JOHN CONYERS NEEDS OUR HELP

THIS MAN IS A VERY BRAVE MEMBER OF CONGRESS. WE MUST HELP HIM DO HIS JOB.

Rep. John Conyers is a veteran of wars on Capitol Hill. Thanks to his blogging efforts, we moblized to bring attention to all the lies and subterfuge that George Bush is using to turn America into the United States of Facism. Today, he's attempting to bring more attention and the possibility of impeachment, since Bush has admitted he's been spying on ordinary American Citzens, and has basically dared Congress to initiate impeachment proceedings against him. Almost as if he knows the current critters in Congress aren't going to do jack.

But John Conyers is doing some challenging of his own. These are issues that he can't be silent on, and he's not going to. Let's help him out by visiting his blog:

DICK CHENEY V. SATAN = NO DIFFERENCE

As I said: NO DIFFERENCE.

Many Christians don't want to know what Satan looks like. Most of the time, Satan tends to morph into something we want, then we get it and find out it's bad for us. He doesn't give up on trying to corrupt a Christian easily.

Five years ago, many in this country thought we wanted George Bush and Dick Cheney in the Executive Office. Five years later, we find that we don't have a President, but one who fancies himself as a self-styled dictator, complete with media propaganda, and secret organizations formed to break the law and spy on citizens like you and me. We don't need to ask the "What would Jesus Do?" question here - Jesus wouldn't have any part of this operation, nor of Bush and Cheney's antics.

Instead of doom and gloom prophecies, I'd like to offer this: even the most powerful person can be brought down by the smallest of factors. Bush thought that he could blow by America his willful breaking of the law, while it is stringently applied to the rest of us. Congress sent the first message that the Administration may be cracking by failing to renew the Patriot Act. Hurricane Katrina really exposed Bush's callous indifference to human suffering, and the tax cuts for the wealthy really should tell middle and working-class Americans, what this Administration thinks of you.

Many of you voted for Bush, cause you thought Al Gore(2000) and John Kerry(2004) were too "wimpy". Well, "wimpy" didn't start wars without just cause, and use the Constitution as recycled toilet paper. "Wimpy" wouldn't have shipped off jobs overseas and telling us to work menial jobs so the economy can boom.

"Wimpy" wouldn't have allowed September 11th to happen and send all of America into a fright fest, looking for Daddy to protect them.

Many of us had fathers who did protect us. The President is supposed to do the job of the office, while Upholding the Constitution. Bush has crapped on the Constitution, pissed on Americans and told us to shut up and take it, cause he knows what's best for us.

As an African-American, what's best for me is to continue not being treated as a second class citizen, pre-Civil Rights. What's best for me is to have a job that pays a liveable and sustainable wage, so I can live comfortably and help others in need. What's best for me is the right to choose whether or not I want to become a mommy (my choice is "I do" until I can't)and to have my prescriptions filled by a pharmacist whose job it is to do just that and shut up with biblical pontification.

What's best for me is a healthy environment and the preventing of global warming, while preserving this land that God has given us. What's best for me is the opportunity for a quality, public education, and that opportunity be given to others, regardless of race, ethnicity, economic status or any obstacle that would prevent that.

What's best for me...is probably what's best for any and all Americans. Having said all of this, I have another Christmas wish - that some brave soul in Congress starts mentioning the "I" word. As in "Impeachment". We can't continue in this manner, because then we will have that world that George Orwell spoke of with his book "1984". While the Administration may not be expert in Constitutional Doctrine, many of them appear to be well versed with "1984" for everything, from the PNAC document, to Bush's confession of breaking the law, seems based on Newspeak and Big Brother.

But I know the God I serve. He is loyal, kind, longsuffering, peaceful, compassionate, merciful, but most of all, He is Just, and hates to have perversions of any kind done in His Name. And knowing this gives me hope and the courage to write out and live my convictions. As I hope these words give you some sort of comfort and hope that things will get better. I can't say if the worst has past, or if the worst of this situation with the Bush Administration is yet to come. Yet, I believe in my heart and my spirit that God has heard and is answering our prayers, and so I write this to encourage anyone who reads this that God is with you; He has heard your cries for relief, and He will do what you have asked. Please continue to believe that as we embark into the Holiday season.

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS...

BESIDES SOMETHING FROM THIS PLACE...

I would like Santa to bring me:

Some Democrats with a spine

The Eradication of the DLC

More job opportunities for Real Bloggers and not the fools over at Pajama Media

To see a real picture of Steve Gillard (he puts that "spot" blurb over his pic)

An uncorrupted Congress

A President who tells the truth 80% of the time

A Vice-President who doesn't operate as if he's the President

Lite Democrats to Go Republican

Lite Republicans to Go Democrat

And a fine time to be had by all. Despite the world's circumstances, as long as God allows me to see another day not promised to me, I will find ways to praise Him and be grateful for those of you who take the time to visit my blog.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

HAS THE PRESIDENT BEEN DRINKING?

GOD HELP AMERICA SINCE THIS GUY'S DOING THE DRIVING

I have to ask, because if what he told NBC's Brian Williams about his lackadaisical response to the victims of Hurricane Katrina, not to mention that while America was welcomed in IRAQ, it wasn't a "peaceful welcome"...

To continue to defend Satan's spawn, better known as VP Dick Cheney;

And finally, to isolate himself to the point that newsmagazines like Newsweek and Time are doing cover stories on his behavior, you have to ask the question:

IS THE PRESIDENT DRINKING?

Then we need to figure out how to lend the Democrats some backbone so they can invoke the 25th Amendment...

LIEBERMAN IS SEEN AS A TRAITOR

THIS IS WHAT A TRAITOR LOOKS LIKE

And after basically applying his lips to George Bush's rear end in public view, I wonder why he would be seen as a Traitor to the Democratic Party.

I'm also wondering why he's complaining to the New York Times.

I'm wondering if he will ever sober up off the GOP Kool-Aid.

There are a lot of things I'll forgive Al Gore for. Like running as a wimp when he ran for President in 2000, and now getting his mojo back and looking like a progressive who kicked the DLC to the curb.

But...naming Joe Lieberman as his running mate, and elevating him to national prominance, just to watch Lieberman become the second coming of Zig-Zag Zell Miller?

Hmmm...The Christian Progressive Liberal has to think long and hard on that one...

HARRY REID BI--HSLAPS JOEMENTUM

THE FACE OF TRUE LEADERSHIP

Over on DailyKos, the bloggers are discussing the very public smackdown Minority Leader Harry Reid administered to Joe Lieberman regarding Lieberman's constant undermining of Reid in his leadership position.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi needs to do likewise, and I think she will. And I hope she starts with Rahm Emmanuel and Ellen Tauscher's behinds, post haste.

DLCers need to get the message: either unite with the Party on the right issues, or get the hell out of the PARTY.

As South Knox Bubba would say: Ok, then.

IT'S CALLED "WHISTLEBLOWING" FOR A REASON

WHISTLEBLOWING

We call the process "whistleblowing" for a reason. To call attention to inadequacies, inefficiency, waste, fraud and/or abuse of Government resources entrusted to those who have the charge from Congress and the President to carry out the mission of government agencies. So, when a high-ranking official in the U. S. Park Police calls attention to the fact she's being charged to carry out activities to facilitate National Security in the Nation's Capitol, but is not given enough resources with which to do the job, she's stripped of her badge.

So, I'm promoting her website, where she's still fighting the good fight. Isn't Teresa Chambers the type of government employee we want working for us, the people?
Something is very wrong when the Government punishes people for doing what they were hired to do.

But, then again, this IS the Bush Administration, and it's looking more like a facist dictatorship every day. January 21, 2009 cannot come fast enough....

WHY WOULD WE LISTEN TO RUSH LIMBAUGH?

DIDN'T SERVE IN VIETNAM BECAUSE OF A CYST ON HIS HORSE'S REAR END.

So why is anyone listening to this blowhard? Especially when he's sliming those who went willingly and served their country?

David Sirota has the skinny on Arianna's blog; so go check it out.

I don't waste my time writing about primordial slime like Limbaugh, when David Sirota does it better than I do.

NOW WE KNOW WHY LIBERMAN LOVES BUSH

Apparently, Joementum has decided he wants a Cabinet position, and apparently, the Bush Administration is hinting they may want to replace Donald "go with the Army you have" Rumsfeld.

Now we know the reason for this:



I've never had any use for Joe Lieberman, so this comes as no surprise. He's been Bush's whore for so long, it's just an accepted fact of political life in DC. I also think he knows his political career is on the downturn, so why not go out in a blaze of glory (in this instance, as Defense Secretary).

God help us all.

A DLCer IN SAN FRANCISCO

YOU CAN GIVE ME MONEY, BUT I WON'T BE LOOKING OUT FOR YOUR BEST INTERESTS


According to my friends over on the Pesky Fly, Rep. Harold Ford, Jr., eager to fill his campaign coiffers, scheduled a fundraiser out in San Francisco this weekend. San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and DA Kamala Harris are listed as Co-Chairs for the event.

