Lugar Supports Investigation Of Bush’s Spying Program
Lugar Supports Investigation Of Bush’s Spying Program
Add Sen. Dick Lugar (R-IN) to the list of conservative senators - which already includes Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) - who have expressed serious concerns about Bush’s secret domestic spying program. From CNN’s Late Edition:
BLITZER: So you want hearings? You want hearings?
LUGAR: I do. I think this is an appropriate time, without going back and should the president have ever tried to listen to a call coming from Afghanistan, probably of course. And in the first few weeks we made many concessions in the Congress because we were at war and we were under attack.
We still have the possibility of that going on so we don’t want to obviate all of this, but I think we want to see what in the course of time really works best and the FISA Act has worked pretty well from the time of President Carter’s day to the current time.
Nevertheless, Bill Kristol still characterizes concern about the spying program as “paranoid liberalism.” Never let the facts get in the way of a talking point.
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Lugar has always been very reasonable. If the whole GOP were more like him, we'd have a much better country.
January 1st, 2006 at 2:33 pmIt's about time that sanity and fotitude reaches congress .
January 1st, 2006 at 2:37 pmLugar and others...you have 3 hours to conduct these hearings. We will not stand for long drawn out political nonsense on this issue. State your position immediately. There is no time to waste!
January 1st, 2006 at 2:37 pmLook, any hint of cooperation on the part of reps is an indication of heat. It's all about self-preservation. The chimp is going to go down in flames. They are trying to save themselves. Bunch of scum bags. Impeach the shrub before he can invade another country.
January 1st, 2006 at 2:42 pmHoorah for Lugar! This shows that, hopefully, he doesn't trust anyone. Nor should he! Does his voting record show total party loyalty?
It seems the Bush Administration's motivation is their fantasy of a palatial World Kingdom Capital, with them all sitting there in the blood-stained, oil-filled country of Iraq, in a huge Rumsfeld-Condi-Bolton assisted regime in a monstrous palace (the new embassy they are reportedly building now). Just ruling away!
Now, who is getting all the money together for this shindig? Where's the $mils now missing? Where is the biggest portion of our budget going? The Military is getting the biggest portion of our budget! Our national debt is $__ trillion?
Do you think Kristol, Pentagon Chiefs, Military Defense Contractors, et al, want someone such as the bike-wrecking, 3-balled, wobble walker GWB, Sag Cheney or Snookums McClellan, Smirkin Rove, or Hands Frist anywhere there. POTUS, SCOTUS, the Justice Dept., the intoxicated or over-medicated Congress, and all, can't be pictured there.
What's with this, can't fire Rumsfeld, anyway? And, why is Oliver North, the former tv character "ALF" on Fox?
January 1st, 2006 at 2:42 pmClick to SEE & READ
1. ( Re-WRITTEN ) DECLARATION of INDEPENDENCE
2. See 15 + DEMOCRACY, POLITICAL,
http://www.RogerART.com
NOW Open All Night
MAKE the USA in 2006 ( BUSH - FREE )
JAIL em ALL
January 1st, 2006 at 2:44 pmI still hate Republicans and faux conservative crypto-nazis like Bill Kristolnacht. It's not paranoia. It's healthy and as American as Mom, guns and apple pie.
January 1st, 2006 at 2:47 pmI wholeheartdly take credit!! I've been calling Lugar, Bayh & Chocola (my congresscritters) every day since this broke out. If each of us continue to do that, we most certainly have hearings.
January 1st, 2006 at 2:51 pmI still hate Republicans and faux conservative crypto-nazis like Bill Kristolnacht. It's not paranoia. It's healthy and as American as Mom, guns and apple pie.
And he shouldn't rip off Hofstadter like that in his weakly stankhard garbage... an original thought would die of loneliness in any of these cretins heads...
Pseudoconservativism is among other things a disorder in relation to authority, characterized by an inability to find other modes for human relationship than those of more or less complete domination or submission. The pseudo-conservative is a man who, in the name of upholding traditional American values and institutions and defending them against more or less fictitious dangers, consciously or unconsciously aims at their abolition. [He] sees his own country as being so weak that it is constantly about to fall victim to subversion; and yet he feels that it is so all-powerful that any failure it may experience in getting its way in the world cannot possibly be due to its limitations but must be attributed to its having been betrayed.
Richard Hofstadter, The Paranoid Style in American Politics and Other Essays, 1965.
http://www.publiceye.org/research/concepts/Frameworks-03.html
January 1st, 2006 at 2:56 pmUsually Bill Kristol, Mr. PNAC "puppet master," slithers forth to the talk shows at major networks at such a time as this, to explain the "nothingness" of this news. Will he be blathering this to himself when they take him away? (AH HA.)
January 1st, 2006 at 3:01 pmUsually Bill Kristol, Mr. PNAC "puppet master," slithers forth to the talk shows at major networks at such a time as this, to explain the "nothingness" of this news. Will he be blathering this to himself when they take him away? (AH HA.)
January 1st, 2006 at 3:03 pmIts all well and good that Lugar wants to have an investigation into Bush's spying program, but he may also be a legitimate face to put on another Republican coverup investigation. I doubt that Republicans will honestly investigate their leader, and I can't believe it will come to pass until I see it. I guess I am too cynical, but I won't be satisfied - and I don't think the nation deserves any less - until Bush&Co are run out of office and jailed.
January 1st, 2006 at 3:09 pm(I posted a few minutes ago, but it seems to have been lost.)
John Dean is an expert on illegal wiretapping. He went down for Nixon and knows the seriousness of this impeachable crime.
http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dean/20051230.html
January 1st, 2006 at 3:13 pmGen. Hayden: This program has been successful in detecting and preventing attacks inside the United States.
Reporter: General Hayden, I know you're not going to talk about specifics about that, and you say it's been successful. But would it have been as successful-can you unequivocally say that something has been stopped or there was an imminent attack or you got information through this that you could not have gotten through going to the court?
Gen. Hayden: I can say unequivocally, all right, that we have got information through this program that would not otherwise have been available.
Ok, information was gained through the program that stopped attacks and that could not have been gained otherwise. So says the expert. The update mentioned that only incoming calls are being tracked. I wonder how many famous Left Wing traitors routinely take international calls from their Left Wing counterparts? I wonder if they are saying things that wouldn't look good if they were made public? Maybe make a case for espionage and treason? Now you know why Left Wing ratbastardcommiemofos don't want George listening in. They don't give a damn about privacy unless it's theirs.
January 1st, 2006 at 3:15 pmLet's hope they mean a REAL investigation and not another one of those Iran-Contra style investigations where the only person who spent any time in jail was the private citizen who held the John Poindexter street sign for "ransom"...
January 1st, 2006 at 3:17 pmO? Why didn't they read the memo about planes might be flying into buildings before 9/11? They could perhaps have prevented that if they could read. Or, were they too afraid of old tempter-tantrum thrower Bush?
The blind gladly follow their one-eyed leader?
Gotta stick?
January 1st, 2006 at 3:20 pmOk, information was gained through the program that stopped attacks and that could not have been gained otherwise. So says the expert. The update mentioned that only incoming calls are being tracked. I wonder how many famous Left Wing traitors routinely take international calls from their Left Wing counterparts? I wonder if they are saying things that wouldn’t look good if they were made public? Maybe make a case for espionage and treason? Now you know why Left Wing ratbastardcommiemofos don’t want George listening in. They don’t give a damn about privacy unless it’s theirs.
