ThinkFast: July 23, 2007
ThinkFast: July 23, 2007
Steve Thomma of McClatchy writes, “When pressing a tough sale, Bush is a lousy salesman.” “He’s never really sold the country or Congress something it didn’t already want. And when he’s tried to sell something the people or the politicians didn’t want, he’s fallen flat.” Thomma cites Bush’s sales pitches on reforming immigration, privatizing Social Security, and staying in Iraq.
The Washington Post reports on an executive order issued by President Bush last week entitled, “Blocking Property of Certain Persons Who Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Iraq.” In the extreme, it could be interpreted as targeting the financial assets of any American who undermines the administration’s Iraq policy.
Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, was denied access to the White House plan for operating the government after a terrorist attack. “I just can’t believe they’re going to deny a member of Congress the right of reviewing how they plan to conduct the government of the United States after a significant terrorist attack,” he said.
A few months ago, Condoleezza Rice decided to write an opinion piece about Lebanon, but no one would publish it. Price Floyd, the State Department’s director of media affairs, said, “I kept hearing the same thing: ‘There’s no news in this.’” The piece, he said, was littered with glowing references to President Bush’s wise leadership. “It read like a campaign document.”
“After a rare bipartisan agreement in the Senate to expand insurance coverage for low-income children, House Democrats have drafted an even broader plan that also calls for major changes in Medicare and promises to intensify the battle with the White House over health care.”
“Three parked cars exploded in a predominantly Shiite area in Baghdad on Monday, killing at least 12 people and wounding 19, according to police, and the U.S. military said car bombs had killed two troops over the weekend.”
“The United States and Iran have set a date for ambassador-level talks in Baghdad on the deteriorating security situation in Iraq — the first such meeting since late May, U.S. and Iraqi officials said Sunday.”
“Major military offensives and a changed focus on increasing security have slowed efforts to train Iraqi forces to take control of Iraq, the top U.S. training official said. Brig. Gen. Dana Pittard told USA Today, “Transitioning [to Iraqi control] is not a main priority, but it’s still a priority.”
“Under a Senate bill to be introduced today, computer programmers, call-center staffers and other service-sector workers who make up the vast majority of the nation’s workforce would for the first time be eligible for a generous package of income, health and retraining benefits currently reserved for manufacturing workers who lose their jobs to international trade.”
And finally: What’s the difference between Jessica Lynch and Jessica Simpson? “When Cheney threw out the first pitch before a 2003 game between the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs, Cheney was first informed that pop singer Nick Lachey “would sing the national anthem before the game and would be accompanied by his girlfriend, Jessica Simpson. Cheney thought Simpson’s name sounded familiar. He asked his staff: ‘Is that the soldier who was captured in Iraq?‘”
What did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog Roll
TODAY is the Five Year Anniversary of the Downing Street Memo Meeting that the Corporate Media Refused to Cover!
from afterdowningstreet dot org:
We’ve reached the impeachment moment for Vice President Dick Cheney….We’ve pushed the cosponsor list for H. Res. (Dennis Kucinich’s resolution to impeach Dick Cheney) 333 up to 14. Chairman John Conyers says that if we get 3 more he’ll begin the impeachment proceedings. And many Congress Members must be recognizing that there is no other path available. Cheney and Bush have repeatedly refused to comply with subpoenas, ordered former staffers not to comply with subpoenas, and announced that the Justice Department will not enforce contempt citations from Congress. When a special prosecutor attempted to hold this administration accountable, Cheney’s chief of staff obstructed justice, and Cheney persuaded Bush to commute his sentence. There is no course left for Congress but impeachment.
On Monday, July 23rd, the fifth anniversary of the meeting that produced the Downing Street Minutes, Cindy Sheehan, Ray McGovern, Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Ann Wright, Debra Sweet, Dave Lindorff, David Swanson, Jodie Evans, Medea Benjamin, Kevin Zeese, and Tina Richards will lead a march to Chairman Conyers office and not leave until he agrees to begin impeachment proceedings.
If you cannot be there, you can take two minutes on Monday and do two things: phone Chairman Conyers at 202-225-5126 and ask him to start the impeachment of Dick Cheney; and phone your own Congress Member at 202-224-3121 and ask them to immediately call Conyers’ office to express their support for impeachment. Your Congress Member might be one of the three needed, not just to keep impeachment activists out of jail but to keep this nation from devolving into dictatorship.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:09 amI guess that means that the war profiteers bank accounts will be monitored now?
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:09 amIn it’s extreme, it could be interpreted as anyone who disagrees with Bush’s policy in Iraq in a way that attracts the attention of the Bush Administration. Case in point, Cindy Sheehan.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:12 amMr. DeFazio should get a clue. Bush’s executive order says that Congress shall cease to exist if he implements it. So, why should he tell Congress what his plan is to conduct the Government. It’s pretty obvious what his plan is. He will declare himself the Dictator Guy and that will be the end of our system of government that we have fought so hard to protect for all these years.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:15 amFazio is a (D).
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:16 amHorsepucky. The Bush Administration has no plans to transition control to the Iraqi people. Once they control their country, there will be no reason for the US to stay in Iraq.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:18 am#
Democrats are invested in defeat
Comment by trueblue — July 23, 2007 @ 9:14 am
#
Actually, it was this administration that invested OUR Treasure and Blood in an occupation that they not only knew was not winnable, but they planned specifically to invent the quagmire that has resulted in order to ensure permanent bases/occupation.
This is NOT a war. Stop implying that it is.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:21 am“I just can’t believe they’re going to deny a member of Congress the right of reviewing how they plan to conduct the government of the United States after a significant terrorist attack,†he said.
That scares me. We all can guess why they don’t want anyone seeing the plan, can’t we?