Funny thing, though. Newsom and Harris, once they got wind of Ford's votes against gay marriage, the Patriot Act and other BS, cancelled on attending the fund-raiser. In fact, many politicos in Ess Eff advised Ford to cancel his fundraiser ALTOGETHER.

Ford has a lot of arrogance to think he could waltz into San Francisco and pick up thousands of dollars in campaign money just because that "D" is in front of his name. Bay Area folks are more savvy than that. We're the same bunch who told Ah-nold Schwarzenegger to take a hike when he went after Gray Davis' job as Governor (all nine counties in Northern Cal voted to retain Davis - the thug in Southern Cal got Ah-nold in). The Bay Area recognizes a DLCer when they see one. We also know when someone is trying to pimp us for money, too. In this instance, Harold could take lessons from former mayor Willie Brown on how to pimp the system and win.

According to the Commercial Appeal, Ford is considering pushing back his fundraiser to mid-January. Yet, without Harris and Newsom on board, and every gay and lesbian community group calling for a boycott, Harold still won't get any love in the City by the Bay. Either he's desperate, delusional or stupid to think that we in California don't have the intelligence to read one's voting record.

News Flash, Harold: we did scrutinize Barack Obama for the Senate before ponying up money to his campaign. Because he convinced us he was a progressive, and so far, while his stance on Iraq stinks, he hasn't truly disappointed...yet. If you thought because you're African-American and a Democrat that we would do the same thing for you, you underestimated us, and badly. We're like Janet Jackson when we ask, "What have you done for me lately?" and if you can't answer that (and your voting record says you can't), don't let the doorknob hit you where the good Lord split ya. You have a lot of nerve to come here and beg for money while telling different segments of the population to kiss your ass (sorry, the Christian Progressive Liberal is really pissed at this) with a voting record that looks like the second coming of Newt Gingrich. You'd best bury your latent jealousy of Obama and review your past history, let alone justify it, if you're serious about being a United States Senator.
You're the reason the Democratic party has experienced the fractures in leadership that it has - with your own version of "flip-flopping" and obfuscation.

We don't like it when you piss on us and try to tell us it's raining. First, show us you can be a competent member of the House of Representatives, before taking this tired act of yours to the United States Senate. While we need to gain a majority in both houses of Congress next year, America deserves better than what you're offering.

STILL TIME FOR FITZMAS

PLAMEGATE...THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING

For those who were beginning to breathe a sigh of relief when Scooter Libby got indicted, and Judy Miller was virtually forced out of her job at the New York Times, along comes Bob "Watergate" Woodward, and the revelations of more people involved in the leaking of and uncovering of an undercover CIA Agent.

Karl Rove thought he was soooo off the hook in this matter, he went right back to his old dirty tricks (this time, attempting to slime a highly respected, 37-year Marine Veteran, Democratic war hawk member of Congress, because he said the Iraq war was tanking and America needed to get out.) However, all Rove's machinations did was ensure that the spotlight would stay on his horses' rear end, and that Americans wouldn't forget what's happened; nor would they become distracted with other incidents that the Bush Administration tried to throw at us.

Now, House members are not safe in going to Iraq to see what's going on. As of this writing, it was reported on CNN late last night that two House members, one who is Ike Skelton, was injured when their vehicle was forced into a game of "Chicken" with an insurgent vehicle. Still think the war was worth it? Still think it was worth it to out Valerie Plame, just to embarass her husband, Joe Wilson, who dared to tell the truth about this Administration wanting a was so badly, they were willing to lie to the American people about it? Or better yet, the suspicion of wanting a war so badly, that 9/11 could have been prevented, but wasn't, because this Administration could garner up more sympathy from frightened Americans, by tying Saddam into Osama's attack?

Apparently, Pat Fitzgerald doesn't think it was worth it. And the Bush Adminstration thought they had another partisan hack lackey, who would roll over, rubber-stamp the fabricated explanations from this Administration, and life goes on, as usual. Unfortunately, for GeeDubya, they overplayed their hand and picked the wrong man. For the rest of us long-suffering Americans, Pat Fitzgerald has really become Santa Claus, and the Plamegate affair is probably going to be the gift that keeps on giving.

Hopefully, the gift will keep giving until January 21, 2009, if not sooner.

AMERICA IS GOING DOWN A SHAME SPIRAL

GOD FORBID...

THANKFUL FOR THE MEMPHIS FLYER

So while I'm recovering from stuffing my face and being thankful about family and friends whom I love, and being in their company while adding another five pounds I don't need, my "cousins" in Memphis sent me the Gadflyer column for entertainment.

As I sat down to read, the one thought I had was to be thankful that everyone's drying up from continual drunkenness off the GOP grog. I am thankful that this Nation is waking up from it's fear-induced stupor and see the Bush Administration for what they are and who they are. Most of all, I am thankful for the fact that going into the 2006 mid-year elections, a good deal of Congress Critters are seeing the light that they will have to flip their scripts or become unemployed in 2006.

The Gadflyer says: "The events of the past week in the U.S. House of Representatives have been rather dramatic. When Congressman John Murtha, from my old home territory of Western Pennsylvania, called for a withdrawal of troops from Iraq “at the earliest practicable date,” it set off a tidal wave in Washington. This wasn't, after all, a wild-eyed liberal, like Russ Feingold, the Wisconsin Democrat who had previously called for a timetable for withdrawal. This was a blue collar Democrat, with a history of supporting the Pentagon in all of its warmongering activities, including increasing defense budgets, new weapons systems, “star wars” missile defense, and other pet projects so dear to defense hawks. Lest his conservative bona fides be questioned, he even offered a resolution this year seeking an amendment to the Constitution to allow voluntary prayer in public schools.



While it isn't clear whether or not Murtha was an independent contractor in launching his broadside attack, or just the canary in the mine for the Democrat caucus in the House, testing the to see whether there might be support for a rapidly-phased withdrawal, it is clear that Murtha's announcement caught a number of folks by surprise, mostly the members of his own party. Not, however, the members of the majority, who quickly figured out a way to relegate Murtha's proposal to parliamentary oblivion. Murtha's resolution was quickly referred to a committee so it couldn't be promptly considered or voted on by the House.



But the republicans' simultaneously presented their own version of the Murtha resolution, considerably abbreviated from the one Murtha submitted, and notably lacking the qualifying language “at the earliest practicable date,” of Murtha's resolution, substituting instead the word “immediately.” Here's what the GOP resolution says:

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the deployment of United States forces in Iraq be terminated immediately.

This resolution was submitted by Rep. Duncan Hunter, the powerful chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, whose finest moment was undoubtedly when, at a press conference, he served (literally) examples of the culinary delights the prisoners at Guantanamo were being served to contradict the by-then ubiquitous assertions that those prisoners were being abused.



The Republican resolution put the issue in the starkest terms, and eliminated not only the important qualifier on Murtha's resolution (“at the earliest practicable date”), but also eliminated a detailed preamble Murtha had placed in his version which recited all the reasons he had listed during his press conference for his belief it was time for American forces to leave Iraq (e.g., no progress, 2,079 deaths, G.I.'s the target of insurgents, $277 billion appropriated, etc.).



Murtha's resolution reflected the reasoning that had already been expressed by military intelligence experts for prompt withdrawal, and also served to further debunk the notion that withdrawal should be conditioned on the state of preparedness of the Iraqi army, an illusory goal, according to the authoritative piece by James Fallows in the December issue of The Atlantic Monthly. And let's not forget that the majority of Americans now favor a short-term withdrawal from Iraq: http://www.pollingreport.com/iraq.htm.



But the Republicans couldn't be bothered with such details. They wanted to put the question, down and dirty, to the House, knowing that, reworded as it was, there was no way their resolution would pass, and even more importantly, that they could avoid a debate on the war that wasn't based on phony jingo-patriotism (the American equivalent of “Islamo-fascism”), which is precisely what the “debate” that ensued on the House floor degenerated into.



In other words, the Republicans really weren't interested in debating the wisdom of a withdrawal on the terms, or for the reasons, Murtha suggested; they wanted to rub Murtha's face in the very idea of withdrawing troops at all, in essence saying to the Democrats, “so you want withdrawal, do you; well, we'll give you withdrawal,” or as Rep. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee put it:


Since they [Democrats] have been wanting it [debate], we're going to have it. They're going to take the heat and take the debate.


The same resolution which shoved Murtha's resolution off the House agenda also placed the substitute resolution on that agenda for immediate debate, without the necessity for committee action, one of the privileges of majority rule. The Democrats, realizing they had been outflanked, vociferously protested the substitution of the Republican resolution for Murtha's. “Give us a real debate, don't bring this piece of garbage to the floor,” said Rep. James McGovern of Massachusetts.


And, of course, the flashpoint of the debate came when Rep. Jean Schmidt (they don't call her “mean Jean” for nothing) made her now-infamous statement accusing Murtha of being a cut and run coward. Which, to his credit, caused my congressman, Harold Ford, Jr., according to the account in the New York Times, to “charge across the chamber's center aisle to the Republican side screaming that Ms. Schmidt's attack had been unwarranted.” Unwarranted! Not exactly “give me liberty or give me death,” but a fighting word nonetheless.