Comment by I-RIGHT-I — January 1, 2006 @ 3:15 pm
You still don't explain why they didn't follow the law and get the requisite warrants. Even retro-actively. The thing is IRI, we aren't attacking the system of spying on potential terrorists, we are attacking the manner in which it was dubiously carried out, dismissing the Constitution, the law itself, and the equality of the legislative and judicial branches. Do you see the difference?
January 1st, 2006 at 3:22 pmIsn't the classification of an illegal program in order to conceal it the same thing as obstruction of justice? I thought you couldn't do that. Any lawyers
January 1st, 2006 at 3:22 pmout there who know?
and the equality of the legislative and judicial branches. Do you see the difference?
Comment by unbelievable —
The guys on our side told George he didn't need no stinking warrant to listen in on foreigners even if they were talking to people in America. This whole thing is only fodder for lawyers and your lawyers say one thing ours says another. Even trotting out a couple of RINOs like Spectra and Lugar don't make your case. In addition I posted a link not long ago showing that the administrations requests for taps had been turned down dozens of times when historically they NEVER got turned down. Somebody, I don't know who doesn't want us listening in to these conversations post 9-11. Use your imagination and just be thankful George Bush has the guts to do what needs to be done. By the way, Happy New Year Sugar, how's your head today?
January 1st, 2006 at 3:32 pmI-RIGHT-I is probably a PR firm, just trolling the all the blogs, just hitting to change conversations into a brawling match among the commentors. Whoever heard reporters so foul mouthed in their questioning? Most of the time the PR firm hits at the top of the link and moves on. Who cares? No one believes that stuff and they sure aren't convincing anyone. So, that leaves one purpose. Simply to change the conversation. As far as I'm concerned, the illegal spying is only the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. I have nothing sinister to hide, just resent the intrustion of my home by a bunch of goons.
January 1st, 2006 at 3:35 pmThey will turn it Against you.
I-RIGHT-I , R U a SPY? Evesdropping for the Right?
Comment by no freedom
If you're worried about it I'd say you'd better get a good lawyer.
January 1st, 2006 at 3:37 pmSimply to change the conversation. As far as I’m concerned, the illegal spying is only the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. I have nothing sinister to hide, just resent the intrustion of my home by a bunch of goons.
Comment by Coreesa
The "goons" haven't even thought about you other than numbering you among the millions they've saved by stopping attacks. As far as being illegal, just because a few Left Wing losers say it is doesn't make it so. Sue why don't you? Please.
January 1st, 2006 at 3:41 pmI-RIGHT-I is probably a PR firm
He's just a crypto-fascist idiot.
January 1st, 2006 at 3:44 pmGuess, I was wrong. I-RIGHT-? still hanging around! Too boring for words!
I worked in Miami, FL and Washington, DC, for many years. Snoop away! And many of my friends of many years are buried at Arlington Cemetery. The latest had a cortege with 7 black horses, the 7th, of course, is a horse that now has no rider! and it was not JFK's funeral. Take a clue!
I'm going out!
January 1st, 2006 at 3:45 pmThe guys on our side told George he didn’t need no stinking warrant to listen in on foreigners even if they were talking to people in America.
I don't buy it. It isn't that complicated. They law and Constitution make it very clear. I hardly believe someone with degrees from Yale and Harvead could have a hard time understanding the process... unless you're infering that these are some of those Harvard people who were given grades??? But, joking aside, even if you are right, Bush himself should have known. Getting bad advise is not a credible excuse. It's like me saying that I'm innocent for killing you because Ryan told me it was okay. I'm still guilty in that hypothetical as GW is in reality.
This whole thing is only fodder for lawyers and your lawyers say one thing ours says another. Even trotting out a couple of RINOs like Spectra and Lugar don’t make your case. In addition I posted a link not long ago showing that the administrations requests for taps had been turned down dozens of times when historically they NEVER got turned down. Somebody, I don’t know who doesn’t want us listening in to these conversations post 9-11. Use your imagination and just be thankful George Bush has the guts to do what needs to be done.
You know, if his warrants were turned down (I don't remember your link if I saw it), wouldn't you think that a court that virtually never turns them down had a reason? I think it just rings too much of the slow erosion of our rights.
I actually am not a fan of either party. I think the Democrats overall are just as much to blame for the mess we are in as the Republicans (know I will take heat from my side for saying this, but look back during teh Kennedy-Johnson years to see that they reduced the taxes on the rich from 91% down to 70%. Reagan made it even worse by dropping it to 50%, and then Carter though opposed, allowed it do decline to 25% despite popular opposition), but the problem isn't the Republicans or the Democrats - it's Capitalism. In theory everything sounds wonderful - including your idealized version of your religion, and if anyone has read it with an open mind - even Communism - but in application, so far - none of it is working very well. And a lot of that has to do with grandiose ideas that fail to take human behavior - real human behavior into consideration.
By the way, Happy New Year Sugar, how’s your head today?
Comment by I-RIGHT-I — January 1, 2006 @ 3:32 pm
Same to you - Happy 2006! No wild parties for me this year, but thanks for asking. You however, I am sure, made up for us both? :)
January 1st, 2006 at 3:46 pmMy apologies for typos folks. I kind of drag my right hand.
Now, I'm going out!
January 1st, 2006 at 3:47 pmDon't fraternize with the enemy. Until they surrender, which they are about to do.
January 1st, 2006 at 3:48 pmMy apologies for typos folks. I kind of drag my right hand.
Now, I’m going out!
Comment by Coreesa — January 1, 2006 @ 3:47 pm
No problem, I am just as guilty. Never took typing in high school, because I thought calculus was more important. Funny how much I never use the math... :)
January 1st, 2006 at 3:51 pmSame to you - Happy 2006! No wild parties for me this year, but thanks for asking. You however, I am sure, made up for us both? :)
Comment by unbelievable
I stayed in the neighborhood, made nice with the neighbor ladies, kissed a few babies, petted a dog or two, ate some BBQ, drank a few beers and threw some horse shoes with the men and then took my blow up doll date and went home. I didn't know it was 2006 until I got up this morning....at 6 AM.
January 1st, 2006 at 3:55 pmHey, Right between the I's, if this program was successful Osama Bin Laden would be sitting in an American jail cell.
Like your Bubble boy, you have failed to prove a point again.
Loser.
January 1st, 2006 at 4:01 pmI stayed in the neighborhood, made nice with the neighbor ladies, kissed a few babies, petted a dog or two, ate some BBQ, drank a few beers and threw some horse shoes with the men and then took my blow up doll date and went home. I didn’t know it was 2006 until I got up this morning….at 6 AM.
Comment by I-RIGHT-I — January 1, 2006 @ 3:55 pm
Well that sounds nice. I'm sure your doll enjoyed her fifteen minutes of fireworks... :). The neighborhood here shot fireworks until 1:00 a.m. Apparently, they became legal while I was living in California, and now people are shooting them off any chance they get... in fact, they're still at it right now.
January 1st, 2006 at 4:02 pmDon’t fraternize with the enemy. Until they surrender, which they are about to do.
Comment by KillCon2006
"Also, Walter Pincus reports this morning that the NSA shared its illegally obtained information with other departments, including the pentagon, which we know has been tracking anti-war protestors."
Who cares? Kennedy and Johnson both had Hoover all over the anti-war protestors in the 60's. So what? Nothing happened to them, hell one of them made the greatest nudie movie of all time, "Barbarella" and the other married for money and became 2nd place in a presidential contest, and they were flat out, proof in hand traitors. I think you worry too much. Why don't you get a job?
