Liberty And Justice For All...

The Saturday Post 10/27/07

2007-10-27T06:20:00.000-07:00

One step closer to liberty and justice? Former defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld was
hit with a torture lawsuit. Hopefully he will prosecuted as he should be. Let's pray that it doesn't end like the Libby case.

Speaking of torture, where are those torture documents that we want to see? Oh that's right, Mr. Bush is still keeping them a secret from the public. Is it too much to ask for honesty and transparency in the government?

After detainees are tortured, what happens to them then? Nobody knows. The 'inmates' from the torturous prisons of our corrupt government have disappeared without a trace. We just can't trust the idiots running our country anymore. Want another good reason not to? Read on . . .

FEMA staged a press conference with their employees posing as reporters. The Agency's number two official recently apologized, but much like everything else coming from this corrupt government, the apology can not be trusted or believed to be sincere. It's just like that old adage-- FEMA isn't sorry for what they did, FEMA is sorry they got caught.

A fine example that politicians are out of touch with real Americans. Democrats, who are supposed to be the ones championing the working class, are planning to shorten their work week in Washington. I don't believe that these people can truly understand the struggles of America's working class if they live with all of these ridiculous luxuries and privileges. They are getting paid more than most Americans who work maybe six or seven days a week and work several jobs. Why does this not add up? We elected them to do their job and we are sure paying them plenty, so it is time that they be mature and actually work.

Be sure to check out Serj Tankian's new CD, Elect The Dead. Music with a great progressive message!

Just A Little Hypocrisy To Make You Laugh . . .

2007-10-26T20:33:00.000-07:00

I have a younger brother who is currently in elementary school. Bringing home his updates and list of school sponsored activities, I couldn't help but notice that what used to be referred to as their annual "Halloween" party, is now called the "Fall Festival." I later found out that the school's reason for changing the name is because of various complaints from parents of students because their religious beliefs were against Halloween. I just think it is funny that Christian fundamentalists and right-wing wackos will ardently defend Christian prayer and Christmas celebrations within the public school system, but will just as whole-heartedly try to destroy the fun that children have in the name of Halloween or Harry Potter or any other such thing that they don't like.

Just a random thought that I had that I felt like sharing with you all. I felt like venting for a little before bed. Tomorrow, I will be doing the Saturday posting, which will feature the more serious side of this blog. Hope to see you then!

Too Funny To Ignore

2007-10-16T15:03:00.000-07:00

Well, the right-wing has raised the bar to a new level of stupidity which none of us could have even imagined existed. Fearing the possibility of another President Clinton, the Republicans have decided to slander Hillary Clinton and accuse her of breaking the law.

The humorous part comes in when you take into account these two things:
1. They are basing their entire argument on a book (Her Way: The Hopes and Ambitions of Hillary Rodham Clinton) written by two uninformed, politically biased, right-wing idiots from The New York Times.

And now for the funniest part . . .

2. The crime they are accusing her of is that she supposedly listened into a political opponent's phone call (a claim which has absolutely no proof or even a shred of credible evidence, by the way).

The most ridiculous thing about this argument is that it is coming from Republicans-- the very same party that is famous for illegal wiretapping, forcing phone companies to give up our private information, reading our emails, etc.

I'm telling you, the lies that come from the right get worse and worse every day. I find it despicable that people would lie about Hillary being involved in a crime (which supposedly happened fifteen years ago) when they have no proof. Which reminds me, the last time I checked, slander is illegal. Maybe we should bring this issue up against the right-wing. And if we do, hopefully we won't wait fifteen years to do so . . .

And while I'm thinking about it, someone at the New York Times should definitely do something about Don Van Natta Jr. and Jeff Gerth, the authors of the piece of garbage book, "Her Way." People responsible for something like this should not be trusted to report honest and fair news to the public.

Yet Again

2007-10-14T10:03:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody! As I look back on my last post from May, promising regular posting that was never delivered, all I can say is that I am deeply sorry for not delivering new posts. The reason I have not posted in such a long time is because it became more like a chore and put a pressure on me that I didn't like. So, I've come up with a solution to the problem. I'll deliver a new post every Saturday. That's the only promise I can make for now-- a new post every Saturday. And I'm sure that once I begin posting on Saturdays, it will become my hobby again and you may start seeing much more posting throughout the week.

Although I haven't been blogging, that doesn't mean that I've been politically dormant in these last few months. I've been very busy getting involved in activism on a local and national level. So I've still have lots to talk about.

Well, I have to get going. I've got some work here that needs to be finished. Thanks for reading. Come back on Saturday!!!!!

POSTING BEGINS!!!

2007-05-11T13:58:00.000-07:00

Okay everyone, I know that I'm a little bit behind on my promise to begin posting at the end of April. hehehe. But Posting will begin tomorrow. Please let me know if you have any thoughts or comments.

Progressive American

Another Update

2007-04-16T12:41:00.000-07:00

Hello everybody. As you may have read on The Peace Tree, the future of the Tree is unclear. However, today I proposed an idea to Kim, the moderator and owner of the Tree, about getting all of the Tree's contributing authors to contribute to another blog, that I would moderate, if she did decide to shut down the Tree.

In the email I sent to her, I made it clear that I would not start the new blog if she did not agree with the idea. Since she is the one who started the Tree, I wanted her blessing on the new blog before I begin working on it.

I am still awaiting her response. I will keep you posted on further updates or you can check the Tree for any further info at www.thepeacetree.blogspot.com

Don't forget to come back here on April 30th when regular posting will begin again!

JUST TA LET YA KNOW . . .

2007-03-15T13:17:00.000-07:00

Posting AND UPDATES will begin again on a daily basis on April 30th. Thanks for visiting and come back on April 3oth for great new posts!

What's Happening 2/6/07

2007-02-06T06:59:00.001-08:00

GOP locks Senate debate on Iraq resolution- A new low for Republicans. Over 3,000 soldiers are dead and the Republicans don't even want to talk about it. However, this isn't the first time that something like this has happened-- back when slavery was a big issue, Congress instituted a "gag rule" so that the topic wouldn't be allowed to come up and slavery could not be outlawed. This is basically what the Republicans are doing right now with this whole situation in Iraq.

