Congressional Intervention

"Hi my name is the 101st Congress, I'm a democrat, and my government has become unmanageable." Hi 101st.

It has become necessary to promote a congressional intervention on the sorry, sick, spineless, addicted-to terror congress and get them into a 12-step program pronto.

Their latest foray into the darkside is HR 1955, the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007. Ya gotta give it to 'em though, they sure know how to name a bill in order to scare people into capitulation. Isn't time to let your Senator (this bill has PASSED in the house already)that Orwellian thoughtcrime is OFF THE TABLE? This is YOUR fisrt step, please take it today.

However lame or ineffectual you may think writing, calling, emailing your senator seems, doing NOTHING, is infinitely more so. Please contact your senator and tell them that this thoughtcrime bill is an UNACCEPTABLE way to thwart terrorism and is UNCONSTITUTIONAL. The senate version is s1959.

UPDATE: Yes, someone has started a petition. Please sign it.

Sick Day

Unfortunately I've been taken down by a nasty virus. I'm gonna rest, drink juice, eat soup and several Tylenol as my doctor-husband steps over my prone body on his way to the refrigerator for a beer. See you tomorrow.

Time for November 5th

"Better Late than never." -George Bernard Shaw, discussing his late in life change to vegetarianism.

This quote will do for my posting of "V Speaks," the monologue given by the character V in the film "V for Vendetta." As timely now as ever. Happy belated Guy Fawkes Day.

Sunday Deep Field Blogging

Thanks go out to And your little dog too... for sending me this Live Leak video of the Hubble telescope's image of deep field space and the most important picture ever taken by humanity. Awesome.

The DemPublicans

Eli (Multi Medium) quotes Athenae (First Draft)on the state-of-the-democrats:

When you roll over for a bully, day after day after day, change your positions based on what people like Klein and fucking Shrum and all these other Beltway dickheads say, promise things and then back down, say harsh stuff and then apologize, take a stand and then forget about it, you look like a pussy.

And people don’t like voting for pussies.

I couldn't agree more and wonder how this game of chicken the dems are playing with the American people will turn out next November. Read the rest of Athenae's First Draft entry and tell me what your plans are come election time.

Soldier told to give bonus money back--after serious injury

Having just been in Pittsburgh, it seems appropriate I post on a 'Burgher.

PITTSBURGH - For one Pittsburgh-area soldier, the holiday season came with an almost unbelievable letter from the Pentagon, telling him to give back nearly $3,000 in bonus money for time not served.

A roadside bomb in Iraq injured Pfc. Jordan Fox. He suffered permanent damage to his right eye and was discharged, coming home to a hero’s welcome.

Cao's Blog has the story and here is some related content.

Tofurkey Will Travel

Clearly it was a light week in posting for me as we went away for the holidays. We were in Pennsylvania visiting Dr. Turtle's family. Visiting the in-laws, while always challenging, had the extra-special delight of meeting Eli of Multi Medium fame. Eli-in-person is as charming as his site is beautiful. I thank him for meeting us and for being our "designated eater."

I hope everyone found something to be grateful for over this long holiday week, and I'm grateful for Eli and the left blogosphere for moving us all into the 'new enlightenment.'


Photo Credit: Me, Tofurkey I made for last Thanksgiving.

No End in Sight

Yeah, we'll be leaving Iraq real soon...Isn't it a shame we have to turn to Vanity Fair for news? As it is so, VF writes up:

The Mega-Bunker of Baghdad
The new American Embassy in Baghdad will be the largest, least welcoming, and most lavish embassy in the world: a $600 million massively fortified compound with 619 blast-resistant apartments and a food court fit for a shopping mall. Unfortunately, like other similarly constructed U.S. Embassies, it may already be obsolete.

Read the rest...

Sunday Talking Heads

The only ones that matter in my humble opinion. Enjoy.

3-Time Combat Iraq Vet to Dems: Show us some leadership--Get Out of Iraq now

Lifted from Think Progress:Three-Tour Iraq Vet: ‘Our Troops Need To Come Home Now’

At tonight’s CNN Democratic debate, the candidates heard a strong warning against U.S. military action against Iran from Christopher Jackson, a Marine who served three tours of duty in Iraq:

I feel that if we continue on the path we’re at, that’s where we’re going to end up — in Iran. And that’s not what our troops need. Our troops need to come home now.

The entire audience, including the candidates, stood and gave Jackson a rousing ovation. Watch it:

Jackson’s mother, who was standing next to her son at the event, went on to say that after she “finally got her son home” from Iraq, “members of the Bush administration and neoconservative members of Congress are beating the drums of war again.”

She said her son is still a member of the Marines Individual Ready Reserve and could be called up again. She concluded by asking the candidates, “How are you going to show us your leadership on this issue now?”

Wisdom from the Past

"Only the unloved hate." Charlie Chaplin gives this rousing 3 min. speech from "The Great Dictator." Nearly 60 years old, it still rings true. H/T to Corey.

Charlie Chaplain - Amazing Speech - The funniest movie is here. Find it

It's been 'Settled'

Judge Benjamin Settle of the United States District Court (best.name.for.a.judge. ever and possibly a new meaning of the verb*) ) issued a preliminary injunction in favor of Lt. Ehren Watada. While not over, this victory greatly increases Lt. Watada's chances of a positive outcome for his case.