January 1st, 2006 at 4:03 pmDon’t fraternize with the enemy. Until they surrender, which they are about to do.
Comment by KillCon2006 — January 1, 2006 @ 3:48 pm
Happy New Year KillCon... did you have a nice one?
January 1st, 2006 at 4:05 pmUnbelievable, its my dogs birthday today. We cooked her (Bear) a turkey. She's sleeping it off now.
We had a huge fireworks display on the lakefront last night. Chicago knows how to party, just give us an excuse.
January 1st, 2006 at 4:06 pmThis is all spin to get away from all the waterboard toture and napalm use in falluga , Invasion of an INNOCENT country and still 22% of Americans beleive saddam had weapons of mas destruction .......well I say theres still 78% who now know Bush is a lying MASS murderer //////this is all shit and so is America FUCC you all wankers
January 1st, 2006 at 4:06 pmthey became legal while I was living in California, and now people are shooting them off any chance they get… in fact, they’re still at it right now.
Comment by unbelievable
I hate modern fireworks. They're like masturbating while wearing boxing gloves. When I was a kid we had the good stuff....real M-80s and 3-lb sky rockets. They were illegal but you could still get them....better than sex.
January 1st, 2006 at 4:08 pmHey! its my dogs birthday today. We cooked her (Bear) a turkey. She's sleeping it off now.
We had a huge fireworks display on the lakefront last night. Chicago knows how to party, just give us an excuse.
When Fitz indicts Rove, Chicago will party till we puke.
We're not leavin, till we're heavin!
January 1st, 2006 at 4:09 pmUnbelievable, its my dogs birthday today. We cooked her (Bear) a turkey. She’s sleeping it off now.
We had a huge fireworks display on the lakefront last night. Chicago knows how to party, just give us an excuse.
Comment by Susan — January 1, 2006 @ 4:06 pm
Susan, I'm sure you have the happiest dog in the entire world right now :).
I've heard a lot about you Chicagoans. All good of course :). I have been meaning to visit for eons it seems...
Sounds like you had a very nice time. Happy New Year!
January 1st, 2006 at 4:10 pmBushs Best Friend, we know that Bushie is a brutal dictator. We are not in denial about that. He will be thrown out of the White House very soon. We have a jail cell with his name on it.
January 1st, 2006 at 4:12 pmI’ve heard a lot about you Chicagoans. All good of course :)
Yep, our most famous Chicagoan today is Patrick Fitzgerald.
January 1st, 2006 at 4:14 pmI hate modern fireworks. They’re like masturbating while wearing boxing gloves. When I was a kid we had the good stuff….real M-80s and 3-lb sky rockets. They were illegal but you could still get them….better than sex.
Comment by I-RIGHT-I — January 1, 2006 @ 4:08 pm
Okay...
We used to get the illegal ones for years too. I think the police just got tired of the zillion phone calls on the holidays, so they decided to make certain watered down kinds legal. Like everything else...
January 1st, 2006 at 4:19 pmYep, our most famous Chicagoan today is Patrick Fitzgerald.
Comment by Susan
Yep, they're calling him empty handed Fitzwhoosistz.
January 1st, 2006 at 4:20 pmtween the eyes:
2001 2002 2003 2004
Applications: 932 1228 1727 1758
Approvals: 934 1228 1724 1754
"In 2004, the Gov't withdrew 3 applications and later resubmitted one which was approved as a new app. The Court did not deny,in whole or in part,any applications submitted by the gov't in 2004."
The 2005 report has not been sent by the Court to Congress.
Source: FISA Court report to Congress
January 1st, 2006 at 4:23 pmSource: FISA Court report to Congress
Comment by TJM
Thanks in advance for your link? Those numbers aren't even close to what I remember reading. Crap, now I've got to look it up.
January 1st, 2006 at 4:29 pmYep, they’re calling him empty handed Fitzwhoosistz. Yeah, Scooter wishes.
Rove is done deal, he's already admitted that he lied to investigators..remember the, oh I forgot defense?
January 1st, 2006 at 4:34 pmWont hold up in a court of law. Rove is toast, he'll turn on everyone like the rest of the mafia wannabe's.
Don’t fraternize with the enemy. Until they surrender, which they are about to do.
Comment by KillCon2006 — January 1, 2006 @ 3:48 pm
Happy New Year KillCon… did you have a nice one?
Comment by unbelievable
Thank you, unbelievable. My wishes for a Happy New Year to you as well. I managed to wake myself up at about 11:30 pm and decided not to imbibe any spirits. I will save the champagne for an occasion I suspect might be more celibratory later this year. Perhaps in November, when the GOP loses it's majority in the House and Senate and some real government and governing might ensue. All in all it was nothing special but it was quiet and restful. In spite of the impression some might get, that's the way I like it. I've sowed my wild oats and leave New Years, St. Paddy's, Halloween and the Fourth of July to amateurs like IRI.
January 1st, 2006 at 4:35 pmAnd Happy New Year to all, even our domestic enemies who are trying to take away our freedumbs for the terrorists they are so much like. Sadly, they are Americans, too, even if in name only. Bah, Humbug.
January 1st, 2006 at 4:38 pmI think the wingnuts fear this site; it draws a lot of Trolls.
January 1st, 2006 at 4:39 pmAnd Happy New Year to all, even our domestic enemies who are trying to take away our freedumbs for the terrorists
When our domestic enemies capture Osama Bin Laden, is when I will wish them good tidings.
I won't hold my breath.
January 1st, 2006 at 4:49 pmSend Bush and the future a clear message
The point is not whether we need to be secretly spying on potential terrorist threats, the point is that to preserve freedom and democracy you need to be doing it with one hand tied behind the back, i.e. you need oversight, which is exactly why FISC w...
January 1st, 2006 at 4:52 pmI try to think of something Churchill once said when asked about the communists and particularly the communists in Britain. He was asked how he felt about them, and if he feared them, or was concerned about them. Churchill was fearless. He was not fond of the Stalinists, that's not disputed, he didn't trust them, or Stalin. But of the communists and communist party in Britain he said he was not concerned. "Of course not!" he said. "Why should I be? They are Englishmen, after all."
Of course what Churchill understood was that the British communist party was no more a threat to Britain than liberals or progressives are to America. There is a real threat to America and democracy and freedom here, today. We all know who and what that is.
Speaking of "evil communists" widely reported around the globe, just not here... as reported at KOS
Miracle at Christmas
I wonder why?
January 1st, 2006 at 4:52 pmSadly, they are Americans, too, even if in name only. Bah, Humbug.
Comment by KillCon2006
We're the only thing between you and slavery, you're just too old and stupid to realize it. We are the salt of the earth you despise. It's only by the Grace of God and the benevolence of your betters that we allow you to stay here at all. But you're right about one thing...last night was amateur night and that's why I made my blow up doll come to me and stayed close to home. I've been doing it that way for years now.
January 1st, 2006 at 4:54 pmWhen our domestic enemies capture Osama Bin Laden, is when I will wish them good tidings.
I won’t hold my breath.
Comment by Susan
I'd settle for them just getting some psychiatric help for their dysfunctional selves, and lots of rest, and leaving all the adult and grown-up stuff to the adults and grown-ups who are functional, Susan. But I know what you mean. Happy New Year to you the Tenacious Debtonator, too.