Bush is now being more cautious on Iraqi Prime Minister- Basically, Bush planning to use Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, as a scape-goat for when his plan fails. Mark my words . . .

Bush's war on health care- After seeing Bush's plan, it would seem as if though he doesn't want Americans to have decent health care. Among many horrible attacks on health care, Bush want to cut $66 billion dollars from Medicare spending. Bush didn't stop there, he followed that huge cut in health care funding by cutting billions more from other forms of health care-- all so that he could use the money for the war in Iraq!

America: The Savage Nation?

2007-02-06T06:37:00.000-08:00

Yesterday on his nationally syndicated radio show, ultra-conservative Michael Savage stated that he is "mulling" a Presidential run in 2008. He pointed out an article on Newsmax.com in which he had been interviewed about his possible Presidential run.

If Michael Savage runs for America's highest office, it will be the biggest threat to civil liberties, freedom, opportunity, and equality that America has ever faced.

What's Happening: 2/2/07

2007-02-02T14:22:00.000-08:00

Bush wants $245 billion more.

Al Franken will announce his political plans for a Senate run on Valentine's Day.

Defense Secretary Gates says that there are no plans to start war with Iran. While he might deny it, investigations show that the US government has been planning to start war with Iran for six years.

Even though the Bush "Administration" praises a report by the world's top scientists that says that man is responsible for global warming, he still opposes mandatory reductions of heat-trapping gases that help warm the climate.

A new Bush budget would cut domestic programs. Once again, Bush puts more effort into his war than he does trying to help the American people.

What's Happening: 1/26/07

2007-01-26T04:39:00.000-08:00

Mr. Bush has authorized troops to kill Iranian operatives.
If that isn't enough, US trainers watch a brutal beating and don't do ANYTHING about it!

Bush has forever lost the public's trust.

Ya gotta love Obama. Yesterday, he called for universal health care.
He'll make a strong candidate. Unlike Kerry's '04 campaign, Obama is fighting back at lies already. He recently debunked a lie that he was educated at a radical Islamic school in Indonesia when he was a child.

Bush is going to ask Congress for 10.6 billion dollars for "aid" to Afghanistan. But, Condoleezza Rice admits that only $2 billion will go to help rebuild Afghanistan and the rest would be for "security" purposes. And we all know what "security" means to Bush. This 10.6 billion dollars would be just another fund for the war in Iraq.

14 more troops are killed.

What's Happening: 1/25/07

2007-01-25T14:08:00.000-08:00

Don't fall for it: The Bush "Administration" will give many excuses and all kinds of different reasons why we need to invade Iran. However, Bush has been planning to attack Iran for six years.

More hypocrisy: General David H. Petraeus is planning to carry out Bush's agenda. However, what he said needed to be done is exactly the opposite of Bush's plan. Hmmmm . . .

BREAKIN' THE LAW: Even though the Senate Foreign Relations Committee rejected Bush's plan for Iraq, Dick Cheney responded with "The President has made his decision . . . We need to get the job done." Bush is once again going to go against the rules and claim more power than he actually has. This is disgusting. The last time I checked-- AMERICA ISN'T SUPPOSED IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE RULED BY A DICTATOR!

BREAKIN' THE LAW: Here is another disturbing case in which Mr. Bush is attempting to ignore the Constitution and claim more power than he actually has. Right now, Bush is trying to appoint a U.S. attorney without even trying to get Senate approval. Luckily, an attorney from Arkansas is trying to fight Mr. Bush's blatant disregard for the Constitution and the law.

'08 RACE UPDATE: As if the 2008 Presidential race isn't heating up enough, talk of drafting Al Gore to the race now emerges. I gotta say, Gore for President isn't the worst idea.

'08 RACE UPDATE: Speaking of the 2008 election, here is an alternate viewpoint about Hillary Clinton: Hillary for President? . . . by Cindy Sheehan. Cindy does have a point here . . .

'08 RACE UPDATE:

2007-01-24T13:34:00.000-08:00

John Kerry ruled out an '08 Presidential run. However, he is seeking a sixth term in the Senate.

They Don't Trust Him

2007-01-22T13:45:00.000-08:00

Just a brief bit of info that I just had to post:

A Washington Post-ABC News poll shows that the public trusts Democrats in congress more than they trust Mr. Bush to deal with with the Iraq "quagmire"1 by a margin of 60% to 33%.

1. "quagmire" - Dick Cheney April 29, 1991 describing what an invasion and occupation of Iraq would be like.

The First 42 Hours

2007-01-20T10:43:00.000-08:00

Within the first 100 hours of congress, Democrats promised to:

1. Make the government more accountable and honest
2. Implement the recommendations of the 9/11 commission
3. Raise the minimum wage and make the economy fairer
4. Make health care affordable for all Americans (fix the Medicare prescription drug program, lower drug prices to help seniors, etc.) and to promote stem-cell research
5. Cut interest rates on student loans in half
6. Stop big-oil interests from receiving tax-payer funds
7. Fight the privatization of Social Security, and "guarantee a dignified retirement"

They accomplished all of these things within the FIRST 42 HOURS!

Every goal put forth on the agenda by Democrats, so far, has been achieved. Democrats have done more for the American people in 42 hours than Republicans did during their entire time of congress domination.

While Republicans would have been busy on an anti-gay tirade, Democrats worked to help the American people. What a difference it made! Thanks to the Democrats, the lives of millions of Americans will be much better.

Because of the Democrats, ethics laws have been passed which will stop the corruption by rich corporations, and keep lobbyists from interfering with legislation.

By implementing the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, Democrats have made our nation much safer.

Because Democrats have raised the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour, 13 million Americans are now making more money.

Democrats have passed a bill that requires Medicare to negotiate lower prescription drug prices, which will help senior citizens who are having trouble paying for necessary medication.

Democrats have cut interest on student loans from 6.8% to 3.4%, making college more affordable and accessible to Americans.

