LEFT is RIGHT (blogging against The Bush-war) |
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Iraq War Cost
 
 
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| While Bush is lying to the American people on Thursday night, Democrats will be meeting at our Campaign Headquarters in South Gate at 6:00 to show our contempt for his policies. The news media will be there to show us protesting. Try to be there to show your support. It's located on the corner of Atlantic and Tweedy in South Gate. The best directions would be 91 Fwy west to 710 Fwy north to Imperial. Go west to Atlantic Boulevard. Turn north to campaign office. |
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Around for Everyone
Republican Turncoat? (and a really cute one)
Kerry should embrace his anti-Vietnam War position, not avoid it
A diamond in the rough
And Another
Got this e-mesage from Rudy Guiliana this morning. It starts off very well:
But then he strays off course:
Wait, he's back on track:
Oh no, he's fallen off again:
Wait, he's back:
Ohhh, darn, lost him again:
Darn it, Rudy, you had me going a couple of times. Sorry, I'd rather give my entire life savings to Gay Hamsters of America than give one penny to your sorry political organization.
Kerry should embrace his anti-Vietnam War position, not avoid it
A diamond in the rough
And Another
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Letter from Rudy
Got this e-mesage from Rudy Guiliana this morning. It starts off very well:
| Dear MXXX, Last night, in Madison Square Garden, I took the stage at the Republican National Convention to speak to America about the threats we face in the world, the events we have been through together over the last three years, |
But then he strays off course:
| and the clear, steady leadership of President George W. Bush that has guided us through these difficult times. |
Wait, he's back on track:
| Millions of Americans tuned their TVs to convention coverage last night and heard my words. And many more will hear the words of others who will come before our convention. They will hear our story. Will you help us tell the story to those who don't tune in? www.GeorgeWBush.com/Rudy |
Oh no, he's fallen off again:
| President Bush has been the steady hand we need in these times of uncertainty and danger. He understands the stakes. He makes decisions based on deeply held beliefs, not the political winds. He chooses to fight terror in places like Baghdad and Kabul, rather than New York and Kansas. It is the right way to fight this enemy and it is a fight we must win. In order to keep the pressure on al-Qaeda, we must keep George W. Bush in the White House. |
Wait, he's back:
| In order to take the fight to our enemies, we must have the strength of conviction, and support for our Armed Forces. This is not a fight for those who talk tough, and then leave our troops unarmed. This is not a fight for those who talk about the need for better intelligence, but have a history of voting against it. This is not a fight that favors sensitivity and nuance. This is a fight that requires strength, determination and resolve. |
Ohhh, darn, lost him again:
| Will you help ensure this fight is won by contributing $1000, $500, $250, $100 or even $50 to the President's campaign? I hope I can count on you to help me tell this story. As you watch the convention tonight, you will know that you have helped us reach millions that may not be watching. You have spread the message to those who may not watch, but need to know. You will make the difference. Sincerely, Rudy Giuliani |
Darn it, Rudy, you had me going a couple of times. Sorry, I'd rather give my entire life savings to Gay Hamsters of America than give one penny to your sorry political organization.
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Hypocritical Oxymorons
Alon Barlevy of the Hubert Humphrey Democratic Club brings us this:
Ed Koch? I didn't know... I don't give a damn that any of these people are gay. I give a damn that they are hypocrites who have the power to influence many other peoples' lives.
Michael Rogers, a gay rights activist with a blog at http://www.blogactive.com/, has been leading a crusaide to expose hypocracy in the Republican party vis a vis the Marriage Amendment endorsed by Bush. He has so far exposed several gay senior aids to Republican lawmakers who favor the amendment and other anti gay rights. The outed are |
Ed Koch? I didn't know... I don't give a damn that any of these people are gay. I give a damn that they are hypocrites who have the power to influence many other peoples' lives.
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August 30, 2004
THIS is interesting:
So the next time a Republican throws out the well-used "fact" that Lincoln was the first Republican President and was against slavery and therefore, see, Republicans aren't racists or homophobes or the party of the wealthy, you can calmly correct them.
Kelpie Wilson has an intersting essay on peak oil production and global worming. I take issue with one particular part:
Yes, in the ideal world the scarcity of an item will force technology to develop more efficient replacements. Unfortunately this essay lacks any analysis from the political perspective, namely there could very well be major wars resulting from the larger oil-consuming nations becoming predators upon the oil-wealthy ones. Does, umm, Iraq ring a bell?
I'm going to give this book club a try:
In case you're not on MoveOn's email list:
You don't need to be a member to donate. Also, I recommend that you consider joining this cutting-edge, energetic and progressive political organization if you've had it up to here with the destructive policies and actions of our current and illegal occupant of the oval office.
Here's the intro to Greg's latest on Florida's version of representative voting:
As Greg is the head honcho on this subject, I cannot possibly critique his words. What I can do is remind readers that, as I and many have been saying for months now, no matter what polls might say, no matter what the voters might decide in November, it's the COUNTERS (electronic or manual) that will decide the election. And guess who controls the counters?
Don't toss out the protest signs and walking shoes just yet. You're probably going to need them starting November 3.
Lincoln Supported Slavery
THIS is interesting:
| ...Back in Illinois, Lincoln (running as a Republican) tried to unseat the incumbent Douglas in the 1858 Senate race. Douglas won the election, but Lincoln gained acclaim through a series of seven debates--the "Lincoln-Douglas debates"--that focused largely on slavery in the territories. (The debates actually began after Lincoln said, famously, that "a house divided against itself cannot stand.") Douglas repeatedly tried to label Lincoln a proponent of racial equality--a radical notion then, even in free states. But Lincoln denied it: "I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races." Nor did Lincoln advocate abolishing slavery. He merely argued for containing it. |
So the next time a Republican throws out the well-used "fact" that Lincoln was the first Republican President and was against slavery and therefore, see, Republicans aren't racists or homophobes or the party of the wealthy, you can calmly correct them.
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Kelpie Wilson has an intersting essay on peak oil production and global worming. I take issue with one particular part:
| ....Two new realities are fast converging on the public consciousness with what may be serendipitous timing: climate change and peak oil. After years of controversy and denial, there finally seems to be a solid consensus that climate change is here, it threatens everything from agriculture to human health, and it will probably turn out to be even worse than predicted. Peak oil is a still obscure term you will soon be hearing a lot more about. It simply refers to the peak of oil production. Oil was made over millions of years as ancient life was crushed and buried under the earth, and they ain't making any more of it - at least not on any timescale that is meaningful to us - so like any limited commodity (think Picasso paintings or antique porcelain), the supply will rise to meet demand and then begin to fall. As supply falls, prices will go up, perhaps drastically. ....From the perspective of climate change, news that oil is peaking sooner rather than later is good news. We need to end the fossil fuel addiction anyway, and only higher oil prices will tilt the economics in favor of solar, wind and other renewables.... |
Yes, in the ideal world the scarcity of an item will force technology to develop more efficient replacements. Unfortunately this essay lacks any analysis from the political perspective, namely there could very well be major wars resulting from the larger oil-consuming nations becoming predators upon the oil-wealthy ones. Does, umm, Iraq ring a bell?
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Progressive Book Club
I'm going to give this book club a try:
| Progressive Book Club Sign up to take advantage of our special, pre-launch offer – "3 books for $3 + 1 for free." AND the first 1,000 to sign up will receive a free DVD of The Hunting of the President, the hit documentary based on the New York Times bestseller about the campaign to destroy Bill and Hillary Clinton. When the Progressive Book Club launches this fall, we will contact you about activating your membership and selecting your books. After you join and activate your membership, we will send your books and free DVD.... |
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$1M Needed ASAP
In case you're not on MoveOn's email list:
| Dear MoveOn member, This week, Republicans in New York will try to distract America from their dismal track record using slick politicians, September 11th, and truckloads of spin. Together, we can air a perfect contrast, spoken by real Americans who previously supported Bush, but who have turned away. Starting today, we want to air five of our Real People ads -- featuring real Americans who voted for Bush in 2000 but are supporting Kerry this year -- with our biggest ad buy ever. The campaign will cost over $3 million, but it'll make sure that most TV viewers in 9 critical swing states see them during the Republican Convention. MoveOn members helped make these spots and chose the best ones, and have contributed over $600,000 to put them on TV. Now, we need your help to get them in front of swing state voters, and we're trying to raise $1 million TODAY to make that happen. Can you help? To contribute securely by credit card or check, go to: https://www.moveonpac.org/donate/switchad_winners.html |
You don't need to be a member to donate. Also, I recommend that you consider joining this cutting-edge, energetic and progressive political organization if you've had it up to here with the destructive policies and actions of our current and illegal occupant of the oval office.