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:23 amDowning St. Memos and Nuremberg: Illegality of the Iraq War
My most recent article on The Last Ditch website is “The Downing Street memos and Nuremberg: The illegality of the war on Iraq” at http://www.thornwalker.com/ditch/snieg_downing.htm which presents how the US attack on Iraq was illegal by the standards of the Nuremberg trial and current international law. While this was pretty obvious before the release of the Downing St. memos, those leaked memos confirm it completely.
Some excerpts:
The American Establishment has conventionally praised and invoked the 1945-46 Nuremberg trial of the Nazi leadership as a model for bringing international criminals to justice. But what if the same standards applied at Nuremberg were also applied to current U.S. policy? And a parallel trial were convened? In such a proceeding, would American leaders fare any better than the captured German leadership?
When people today think of Nazi criminality they think of the mass extermination of Jews: gas chambers, human soap, millions of bodies turned to ash in factory-like death camps. But the fact, which has largely been tossed down the memory hole, is that the extermination of Jews was not the fundamental Nazi crime cited at Nuremberg. Nor was it even the murder of noncombatant gentiles in addition to Jews. Rather, the major crime was the making of “aggressive war” — also referred to as “crimes against peace.”
It is plain, then, that people knowledgeable about international law considered the attack on Iraq to be illegal long before the Downing Street memos came to light in 2005. But the leaked memos further confirm the war’s illegality.
First, they confirm that the Bush administration had decided to attack Iraq and overthrow Saddam before Blix’s inspectors ever set foot in Iraq. In short, not finding any WMDs would not prevent a U.S. attack
But no matter how positively the United States advertises itself and its motives, it has violated the same precepts of international law for which the Nazi leaders, and even some men who were not among the chief leaders, were severely punished. Not to worry, though: the United States can get away with its violations of international law. Unlike Nazi Germany, it has yet to be conquered by its enemies.
But none of that is of any importance to America’s current leadership . . . . Judging from the American example, we must conclude that the only punishable “crime” in the struggle among nation-states is to lose a war.
In light of that rule, it is easy to understand why other countries scramble to equip themselves with the most powerful weapons they can lay their hands on.
For the entire article see: http://www.thornwalker.com/ditch/snieg_downing.htm
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:24 amPeter DeFazio os not a republican.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:24 amhttp://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/17/magazine/17BUSH.html?ex=1151899200&en=079d03a2a9db7c23&ei=5070
It was during a press conference on Sept. 16, 2001, in response to a question about homeland security efforts infringing on civil rights, that Bush first used the telltale word ”crusade” in public. ”This is a new kind of — a new kind of evil,” he said. ”And we understand. And the American people are beginning to understand. This crusade, this war on terrorism is going to take a while.”
In the summer of 2002, after I had written an article in Esquire that the White House didn’t like about Bush’s former communications director, Karen Hughes, I had a meeting with a senior adviser to Bush. He expressed the White House’s displeasure, and then he told me something that at the time I didn’t fully comprehend — but which I now believe gets to the very heart of the Bush presidency.
The aide said that guys like me were ”in what we call the reality-based community,” which he defined as people who ”believe that solutions emerge from your judicious study of discernible reality.” I nodded and murmured something about enlightenment principles and empiricism. He cut me off. ”That’s not the way the world really works anymore,” he continued. ”We’re an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality. And while you’re studying that reality — judiciously, as you will — we’ll act again, creating other new realities, which you can study too, and that’s how things will sort out. We’re history’s actors . . . and you, all of you, will be left to just study what we do.”
Who besides guys like me are part of the reality-based community? Many of the other elected officials in Washington, it would seem. A group of Democratic and Republican members of Congress were called in to discuss Iraq sometime before the October 2002 vote authorizing Bush to move forward. A Republican senator recently told Time Magazine that the president walked in and said: ”Look, I want your vote. I’m not going to debate it with you.” When one of the senators began to ask a question, Bush snapped, ”Look, I’m not going to debate it with you.”
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:24 amRepublicans are invested in the cavalier and repeated deaths of American soldiers in order to simply support Bush’s ill-concieved war. The Republicans will continue to march US troops to uneeded death just because they don’t want to lose political points.
Soon they will send more US troops to die in Iran so that Dick Cheney can renew Halliburton contracts that just ended two months ago. That’s right, all this time while the US was calling Iran the “axis of evil” Dick Cheney was sucking up cash money from Iran.
No wonder 70% of America think Bush is a loser.
-GSD
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:25 am“The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel meanwhile, runs a widely-distributed AP dispatch, reporting that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid “said Feingold’s proposals showed the nation’s frustration” but he “would not go along with them…”
My goodness. I really can’t think of a reason why Harry Reid shouldn’t step down as Majority Leader, nor why Nancy Pelosi shouldn’t step down as Speaker.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:26 amIs this also going to apply to people in this country who don’t get a job because of the H1 visas? There are thousands of people in the engineering/programming field who can’t find a job because their employer obtained an H1 visa and brought in a worker from India to do their $30.00 an hour job for $12.00 an hour. They are just as unemployed as the person who lost their job and for the same reason.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:27 amtrueblue said
Really? At what point during a sinking does the ship’s captain order the lowering of lifeboats? Republicans seem to think it should occur after the ship has gone down. Of course, not every ship that’s been hit will sink; every Navy officer has a good understanding of buoyancy. But it’s foolish to cling to a ship that is sinking.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:30 amMidwestblue -
I agree with Reid. Feingold’s call for censure, while 100% justified, would only give the right wing a ton of ammunition to attack, attack, attack. The censure would result in nothing, but the airplay given to right wing blabbermouths would be astronomical.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:30 ambilbobaggins – Thousands of programmers who can’t find jobs? Sweet – know any good C# guys? We’ve a shortage here in Columbus.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:32 amBush dont care about you all
President Bush is to veto a bill that would ban mercury in flu vaccines for children despite its known links to autism and other neurological disorders and despite the fact that he pledged in 2004 to support such a move when campaigning for re-election.