Thanks to the Democrats, bills have been passed that stop tax-payers from having to foot the bill for big-oil interests. Click here to read about the legislation (which has been passed).

Republicans have never done that much for American people. The only people they have done anything for are their rich buddies.

'08 RACE UPDATE:

2007-01-20T09:40:00.000-08:00

Just a brief update on the 2008 Presidential race:

Hillary Clinton is jumping into the race

"I'm in. And I'm in to win," she said on her official website.

She has officially formed an exploratory committee.

I guess we can start the party now. She is considered the front runner in the race. Which is good. I was telling someone earlier that I don't really think winning will be a problem for the Democratic Party in '08. Our biggest challenge will be deciding who to nominate between all of the great people running-- Kucinich, Edwards, Obama, and now Hillary!

Republicans: We Don't Need No Stinking Ethics!

2007-01-19T12:45:00.000-08:00

The very same people who ran a 2004 campaign on morals and values are now voting against ethics reform bills.

Yes, apparently Republicans think that God belongs in our government but good ethics don't.

What's wrong with the new ethics reform bill? Here is how theWashington Post described the bill:

The Senate legislation, hailed by proponents as the most significant ethics reform since Watergate, would ban gifts, meals and travel funded by lobbyists, and would force lawmakers to attach their names to special-interest provisions and pet projects that they slip into bills. Lawmakers would have to pay charter rates on corporate jets, not the far-cheaper first-class rates they pay now.

That sounds great. So, why are Republicans voting against it? Because they have an obligation to their corporate masters who are helping them run this country, that's why! Bust still, you would think that the Republicans, in all of their "morals and values" would support this bill. But I guess not.

We see it time and time again--hypocrisy from the Republican party. Very sad indeed . . .

Bush vs. Bush on China

2007-01-18T13:54:00.000-08:00

China has used a ground missile to blow up one of its satellites in space. This has already been criticized by the National Security Counsel. They said is poses threats. Poses threats huh? Why is it not okay for China to do this but Mr. Bush has been pushing for "missile defense" since his 2000 campaign? Hmmm . . .

And here is another thought . . . who's fault is it that China has developed this kind of stuff? Well, since Mr. Bush refused to put any restrictions on the market and would not stop China imports, the U.S. is to blame for a large portion of the money that they were able to put toward this kind of stuff.

This kind of hypocrisy is unbelievable.

Today's Stuff

2007-01-17T13:43:00.000-08:00

'08 RACE UPDATE: John Kerry might be jumping into the '08 race. His recent actions make it seem obvious, but Kerry's spokesman seems to be trying to keep the public in the dark.

Well, I've been going on and on about the '08 race, but that's not the purpose of this blog. So, to keep you all from getting annoyed with my constant jibber-jabber about the '08 election, here is some other stuff that was in the news today . . .

The NSA and it's illegal wiretapping program will now be overseen by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. I just love how Bush and his corrupt conservative cronies have long criticized this court. God forbid something get in Bush's way of breaking the law for personal gain!

Democrats are keeping their word and are getting to work on Iraq. Senator Chris Dodd (D-Conn) is seeking legislation that will fire back at Bush's ridiculous troop surge. Kudos to Senator Dodd.

After Bush heartlessly cut $12.7 billion from student loan funds, Democrats are stepping up to help college students by supporting legislation that would cut the interest on loans in half.

Jumping Into The Race

2007-01-16T12:55:00.000-08:00

Barack Obama might be jumping into the 2008 Presidential race . . .
click here to go to the official website.

Also, John Edwards has officially decided to run and has already started the campaign.

These are two very strong and spectacular candidates, either of which would make a spectacular President. I wish them both the best of luck.

However, we are still waiting for Hillary's official announcement. Even before Obama started his Exploratory Committee, it was said that his likelihood to run would put pressure on Clinton to hurry up with her decision. This is suspected to be the reason why cancelled important meetings within a few minutes of Obama's announcement to form an exploratory committee.

My advice to my fellow Democrats is to start this race off right and not fight with each other. A party divided against itself cannot stand. And that has already started with a heated argument and attacks between Clinton and Edwards.

In other news on the 2008 race, Dennis Kucinich is also going to run. He is another great Democratic candidate. You can view his campaign site here.

DAILY POSTING WILL BEGIN 1/17!

It's Gonna Be A Very Happy New Year Indeed

2007-01-04T13:42:00.000-08:00

2007 looks like it's going to be a pretty good year. Democrats have already made their plan for their first actions. The plan is good. The Washington Post put it very nicely:

[The] newly sworn-in Democratic Congress will immediately begin work on new ethics rules, the reinstitution of federal deficit controls and new policies designed to increase civility in House proceedings. In the coming weeks, Democrats plan to pass bills designed to raise the minimum wage, lower prescription drug costs for Medicare recipients and interest rates for student borrowers, bolster homeland security and boost alternative energy research.

That sounds pretty good right? Yes, it sounds wonderful. Finally somebody is doing something.

But let's not get to cocky just because they are Democrats. Democrats can make mistakes too. Luckily, the hard-core liberals and leftists will keep them in line. According to The Post, liberals are demanding that something be done about the war in Iraq, that torture be stopped, and that civil liberties are protected. After demonstrations, there will be an evening forum in support of Bush's impeachment. The forum will be led by none other than peace hero, Cindy Sheehan.

Hopefully the forum will get somewhere. Let's just hope that Democrats heed the voice of these people and justice is carried out. So far, the Democrats have put forth a great plan and the people are speaking out in support of it.

Thoughts On The Saddam Hanging . . .

2006-12-29T22:30:00.000-08:00

As I stated on The Peace Tree a while back, it seemed a bit funny that the verdict and sentencing of Saddam Hussein took place right before the election. You know that Bush had his hand in Saddam's murder. I just think that it is terrible and hypocritical that we will kill someone as punishment for murder. Mr. Bush has killed more people than Saddam Hussein has-- he (Mr. Bush) has killed 2,983 American troops, at least 52,060 innocent Iraqi civillians, and he holds the record for the most executions by any governor in the history of the United States (and some of the people who were executed were mentally disabled). Mr. Bush is far more dangerous than Saddam ever was or would have been.