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Florida 2000: Even Better in 2004
Here's the intro to Greg's latest on Florida's version of representative voting:
| Madame Butterfly Flies Off with Ballots Florida Fixed Again? Absentee Ballots Go Absent - by Greg Palast Sunday, August 29, 2004. On Friday, Theresa LePore, Supervisor of Elections in Palm Beach, candidate for re-election as Supervisor of Elections, chose to supervise her own election, no one allowed. This Tuesday, Florida votes for these nominally non-partisan posts. You remember Theresa, “Madame Butterfly,” the one whose ballots brought in the big vote for Pat Buchanan in the Jewish precincts in November 2000. Then she failed to do the hand count that would have changed the White House from Blue to Red. This time, Theresa’s in a hurry to get to the counting. She began tallying absentee ballots on Friday in her own re-election race. Not to worry: the law requires the Supervisor of Elections in each county to certify poll-watchers to observe the count. But Theresa has a better idea. She refused to certify a single poll-watcher from opponents’ organizations despite the legal requirement she do so by last week. She’ll count her own votes herself, thank you very much! And so far, she’s doing quite well. Although 37,000 citizens have requested absentee ballots, she says she’d only received 22,000 when she began the count. Where are the others? Don’t ask: though she posts the names of requesters, she won’t release the list of those who have voted, an eyebrow-raising deviation from standard procedure. And she has no intention of counting all the ballots received. She has reserved for herself the right to determine which ballots have acceptable signatures. Her opponent, Democrat Art Anderson, had asked Theresa to use certified hand-writing experts, instead of her hand-picked hacks, to check the signatures. Unfortunately, while Federal law requires Theresa to allow a voter to correct a signature rejection when registering, the Feds don’t require her to permit challenges to absentee ballot rejections. I know what you’re thinking. How could Madame Butterfly know how people are voting? Well, she’s printed PARTY AFFILIATION on the OUTSIDE of each return envelope. That certainly makes it easier to figure out which ballot is valid, don’t it? .... |
As Greg is the head honcho on this subject, I cannot possibly critique his words. What I can do is remind readers that, as I and many have been saying for months now, no matter what polls might say, no matter what the voters might decide in November, it's the COUNTERS (electronic or manual) that will decide the election. And guess who controls the counters?
Don't toss out the protest signs and walking shoes just yet. You're probably going to need them starting November 3.
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August 29, 2004
Arthur C. Clarke ROCKS!! :
Forget what happened in Chicago in '68. Forget the wimp-ass Democratic Party leadership begging Democrats to tone down the protesting. This is serious, people, and if we don't protest with our hearts and passion, we may never get another opportunity in our lifetimes. The damage possible in NYC by protestors can only pale in comparison to the damage done by the Republican Administration that, despite pleas and warnings from sources almost too numerous to count now, pretty much gave the green flag to Al Qaeda to take down WTC, then encouraged, by lying, thousands of residents to breath toxic air generated by the WTC collapses, then shortchanged the civilian security organization by reducing funding for securing ports, rails and airports and sending a good portion of the fire and police reservists off to Iraq to secure the oil reserves for Bush and associates at the expense of many thousands of Iraqi lives. So screw the RNC and all it represents today, and if someone wants to toss a chair through a Starbucks window on Broadway (as suggested by Bill Maher Friday night), they can sure as hell use my favorite recliner.
| "CNN is one of the participants in the war. I have a fantasy where Ted Turner is elected president but refuses because he doesn't want to give up power." |
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No Holds Barred
| "If we don't get out there and protest the way we want to and as forcefully as we can, then we lose our rights and it doesn't matter who's president." ---Eric Laursen, who is organizing a day of civil disobedience on Tuesday with a group called the A31 Action Coalition |
Forget what happened in Chicago in '68. Forget the wimp-ass Democratic Party leadership begging Democrats to tone down the protesting. This is serious, people, and if we don't protest with our hearts and passion, we may never get another opportunity in our lifetimes. The damage possible in NYC by protestors can only pale in comparison to the damage done by the Republican Administration that, despite pleas and warnings from sources almost too numerous to count now, pretty much gave the green flag to Al Qaeda to take down WTC, then encouraged, by lying, thousands of residents to breath toxic air generated by the WTC collapses, then shortchanged the civilian security organization by reducing funding for securing ports, rails and airports and sending a good portion of the fire and police reservists off to Iraq to secure the oil reserves for Bush and associates at the expense of many thousands of Iraqi lives. So screw the RNC and all it represents today, and if someone wants to toss a chair through a Starbucks window on Broadway (as suggested by Bill Maher Friday night), they can sure as hell use my favorite recliner.
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August 27, 2004
"...unless their country has large oil reserves."
Mark Morford compares Bush and Kerry (snippet):
30-second bunny movies: JAWS and ALIEN
Cartoons inspired by spam titles
Deadly Tetris (for my wife)
Denis Leary's a-whole song (note: extensive profanity)
Feeling Great
George Bush's Medals
Internet Help Desk (video)
Hey Buddy, Ready to Go? (video)
Lightness Illusions
Stained Apron (food servers retaliate)
Tele-Snaps
Titanic Song
Wok Boarding (video)
| "I don't think you give timelines to dictators." ---George W. Bush |
"...unless their country has large oil reserves."
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Mark Morford compares Bush and Kerry (snippet):
| So, let's see: Bona-fide war hero turned incredibly articulate, educated, gifted Vietnam War protester and respected senator on one side, alcoholic AWOL failed-businessman born-again pampered daddy's boy evangelical Christian on the other. Is this really the contest? Bush slugs gin and tonics like Evian while Kerry is accused of ... what again? Not being incredibly heroic enough? Wow. This is not, apparently, a hallucination. Kerry really is being forced to defend his well-documented war record, despite how all the proofs are there, in public view, on the candidate's own Web site, with nothing to hide and for all to see, whereas Dubya was (and still is) a famously inept embarrassment to the military, and is being forced to defend nothing about his own spoiled spoon-fed life, as he humiliates the nation at every utterance and attacks Kerry (and, by extension, John McCain) via GOP-sponsored henchmen while large chunks of his own embarrassing records have just, um, "disappeared." What, too bitter? Resentful? Too much like I advocate stringing Karl Rove up by his large intestine and slapping him with a rainbow flag until he cries? All apologies. Hey, it happens. Sometimes you just gotta purge. Vent. Let it all out. Because, really, it all makes you ask: Is everyone on drugs? Mass delusional? Are we just blind? Or is the vicious GOP spin machine really that powerful? Why, yes, yes, it is. And isn't it just the funniest thing? .... |
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FRIDAY FUN
30-second bunny movies: JAWS and ALIEN
Cartoons inspired by spam titles
Deadly Tetris (for my wife)
Denis Leary's a-whole song (note: extensive profanity)
Feeling Great
George Bush's Medals
Internet Help Desk (video)
Hey Buddy, Ready to Go? (video)
Lightness Illusions
Stained Apron (food servers retaliate)
Tele-Snaps
Titanic Song
Wok Boarding (video)
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August 26, 2004
---Luz Marina Arredondo, grandmother of 20 y/o Lance Cpl. Alexander Arredondo, and mother of Carlos Arredondo who, upon hearing of the death of his son Alexander (in Iraq), climbed into the Marine Corps van parked outside his home and set it ablaze Wednesday afternoon, suffering severe burns.
Received this important e-message today:
After the November 2004 election... Sign me up!
The danger of setting off rapid and irreversible changes in some crucial natural systems
Farmland to be abandoned to the sea
Asian farmers sucking the continent dry
Head over to ddjangoWIrE when you have a few minutes. Mr. Jango (or maybe Mr. Wire... I don't know his real name, but his photo shows that he's old enough to be my brother's nephew's father) does a fine job arguing that maybe "Karl Rove is actually coordinating both shows", i.e. Kerry and Bush. Before that, he tries to find a "difference of substance between the Bush-thingy and the Kerry-thingy", as opined by Arundhati Roy. I don't know why this true Progressive (Mr. Jango/Wire/Gentleman) doesn't have a larger audience; his blogs are generally objective and well-supported by documentation (as compared to this liberal/terrorist/propaganda rag called Left is Right).
Today's Scribble:
Bernadette Malone: NYC errs in playing nice with protesters
The one correct item in the entire article (and I do recommend reading it completely - it's hilarious) is that Ted Rall is a liberal journalist. If that wasn't enough to spur your interest, here's the next section:
I guess the Republicans can only hope that the "AIDS-spreading" hookers will infect the mice-releasing/pie-throwing terrorists.
| "They send them like guinea pigs over there." |
---Luz Marina Arredondo, grandmother of 20 y/o Lance Cpl. Alexander Arredondo, and mother of Carlos Arredondo who, upon hearing of the death of his son Alexander (in Iraq), climbed into the Marine Corps van parked outside his home and set it ablaze Wednesday afternoon, suffering severe burns.