The White House stated on Tuesday that President Bush would veto the FY 2008 HHS-Labor-Education Appropriations Bill because of the cost and “objectionable provisions” such as a measure to ban the use of childhood flu vaccines that contain thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative, a press release from Autism advocacy group Safe Minds on the PRNewswire-USNewswire states.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:33 amBush is a lousy salesman.
That’s because Republicans don’t know the difference between manipulation & intimidation and actual persuasion.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:34 am#16 – Unless it’s a submarine. ;)
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:34 amDemocrats are invested in defeat
Comment by trueblue — July 23, 2007 @ 9:14 am
I think this is a name hijacking.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:34 amDemocrats are invested in defeat
Comment by trueblue
______________________
This does not sound like trueblue. I think it’s another namejacking.
Anyway, it should read “Democrats are invested in defeat of BushCo’s illegitimate and mismanaged occupation of Iraq”.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:35 amGDumbya’s continued pursuit of some victory in Iraq is proof positive that he is an active alcoholic. He has learned nothing.
He doesn’t seem to realize that, when you are in a deep hole, the first thing you should do is quit digging.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:35 amHi, Zooey
Good timing.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:36 am#17. Are we supposed to sit idly by not taking on the chimp because the Repugnicans will attack? When did anything like that EVER stop the Repugnicans from attacking our views and our beliefs? Its time for the Democratic leadership of the House and the Senate to re-evolve a spine. Thankfully Russ is one of the very few Democrats on the hill who have one.
The Democrats are regularly excoriated by the Reichwing and made to look like pussies for behaviors just like what Reid administered. Screw the Repugnicans attacks. Its time for some backbone on the Hill. Good on ya, Russ. Keep attacking.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:37 amTHE SHADOW GOVERNMENT REVEALED:
http://www.wnd.com/news/printer-friendly.asp?ARTICLE_ID=52576
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
THE NEW WORLD DISORDER
Documents reveal ’shadow government’
Freedom of Information request puts 1,000 new pages online
“We have hundreds of pages of e-mails from U.S. executive branch administrators who are copying the e-mail to somewhere between 25 to 100 people, a third of whom are in the U.S. bureaucracy, a third of whom are in the Mexican bureaucracy and a third of whom are in the Canadian bureaucracy,” said Corsi.
“They are sharing their laws and regulations so we can ‘harmonize’ and ‘integrate’ our laws into a North American structure, not a USA structure.”
Corsi claims the process is well along the way.
“This is totally outside the U.S. Constitution, virtually an executive branch coup d’etat,” he said. “SPP is creating new trilateral memoranda of understanding and mutual agreements which should be submitted to Senate for two-thirds votes as international treaties.”
SPP Documents
SPP Response to Jerome Corsi Freedom of Information Act Requests
The following are the documents SPP sent in response to the FOIA request submitted by J. Corsi. As you will see, SPP responded with incomplete documents, in no particular order. We have grouped the documents here in a fashion which should make examining them possible. J. Corsi is continuing to request additional FOIA-released documents from SPP.
http://stopspp.com/stopspp/?page_id=11
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:38 amMarcus Tullius Cicero, quotes about Secrecy:
A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor; he speaks in accents familiar to his victims, and he wears their face and their arguments, he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation, he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of the city, he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murder is less to fear.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:39 amhttp://www.deeperwants.com/cul1/homeworlds/journal/archives/003792.html
Who Will Save America?
By Paul Craig Roberts
A number of readers have asked me when did I undergo my epiphany, abandon right-wing Reaganism and become an apostle of truth and justice.
I appreciate the friendly sentiment, but there is a great deal of misconception in the question.
continues…
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:40 amG’morning Ace! Now what could be ‘finah’ than to begin an unwinnable war when you’re on the other side of things – like making huge profits from war profiteering?? How many ways can we say “follow the money” right up to the Bush Crime Family’s door and the Cheney War Chest! Now let’s begin making their financial investments public, shall we?
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:41 amBush as a bad salesman is an understatement, He is like the used car salesman that sold you a car that exploded and killed your kids. Or the Realtor that sold you an exploding money pit in the middle of love canal. Bush couldn’t sell a money giveaway at this point.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:41 amPOP QUIZ: Which party gave us the Freedom of Information Act?
Don’t bother to thank us.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:41 am“Democrats are invested in defeat.”
So true. After all, it was Harry Reid, not George Bush, who allowed Saddam’s vast ammunition dumps to remain unguarded after the fall of the regime, thereby allowing the Iraqi insurgents unfettered access to munitions and weapons that they are still using to kill American soldiers. Impeach Harry Reid!
And it was Hillary Clinton, not Donald Rumsfeld, who ordered the Pentagon to ignore repeated requests from the Army and Marines for troop carriers that were able to withstand blast effects from IEDs. The thousands of resulting deaths are clearly on her hands, not Rumsfeld.
And it was Russ Feingold, not George Bush, who fired General John Shinseki for suggesting that the invasion would require many thousands of troops more than Donald Rumsfeld was planning to use, which inevitably meant that the US forces have never been able to control the border with Syria. Feingold should be Gitmoized.
In fact, I have reliable information just passed on to me by Jerry Falwell’s ghost that 9/11 was not planned by Osama Bin Laden but by Bill Clinton himself.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:42 amMarcus Tullius Cicero, quotes about Secrecy:
A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself.
