Begin the endless bickering and name calling;
You pussy-headed liberal morons want to protect the rights of people who want to kill you. You should die or move to Canada.
And you terrorist war criminals who are no better than the people you are waterboarding should be put in chains and thrown in jail for war crimes for eroding the moral highground America has long stood on.
America at it's best!
Rudy Giuliani will protect America and defend it from Islamic terrorism, unless, of course, he can make a buck, then Americans are on their own.
The bill wasn't what Bush wanted. It strengthens court oversight over surveillance of suspected terrorists, but does not include immunity to telecommunications corporations who assisted in eavesdropping American citizens.
So if you helped the government committ a crime, you're not getting away with it.
The vote was 227-189
Five Republicans voted in favor;
John Duncan (R-Tennessee)
Jeff Flake (R-Arizona)
Wayne Gilcrest (R-Maryland)
Bob Inglis (R-South Carolina)
Wayne Jones (R-North Carolina
Five Democrats voted against;
John Barrow (D-Georgia)
Mike Capuano (D-Massachusetts)
Nick Lampson (D-Texas)
Mike Michaud (D-Maine)
Jose Serrano (D-New York)
Capuano, Michaud and Serrano oppose any bill authorizing government surveillance. Other opponents, such as Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) and Ron Paul (R-Texas) were not present.
Interestingly enough, Democrats picked up the votes of some of their usual dissenters on national security, like Dan Boren (D-Oklahoma), Jim Marshall (D-Georgia) and Gene Taylor (D-Mississippi)
-Ok, now everyone in Georgia can stop worrying, the Governor is praying, that should solve everything.
-The Pope is coming to America to stop priests from touching little children...and say a mass or two.
-Conservatives like Fox News, country music and movies where things blow up, Liberals like everything else.
-Max out your credit card at the Woodfield Mall or Sherman Oaks Galleria, put yourself into thousands of dollars in debt, or the terrorists win.
-McCain's mom tells us Mormons bribe people, even know the Mayor of Salt Lake City who was accused of doing it, was a Catholic.
-I'm the King of Spain BITCH! Don't make us colonize your sorry ass again!
-Gordon Brown, haven't you learned from your predecessor, the British Prime Minister is supposed to obey his lord and master in Washington, D.C. C'Mon, man, even the French are taking orders from us now.
Apparently President Bush believes war means we should be a dictatorship.
The right wing of America enjoys winning their victories by attacking those on the left. You've heard their talking points; The lefties want America to be defeated because they hate it. They want soldiers to die because they hate them, and so on. It's the simplistic way the right wing wins, inspire fear and hatred in their base. Those who aren't educated enough about the world to understand it's not so simple after all.
The left does not wish to see America "defeated," and they defenintely don't want to see Islamic fundamentalists win. We're the party who opposes religious fantaticism, Christian, Islam, any religion, we certaintly don't want to see a world governed by Islamic fundamentalism.
Those on the right see the world in black and white. The was made apparent in President Bush's "you're either with us or with the terrorists" speech back in 2002. If you don't see eye to eye with the way our leadership is fighting Islamic fundamentalists, they you obviously want Al-Qaeda and their lackeys to win.
The genius of the left (and some on the right like Ron Paul) is that we know the world isn't black and white. The world isn't that simplistic. It's not our way or their way. Those on the left still believe that our leadership isn't perfect and are not right all the time just because they make decisions to oppose our enemies. We are not required to stand by our President, even when he's wrong because we don't want him to look "weak" to the world. Just because our leadership acts against terrorists or "enemies of America" does not make him infalliable. Our leadership made a blatantly wrong decision on Iraq, a decision that the left (and some on the right) would argue was counterproductive toward our fight against Al-Qaeda. Perhaps there is more to this "war on terror" than military might. Perhaps dropping bombs from planes or rolling tanks through the desert aren't the only ways to fight terrorism.
Those on the left see little difference between the Islamic world and the world the right wing wants America to live in. Both are authoritarian to totalitarian where there would be little dissent or criticism of our leaders. Both inject religious doctrine in our society. Both force their populations to live under the microscope of their governments, who track every move you make and word you say. The right wants to bring "freedom and democracy" to the Middle East, but want to sanction warantless wiretapping, elimination of habeus corpus and oppression of dissenters in the United States. They want to free these countries from the hardline Islamic sharia law that allows them to oppress women, execute homosexuals, and force Islam into every aspect of society, but the same people want to force prayer in public schools and legislate archiac biblical laws oppressing homosexuals and women's rights.