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Makings of a New Political Party?
Received this important e-message today:
| Notice of Historic Merger August 26, 2004 Dear Friends, Progressive Democrats, Members of Progressive Democratic Caucuses, Progressive Vote, and Progressive Democrats of America: Every progressive democrat receiving this email knows the Democratic Party needs to be transformed. The only realistic way to do so is by out-organizing the corporate interests that now control the Party. In order to accomplish this goal we need a "movement" to transform the Democratic Party. And we have found one. Progressive Vote (PV) - is an organization run by grassroots democratic caucuses throughout the country. It has formed a powerful grassroots coalition that identifies and supports people involved with local Democratic Party chapters to secure social and economic justice for the under-served and unheard majority of the American people. PV combines electoral and policy work with real community organizing and support of local community organizers and organizations to create meaningful and strong links that it nurtures and expands. Its goal is to ultimately have Progressive Democratic caucuses in every one of the 435 congressional districts. Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) - is an organization also building a coalition of the millions of Americans who will benefit from taking back the democratic party, our democracy, our economy, and our institutions from the "moneyed interests." PDA is committed to achieving local, national, and global security by redirecting the current wasteful and obscene levels of U.S. military spending toward the effective funding of health and education programs, an end to all discrimination, the provision of full and meaningful employment, and an end to poverty and war for all people. PDA also believes we must combine electoral and policy work with real community organizing to create a meaningful effective coalition. These are not just dreams. If the people lead, the politicians and parties will follow. With these shared beliefs and goals both PDA and PV have chosen to merge into one organization, henceforth to be called PDA. What makes the merged PDA and PV unique is our two fold strategy of working inside the beltway (itb) while simultaneously building a strong federation of state and congressional district based local progressive democratic caucuses and chapters. Either strategy alone is far weaker than the combination of both. A central organization without grassroots support and engagement is without power or leverage. Grassroots chapters without a unifying, central lobbying, legislative, national focus can achieve only limited local successes. But the two organizations working as one to build an unstoppable democratic coalition represent a strategy and a movement to be reckoned with. Please visit our combined new web site http://www.pdamerica.org/ beginning this weekend. Please join in our efforts, share this email, form local caucuses, learn about upcoming PDA events, chapter building, and fund raising. Donate your time, skills, energy, and money as you are able. Please feel free to contact your local state progressive caucus ... or form one ... and add your voice. Questions regarding PDA may be directed to either Tim Carpenter or Kevin Spidel at info@pdamerica.org . Watch out stagnant Democratic Party because here we come, progressives, people of color, working men and women. This is our country, not Exxon's, not Bush's, not the DLC's, and not any corporate Board's. America belongs to the people, American citizens, progressives, democrats. The highest office in a democracy is that of citizen. And the citizens long for and demand justice and peace. PDA is here to help. Believe. There is hope. Visit Our Website Yours for economic and social justice and peace, Warmly, Tim Carpenter, Director, Progressive Democrats of America Kevin Spidel, Field Director, Progressive Democrats of America and former Executive Director, Progressive Vote -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- email: info@pdamerica.org web: http://www.pdamerica.org |
After the November 2004 election... Sign me up!
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Global Warming/Pollution Issues
The danger of setting off rapid and irreversible changes in some crucial natural systems
Farmland to be abandoned to the sea
Asian farmers sucking the continent dry
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A True Progressive
Head over to ddjangoWIrE when you have a few minutes. Mr. Jango (or maybe Mr. Wire... I don't know his real name, but his photo shows that he's old enough to be my brother's nephew's father) does a fine job arguing that maybe "Karl Rove is actually coordinating both shows", i.e. Kerry and Bush. Before that, he tries to find a "difference of substance between the Bush-thingy and the Kerry-thingy", as opined by Arundhati Roy. I don't know why this true Progressive (Mr. Jango/Wire/Gentleman) doesn't have a larger audience; his blogs are generally objective and well-supported by documentation (as compared to this liberal/terrorist/propaganda rag called Left is Right).
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Today's Scribble:
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Pie Throwing
Bernadette Malone: NYC errs in playing nice with protesters
| NEXT WEEK, people who hate Republicans plan to release swarms of mice in New York City to terrorize delegates to the National Republican Convention. Republican-haters plan on dressing up as RNC volunteers, and giving false directions to little blue hair ladies from Kansas, sending them into the sectors of New York City that are unfit for human habitation. They plan on throwing pies and Lord knows what else at Republican visitors to the city. Prostitutes with AIDS plan to seduce Republican visitors, and discourage the use of condoms, according to liberal journalist Ted Rall.... |
The one correct item in the entire article (and I do recommend reading it completely - it's hilarious) is that Ted Rall is a liberal journalist. If that wasn't enough to spur your interest, here's the next section:
| New York City is a place renowned for coddling no one — tourists, babies, old people. And yet, its new mayor, a Boston transplant, plans to coddle these junior terrorists. The New York Times reported Wednesday that Mayor Michael Bloomberg will be issuing buttons that read “Peaceful Political Activist,” which will entitle the bearer to discounts at The Bronx Zoo, the Museum of Sex, Applebee’s, plays such as “Mamma Mia” and “Naked Boys Singing,” and other random entertainment venues. By wearing these buttons, and obtaining these nifty little discounts, the mice-releasers, pie-throwers and AIDS-spreaders are entering into an implicit agreement and the rest of society: “Give me $5 off a chicken entree at Applebee’s, and I promise not to terrorize you.” That oughtta work. Not. ... |
I guess the Republicans can only hope that the "AIDS-spreading" hookers will infect the mice-releasing/pie-throwing terrorists.
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| "The 2004 election is nothing less than a referendum on the soul of our country - a political event with unprecedented significance for our lives and the lives of our children. The Kerry campaign cannot allow it to devolve into a debate over whether John Kerry bled enough to warrant a Purple Heart. And since no one can doubt that more scurrilous attacks are coming Kerry's way, it is imperative that in the future the right answers to all wrong questions be offered immediately. And not for one moment should they cause the Kerry campaign to relinquish its attacks on the president's failures at home and abroad or cloud its alternative moral vision of what America can be with George Bush safely back in Crawford." ----Arianna Huffington |
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August 25, 2004
John and Jon - the Transcript
The 10 Ways Bush Screwed New York
New Dogs for the New American Century
Rapture for Dummies
An unusually scathing MoveOn video.
Arguing Effectively with Conservatives
My thoughts exactly, ever since the first NG unit was deployed to Iraq.
Peter Kurth talks about the irony of the religious Right:
Ford chief sets roadblock for hybrid auto bill
Bill Ford is an ass whole.
Around for Everyone
John and Jon - the Transcript
The 10 Ways Bush Screwed New York
New Dogs for the New American Century
Rapture for Dummies
An unusually scathing MoveOn video.
Arguing Effectively with Conservatives
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Ventura, Never Stingy with His Opinions
| "Now that I'm a civilian, I'm here to speak out that I think the current use of the National Guard is wrong.... They are designed to protect us here in the United States of America and in our homeland - not to be occupying nations halfway around the world. And that is not the role of the National Guard. And in many cases, many of these men are doing things they were never trained to do, which is dangerous for them and dangerous for the war itself." ---Jesse Ventura, former Navy SEAL and, as Governor, head of the Minnesota National Guard |
My thoughts exactly, ever since the first NG unit was deployed to Iraq.
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Peter Kurth talks about the irony of the religious Right:
| ....I’ve just heard about the death of John Passmore, the Australian founder of “applied philosophy,” who, as a young boy, asked a nun at his Catholic school why all of humanity had to suffer through eternity just because Adam and Eve were a couple of dopes. “He was surprised when [the] nun told him that he need not take the story literally,” according to Passmore’s obituary in London’s Daily Telegraph. Sister Mary Wiseacre plainly didn’t live anywhere near the Vatican or, for that matter, huge portions of the United States. And even then her words couldn’t quash Passmore’s lifelong concern: “Why, he wondered, if salvation could come only through the Church, did God wait nearly 2,000 years before allowing the Australian Aborigines to hear about Christianity?” Hmm. Sounds like a question for Thomas Aquinas. There must be some tortured logic behind the Lord’s failure to assist the Aborigines, since he talks to George W. Bush every day of the week, except Sundays, of course, when both of them are resting.... |
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Ford chief sets roadblock for hybrid auto bill
| Ford Motor Co. Chairman Bill Ford, who pitches himself as one of America's leading corporate environmentalists, has launched a campaign in the waning days of the legislative session to kill a plan that would reward Californians who buy the most fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles. ....In a letter to Schwarzenegger that Ford copied to state lawmakers who have yet to take a final vote, he calls the plan a "Buy Japanese" bill and a "special-interest measure ... intended for almost exclusive use by Toyota Prius drivers." The Prius and Honda's Insight and Civic hybrids meet the legislation's requirements, but Ford has no product that does. Its new Escape hybrid, which will be the first full hybrid SUV to be on the market, is expected to get about 35 mpg. Ford goes on to say the legislation would hurt company employees and stockholders, and he asks the GOP governor to veto the measure if the Legislature sends it his way. Angelides, who proposed the car-pool lane bill to Pavley at the urging of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), said Ford is doing his own reputation a disservice. "What Bill Ford ought to be focusing on is how Ford can make the most fuel-efficient vehicles and how Ford can beat the Japanese," Angelides said. |
Bill Ford is an ass whole.