Ace, thanks for the quotation. This is precisely what we’re dealing with right now. Many of us have known this for some time; others are being awakened to the reality of this Truth right now. Hopefully, it’s not too late for this country. While many slept, Rome burned.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:44 amI agree ace with your post #10. There has been a push over the past few years to eliminate all but the holocaust from Nazi crimes. But reading any books from the 1950s and 60s it is obvious that “agressive war” was what ever citizen thought was the crime Hitler had committed.
Furthermore, the general philosophy of Nazism/Fascism with its emphasis on authoritarian capitalism, suppression of unions, and obsession with established institutions of arts, religion, and education is largely reduced to a monomania about the Jews. Oddly, the political economic program of Nazism/Fascism is almost identitical to neo-conservativism.
Leo Strauss was very keen on Noble Lies and Necessary Illusions. His introductory courses on political philosophy preached the Eternal Truths of Plato’s Republic and Machiavelli’s The Prince. He believed an Elite should rule the Masses for the Greater Good. He despised democracy and liberalism; but that wouldn’t stop his followers from coopting both those terms to trick and deceive the Hoi Polloi.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:45 amThis occupation has never had a plan, has never been a winnable situation, and this was known to the fascist neocons making money from the blood of our soldiers since it’s inception – which, BTW, is not traced back to 911; instead, the concept for this occupation and position in the middle east goes back to the think tank called the PNAC and years before 911.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:46 amhttp://www.mcclatchydc.com/
Check out the McClatchy site. They are pretty much the only MSM today that is actually doing investigative reporting and reporting the stories that the rest of the MSM ignores. This story is pretty typical of what is going on in the Bush Justice Department.
The sad thing is that McClatchy has a comments section, but for some reason it isn’t catching on. I’ve commented there, but go back to find that mine is pretty much the only comment. Maybe if some of us went there and started posting, it would get the ball rolling.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:47 amHi Zooey! Missed you the past couple of days. I’ve had guests and found my name to be jacked. There is no doubt in my mind that the posts here from our “trueblue” are definitely a case of name jacking.
Do these moron trolls really think we can’t spot them immediately when they attempt to post as us?
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:47 amThe piece, he said, was littered with glowing references to President Bush’s wise leadership.
Condi will do just about anything for her boyfriend.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:48 amThe deadline for Fred Fielding (Harriet Miers attorney) to reply to Judiciary Chariman John Conyers Subpoena is 9am CT, approx. 15 minutes from now.
Mr. Fielding will not reply. Therefore John Conyers may make a decision within the next couple hours what “type” of Contempt charges to charge Harriet Miers with. If Mr. Conyers chooses INHERENT CONTEMPT it will be a huge victory for the country and Constitution. If he chooses ordinary criminal contempt charges, he’s basically handing Bush/Cheney carte blanche to continue committing felonies.
We should know the fate of the country in the next couple hours.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:49 am“Steve Thomma of McClatchy writes, “When pressing a tough sale, Bush is a lousy salesman.†“He’s never really sold the country or Congress something it didn’t already want. And when he’s tried to sell something the people or the politicians didn’t want, he’s fallen flat.†Thomma cites Bush’s sales pitches on reforming immigration, privatizing Social Security, and staying in Iraq.”
Above quote from the opening article.
I suggest you read that again, folks, paying particular attention to the part concerning Bush “never really sold the country or Congress something it didn’t already want”.
Bush’s Illegal Alien Amnesty Plan was rightfully quashed. Social Security Reform is a distant memory. Yet WE ARE STILL IN IRAQ, and will be for the foreseeable future.
Based on Steve Thomma’s assessment, it would appear the country and Congress do appear to understand the importance of a free and stable Iraq after all, regardless of the irrational, loud-mouthed utterances of the “.001 percenters” who hate the Bush Administration and everything it does.
Perhaps Steve Thomma needs to stand back and take a close look at the words he, himself, has written.
Or he just needs a better editor.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:50 amThanks, bilbo for the McClatchy link. Let’s all head over there and check it out. I have no doubt that the volume of criminal activity involved in the Bush Administration AND the GOP is the tip of a humonguous iceberg. Guess Maguire stubbed his toe on the tip of it?
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:50 amHITLER
The Reichstag Burns
Adolf Hitler, the new Chancellor of Germany, had no intention of abiding by the rules of democracy. He intended only to use those rules to legally establish himself as dictator as quickly as possible then begin the Nazi revolution.
Even before he was sworn in, he was at work to accomplish that goal by demanding new elections. While Hindenburg waited impatiently in another room, Hitler argued with conservative leader Hugenberg, who vehemently opposed the idea. Hitler’s plan was to establish a majority of elected Nazis in the Reichstag which would become a rubber stamp, passing whatever laws he desired while making it all perfectly legal.
Hitler’s storm troopers were about to reach new heights of power of their own and begin a reign of terror.
President Hindenburg had fallen under Hitler’s spell and was signing just about anything put in front of him. He signed an emergency decree that put the German state of Prussia into the hands of Hitler confidant, Vice Chancellor Papen. Göring as Minister of the Interior for Prussia took control of the police. Prussia was Germany’s biggest and most important state and included the capital of Berlin.
Göring immediately replaced hundreds of police officials loyal to the republic with Nazi officials loyal to Hitler. He also ordered the police not to interfere with the SA and SS under any circumstances. This meant that anybody being harassed, beaten, or even murdered by Nazis, had nobody to turn to for help.
http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/riseofhitler/burns.htm
Creeping Fascism
http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/511928.html
Although conspiracy theorists have talked about a wealthy ruling elite, this research confirms that ten wealthy families fund all the groups that have the dominant influence on U.S. policy.