The right likes to think they're strong because they act like warriors. They think supporting military action against anyone who disagrees with us is warrior-like. They see weakness as wanting dialogue and not war. They see the American military as a means to scare Islamic populations into supporting our side. They see the American military as a means to show strength and bravery, The truth is, it was the right that has inspired the cowardly insecurity that has enveloped our nation since 9/11. We cower at the first threat of an attack. We live in a world where a panic ensures in ourselves if we see an Arab-looking man get on the subway with a backpack. We live in a society where we have to get molested before we get on an airplane. We live in a nation where we're ready to give up basic rights that we had for over 220 years because of a bunch of cave dwellers. We survived more dangerous threats; Fascism, Communism, Anarchism, a Civil war, without having to give up our basic freedoms. The right uses the military and war as a cover to hide their fear.
No matter who the Republican nominee is next year, whether it's Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, Fred Thompson, or John McCain, expect their campaign strategy to focus around the slogan "Vote Democrat and Die." Expect them to paint the Democrats as Anti-American, cowardly, and "against us" because they're not "with the President." Expect it to work.
I don't understand George W. Bush.
I mean I do, but I don't.
He comes out today to take shots at the unpopular Congress, but did he deliver a death blow, or did he resuscitate life into Congress.
Bush says Congress is wasting it's time investigating his administration. American people overwhelmingly want investigations of his administration, even his own impeachment. The American people are angry at Congress for what they perceive is lack of accountability from the Democratic Congress. If Bush is upset over investigations, then I guess the Democratic Congress is holding him accountable after all.
Bush complains Congress is wasting it's time passing a SCHIP bill he's only going to veto and the House will only fail to override, but, the American people like this bill and want the Democratic Congress to pass it despite what Bush says. If Bush is upset, that means Congress is doing what the people want...forcing him to accept the SCHIP reauthorization.
Simply put, Congress is not unpopular because it hasn't gotten anything done. Congress is unpopular because they're seen as Bush lackeys who fail to end the Iraq war or hold the administration accountable. The President has a 25% approval rating, when he's unhappy with Congress, Congress wins.
Reminding us that democracy and free speech is over should he become President, Rudy "Benito" Giuliani criticized Hillary Clinton's criticism of the president's foriegn policy;
"I think that it's important that we conduct this debate in a way that we don't interfere with the ability of the country to function in a proper way, between the now and (the election),"
"The president of the United States is president of the United States. He's going to be president of the United States from now until the time a new president takes over. Until then, he's the only one conducting foreign policy of this country, We can have our political debate in this country. ... But nobody should be creating the specter that we're sending emissaries out around the world before someone is actually sworn in as president of the United States. I think it would be good for the country if Mrs. Clinton, Senator Clinton would correct that statement now."
"Senator Clinton and Mr. Giuliani have a fundamental disagreement. She will end the war in Iraq, reverse the Bush era cowboy diplomacy and restore America's standing around the world, Mr. Giuliani wants to escalate the war in Iraq and supports President Bush's failed foreign policy approach."
"The country is at war. Sometimes it doesn't feel like a war, because it's far away. ... We have the possibility of attack on America. We know that. It happened before."
Rudy Giuliani was asked about waterboarding. Is it torture?
It depends on who does it
If the Khmer Rouge does it, it's torture. If the United States does it, it's not. This man cannot be allowed to be president of the United States. He believes that the United States is above morals and the president of the United States is above the law. He is a tyrant to the depths of his being.
The Secretary of Homeland Security reminds us why we should be scared to death to leave the house and go anywhere.
Still, I give him points for ACTUALLY wanting to be prepared for something for once.
The truth is that Bush just likes to blow things up. In Iraq, in the United States and in Congress."
Here's a list of things Congress has done, or tried to do.
1.) Pass 9/11 Commission Recommendations- PASSED AND ENACTED
2.) Funding for Stem-Cell Research- VETOED
3.) Timetable for Iraq withdrawal- VETOED
4.) Raising the Minimum Wage- PASSED AND ENACTED
5.) SCHIP Reauthorization- VETOED
6.) Voting Rights for DC Representative- DIED DUE TO VETO THREAT
7.) Responsible Redeployment from Iraq Act- DIED IN SENATE
8.) Immigration Reform- KILLED BY REPUBLICANS AND CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRATS
9.) Lobbying Reform act- STILL IN THE SENATE
10.) A bill to amend chapter 35 of title 28, United States Code, to preserve the independence of United States attorneys. -PASSED AND ENACTED
11.) Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act- PASSED AND ENACTED
12.) Veterans Compensation Cost of Living Adjustment Act- STALLED IN SENATE
13.) Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act- STALLED IN SENATE
It's so easy to forget about other things Congress has done when all we're focused on is Iraq. Personally, I thought the chances were extremely slim they would be able to end the war and impeach the President, so I wasn't betting on it. That's probably why I'm not as pissed at Congress as most people are.