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August 24, 2004
| "How will he meet his God having slaughtered so many? I want to defend my home. If a stranger invades America and the people resist, does that make them a terrorist?" ---Iraqi Olympic Soccer Player, Ahmad Manajid, speaking about President Bush |
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>>>>> DON'T FORGET: JOHN KERRY - DAILY SHOW - COMEDY CENTRAL - TONIGHT <<<<<
Groperzenegger enjoying himself
33 Reasons to Give Bush the Boot
"John Kerry Took My Shoe"
Bush's daughters, Jenna and Barbara Bush, sent this e-message to me today:
Besides the expected dribble, note the emphasized section: this is not even a complete sentence, this from two college graduates!
If you want to receive these same emails, you can sign up HERE. They're generally a hoot!
Steve Gilliard has more to say about this.
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Around for Everyone
Groperzenegger enjoying himself
33 Reasons to Give Bush the Boot
"John Kerry Took My Shoe"
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Four Years' Tuition Down the Drain
Bush's daughters, Jenna and Barbara Bush, sent this e-message to me today:
| Dear MXXX, We're sure that you have no doubt who we'll be voting for in November. But you should also know that we would be voting for our Dad in this election even if he had not raised us, loved us, tutored us, coached us, and even listened to a few excuses from us for late curfews. We have been privileged to know our President personally and we know he is the right person to lead our country - especially when there are so many important issues at stake. Our Dad has qualities that are needed in a good President - loyalty, humor (embarrassing as it sometimes may be), compassion, and, most importantly, integrity. We're not the only ones who see it. In fact, our friends - from varying political backgrounds - are supporting our Dad in November. Not only because of his decisions to liberate the women of Afghanistan or bring freedom to the people of Iraq, but because during the last ten years they met a man whose title was Governor or President, but who was always happy to be known as "our Dad." He made everyone feel welcome and comfortable in our house (except for the occasional boyfriend) and our friends got to know him as a really good guy. |
Besides the expected dribble, note the emphasized section: this is not even a complete sentence, this from two college graduates!
If you want to receive these same emails, you can sign up HERE. They're generally a hoot!
Steve Gilliard has more to say about this.
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But He Seems Like Such a Nice Man
| “President Bush is an untreated alcoholic with paranoid and megalomaniac tendencies," [with a] “lifelong streak of sadism, ranging from childhood pranks (using firecrackers to explode frogs) to insulting journalists, gloating over state executions and pumping his hand gleefully before the bombing of Baghdad.” ---Dr. Justin Frank, George Washington University psychiatrist |
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| "Seventy percent of African-Americans live in counties that violate federal air pollution standards." ----Wilma Subra, school teacher, grandmother, chemist, environmental justice pioneer, head of Subra Co. and recipient of a MacArthur Foundation Genius Grant, lecturing to members of the United States Commission on Civil Rights during a public briefing held in Mobile |
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Make That a Double, Barkeeper
It's official, drinking is good for you:
The California Democratic Party is opening its new S.E. Los Angeles office this weekend. You are cordially invited:
Drop by to show your support for our Democratic candidates!
| ....In a study, published in the Aug. 1 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology, the researchers found that people who down anywhere from one to 30 drinks a week performed better than nondrinkers on a battery of tests designed to measure their cognitive ability. "Compared with abstainers, persons drinking one or two glasses of alcohol per day had a significantly lower risk of poor cognitive function," the authors wrote. "In terms of cognitive function, we found that frequent drinking may be more beneficial than drinking only on special occasions." .... |
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HAVA aspirin and call me after Nov. 2
| "Suppose you had a situation where ballots were handed to a private company that counted them behind a closed door and burned the results. Nobody but an idiot would accept a system like that. We've got something that is almost as bad with electronic voting." ----David Dill, Stanford University computer science professor and founder of VerifiedVoting.org, on the current nationwide status of electronic voting, which will account for 1/3 of all voting this November |
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You're Invited
The California Democratic Party is opening its new S.E. Los Angeles office this weekend. You are cordially invited:
| SATURDAY, AUGUST 28TH - 9:00 AM 9918 S. ATLANTIC AVE. SOUTH GATE, CA 90280 TO RSVP or For More Information: (323)569-0394 EVCSOUTHEASTLA@CADEM.ORG |
Drop by to show your support for our Democratic candidates!
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August 23, 2004
UNCOVERED
View the ENTIRE film, Uncovered: The Whole Truth About The Iraq War online. Wow.
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#1 hit when googling "lack of foresight"
From Today's GMSV:
You win some, you lose some. Still, $4,000 for preparing some slides and notes? Nothing to thumb you nose at. (I know, Will, a dangling proposition...)
Also, for something completely unrelated: This Video.
George Sibley may be right after all. Scientists Say Risk of Water Wars Rising:
In the 8/22/04 Six Feet Under episode, a character played by James Cromwell, George Sibley, predicts that the world will fight, not over oil, but over water.
See also: Meat-eaters soak up the world's water.
The long and ugly tradition of suppressing the black vote is alive and thriving in the Sunshine State (registration required)
Toyota's Prius Proving to Be the Hotter Ride in Hybrids (registration required)
"And it was two unarmed Iraqis. He shot them from about five feet away, and he watched them die. It was the first time, well, that he shot anybody. He told me those deaths he knew he did." (requires Realplayer)
| If you're kicking yourself for sitting the Google IPO out, don't be too hard on yourself. There are plenty of other folks out there whose lack of foresight was far more profound than yours. Take Emily Cikovsky<<< who along with an associate once moonlighted for Google, preparing PowerPoint slides and speaking notes that co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page used to announce their first venture-capital funding. Brin and Page offered to pay Cikovsky in cash or options. Cikovsky chose cash; her associate chose options. Cikovsky went home with a check for $4000, her associate with options for 4,000 shares that after two stock splits are today worth $1.7 million. "Do I wish I'd had the shares? Yes," Cikovsky told the Wall Street Journal. But "what's always in the back of my mind is an IPO is never a guarantee ... and nine out of 10 start-ups fail." |
You win some, you lose some. Still, $4,000 for preparing some slides and notes? Nothing to thumb you nose at. (I know, Will, a dangling proposition...)
Also, for something completely unrelated: This Video.
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"Don't worry about people stealing an idea. If it's original, you will have to ram it down their throats." ----Howard Aiken |
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George Sibley may be right after all. Scientists Say Risk of Water Wars Rising:
| STOCKHOLM - The risk of wars being fought over water is rising because of explosive global population growth and widespread complacency, scientists said. "We have had oil wars," said Professor William Mitsch. "That's happened in our lifetime. Water wars are possible." Scientists at the World Water Week conference which began on Sunday in Stockholm said that ignorance and complacency were widespread in wealthier countries. "I don't know what will shake these regions out of complacency other than the fact there will be droughts, pestilence and wars that break out over water rights," said Mitsch, professor of natural resources at Ohio State University. Mitsch told Reuters potential flashpoints included the Middle East. "Continuing on our present path will mean more conflict," a report by International Water Management Institute (IWMI) said. With the world's population growing at exponential rates there was extreme pressure on water supplies to provide drinking water and food, said scientists at the Stockholm gathering. "In 2025 we will have another two billion people to feed and 95 percent of these will be in urban areas," said Professor Jan Lundqvist of Stockholm International Water Institute. The answer was sustained investment in infrastructure. An estimated $80 billion was invested each year in the water sector, but this needed to at least double, said Professor Frank Rijsberman, the IWMI's director general. "I think if I look at the numbers I can't immediately see a way out over the next few years," said IWMI report co-author Dr David Molden. "I think we will reach a real crisis." Story by Patrick McLoughlin |
In the 8/22/04 Six Feet Under episode, a character played by James Cromwell, George Sibley, predicts that the world will fight, not over oil, but over water.
See also: Meat-eaters soak up the world's water.