Of course all of the right-wing wackjobs will be celebrating the hanging of Saddam. I just think it is sad that they don't know any better. When will people learn that killing for profit is wrong whether it be killing the leader of a foreign country, the people of that country, or our own troops?

Thinkin' About Ignorance

2006-12-20T12:09:00.000-08:00

As I lay in bed last night, the only thing on my mind was sorrow for the poor men and women who are going to be sent to Iraq next. I just couldn't stop thinking about how Bush is continuing to feed us all that 'we need to stay the course in Iraq' crap. Everyone knows that we don't need to stay there. That's why only 28% of Americans approve of his handling in Iraq.

As I thought about it last night and today, it occurred to me that Bush seems to be the only one who wants to promote the Iraq war. There are so many things that are proving him wrong that it just makes me laugh. First the Iraq Study Group says that we can, should, and need to pull out of Iraq, several studies show that there is no threat and that we should bring troops home, 72% of the active troops think that they need to be brought home and they've begun to start petitions and speak out against the war, most Americans oppose it, and now Colin Powell says that the "active army is nearly broken."

So even though it has been proven by studies that the best option is to pull out of Iraq, Bush insists on sending more troops. Even Rumsfeld has always been reluctant of the idea of sending more troops. The only person on Bush's side anymore is Bush.

So in early 2007, more troops will be sent to Iraq (if Bush gets his way). But he really doesn't have reason to care. He's using our troops to pay for his oil. "What's a few thousand lives matter I can get richer?" seems to be his mindset.

I just think it is very sad that when it is clear that most Americans, soldiers, and politicians (including Bush's own supporters) are against the war, Bush is still feeding us the same BS lies. This country is growing closer and closer to a dictatorship each day.

Thanks for reading while I vented those thoughts.

The Conservative Voice Is A Bitter One . . .

2006-12-15T12:34:00.000-08:00

The Conservative Voice, a conservative news website, ran an article yesterday entitled Hillary Clinton Struck By Lightening. The article is another one of the right's pathetic attempts to bash Hillary Clinton. I just had to laugh at how churlish and evil these conservatives can actually be. Here are some of the things that the article had to say about Hillary Clinton:

Hillary Clinton is the embodiment of every divorced man's first nightmare. The witch that pointed her finger at them, scoldingly as if talking to a child, or a moron. She is the epitome of the opposite of all things feminine, of all things soft, kind, and alluring. She is the reason why a man divorces his first wife.

Pretty harsh words coming from the people of "moral values" huh? Well, it didn't stop there. The article went on to say:

Will anyone vote for Hillary? Yes. Lesbians will vote for her because she reminds them of themselves. A handful of bratty Scarsdale Lib housewives whose entire life revolves around the pre-school soccer practice schedule will vote for her.

And the best part of the article . . .

They [the conservatives] better take advantage of the situation and run Duncan Hunter. No Dem can outwit Duncan. ...little old ladies from Miami will vote for Duncan because he will not put their granddaughters on the front lines; Hillary will.

Why is that part so great? Because of the praise Amy Barath (the author of the trash-talking conservative article) gives Duncan Hunter, a Republican congressman from California. "No Dem can outwit Duncan." I just think it is so funny that the article goes on and on about how bad Hillary is, and then praises Hunter despite his background. Background? Oh, yes the dreaded "b-word" in politics. When I looked up Duncan Hunter's backgound, I found it to be full of fraud and scandals, which is not uncommon for a Republican. Here is what I dug up on Duncan:

* Duncan had his house listed on the tax rolls as a two-bedroom, 2 and a half bathroom house that was around 2,946 square feet. It was a lie. That home was actually a six bedroom house with around 6,200 square feet of living space. Included on the property was a 2,000 square foot guest house, a tennis court, and of course a pool.1

* The San Diego Union Tribune ran an article about the house in question in October (2006). In December, the house suspiciously burned down.2 (Whether you look at this as a coincidence or not is up to you, but you cannot ignore the fact that he was cheating to get lower taxes)

* Connection to the Cunningham scandal3

Well there ya have it. I think that The Conservative Voice might want to get their facts straight before they post another article like Hillary Clinton Struck By Lightening. But the truth is-- that article that was written in The Conservative Voice because the conservatives feel threatened. They are scared that Hillary--or Barack Obama, who is also mentioned in the article--has a chance at winning the 2008 Presidential race. The conservatives know that they are dying out. And as Michael Moore says, we should actually feel sorry for them instead of being angry.

Sources and further information:
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duncan_Hunter#Size_of_home_and_taxes_paid
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duncan_Hunter#Size_of_home_and_taxes_paid
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duncan_Hunter#Connection_to_Cunningham_scandal

The Newest Assault On Freedom Of Speech

2006-12-14T12:13:00.000-08:00

First of all, I just want to say that I apologize for not posting for a few days. My computer wasn't functioning properly and I was unable to sign online. However, the computer is fixed and regular posting will continue. So, to begin posting again, here is "The Newest assault On Freedom Of Speech . . . "

Filmmaker, Oliver Stone, is being fined by the US government. Why? Because he made Comandante, a film about Fidel Castro. According the the government, the making of Comandante, in which Stone meets with and interviews Fidel, is a violation of America's "economic embargo" against Cuba.

Because Stone used his freedom of speech, he is having to pay a $6,300 fine.

Isn't it funny that no one in the mainstream "liberal media" has reported this? Luckily, Granma, the Communist party daily newspaper in Cuba, reported on this whole incident:

The message, obviously, is directed against all those who, defending their right to the liberty of creation and expression, want to objectively reflect the island's reality.

This is a new low for the US government. Unfortunately, this kind of thing is not unusual in the dictatorship that America is becoming and this is just one of the many attempts by the US government at trying to hinder freedom of speech.

What's next? We're not allowed to travel to Cuba?

And while I'm on the subject I just want to wish Mr. Fidel Castro well-- Get Well Soon, Fidel!