A different account of Ford's outburst appeared in the Washington Times: "Say it to Murtha," Mr. Ford supposedly shouted at Rep. Tancredo while he [Ford] was being restrained by other members. Ford also, by some accounts, supposedly menacingly jabbed a finger at Tancredo during their confrontation, coming dangerously close to kicking some Republican butt (now, that would have been worth the price of basic cable C-Span). Ford, in spite of his willingness to storm the Republican ramparts in support of his fellow congressman, wasn't willing to support him in a much more important way---by co-sponsoring the bill, which 13 of his Democrat colleagues, including Reps. Rangel, Jackson-Lee and the outspoken Rep. McGovern (see above), found the kojones to do. Putting his vote where his mouth was apparently didn't interest Mr. Ford.

And as if to emphasize the point, here's how Congressman “Finger Jabber” Ford, characterized the discussion on the House floor during his appearance on “Hardball:”


The Murtha, or should I say the withdrawal, resolution that J.D. [Hayworth]was a part of bringing was the first time in more than three years that we‘ve had an open, honest and essential debate about Iraq.


Open and honest? Debate? Oh really, Mr. Ford? I guess, despite your theatrics, that scamming the congress into considering a resolution that was not Murtha's in an effort to discredit the resolution that was his, and thereby evading the discussion of a responsible “exit strategy,” was your idea of “open and honest.”

To show how “open and honest” the debate was, J.D. Hayworth, Ford's Republican counterpart on “Hardball,” during his remarks in the well of the house floor displayed the front pages of the New York Times and Washington Post from that day (November 18th), both of which led with headlines that characterized Murtha's announcement as calling for “immediate” withdrawal. That the MSM got it wrong is one thing (we're used to that), but the fact that Hayworth didn't have the integrity to refer to the actual wording of the Murtha resolution speaks for itself. (I'm convinced Hayworth and Schmidt have their hair wrapped too tightly---have you seen their “do's”---and that's what makes them so bitter).


Ford's remark may be why one of Matthews' other guests on the program, Stuart Rothenberg, of the Rothenberg Political Report, said of Ford's appearance:

T]hey [Democrats) are divided. When you listen to Harold Ford and compare that to Ted Kennedy or something, how many parties do we have here? Their problem is that they don‘t have a single message.

And pay attention to the following, because it accurately diagnosed why the Democrats continue to get handed their lunch by the Thuglican Party:

"Ford 's statement undercut his party's righteous position on the Murtha withdrawal proposal, and worse, contradicted his party's leaders on the floor, none of whom wanted a bogus debate on the bogus Hunter resolution."

Nonetheless, when it came time for a vote, only three of the over 400 who voted on the Hunter resolution voted in its favor. The rest of the Democrats ran for cover, fearing that in the war against un-patriotism being waged so much more successfully by the GOP than the war against terror, they would be the victims, when they could (and should) have maintained their righteousness on the Murtha proposal and refused to vote at all on Hunter's. Six representatives (including New York's Jerry Nadler) did precisely that, bless their hearts (as we say down here).

I can guarantee you that McKinney, Nadler and Wexler are going to catch hell from Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi for that one.

Sadly, as fractious and fractionated as the Republicans have become, as low as the president's poll numbers may be (or may be likely to go), and as graphic as the picture of the party in power's corruption is becoming, the Democrats still haven't figured out how to capitalize on their adversaries' weaknesses. And if Rep. Ford's performance on “Hardball,” is any indication, they won't be ready to do so until they've figured out how to minimize their own.

I couldn't agree with the author any more than I have. So, I'm particularly thankful to give the hat tip to Marty Aussenberg, aka "The Gadflyer".

PELOSI'S NO BETTER THAN FORD AS MINORITY LEADER

NEW WEAPON OF MASS DISTRACTION?


I honestly thought that Nancy Pelosi would make a better Minority Leader than Harold Ford. I remember how critics ripped Ford for daring to challenge her for the position because at the time, it was thought that the Tennessee Congressman hadn't paid his dues.

Well, that's true, but in days of late, Ms. Pelosi is not showing me anything either, as Minority Leader. While she may put wayward members on an embarrasing "shout-out" about voting against social programs, or legislation like the BK bill, she is also facilitating and encouraging unanimity on issues that serve to further weaken the Democrats's position as the opposition party.

The failure of the Democrats to support Rep. Jack Murtha's call on withdrawal from Iraq is egregious and one that the GOP will surely spin to their advantage in the 2006 elections. While I may detest how the GOP operates, the reality is, those thugs know how to unite when engaging in battle. Detractors are PUNISHED (as in stripped of committee assignments, or not given any campaign cash from the coiffers when they are needed).

Pelosi has facilitated the Democratic strategy of "shoot down your own man" and it cannot help the party; most likely it hands the GOP another weapon of mass destruction to use against them.

She's drinking too much of DLC Kool-Aid. Additionally, she's into punishing those in the party who would oppose her on moral and ethical grounds, such as Representative Cynthia McKinney. While McKinney is a five-term Representative, she is treated like a freshman and Pelosi will not restore her previous seniority she had before her rigged defeat against Denise Majette in 2002. What she's punishing McKinney for is her attendance at the Katrina hearings. Pelosi believes those hearings are a GOP stunt and has ordered the Democratic side not to participate.

McKinney, on the other hand, while she's aware of the GOP's penchant for posturing, she also knows it's best to be in the presence of the enemy, so you can know what's the next move. If the GOP pulls something to outflank the Democrats on the Katrina response, McKinney will be able to warn the Caucus before they are caught off-guard.
Pelosi shows her appreciation by continuing to isolate McKinney every chance she gets. I think she would engage in this against my rep, Barbara Lee, but since Lee and Pelosi are both from Northern Cal, she couldn't get away with such tactics; the leftists in Oakland and Berkeley would be gunning for her like the NRA goes gunning for anyone threatening the 2nd Amendment of the Constitution.

So my question is this: would Harold Ford been a better choice for Minority Leader? Probably not, because his basic reason for wanting the post was to elevate his stature on the National Level in positioning his Senate run. He would probably have engaged in the same strategies as Pelosi, with the same "shoot-yourself-in-the-foot" results, courtesy of the DLC.

No, the only difference between Ford and Pelosi is; Ford was open about his ambition, which is the only factor of his character that I can respect, even though I don't like it. Pelosi, on the other hand, has engaged in her own form of Bait and Switch, and that I like even less than an overly-ambitious, self-seeking capricious Senate candidate.

Has San Franciscans been sold a false bill of goods with Nancy Pelosi?

IS CNN TRYING TO SEND A MESSAGE...?

CNN IS TRYING TO TELL US SOMETHING WE ALREADY KNOW

CNN is apparently crying for help. For what, we're not sure, since they have aided and abetted this Administration by not doing what they were supposed to do as bonafied MSM - report the news without bias or prejudice.

This ship has beached itself and compromised its' reputation since Ted Turner left. Back in the day, when he was running things, if it was reported on CNN, you knew it was not only newsworthy, but true, and the journalists were real journalists.

Someone in the newsroom apparently had a flashback of those days. Which probably accounts for that "X" across Cheney's face, instead of that lame spin of explanation they are trying to pass off on us like we're plants that need to be fed in the dark.

Personally, that "X" is lame. I was hoping for the horns coming out of Cheney's forehead, because everytime I see the man, he gives me the sense I'm seeing Satan in the flesh...

THIS LOOKS FAMILIAR

DEVOLUTION, ya think?

The "prophet" Rev. Jim Jones, had a sign above the camp at Jonestown that read:

"THOSE WHO FORGET THE PAST ARE DOOMED TO REPEAT IT."

How well we unlearned the lessons of Watergate. Bob Woodward unlearned them so well that he allowed himself to become a willing co-conspirator in the outing of CIA Undercover Agent Valerie Plame Wilson. And if you've read the Washington Post, that paper shoved away any last vestiges of credibility by their clumsy attempts to continue trying to sell the Mess'o'Potmia which is the Iraq war, and excuse Woodward's act of treason.

Not that the journalistic troll, Robert Novak is off the hook - he was just the only, ahem, journalist, idiotic enough to take the bait of outing a CIA undercover agent to help the Bush Administration in it's smear and discredit campaign against her husband, Ambassador Joseph Wilson. Simply because he told the truth.

So we should not be surprised that Bush is devolving into the ghost of Richard Milhous "Tricky Dick" Nixon, with the quest for dominance and lies spread so thick that you can't help but walk in Bush's path and effectively STEP IN IT.

Nixon = Watergate.
Bush = Iraq War.

The quack preacher who led 900 people to their deaths in Jonestown back in 1978 had no idea how prophetic his words would be almost 30 years later. The difference is: we're not following Bush like sheeple.

So, let the devolution begin. Hopefully, Americans will have our country back when it's over.

