Idiot America

Scott Ritter's essay on the nail-bitingly slow lack of action by congress on the Iraq occupation:

The ongoing hand-wringing in Congress by the newly empowered Democrats over what to do about the war in Iraq speaks volumes about the level of concern (or lack thereof) these “representatives of the people” have toward the men and women who honor us all by serving in the armed forces of the United States of America. The inability to reach consensus concerning the level of funding required or how to exercise effective oversight of the war, both constitutionally mandated responsibilities, is more a reflection of congressional cowardice and impotence than a byproduct of any heartfelt introspection over troop welfare and national security.

Read the rest.

An Unconscionable Act of Cowardice

I speak of the democratic leadership, 41 house members and 16 senators giving carte blanche to the criminal enterprise in the white house, in its ability to wiretap without a warrant, ANYBODY, American, foreign or domestic. They gave the chimp-in-charge the ability to undermine the 4th amendment to the constitution, to whit:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

This 'new' law is unconstitutional, but it will survive in spite of that fact. It will unless we DEMAND that our representatives rescind this new law. They will not unless we hound them. If we choose to rely on the "sunsetting" of this law in six months, recall the "Patriot Act" which has the sunset provision built in. Not only did the patriot act survive, but had more restrictions of our freedoms built into the new version.

This craven act has gives the only oversight of wiretaps to the corrupt liar, Alberto Gonzales. How can the dems do this? They clearly care more for how they appear than what we think. The shock is still palpable.

That fact that the MSM barely reported this to the American people is no shock but how many more of of constitutionally protected freedoms will we let fall by the wayside until we say "NO MORE"? Call or write your rep or senator, especially if they are on the rollcall of traitors. Tell them you will not support them in the future. Tell them you will encourage all those in your sphere of influence to do the same. Tell them it is UNAMERICAN to undermine our basic rights. If you have outrage fatigue, buck up and do your duty to the nation by voicing your opinion.

It's no accident the MSM concentrates on the yo-yoing of the stock market, the bubble burst of the housing market, back to school sale and the mine tragedy in Utah; they want you distracted and exhausted, then you can't fight back. This can't wait. Do it now. Vigilance to the Constitution is more important now than since its very inception. Your nation is counting on you.

How to play tennis without balls

Gleaned from the blogosphere today in reference to the stymied funding process and the lack of gravitas shown by the democratic majority in regards to the occupation of Iraq:

The Dems won’t do anything meaningful because they’re afraid of being blamed. Even with a majority of Americans behind them, they don’t believe that they can defend themselves against the Right Wing Noise Machine.

GIs risk life and limb and sanity every minute of every day in Iraq. Politicians risk being blamed.

Game, set, match.

Bush is a Coward

If you have any doubts about the veracity of my claims vis-a-vis president Bush read the reprinted Dan Guthrie article at the blog, Dept. of Homeland Conspiracy, "You are Still a Coward, Mr. Bush" And a little something from Digby's Hullabaloo:

A Moment

Suzanne Malveaux of CNN just compared President Bush’s appearance today at Virginia Tech to his famous “bullhorn moment” where he allegedly brought the country together after 9/11.

John, you may recall that what was called the “bull horn moment” when the president shortly after 9/11 stood on that pile of rubble and called out and really united the country at that moment, firefighters and others who recognized that that was a very significant moment for the country. This is again one of those moments Don, where a lot of people are looking at this wondering, you know this could have been my son or daughter…

Ugh. The bullhorn scene was not a “healing moment” in tragedy. It was a war cry, a far different thing. It did not bring the country together — virtually the entire world was united after 9/11. Within months Bush’s policies, especially the preposterous invasion of Iraq, began to tear the country apart and made us loathed throughout much of the world. God, I hope this isn’t one of “those moments” because his track record is just terrible.

I think it’s appropriate for the president to appear there today, it’s in nearby Virginia, and it’s a national tragedy. But the only slightly political dimension you can find in this is guns, which have been taken off the table as a political issue, (although gun owners have achieved their agenda so thoroughly that they now seem to be lobbying to actually require people to be armed at all times and shoot first and ask questions later.) I suppose that there will undoubtedly be some immigrant bashing too.

But from what we know now, we seem to be dealing with a crazy man and there’s nothing the president can say about that or do about that other than speak for the people as its leader and express our sorrow. For Malveaux to evoke Bush’s famous bullhorn moment is fluffing of the highest order. (She seems to have developed some sort of Stockholm Syndrome lately, so it’s not surprising.) But it would behoove the White House to keep a low profile on this and not encourage such talk. The country has had quite enough of the Bush administration trying to raise its approval rating on the backs of dead people.