Vote was 398-21.
To be honest, I'm shocked it passed by so much. The bill would protect journalists from revealing confidential sources in cases, except those involving National Security.
The bill was sponsered by Rep. Rick Boucher (D-Virginia)
20 Republicans and 1 Democrat voting against it;
Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii)
Todd Akin (R-Missouri)
Joe Barton (R-Texas)
Henry Brown (R-South Carolina)
Steve Buyer (R-Indiana)
John Carter (R-Texas)
John Culberson (R-Texas)
Wally Herger (R-California)
Darrell Issa (R-California)
Sam Johnson (R-Texas)
Steve King (R-Iowa)
Peter King (R-New York)
Daniel Lungren (R-California)
John Mica (R-Florida)
Tom Petri (R-Wisconsin)
Ed Royce (R-California)
Bill Sali (R-Idaho)
Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wisconsin)
Lamar Smith (R-Texas)
Mac Thornberry (R-Texas)
Dave Weldon (R-Florida)
Muslim extremists scare me
Born-again Christians scare me
What petrifies me?
Muslim extremists turned born-again Christians
"Who Remembers the Armenians?" Those words were uttered by Adolf Hitler at the dawn of World War II. Hitler was asked by his generals what he thought the world would say if they killed everyone who got in their way during the 1939 invasion of Poland. There's a thin line between "atrocity" and "massacre" and what we describe as "genocide." Surely we all agree what the Turkish did during World War I against the Ottoman Empire's Armenian population is indeed an atrocity. It was indeed a massacre, but it also was genocide. We can no longer to afford to deny history, for perhaps if we did remember the Armenians in 1939, Hitler's genocide may not have happened. Our relationship with Turkey is a unique and important one. Having been to Turkey recently, I can account for how Westernized and modern the country really is and how friendly to Americans the Turkish people are. Still, good friends do not deny the mistakes their friends make, especially if it can prevent those mistakes from happening to someone else in the future. Turkey committed genocide 90 years ago, and the Turley that exists today is a completely different one than the Turkey that slaughtered 1.5 million Armenians, but it does not erase history. Germany knows this, Turkey must also understand this. Already, a slew of our allies, including members of NATO, do recognize the genocide including; Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay, Vatican City and Venezuela. Wales in Britain and New South Wales in Australia also recognize what happened as a genocide, as do 39 US States; Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. Even as the genocide was going on, in 1916, the United States Ambassador to Turkey, Henry Morgenthau Sr. described the acts against the Armenians as "race extermination." If the United States truly wants to keep its moral authority in the world. If the United States truly wants to be the beacon of freedom and the advocate for human rights, then we have to call out our friends and allies when they are wrong. We cannot continue to be the world's advocate for freedom and human rights when we only advocate when it's convenient for us, and ignore history when it's not. We would not rescind our beliefs that the Holocaust was genocide if Germany threatens to close Rammstein unless we do. Turkey sought to eliminate the Armenians from Turkish territory, either by deporting them or by killing them, just as Hitler sought to rid Germany of Jews. All the Armenians were guilty of was having the gall to ask for independence, something we know all too dear. No amount o resistance from the Armenians gave the Turkish the right to do what they did. Also, when did we start to suddenly care about what NATO allies think about us? George W. Bush didn't take Turkey into consideration when he invaded Iraq and because of the Kurdish issue, Turkey had a huge stake in what would happen in Iraq, and our administration barely took them into account. Now, suddenly, we're concerned? The United States Congress is not out to destroy Turkey, or even make our friend look bad. Rather, they are seeking to remember the Armenians, so another madman like Adolf Hitler doesn't turn around and throw our denial in our face and use it to justify their genocide.
'I Don't Think It, I Know It."
Jimmy Carter on whether or not he thinks the US tortures terrorist suspects.
We wlll, of course, attack him because he told the truth...and we don't like the truth.
Rudy Giuliani says the U.S. must win the war in Iraq so that country "will act as an ally for us in the Islamic terrorist war against us."
If you REALLY think a new Iraq is going to be a trusted ally against terrorists, you must be delusional. If we had focused on Al-Qaeda from day one, it won't matter whether or not Iraq is our ally. I don't think we need them as our ally and if we're going to waste the resources we're wasting now for THAT reason, then we're a hopeless case.
Perhaps, if it weren't for the ridiculously VAGUE definition of terrorism as laid out by us and the UN, Iran wouldn't have a point here.
Yes, based on our vague "terrorists attack civilians on purpose" definition, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Dresden, Mai Lai, and Hadithya were all terrorist attacks.
Do I think we're terrorists? No, but does the definition fit, unfortunately yes.
Perhaps we need to redefine the word.
