The Truth Handler: September 2007

Saturday, September 29, 2007

GALLUP: Trust in Federal Government, On Nearly All Issues, Hits New Low -- Even Less Than in Watergate Era

A new Gallup poll reveals that, as the organization puts it, Americans now "express less trust in the federal government than at any point in the past decade, and trust in many federal government institutions is now lower than it was during the Watergate era, generally recognized as the low point in American history for
trust in government."
GALLUP: Trust in Federal Government, On Nearly All Issues, Hits New Low -- Even Less Than in Watergate Era

Afghan President Zarzai Willing to Give High Level Posts to Taliban

"If a group of Taliban or a number of Taliban come to me and say, 'President, we want a department in this or in that ministry or we want a position as deputy minister ... and we don't want to fight anymore ... . If there will be a demand and a request like that to me, I will accept it because I want conflicts and fighting to end in Afghanistan," Karzai said.

CANOE -- CNEWS - Canada: Karzai offers to meet Taliban leader Mullah Omar as suicide bomber kills 30

All that money and American lives we spent in Afghanistan...is it really worth it?

Friday, September 28, 2007

Iraq's Nouri al-Maliki 'copies Saddam Hussein'

Iraq's prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, is orchestrating a campaign of persecution against political rivals "even worse" than Saddam Hussein's reign of terror, his predecessor has claimed.

Iraq's Nouri al-Maliki 'copies Saddam Hussein' - Telegraph

Bush Will Leave Behind a Legacy of $5.5 trillion in Debt

"Whatever happens over the next 16 months, President Bush will leave office having presided over one of the fastest accumulations of government debt in the history of the United States."

Bush's fiscal legacy: bigger debt | csmonitor.com

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Ron Paul : The Founding Fathers

Judge rules part of Patriot Act unconstitutional

Part of Patriot Act ruled unconstitutional - U.S. Security - MSNBC.com

Report on Iraqi Government corruption by the State Department's Office of Accountability and Transparency is accountably and transparently classified

State Dept: Corruption in Iraq is Classified

Let's Make an Oil Deal: A Bush family friend may be undermining Iraqi peace.

Is Bush Family Friend Undermining Iraqi Peace? - Newsweek Politics - MSNBC.com

Bush Threatened Nations That Did Not Back Iraq War: Report

"US President George W. Bush threatened nations with retaliation if they did not vote for a UN resolution backing the Iraq war, according to a transcript published Wednesday of a conversation he had with former Spanish prime minister Jose Maria Aznar.

Bush threatened nations that did not back Iraq war: report - Yahoo! News

"Coalition of the 'Willing,'" indeed...

All 6 Soldiers Involved in Minot AFB Nuke Move are Dead

Citizens for Legitimate Government

Is the Army Corps of Engineers Worth The Money?

In the pantheon of dumb Army Corps of Engineers boondoggles, a $112 million flood-control scheme in Missouri's southeast bootheel ranks among the dumbest. It would drain more wetlands than all American developers drained last year, and the Corps has admitted that the town it's supposed to protect will flood just as often (once every 10 years) if and when it's completed. The Corps also admitted that its original economic rationale depended on a math error. In private e-mails, even the agency's top lobbyist described it as "an economic dud with huge environmental consequences."

Reining in the Corps of Engineers - TIME

Ahmadinejad Did Not Say He Wanted to Wipe Israel Off the Map

Just How Far Did They Go, Those Words Against Israel? - New York Times

$600k in Taxpayer Dollars to Alter Building so it Doesn't Look Like Swastika on GoogleEarth

The Navy will spend as much as $600,000 to modify a 40-year-old barracks complex that resembles a swastika from the air, a gaffe that went largely unnoticed before satellite images became easily accessible on the Internet.

Navy to alter swastika-shaped barracks - Yahoo! News

Why Democrats Should Support Ron Paul

Lie of the Century

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

US Military Official: Blackwater "May Be Worse Than Abu Ghraib"

AlterNet: Blogs: PEEK: US Military Official: Blackwater "May Be Worse Than Abu Ghraib"

We Are Bribing Insurgents to Not Attack U.S. Troops

"President Bush failed to see the irony in using a financial metaphor to explain his new benchmark for withdrawing troops from Iraq. He says the more we succeed in places like Anbar province, the more troops we can bring home. He calls the policy "return on success." Only, "success" in Anbar is really just a return on U.S. financial inducements to tribal sheiks. Instead of dropping bombs in Iraq, we're now dropping bundles of cash in the laps of insurgents who without the crude bribes would no doubt return to ambushing our troops. If the surge has worked, it's due in large part to a surge in bribes, not troops. And that kind of success cannot last."