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Around for Everyone
The long and ugly tradition of suppressing the black vote is alive and thriving in the Sunshine State (registration required)
Toyota's Prius Proving to Be the Hotter Ride in Hybrids (registration required)
"And it was two unarmed Iraqis. He shot them from about five feet away, and he watched them die. It was the first time, well, that he shot anybody. He told me those deaths he knew he did." (requires Realplayer)
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August 21, 2004
150 Workers Died Building the Facilities
Catalyst for Slaughter (takes a moment to load video)
Trail of Environmental Degradation
Price of the 2004 Olympics
150 Workers Died Building the Facilities
Catalyst for Slaughter (takes a moment to load video)
Trail of Environmental Degradation
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What He Said
| Shame on the media for giving these people a platform. Shame on the media for allowing dishonest men to dishonor honest men who served honorably. Shame on you for pretending this was a "he said/he said" situation, ignoring official Navy records and the testimony of everyone who was actually in a position to know. Most of all, shame on all the chickenbloggers who, 30 years from now, will do the same thing to some Iraq war veteran who went home and wondered out loud who will be the last American soldier to die for a lie. ----Atrios |
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August 20, 2004
Excerpts from Kerry's speech yesterday to the International Association of Fire Fighters:
Political pundits have criticized Kerry for his failure to respond quickly to these vile Swift Boat smear ads that are implicitly supported by Bush. They say he's consequently lost some votes.
But look at the bigger picture. By delaying his reactions he has allowed his supporters to respond on his behalf, further empowering and energizing his base. If he quickly responded to every hit from the Right, his supporters would eventually just sit back and wait for his retorts. No, this Kerry guy is a shrewd politician and I am daily increasing my respect and admiration for his political prowess.
Video of Michelle Malkin inferring Kerry shot himself in Vietnam
Swift Boat Smear Campaign tactics revealed graphically.
Shiite Iraqi-Americans in Dearborn, Michigan: Supported Bush in 2000, may cost him the 2004 election.
I'm still trying to figure out a way to blame this on Bush, but it's looking like we're all responsible for this one.
Ann Coulter's Apprentice?
| "Some of those who have been questioned by the FBI say they were "harassed" and scared by armed agents who visited their homes. Boo hoo. What do they want the agents to do? Would showing up in clown suits with squirt guns in their holsters make them feel less frightened? These are serious men and women doing serious jobs in serious times. Grow up." ---- Michelle Malkin, syndicated columnist |
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Kerry: Not "Swift" enough, or very shrewd?
Excerpts from Kerry's speech yesterday to the International Association of Fire Fighters:
| ....Over the last week or so, a group called Swift Boat Veterans for Truth has been attacking me. Of course, this group isn’t interested in the truth – and they’re not telling the truth. They didn’t even exist until I won the nomination for president. But here’s what you really need to know about them. They’re funded by hundreds of thousands of dollars from a Republican contributor out of Texas. They’re a front for the Bush campaign. And the fact that the President won’t denounce what they’re up to tells you everything you need to know—he wants them to do his dirty work. Thirty years ago, official Navy reports documented my service in Vietnam and awarded me the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts. Thirty years ago, this was the plain truth. It still is. And I still carry the shrapnel in my leg from a wound in Vietnam. As firefighters you risk your lives everyday. You know what it’s like to see the truth in the moment. You’re proud of what you’ve done—and so am I. Of course, the President keeps telling people he would never question my service to our country. Instead, he watches as a Republican-funded attack group does just that. Well, if he wants to have a debate about our service in Vietnam, here is my answer: “Bring it on.” I’m not going to let anyone question my commitment to defending America—then, now, or ever. And I’m not going to let anyone attack the sacrifice and courage of the men who saw battle with me. And let me make this commitment today: their lies about my record will not stop me from fighting for jobs, health care, and our security – the issues that really matter to the American people. ....The issues I’ve been talking about today – these aren’t Republican issues or Democratic issues. They’re American values. And frankly, it doesn’t make one bit of difference to me what party you belong to or who you’ve voted for in the past. That’s not what this election is about. This election is about building an America that’s stronger at home and respected around the world. Where families sleep soundly at night knowing you have what you need to do your jobs. An America where we once again honor those who serve our communities and protect our families. ....There’s a simple rule you follow in every fire you fight: You never go in alone – you always have a brother or sister by your side. Well, today, I want you to know that come next January, you will have a brother in the White House who stands with you every hour of every day. I will be a president who goes into the Oval Office every morning knowing that my job is to help you do yours. I will work my heart out for you, and I will never let you down. ....This isn’t going to be easy, but firefighters are no strangers to tough challenges. I know that working together, we can take back America for its heroes. We can reach for the next dream. We can look to the next horizon. For America, the hope is there. The sun is rising. Our best days are still to come. Thank you, God bless you, and God bless the United States of America. |
Political pundits have criticized Kerry for his failure to respond quickly to these vile Swift Boat smear ads that are implicitly supported by Bush. They say he's consequently lost some votes.
But look at the bigger picture. By delaying his reactions he has allowed his supporters to respond on his behalf, further empowering and energizing his base. If he quickly responded to every hit from the Right, his supporters would eventually just sit back and wait for his retorts. No, this Kerry guy is a shrewd politician and I am daily increasing my respect and admiration for his political prowess.
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| Failures in Iraq Alon Barlevy, PhD. - Vice President, Hubert H. Humphrey Democratic Club Given that we got Saddam, yet our soldiers are still dying in Iraq, most people would agree that the war in Iraq has gone terribly wrong. As of this writing, 792 military personnel have been killed since the famous presidential “Mission accomplished” speech aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. So What Happened? After scoring such an impressive military victory to topple Saddam in the spring of 2003, why have things gone downhill? There are many answers to this question. Part of the problem was that we did not prepare for the “day after”. We did a good job guarding the oil installations, yet turned a blind eye toward all the looting in Baghdad, most outrageously at the looting of the Iraq National Museum. We simply did not have enough troops to maintain stability on the ground, as well as guard the boarders to prevent infiltrations. Having an unstable situation tends to create a snowball effect. We create a cycle whereby our use of heavy-handed tactics to squash the insurgency brings us more insurgency because of all the pain and suffering that the local population has to endure. Initially, our enemy was Saddam Hussein. Now our enemies are Shite Cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, and the Jordanian born Abu Musab al-Zarqawi; neither of which was our enemy prior to invading Iraq. The longer we allow the situation in Iraq to spiral out of control, the higher the risk that we will create more new enemies. So What’s Next? We should not abandon Iraq. Abandonment could allow Iraq to become breeding grounds for groups such as Al Qaida, which was not the case prior to Operation Iraqi Freedom. What we should do is increase our credibility with the Iraqi people. According to a Washington Post poll, 82% of Iraqis “disapprove of the U.S. and allied militaries in Iraq”. While Bush Sr. was able to build a credible coalition (including Arab countries such as Egypt and Syria) against Saddam, this president only managed to build a dubious “Coalition of the Willing”, without a single Arab country. This does not look good in the eyes of the average Iraqi. We need a new leadership. One which can restore our credibility in the world. Following September 11, the majority of the world was on our side; ready, willing, and able to help us in the war against terror. We can get back the sympathy of the world community, but only if we change our leadership. Having a Secretary of Defense call our allies “Old Europe” won’t get us much sympathy, and won’t help us get out of the mess in Iraq. |
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Around for Everyone
Video of Michelle Malkin inferring Kerry shot himself in Vietnam
Swift Boat Smear Campaign tactics revealed graphically.
Shiite Iraqi-Americans in Dearborn, Michigan: Supported Bush in 2000, may cost him the 2004 election.
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Toyotarisation of the Desert - A Worldwide Danger?
| Paul Brown, environment correspondent Friday August 20, 2004 - The Guardian Dust storms emanating from the Sahara have increased tenfold in 50 years, contributing to climate change as well as threatening human health and destroying coral reefs thousands of miles away. And one major cause is the replacement of the camel by four-wheel drive vehicles as the desert vehicle of choice. Andrew Goudie, professor of geography at Oxford University, blames the process of Toyotarisation - a coinage reflecting the near-ubiquitous desert use of Toyota Land Cruisers - for destroying a thin crust of lichen and stones that has protected vast areas of the Sahara from the wind for centuries. Four-wheel drive use, along with overgrazing and deforestation, were the major causes of the world's growing dust storm problem, the scale of which was much bigger than previously realised, Prof Goudie, master of St Cross College, told the International Geographical Congress in Glasgow yesterday. "I am quite serious, you should look at deserts from the air, scarred all over by wheel tracks, people driving indiscriminately over the surface breaking it up. Toyotarisation is a major cause of dust storms. If I had my way I would ban them from driving off-road." The problem has become so serious that an estimated 2-3bn tonnes of dust is carried away on the wind each year. Storms in the Sahara transport dust high into the atmosphere and deposit it as far away as Greenland and the US.... |
I'm still trying to figure out a way to blame this on Bush, but it's looking like we're all responsible for this one.
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FRIDAY FUN
Audio Interviews (BBC clips of interviews of past celebrities)
Bad baby names
Chainscale (movie questionaire and geek value - for Will)
Create Your Own Postage Stamps
Fly Guy (game?)