January 1st, 2006 at 4:56 pmThe UK Independent covered it as well
Castro's 'miracle' cures the poor of blindness
We’re the only thing between you and slavery, you’re just too old and stupid to realize it. We are the salt of the earth you despise. It’s only by the Grace of God and the benevolence of your betters that we allow you to stay here at all. But you’re right about one thing…last night was amateur night and that’s why I made my blow up doll come to me and stayed close to home. I’ve been doing it that way for years now.
Comment by I-RIGHT-I — January
Paranoid fantasies, delusions of grandeur, this is why Tom Cruise and Scientology are dangerous and cults and the lunatic fringe must be monitored. Quakers and grannies? Yeah, gotta watch them. LMAO!
January 1st, 2006 at 5:04 pmSpeaking of “evil communists†widely reported around the globe, just not here… as reported at KOS
Miracle at Christmas
I wonder why?
Comment by KillCon2006
Because it's no BFD, that's why. America and other " rich and powerful countries of Christendom" routinely provide a mountain of care to the needy around the world. It's only news when some left wing rag wants to give Uncle Fidel a Nobel Peace Price for the trouble he went to that made sure it got some attention.
A blind man doesn't care from where his eyesight comes neither does a hungry man his food but the real humanitarian doesn't stand on the roof tops and shout how great and wonderful he is. Fidel does that all the time. It's my guess in some way he's feeling his old Catholic hell and damnation training coming back and wants to appease his Maker and make up for all the murders and all the misery he's caused.. Good luck to him with that.
January 1st, 2006 at 5:05 pmIt’s my guess in some way he’s feeling his old Catholic hell and damnation training coming back and wants to appease his Maker and make up for all the murders and all the misery he’s caused
Bushie isn't Catholic but he could and should ask for redemption too. The Fidel/Bushie similarities are striking aren't they?
January 1st, 2006 at 5:17 pmtheir differences are more striking! When Katrina hit, Fidel evacuated his people out of harm's way. W vacationed and delegated Brownie to tell everyone to get in their Hummers and head for the hills.
January 1st, 2006 at 5:25 pmA revelation of the list of keywords they are using to sift through and pick out of the mass of communications they scan would probably embarrass them, display the full intent of their motive, and genuinely compromise the security of the country. They didn’t want FISA to see that list. Its probably locked up top secret for thirty years.
January 1st, 2006 at 6:02 pm"It’s my guess in some way he’s feeling his old Catholic hell and damnation training coming back and wants to appease his Maker and make up for all the murders and all the misery he’s caused.. Good luck to him with that."
Comment by I-RIGHT-I — January 1, 2006 @ 5:05
Well thanks, that's filled my quota for weak-minded religious claptrap for the week. Pray harder, IRI - maybe Iraq will turn into a success - or maybe Abramoff will get an aneurism and die before he testifies.
January 1st, 2006 at 6:04 pmThank you, unbelievable. My wishes for a Happy New Year to you as well. I managed to wake myself up at about 11:30 pm and decided not to imbibe any spirits. I will save the champagne for an occasion I suspect might be more celibratory later this year. Perhaps in November, when the GOP loses it’s majority in the House and Senate and some real government and governing might ensue. All in all it was nothing special but it was quiet and restful. In spite of the impression some might get, that’s the way I like it. I’ve sowed my wild oats and leave New Years, St. Paddy’s, Halloween and the Fourth of July to amateurs like IRI.
Comment by KillCon2006 — January 1, 2006 @ 4:35 pm
Thanks! Yeah, I know what you mean. I would guess most of us in here are here because we've passed that point in our lives. Happen for me around 30 or so. Just prefer other things now - mostly travel, politics and educating myself on reality (as I spent too many years in the ignorance of the conservative party).
You know, if the Dems manage to regain power, champagne might just be in order :) Though, I gotta say I think they're not really giving us what we need either. I'm pretty disgusted with most of the elitist activities of our elected officials and think it's time for something even bigger. I just don't think it's gotten bad enough for the average American yet, unfortunately. I don't think people will take revolutionary risks until those risks are less perilous than the risk of allowing the system to continue as it is...
January 1st, 2006 at 6:55 pm"Nevertheless, Bill Kristol still characterizes concern about the spying program as “paranoid liberalism.†Never let the facts get in the way of a talking point."
what else would you expect from a jackbooted anti-American fascist tool.
January 1st, 2006 at 6:58 pmSpeaking of “evil communists†widely reported around the globe, just not here… as reported at KOS
Miracle at Christmas
I wonder why?
Comment by KillCon2006 — January 1, 2006 @
In college we read the Communist Manifesto. I had been pre-dispositioned to think it was 'evil', and I started to read it grudgingly... but it was really, for a theory, not even remotely evil. Far from it. I thought Marx had some great ideas, and might have actually had something remarkable if he had taken human greed and egotism into consideration. Stalin and Mao damaged Communism the way George Bush is degrading Democracy...
I can't tell how much Chavez is pushing Bush's buttons with some of his philanthopy, if at all... but the fact that his actions are actually helping people who need it kinda doesn't make me care what his motives are or aren't, you know? That was a cool article. Thanks.
January 1st, 2006 at 7:07 pmA blind man doesn’t care from where his eyesight comes neither does a hungry man his food but the real humanitarian doesn’t stand on the roof tops and shout how great and wonderful he is. Fidel does that all the time. It’s my guess in some way he’s feeling his old Catholic hell and damnation training coming back and wants to appease his Maker and make up for all the murders and all the misery he’s caused.. Good luck to him with that.
Comment by I-RIGHT-I — January 1, 2006 @ 5:05 pm
Yes, but the Christian 'charities' care... no donations to atheists, jewish, muslims, jehovah's witnesses, buddhists, hindus, etc... well, unless you're willing to convert and then maybe they'll talk. It's Christian charity for Christians. That hardly qualifies as genuinely philanthropic... Where as Chavez extends his charity without conditions or conversion required.
January 1st, 2006 at 7:13 pmYour first instinct was likely the right one as Venezuela's largest trading partner is the US. More than 55% of Ven. $ value of exports goes to the US,mostly oil, which is sold to domestic refiners. His charity is,in this case,likely more political purely charitable..
January 1st, 2006 at 7:41 pmYour first instinct was likely the right one as Venezuela’s largest trading partner is the US. More than 55% of Ven. $ value of exports goes to the US,mostly oil, which is sold to domestic refiners. His charity is,in this case,likely more political purely charitable..
Comment by TJM — January 1, 2006 @ 7:41 pm
Good point. Although, Chavez has been pretty outspoken against Bush and has even called our government the worst terrorist in teh world... and I'm sure someone else would always be willing to buy Venezuela's oil if we didn't. So if his motives are negative in any way, I'm thinking it's more likely a stunt to embarrass Bush or gain popularity with a world that is increasingly intolerant of us. Though, the fact that he resorts to benevolence for his personal gains is certainly more magnanimous than what Bushco is doing for personal gains... :)
January 1st, 2006 at 7:54 pmOut here in the wild, western Washington you can still find M80's, M250's and just about anything else your heart desires....its a shame the rest of the country doesn't get to play.
January 1st, 2006 at 9:06 pmOur government, sadly, now has a distinctly fascist look which is frightening and must be brought back under control. I worry too about the passivity of the press. The decision by the NYT to delay revealing what they knew about the disgraceful internal espionage being practiced by the Bush Administration is an appalling blot upon the escutcheon of a once respectable newspaper.