SHE'S RUNNING . . .

2006-12-05T12:53:00.000-08:00

Today, the New York Post reported that Hillary Clinton will be running for President in 2008. Hillary, who is now hiring a national fund-raising director, a senior campaign spokesman, and a key operative, told a New York lawmaker over the phone that she is 'really going to go for this.'
Finally, the cat's outta the bag. If Hillary gets nominated, this could be a great victory for the Democratic Party. She also has the support of Senator Barack Obama (D-Illinois). Obama, who has a slightly (or significantly higher) 'electability' factor than Hillary, might give Hillary an extra boost. I believe it would be a wise decision for Hillary to make Obama her running mate, which is very possible. It is the perfect combination. They are both "moderate" left-wingers who have very similar stances on the issues. The fact that people love Obama, and the fact that Hillary's supporters are loyal and devoted would almost guarantee a win. The first woman President and the first black Vice President. What a great step that would be for America's future. Not to mention a victory for justice, considering that Obama and Hillary greatly support doing what's right. And as a bonus, this would be a great way to tick off the right-wingers.

Whoever Hillary does chose to be her running mate, she has my full support. Hillary 2008!

What's Wrong With Hillary?

2006-12-04T17:55:00.000-08:00

AOL recently did a poll asking people to grade Hillary's 'electability' for President in 2008. The majority of the people gave her an "F." For the longest time, I've been trying to figure out what people, especially people who call themselves Democrats, have against Hillary. I'll admit, I'm not a moderate. Far from it. I'm as progressive and as far left as one could possibly get. Yet, I'll say that Hillary, a "moderate," would be a great choice. She's pro-choice, for affirmative action, gay rights, believes in the separation of church and state, her views on health care are good, she is staunchly against the privatization of social security, very much against vouchers, she does not believe in the death penalty, she is a very big advocate of gun control, and she understands that the wealthy do have the ability and an obligation to pay more taxes to help those less fortunate. That's not all . . . She supports immigrant rights, she is for fair trade, she knows that the Patriot Act puts our civil liberties at risk, she is for stricter campaign restrictions, and despite her controversial comments on Iraq, her voting record shows that she supports immediate redeployment, and thinks the war is wrong. She has a good record when it comes to alternatives to coal and oil, and she is against the drug war. That sounds like a great candidate and a great leader to me. She is farther to the left than her husband was and he made it to Presidency. Then why can't she? I would really love to know what people have against her. Please send me your comments or email me at Chipps54@aol.com If you email me, put "Hillary" in the subject box. Your thoughts are greatly appreciated.

Preserve Net Neutrality!

2006-11-30T12:12:00.000-08:00

Net Neutrality is in danger. This is a concern to you. Do you realize that the fact that you are reading this is because Network Neutrality exists. Net Neutrality is what protects online freedom. Right now, congress is getting ready to vote on either keeping network neutrality or getting rid of it. To see how this affects you, click here.

As you can see, some people do not like Internet freedom. Especially AT&T CEO, Ed "The Internet can't be free" Whitacre. Why would AT&T be against Internet freedom? Well, for one, getting rid of Net Neutrality would put even more power in their hands. And for another, because of Internet freedom, bloggers like me can point out that AT&T has formed illegal contracts with spammers and broken the law while invading the privacy of their customers.

Guess who else would benefit from the abolition of Net Neutrality? All of the corporate giants. Look up some of this country's top businesses and corporations, you'll see that they don't exactly have a perfect record either. Are these crooks the kind of people you want running the Internet? If not, support Net Neutrality.

Rangel Lost His Noodles!

2006-11-22T11:33:00.000-08:00

Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D- N.Y.) recently called for a reinstatement of the draft. According to Rangel, reinstating the draft would force politicians to think harder before sending troops to war.

Mr. Rangel, let me explain something to you . . . THEY DON'T CARE! When Bush knew that we didn't have enough troops, he still sent them and all of the crooked Republicans backed him up on it. When the death count of American troops reached one thousand, they still didn't care. When the death count reached two thousand, they still didn't care. While most Americans are beginning to speak out and say that they want to see their loved ones come home, they still don't care. When a poll shows that 72% of the troops think that they need to be brought back within the next year, Rumsfeld orders to send 57,000 more troops to Iraq throughout 2007 (which just goes to show that they still don't care).

Currently, 2,867 troops are dead and the Republicans are not giving it a second thought. They never will. The only thought that consumes them is money. Most Americans realized that, which is why they voted in a new Democratic majority. We, the Democrats, are supposed to be the good guys. Reinstating the draft is not going to make Republicans think any harder before sending troops, all it is going to do is give them more troops to send.

Rangel, you were voted in to look out for our best interests. If you are willing to promote something like a draft, you do not deserve the good title of Democrat. Democrats don't support things like the draft. Real Democrats hate the draft.

Luckily and not surprisingly, House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi and other key Democrats have completely rejected the idea of reinstating the draft.

Education Is A Right!

2006-11-22T11:02:00.000-08:00

Currently in this country, education is viewed as a privilege, not a right. That needs to change. Recently, a petition has been brought to my attention concerning education. This petition is in support of a constitutional amendment stating that good, high-quality education is a right and will be provided to all who need it. To sign the petition or find out more, click here.

Spending What We Don't Have

2006-11-17T18:15:00.000-08:00

Mr. Bush has recently asked for 127 billion dollars to spend on the war in Iraq for the year of 2007. If that isn't bad enough, 70 billion dollars has already been approved for military spending in 2007. Anywhere from 127 billion to 160 billion dollars could be added to that if the new proposed budget is approved. It has been reported that any additional funds to the current Iraq war could make the total spending on Iraq pass the total amount of spending on the Vietnam war.

Plus, has anyone heard the news that The United States is going bankrupt?!?! It is a fact that our government is or will become bankrupt.

Besides, even if we can spend this money, shouldn't it be going to something else? It could be going to help the homeless, support the needy, or funding education or many other things. How much money do you see being put into those kind of things? Not a whole lot. In fact, money is being taken from those things to pay for Iraq. To see the devastating affect that the current spending on war has had on all kinds of vital social programs in your community, click here.