FUH2 (Hummer Hater's Web Site; caution: mild profanity)
iPod vs. the Cassette Tape (slide show)
Garlic Central
Mind Bluff (Games, brain teasers, etc.)
Pen Twirling (video)
Preferred Consumer (become an informed buyer)
Real Spiderman (video)
Red Bull Flügtag (homemade, human-powered flying machines)
Remember these really bad software programs?
Rent-a-Purse
Skeptical museum of the paranormal
SpiderMan 2 in Legos (video) AND SpiderMan Reviews Crayons
What is Your Philosophy? (quiz and resources)
Bad baby names
Chainscale (movie questionaire and geek value - for Will)
Create Your Own Postage Stamps
Fly Guy (game?)
FUH2 (Hummer Hater's Web Site; caution: mild profanity)
iPod vs. the Cassette Tape (slide show)
Garlic Central
Mind Bluff (Games, brain teasers, etc.)
Pen Twirling (video)
Preferred Consumer (become an informed buyer)
Real Spiderman (video)
Red Bull Flügtag (homemade, human-powered flying machines)
Remember these really bad software programs?
Rent-a-Purse
Skeptical museum of the paranormal
SpiderMan 2 in Legos (video) AND SpiderMan Reviews Crayons
What is Your Philosophy? (quiz and resources)
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August 19, 2004
Around For Everyone
How Our Government Allowed Hundreds of Civilians to Breathe Contaminated Air After 9/11
Does ban on smoking in bars reduce risk of heart attacks? Maybe.
Does your street ban SUV's?
If Bush was truthful, he'd give THIS SPEECH. (Thanks, Chepooka!)
Medicare billing questions answered correctly only 4% of the time.
Does ban on smoking in bars reduce risk of heart attacks? Maybe.
Does your street ban SUV's?
If Bush was truthful, he'd give THIS SPEECH. (Thanks, Chepooka!)
Medicare billing questions answered correctly only 4% of the time.
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August 18, 2004
Mark Morford announces that The Gauntlet has been thrown.
A Bitter Old Man?
Mark Morford announces that The Gauntlet has been thrown.
A Bitter Old Man?
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The New Florida 2004 Ballot Box:
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"Hence today I believe that I am acting in accordance with the will of the Almighty Creator.... I am fighting for the work of the Lord."
Did Bush say this? Nope, though you'd think otherwise. No, this is taken from Mein Kamph, written by that well-known Christian, Mr. A. Hitler. Besides, I can't imagine Bush using, much less understanding, the word "hence", or "accordance" for that matter.
National NFRA: John Kerry is a War Criminal
I'm shocked, shocked I tell you. Here I thought Kerry had a stellar military record, all those medals and stuff. But apparently, Mr. Engle knows better; why else would he write something so damning?
Thank god Bush avoided serving in the A.N.G. in a complete and competent manner, or he, too, might have been shipped off to Vietnam and given the opportunity to also be a war criminal, or worse he may have been, god-forbid, killed or wounded. If Bush had served and maybe been wounded, then, as a result of such a sobering experience, we may not be in Iraq today, spreading peace, democracy and prosperity across the formerly troubled peoples. The Iraqis are, I hope, thanking their god that Bush was a military coward, became a devout christian rapture-ready fundagelical, and ignored the rest of humanity when he patriotically led the charge into their sovereign nation, found and destroyed all those deadly WMD's, found and killed Osama bin Laden, rounded up and destroyed al Qaeda, captured that WTC-destroying Hussein guy who was on the imminent verge of attacking America (Staten Island? Malibu? I don't know) again, and, finally, assisted the populace in setting up the new democratically-elected government. Forget that traitorous nazi-liberal scum-sucking unworthy-to-be-dog-catcher Kerry. Bush, you're ourman divinely-appointed leader!
Sewage waters a tenth of world's irrigated crops
The biological waste products aren't a concern. I mean, we use fertilizer, don't we? No, the big problem is the industrial and household chemical waste that consequently makes its way into the agricultural food chains of these regions. This is a literally deadly situation that must receive the immediate attention of all first-world nations and international relief organizations.
Did Bush say this? Nope, though you'd think otherwise. No, this is taken from Mein Kamph, written by that well-known Christian, Mr. A. Hitler. Besides, I can't imagine Bush using, much less understanding, the word "hence", or "accordance" for that matter.
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| "Was all this bloodshed and deceit - from Columbus to Cortes, Pizarro the Puritans - a necessity for the human race to progress from savagery to civilization? Was Morison right in burying the story of genocide inside a more important story of human progress? Perhaps a persuasive argument can be made - as it was made by Stalin when he killed pesants for industrial progress in the Soviet Union, as it was made by Churchill explaining the bombings of Dresden and Hamburg, and Truman explaining Hiroshima. But how can the judgement be made if the benefits and losses cannot be balanced because the losses are either unmentioned or mentioned quickly?" ---Howard Zinn |
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Kerry a War Criminal, Bush a War Hero
National NFRA: John Kerry is a War Criminal
| He doesn’t deserve any “credit” for his time in the armed forces - By Richard Engle, President NFRA I have had it with well meaning media personalities giving “due” respect to Sen. Kerry for his service to our nation. I understand that they don’t want to diminish the value of life risking military service. They wish to honor Mr. Kerry for those deeds that were done in earning various medals and ribbons, regardless of which of those he did or did not throw away. Their desire to honor those men and women throughout the centuries who have honorably served our nation is not lost on me. “Honorably” goes to the heart of the question for me. Yes, I understand that Mr. Kerry was “honorably discharged” but I am not convinced that he discharged his duties therein in an honorable manner. John Kerry is a self confessed war criminal! Despite the fact that his confession is the only evidence against him, his charges are serious and until they are repudiated he should not be given serious consideration for public office. Should his claims of being a war criminal be repudiated then I think the person guilty of such false charges (that would be John Kerry himself) should be so utterly shunned by the public that a political career would be unthinkable. This type of double jeopardy (damned if you do and damned if you don’t) is the specific creation of Mr. Kerry. In his testimony before a Congressional committee during the Vietnam War he tried to create an image in the mind of the American people that the war itself was criminal. He spoke of war crimes being so commonplace that nearly all those he served with were guilty and that he himself was guilty. If he was telling the truth then he belongs in jail and not in the U.S. Senate, much less the White House. If he was lying (I believe he was lying about those he “served” with in Viet Nam) then he shouldn’t be eligible for the office of Dog Catcher. Sen. Kerry’s record in Congress of accomplishing almost nothing should be enough to prevent his victory this November. His lack of credibility (or consistency at least) would have similar electoral consequences for almost any politician. His gall at running on his “record” of military service in the midst of these self-imposed charges is absolutely Clintonesque! I don’t believe it would be much different if Benedict Arnold challenged the first George W. for the Presidency using his heroism at Ticonderoga and his “strategic consultations” with the British at West Point as issues in the campaign. |
I'm shocked, shocked I tell you. Here I thought Kerry had a stellar military record, all those medals and stuff. But apparently, Mr. Engle knows better; why else would he write something so damning?
Thank god Bush avoided serving in the A.N.G. in a complete and competent manner, or he, too, might have been shipped off to Vietnam and given the opportunity to also be a war criminal, or worse he may have been, god-forbid, killed or wounded. If Bush had served and maybe been wounded, then, as a result of such a sobering experience, we may not be in Iraq today, spreading peace, democracy and prosperity across the formerly troubled peoples. The Iraqis are, I hope, thanking their god that Bush was a military coward, became a devout christian rapture-ready fundagelical, and ignored the rest of humanity when he patriotically led the charge into their sovereign nation, found and destroyed all those deadly WMD's, found and killed Osama bin Laden, rounded up and destroyed al Qaeda, captured that WTC-destroying Hussein guy who was on the imminent verge of attacking America (Staten Island? Malibu? I don't know) again, and, finally, assisted the populace in setting up the new democratically-elected government. Forget that traitorous nazi-liberal scum-sucking unworthy-to-be-dog-catcher Kerry. Bush, you're our
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Food for Thought
Sewage waters a tenth of world's irrigated crops
| 12:01 18 August 04 - NewScientist.com news service A tenth of the world’s irrigated crops - everything from lettuce and tomatoes to mangoes and coconuts - are watered by sewage. And much of that sewage is raw and untreated, gushing direct from sewer pipes into fields at the fringes of the developing world’s great megacities, reveals the first global survey of the hidden practice of waste-water irrigation. And, however much consumers may squirm, farmers like it that way. Because the stinking, lumpy and pathogen-rich sewage is rich in nitrates and phosphates that fertilise crops free of charge, suggests the survey presented at the Stockholm Water Symposium on Tuesday. “Wastewater irrigation is in an institutional no-man’s land,” said Chris Scott of the Sri Lanka-based International Water Management Institute, co-editor of the study. “Water, health and agriculture ministries in many countries outlaw the practice, but refuse to recognise that it is widespread.” He estimates that 20 million hectares of the world’s farms are irrigated with sewage. A quarter of Pakistan’s vegetables, including salad crops, are grown in sewage effluent, the study found. And business is booming. One farmer in the heart of an un-named West African city grows 12 crops of lettuce a year from his sewage farm. In many fast-growing megacities, clean water is in desperately short supply, where sewage is plentiful. And the sewage pipes keep flowing even in the dry season, when irrigation canals often dry up. Farms hooked up to sewage pipes make big profits. The study found that in parts of Pakistan the price of fields watered by sewage pipes is twice that of neighbouring fields irrigated with clean water. In Mexico, Jordan, Israel and Tunisia, sewage is specially treated to remove pathogens and make it safe for irrigation. But in India, China and Pakistan, the study found that treatment is rare. The sewage is added to fields complete with disease-causing pathogens and toxic waste from industry. Sewage is probably the biggest source of water for urban farming, which provides an estimated one fifth of the world’s food, said Scott. In Hyderabad, the Indian city where he works, “pretty much a 100 per cent of the crops grown around the city rely on sewage,” he said. “There is no other water available.”.... |
The biological waste products aren't a concern. I mean, we use fertilizer, don't we? No, the big problem is the industrial and household chemical waste that consequently makes its way into the agricultural food chains of these regions. This is a literally deadly situation that must receive the immediate attention of all first-world nations and international relief organizations.