DICK CHENEY DOING WHAT HE DOES BEST: TELLING PEOPLE TO GO F--- THEMSELVES



If you heard excerpts from Dick Cheney's speech where he's basically telling Americans that to question the President's handling of Iraq is basically "irresponsible", you may have missed him telling you the same thing he told Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont earlier this year.

Cheney basically told Americans to do the same thing he told Sen. Leahy.

When "Christians" start telling people to go and f--- themselves, that kind of talk make me want to challenge Cheney to make me do that thing. Knowing doggone well that he can't.

Read more about Cheney's rant here :

We know Bush is losing it. But when Cheney starts down the same shame spiral, we need to tell him what he's just told America with that speech.

In the nicest way possible, of course.

TAKE UP THAT GAUNTLET, HAROLD

THIS KEPT HAROLD FORD OUT OF DC LAST YEAR WHEN THE FEDERAL BUDGET CAME UP FOR A VOTE


"9th District U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr., one of two Democratic candidates for the Senate, threw down the gauntlet this week to “all” his opponents, challenging them to “declare publicly how they would vote on the federal budget bill before Congress.”

Ford’s challenge stands in some contrast to his position last spring when his only declared Democratic rival, state Senator Rosalind Kurita of Clarksville, sharply criticized the congressman for not being on hand to vote on a prior budget measure favored by the Bush administration.

At the time of that budget vote, Rep. Ford was on a campaign swing through Tennessee and was attending state House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh’s annual “Coon Supper” in Covington.

In the news release which conveyed his current challenge, the congressman took the administration’s latest budget proposal to task on several grounds – including cuts in Medicaid, in educational support funds, and in food stamps..."

Rep. Ford is engaging in triangulation again. It would be worth something if he were good at it.

Before he throws out challenges to his opponents for that Senate seat, I'd like to recommend that he get his own house in order. Like explaining why he was conveniently absent from voting on the Federal Budget last year because he was slurping down a plate of racoon at Jimmy Naifeh's "Coon Supper".

As I said before, no self-respecting African-American goes to any event that makes a reference to "coon"; especially if they know their history of African-Americans and racial epithets. Additionally, I'd like to know how he feels about his good friend, Don Imus, refusing to refer to African-Americans as African-Americans. To me, that's saying the I-Man is looking for a way to use the N-word and not get penalized by the FCC.

Or challenged on it by the representative of Memphis' 9th District. So, Rep. Ford,
pick up that gauntlet and get your own house in order before you start challenging your opponents to clean their houses. You're not ready to take that licking and keep on tickin' like Timex when you don't.

DIGGING A DEEPER HOLE

"MASSA, YA GOTS TO FIGHT FO' ME..."




Maryland Lt. Governor Michael Steele just doesn't seem to get it.

First, African-Americans are supposed to be so dang happy he's in the job, while he stands up and supports policies to shaft the same group of African-Americans in the you-know-what.

Then, when African-Americans calls him on his stuff as blogger Steve Gillard did, he gets Governor Bob Ehrlich to call those who dare to criticize Steele, racist. Even GOP Wanker Ken Mehlman has picked up on this diatribe.

Don Imus decides he doesn't want to call African-Americans, well, AFRICAN-AMERICANS anymore. He's wondering how to find ways to call African-Americans the N-word and hopes no one will notice.

Wonder how Harold Ford, Jr., feels about the I-Man really wanting to call him the "N-Word."

The Black Commentator says it best: "When white folks have the final say on what is and is not racist, we are in deep trouble. And when whites are allowed to referee an intra-Black argument, the cuckoo has flown."

If Michael Steele wants to be taken seriously, he needs to quit being a victim, and start fighting his own battles, instead of hiding behind the GOP's hoods. Otherwise, as long as he wants to tote water for a group that would as soon lynch him rather than praise him, he needs to drink his glass of STHU and quit picking fights with bloggers like Steve Gillard, because he can't win.

MARYLAND: Is this who you want as your next U. S. Senator? A man who is too weak to fight his own battles?

THE TIDE IS FINALLY TURNING

This is how Bush should be feeling right now. That is, if the bubble has burst.

It's been a long week. But there have been some noticeable indications that people are sobering up off that Kool-Aid they have been swilling for five years.

Democrats retained the Governor's Mansions in New Jersey and Virginia.

The Boobengrabber got terminated; or rather, his initiatives did. Must be because Californians told him time and time again, they didn't want a special election that cost $70 million dollars that the state doesn't have.

Bush turned into Kryptonite for Jerry Kilgore. And you know things are bad when Senator Wingnut "Lil' Ricky" Santorum, is not willing to be seen with him.

Maybe the tide is finally turning, but Democrats shouldn't rest on their laurels, says the Rude Pundit.

Finish this party, then we can tackle the DLC.

MICHAEL STEELE CALLS BLACK CRITICS RACIST

THE MAN HE'S HOLDING ONTO CAN BE CRITICAL OF HIM, BUT AFRICAN-AMERICANS NEED TO DRINK THEIR CANS OF STHU WHEN DISCUSSING MARYLAND'S LT. GOVERNOR


So he says in today's Washington Times, a rag I don't really read, but the headlines caught my attention.

As far as I'm concerned, the Lt. Governor of Maryland is so drunk on the Thug life kool-aid, any African-American who dares to criticize his affiliations (especially if those he affiliates with have demonstrated more than openly, their contempt for people of color, and his failure to condemn those attitudes)is WRONG for criticizing him.

The Black Commentator has already discussed the harm that failing to hold elected Black leaders accountable has, and continues to have.
Michael Steele can't take the heat and needs to get out of the kitchen before he makes a bigger Stepin' Fechit fool of himself than he already has.

ANOTHER WEAPON OF MASS DISTRACTION

WEAPON OF MASS DISTRACTION

The following is an excerpt from Buzz Flash:

"...It's hard to imagine how the Democratic leadership in Congress also gets diverted and loses their sense of context, along with the media, but they do. Except for some outspoken members of the House and a couple of senators, the Democratic leadership still enables Bush and makes him appear legitimate, despite the fact that he, Cheney, Rumsfeld and Rove are a continuing threat to the national security of our nation and to our own personal lives. That is because the Busheviks are hideous failures at virtually everything they undertake, except enriching the already wealthy. They haven't conducted a war on terror; they've conducted a propaganda war. It is the only thing that they do half efficiently..."

If there was ever a time Congress and Americans need to pay attention, it's now. Considering the past week Bush had, this was not a time to rest on one's laurels about how he was down and defeated.

Down. But not out.

How dare we allow Karl Rove to besmirch Stella (Terry McMillan's heroine) by getting his grove back in the form of the spin and using the weapons of mass distraction in the form of Harriet Miers' withdrawal, Rosa Parks' memorial and the announcement of a new nominee who has the approval of the Religious Reich-Wing?

We need to stay focused on the lies perpetrated by this Administration, and the treason it engages in on a daily basis. Our very lives depend on it.

The Red Cross: the New KKK?

Is this the New Symbol of Bigotry?

This past Friday, I attended a briefing at the Leadership Council on Civil Rights, involving a new leadership series inquiring into the Government's slow response to victims of Hurricane Katrina and Rita. Thank God, I missed most of the pontificating speeches alluding to the Bush Administration's overt racism in their response to the victims, not to mention their egregious incompetence ("Brownie, you're doing a heckuva job...").

What haunted me was the voices of those who were of color, but not African-American, and yet, the African-American woman on the panel, spoke powerfully about the complicity of FEMA and the Red Cross teaming up to engage in that egregious, pitiful response to those who were literally being swept out into the Gulf of Mexico.

Ruby Campbell told us that when supplies were brought into Mississippi, FEMA and the Red Cross bypassed East Biloxi (where the African-Americans lived) on their way to providing aid to the more white, affluent areas of Biloxi (can you say Trent Lott's neighborhood?). No suprise there; FEMA was the bunch who left people on their own throughout the whole mess, anyway.

No, what caught my attention was the plight of a Cuban immigrant, Nilo Cervantes, who is in this country legally, and should be entitled to the right of being rescued and restored since, as a result of Katrina, he lost his job, and since he had no paycheck coming in, he was evicted from his apartment. But the nasty, awful truth of this story is Mr. Cervantes is currently living in a tent that's provided by the Pass Road Baptist Church in Gulfport, Mississippi, and not in a shelter provided by the Red Cross. Why is that?

Mr. Cervantes told the panel and audience that because he's not a natural-born American, although a legal immigrant, the Red Cross wasn't going to provide him any assistance whatsoever. He was told that the assistance was for "U. S. Born Citizens". Now, you can pick up your jaw off the floor.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is George Bush's America - where the Red Cross can now decide, based upon one's citizenship, whether or not they will get help. And since Ms. Campbell told us that FEMA reimburses the Red Cross for disaster relief, there is a sneaking suspicion that FEMA may be directing who gets disaster assistance. Or worse, a charitable organization is now deciding who gets help - based on nationality or ethinicity. You may as well say that the Red Cross consists of those wearing white hoods; the only difference is a red cross differentiates them from the Klan.