H/T to Lotus for the Digby.

Are Women Soldiers Inherently Less Valuable?

So few people seemed moved enough to comment on the "Murdered Woman Soldier" post and I am disturbed. Very few in the blogosphere, the left blogosphere mind you, have bothered to post this tragic, powerful story; A young female soldier found battered and sexually abused in her tent with a bullet hole through her head is called "suicide" by the army and they refuse to re-open the case. What more needs to be said here? Is it an underlying bias toward women in the military? Do women who choose to serve their country just automatically 'get what they deserve' when they are raped? I have posted a number of stories about the unprecedented abuse women in the military have endured since the inception of the "war on terror." The posts go virtually unnoticed. And guess what? The newest terrorists are us. Al-Qaeda ain't got nothin' on the Pentagon.

Male US military persons are raping and killing their fellow female soldiers. Military policy downrange requires that females go places in pairs while in the presumed safety of their own bases. The danger is from male soldiers and no one seems to give a shit. Women are dying of dehydration from not drinking as to avoid having to go to the toilet. I guess I didn't realize how deep the misogyny runs in the left side of the pool.

At least one man has taken this incident seriously and not only posted on it but has begun a petition to send to the Senate Armed Services Committee to force the re-opening of the investigation. Give Philip Baron of Waveflux your thanks and support by signing the petition and perhaps the family and friends of PFC LaVena Johnson may rest a bit easier. Missouri TV news report of LaVena's story.

The Far Right is So Wrong

Max Blumenthal of The Nation visits CPAC and reports about the 'conservatives in crisis."

Take These Three--Please

It's about time someone wrote a scathing, taken-to-task, bad job review of Kevin Kiley's performance as surgeon general and commander of medcom. Kiley ceased being a 'real doctor' ages ago and began performing tricks for treats in this administration in order to further his career, forgetting not only common decency but his Hippocratic oath. And lapdog Jim Nicholson,Veterans' Affairs secretary, a veteran who has institutionalized sub-standard care for veterans and then lies about it. Jimmy Boy gets what's coming to him as well. Pat Lang at Sic Semper Tyrannis, gives Kiley and Nicholson the scolding they so richly deserve and recommends a UCMJ cure for Kiley; Nicholson will just have to resign.

What next can we expect from this administration, a Gay porn-star, right-wing Marine? Oh wait, already done.[Caution:link includes pornographic images]These people bring a whole, new level of meaning to the word 'hypocrisy,' and "Dirty Sanchez." Someone may have to invent a new word for this bunch and I need a shower.

Senior Republicans Knew About Conditions at Walter Reed

They knew. This is no surprise. I want every veteran, active duty serviceperson, reservist, and national guardsman, to tell me again how, "the republicans support the troops." The GOP support for the military materializes in large DoD and Pentagon budgets for bullets, bombs and private contractors. The troops and the veterans get the shaft every time. Do your homework. Quit depending on Fox News to tell you what you want to hear in regards to republicans and their alleged support for the troops. Read the CQ story here. And then read the story below this "Beyond the call of Duty" then get back to me about that support from the republicans. [H/T to Lotus for the link}

"Next!" Army Secretary Harvey Resigns-UPDATED

It is finally hitting the fan...L.A. Times tells us about it. The Army Times follows-up. Stay tuned, DOD boss Gates said a permanent replacement for Weightman, who was fired yesterday, would be announced by the Army later today.

Update:DOD secretary Robert Gates announced his choice for the new boss at Walter Reed: Meet Maj. Gen. Eric Schoomaker. Army Times has the story. In the perpetual slop trough of cronyism and nepotism in BushCo, Gen. Eric Schoomaker is the brother of another general who's been in the news lately, General Peter Schoomaker, U.S. Army Chief of Staff. The hits just keep on comin'...

Bush Family=Cowards (can I add selfish to that?)

I came across this at Brother Tim's place, Blog of Revelation. He found it at Buzzflash. Read how not a single member of the Bush family (extended version),"...have volunteered for service in any branch of the military or volunteered to serve in any capacity in Iraq."

Not one of them has felt the cause was noble enough to put his or her life on the line.

Read this and explain to me how this family of criminals can claim to, "support the troops." Pleeze use small wurds so I can unnerstan.