January 1st, 2006 at 11:06 pmOur government, sadly, now has a distinctly fascist look which is frightening and must be brought back under control. I worry too about the passivity of the press. The decision by the NYT to delay revealing what they knew about the disgraceful internal espionage being practiced by the Bush Administration is an appalling blot upon the escutcheon of a once respectable newspaper.
January 1st, 2006 at 11:06 pmThe NYT stumbled across the Manhattan Project in 1943. The Chicago Trib did as well. Both papers supressed publication of the story. Should we condemn them both?
January 1st, 2006 at 11:32 pmYes, but the Christian ‘charities’ care… no donations to atheists, jewish, muslims, jehovah’s witnesses, buddhists, hindus, etc… well, unless you’re willing to convert and then maybe they’ll talk. It’s Christian charity for Christians. That hardly qualifies as genuinely philanthropic… Where as Chavez extends his charity without conditions or conversion required.
Comment by unbelievable
You know that's not true so why even make such a vapid accusation? There's something wrong with you.
January 2nd, 2006 at 8:35 amFace the Facts …
1/all countries in the world monitor calls by computers
2/ they have the technology to listen in your house anytime anywhere by ampliflying the diaphram on your phone that moves at all times this techology has been around for 50 years. even when you not using the phone
3/ certain words you say like BOMB automatically start recording conversations anyway
4/ no terrorist in the word would menyion bomb they will speak about fishing or something
————–
NOW STOP THIS SPIN AND GET BACK TO THE INNOCENT PEOPLE YOU HAVE KILLED AND COUNTRY DESTROYING YOU ARE DOING YOU BUNCH OF MASS MURDERING WANKERS
————–
I SAY TO THE WORLD BOYCOTT AMERICAN GOODS ..
January 2nd, 2006 at 8:39 amBushie isn’t Catholic but he could and should ask for redemption too. The Fidel/Bushie similarities are striking aren’t they?
Comment by Susan
Only the most demented imagination could conceive of such a similarity. But the answer is no, there is zero to compare the two men to each other and the proof is this; In George Bush's America you, your family and your dog are still alive.
January 2nd, 2006 at 8:40 amBefore everyone gets completely congratulatory in re Senator Lugar's position of reasonableness, let's keep in mind that he's had his hearings on the policies of this administration, and come up wanting...
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee's investigation (chaired by Senator Lugar) of John Bolton's fitness to serve as UN Ambassador was precisely such a hearing.
"...and the FISA Act has worked pretty well from the time of President Carter’s day..."
So has the Constitution, asshat.
Senator Lugar's abandonment of his duty as an overseer of the rule of law will not be forgotten by me, at any rate. He doesn't care about his duty, his country or his honor - he just sees a groundswell of justice coming; that will sweep the Republicans from office: his concern is for himself, nothing more.
JF
January 2nd, 2006 at 8:50 amYou know that’s not true so why even make such a vapid accusation? There’s something wrong with you.
Comment by I-RIGHT-I — January 2, 2006 @ 8:35 am
Yes it is true. There are even government run programs which are Christian based, and will turn away people who are not open to being converted. Bushie set up drug and alcohol programs in this regard because he himself believes sobriety is only found through religion.
What's wrong with you? Too many FAUX "news" fairytales again? It's common sense that your religion is very exclusionary in its nature, so it's common sense that it would also exclude in this capacity. You really need to get out of Texas occasionally and see the world. Especially areas in Asia where missionaries are offering food to starving people ONLY if they convert to your religion first.
January 2nd, 2006 at 9:00 amOnly the most demented imagination could conceive of such a similarity. But the answer is no, there is zero to compare the two men to each other and the proof is this; In George Bush’s America you, your family and your dog are still alive.
Comment by I-RIGHT-I — January 2, 2006 @ 8:40 am
I have to agree with you IRI. Her comment was an insult to Castro. Castro isn't pre-emptively invading and bombing any other countries. Just Bush. He's much more like bin Laden...
TERRORISTS: Supposed leader is the spoiled son of a powerful politician, from extremely wealthy oil family
US GOVERNMENT: Supposed leader is the spoiled son of a powerful politician, from extremely wealthy oil family
TERRORISTS: Leader has declared a holy war (’Jihad’) against his ‘enemies’; believes any nation not with him is against him; believes god is on his side, and that any means are justified.
US GOVERNMENT: Leader has declared a holy war (’Crusade’) against his ‘enemies’; believes any nation not with him is against him; believes god is on his side, and that any means are justified.
TERRORISTS: Supported by extreme fundamentalist religious leaders who preach hatred, intolerance, subjugation of women, and persecution of non-believers
US GOVERNMENT: Supported by extreme fundamentalist religious leaders who preach hatred, intolerance, subjugation of women, and persecution of non-believers
TERRORISTS: Leadership was not elected by a majority of the people in a free and fair democratic election
US GOVERNMENT: Leadership was not elected by a majority of the people in a free and fair democratic election
TERRORISTS: Kills thousands of innocent civilians, some of them children, in cold blooded bombings
US GOVERNMENT: Kills thousands of innocent civilians, some of them children, in cold blooded bombings
TERRORISTS: Operates through clandestine organization (al Qaeda) with agents in many countries; uses bombing, assassination, other terrorist tactics
US GOVERNMENT: Operates through clandestine organization (CIA) with agents in many countries; uses bombing, assassination, other terrorist tactics
TERRORISTS: Supposed leader has extensive financial ties to Supposed leader of US GOVERNMENT
US GOVERNMENT: Supposed leader has extensive financial ties to Supposed leader of TERRORISTS
TERRORISTS: Supposed leader invested heavily in US bio-chemical companies
US GOVERNMENT: Supposed leader invested heavily in US bio-chemical companies
TERRORISTS: Using war as pretext to clamp down on dissent and undermine civil liberties
January 2nd, 2006 at 9:03 amUS GOVERNMENT: Using war as pretext to clamp down on dissent and undermine civil liberties
Senator Lugar’s abandonment of his duty as an overseer of the rule of law will not be forgotten by me, at any rate. He doesn’t care about his duty, his country or his honor - he just sees a groundswell of justice coming; that will sweep the Republicans from office: his concern is for himself, nothing more.
Comment by Jaime Frontero — January 2, 2006 @ 8:50 am
Excellent point... all Republicans distancing themselves from the Bush Regime are purely self-serving. They think it's the only way to save their jobs.
January 2nd, 2006 at 9:10 amHEY -- They never said that they got ACTIONABLE intelligence that stopped something. They got "information" that was "not otherwise available." Like when you follow the constitution!
Go back and find the NSA director's testimony before congress on this sort of program when it was proposed for the patriot act and rejected: He said then that they needed something "with a quicker trigger and a lighter trigger." See the "quicker" is a straw-man. Of course the retroactive warrants available via FISA where plenty QUICK. BUT you had to make a minimum legal showing -- AND BUSH WANTED POWER TO CONDUCT WIRETAPS THAT DID NOT MEET THE LEGAL STANDARDS!
So, of course the information was otherwise unavailable!
Bastards!
Right thinking People move to California or Oregon. We are seceding soon anyway.
http://www.newcaliforniarepublic.org/
http://www.californiasecession.org/
___________________________
Reporter: General Hayden, I know you’re not going to talk about specifics about that, and you say it’s been successful. But would it have been as successful-can you unequivocally say that something has been stopped or there was an imminent attack or you got information through this that you could not have gotten through going to the court?
Gen. Hayden: I can say unequivocally, all right, that we have got information through this program that would not otherwise have been available.