This new budget must NOT be approved!

A Solider's Experience

2006-11-16T14:02:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately, I heard part of The Sean Hannity Show a few nights ago. Sean and a caller were discussing what would happen if the media would start interviewing the troops. They actually believed that the troops would show support for the war in Iraq. That is completely wrong. When I heard this, I was infuriated. After hearing right-wingers go on and on about how "our boys" support this war, and continue to ramble on about something they no nothing about, I have become very disgusted. And when I heard Sean Hannity say that troops would be in support of the war, I knew that I had to do this post to tell you what soldiers really have to go through. It isn't the wonderful world that right-wingers make it out to be. Here is the truth...

My aunt's brother is a soldier who is currently stationed in Baghdad, Iraq (the most dangerous place in Iraq). His unit is living in an abandoned warehouse or something. During a conversation over the Internet, she asked him if it was really as bad over there as it is being reported on the news. He told her that it is actually worse for the soldiers than the news reports. He told her that the abandoned building in which his unit stays has not heat or running water.

He also told her that the only food he had for a few days was chicken that one of his fellow soldiers walked three miles to and back for and paid for with his own money. His unit has been without food for days at a time. Why is our government not providing our troops with food?

No heat, no running water, and no food. Something doesn't seem right. These great men and women are putting their lives on the line, the least the government could do is provide them with food. And it's going to get cold this winter-- why should they have to go without some kind of heating? I bet they would love a shower too but that doesn't look like it's gonna happen.

And nearly every soldier that I have ever seen or heard interviewed has spoken against the war. There is one reason for this-- THE TROOPS DO NOT SUPPORT THE WAR IN IRAQ! So Sean, don't try to tell me that the results would be on your side if the media would interview the troops. That is impossible and couldn't happen unless Fox News is the one doing the reporting. Which goes to say that no honest News source could truthfully report that our troops are for this war.

BRING THEM HOME NOW!!

Stop Making Stupid Excuses!

2006-11-13T04:10:00.000-08:00

Republicans are saying that if Bush and Rumsfeld would have announced the decision for Rumsfeld to step down at least two weeks before the election, their party would still be the majority. What kind of fantasy world are they living in? Their party lost for one reason-- people are tired of the corruption and failed policies. It's that simple. Besides, I just read a poll and 88% of the people that took it said that they still wouldn't have voted any different even if they knew Rumsfeld was losing his job.

Besides, Bush's approval rate is at a new low of 31%. If only 31% of voters in this country approve of him, I don't think many people are going to vote for a party that is going to support his policies.

Republicans, stop making stupid excuses. Just admit it-- you lost!

NA NA- NA NA NA NA- HEY HEY- GOODBYE!

2006-11-10T12:54:00.000-08:00

Rummy Steps Down . . .

. . . Can It Get Any Better?

First the Democratic victory, now Rumsfeld's retirement. This looks like a great time for real Democracy!

I'm not the only one who's happy about it. The soldiers that are tired of Rumsfeld's lies are overjoyed. The joy doesn't stop there either-- Iraqis couldn't be happier. I can't blame them. When you are an innocent civilian who watches you surroundings be blown to bits, and see your neighbor being beaten and tortured and then hearing this moron stick up for that crap, I suppose it's natural for them to be glad.

Rumsfeld, a man who has lied to America, mislead our troops and refused to respond to their concerns and needs, and stood up for Bush's evil agenda like the sheep he is, stepped down on Wednesday.

So now, we have control of the House, the Senate, and now we are getting rid of one of Bush's top war-mongers. This seems like a bad time for the Republicans. Hopefully Bush wont be able to stand the pressure any longer and he'll resign and go cry to his daddy. According to Hugo Chavez, Bush should step down for "ethical reasons." (Right on, Hugo!)

We Are The Champions!

2006-11-09T12:18:00.000-08:00

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS, MY FRIEND. AND WE'LL KEEP ON FIGHTING 'TIL THE END. WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS, WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!

On Tuesday night, freedom won. Democrats gained control of the House of Representatives, and of the Senate! Congratulations to the Democrats!

This Democratic victory will greatly help this country and allow us to be more prepared for the future. Nancy Pelosi, the new House Speaker has set goals for the new Democratic majority to accomplish for our country. The new Democratic majority on Capitol Hill will:

1. Raise the minimum wage
2. Enact all 9/11 commission recommendations
3. Limit government spending
4. Expand stem-cell research
5. Create laws to break links between lobbyists and legislators

Thank God for Nancy Pelosi and every Democrat-elect! Important issues will now be taken care of.

America voted. And America voted for change! We have sent a message to George W. Bush that we will not continue to put up with his lies and his war! Congratulations America on your victory in making your voice heard and for being successful in your fight for change!

The elected Democrats will have to power to make sure that this country gets back on track. The good men and women that you have put in control of our Senate and House of Representatives will do their best to make sure that George Bush will not continue to mislead this country and destroy what we stand for!

Great Choice America!

I've paid my dues -
Time after time -
I've done my sentence
But committed no crime -
And bad mistakes
I've made a few
I've had my share of sand kicked in my face -
But I've come through

We are the champions -
my friends
And we'll keep on fighting -
till the end -
We are the champions -
We are the champions
No time for losers'
Cause we are the champions -
of the world -

I've taken my bows
And my curtain calls -
You brought me fame and fortune and everything that goes with it -
I thank you all -
But it's been no bed of roses
No pleasure cruise -
I consider it a challenge before the whole human race -
And I ain't gonna lose -

We are the champions -
my friends
And we'll keep on fighting -
till the end -
We are the champions -
We are the champions
No time for losers'
Cause we are the champions -
of the world!

-Queen

Ricky Rat In The Wrestling Ring

2006-11-07T17:04:00.002-08:00

I know this post is probably a little late, but hey, better late than never.

Sick Rick (Santorum), the Republican Senator from PA, ran an ad about "working together." Yes, the one with the wrestling match. For those of you who haven't seen it, here is a link to the video, straight from Ricky Rat's site-- here it is.