A Surge in Bribes - by Paul Sperry

What a brilliant military tactic! This is surely the road to long-term peace. This is clearly just a political move to keep the civil war under control through the elections. Is this really what we want to keep our soldiers in the line of fire for?

Point, Click ... Eavesdrop: How the FBI Wiretap Net Operates

"The FBI has quietly built a sophisticated, point-and-click surveillance system that performs instant wiretaps on almost any communications device, according to nearly a thousand pages of restricted documents newly released under the Freedom of Information Act."

Inside DCSNet, the FBI's Nationwide Eavesdropping Network

"...instant wiretaps on almost any communications device"...?! Does anyone seriously believe that this kind of power in the government's hands was intended by the founding fathers?

One-fourth of Gulf War veterans ill

"Sixteen years after the Persian Gulf War ended, more than 1 in 4 of those who fought remain seriously ill with medical problems ranging from severe fatigue and joint pain to Lou Gehrig's disease, multiple sclerosis and brain cancer, the chairman of a congressional advisory committee testified Tuesday."

One-fourth of Gulf War veterans ill - News - The Olympian - Olympia, Washington

Support our troops, demand this be treated and investigated.

Israel seeks exemption from atomic rules

"Israel is looking...for an exemption to non-proliferation rules so it can legally import atomic material, according to documents made available Tuesday to The Associated Press."

Israel seeks exemption from atomic rules - Yahoo! News

Why should they get an exemption? It appears clearer and clearer that the U.S. doesn't care about containing "nuclear proliferation," they just want to control to whom it is proliferated.

U.S. Exacerbates Iraqi Civil War With Indiscriminate Commandos Training

"The U.S. is indiscriminately arming Iraqis, destabilizing the country even more."

AlterNet: War on Iraq: U.S. Exacerbates Iraqi Civil War With Indiscriminate Commandos Training

The seers who predicted the cheap easy Iraq War, are the same ones "predicting" a bloodbath after we leave. But, perhaps we making the current bloodbath, bloodbathier by staying.

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Jorj Boosh has fo-NE-tik TELLI-promt

When Mr Bush addressed the UN General Assembly today, the White House inadvertently showed exactly how - with a phonetic pronunciation guide on the teleprompter to get him past troublesome names of countries and world leaders.

Jorj Boosh has fo-NE-tik TELLI-promt | The Courier-Mail

I've never been so proud to be a U.S. American...

U.S. Severe poverty rate at highest in three decades

"The percentage of poor Americans who are living in severe poverty has reached a 32-year high as the gulf between the nation's "haves" and "have-nots" continues to widen."

U.S. Severe poverty rate at highest in three decades - Houston Chronicle

Ask yourself this, when the Fed lowers interest rates, what is it doing and why? Who benefits from Fed-caused inflation? Do savers or investors benefit?

Monday, September 24, 2007

Republican Straw Poll Results from Around the Country

Ron Paul 2008 › Straw Poll Results

Does it look like Ron Paul is a "2nd tier" candidate to you?

Database on Traveling Americans Includes Books and Hotel Bed Size

The U.S. government is collecting electronic records on the travel habits of millions of Americans who fly, drive or take cruises abroad, retaining data on the persons with whom they travel or plan to stay, the personal items they carry during their journeys, and even the books that travelers have carried, according to documents obtained by a group of civil liberties advocates and statements by government officials.

Collecting of Details on Travelers Documented - washingtonpost.com

Big Brother is watching you.

Bush Lectures Democrats on Fiscal Responsibility

Mr. Bush is headed into a spending battle with Congressional Democrats with the two branches of government as divided on the issue as they have been since the federal shutdown of 1995. The president has threatened to veto 10 of the 11 appropriations bills that have passed the House, as well as legislation expanding a popular children’s health care program. On Monday, he will step up the fight with a speech accusing Democrats of fiscal irresponsibility.

In Shift, Bush Emerges as a Budget Warrior - New York Times

How does this guy walk around with balls that big?

More U.S. Baiting: Cheney Considered Plan to Bait Iran

Newsweek Magazine reported Sunday that Vice President Richard Cheney may have considered a plan for Israeli missile strikes against an Iranian nuclear site in an effort to draw a military response from Iran, which could in turn spark a U.S. offensive against targets in the Islamic Republic.

Report: Cheney may have mulled pushing Israel to hit Iran - Haaretz - Israel News

(gasp!) "America would NEVER do something like fake an attack so as to justify their own attack on another country! You're a conspiracy nut! The idea shouldn't even be considered or debated!"

U.S. Aims To Lure Insurgents With 'Bait'

A Pentagon group has encouraged some U.S. military snipers in Iraq to target suspected insurgents by scattering pieces of "bait," such as detonation cords, plastic explosives and ammunition, and then killing Iraqis who pick up the items, according to military court documents.