January 2nd, 2006 at 9:21 amBlue State Rebel,
You guys should leave soon. Corporate greed has already ruined San Francisco and the only people who can afford to live there are rich (I went into debt living there, and the Governator seemed hell bent on making it even worse). If you guys do leave, and make it affordable again, I'd consider moving back :).
January 2nd, 2006 at 10:43 amHEY — They never said that they got ACTIONABLE intelligence that stopped something.
Comment by BlueStateRetard
"They" just don't think you need to know and I agree.
January 2nd, 2006 at 10:43 am#22
Let's see that link, because according to EVERY source I have seen, there have been a total of almost 19,000 FISA warrant requests and only 5 have been turned down. That is it since it's inception in 1978.
You once again have been paid to post this false information on left wing sites, but we once again do not believe you liar.
January 2nd, 2006 at 10:56 amSen. Lugar is a valuable American and very reasonable member of the Congress.
January 2nd, 2006 at 10:57 amSpudge,see #46.
January 2nd, 2006 at 11:00 am#35
This is one of the main reasons FISA was passed in 1978.
Does anything get through that skull?
January 2nd, 2006 at 11:06 am#39
Very telling that you think explosions are better than human interaction.
January 2nd, 2006 at 11:10 am#45
That is a pretty idiotic name considering all of the evidence he has. Do you guys base your nicknames on reality or do you just throw words up in the air and grab whatever makes you look stupid?
January 2nd, 2006 at 11:14 amDoesn't the moniker, "right between the eyes" say something about our resident troll and how he, with guns a-blazing, shoot-first-ask-questions-later, approaches anyone who doesn't agree with his twisted logic?
January 2nd, 2006 at 11:16 am#55
Wow, good thing I-RIGHT-I is protecting us from slavery.
January 2nd, 2006 at 11:21 am#59
Name another country as obsessed with Christianity as the US is.
January 2nd, 2006 at 11:24 am#59
Then explain why Mark and Peter went into every city before Jesus arrive to shout to the masses that Jesus was coming. DId you read the bible, or do you just falsely quote from it?
January 2nd, 2006 at 11:26 am#74
My moms a Christian who is deeply invloved in their charities. Prove unbelieveable's comment wrong.
January 2nd, 2006 at 11:33 am#76
I think I just threw up a little bit.
January 2nd, 2006 at 11:35 amIsn't this I-RIGHT-I eating one of his own?
January 2nd, 2006 at 11:42 amHappy (?) New Year.
One question begging to be answered is, who was actually spied upon? Aside from suspected or potential terrorist links, it could be more frightening than it already is to know that answer, and this may be one of two prime reasons why the Bushies are digging in their heels and have been attempting to browbeat the media into silence.
(The obvious reason is the Administrations' "Cheney" policy of radical assertion of Presidential power.)
Anyone care to guess who? I'd start with the media and certain Democrats, then extend to any critics of the war from any party.
Senator Hegel, are you listening?
January 2nd, 2006 at 11:50 amVery telling that you think explosions are better than human interaction.
Comment by SpudgeBoy — January 2, 2006 @ 11:10 am
Interesting eh, since he admittedly makes girls cry (don't know why a grown man is hanging out with 9 year old girls at church) and dates a blow up doll...
January 2nd, 2006 at 12:07 pmQuoting from Post #59
>“'A blind man doesn’t care from where his eyesight comes neither does a hungry man his food but the real humanitarian doesn’t stand on the roof tops and shout how great and wonderful he is.'â€
"Then explain why Mark and Peter went into every city before Jesus arrive to shout to the masses that Jesus was coming. Did you read the bible, or do you just falsely quote from it?
Comment by SpudgeBoy — January 2, 2006"
You are a bit off in paraphrasing Jesus and the Gospel.
a) Certain of Jesus' disciples were sent to certain towns to preach the Good News as defined by Jesus, not necessarily in advance of Jesus.
b) Everything Jesus proclaimed as a good action in line with the Will of the Father was to be done in humility - absolutely no "fronting" allowed - with a sense of merely fulfilling your responsibility of loving God and your neighbor.
"Beware of practicing your piety before men..."
(Read Mt. 6:1-5, and for more on the humility required of God's servants parable read Luke 17: 7-10)
January 2nd, 2006 at 12:11 pmpaz3,
I am sorry you don't see through the bullshit. Mark and Peter were nothing more than Jesus' PR people. And I am not paraphrasing anything that anybody or any book said. I am telling you what Mark and Peter did in Jesus' organization.
January 2nd, 2006 at 12:14 pmMy moms a Christian who is deeply invloved in their charities. Prove unbelieveable’s comment wrong.
Comment by SpudgeBoy — January 2, 2006 @ 11:33 am
Good luck Spudge - I can't get straight answers from him on any of teh tough questions - just derogatory misogynistic condescention or silence. Guess they haven't been able to update his Neocon Nazi Handbook for Posting Reicht-wing Propaganda on Liberal Blogs as fast as we can think...
And if you can get him to respond to this one, see if you can also get an explanation on the intelligent design behind the human appendix. I've been waiting for that answer since November...
January 2nd, 2006 at 12:17 pmThen explain why Mark and Peter went into every city before Jesus arrive to shout to the masses that Jesus was coming. DId you read the bible, or do you just falsely quote from it?
Comment by SpudgeBoy — January 2, 2006 @ 11:26 am
He only reads that parts where God smites someone...
January 2nd, 2006 at 12:19 pmunbelieveable,
My questions are rehtorical. I-RIGHT-I doesn't have a good argiement in his body.
Did you make his black list yet? I did. I am wondering if I am getting a plaque or trophy or something.
January 2nd, 2006 at 12:27 pmMy questions are rehtorical. I-RIGHT-I doesn’t have a good argiement in his body.
I know, was just adding insult to injury...
Did you make his black list yet? I did. I am wondering if I am getting a plaque or trophy or something.
Comment by SpudgeBoy — January 2, 2006 @ 12:27 pm
How do you know?
January 2nd, 2006 at 12:35 pmunbelievable:I am thrilled to know someone else remembers that Billy Breeden was the only one to do time over irancontra. By the way, he still works very hard in his mission for the poor of this country and others.
Also, folks as a constituent of Sen. Lugar's, I have not completely given up hope for his support,action regarding investigations. I just had a feeling in my gut he was gonna say something some day about all this crap. And -look- now he has!
January 2nd, 2006 at 1:46 pmI-RIGHT-I is just another one of those hapless trolls brainwashed by the Bush propaganda. Every dictatorship has those. They cannot think for themselves so they follow the leader.
Ignore him. He'll go away.
January 2nd, 2006 at 1:52 pmHere's how this whole affair will end: Read on
Dau Report (from Salon.com) -
January 2nd, 2006 at 2:35 pm"The Dynamic of a Bush Scandal: How the Spying Story Will Unfold (and Fade)"
by Peter Daou
The third button on the Daou Report's navigation bar links to the U.S. Constitution, a Constitution many Americans believe is on life support - if not already dead. The cause of its demise is the corrosive interplay between the Bush administration, a bevy of blind apologists, a politically apathetic public, a well-oiled rightwing message machine, lapdog reporters, and a disorganized opposition. The domestic spying case perfectly illuminates the workings of that system. And the unfolding of this story augurs poorly for those who expect it to yield different results from other administration scandals.
Here's why: the dynamic of a typical Bush scandal follows familiar contours...