In the ad, Santorum walks into the middle of a wrestling match saying "too often this is what it looks like in Washington." After saying this he gets into the middle of the ring, listing the three Democrats he reluctantly worked with in his career. I have to pose a few questions about this ad...

Santorum mentions working with Hillary Clinton to censor "inappropriate content" in children's video games. Question number 1- If good ol' Ricky is so concerned that children are seeing inappropriate content, then why does he have several grown men beating the living crap out of each other right behind him in the ad?

Right before the end of the ad, Santorum states "it makes more sense to wrestle with America's problems than with each other." Immediately, after saying that, he elbows a wrestler in the face and knocks him out. Don't believe me? Check out the ad for yourself. If it makes more sense to wrestle with America's problems than with each other, then why the heck is he wrestling with others? I sense major hypocrisy. This should come as no surprise to you if you have ever seen his voting record.

Top Left: Picture of Rick Santorum

Tonight's The Night!

2006-11-07T15:52:00.000-08:00

Tonight's the night. Millions of people will be casting their votes. Hopefully we will be able to take back this country from the greedy rich men who are running it into the ground. Just a reminder-- if you haven't already, get your a** out there and vote!

Vote for The Democratic Party

Why Vote?
5 good reasons to vote... a letter from Michael Moore

A message to the Republicans:

"We Will, We Will Rock You!"
-Queen

In Defense Of Senator Kerry...

2006-11-06T13:39:00.000-08:00

We have got to stop being such wussies. Elections are close and there are important issues we need to focus on (like the fact that 4,000 children die every hour of starvation, or the fact that seniors can't pay for their medicine, or that there are dangerous criminals on the streets with guns) but all we are hearing about is Senator Kerry's joke.

He made a joke. That's it. A joke. But still, people get pissed off. First of all, if it'll make you feel better, the joke was not an insult to our troops. Even I, an average blogger, can understand that. The main fact of it is this-- most of our troops do not have masters degrees. Because if they did they would be rich. And if they were rich, they wouldn't be in Iraq. How many millionaires do you see fighting over there. The band System of a Down once said "Why don't presidents fight the war, why do they always send the poor?" You see, it is always the middle class and poor citizens that are willing to stand up for our country. I know that and John Kerry knows that too. He was making a joke that the rich and successful don't have the balls to fight in a war. Okay? Got that?

Also, just a question-- if everyone can take him so seriously about what he said, then why can't they believe him when he says it is a joke and apologizes for it?

John Kerry is a war hero with three purple hearts. He knows what war is like. He also has a history of fighting for our troops. Why would he want to bash them? This entire thing was blown way out of proportion. He made a single joke and suddenly it is on every news station and newspaper in the country. Is this what we have become? Is this what our media has to resort to? Pathetic.

There are plenty of Republicans out there that have said things much worse than that, and they were serious about their comments.

The main point is that we need to focus on important things and stop being so childish. "Who's being childish?" you ask. I don't know, ask our soldiers.

Military Recruiters Caught Lying

2006-11-04T06:00:00.000-08:00

An ABC News investigation showed military recruiters lying to students. The investigation consiseted of giving students hidden cameras before talking to military recruiters. On camera, the military recruiters were caught telling students that the war in Iraq was over, people won't be going to Iraq, and that they are bringing people home. Not true at all. The war in Iraq is very much alive, my friend, people are still getting sent there, and people are not being brought home. In fact, troops that are there are in Iraq are having their stays extended.

Let us not forget that this has happened before. Last year, military recruiting was halted and recruiters had to be retrained because too much stuff like this was happening.

If that is the case, then I want to ask why our schools are letting these death recruiters onto school property.

Here are some of ABC New's findings:

Student: "Nobody is going to Iraq anymore?"
Recruiter: "No, we're bringing people back."

Recruiter: "We're not at war. War ended a long time ago.

One student, who posed as a drug addict asked "You mean I'm not going to get in trouble." Not only did the recruiters tell him no, he also helped him cheat to sign up. It was all caught on tape.

AOL News took a poll on what people thought about the terrible acts of these recruiters. The poll showed that 79% of people the people who took the poll thought that this was something that recruiters did on a regular basis. At least they have some sense. If the school boards that are allowing these liars to come into our schools would have had enough sense to know that these recruiters lie everyday, then many students wouldn't have signed up and lost their lives.

To read AOL's poll and story, and to get more information, click here.

What's Your Plan, Mr. Bush?

2006-11-03T13:08:00.000-08:00

Today, the Washington Post reported that Mr. Bush has been criticizing Democrats for not having a plan in Iraq. Mr. Bush said that Democrats need to "plan for success." I want to bring to Mr. Bush's attention (and to the attention of any fool who believes this moron), that Democrats have been creating plans for Iraq. It was Mr. Bush was has been rejecting these plans. Democrats have been saying that we need a clear plan for Iraq ever since the war started! Democrats have been planning-- trying to create a timeline to bring the troops home, get the UN involved, etc. Not only are Bush's comments that Dems don't have a plan false, but completely hypocritical. What is Bush's plan? We've heard lots of "plans" from Bush and his administration. But he has never stuck to a single one. Let's go over them.

1. The original "plan" went with the original lie. Bush said we were going to Afghanistan to fight terrorism, something that even Democrats supported. Bush didn't stick to this plan, as he soon moved on to "plan" B.

2. Saddam. Al Qaida. Remember? Bush's said that there were ties between the two. So, the new plan was to go from Afghanistan to Iraq to get Saddam. We did that. So, why are we still there? Because Bush can't be consistent. On to the third plan.

3. "Bringing democracy to Iran." Even ultra-conservative, Michael Savage says this is a load of shit. He is right. If Bush wants to plan for success, this is definitely not going to work. See, these people don't want our democracy. And you can not ever give democracy to a people who do not want it. These people don't want it. The Islamic fundamentalists are still living with a stone-age dogma, what makes you think at all that they are willing to adopt modern day democracy?!