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August 17, 2004
Michael Miller reminds us of Kerry's Senate speech in 2002, when he gave, to Bush, his support for military action against Iraq. Excerpts (my emphasis added):
So, really, Kerry put his patriotic trust in Bush and the Bush Administration's intelligence services. Bush then, for no good reasons, forced the successful and ongoing weapons inspections to stop. And now, true to his word, Kerry is speaking out against Bush's failure to follow his (Bush's) stated objectives. So what's the argument here? Where's the flip-flop? Seems to me that Kerry is the truest patriot of all, and deserves our utmost respect.
I know I've questioned Kerry 's intentions on this in the past, but that was because I didn't take the time to study the subject, and instead just read others' opinions and from that drew my own conclusions. At this pont I would comfortably say that Kerry should be commended for, one, patriotically supporting the Bush Administration's stated intentions toward Iraq in 2002 and, two, supporting the nation against the traitorous acts undertaken by the Bush Administration since then.
Kerry's "Flip-Flop" on Iraq: My Humble Opinion
Michael Miller reminds us of Kerry's Senate speech in 2002, when he gave, to Bush, his support for military action against Iraq. Excerpts (my emphasis added):
| Let me be clear, the vote I will give to the President is for one reason and one reason only: To disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction, if we cannot accomplish that objective through new, tough weapons inspections in joint concert with our allies. In giving the President this authority, I expect him to fulfill the commitments he has made to the American people in recent days- -to work with the United Nations Security Council to adopt a new resolution setting out tough and immediate inspection requirements, and to act with our allies at our side if we have to disarm Saddam Hussein by force. If he fails to do so, I will be among the first to speak out. If we do wind up going to war with Iraq, it is imperative that we do so with others in the international community, unless there is a showing of a grave, imminent--and I emphasize "imminent"--threat to this country which requires the President to respond in a way that protects our immediate national security needs. Let there be no doubt or confusion about where we stand on this. I will support a multilateral effort to disarm him by force, if we ever exhaust those other options, as the President has promised, but I will not support a unilateral U.S. war against Iraq unless that threat is imminent and the multilateral effort has not proven possible under any circumstances. ....some of the strongest and most thoughtful questioning of our Nation's Iraq policy has come from what some observers would say are unlikely sources: Senators like CHUCK HAGEL and DICK LUGAR, former Bush Administration national security experts including Brent Scowcroft and James Baker, and distinguished military voices including General Shalikashvili. They are asking the tough questions which must be answered before--and not after--you commit a nation to a course that may well lead to war. They know from their years of experience, whether on the battlefield as soldiers, in the Senate, or at the highest levels of public diplomacy, that you build the consent of the American people to sustain military confrontation by asking questions, not avoiding them. Criticism and questions do not reflect a lack of patriotism--they demonstrate the strength and core values of our American democracy. ....The administration, unwisely, in my view, rejected the Biden-Lugar approach. But, perhaps as a nod to the sponsors, it did agree to a determination requirement on the status of its efforts at the United Nations. That is now embodied in the White House text. The President has challenged the United Nations, as he should, and as all of us in the Senate should, to enforce its own resolutions vis-a-vis Iraq. And his administration is now working aggressively with the Perm 5 members on the Security Council to reach a consensus. As he told the American people Monday night: "America wants the U.N. to be an effective organization that helps keep the peace. And that is why we are urging the Security Council to adopt a new resolution setting out tough, immediate requirements. Because of my concerns, and because of the need to understand, with clarity, what this resolution meant, I traveled to New York a week ago. I met with members of the Security Council and came away with a conviction that they will indeed move to enforce, that they understand the need to enforce, if Saddam Hussein does not fulfill his obligation to disarm." And I believe they made it clear that if the United States operates through the U.N., and through the Security Council, they--all of them--will also bear responsibility for the aftermath of rebuilding Iraq and for the joint efforts to do what we need to do as a consequence of that enforcement. I talked to Secretary General Kofi Annan at the end of last week and again felt a reiteration of the seriousness with which the United Nations takes this and that they will respond. If the President arbitrarily walks away from this course of action--without good cause or reason--the legitimacy of any subsequent action by the United States against Iraq will be challenged by the American people and the international community. And I would vigorously oppose the President doing so. ....As the President made clear earlier this week, "Approving this resolution does not mean that military action is imminent or unavoidable." It means "America speaks with one voice." Let me be clear, the vote I will give to the President is for one reason and one reason only: To disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction, if we cannot accomplish that objective through new, tough weapons inspections in joint concert with our allies. In giving the President this authority, I expect him to fulfill the commitments he has made to the American people in recent days- -to work with the United Nations Security Council to adopt a new resolution setting out tough and immediate inspection requirements, and to act with our allies at our side if we have to disarm Saddam Hussein by force. If he fails to do so, I will be among the first to speak out. If we do wind up going to war with Iraq, it is imperative that we do so with others in the international community, unless there is a showing of a grave, imminent--and I emphasize "imminent"--threat to this country which requires the President to respond in a way that protects our immediate national security needs.... |
So, really, Kerry put his patriotic trust in Bush and the Bush Administration's intelligence services. Bush then, for no good reasons, forced the successful and ongoing weapons inspections to stop. And now, true to his word, Kerry is speaking out against Bush's failure to follow his (Bush's) stated objectives. So what's the argument here? Where's the flip-flop? Seems to me that Kerry is the truest patriot of all, and deserves our utmost respect.
I know I've questioned Kerry 's intentions on this in the past, but that was because I didn't take the time to study the subject, and instead just read others' opinions and from that drew my own conclusions. At this pont I would comfortably say that Kerry should be commended for, one, patriotically supporting the Bush Administration's stated intentions toward Iraq in 2002 and, two, supporting the nation against the traitorous acts undertaken by the Bush Administration since then.
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---Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. |
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Become an ELECTION PROTECTION VOLUNTEER.
Become familiar with THE KERRY/EDWARDS RAPID RESPONSE CENTER.
Donate to MoveOn's latest SWIFTBOAT AD CAMPAIGN.
Maureen Farrell on the absence of Fundagelicals at the RNC.
Watch O'Reilly vs. Krugman
Blogger is acting up today, preventing new posting. This is a test....
Become familiar with THE KERRY/EDWARDS RAPID RESPONSE CENTER.
Donate to MoveOn's latest SWIFTBOAT AD CAMPAIGN.
Maureen Farrell on the absence of Fundagelicals at the RNC.
Watch O'Reilly vs. Krugman
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Blogger is acting up today, preventing new posting. This is a test....
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August 16, 2004
Sometimes one's anger turns into rage, but a rage mild enough to repress when hearing another speak out about the same subject. Margaret Cho rages about gay marriages in S.F.:
Fred Kaplan has a timeless, and yet timely, analysis of Iraq's future. It is Left is Right's reading assignment of the week.