1. POTUS circumvents the law - an impeachable offense.
2. The story breaks (in this case after having been concealed by a news organization until well after Election 2004).
3. The Bush crew floats a number of pushback strategies, settling on one that becomes the mantra of virtually every Republican surrogate. These Republicans face down poorly prepped Dem surrogates and shred them on cable news shows.
4. Rightwing attack dogs on talk radio, blogs, cable nets, and conservative editorial pages maul Bush's critics as traitors for questioning the CIC.
5. The Republican leadership plays defense for Bush, no matter how flagrant the Bush over-reach, no matter how damaging the administration's actions to America's reputation and to the Constitution. A few 'mavericks' like Hagel or Specter risk the inevitable rightwing backlash and meekly suggest that the president should obey the law. John McCain, always the Bush apologist when it really comes down to it, minimizes the scandal.
6. Left-leaning bloggers and online activists go ballistic, expressing their all-too-familiar combination of outrage at Bush and frustration that nothing ever seems to happen with these scandals. Several newspaper editorials echo these sentiments but quickly move on to other issues.
7. A few reliable Dems, Conyers, Boxer, et al, take a stand on principle, giving momentary hope to the progressive grassroots/netroots community. The rest of the Dem leadership is temporarily outraged (adding to that hope), but is chronically incapable of maintaining the sense of high indignation and focus required to reach critical mass and create a wholesale shift in public opinion. For example, just as this mother of all scandals hits Washington, Democrats are still putting out press releases on Iraq, ANWR and a range of other topics, diluting the story and signaling that they have little intention of following through. This allows Bush to use his three favorite weapons: time, America's political apathy, and make-believe 'journalists' who yuck it up with him and ask fluff questions at his frat-boy pressers.
8. Reporters and media outlets obfuscate and equivocate, pretending to ask tough questions but essentially pushing the same narratives they've developed and perfected over the past five years, namely, some variation of "Bush firm, Dems soft." A range of Bush-protecting tactics are put into play, one being to ask ridiculously misleading questions such as "Should Bush have the right to protect Americans or should he cave in to Democratic political pressure?" All the while, the right assaults the "liberal" media for daring to tell anything resembling the truth.
9. Polls will emerge with 'proof' that half the public agrees that Bush should have the right to "protect Americans against terrorists." Again, the issue will be framed to mask the true nature of the malfeasance. The media will use these polls to create a self-fulfilling loop and convince the public that it isn't that bad after all. The president breaks the law. Life goes on.
10. The story starts blending into a long string of administration scandals, and through skillful use of scandal fatigue, Bush weathers the storm and moves on, further demoralizing his opponents and cementing the press narrative about his 'resolve' and toughness. Congressional hearings might revive the issue momentarily, and bloggers will hammer away at it, but the initial hype is all the Democrat leadership and the media can muster, and anyway, it's never as juicy the second time around...
Rinse and repeat.
It's a battle of attrition that Bush and his team have mastered. Short of a major Dem initiative to alter the cycle, to throw a wrench into the system, to go after the media institutionally, this cycle will continue for the foreseeable future.
###
unbelievable:I am thrilled to know someone else remembers that Billy Breeden was the only one to do time over irancontra. By the way, he still works very hard in his mission for the poor of this country and others.
Comment by petuniahortense — January 2, 2006 @ 1:46 pm
Thanks, but unfortunately, I don't remember. I was in high school at the time, I think, where history stopped mentioning politics around the FDR Administration - not that it was real history anyway :). But, we can thank the wisdom of Howard Zinn for his fine book - 'A People's History of the United States' for educating me. Now that book should be required high school reading!
January 2nd, 2006 at 2:50 pmThanks, but unfortunately, I don’t remember. I was in high school at the time, I think, where history stopped mentioning politics around the FDR Administration - not that it was real history anyway :). But, we can thank the wisdom of Howard Zinn for his fine book - ‘A People’s History of the United States’ for educating me. Now that book should be required high school reading!
Comment by unbelievable — January 2, 2006
Req. reading lists... Just require that kids read and accomplish that! That would be something.
The idea is to tax wealth..., not income. Guess who doesn't want that? The powers that be made fast work of Henry George... he was a major threat and that's why he went from being the third most famous American in the world to... who? Google him, you will find lots of info. There are even communities in America and England that are functioning communities based on Georgist economic ideas.
January 2nd, 2006 at 3:14 pmI am heartened, though cautiously so, that several Republican lawmakers are asserting the power of the legislative branch as a check and balance on the Bush Administration. I was a Republican until 1992 but have registered Democrat since, and have always had essentially a centrist point of view. Frankly, however, I find the Republican Party's dominance by the far right downright frightening in its lack of tolerance for dissenting points of view (no matter how well reasoned or principled) and its disregard for the Constitution and the requirements of existing legislation with which it disagrees. I hope the recent willingness of Republican members of Congress to stand up to the bullying of Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, and Ashcroft/Gonzalez signals a swift resurgence of moderate governance in our nation. Nothing would better serve the U.S. in the long run than a new, broad-based movement back to the political center. There lies the rule of law, and there lies any hope for the bipartisan cooperation that will be necessary to shepherd America's strength to truly defeat terrorism in our world. Kudos to Republican Sens. Lugar, Specter, Graham, Collins, McCain, et. al., who have had the guts to take the high ground that Bush, Cheney, and Co. have surrendered -- for all the world to see.
January 2nd, 2006 at 4:46 pm#106 - I agree. Racists are to be ignored, skipped over and marginalized back the corner where they belong. IRI showed us his hand long ago and is not worth the waste of time it may take to address him.
January 2nd, 2006 at 4:59 pmDubya tore up the Fourth Amendment when he signed that illegal wiretap order.
Is it "liberal paranoia" to be scared and angry when the government is taking away our rights??
I would rather be a paranoid liberal than a fascist neocon.
All you dubyalovers can go cheney yourselves.
January 2nd, 2006 at 5:28 pmThe village idiot had 52 warnings before 9/11 hit. He never read his PDB's in August of 01. And anyway he and Cheney had the WTC hit because they needed a modern Pearl Harbor to start a war and get more power. If he felt he was in any danger on 9/11, why did it take him 40 minutes to leave the school. The goat book couldn't have been that good. And by him being there, if the attack was a surprise to him, he put the whole school in danger by sticking around. BushCo is to blame for the attacks not Osama. He's just a patsy. And it's well known that they pulled Trade 7, so when did they have the time to set explosives in a burning building??? And with all the dust and destruction they were able to bring in explosives and set them??? And two buildings fall the same way, not one steel beam in place I think that is amamzing. But what's more amazing is people still think Osama bin Laden is the bad guy.
January 2nd, 2006 at 5:44 pmThis comment is in response to Coreesa's post no.5)She asked the question: who is getting together all this money for this shindig AND where is all the missing hundreds of millions of dollars? Look no further then Paul Wolfowitz. Don't forget he was a KEY mastermind in the invasion of Iraq. Then he very suddenly got whisked away to head the World Bank even though he had no other previous banking or management experience. Your post really hit the nail on the head with regards to the Neocons' bloody visions of world dominance through control of the World's supply of oil in the Middle East. With the phony 'War On Terror' as their excuse of all excuses to do WHATEVER THEY WANT. That is also the location where 'Armeggedon' is prophesised to take place. We should all be worried if the Shrub's presidential powers are not curtailed soon before America completely turns into a Police State.