Operation Northwoods was a conspiracy, signed off on by the entire Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The Project for a New American Century was a conspiracy, signed off on by some of the President’s top advisors.
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_mark_e___061007_election_fraud_2c_9_2f11.htm
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:50 amOr you need some new glasses, O’Bigfoot! (or some new grey matter as the case may be!).
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:51 am““Most people prefer to believe that their leaders are just and fair, even in the face of evidence to the contrary, because once a citizen acknowledges that the government under which he lives is lying and corrupt, the citizen has to choose what he or she will do about it. To take action in the face of corrupt government entails risks of harm to life and loved ones. To choose to do nothing is to surrender one’s self-image of standing for principles. Most people do not have the courage to face that choice. Hence, most propaganda is not designed to fool the critical thinker but only to give moral cowards an excuse not to think at all.â€
Michael Rivera
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:52 amWhen Cheney threw out the first pitch before a 2003 game between the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs, Cheney was first informed that pop singer Nick Lachey “would sing the national anthem before the game and would be accompanied by his girlfriend, Jessica Simpson. Cheney thought Simpson’s name sounded familiar. He asked his staff: ‘Is that the soldier who was captured in Iraq?‘
Ouch. So much for passing himself off as a smart guy to the 18% living in trailer parks.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:52 amSTOP.
Stop talking about politics – and the elections that are nearly two years away. Haven’t you noticed? It’s the MEDIA that has convinced you that this topic is valid every day of every year.
THINK BACK.
Remember when there were no 24/7 cable news channels? Remember when there were no TV shows devoted solely to politics?
When election cycles were over, they were OVER. Those who were elected set about doing the people’s business, and the people got back to focusing on the issues that MATTER.
Look at what the system of Politics hath wrought.
Why is the topic of a Presidential race nearly two years away relevant on every news show, and every message board so early? This country has been reduced to EXACTLY what our MASTERS have chosen for us.
Bickering over which preordained puppet will be (s)elected by the globalists to (appear to) run the country is just masturbation.
Only men and women of low moral character (subject to bribes and blackmail) are even allowed in to the political arena in the first place. Why do you think the Congress is so complacent and compliant? They all work for the same boss – but it’s not you.
The social scientists and propagandists have managed to divide the country in half, with people who call themselves Democrats and Republicans talking AT each other 24/7 – as if it mattered.
We are all mindless sheep, doing as we are programmed by the images we see on our screens and the messages that are conveyed to us by Used Car Salesman who just happen to have been put in positions of (apparent) power by those in REAL POWER.
Since 1950, the Council on Foreign Relations has been David Rockefeller’s child. The CFR serves the interests of Rockefeller’s global empire of oil and financial interests (Exxon, Chase Manhattan Bank, JP Morgan Chase).
David Rockefeller & Dick Cheney:
American Traitors…
Cheney laughs about lying to his constituents in order to get elected:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdxLYuvvbgs&NR
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:54 amIt appears that Bush&Co have plans to dissolve the government as we know it, rendering the Constitution completely ineffective, and declaring themselves dictators — and it will all be done in the name of national security, so 1/3 of the nation will be on board with them.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:57 amOf course, they wouldn’t want members of Congress to know what they have planned, so access is denied to committee members.
My personal level of worry is turning into fright when I see what is happening before our eyes, and we are powerless to stop it. Our representatives are timid, our press has been reduced to little more than propaganda outlets, and we can only watch as we see the events unfold.
I am beginning to think that nothing will going to change the predetermined course – I feel like we can be compared to German citizens in the 1930’s.
Well, ace, I guess it’s all over, then, isn’t it? Nothing we the people can do about it. We’re all controlled and have no free will.
We all might as well go back to the Budwieser, “American Idol”, and…….Youtube….
What’s Paris Hilton up to these day?
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:01 amTo Marie: Ditto my above comment.
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:02 amOnly “day”, should be “days”…or should it be “daze”???
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:03 amIt looks like Free Trade is meeting some opposition at last. See The Truth on the $10 Bill for a review of Alexander Hamilton and the benefits of protectionism.
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:04 amAce/Marie: Thankfully we still have 3/4 of americans who know what this frauds are attempting to accomplish and they WILL be stopped. Their momentum has already shifted and will continue to do. Just because they leave office doesn’t mean that they will not be held accountable for their crimes. And, of course, The Hague will be waiting for them as well. The Hague cares not what our laws or executive orders state – they’ve got their own rules – the international ones which will hold Bush & Cheney and a whole host of other co-conspirators accountable for their “war crimes”. Pop the popcorn, folks because it’s a-coming!
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:04 amThe apple surely doesn’t fall from the tree and we now know that Bush’s grandpa, Prescott, was caught red handed in an action under the Trading With The Enemy act during Hitler’s reign. Guess Pappy (#41) working through his idiot offspring (#43 and Jebbie) really thought he had things pretty sewn up….but not so fast. His complicity in all things from the JFK coverup to 911 will be outed and soon. Then we will see that the entire Bush Family is in it up to their ears and will be brought down for the junta that they truly are.
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:07 am. . . it could be interpreted as targeting the financial assets of any American who undermines the administration’s Iraq policy.
Better start with George W. Bush. He has done more to undermine the administration’s Iraq policy than anyone else in the country through demonstrable incompetence and failed leadership.
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:07 amDNI McConnell seems a breath of fresh air. Appointed in January, his lambasting of the administration’s manipulated intelligence in the run-up to the Iraq “pre-emptive” strike will no-doubt shorten his tenure.
Fran Townsend is drumming up a Pakistan strike in the Tribal areas to go after Bin Laden. Seems we “now” know where he is and Bush apparently “cares” again about getting him. This is too obvious. Poll numbers down; “well, then let’s start a war”.