U.S. Aims To Lure Insurgents With 'Bait' - washingtonpost.com

So, this program would likely kill conscientious adults who are picking up bomb parts to keep children from playing with them. Brilliant.

Kissinger Agrees with Greenspan: Oil (not nukes) Drive U.S. to Attack Iran, Iraq

His follow-up remarks have been even more direct. "I thought the issue of weapons of mass destruction as the excuse was utterly beside the point," he told the Guardian.

Robert Weissman: Greenspan, Kissinger: Oil Drives U.S. in Iraq, Iran - Politics on The Huffington Post

Sunday, September 23, 2007

War Costing $720 Million Each Day

The money spent on one day of the Iraq
war could buy homes for almost 6,500 families or health care for
423,529 children, or could outfit 1.27 million homes with renewable
electricity, according to the American Friends Service Committee, which
displayed those statistics on large banners in cities nationwide
Thursday and Friday.

War Costing $720 Million Each Day, Group Says - washingtonpost.com

Wow. We could turn 1.27 million homes into renewable energy homes EACH DAY! Talk about a smart alternative to invading and occupying another country, killing millions of people, turning the world of public opinion against us, restarting the cold war, and extinguishing the U.S.'s beacon of freedom and democracy to the world...all to control some oil. Are you SURE those alternative energy sources are more expensive than fossil fuels? What price do you place on our country's integrity and reputation?

Bush Pardons Himself

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Cowboy George Afraid of Horses

Vicente Fox, the former president of Mexico, derided his political friend as a "windshield cowboy" – a cowboy who prefers to drive – and "the cockiest guy I have ever met in my life".He recalled a meeting in Mexico shortly after both men had been elected when Mr Fox offered Mr Bush a ride on a "big palomino" horse.Mr Fox, who left office in December, recalled Mr Bush "backing away" from the animal.''A horse lover can always tell when others don't share our passion," he said, according to the Washington Post.

George Bush the Texan is 'scared of horses' - Telegraph

Friday, September 21, 2007

Let the Foreign Mass Purchase of U.S. Assets Begin!

"The US president George Bush says there will be a national security review into the deal, in which Borse Dubai gets 20 per cent of Nasdaq, making it the biggest single shareholder in the American exchange."

EuroNews EuroNews : Bush orders security review into Dubai/Nasdaq deal

Bush and the Neocons are the ones concerned about our security, right? Well, what are the security implications of Russians, Chinese, Middle Easterners, etc... owning an increasing number of our country's key assets? Through intentional and unintentional policies, the U.S. Dollar is being devalued. Which is a bigger threat, this or guys in caves?

That Canadian Quarter is Worth a Quarter!

"The dollar fell sharply across the board Thursday, hitting a new all-time low against the euro and falling to parity with its Canadian counterpart, pressured by lower U.S. interest rates and a report Saudi Arabia might end its dollar peg."

Dollar drops to record low vs. euro, parity with Candian dollar - MarketWatch

Thank you George W. and the Republican congress for this wonderful foreign policy and your great fiscal policies!

At 180,000, Private Military Contractors Outnumber U.S. Military

"More than 180,000 Americans, Iraqis, and nationals from other countries work under a slew of federal contracts to provide security, gather intelligence, build roads, forge a financial system, and transport needed supplies in a country the size of California."

180,000 private contractors flood Iraq - Yahoo! News

This is why the Blackwater news is so important.

Monday, September 17, 2007

Blackwater's License Revoked by Iraq Government

Iraq's Interior Ministry has revoked the license of Blackwater USA, an American security firm whose contractors are blamed for a Sunday gunbattle in Baghdad that left eight civilians dead. The U.S. State Department said it plans to investigate what it calls a "terrible incident."

Blackwater security firm banned from Iraq - CNN.com

Blackwater is a huge private security force. If this ban sticks, it will be like cutting the surge in half. They don't operate under the same rules of engagement at the U.S. troops, and reports of grave atrocities have spread about the company's employees.

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Greenspan Says Politics Drove Bush's Economic Agenda

Former Federal Reserve Chairman
Alan Greenspan criticized President George W. Bush for following
an economic agenda driven by politics instead of sound policy,
with little concern for future consequences.

Bloomberg.com: Worldwide

Alan Greenspan Claims Iraq War Was Really for Oil

However, it is his view on the motive for the 2003 Iraq invasion
that is likely to provoke the most controversy. “I am saddened that it
is politically inconvenient to acknowledge what everyone knows: the
Iraq war is largely about oil,” he says.Greenspan, 81, is understood to believe that Saddam Hussein posed a threat to the security of oil supplies in the Middle East.

