The Official Iraq Failure Report

All in all, this document concludes that the rebuilding effort never did much more than restore what was destroyed during the invasion and the pervasive looting that followed, The Times pointed this out here: Bush legacy? Iraq report reveals $100 billion failure.

I would add to that the thousands of deaths and lives destroyed by injuries or loss of loved ones.

Remember This?

One of my favorite sites is Crooks and Liars and this morning they had a great clip that was so timely. It stars Albert Finney (the guy we named our ram lamb Albert the Finn after).

Yes We Can!

What a night and what a speech! I think Obama had most of the population pretty teary eyed when he delivered his eloquent and passionate speech. His powerful words were what we all needed to hear. This country is so very broken and I am confident that this man can lead us to better times. I am always mindful of the fact that he is still a politician, but not since Kennedy has anyone elicited such emotion and joy from the masses. And just look at the voter turnout!

It was with some surprise that I watched McCain's concession speech. Did you notice the difference between the McCain last night and the McCain who for the past several months was ensnared in Karl Rove's dirty claws? It was evident almost immediately. This was the genuine war hero that I remember from years past. Too bad he tarnished his legacy with dirty and divisive politics towards the end. I also couldn't help but notice his crowd's reaction when he mentioned Obama, and Obama's crowd's reaction when he mentioned McCain. It speaks to the culture that became the accepted hateful way to behave and is hopefully a thing of the past as this country joins together to tackle the problems confronting us now.

I am thrilled at the outcome and glad that I can be proud of our country again. I have waited a long time to start looking forward to this country's future and I can't wait for the inaugeration and a presidential address!

Palin is Useless

Palin's canned and well rehearsed "debate" was shocking. Her zooming right past Biden's emotional comments about his son showed that she couldn't slip off that automaton track she was on for one second or she'd stumble. She had her talking points and by golly she was going to say them! Her constant use of the word maverick was nauseating. And did you notice her staring at those precious notes? Her interview with Katy Couric was the real Palin (watch this video and tell me you weren't/aren't shocked), lest anyone think that was Palin at the debate last night. And in this debate, she didn't answer any questions, and even told the moderator she wouldn't. Shame on the moderator for not insisting that she answer her questions. Her winking at the camera and her "folksiness" was embarrassing and to an outsider from another country, we must look like a bunch of fools to be considering this bimbo as a VP. We don't need folksiness. We need a serious leader who actually knows the issues. Chances are reasonably good that if McCain gets elected, the VP will be the president before his term is up. If that doesn't make you want to throw up your breakfast.....

And 4 more years of Nukyaler? NOOOOOOOOOOO

Expand the powers of the VP? Is she for real?

We Are in Deep Trouble If...

....McCain and Palin get elected. Just look at this:

Sarah Palin has said that the Iraq war is part of God's plan...so is drilling in the National Wildlife Preserve. She has asked us to "pray on it". Please join me in prayer.

WHAT IS THIS COUNTRY COMING TO?????

My Hero Eliot Spitzer

In 2003 I felt compelled to email Eliot Spitzer who at that time was New York's attorney general. I thought he was doing an excellent job of rooting out corruption and wasn't afraid to take on the big guys, including Wall Street. His fight for the environment was important to me also. As a youth he volunteered to work in soup kitchens in the city. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth but wanted to experience how the other half lived. He showed me that there really were some good politicians. I admired him and was thrilled to have this letter from him in response to my email (click to enlarge). I thought that one day he might become president. Naturally I was ecstatic when he was elected governor of our state.

So I was filled with utter horror when I received an email yesterday from my friend Carla telling me that she had just heard that he was involved in a prostitution ring. Knowing that he, himself had prosecuted such rings I was stunned. I immediately surfed the news sites and then flipped on the TV. It was true. He admitted it. My faith in politicians is back in the toilet. This man's stellar career has been destroyed because apparently his brain was incapacitated by another region of his body. And wow, $1,000 an hour for a prostitute? Imagine what this has done to his family and his three kids? He may even go to jail as he has broken several laws. As of this writing he still has not resigned. Surly he must, and they are just "dealing" to avoid criminal charges at this point.

Bill Maher On Nader

Having recently watched the debate on MSNBC I have been in a political mode. I just read this and have to agree with most of it. It's from Bill Maher, a guy whose show I used to enjoy when I had HBO. I don't agree with everything he says all of the time, and I especially don't think much of his association with PETA, but this little opinion piece is on the mark.

"I don't think it matters that Ralph Nader's running. It didn't matter in 2004. How many people even remember he ran in 2004? So it's silly to make a big issue of it. At this point, Ralph's just in it for the chicks... or the dudes... always hard to tell with him. But, there can be no doubt, he's got a point about how narrow our presidential debates have become. He's the wrong messenger, because even most of the people who used to like him now hate him, but no candidate is talking about single payer health care, which 59 percent of doctors support. No candidate dares talk about cutting the bloated military budget. Gun control. A carbon tax. Gay marriage. Cloning supermodels. We won't have a debate about any of these things. That's bad for the country, isn't it? In fact, isn't Ralph Nader's platform still the best one? Couldn't Barack Obama, with all his political gifts, be borrowing more from Nader's platform? That would be real change."

Got My Vote!