Mr. Cervantes said that FEMA nor the Red Cross has provided him any help. He is living in cold, damp quarters and he said he's sick and coughing a great deal (probably disentery, or worse) as a result of the Red Cross's negligence.

Now, we need to speak with our money. I'm urging everyone not to give the Red Cross another dime until they rescind this discriminatory policy(if there is an actual policy and not a few bigots on the payroll), and vow to help victims of these hurricanes regardless of class, race, nationality, disability, age, marital status, or any other factor that would facilitate this organization's tendency to now pick and choose who they are going to help in times of need.

Because in the next disaster, you might be the survivor who the Red Cross may decide to take a pass on. And since Bush just nominated another whackjob to the Supreme Court who has a history of axeing Civil Rights, what the Red Cross did to Nilo Cervantes may well become legal in the next few years.

THE DLC STRIKES AGAIN

Is this the face of a coward (on the left)?

Well, if you're running for Governor of Virginia, and your opponent appears to be the second coming of Nathan Bedford Forrest, but you're worried about a blogger's photoshopped picture of the "2% Negro for Rent" Lt. Governor of Maryland being posted on your blog...in a word, YES, this is what a coward looks like.

A coward who is in the Democratic Leadership Council.

So what if Steve Gillard ran a picture of Maryland Lt. Governor Michael Steele in blackface. Intelligent people knew exactly what that picture meant; especially since Steele announced that after toting Bush's water, he's going to run for the U. S. Senate in 2006.

Yet, after purchasing a political ad and running it on Gilliard's blog, Kaine's campaign abruptly requested Gilly remove their ad because of the "Stepin' Fechit" picture of Maryland's Lt. Governor. That's a conventional DLC move: cave in during any type of controversy, instead of standing up for what you believe in.

Of course, the DLC would have to have something to believe in, because their SOP is stale, totally useless, worthless, and most of all, continues to harm and cost the Democratic Party in terms of credibility and having a spine. And I've been seeing the vicious campaign that Jerry Kilgore is waging; he has all but dissed Kaine's mother with his attacks. And Kaine's not doing a good job of defending himself - he's singing off the DLC hymn book. So Virginia will have a Republithug Governor in a couple of weeks.

And rather than engage in challenging Kilgore, Kaine has chosen to fight with a guy who was supporting his run, over the picture on the right.

Another spineless DLC member who will manage to botch an easily winnable campaign. Instead, he gives well-meaning Democrats a reason to stay home on November 8th. New tune, same old story; a Democrat who Loses Consistently. Since 1994....

Head over to Gillard's to get his take on this mess. He defends himself quite well.

And, we bloggers are having an effect on the political sphere. My take is that politicians like Kaine would rather be like the rest of what's passing for the mainstream media these days.

FOR ALL OF YOU WHO DRANK BUSH'S KOOL-AID

I highly recommend a shot of this...and I don't drink, but for the last five years, it sure seems like most of the Country, and DLC Congressional Members, had the above on tap.

Sorry for the brief post, but the last few days, I've been working at, of all places, a lobbying firm. If I'm gonna play with the "big dogs", then I need some training, so I don't get eaten alive, cause DC is like that. So, enjoy the humorous posts, both here, and over at the Pesky Fly.

CAN WE STOP WITH THE BOUTS OF HOMOPHOBIA?

Yes, the Christian Progressive Liberal is asking that question. Why can't we stop with the bouts of homophobia?

It derailed the Millions More March on Saturday, here in DC. Rev. Willie Wilson went on a tirade when invited speaker and noted gay activist Keith Boykin, approached the podium to speak. According to sources, Minister Louis Farrakhan invited Mr. Boykin to the activities and positive day of atonement. I witnessed the foundation being laid for inclusion of gays during Tavis Smiley's "State of the Black Union" Conference down in Atlanta back in February.

And they wonder why Keith and Jasmyne Connick have done a series of columns speculating about the sexuality of prominent ministers like Wilson, Eddie Long, and others. So much raging about a person's sexuality gives rise to the saying "Me thinks ye doth protesteth too much." In other words, you only rage about a person's sexuality because you have issues with your own sexuality.

The Bush Administration has raised the level of homophobia to a new level...while it's a known fact that this current Republican Administration is the gayest one I've ever seen.

My fellow bloggers over at the Pesky Fly blogged about a local talk show host, Leon Gray, being a progressive while spouting off about gays. He's burned my friends and they are big supporters of him (or were).

Listen, as a Christian, I know full well what the Bible says about homosexuality and I'm not about to try and make it fit...because, well, it doesn't. The Bible forbids the sexual acts between two people of the same sex. Period. And I know that's pretty harsh, but the Bible was never meant to be full of fairy tales.

However, we who are Christian are supposed to be led of the Spirit of God. That also means that we are to treat every person we come into contact with as lovingly as we treat ourselves. So, to my pea brain way of thinking, that means we don't join in with the raging homophobics and condemn, beat, ridicule, harass, discriminate, and go as far as murder, in dealing with homosexuals. We are to love each other, regardless of race, class, gender and sexuality, as we love ourselves.

We are so quick to holler out what the Bible says about homosexuality, while a good deal of other "sins" are excused or reasoned away. If we're hollering about "what the Bible says", then we need to make sure we don't have a moat in our eye of our own. While I can't argue with the Bible's stand on homosexuality, neither can I join in to condemn other human beings, even if they love in a way that I can't understand. So, I try to be equal opportunity in my treatment of everyone I've met or who has crossed my path. Because when we condemn a group of people because they don't love like we may want, we are, in essence, condemning what could be the best part of us - the capacity for unconditionally loving and accepting another flawed human being.

Judge not, lest with by the same standard you are judged.

FOR THOSE 73 DEMOCRATS WHO SOLD THEIR VOTE TO THE BANKING INDUSTRY

Meet Robert Loria (not pictured), a combat Vet who fought in the Iraq war, had to pay for his own equipment, and still got his limbs blown off. Now the Army is garnishing this man's check for housing (that they are supposed to furnish), his protective equipment (which was probably responsible for saving his life and resulting in his limbs being blown to hell and beyond) and basically, for serving his country.

Hat tip to Steve Gillard.



By Donna St. George
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, October 14, 2005; Page A01

His hand had been blown off in Iraq, his body pierced by shrapnel. He could not walk. Robert Loria was flown home for a long recovery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where he tried to bear up against intense physical pain and reimagine his life's possibilities.The last thing on his mind, he said, was whether the Army had correctly adjusted his pay rate -- downgrading it because he was out of the war zone -- or whether his combat gear had been accounted for properly: his Kevlar helmet, his suspenders, his rucksack.

But nine months after Loria was wounded, the Army garnished his wages and then, as he prepared to leave the service, hit him with a $6,200 debt. That was just before last Christmas, and several lawmakers scrambled to help. This spring, a collection agency started calling. He owed another $646 for military housing."I was shocked," recalled Loria, now 28 and medically retired from the Army. "After everything that went on, they still had the nerve to ask me for money."

Although Loria's problems may be striking on their own, the Army has recently identified 331 other soldiers who have been hit with military debt after being wounded at war. The new analysis comes as the United States has more wounded troops than at any time since the Vietnam War, with thousands suffering serious injury in Iraq or Afghanistan."This is a financial friendly fire," charged Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (R-Va.), chairman of the House Committee on Government Reform, which has been looking into the issue. "It's awful." Davis called the failure systemic and said military "pay problems have been an embarrassment all the way through" the war.

I'm sorry, but Davis was one of the GOP thugs that railroaded this Bankruptcy Bill through. And the Army probably thought to cash in before Loria even thought about Bankruptcy. This poor guy is trying to put his life back together. Maybe the picture I posted is an image the 73 Democrats who crossed the aisle and voted for this bill should have, as the ramifications of their votes come home to roost.

JUSTICE DELAYED...IS STILL JUSTICE

I know, I know - we want justice to come sooner rather than later. But in my 40+ years on this mortal coil, I've learned that just because we want justice at a certain time, God usually has other plans.

Which is why He's told us that He's the guy for the job regarding revenge. Also, because He's good at it; in ways we'd never conceive.

So, KKKarl Rove is testifying (or testa-lying) before the Federal Grand Jury for the fourth time today. That indicates to me that he didn't tell the whole truth the first, second or third times he's appeared. And, as Steve Gilliard mentioned on his blog, Rove is not considered part of the "aristocracy" that the Bushes maintain they are. He's considered nothing more than a hired hand; Poppy Bush so disliked Rove's performance that he actually fired the guy during his Administration. And GeeDubya, probably to spite his dad, hires him for his gig as Governor of Texas, and now, POTUS.

But we have also seen Bush feed his most loyal staffers (aka "friends") to the sharks when it comes to saving his own hide.

I've been told that self-preservation is the first law of nature. So, Bush, with failing approval ratings, continuously revealed lies that have some in Washington circles singing about impeachment, the mess'o'potamia which is the Iraq war, will not really mind if Rove is seen doing what you see in the picture. It's better known as the "perp walk".