Alan Greenspan claims Iraq war was really for oil - Times Online

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Pentagon Censors Tape of Alleged 9/11 Mastermind

Pentagon censors tape of alleged 9/11 mastermind - CNN.com

"Because his words could incite others"

Friday, September 14, 2007

Supporting Republicans = Supporting the Troops? Not According to the Troops.

"[Barack] Obama, who has never served in the military, has brought in more contributions from uniformed service members — about $27,000 — than any other presidential hopeful, Democrat or Republican...Among GOP candidates, Ron Paul, the only Republican who opposes the war, has brought in the biggest haul from the military since the start of the 2008 election cycle in January — at least $19,250."

Military contributions shift — away from the GOP - The Carpetbagger Report

"But, O'Reilly, Hannity, and that blond, she-male told me that Dems were "traitors" for wanting to bring the troops home!"

U.S. Troops Detain Iraqi Commander for Ordering Attacks on U.S. Troops

"U.S. troops have taken into custody an Iraqi army battalion commander suspected of ordering militia attacks on American forces, the military said Thursday.The commander - whose name and rank were not released - was picked up last week by elements of the 1st Infantry Division's 2nd Brigade combat team, the military said in a statement. Battalions are usually commanded by colonels."

U.S. Troops Detain Iraqi Commander | TuscaloosaNews.com

Top 18 Secret Mercenary Armies of the CIA

Top 18 Secret Mercenary Armies of the CIA - The List Universe

Civilian Death Toll in Iraq May Top 1 Million

Poll: Civilian death toll in Iraq may top 1 million - Los Angeles Times

The population of Iraq is 24 million.

Petraeus: "I Don't Know" If My Iraq Policy Makes America Safer

WARNER: I hope in the recesses of your heart that you know that strategy will continue the casualties, stress on our forces, stress on military families, stress on all Americans. Are you able to say at this time, if we continue what you have laid before the Congress, this strategy, that if you continue, you are making America safer?

PETRAEUS: Sir, I believe that this is indeed the best course of action to achieve our objections in Iraq.

WARNER: Does that make America safer?

PETRAEUS: Sir, I don't know actually. I have not sat down and sorted out in my own mind. What I have focused on and been riveted on is how to accomplish the mission of the Multinational Force in Iraq.

Petraeus: "I Don't Know" If My Iraq Policy Makes America Safer - Politics on The Huffington Post

Is it worth $1-2 trillion to try a policy that even the military isn't sure about?

$9 Billion in Cash Missing In Iraq, No One Cares

"Between April 2003 and June 2004, $12 billion in U.S. currency—much of it belonging to the Iraqi people—was shipped from the Federal Reserve to Baghdad, where it was dispensed by the Coalition Provisional Authority. Some of the cash went to pay for projects and keep ministries afloat, but, incredibly, at least $9 billion has gone missing, unaccounted for, in a frenzy of mismanagement and greed. Following a trail that leads from a safe in one of Saddam's palaces to a house near San Diego, to a P.O. box in the Bahamas, the authors discover just how little anyone cared about how the money was handled."

Billions over Baghdad: Politics & Power: vanityfair.com

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Poll Shows 1 in 3 Americans Still Believe Saddam PERSONALLY Involved in 9/11

Six years after the 9/11 terror attacks on the U.S., it seems the media still have some educational work to do. A new CBS/New York Times poll reveals that even today, 1 in 3 Americans believe that "Saddam Hussein was personally involved in the September 11th, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon."

Hit and Myth: Poll Shows 1 in 3 Americans Still Believe Saddam Involved in 9/11

Wow, what would Bush's approval rating be if this 33% actually knew the facts?

Another Government Official Goes Straight Over To High-Paid Lobbyist

The nation's top aviation regulator is under criticism for accepting a job as head of a trade group that frequently lobbies for the aviation industry on government spending and policy.

Departing FAA chief comes under fire - USATODAY.com

Do you see what's going on here? Bureaucrats are assuring themselves high-paying positions right after they leave office by doing what they can while they're IN office to help specific industries/companies. The same thing happens all the time, and was especially prevalent after the Prescription Drug bill. These practices do not fit within the concept of free-market capitalism, they are not ethical, or partisan, or impartial. They are cronyism. It is the rot that is eating away at the inside of our republic. Neither Republicans nor Democrats are addressing this, Ron Paul is. You can support more of the same in 2008, or you can vote for restoring credibility to our system.

Bottle Makes Any Water Drinkable in Seconds

"Mr Pritchard's bottle can clean up any water - including faecal matter - using a filter that cuts out anything longer than 15 nanometres, which means that viruses can be filtered out without the use of chemicals."
Bottle makes dirty water drinkable - Telegraph

Cool!

