administration responsible for ensuring the security of the food supply from all forms of contamination.

Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, and Chuck Schumer, D-New York, introduced a companion bill in the Senate.

The call for this legislation is the result of a few high profile food poising incidents, the most recent which led to the death of thousand of dogs and cats when they ate tainted pet food. The FDA is currently operating with fewer inspectors and a budget shortfall at a time when more and more of our food is being imported without any oversight. A single agency to handle this sounds like a solid plan. In the age of homeland security, how can we be cutting inspections? Shouldnt the safety of our food supply have as high a priority as the safety of our airplanes? Will we wait for a major incident before we close the gaping loopholes in our system? Corporate lobbyists will be doing their best to stop any legislation that could interfere with their profits. It is up to the people of the U.S. to demand safe food at any costs.