January 2nd, 2006 at 5:59 pmThis comment is in response to Coreesa's post no.5)She asked the question: who is getting together all this money for this shindig AND where is all the missing hundreds of millions of dollars? I would bet it's all sitting safely over at the World Bank with Paul Wolfowitz. Don't forget he was one of the Neocons who was feverishly beating the drums of war for the invasion of Iraq. Then, very suddenly he got whisked away to head the World Bank even though he had no other previous banking or management experience. Coreesa's post really hit the nail on the head with regards to the Neocons' bloody visions of world dominance through control of, the world's supply of oil, in the Middle East. With the phony 'War On Terror' as their excuse of all excuses to do WHATEVER THEY WANT. That is also the location where 'Armeggedon' is prophesised to take place. We should all be worried if the Shrub's presidential powers are not curtailed soon before America completely turns into a Police State.
January 2nd, 2006 at 6:16 pmThis comment is in response to Coreesa’s post no.5)She asked the question: who is getting together all this money for this shindig AND where is all the missing hundreds of millions of dollars? I would bet it’s all sitting safely over at the World Bank with Paul Wolfowitz.Comment by fadingfreedoms.
Well, whatever missing money you are talking about (who can guess?) is safely in my hands. I think? I have the responsibility of culling the idiots from the sheep. (not an easy task). It costs a lot of money to humanly inventory so many losers. By the way...name and address please. The ACLU would like to send you a complimentary "I'm a ratbastardcommiemofo" placard and a coupon for a Wendy's double cheeseburger.
January 2nd, 2006 at 7:02 pm$8.8 billion is missing from the initial funds distributed by Paul Bremer's Coalition Provisional Authority.
January 2nd, 2006 at 7:26 pmThe ACLU would like to send you a complimentary “I’m a ratbastardcommiemofo†placard and a coupon for a Wendy’s double cheeseburger.
Comment by I-RIGHT-I — January 2, 2006 @ 7:02 pm
You know better - it should be a Burger King veggie burger (hold the cheese) and a small fry (you guys are the Super Size crowd). Sheesh...
January 2nd, 2006 at 7:28 pmActually, he isn't smart enough to know.
January 2nd, 2006 at 7:55 pmActually, he isn’t smart enough to know.
Comment by SpudgeBoy — January 2, 2006 @ 7:55 pm
Yeah, so it seems. So I've stopped debating him and started messing with him instead. Like a cat with a mouse...
January 2nd, 2006 at 8:06 pmQ: â€Mr. President, you said you would hunt down the terrorists responsible for 911 . Why haven’t you made any effort to do that?â€
January 2nd, 2006 at 8:44 pmA: (Mr. Bush’s body pack audio receiver goes dead) “ ……….. I meant roving terrorists. Yeah. Ya see, those responsible terrorists that flew them planes down, there all dead. No need to hunt them down. Heh heh heh….Stupid. Thought I’d fall for that one, eh …razor nose. Heh heh. How many chickens does it take to get to the other …er…don’t fool me twice.â€
#80:
Actually, this isn't exactly an excellent point, at least not for the reason you mention. Were it any other Senator, in a more tenuous position, it would be though! Having previously lived in Indiana for more than 10 years, I can say quite definitively that Senator Lugar is in no danger of losing his job. He's a long-standing member and is deeply respected in his (very red) state. He regularly wins reelection with large margins.
The truth is that, being a creature of the congress for as long as he has, he's seen it all: the power plays, scandals big and small, good policy and bad, republican and democrat majorities, etc.
He's a Senator who has generally stood for good sense decisions. I think he takes this very seriously. The only concern he has for his job is that it could be rendered irrelevant by this most recent power grab: what need is there for congress if the president can do anything he wants without oversight? He understands fully the ramifications of the administration's actions... but he's never been a bulging veins, red-faced screamer; always just a measured voice, which is refreshing for a republican. For him to be speaking up now is a significant development.
Perhaps he has a long enough memory to remember the Church commission...
January 2nd, 2006 at 9:10 pmAction speaks louder than words. The proof of the pudding
January 2nd, 2006 at 10:43 pmis in the vote.
Will Graham, Specter and Lugar only 'comment' or will they
act? When push comes to shove, will they fall in line or
will they stand firm behind their 'comments?
Screw those hypocritiacl RHINOs. Americans don't care if the USA spies on Mulsim immigrants. Hell, we want them spied on. We don't trust them and we have plenty of reasons not to...here's one....
"Be like America, not like France. Don't let Muslims in your pants".
PARIS -- A gang of more than 20 youths -- thought to be North African immigrants -- terrorized hundreds of train passengers in a rampage of violence, robbery and sexual assault on New Year's Day, French officials said yesterday.
January 5th, 2006 at 11:16 amThe five-hour-long criminal frenzy was "totally unacceptable," French President Jacques Chirac told reporters. "Those guilty will be found and punished, as they deserve."
The gang of between 20 and 30 youths boarded the train, heading from Nice on the French Riviera to Lyon, in eastern France, early on Jan. 1, as it carried 600 passengers home from New Year's Eve partying overnight.
Once inside, they went wild, forcing passengers to hand over mobile phones and wallets, and slashing seats and breaking windows.
A 20-year-old woman cornered by several of the marauders was sexually molested.
"It was a real scene of pillage on the train," said the regional state prosecutor, Dominique Luigi, adding that the passengers were in a state of "panic."
Train staff alerted police, and the train pulled into a station to wait. The three officers who initially turned up later were joined by reinforcements.
http://www.washtimes.com/world/20060104-115755-9546r.htm
Oklahoma City bombing
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Damage to the Murrah building before cleanup began.The Oklahoma City bombing was a terrorist attack on April 19, 1995, in which the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, a U.S. government office complex in downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was destroyed, killing 168 people. It is the largest domestic terrorist attack in the history of the United States, and - until the September 11, 2001 attacks - largest terrorist attack of any kind in the nation's history.
Your point IRI?
January 5th, 2006 at 3:51 pmYour point IRI?
Comment by unbelievable
Is that supposed to prove that white Americans are just as likely to cut your head off or bomb you as Muslims?
January 6th, 2006 at 10:08 amIs that supposed to prove that white Americans are just as likely to cut your head off or bomb you as Muslims?
Comment by I-RIGHT-I — January 6, 2006 @ 10:08 am
I usually don't give gold stars to high school students (I think thy're too old for that kind of puerile technique), but in your case, I'll make an exception.
You can't really believe that people can be so easily generalized can you? After all, we don't control where we are born, into what body, or which culture. We do, however control our behavior and our attitudes. Therefore there are benevolent people of every color, shape, size, nationality, gender, etc. just as there are rotten ones.
January 6th, 2006 at 2:51 pm[...] McCain is the latest addition to a growing list of prominent conservatives — including Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN) — who have expressed serious concerns about the legality of the program. [...]
January 22nd, 2006 at 6:35 pm[...] McCain is the latest addition to a growing list of prominent conservatives — including Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN) — who have expressed serious concerns about the legality of the program. [...]
January 22nd, 2006 at 8:15 pmThink Progress » Justice Department objected to secret spying program....
Think Progress » Justice Department objected to secret spying program.
James B. Comey, former Attorney General John Ashcroft’s top deputy, “objected in 2004 to aspects of the National Security Agency’s domestic surveillance program and refused ......
February 4th, 2006 at 4:21 pmFunny how so many hate Bush and accuse him for "domestic spying". (The calls are from people from outside the U.S.) (Sorry to approach with a fact) Why hasn't anyone complained of when Clinton and his gang did much worse?
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