TIME Magazine on Ron Paul's Popularity

"The answer may be in the difference between the people who answer a pollster's phone call and the people who don't. Younger adults are abandoning their landline phones for cell phones, so including this demographic in phone-based polls seems unlikely."

Ron Paul for President 2.0? - TIME

By Bush's Own Standard, Surge Has Failed - George Will

Many of those who insist that the surge is a harbinger of U.S. victory in Iraq are making the same mistake they made in 1991 when they urged an advance on Baghdad, and in 2003 when they underestimated the challenge of building democracy there. The mistake is exaggerating the relevance of U.S. military power to achieve political progress in a society riven by ethnic and sectarian hatreds. America's military leaders, who are professional realists, do not make this mistake. (emphasis mine)

RealClearPolitics - Articles - By Bush's Own Standard, Surge Has Failed

Holy shit! A conservative that understands military force isn't the answer to everything! When are the rest of you going to get it?

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Two of Seven Soldiers Who Wrote 'NYT' Op-Ed Die in Iraq

"The controversial Times column on Aug. 19 was called "The War As We Saw It," and expressed skepticism about American gains in Iraq. “To believe that Americans, with an occupying force that long ago outlived its reluctant welcome, can win over a recalcitrant local population and win this counterinsurgency is far-fetched,” the group wrote."

Two of Seven Soldiers Who Wrote 'NYT' Op-Ed Die in Iraq

Weird, what are the odds? Normally, 120 out of 150,000 soldiers die per MONTH over there, or roughly 0.08%. Two out of 7 (29%) in just 2 WEEKS after their piece in they NYT. Strange stuff...

Hooker or Politician...which one didn't pass the lie detector?

Woman linked to Vitter is tested- NOLA.com

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

U.S. Dollar Hits New 15-Year Low

FT.com / MARKETS / Currencies - Dollar hits fresh 15-year low

This is a direct result of this administration's continued poor fiscal policies, and pressure on the Fed's monetary policies. This is extremely important to our country, and should not be underestimated. The Canadian Dollar is now at 1.04. It appears it won't be long before the "Loonie" is stronger than the "Greenback."

Newsweek: Internal Pentagon report contradicts Petraeus' testimony to Congress

NEWSWEEK has learned that a separate internal report being prepared by a Pentagon working group will “differ substantially” from Petraeus’s recommendations, according to an official who is privy to the ongoing discussions but would speak about them only on condition of anonymity. An early version of the report, which is currently being drafted and is expected to be completed by the beginning of next year, will “recommend a very rapid reduction in American forces: as much as two-thirds of the existing force very quickly, while keeping the remainder there.” The strategy will involve unwinding the still large U.S. presence in big forward operation bases and putting smaller teams in outposts. “There is interest at senior levels [of the Pentagon] in getting alternative views” to Petraeus, the official said. Among others, Centcom commander Admiral William Fallon is known to want to draw down faster than Petraeus....

Newsweek: Internal Pentagon report contradicts Petraeus' testimony to Congress - AMERICAblog: A great nation deserves the truth

Colin Powell: Terrorists are not greatest threat to nation

"What is the greatest threat facing us now? People will say it's terrorism. But are there any terrorists in the world who can change the American way of life or our political system? No. Can they knock down a building? Yes. Can they kill somebody? Yes. But can they change us? No. Only we can change ourselves. So what is the great threat we are facing?"

Colin Powell: Terrorists are not greatest threat to nation - On Politics - USATODAY.com

Powell gets it. The loss of liberties we're experiencing isn't done by the terrorists, it's done by the Bush Administration, and helped along by the fear they continually bolster in the hearts of Americans. Is there reason to be scared? Sure. Is being scared reason enough to justify giving the federal government the massive powers we have bestowed upon them in the past few years? No.

Monday, September 10, 2007

Battery Operated Car - Charge 5 Minutes, Drive 500 Miles

An Austin-based startup called EEStor promised "technologies for
replacement of electrochemical batteries," meaning a motorist could
plug in a car for five minutes and drive 500 miles roundtrip between
Dallas and Houston without gasoline.

Battery-like device could power electric cars - CNN.com

Rumsfeld Calls Afghanistan 'Big Success'

In an interview billed as his first since leaving the top Pentagon post, Donald Rumsfeld calls Afghanistan ``a big success,'' but says U.S. efforts in Iraq are hampered by the failure of Iraq's government to establish a foundation for democracy.

Rumsfeld Calls Afghanistan 'Big Success' | World Latest | Guardian Unlimited

Really? All those civilians we've killed? The heroin production being at an all-time high? Osama bin-Laden escaped? Demonstrations in the streets wanting the U.S. out?