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:07 amYesterday a female friend of mine asked: How could a woman as seemingly sensitive and caring as Laura tolerate this level of inauthenticity and overt corruption in her life.
That was when another friend reminded her quickly about Laura’s vehicular homicidal killing of her ex-boyfriend back in 1963.
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:09 amMorning Leftcoast: Where the hell did they dig up this Townsend airhead that they are putting in our faces over the past few days? Can’t they do better than that? We all know why Bush intentionally places ignorant children in posts which should be occupied by people with experience and intelligence but this???? ewwwwww.
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:10 amLeftcoast: They can attempt to drum up energy for a new war till the cows come home and the people won’t buy into it this time.
How does the saying go: First time, shame on you! Second time, shame on me!
The people will not be duped by these thugs again.
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:11 amIf Condi can’t get any mainstream newspapers to publish her little sales job on Bush (what? — she didn’t even TRY the Washington Times?), maybe she should try talk radio. That medium is FULL of the “Bush can do no wrong” mantra.
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:14 amHeyyyy, I posted that link to the article about DeFazio in a Think Fast thread last week! How about a little credit and a little more timeliness?
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:14 amThe 2nd paragraph should have all Americans in the streets protesting! That recent executive order plus the coments lately about another attack by chertoff and others is a clear sign. The article by the ex reagan offical is right on target, these people have not gone to all this work to see it wiped clean by a huge republican loss in the next election….IMO we will be lucky if we even have an election.
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:14 amMorning veritas-
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:16 amWe will offer “kinetic” support to Pakistan..What in the world does that mean? I agree, Americans will not tolerate nor buy into another attack on a soveriegn nation, but then again, Bush does what Bush wants. Our congress seems powerless.
Good Monday to ya. Hope all is well.
“When Cheney threw out the first pitch before a 2003 game between the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs, Cheney was first informed that pop singer Nick Lachey “would sing the national anthem before the game and would be accompanied by his girlfriend, Jessica Simpson. Cheney thought Simpson’s name sounded familiar. He asked his staff: ‘Is that the soldier who was captured in Iraq?‘â€
Bush shouldn’t be blamed for not being able to tell the difference between Jessica Lynch and Jessica Simpson. After all, they were both pop icons manufactured to sell magazines. It’s not as alarming as his inability to know the difference between Slovenia and Slovakia.
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:18 am“Transitioning [to Iraqi control] is not a main priority, but it’s still a priority.â€
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:19 amThere’s some bait and switch for you. BTW, Priority means priority whether main or not. So they must mean this training is NOT a priority.
I think we’ll be leaving Iraq by helicopter from atop the embassy in the green zone.
Great Post’s all, ..Have you all come to the same conclusion’s I have about our present attempted dictatorship.?…From your post’s I think so.
Seem’s to me our country is being run by a group of greedy teenager’s, a little gang of thug’s who’s hormones are out of wack and who like to play favorites with all side’s on diffrent day’s to accomplish that day’s ajenda….Scary thought’s, especiely when they have given themselves unlimited power over all of us..
.All of my thinking and life’s examples are in direct conflict with the present ruler’s of our country so that make’s me just another candidate for the detain and incarcerate forever bunch….Well, they can try..
I’m a plane and simple realety type person, a lazy direct approach work’s for me….example…The weather get’s cold put on a sweater, the fish aren’t biting, change the bait, my neighbor’s hit hard time’s, feed them and give them a hand..
In other word’s we are on just another bull shit bush manic Monday…More running out the clock in a bad game of foot ball…The game is being run by a bloated coach who play’s favorites with all team’s and no care for his own team, supported by a brain dead quarter back that’s never had a home run and numerious other player’s that don’t care about the rules of the game….All the player’s lack the skill’s for the game and are only concerned with the favor’s they may get from numerious sponser’s..Every day of the week has now turned into Monday quarter backing and any one of us could do a far better job at running our country than the evil in charge now..Call all your representatives today, again….Call the enabeler’s twice, they don’t want to do their job’s..Remind them we are demanding they run with the ball and make the big touch down or we will put their asses on the bench forever…..Blessings…Peace
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:19 amCindy Sheehan: End Iraq War Now!
Monday 23rd of July 2007
by Jay Randal
I wish it was possible to bring Casey Sheehan back to life, but he was forced to serve in Iraq and was killed, so President George Bush is responsible for his death.
Bush lied to the Congress to give him authorization to invade and occupy Iraq, plus he fooled the entire nation that Iraq had WMD, now he claims its for democracy.
But from day one it has been about controlling Iraq’s vast OIL reserves,
thus to prevent Russia and China from profiting from it, and Big OIL Corporations to benefit.
The Iraq occupation fiasco is fueled by sick GREED, NOT to bring freedom and democracy to Iraqi people, NOR to prevent real terrorists from attacking the US.
If Bush actually gave a damn about stopping terrorists from entering the US, then the Mexican and Canadian borders would be secured and guarded by US troops.
But instead the soldiers are in Iraq guarding the OIL fields and installations, so Bush’s “War on Terrorism” is 100% baloney, so Dubya is a pathological liar too.
(Jay Randal, political activist and writer in Georgia, USA.)
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:20 amAfter all, they were both pop icons manufactured to sell magazines.
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:21 amComment by missmolly
Great observation. LOL.
veritas! veritas! If you believe any of the conspiracy theories which have resulted in the last 30 minutes of posts here, you need to take a look at the history of these “conspiracies”.
The Hague will do absolutely nothing, because according to conspiracy theory, The Hague was set up and is run by the very same internationalists and social engineers who are controlling us today!