We so want to see it because it restores our faith that elected officials will, on occasion, do the right thing. Even if they are saving their own necks to do it. And even if it doesn't happen, I have faith that the God I serve will extract vengence, because a holy God demands justice in the face of an injustice.

Let's hope we are on the same timetable as He is in seeing justice done.

I'M SORRY, I HAVE ONE MORE...LOL

THE FACE OF THE 2% OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS WHO BELIEVE BUSH IS DOING A GOOD JOB!

And it only cost Bush $240,000...no wonder he's asking Armstrong for a refund...

"GEORGE BUSH DOESN'T CARE ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE..." PART TWO

When you have this going on, no wonder Bush's approval ratings are only 2% among African-Americans.

And in case you're wondering about who are the 2%, try any "Rent-A-Negro-Preacher" schilling for Bush, plus LaShawn Barber, John McWhorter, Deroy Murdock and Star "I used to scam Welfare" Parker.

Test Blog - Adding Pictures

Like any child with a new toy, you learn how to play with it.

Tomorrow...linking other blogs to mine...LOL

WHY BLACK CONSERVATIVES WILL NEVER FIND RECEPTION AMONG THE BLACK COMMUNITY

There are many who want to group Blacks as a homogenious group who wants goverment handouts. And then there are those like Star Parker, LaShawn Barber, Armstrong Williams, Larry Elder, Deroy Murdock and John McWhorter, who say they want to improve the lives of African-Americans, and proceed to excuse the misdeeds of GOP leaders and espoused racism, by being the spokespeople for self-racism.

And they wonder why they aren't finding their audience among African-Americans. Well, that's probably because we have very good BS detectors. Black Commentator says so here:http://www.blackcommentator.com/154/154_thindwa_black_conservatives.html.

Black Conservatives will never get the audience they desire as long as they keep shooting us down, while they skin' and grin' for Massa while excelling in their performances in Self-hatred. Why call us "coon"? So the racist white guy doesn't have to sully his mouth with the word?

Their actions speak louder than their words - and these examples of Black Conservatives aid and abet them in their crimes...and they shouldn't wonder why we don't pay any attention to them.

IS PAT ROBERTSON MOONLIGHTING AS DON CORLEONE?

It sure seems that way.

First, the true Christians are still trying to clean up the mess Robertson created when he suggested that the United States "take out" Hugo Chavez, the Venezualian President.

Next, when it's reported he's sanctioning assassinations of Foreign leaders, he goes on his own show, the "700 Club" and insists that's not what he said. Sorry, but that clip got played on the Daily Show so much, those segments are enough to guarantee Jon Stewart another Emmy award. Plus he showed the good Rev. Robertson to be directly in violation of God's order to NOT TELL LIES.

Or bear false witness against your neighbor. As in, "Saddam gave money to Chavez..."

So, it shouldn't come as a surprise that he's threatening GOP Senators if they vote not to confirm, or to confirm Harriet Miers to SCOTUS. First, he's a hit man; now he's Don Corleone.

I'm beginning to think it's time for the "700 Club" to seriously discuss asking Robertson to stand down as a pastor and as a public figure. He's already discredited himself as a religious leader when he ran for President. He takes discrediting what Jesus represents to a whole 'nother level, with his talk about assassinating foreign leaders and whatnot.

Now this. Head over to Kos' place and if you see Driftglass in the house, ask him to pour you a cold one, because you will need it to keep from losing your sanity in an Orwellian type world...

THIS IS SCARY...ANOTHER REASON TO GET RID OF THE DLC

In posting a response to Ford-blogger Chris Jackson, he suggested in his response that to write off Harold Ford, Jr. for the U. S. Senate in 2006 over a few votes, is just plain "silly".

Well, when those few votes were:

1. The Bankruptcy Bill
2. The 1st Energy Bill
3. Estate Tax Repeal
4. Gang Deterrance Act
5. Watt Amendment to the Federal Budget
6. Failing to vote on the Budget because you missed the vote slurping down a plate of coon at Jimmy Naifeh's "Coon Supper"
7. Failing to co-sponsor legislation that would provide universal healthcare for all;

Then you can tell me how "silly" it is to write off a Senatorial Candidate who is performing in this manner while he still holds his job as a U. S. Congressman. I mean, if we can't depend on Ford to vote on important legislation such as what I've named, regardless of whether or not he has a certain political "base" he has to play to, how can he be depended upon to vote on the important legislation that has the potential to harm entire states, regardless of conservative or liberal, regardless of race or class?

No, Mr. Jackson, we don't expect to agree with the Congressman 100% of the time. But in the percentage of time we don't agree with him, we expect him to be able to articulate his positions to the point of being able to respect his position while disagreeing with his positions. All good elected officials know this; while you win an election on largely a populist base, you keep the job based on your actual performance, and not trying to please everybody. We look for the elected official to have principles, morals, values, that he will not stray from, no matter how much money is thrown at him; no matter how many "perks" he's given. None of us can ever win popularity contests and the legislation he's voted on has the potential to adversely affect the lives of millions of people, nationally, and not just in Tennessee.

You can read more in the Comments section of

Polar Donkey and The Pesky Fly.

How many times can I say this and not sound like a broken record? Another reason to GET RID OF THE DLC...especially since they're influencing the youth and young adult to the point of blind loyalty as they drive off that cliff...

WILLIAM JEFFERSON SHOULD NOT BE RE-ELECTED

Why would I start off a post with that title?

Maybe because Hurricane Katrina pulled off the covers; not highlighting racism at its' worst, or the greed that contractors have in benefitting and proffiting off human suffering, but because the ravages of Katrina clearly highlighted that Jefferson was representing his district in name only. As a congressman, he should have been directing some "pork" to his district to benefit his constituents. And even though I've beat up on Harold Ford, Jr. a bit for his asinine political stances and alliances, nonetheless, he's quite capable of delivering enough pork to his Memphis constituents to the point they keep sending him back to Congress.

Jefferson doesn't even do that. There's no excuse that Jefferson's constituency should have been shown in varying degrees of poverty that direction of job creation projects, or "pork" wouldn't have failed to allieviate.

Additionally, his constituency has been washed away into the Gulf of Mexico, and scattered North, further South, East and West, by Katrina, so it's questionable that Jefferson will even have a district to represent in Congress in 2006. So, to sit by and watch the Government award no-bid contracts to Halliburton, and not scream that your constituents will not have a part in rebuilding where they used to live, because they won't be allowed back to their neighborhoods, is so foul and treasonous, that Jefferson should just resign from Congress.

Jesse Jackson, SR., has more on it here:http://www.suntimes.com/output/jesse/cst-edt-jesse11.html.

The grade on his performance as a lawmaker in the CBC Monitor's Report Card, didn't go far enough (He got an "F", and is considered one of the seven "Derelicts of the CBC"). Researching his votes on the "bright line" issues the group selected, demonstrated that Jefferson was more willing to sell out his constituency than represent their best interests. And Katrina's devastation has his dereliction of duty as a Congressman in full effect for everyone to see.

We can front off on Bush's dereliction in this disaster; because he's the President of the United States, and, as Rev. Jackson's article states, the cronyism he used to give important positions, such as FEMA director; their incompentency cost lives. But William Jefferson's dereliction is being felt on a more intense level; his failure to vigorously represent his constituency set the stage for the disaster that was Hurricane Katrina. He failed to provide the most fundamental of representation; ensuring jobs that paid a liveable and sustainable wage, so people would have had the resources to evacuate when it became necessary. He allowed his constituency to wallow below acceptable levels of poverty, and there are no levels of poverty which should ever be acceptable.

I don't live in Louisiana, but my parents were born and reared there; my older brother was born there, and as far as I know, both parents have relatives in the New Orleans/Baton Rouge and Lake Charles areas. As far as I know, many of them were able to flee up north to Shreveport, and depending on the condition of their homes, they may have to stay there and start new lives. And they counted on William Jefferson to represent their best interests in Congress.

I'll bet that having your constituency washed away into the Gulf of Mexico was something Jefferson never counted on; no Congressperson can ever foresee a natural disaster. But the after-effects, or the lack of preparation and provision, should not have shown the degree to which he failed them in his representation of their best interests in Congress. The most "stand-up" act he could do is to gracefully resign from office.

That may be a moot point, espeically if he no longer has a district to represent, because it washed away in the Gulf and the survivors have relocated elsewhere into another Congressperson's district.

BUSH LIKES TORTURE

'Nuff said. He's threatening to issue his first veto against legislation that would prohibit the torturing of war prisoners.

Why should any American be surprised? This is the guy who used to stuff lit firecrackers up the anuses of hapless bullfrogs and watch them explode for sport. So, by his threat to veto the Senate bill that passed by a margin of 90-9 (and I want to know who are the nine Senators who agree with Bush that torture is okay), America continues to be a laughing stock on a global scale. No wonder Irish Television Reporter Carole Coleman, stated in an article about her episode in interviewing Bush, that she felt like slapping him.

Here's a way to resolve this: how about those Senators and Congresspersons getting together enough votes to OVERRULE Bush's veto for the first time in this Administration? Better yet, Congress should do this while it's still legal and Constitutional to do so...