Troop blogs show increasing criticism of war

“The toothpaste is out of the tube. And, try as they might, the military’s information nannies are not going to be able to stuff it back in,” said Noah Schatman of Wired Magazine in an e-mail from Taji, Iraq. He said soldiers will pay $55 a month for a private connection.

Troop blogs show increasing criticism of war - Military News, Marine Corps News, opinions, editorials, news from Iraq, photos, reports - Marine Corps Times

Ron Paul wants to bring the troops home now. He took in more campaign contributions from active soldiers than any other candidate in Q2. Put this information together with the story above, and it seems quite clear that it's time to bring them home.

U.S. 37th in the World in Child Mortality

"Out of 173 countries, only four have no paid leave for new mothers -- Papua New Guinea, Swaziland, Liberia and the U.S.A. (One of these countries is not like the others.) Our health care system is the most expensive in the world per capita, yet our child mortality rate is 37th."

Joan Blades: A Peaceful Revolution - Living Now on The Huffington Post

It doesn't seem our health care system based on cronyism is working very well. It certainly doesn't seem like we're getting our money's worth. I saw Sicko. It's worth seeing. I'm not so sure Moore comes up with any solutions, but I think he does a good job of showing the flaws in our current system.

Donald Rumsfeld to Teach World Peace

Donald Rumsfeld to join Hoover Institution at Stanford

That is not a joke headline from The Onion, it's actually true. Yeah, when I think of world peace, three names immediately come to mind Ghandi, the Dhali Lama, and Rummy.

70% of Iraqis Say Surge Has Failed

"About 70% of Iraqis believe security has deteriorated in the area covered by the US military "surge" of the past six months, an opinion poll suggests.The survey by the BBC, ABC News and NHK of more than 2,000 people across Iraq also suggests that nearly 60% see attacks on US-led forces as justified." (emphasis mine)

BBC NEWS | Middle East | US surge has failed - Iraqi poll

U.S. Tells Iran that Full-Compliance with Probe Won't Even Be Enough

"The U.S. urged Iran on Monday to cooperate with a probe into past suspicious nuclear activities but said even full compliance would not be enough to ease international concerns over Tehran's possession of bomb-making technology."

U.S. Urges Iran to Cooperate With Probe - washingtonpost.com

If I were Iran, I wouldn't comply with the probe if I was being told that full-compliance wouldn't even assuage others' concerns.

Sunday, September 9, 2007

IAEA Chief Inspecting Iran Doesn't See Any Nuclear Weapon Activity

ElBaradei reiterated expectations that Iran's atomic
program, subject to IAEA inspectors' scrutiny since 2003, may be
cleared by the end of this year of suspicion that the project
was used as cover for nuclear weapons development.
``We have not come to see any undeclared activities or
weaponization of their program,'' ElBaradei said. ``Nor have we
gotten intelligence to that effect.''

Bloomberg.com: IAEA Chief ElBaradei Seeks Stop to Iran 'War Drums'

Ron Paul Commercial on Principles and Integrity

Saturday, September 8, 2007

Republicans Worry as Youth Desert the Party

"American Republicans are in bad shape beyond next year's election for basic reasons, aside from the war in Iraq or the unpopularity of the incumbent; almost every important indicator is negative for them. Among key constituencies, the most worrisome are young voters, the fastest-growing slice of the U.S. electorate and one where lifetime habits are ingrained early. These voters - 18- to 29-year-olds - are deserting the Republicans."

Letter from Washington: Republicans worry as youth desert the party - International Herald Tribune

Republicans, the future of your party for decades is at stake here. It's not a time for more of the same. It's time for a radical change of course. By nominating Ron Paul as your candidate, you can restore the confidence and integrity to your party in one move, all the while bringing with you a generation of young voters who will lean your way for the rest of their life.

The View of America from Iran

Noble Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi has argued that Washington's policy of "helping" the cause of democracy in Iran "has made it more difficult for the more moderate factions within Iran's power hierarchy to argue for an accommodation with the West."

The view of America from Tehran. - By Reza Aslan - Slate Magazine

Yacht owners, including Sen. Ted Kennedy (D) whine about offshore wind farm

The source of unhappiness is Kennedy's efforts to kill an offshore wind farm on Nantucket Sound. Cape Wind was to be the first such project in the United States and a source of pride to environmentally-minded New Englanders. Polls show 84 percent of Massachusetts residents in favor. But now it appears that America's first offshore wind farm will be near Galveston, Texas.

