Just deserts

The huge Hamas win was helped by two entities. One was Fatah who has done nothing to help the Palestinian people, only themselves. The other was the Israelis. The treatment of the Palestinians by the Israelis is not unlike the treatment of Jews by the Nazis.

They're at it again!

When the right-wingers can't defend a their position with a logical, cogent argument, they go for the ad hominem attack. Hey, it worked against the Democrats' cigar-store Indian John Kerry. Now the right-wingers are going after Rep. John Murtha of Pennsylvania, a Marine Corps lieutenant colonel who served in combat in Vietnam. A right-wing web site is now questioning the circumstances surrounding the awarding of Rep. Murtha's two Purple Hearts. [See The Washington Post, 14 Jan 2006] My question is has David Thibault served in combat? Of course the attack on Rep. Murtha may cause a buzz for a while. It doesn't matter if it's inaccurate. Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public.

Re: the chaplain

Very well stated by Sara Horn at her blog A Greater Freedom.

Let's twist (the truth) like we did last summer

I've been watching the issue of Chaplain Gordon Klingenschmitt with great interest. I am deeply saddened by media and bloggers who don't take the time or effort to investigate what the truth may be. We have torrents of information spewed at us but not necessarily a drop of fact.

And I'm just as guilty for I accused a blogger of removing my post on her blog. She explained she did not; but she does moderate the postings and mine hadn't been posted as yet. I apologize to her and to readers (?) of this blog.

However that does not change the basic issue. The chaplain said “I’m facing being kicked out because I pray in Jesus’ name.” That is not true. Navy spokesman Lt. William Marks said Friday (Jan. 6) that Chaplain Klingenschmitt had been granted an indefinite extension because he had provided the appropriate “proof of continued or renewed ecclesiastical endorsement.” (Chaplains have to be recommended by their denomination.) Lt. Marks also said Chaplain Klingenschmitt twice had been orally notified of the extension in December, and a written notice of the extension was mailed to him Dec. 22.

Lt. Marks had told the publication Stars & Stripes in December that Chaplain Klingenschmitt (was) still an active-duty sailor in good standing, has no disciplinary action pending, and has not received any punishment for language used in public forums.

This last point is very important. Chaplain Klingenschmitt says he cannot pray in Jesus' name in public while in uniform. Again, not so. But you need to understand what "public" means. If a chaplain has been asked to deliver the invocation or benediction at a commissioning ceremony or a change of command, the Covenant and Code of Ethics of the National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces says "When conducting services of worship that include persons of other than my religious body, I will draw upon those beliefs, principles, and practices that we have in common." If the chaplain feels uncomfortable with that, he or she can decline that invitation. But if the chaplain is conducting a service for his or her denomination, Title 10, United States Code, applies.

Bush: "%#!@ the Constitution!"

Apparently, the President of the United States does not believe in the very document which he has sworn to defend and protect — the Constitution. He has given permission to the National Security Agency to spy on U.S. citizens without the safeguard of required warrants from the judicial system. This is the same guy who said the Saddam had weapons of mass destruction (wrong!), who tied Iraq to 9/11 (wrong!), and who said that the Congress had the same intelligence pre-invasion of Iraq as he did (wrong again!!). Let's hope Iraq doesn't adopt this administration's view of democracy!

It's typical

The neo-conservatives have long complained about the loss of freedom based on some "New World Order" involving the United Nations usurping the power of the United States. One of the basic tenets of our society is to keep the power in the hands of the elected officials -- "a government of the people, for the people, and by the people." Yet, now this administration wants the Department of Defense to take more authority in major domestic disasters. This is so typical of the neo-conservative. They vehemtly warn against actions that they themselves want to take. See today's Christian Science Monitor.

Oh yeah, right!!

This administration touted itself as compassionate conservatives. Very compassionate. Ask the folks in southern Mississippi; in New Orleans.

Don't Shoot Until ......

I received a "survey" from the National Rifle Association. The questions were pretty much slanted towards the NRA's point of view. But the one that really interested me was the the one that stated: "Using your tax dollars, the United Nations is preparing to impose gun control affecting you and other American citizens. Do you think this is a good use of your tax dollars?" How very typical of the NRA! Stretch the truth and then ask folks to agree with your opposition. Truth: In the 1990s, the United Nations was sponsoring a series of conferences to address the spread of small weapons and light arms — ranging from pistols and submachine guns to grenade launchers and anti-tank guns — that was fueling civil wars and killing millions worldwide. I suppose the NRA also sees the treaty on nuclear proliferation as an assault on the right to bear arms. When it comes to the NRA, don't shoot until you see the burning red glow in their eyes!!

Why am I not surpised?