And your statement that 3/4 of all Americans know what fraud is being attempted? Do the math, veritas. 3/4 of Americans DON”T CARE about politics and policy on a day to day basis. All most folks care about is paying their bills, not missing “American Idol”, and working for the weekend. And I’m not saying there is generally anything wrong with that, it’s just that what is, is.
Votor turnout in 2006 hovered around 40-41 percent. That means 60 percent of voters didn’t even bother to go to the polls.
Out of the 40 percent who voted, how many do you think actually made an informed decision?
Well, we did get George W. Bush re-elected…didn’t we?
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:23 amCall Congress Today for Impeachment
We’ve reached the impeachment moment for Vice President Dick Cheney. We’ve pushed the cosponsor list for H. Res. 333 up to 14. Chairman John Conyers says that if we get 3 more he’ll begin the impeachment proceedings.
And many Congress Members must be recognizing that there is no other path available. Cheney and Bush have repeatedly refused to comply with subpoenas, ordered former staffers not to comply, and announced that the Justice Department will not enforce contempt citations from Congress. When a special prosecutor attempted to hold this administration accountable, Cheney’s chief of staff obstructed justice, and Cheney persuaded Bush to commute his sentence. There is no course left for Congress but Impeachment.
On Monday, July 23rd, the fifth anniversary of the meeting that produced the Downing Street Minutes, Cindy Sheehan, Ray McGovern, Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Ann Wright, Debra Sweet, Dave Lindorff, David Swanson, Jodie Evans, Medea Benjamin, Kevin Zeese, and Tina Richards will lead a march to Chairman Conyers office and not leave until he agrees to begin impeachment proceedings.
If you cannot be there, you can take two minutes on Monday and do two things: phone Chairman Conyers at 202-225-5126 and ask him to start the impeachment of Dick Cheney; and phone your own Congress Member at 202-224-3121 and ask them to immediately call Conyers’ office to express their support for impeachment. Your Congress Member might be one of the three needed, not just to keep impeachment activists out of jail but to keep this nation from devolving into dictatorship.
Also email your Representatives:
http://www.democrats.com/peoplesemailnetwork/73
#####
Forward this message to everyone you know!
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:24 am… an executive order [...] could be interpreted as targeting the financial assets of any American who undermines the administration’s Iraq policy.
like, say, CONGRESS for instance?
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:24 am…
“The United States and Iran have set a date for ambassador-level talks in Baghdad…
good deal… but, why are they meeting in BAGHDAD?
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:27 amwhy not someplace neutral?
Good morning, all. Great posts, ace. Please keep up the good work. An interesting thing happened to me here on Friday, ace…if you’re interested in the gory details, they can be found over on this thread at Americablog (the Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows thread).
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:29 am“Under a Senate bill to be introduced today, computer programmers, call-center staffers and other service-sector workers who make up the vast majority of the nation’s workforce would for the first time be eligible for a generous package of income, health and retraining benefits currently reserved for manufacturing workers who lose their jobs to international trade.â€
Are they saying Computer Programmers need to be retrained to do something even more high tech?
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:34 amComment by ace — July 23, 2007 @ 9:54 am
WOW! The sky is falling, eh ace? ;)
——
Steve Thomma of McClatchy writes, “When pressing a tough sale, Bush is a lousy salesman.†“He’s never really sold the country or Congress something it didn’t already want….”
If he’s never sold anyone on anything they didn’t want, then apparently Congress wanted the war. Glad that’s finally clear. ;)
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:36 amJust curious, does anyone here know of any other news sites like ThinkProgress that present a daily news stream and have a comments board? I have checked TalkLeft, Firedoglake, DailyKos, and JuanCole. All are extremely interesting, but don’t offer oft-updated news like TP. Just let me know what’s out there if you have any suggestions. Thanx.
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:38 amAt least at FDL they’re covering the story I’ve been pounding here and at other blogs all last week. See my post #37. FDL sees this story in the same perspective I do.
OUR MEDIA IS MISSING THE STORY OF THE CENTURY
http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/07/23/our-media-is-missing-the-story-of-the-century/
**We may know today if the republic will stand or fall.
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:41 amOK — so Bush’s latest Executive Order allows the blocking of property for anyone who “threatens the stabilization efforts in Iraq”? This sounds like the logical next step is to declare that anyone who even CRITICIZES our occupation in Iraq might have their property blocked, their assets frozen, or otherwise be harrassed by the Bushies.
This is worse than the Watergate years when Nixon asked the IRS to audit anyone on his enemies list.
How much do these “Executive Orders” have to trample on basic civil rights of Americans before we put a stop to it?
Oh, I forgot. We are “at war”. Which means that Bushney can subvert the constitution all he wants for as long as he wants. Sigh.
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:42 amHow much do these “Executive Orders†have to trample on basic civil rights of Americans before we put a stop to it?
Oh, I forgot. We are “at warâ€. Which means that Bushney can subvert the constitution all he wants for as long as he wants. Sigh.
Comment by missmolly — July 23, 2007 @ 10:42 am
Totally agreed. Unfortunately, more people voted on the last American Idol, than the midterm elections. A chunk of America believes that congress is appointed by the president. Next time you are at the grocery store, ask the cashier who the Speaker of the House is, and watch their reaction. Bush knows he can push through whatever Executive Order he wants and the average American will come home, crack open a beer, watch Desperate Housewives, and vote to keep gays from kissing.
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:47 amThis new bushie policy that threatens naysayers with financial ruin is just another sell of his war. bush is forever right and everyone else is wrong. And just knowing that he loves himself on top of all this will guarantee his legacy. But in his mind only.
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:48 amGeorge better run for the hole before he ends up in the Walter Reed mental wing.
Good morning, all. Great posts, ace. Please keep up the good work. An interesting thing happened to me here on Friday, ace…if you’re interested in the gory details, they can be found over on this thread at Americablog (the Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows thread).