Mr. Bush also says that Democrats need to stop resorting to "harsh criticism." What? Have you been listening to anything he has been saying these last few months about Democrats and war critics? If you have been paying any attention at all, you will see that he is the one guilty of heavy criticism.

Mr. Bush, I stronly urge you to make some sense when you are talking. Until then, UP YOURS!

Thoughts For Voters: Useful Info For When You Vote Next Week

2006-11-02T12:39:00.000-08:00

As always, it is important to vote for candidates who support real American values-- fairness, equality, worker's rights, and the common good. We need people who are going to fix this country's poor economy, create economic fairness, build a tolerant society, make things easier and more fair for the working class, support your rights as an American, provide good health care and decent education, protect our environment, and do something about this country's increasing national debt-- all things that Republicans have miserably failed to do.

Under the Bush Administration, this country is spending several billion dollars a week on an unjust war that most Americans oppose. This, coupled with the fact that our current national debt (as of yesterday) is $8,571,794,835,082.73 has resulted in the cutting of many social programs that communities depend on. Not only have social programs been cut, but educational funding has been cut three times under the Bush Administration. In fact, even after promising to make things easier for college students, Mr. Bush cut 12.7 billion dollars from student loan funds. If that isn't bad enough, that cost of college has been going up at an increasing rate. And the few students who did get the opportunity to go to college are then faced with a new obstacle... finding a job. Thanks to Bush's miserable economy, studies show that most college students are unable to find a decent job and are having to move back in with their parents. It's not only college students that are paying for Bush's educational cuts, but also students K-12. Studies show that grades are slipping. This may not be all that surprising since Mr. Bush failed to meet his pledge to support his "No Child Left Behind" program.

Education and students are not the only ones facing danger, but so are workers. Bush and his corrupt conservative cronies in congress and Capitol Hill have been making things very difficult for workers in this country. Bush has put very little restrictions on the market. As a result, so many jobs were outsourced that millions of Americans lost their jobs-- just so that some capitalist could save some money. Bush has also been fighting against unions that protect worker's rights. In addition to his war against worker's rights to organize in a union, he is also trying to abolish overtime pay, something that many people need to provide for their families. A few months ago, the Democrats in the senate were trying to raise the minimum wage so that workers were promised a "living wage." It was the conservatives and Republicans who opposed any form of a "living wage" and proudly voted against raising our minimum wage (even though many of them voted to raise their own pay). Some more facts about the pathetic state of jobs in this country include: the unemployment rate under the Bush administration has increased higher than we have seen in a long time and more jobs have been lost under George Bush's administration than any other Presidential administration in the history of this country. This will continue to happen unless we vote for people who will fight against Bush's corrupt agenda. If we don't vote correctly and we fill capitol hill with a bunch of jack-off conservatives, many more people will lose their jobs and have to resort to welfare-- another government program that Republicans are trying to abolish. With all of the people losing their jobs, more people have to go on welfare until they find another job to make ends meet, which is why it does not make any sense that Republicans and conservatives are constantly trying to pass new restrictions that make it more difficult for people to get on welfare.

Are you or anyone you know having trouble paying taxes? If so, this is something you might want to make note of. Since corrupt senators and congressmen have allowed Bush to put this country in such a huge amount of debt, the average American has to pay around 24,000 extra tax dollars to help pay some of this debt. Bush promised to cut taxes. He did. But, he only gave 1% of Americans a tax cut-- and guess what... that tax cut went to the top one percent of Americans. Do you know what that means? It means that the RICHEST people in the country got tax cuts. Did you get a tax cut?

Sick of the war? So are many Americans. Despite Mr. Bush's statements that we will be able to withdraw troops from Iraq throughout 2006 and 2007, soldiers are now finding that their time in Iraq is being extended and they have to stay longer. And if you think everything is going ok over there, you are wrong. Just because you hear positive news, that doesn't mean that everything is just peachy. In fact, the only reason you hear positive coverage of the war in Iraq is because our government asked for a public relations contract that calls for extensive, positive coverage of the war in Iraq. So now the government, thanks to Mr. Bush and the corrupt politicians who supported him, is controlling what you see on the news. If you can't ge the real news, where is freedom of speech or your right to know the truth about what is actually going on? Ask the men and women you voted into office.

All of these problems have happened because we have allowed them to. If you voted for people who support the conservative plan and agenda, you are just as responsible for the problem as Bush and the bad politicians. This is why you need to vote for progressive candidates who will fix these problems. If you look at any decent progressive's website, you will see that most of them have some kind of plan to fix these problems (unlike the conservatives who only show blind support for the "President"). Keep these issues in mind when you are voting. To vote for change, cast your vote for the Democratic Party.

TIME Magazine on Homework

2006-10-30T13:21:00.000-08:00

I've always been a huge advocate for allowing young adults to be young adults. I've always been staunchly against homework, especially a lot of it! I was overjoyed when I found out that Time Magazine shared the same opinion as I did about homework. While going through the September issue of Time, I read a letter posted by a woman from Tennessee which said:

Claudia Wallis' essay "The Myth About Homework" [Sept. 4] cited studies that say homework makes kids hate learning. As a mother of four, I feel that homework not only dampens the flame of curiosity but is also the most aggressive foe of quality family time. Back in junior high school, I had a teacher who didn't assign homework. One day I asked him why. He said, "If I am doing the work I was hired to do, then my students shouldn't have homework." I agreed with him then, and I still do. We should be able to enjoy our children's company without the infringement of work that should be left in the classroom at the end of the school day.

I was so happy to have read that. I wanted to post it on my blog right away. So, when trying to find it on Time's website, I found that Time had an entire issue dedicated to raising the issue that children get too much homework. Click Here for the online version of the issue. Or Click Here for the main article about homework.

Time To Start Posting!

2006-10-30T13:20:00.000-08:00

Hey, I've got my blog up and running the way I want it to now. So that means one thing... It's time to start posting! Let the party begin!

The No Shit Zone

2006-10-26T14:08:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my blog! This blog is a "no shit zone." No shit means no conservativism. That's right, a blog dedicated entirely to values of progressivism.