Opinion | Political attacks knock wind out of Kennedy's sails | Seattle Times Newspaper

What I Learned From Bush

People to this day are outraged at Clinton for the example he set for their children. Fine, I agree. But, how many multiple times worse is Bush's example? Clinton committed an immoral act of pleasure between two consenting adults. It was non-violent, and didn't affect foundational ideals of our country. When you think about the lessons for our children, how can you not be outraged at Bush and the Neocons?

TheStreet.com Debunks Huckabee by Fact Checking Ron Paul's Arguments

Huckabee Takes Unfair Shots at Ron Paul - Markets - Market Features

2003 Video: Economist Predicts Iraq Costs

Selective Amnesia - The Pundits Who Sold the Iraq War Change Their Tune and Bury Their Records

"When political leaders make drastic mistakes, accountability is delivered in the form of elections. That occurred in November when voters removed the party principally responsible for the war in Iraq. But the invasion would not have occurred had Americans not been persuaded of its wisdom and necessity, and leading that charge was a stable of pundits and media analysts who glorified President Bush’s policies and disseminated all sorts of false information and baseless assurances.

Yet there seems to be no accountability for these pro-war pundits. On the contrary, they continue to pose as wise, responsible experts and have suffered no lost credibility, prominence, or influence. They have accomplished this feat largely by evading responsibility for their prior opinions, pretending that they were right all along or, in the most extreme cases, denying that they ever supported the war."

Selective Amnesia - The American Conservative

The Economist's Most Democratic Countries

War on Drugs Sabotaging American Economy

"Civilizations die from suicide, not by murder," said Arnold Toynbee, whose 12-volume "Study of History" traces the rise and fall of civilizations. Get it? The "fall" is an "inside job." Attitudes, behavior and values die first. The soul is left for dead.Oh, some outside force may push the button, pull the trigger or, as in ritualistic hara-kiri, some stranger may bring the sword down upon our neck. But we set the ball in motion. We create the world around us, including our enemies, as individuals and as nations -- we are totally responsible for our karma, our fate, our destiny, our demise.

The 'lost war' -- the war on drugs -- is undermining America - MarketWatch

Friday, September 7, 2007

The Classist U.S. "Justice" System in a Nutshell

Former State Treasurer Thomas Ravenel admitted to "reckless and immature" behavior Thursday as he pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.The 45-year-old Charleston multimillionaire told U.S. District Judge Joseph Anderson that he purchased the drug, used it and shared it with others over a two-year period.A sentencing hearing will be scheduled in several months, Anderson said, after a pre-sentence report is complete. Although Ravenel faces a maximum term of 20 years in prison, he is likely to serve little time because of sentencing guidelines and a deal he struck with prosecutors last week.

GreenvilleOnline.com -Local News-Ravenel pleads guilty to drug charge - (9/7/2007)

How much time would a poor, non-politically connected person get for buying a POUND of cocaine?

Gaffe-prone Bush in fine form at APEC summit

"Bush's tongue started slipping almost as soon as he started talking at a business forum on the eve of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Sydney.

"Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for your introduction," he told Prime Minister John Howard. "Thank you for being such a fine host for the OPEC summit.

"As the audience of several hundred people erupted in laughter, Bush corrected himself and joked, "He invited me to the OPEC summit next year." Australia has never been a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

Later in his speech, Bush recounted how Howard had gone to visit "Austrian troops" last year in Iraq. There are, in fact, no Austrian troops there. But Australia has about 1,500 Australians military personnel in and around the country.

Upon finishing his speech, Bush took the wrong way off-stage and, looking slightly perplexed, had to be re-directed by Howard to a center-stage exit."

Gaffe-prone Bush in fine form at summit - Politics - MSNBC.com

(insert music) "Well, I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free...."

Bremer Says He Had Bush's "Full Support" for Disbanding Iraqi Army

How I Didn’t Dismantle Iraq’s Army - New York Times

Bush Knew Iraq Had No WMD

Two former CIA officers say the president squelched top-secret intelligence, and a briefing by George Tenet, months before invading Iraq.

Bush knew Saddam had no weapons of mass destruction | Salon

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

White House Claims It's Exempt from FOIA

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington:

Two weeks ago, CREW documented how the White House website conflicted with the Bush administration’s claim that the Office of Administration was not subject to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. On August 23, 2007, the Washington Post took note of the conflict between the White House website and the White House position:
The claim, made in a motion filed Tuesday by the Justice Department, is at odds with a depiction of the office on the White House’s own Web site. As of yesterday, the site listed the Office of Administration as one of six presidential entities subject to the open-records law, which is commonly known by its abbreviation, FOIA.
The White House website has been scrubbed — and a new message indicates that the Office of Administration is now exempt from FOIA requests. Read on…

Crooks and Liars » White House changes website. Now claims Office of Administration exempt from FOIA.