Comment by TripMaster Monkey — July 23, 2007 @ 10:29 am
Hi TMM,
Thanks for letting us know what happened. Obviously, your name was hijacked by “The Joker” or “Rodan,” that’s his style of posting. I thought he was already banned for the dead soldier sickness. I’ve never seen a comment change once it was posted, unless it had something like [deleted by admin] on it.
I’m glad you found your way back. Oh, and thanks for letting us know that “Tripmaster” on Americablog wasn’t you. Wow.
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:50 am“Bush knows he can push through whatever Executive Order he wants and the average American will come home, crack open a beer, watch Desperate Housewives, and vote to keep gays from kissing.”
Comment by Chris L — July 23, 2007 @ 10:47 am
Nero was right. Unlike my grandparents in WWII, who gave up new cars, endured rationing of eggs, butter, sugar, coffee, gasoline, rubber, etc., planted victory gardens, and held scrap metal and paper drives, today’s U.S. citizens have not had to surrender any of their bread and circuses. And the Bushies are doing everything they can to keep it that way (tax cuts in a “time of war”? no problem!). Fat, dumb, and happy Americans are great for Executive Orders.
July 23rd, 2007 at 11:01 amWith his vocal opposition to the expansion of the S-CHIP program to provide health care coverage for more of America’s children, President Bush is returning to the same tried and true formula he first pioneered in Texas. That is, Bush initially fought the legislation on ideological grounds before caving to popular pressure and grudgingly accepting some version of the bill. Then, as with the Texas S-CHIP program, the Texas Patients Bill of Right and the 2003 Medicare prescription drug benefit, Bush claimed credit for it.
For the details, see:
July 23rd, 2007 at 11:02 am“S-CHIP on Bush’s Shoulder.”
Hi, Zooey,
Thanks…it’s rather lonely when you get namejacked & banned at the same time. I’m glad there are people here that care.
As for your idea on the identity of the namejacker, the fact that the post changed wording after it was already posted points to a more sinister explanation.
July 23rd, 2007 at 11:17 amBut it’s foolish to cling to a ship that is sinking.
Comment by david — July 23, 2007 @ 9:30 am
Sink:
to sink (third-person singular simple present sinks, present participle sinking, simple past sank, past participle sunk)
I think we’re past “sinking” by now. Let’s start using “sank” or even “sunken”. It’s more accurate.
July 23rd, 2007 at 11:17 amWhat’s Paris Hilton up to these day?
Comment by O. Bigfoot
“A few months ago, Condoleezza Rice decided to write an opinion piece about Lebanon, but no one would publish it.”
I dunno, Bigfoot. Perhaps we can get Condi to do an interview. She clearly has the free time and perhaps it will even get published. It looks like the media doesn’t care what Condi has to say about politics anymore.
July 23rd, 2007 at 11:24 am#2–I guess that means that the war profiteers bank accounts will be monitored now?
No, etouffee, that means that all our assets get transferred into directly into their accounts–as has been true since this administration took office. It’s just that now it will be efficient because we won’t have to go through the annoying formality of our being taxed first.
July 23rd, 2007 at 11:29 am“He’s never really sold the country or Congress something it didn’t already want.”
lousy salesman
July 23rd, 2007 at 11:39 amlousy businessman
lousiest president
EVER~
Wayne A Schneider sez:
I’ll do what I can to let others know. That is scary. man. I mean having your identity and reputation stolen like that sucks, especially if they (TP) were really in on it.
Thanks, man. From the way the namejack post changed from one refresh to the next, this points squarely to someone with admin capabilities at TP. Bear in mind that subsequent posts had already posted, so this is not a question of the namejacker having his post deleted and quickly reposting with a slightly different screed.
On the bright side, we always have Americablog, and Smirking Chimp is top-notch as well. ^_^
TripMaster Monkey | 07.21.07 – 8:14 pm | #
So does this mean TP is now Reichwing? Seriously, some of you people are getting a little crazy with the conspiracy theories. You’re turning on each other now. ;)
July 23rd, 2007 at 11:47 amThere are lots of them here on the West Coast, along with lots of engineers that can’t find jobs because our government is giving employers H1 visas, which were supposed to only be issued if the employer could prove he couldn’t find someone to do the work. The problem is that those employers want to pay $12.00 an hour, and mostly they don’t even advertise, the just go straight to the H1 visa.
I once worked at a company that employed 6 engineers from India on H1 visas. At that time I also knew several unemployed engineers who would have loved the job. Problem was that they couldn’t live on $12.00 an hour. The average wage paid to programmers and engineers is $25-40 an hour. So, you can see how these H1 visas are very lucrative to the employers.
July 23rd, 2007 at 2:08 pmThe reason that a Representative cannot look at the Bush plan for what they’ll do after a terrorist attack is that they have no plan. This administration hasn’t had a clue on how to do anything, except lie, for 7 years.
July 23rd, 2007 at 2:44 pmFan of the Man has done his part by copying and pasting his copy points IN BOLD on every topic on the board today. Have you done your part and followed his directions?
July 23rd, 2007 at 4:41 pmRe:
The Washington Post reports on an executive order issued by President Bush last week entitled, “Blocking Property of Certain Persons Who Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Iraq.†In the extreme, it could be interpreted as targeting the financial assets of any American who undermines the administration’s Iraq policy.
Let’s look at this part of the EO:
any person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense,
(i) to have committed, or to pose a significant risk of committing, an act or acts of violence that have the purpose or effect of:
(A) threatening the peace or stability of Iraq or the Government of Iraq;
So I guess Bush and Cheney must now turn themselves in?
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:23 pm