ON A DIFFERENT NOTE: I will be guest blogging on my friend, Pesky's blog, better known as the Pesky Fly. Check me out sometime at www.thepeskyfly.blogspot.com.

Oh, yeah, I'll still blog here, too, so you get a double latte shot, LOL.

DO THE OPPOSITE ON THE MIERS NOMINATION

For the past five years (a lifetime, it seems), President Bush has always done the opposite of what he says he's going to do. Need a few examples or reminders? Consider the Patriot Act (strips away freedoms), the Healthy Skies Act (increased pollution) and No Child Left Behind (leaves all kids in public schools at the starting gate, to the point that he's asking Armstrong Williams to return that money he paid him).

Having said that, it's easy to deduct that Supreme Court Justice Nominee Harriet Miers, is either going to vote the way Bush wants her to, or she's a closeted female version of Justice David Souter. And the way the Neo-Conservatives are reacting to Miers' nomination, could her confirmation be worse than Chief Justice John Roberts'? I suspect, if she's confirmed, that she will do what Bush wants until he's out of office, and then, she'll do her own thing.

God works in mysterious ways. Perhaps, He's answering the prayers of the masses by allowing Miers onto the Bench. On the other hand, if you're Antonin Scalia, you have to be royally pissed that Bush passed you over for promotion to Chief Justice. Especially after the trouble you, the late justice Rehnquist, your boy Clarence, your other boy, Kennedy and the soon retiring Sandra Day O'Connor, went through to crap on the Constitution and install him in office back in 2000. Scalia probably thought that the hubris of the Court in voting to virtually install Bush in the Oval Office would be rewarded with a promotion for him. And to all of you who thought that nod was going to Clarence Thomas, I'm here to tell you that the Court's Lawn Jockey was never a consideration, even though Bush dropped a few hints.

As you can tell, I'm still a little bitter that Congress wasn't allowed to do their jobs as required under the Constitution. You know, that little amendment which states in the event that there's no clear cut winner of the Presidential election, all members of Congress are to reconvene and take a majority vote count. Whoever got the majority of votes, becomes President. Since the Supreme Court did as required, we have a substance-abusing President who believes himself to be beholden to NO ONE.

He uses people at his will - it doesn't matter if they're Republican or not. Once their usefulness to him is gone, so are they. The Religious Right is finding this out; apparently Bush woke up one day and realized he wasn't eligible to run for a third term, so he finally connected the dots and decided to go with his good friend, Miers, as the next SCOTUS nominee. The fact that James Dobson is foaming at the mouth over this nomination is all the more reason to perhaps, entertain supporting her nomination to the Bench.

We may want to go on the offensive here - Miers can't be worse than the six conservative justices on the bench now. If someone as unqualified as Clarence Thomas made it to the bench, we shouldn't quibble about the fact that Miers has never been a judge. It simply means any moron can be confirmed to the highest court in the land on a lifetime appointment. The solemnity and reverence that this selection, as well as the Roberts' selection, should have received, is no longer in existance; your only qualification is legally covering up Bush's excrement, time and time again, over the period of a long working legal career.

For the next 20 years, we can look at the Court and be reminded of Bush's incompetence. For that reason, we may want to consider going on the offensive and doing the opposite on Harriet Miers nomination. It may be entertainment to watch the GOP turn into versions of animals who eat their young.

READERS WRITE...GLAD SOMEONE READS THIS BLOG!

I like to give out props to those who read my blog and have enlighted commentary, especially about getting rid of the Democratic Leadership Council. Day by day, I'm encouraged to know that some people aren't buying the DLC's marketing strategies anymore.

The following is from a reader named Matt:

"Part of the problem with Democratic Party, as you seem to acknowledge, is that certain factions like the DLC not only occupy positions of power, but use their positions of power to ensure that newly elected Democrats fit their mold. For example, in 2004 the Dems almost didn't run a candidate against Richard Pombo. Jerry McNerney ran as a write-in candidate on principle, deciding that a Republican creep like Pombo shouldn't get a free pass. And in 2004, the Democratic Party establishment, except for a few notable exceptions like Barbara Lee, didn't give McNerney one red cent or otherwise aid his struggle. However, McNerney showed Richard Pombo was vulnerable. So now Vice Chair of the DLC Ellen Tauscher is running her friend Steve Filson (a former Republican with no political experience, whose only qualification seems to be that his daughter works for Tauscher) against McNerney in the primary. Furthermore, Tauscher has got the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to tacitly support Filson, even though they're supposed to stay neutral until the primary. Part of the reason the DLC is able to do this is that they have created a unified organization that allows Dems of a certain predisposition (i.e. those whose views might be shaped more by campaign cash than by principles) to band together and help one another. Fighting Dems have not yet created the same type of over-arching structure to help each other. It's my hope that progressives in the Bay Area will be able to form a coalition to fight for the soul of the Democratic Party where the fights are occurring, such as CA-11. Those of us who have a Rep like Barbara Lee who speaks for and represents both our interests and our deeper political principals must aid those who yearn for the same. If we don't, no one else will. "

The highlighted paragraph in red says it all. We have to stop looking for the current Democratic Party to act like they're the party that produced JFK, FDR and Truman. The current crop believes that the Buck stops elsewhere, and they vote in accordance with whether or not they feel like being a whore for the Corporate interests. Our leadership cannot be found within that group...but within each and every one of us who believes in values and principles upon which America was founded (as she was intended, anyway).

Keep writing, and send me emails if you don't want to post your comments on the board (I will send an inquiry to see if being forced to create an account in order to post comments can be deleted).

BUSH CONTINUES TO FEED AMERICA BS

And that's SAYING a lot. I've watched this morning's Press Conference, and through the usual smirking at inappropriate times, I came away with the sense that (a) Bush doesn't believe the words that are coming out of his own mouth, but (b) he expects US to believe them. In other words, we're supposed to lap up his particular brand of BS like puppies lap up Alpo.

What happened to that "Political Capital" he allegedly accumulated after the 2004 election he hijacked? Now it's looking more and more like he's maxed out a credit card that he should have never used, and AMERICAN EXPRESS is on the phone demanding payment in FULL. And Bush doesn't have the money to make the payment. But he's arrogant enough to force another Supreme Court nominee down the throats of the American people, while effectively giving the American people the "finger" by being defiant ("We're not leaving IRAQ!") ("The Economy is booming") or ("$2000 is enough for the hurricane victims to have a fresh start...")

All of the above is the most delusional BS I've ever heard in my life. And I know I have a good BS detector, courtesy of my parents, who trained me and my brothers how to detect BS when it's being served.

Face it, most people have very good BS detectors, and if yours is in good working condition, the President's Press Conference should have had your BS detector on OVERLOAD. When will he realize that the American people are not a bunch of plants that you can continue feeding us in the dark and think that we flourish as healthy plants in the daylight. Of course, you still have the 25% of the country that adores being fed BS, especially if it's the POTUS that's doing the feeding. There's nothing you can say; no argument that you can make, that will convince them that the POTUS has been feeding them BS and making them like it.

I mean, you have to love being fed BS if you like the fact that your environment is no cleaner; your chances for a quality education has flown the coop; that your access to medical care or a job with a quality living wage has gone south with the refusal of Congress to pass legislation to guarantee access to medical care when you need it, or with the passage of CAFTA, your job gets sent to Costa Rica without YOU. Or if your wage hasn't kept up with gas at $5 a gallon in most places, which has you paying grocery money to keep the tank on your SUV at half-full.

So much BS is being fed to Americans, we need code words to identify when BS is on the menu. For example, "Judicial Philosophy" translates into "ruling on controversial issues My way".

Or "strict constructionist" translates into "screw what the Constitution says; do it My way".

"Success in Iraq" really translates into "Stop asking me about Iraq; I don't want to admit that we're screwed."

"Healthy Skies" means "breathing polluted air" and so on.

What a country we live in, especially when the President is so delusional that he continues to feed BS to the American People and believes in his insulated world, that the people are lapping it up like, well, a long, tall glass of, well, Kool-Aid. Well, the President, along with Cheney, Rummy, Condi and crew can continue to feed America BS as long as America accepts it. And considering the wimps that are supposed to be the opposition party on Capitol Hill (read: Democrats) have been so infected with DLC rhetoric, they crumple in the face of real opposition, while telling us, the every man or woman, that they're fighting for us. Excuse me, but if your brand of fighting is crumpling like a wilted Kleenex everytime the GOP says "Boo!", I'm willing to take a pass.

That's what the CBC Monitor does - fight back by demanding accountability from elected officials. Or what MoveOn does - put up candidates who will fight back. Or what Bloggers like Steve Gillard, DailyKos and Atrios does - endorse candidates who will say "enough of the BS!"

Bush can continue to feed America BS if he wants (and he will do so at every opportunity). But just because he can feed it to Americans doesn't mean we have to eat it...

Unless you're that 25% of the country who loves being fed BS on a steady diet. May God taking a liking to you, because you're too far gone to go off your diet.