ABA Poll Shows Defense Attorneys Don't Think Laws Making Us Safer

…we asked 50 defense attorneys who’ve worked on federal terrorism cases since 9/11 their opinions of the legal war on terror. (We also asked 50 prosecutors, but U.S. Department of Justice spokesman Dean Boyd told assistant U.S. attorneys across the country not to participate. He declined to tell us his reason.) ABA Journal

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

The Budget Deficit is Much Bigger Than You Think

There will be lots of celebrating in Washington next month when the Treasury announces that the federal budget deficit for fiscal 2007, which ends Sept. 30, will have dropped to a mere $158 billion, give or take a few bucks. That will be $90 billion below the reported 2006 deficit, and will be toasted by the White House and Treasury as a great accomplishment.But I have a nasty little secret for you, folks. If you use realistic numbers rather than what I call WAAP -- Washington Accepted Accounting Principles -- the real federal deficit for the current fiscal year is more than 2 1/2 times the stated deficit.

Fortune: Bush's budget numbers - Sep. 4, 2007

Monday, September 3, 2007

Bush Doesn't Recall How or Why Iraqi Army Was Disbanded

But when Mr. Draper pointed out that Mr. Bush’s former Iraq administrator, L. Paul Bremer III, had gone ahead and forced the army’s dissolution and then asked Mr. Bush how he reacted to that, Mr. Bush said, “Yeah, I can’t remember, I’m sure I said, ‘This is the policy, what happened?’ ” But, he added, “Again, Hadley’s got notes on all of this stuff,” referring to Stephen J. Hadley, his national security adviser.

In Book, Bush Peeks Ahead to His Legacy - New York Times

Second British general slams U.S. policy in postwar Iraq

U.S. plans for handling Iraq after the 2003 invasion were "fatally flawed," a retired British general said, adding that the U.S. administration had refused to listen to British concerns about postwar planning. Major General Tim Cross said he had talked to former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld before the invasion about the need to have international support and enough troops on the ground to reconstruct Iraq. "He didn't want to hear that message. The U.S. had already convinced themselves that Iraq would emerge reasonably quickly as a stable democracy," Cross told the Sunday Mirror.

Second British general slams U.S. policy in postwar Iraq - Yahoo! News

British Pullout of Basra

British forces have pulled out of Basra Palace, the onetime southern residence of Saddam Hussein that became the symbol of the UK's role in the US-led invasion. The British departure from their last remaining base inside the walls of Basra City, signalled their disengagement from the conflict and has highlighted a growing and public discord between Washington and London over Iraq, with the Americans claiming the move will severely undermine security.

British leave last remaining Basra base: What was achieved? - Independent Online Edition; Middle East

British Spy Agency Spied on George Orwell Fearing What He Thought and Said Was a Danger to the State

Odd clothes and unorthodox views - why MI5 spied on Orwell for a decade | News | Guardian Unlimited Books

Hmmmm.....

Sunday, September 2, 2007

Florida Politicians Vote to Buy $4,000 HDTV's for Tampa Stadium Luxury Boxes

Last week, the Tampa Sports Authority approved a spending plan for Raymond James Stadium, nearby Legends Field and other authority properties. Half of the capital improvement budget is going for the televisions. Another $350,000 will replace refrigerators and ice makers in the luxury suites -- because there is nothing worse than having to drink your vodka warm.
Suite deal: When it comes to sports, there's plenty of tax dollars to go around: Political Whore: News: Creative Loafing Tampa

"Oh, those damn poor people make me so mad! They just leech off the system!"

Bush Seeks Immunity for AT&T and Verizon for Helping White House's Illegal Eavesdropping

The authority would effectively shut down dozens of lawsuits filed
against telecommunications companies accused of helping set up the
program.
Bush seeks to grant immunity - U.S. Security - MSNBC.com

These are lawsuits between private parties.

War Costs Soar, Could Top $1.4 Trillion

Additional war costs for the next 10 years could total about $472 billion if troop levels fall to 30,000 by 2010, or $919 billion if troop levels fall to 70,000 by about 2013. If these estimates are added to already appropriated amounts, total funding about $980 billion to $1.4 trillion by 2017.
Danger Room - Wired Blogs

They assured us this war would fund itself with oil revenues.

Saturday, September 1, 2007

David Walker - America on Brink of Bankruptcy (must see)

Great Article on Ron Paul in Wisc. Paper

"Dr. Paul might not be the perfect candidate for most Americans, but if we want a president with a fair mind and consistent principles, the Texas congressman merits a second glance. Hopefully his hypothesis, “freedom is popular,” will prove correct."

The Badger Herald - It’s no joke: Ron Paul the real deal