Simple, yet very much to the point
Sometimes one's anger turns into rage, but a rage mild enough to repress when hearing another speak out about the same subject. Margaret Cho rages about gay marriages in S.F.:
| It is revolting that the gay marriages are being annulled in San Francisco. I don't understand why these bigoted, arrogant, nosy, busybody 'conservatives' have to trample all over civil rights in order to make everyone understand that they think that homosexuality is wrong. You know what? I think that intolerance is wrong. I think that having no compassion is wrong. I think that meddling in people's lives whom you don't even know personally is wrong. I think that these people who claim to do God's work are actually working for the Other Guy. Satan likes it when people are motivated by their own prejudice. The Horned One gets all happy when someone is being oppressed or unduly punished. The Dark Lord loves injustice. These so called family advocates and Christian groups are really doing the Devil's Work. I hope they enjoy being pawns for Lucifer. The true face of evil is the need to control the actions of others. It doesn't matter that you think it might be for their own good or salvation. We will see who goes to hell. |
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No Way Out of a Catastrophe
Fred Kaplan has a timeless, and yet timely, analysis of Iraq's future. It is Left is Right's reading assignment of the week.
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An Anti-democratic Constitution.
ddjangoWIrE has posted an essay about the need to democracize our republic, by overhauling our Constitution, if we are to survive. Great read and fodder for discussion.
If you live in the Cerritos/North Long Beach area of Southern California, you are invited to a FREE showing of the movie OUTFOXED. You do not need to be a member; in fact, the club is showing this film especially for non-members!
I received this from MoveOn today:
It's dirty politics at its worst, people. Don't let it slide. Sign the petition now.
President Bush has onlyyour corporate interests in mind (snippet):
If you don't vote for Kerry in November, then you're a masochist, plain and simple.
Ask Bush. For example, ask him something about Laura Bush.
If you haven't yet checked out Outragedmoderates.org then now is the time, as the opinions of the moderate voters are an indication of which way this election is headed.
Dr. Millar, who sits on DC's Local Emergency Planning Committee, explains how this could actually happen (snippets):
The article has additional information on how Congress is also stonewalling on this matter.
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Tonight: FREE showing of OUTFOXED - You Are Invited!
If you live in the Cerritos/North Long Beach area of Southern California, you are invited to a FREE showing of the movie OUTFOXED. You do not need to be a member; in fact, the club is showing this film especially for non-members!
| When: Monday, August 16 Refreshments/Social: 6:30pm Screening: 7pm Where: Cerritos Library, 3rd Floor, Skyline Room Location: 18125 Bloomfield Ave - Cerritos - (562) 916-1350 (click address for map) Sponsored by the Hubert H. Humphrey Democratic Club |
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Sign Zee Petition, Old Man; Sign Zee Petition
I received this from MoveOn today:
| Dear MoveOn member, Last week, a group of far-right Bush allies released an ugly and outrageous ad which claims that John Kerry faked his injuries, betrayed his troops, and "dishonored his country" in Vietnam. The ad features people who say "I served with John Kerry" (although they didn't) and who make numerous provably false accusations about Kerry's war record. It's one of the most vile tactics we've seen yet in Bush's ferociously negative campaign. The "Swift Boat" ad is so far beyond the pale that even Senator John McCain, a Bush supporter, spoke out about it, calling it "dishonest and dishonorable." Yet despite Senator McCain's request that President Bush "specifically condemn" the ad, Bush refuses to say anything about it. Together, let's send President Bush a clear message from hundreds of thousands of Americans that we won't stand for these smear tactics, and we expect him to repudiate and reject them. We'll deliver our petition to President Bush on the campaign trail. Sign the petition to President Bush now at: http://www.moveonpac.org/falseadvertising/ It's clear that the ad continues the tradition of Bush campaign dirty tricks. In a recent interview, Senator McCain noted that the ad "was the same kind of deal that was pulled on me" in 2000. McCain was referring to a vicious smear campaign -- which included race-baiting allegations that he had a black child our of wedlock -- run by close Bush allies in 2000. In fact, the same firm that ran some of the anti-McCain ads in 2000 produced the "Swift Boat" ad. And although the group claims to be independent of the Republican party, the group's funding mostly comes from a longtime Bush supporter who gave over $20,000 to his campaigns for Texas governor. The "Swift Boat" campaign is a classical political hit job. But even before the ad went on the air, the Washington Post ran a piece discussing how President Bush is running the most negative presidential campaign in U.S. history. In an article titled "From Bush, Unprecedented Negativity," the Post quotes an expert who says that "there is more attack now on the Bush side against Kerry than you've historically had in the general-election period against either candidate." Discussing the "Swift Boat" ad, Senator John McCain said, "I deplore this kind of politics." Nebraska Governor Mike Johanns (R) called the ad "trash" and even Pat Buchanan said "not a single charge is substantiated . . . I think the ad is wrong." But George Bush won't condemn it. Let's let him know that we're sick and tired of this "slime and defend" mode of campaigning. Sign the petition to Bush now at: http://www.moveonpac.org/falseadvertising/ Jim Rassman, a Republican veteran who served under Kerry, recently wrote an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal. He told the story of how Kerry saved his life. And he concluded with these words on the "Swift Boat" veterans: "[W]hen the noise and fog of their distortions and lies have cleared, a man who volunteered to serve his country, a man who showed up for duty when his country called, a man to whom the United States Navy awarded a Silver Star, a Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts, will stand tall and proud. Ultimately, the American people will judge these Swift Boat Veterans for Bush and their accusations. Americans are tired of smear campaigns against those who volunteered to wear the uniform. Swift Boat Veterans for Bush should hang their heads in shame." Sincerely, --Eli Pariser MoveOn PAC August 16th, 2004 |
It's dirty politics at its worst, people. Don't let it slide. Sign the petition now.
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Bush Forces NTSA's Hand
President Bush has only
| ....The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration published the new rule on the public release of auto-safety information on July 28, 2003, but outside the industry hardly anyone took notice. In the following months, allies of tire manufacturers and automakers flooded the agency with comments, and all of them "contended that the release of early warning data is likely to cause substantial competitive harm," the agency said. At the same time, consumer groups argued that the data "should be released because it is important to the identification of potential defects," the agency added. When the agency published a revised final rule on April 21, 2004, it exempted from public release warranty-claim information, industry reports on safety issues and consumer complaints, among other data, saying that releasing that information would cause "substantial competitive harm." Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group, filed suit, saying consumers needed the data to inform themselves about unsafe vehicles and tires. But Ray Tyson, the chief spokesman for the highway safety agency, said: "The suggestion that the American consumer is missing out is off the mark. I can't believe this information would be of much interest to the general public." |
If you don't vote for Kerry in November, then you're a masochist, plain and simple.
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Subservient President
Ask Bush. For example, ask him something about Laura Bush.
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Outraged Moderates
If you haven't yet checked out Outragedmoderates.org then now is the time, as the opinions of the moderate voters are an indication of which way this election is headed.
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Chlorine Tank Explodes in D.C., Killing Thousands?
Dr. Millar, who sits on DC's Local Emergency Planning Committee, explains how this could actually happen (snippets):
| ....The threat consists of chemical-laden railroad tank cars-- lethal cargoes which the US Department of Transportation characterizes as potential "Weapons of Mass Destruction." ....The simple, effective solution-- opposed by the chemical industry, the railroads, and the Bush administration-- is to reroute hazardous cargoes away from cities ranked as major targets for terrorists, such as Washington, New York, Chicago, Houston, Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles. A sudden release of chlorine from a 90-ton rail tank car could create a cloud 40 miles long and 4 miles wide and be fatal 8 to 10 miles downwind. [1] If terrorists ruptured a tank car on tracks near the Washington Mall during public events such as the Fourth of July or the Inauguration, the deadly cloud could kill 100,000 people in a half-hour, according to estimates from the U.S. Naval Research Laboratories. ....Although the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has conducted a study of the vulnerability of the Washington area's rail system to terrorist attack, it has repeatedly delayed the release. While awaiting this federal report, the DC Council has held back on the rerouting legislation. |
The article has additional information on how Congress is also stonewalling on this matter.
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August 13, 2004
Left is Right will be taking a brief respite. Here are your eagerly-anticipated Friday Fun links, in the meantime.
Ambifacient Lunar Waneshaft (video; language: begins in English; remainder, not sure)
Card Tricks
Chipmunk Song (slow version)
Hands (?)
Henri Cartier-Bresson Photography
Homeland Insecurity Advisory System
Humanity's Worst Films
Personal Short Essays
Robots Are Our Friends (video)
Tomato Bounce (game)
Top 100 Albums of the 1970s
Word Count
FRIDAY FUN
Left is Right will be taking a brief respite. Here are your eagerly-anticipated Friday Fun links, in the meantime.
Ambifacient Lunar Waneshaft (video; language: begins in English; remainder, not sure)
Card Tricks
Chipmunk Song (slow version)
Hands (?)
Henri Cartier-Bresson Photography
Homeland Insecurity Advisory System
Humanity's Worst Films
Personal Short Essays
Robots Are Our Friends (video)
Tomato Bounce (game)
Top 100 Albums of the 1970s
Word Count