The Top 1%

America's richest 1 percent of households own more than half of the nation's stocks and control more wealth ($16 trillion) than the bottom 90 percent.

The richest 20 percent are responsible for almost 60 percent of consumption.
Lucky for the rest of us, prices of things the rich love to buy have been increasing. Learjet 40 (7.9 mil) up 2%, Sikorsky S-76C+ (10 mil) up 11%, Hatteras 80 (4.7 mil) up 4% or an Olympic size swimming pool (1.3 mil) up 12%.

Lucky for the rest of us, that the top 20% of taxpayers don't have to pay too much more in taxes than the next 40 percent of taxpayers. If they did, that would be redistribution of wealth.

Technorati Tags:wealthy, tax payers

Nice Hat!!!!

Somewhere in my travels I was able to order this for free and no shipping even. You can't help but enjoy the slogan.

Sicko

Just watched Sicko with my family. My kids were amazed. They said they were moving to France! I am glad Michael Moore made this movie. Apparently a lot of insurance companies are mad at him. Hopefully this will open a much needed dialog in this country. Amazing how most countries appear to take care of their people, whether it's higher education, the elderly or the sick, and here we pay through the nose for these basic needs. A friend of mine told me a few years ago that the US is still the best place in the world to live. I thought to myself, how can he say that when he has never left the continent? This is an illusion that many people have that have not traveled outside the US. I have lived outside this continent and this simply isn't true. What kind of a country puts it's young adults thousands of dollars into debt before they even set begin their life's journey into adulthood?

As the Bushwhacker continues to destroy the US and turn it into a dictatorship, it is becoming more and more apparent, that this is not the best place in the world to live. Not by a long shot.

Pray for Rain?

Seriously?

See excerpt from article:

Riley says pray for rain to fall from heavens
Proclamation urges divine request
Friday, June 29, 2007
STAN DIEL
News staff writer

With the state's weather forecasters not delivering much-needed rain, Gov. Bob Riley on Thursday turned to a higher power. The governor issued a proclamation calling for a week of prayer for rain, beginning Saturday.

Riley encouraged Alabamians to pray "individually and in their houses of worship."

"Throughout our history, Alabamians have turned in prayer to God to humbly ask for his blessings and to hold us steady during times of difficulty," Riley said. "This drought is without question a time of great difficulty."

It Says it All

Creekstone Farms and BSE

Anyone hear the latest news about Creekstone Farms? They want to test ALL their cows for BSE and the repugs are going crazy. "The Bush administration said Tuesday it will fight to keep meatpackers from testing all their animals for mad cow disease." Why are they so upset..isn't this great news for Joe Public? I mean heck if everyone starts buying meat from Creekstone Farms this might force the others to test all their cows as well. Oh dear...imagine that! Big farms are huge contributors to the repugs (surprise surprise)and we all know the ONLY thing that matters to the current admin is big business and the almighty dollar. It doesn't matter that it might lead to a safer meat supply. This testing will effect the bottom line so...........

Don't Eat the Food

Now it's been found that fish meal has been contaminated by melamine. So don't eat any farmed fish because the FDA isn't releasing what fish farms in which states got the contaminated meal. You gotta love the non partisan FDA. So that's chicken, fish and dog food so far. It's looking more and more like we really have to grow all of our own food to remain, drug, hormone and toxin free. And all of our animals food too! So far we have lambs, goats, rabbits, vegetables just planted, and chickens if we can find the time this year. Not that we would eat our goats and rabbit! So maybe we will remain alive for awhile longer. But if the bees keep dying off we only have about 4 years left anyway so not to worry!!!

Sad Interview in Iraq

The Washington Post interviewed a man who helped sledgehammer Saddam’s statue: “We got rid of a tyrant and tyranny. But we were surprised that after one thief had left, another 40 replaced him. Now, we regret that Saddam Hussein is gone, no matter how much we hated him.”

He is not alone in his sentiments. But yet the GOP wants us to believe that the situation is improving even as we send soliders back to Iraq that are so badly injured that they are incapable of supporting the weight of their body armour. Are we continuing to win the hearts and minds of the Iraqi's? I think not.

Political Food for Thought

As subpoenas fly and hearings are scheduled, Robert Reich asks Sen. Leahy to think what The 85 Other US Attorneys are doing/have done to not be targeted by the White House.

Scary thought isn't it..............

Libby is Guilty

Patrick Fitzgerald is my hero.

Happy Fitzmas!

Spitzer's NY Budget

I haven't seen any details yet but Eliott Spitzer's new budget proposal looks good in some areas. I especially like the propery tax reductions. Without them, NY is doomed. Increased school aid, yes...good. Much needed especially in rural areas. But tax breaks for private school goers? HUH? WHY? I already pay to have them bussed to school. Now I am going to fund their education as well? Encouraging kids to attend private schools takes much needed school aid away from the public schools and I have not seen any evidence that private schools are any better. In fact several people I know that have sent their kids to a few of them have told me as much.

Did anyone hear Bushwhackers radio address the other day? He was talking about Cheney and said that he was a half glass full kinda guy. HALF GLASS FULL? WHAT!? That man has to be one of the dumbest guys on the planet and yet he is our president. Wow.

An Apt Quote for the Day

"When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying the cross." - Sinclair Lewis