LEAD, FOLLOW AND GET OUT OF THE WAY

To quote from the day's reading of "Our Daily Bread" - "...Leaders must know where they are going. As go the leaders, so go the followers..."

For those of you who gave into your fear of terrorism and believed George Bush would keep you safe, how are you feeling? Did you see how he handled the natural disaster called Hurricane Katrina? His slow response resulted in thousands of people dying. Tell me how does that make you feel safe? The next natural disaster, especially if you're a person of color, could be YOU, and knowing how GeeDubya really feels about people of color, you can't be feeling safe. In fact, you should be downright scared out of your wits, espeically if you thought his proclaiming to be a Christian was going to play a role in keeping you safe.

Of course, Jesus can keep you safer than GeeDubya - but if He came on the Scene right now, I bet Karl Rove would have him shot and killed because it's not time for His return (according to Tim LaHaye, Jim Dobson and Pat "the Assassin" Robertson).

Or that his incompetent former head of FEMA, Michael Brown, had the audacity to climb up on Capitol Hill yesterday and basically cuss out lawmakers who wanted to know what the hell happened, and why didn't he do his job. Well, in order to perform required job duties, it goes without saying that one must have job qualifications, doesn't it. And yet, through his testimony, Brown continues to demonstrate that breathless degree of incompetency. He even got awarded a consultant contract to tell us how he jacked up the job he was charged to do, and get a fat check for his trouble.

As Don King would say "ONLY IN AMERICA". God, what a country!

Oh, I'm sorry; I confused common sense and its application with the Clinton Administration. Common sense has no role in the Bush Administration; and job qualifications is an anathema to those in charge in this neck of the woods. My bad.

Additionally, Brown stated that the slow response to Katrina victims wasn't his fault - that damned Ray Nagin and Kathleen Blanco should have had their act together. Well, they did, but they were waiting for the government to get off the pot. And if there were conflicts between Nagin and Blanco, Brown represented the friggin' GOVERNMENT and by virtue of that authority, he could supercede and intervene in the turf war going on! In other words, Brown had the authority to knock Nagin and Blanco's heads together and tell them "Pull your crap together so we can get about the business of evacuating people and saving their lives!"

I so hate to play the race/class/status cards here, but play them I must; I can't help but believe that since the media is so drunk to the point of willing conspirators in the dealings of the Bush Administration, that the government's foot-dragging was deliberate. I can't help but believe that some in the Administration were hoping that the poor, African-American, elderly, would just friggin' drown and that it would go unnoticed. What the government was NOT counting on was the very essence of humanity and human response to the suffering of other human beings. That human response transcended race, class and status. It was something that cannot be spun for a good sound bite, or a good photo-op. Katrina tore the sheets off of the cover up and the government was shown in all of it's naked embarrassment. And the subsequent response to Hurricane Rita further highlighted that your race/class/status is going to determine how fast the government responds to your plight - so a quick response to Rita merely exacerbated what happened to victims of Katrina on a higher scale.

Those of you in the DLC; you aspire to be like this bunch? You still want to dance with them, knowing their leadership ability is non-existant, less than ZERO? You still want to play "bi-partisanship" with them, knowing that they will stomp you into the ground each and every chance they get? If so, you deserve to go down on that sinking ship which they command at this very moment. You know who you are, so stop trying to hide behind real Democrats because they are so few in number that you can't hide, even though you are doing your level best to run away from your collaboration with the spawns of Satan.

As go the leaders, so go the followers. Is it any wonder that America has become a laughing stock on a global scale and since the President has nowhere to hide, and no one to blame his own incompetence on, he's taken up the bottle again? Is it a coincidence that Cheney hid out in a hospital while the response to Rita was underway?

As go the Leaders, so goes the followers. But since we see how the Government is leading America, it's time for them to stop leading; for us to quit following their incompetent behinds and get them out of the way so real competency can be placed in leadership positions where they are needed. The cronyism and incompetency of the government leaders will be the death of us all if we don't.

CONNECT THE DOTS - MEL WATT

In following up the previous post, I discussed the reaction of Rep. Mel Watt to the CBC Report Card. After some discussion with those who are well-placed around Capitol Hill, I began to play the game known as "Connect-the-Dots".

If you have had a chance to read the CBC Monitor's Legislative Report Card (http://www.blackcommentator.com/151/151_cover_cbc_monitor.html), then you know that Rep. Watt himself earned a passing grade of "A". A review of his voting record which covered the nine "bright line" legislative votes indicated that he voted consistently in favor of legislation that would have positive results for his district and others. So, I was very curious after he had a very public "meltdown" when questioned about the Report Card and his vigorous defense of two of the seven lawmakers who received "F" in their representation in Congress.

What I learned at CBC Legislative Weekend was that the event itself, as well as the different receptions given by the lawmakers, with some exceptions, were financed or sponsored by Corporations, such as Lockheed-Martin, Wal-Mart and others. Many of these corporations are large donors to these lawmakers as well. So for any of the seven "Derelicts" to take a principled stance in supporting good legislation for their districts, they would endanger their political contributions in 2006. Additionally, because two of the "derelict" lawmakers hold DLC positions that are responsible for funneling money to Congressional campaigns in 2006 (William Jefferson and Albert Wynn) it became apparent that Rep. Watt, while not openly feeding at the corporate trough, may have corporate contributions being funneled to him through Jefferson and Wynn's positions in the DCCC. It may be speculation on my part, but it's a strong suspicion as to why Watt would jump to their defense when he knows that their votes on bad legislation was wrong and he should have utilized his position as CBC Chair to call them on it.

So, although Watt received a high grade for his actual performance as a lawmaker, his undercover connections appear to render that grade as a pseudo-high performance. It is treasonous to allow seven lawmakers to vote against their constituents' best interests because they are addicted to corporate cash, and not be their conscience to call upon them to do what is right. Watt's meltdown on last Friday afternoon indicated that not only is he derelict in his leadership of the CBC by allowing the actions of the failing lawmakers to continue without calling them on it, he is complicit and a co-conspirator against constituencies who can ill afford to have such representation in Congress at such a critical time in America.

For this reason, I had to play "Connect-the-Dots". And I don't like the path upon which I was led as a result. You won't, either.

THE FAILURES OF THE DLC

There are many, many failures of the Democratic Leadership Council; yet none more noteworthy than the seven members of the Congressional Black Caucus who were assigned failing grades in their performance as lawmakers, by an African-American watchdog group, known as the Congressional Black Caucus Monitor (CBC Monitor). It was not surprising that all seven members are also card-carrying DLC members; what's important to note is that these members believe that Blacks shouldn't be critical, or critique other Blacks who are in leadership positions, and therefore, they cried "foul" to their Chair, Rep. Mel Watt, who dismissed this group as nothing more than "damned bloggers".

The CBC Monitor is not a group of bloggers; far from it. They are scholars and political activists, from all walks of political affiliation, who grew alarmed at the frequency with which the CBC allowed these seven members, known as "Derelicts of the CBC" to consistently vote against their constituents' best interests, by voting in favor of passing bills such as the Bankruptcy Bill, Estate Tax Repeal, Energy, and CAFTA. This group of lawmakers thought that their being African-American would hide the dereliction of their performance as members of Congress, particularly when all of them represent poor districts which are majority African-American. They thought they could vote for such egregious legislation without fear of reprisal or impunity by their leadership. They were wrong.

Perhaps the CBC Chair didn't want to hold them accountable, but the sense at the Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Weekend by attendees was nearly 100% in support of a methodology that would serve the Black Caucus notice that they are being watched and there is expectation of relevant leadership and representation from its members. The reaction of Rep. Watt and these seven "flunking" lawmakers clearly indicate just how out of touch they are with reality and their constituencies. Thanks to the Black Commentator, everyone knows of their dereliction of duty and their failing performance as lawmakers. Read about the CBC Monitor's efforts and download their report card here:http://www.blackcommentator.com/151/151_cover_cbc_monitor.html.

The results of the Report Card were so startling, one lawmaker canceled his legislative forum and all of his events during the entire weekend, while hiding out from constituents wanting answers. You get one guess as to who said lawmaker is. I'll give you a hint: he's aspiring for higher office in 2006 and is a Fox News Media Darling. Though after Fox finds out about his grade by the CBC Monitor, it may be touch and go as to whether or not Fox stands behind their man, or they suddenly consider him radioactive...

I'm proud to say that I helped out with the project of the Report Card, and I got no pleasure in singling out Black lawmakers that are failing their constituencies, and in turn, failing the country in their representation in the U. S. House of Representatives. Like any medicine with a foul taste, you don't like taking it when you're sick, but you take it because once you get past the foul taste, you start to feel better. Hopefully, when the Congressional Black Caucus has a chance to digest the medicine administered by the CBC Monitor, they will realize that we didn't come to harm them, but to help them and in turn, help ourselves and the communities where we live and whom they represent. In other words, they should take their medicince so they can get well.

And those who refuse to take their medicine need to be extracted like you would cancerous tissues affecting the body. Permanently. And it doesn't help that they are DLC members, which exacerbates their diseased condition...