The Administration is now on an information offensive in Iraq and secretly paying Iraqi newspapers to publish propaganda written by U.S. Army personnel. This kind of pollution of the principles of democracy --- and democracy is what this Administration touts that it is teaching in Iraq --- has far-reaching effects beyond the borders of Iraq. While U.S. law prohibits planting propaganda in U.S. media outlets, the global nature of the media business can cause some of this garbage to seep into the mainstream U.S. media. After all, that is a long-time practice of the neoconservatives. I don't expect the Administration to be ashamed, but members of the U.S. Army should be. When one wears the cloth of their country, one's conduct should be of the highest integrity. Kudos to the LA Times.

$$$$$$

Randy Cunningham's tearful confession is the latest example of at least seven legislators whoi have either pleaded guilty, have been indicted, or are under investigation for improper conduct. And I'm sure the list will continue because, say what you will, we have the best Congress that money can buy!!!

Credit where due

Any progress in Iraq is due not to the administration but rather the great efforts of the courageous men and women in the cloth of their country.... from the grunt on the ground to the military leaders in their command centers. This is where the comparison to Vietnam breaks down. The bureaucrats now realize that they only **** things up.

Only when their lips are moving

Listen carefully! Administration officials and their surrogates in Congress in speaking about the controversy as to who knew what intelligence when keep glossing over that the Executive gets a more detailed briefing than do members of Congress, that it does appear that the Administration's goal was war with Iraq no matter what, and that the Administration seems to have exaggerated the data on Saddam. Now they're singing "Let's move forward and not dwell on the past." It's the same tired tactic. Of course, they're obfuscating.......

What price vigilence?

The Patriot Act: Orwell was 20 years too early!

Fourth Estate in Fifth Dimension

The revered --- dare we say "worshipped?" --- Bob Woodward of the Washington Post has revealed that he heard about Valerie Plame about a month before Scooter Libby allegedly provided her name to Judith Miller -- the Joan d'Arc of the New York Times. And Bobby has apologized to his editors at the Post for not informing them sooner. Kinda slipped his mind. Friends and neighbors, if you are trusting in the "news" media you must know that Bobby and his ilk (the Washington royalty of the media set) hobnob quite frequently and freely with the very folk they write stories about --- the government royalty. What's a little cocktails, dinner, and chit-chat amongst friends? In my mind it calls into question the idea of impartiality, of being the watchdogs of government for "the people." And it ain't the news business, folks. As they said in "The Godfather," it's just business.

YGTBSM

Are you ready for this? The Bush Administration now wants U.S. citizens to have and show a passport when visiting Canada. Now for you folks who don't live near the Canadian border and have no idea what Canada is about, it isn't Sgt. Preston of the Yukon. Culturally and environmentally, the area on either side of the border is pretty much same. The people who live close to that border cross it frequently for shopping, for sports programs, or to visit relatives. Canada is one of our best friends. Could it be (1) by making everyone have a $100 passport, Bush is trying to raise more money for the war in Iraq or (2) Bush wants to "punish" the Canadians --- who were smart enough to recognize the folly --- for their non-support of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. This is but one more of the administration's YGTBSM plans!!!

Second Tuesday in November

The second Tuesday in November is Election Day in these United States. Until then, we will be bombarded with telephone surveys (actually ads for a candidate) and political spots on radio and television. The public says they eschew negative advertising, yet all the consultants say they work. Of course they work! The U.S. public doesn't bother checking to see if the nasty charges are true or not. They just get angry at the accused candidate for doing what his opponent had said he (or she) has done. No one really expects the electorate to think do they?


There will never be campaign reform. The parties need to have a lot of cash to pay for the broadcast advertisements, and do you think the Fourth Estate — the watchdog for the public — will refuse all that wonderful money coming in or work to cut the flow off?

Of course!!!!!!!

The news media showed Alison Barber of the Pentagon briefing the soldiers in Iraq on the questions they would get from the President this morning. And she even gave direction on how to best "sell" the answer. Laurence DiRita says the help was to ensure there were no technical difficulties. Of course!!!!

Added because I can

You want ... what?!

The terrorists want to establish a a radical theocracy around the Middle East. The neo-conservatives of the Republic party (I guess that is a bit redundant) are upset because Harriet Miers may not fit their idea of the type of judge they want. I'd say the neos are looking to establish their own radical theocracy.

WOT Inaccuracies?

Mr. Bush is correct in that we need to wage war against the terrorists that attacked the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, Spain's rail system, nightclubs in Bali, the London Underground, etc. Mr. Bush is scamming us when he says that the War on Terrorism was the reason we invaded Iraq. There is and was no evidence that Iraq was connected to Al Qaeda (unless he's thinking of the weapons of mass deflection).