“. . . This case concerns an alleged violation of the Fifth Amendment Double Jeopardy Clause, which cannot be said to fall within a set of affairs that are peculiar to the jurisdiction of the military authorities. . . . The same Fifth Amendment protections are in place for military service members as are afforded to civilians. . . . To hold otherwise would ignore the many sacrifices that American soldiers have made throughout history to protect those sacred rights." - Judge Benjamin Settle

At approximately 3:39 PM (PST), Nov 8, 2007, Judge Benjamin H. Settle of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington (sitting in Tacoma, WA) issued a Preliminary Injunction in favor of 1Lt Ehren Watada.

In his decision, Judge Settle made the following significant points:

1. The remedy sought by Lt Watada -- a writ of habeas corpus in a pretrial setting -- is rare but appropriate;

2. Lt Watada will suffer irreparable injury if relief is denied;

3. Lt Watada is likely to succeed on the merits;

4. Military Judge Head abused his discretion in rejecting the Stipulation of Fact;

5. Even if Judge Head did not abuse his discretion in rejecting the Stipulation of Fact, there was still a lack of "manifest necessity" for declaring the mistrial;

6. Judge Head failed to adequately consider possible alternatives;

7. The balance of potential harms weighs in Lt Watada's favor; and

8. The public interest favors granting relief.

Go over to Marc Lord's Adored by Hordes for the rest of the story. Marc has summed up Lt. Watada's actions like this:

It takes one kind of bravery to storm a machine-gun nest to save what's left of your comrades. It takes another to storm a hostile establishment to save what's left of a nation. A few people have both kinds. Thank you, Lieutenant Watada.

*Settled, verb:reversing an injustice done by the right-wing hate machine

The 23,000

Thanks go out to the ever-excellent Lotus at folo for her link to this story about the 23,000 women service members serving in Iraq from The Anchorage Daily News.

The death in Iraq this week of Staff Sgt. Carletta S. Davis of Anchorage vividly demonstrates the evolving role of women in the U.S. military. As one of about 23,000 women deployed to Iraq with U.S. and coalition forces, Davis was the 85th woman to die there when a roadside bomb exploded near her Humvee.

VETERANS DAY 2007 -- "Thank you for your service."

Today should be a day of celebration and honor for those that have served, made sacrifices for their country. Instead I'm reminded of the inhumane demands made upon our military without proper rest or follow-up care once tours end, and the callous treatment by the current administration who put our military in harm's way. I cannot help but cringe when I acknowledge the fight war-injured veterans have in front of them for the benefits they were promised.

"Caring for a dead veteran is easy...bring a wreath, say a few
words and walk away. Caring for a living veteran requires
time, money and a life-long commitment. Every Veterans
Day our politicians show they don't know the difference
as they visit a cemetery instead of a VA hospital."

The poor treatment of our soldiers and veterans is shocking. VA Watchdog has story after story of mistreatment by the very government we serve. Today, read at least one story. Let it move you to action. If you "support the troops" actually do something today to show that support. Visit a VA, send an email to the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, call your rep. ask them to support the current legislation to provide for Vets.

DAV REFUTES ADMINISTRATION'S CLAIM OF JUST 30,000 WOUNDED IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN -- "That 30,000 number is a fantasy...202,000 have filed claims for VA disability...A quarter million have turned to the VA for treatment...Our government tried to do war on the cheap..."

DEMS FAIL AT PROMISE OF VA BUDGET BY VETERANS DAY --Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO): "These are the men and women we will honor on Monday Veterans Day, with parades and accolades. But thanks to Democrats in Congress, we won't be honoring them with the spending bill they deserve."

Just as an aside, having Dick Cheney, the five-time differed chickenhawk give the invocation yesterday makes irony shake its head in disbelief. Do something for a veteran, indict Dick Cheney. Or as better said in the comments, send Dick the message he has sent us Veterans, "Fuck You for your service."

Home Coup

Frank Rich can be as off the mark as any MSM spinmeister but in the last months he has hit more than a few home runs. Read this one:

So what if America’s chief law enforcement official won’t say that waterboarding is illegal? A state of emergency is a state of emergency. You’re either willing to sacrifice principles to head off the next ticking bomb, or you’re with the terrorists. Constitutional corners were cut in Washington in impressive synchronicity with General Musharraf’s crackdown in Islamabad.

If you need more convincing, read this NYT OpEd, Abdicate and Capitulate

A Call to Arms for Catholics

A little Sunday fare...Heather Wokusch discusses the Vatican Vs. The White House. The 2008 vote implications of the battle between the Pope and the President. Heather gives a brief synopsis of her article, "Pope Versus President," first appearing in Foreign Policy in Focus.

Letter to Dianne

Just sent my senator, Dianne Feinstein this email:











Senator,

Unfortunately, you have become so corrupt I can no longer vote for you in good conscience. You voted for Judge Mukasey, a man who refuses to call water-boarding torture, who says the president is above the law. A Man who callously sent an AMERICAN CITIZEN to prison for three and a half years without a trial until through the torture Mukasey condones, Jose Padilla lost his mind. You have funneled nearly 1 billion dollars worth of reconstruction contracts to you husband Richard's company, disregarding the obvious conflict of interest. These latest actions, among others, show you no longer possess the integrity to represent us Californians.

Many years ago on several occasions, I served you cocktails in the Wattis Room during your attendance at the symphony. I thought you to be cordial and warm. I remember how you stepped up after Mayor Moscone and Harvey Milk’s murders. You calmed the city and it felt like someone was in charge at our most vulnerable moment. You brought a professionalism and strength to the office of Mayor. I voted for you. I’ve also voted for you the first time you ran for senate and every time you've asked to be re-elected.

You took San Francisco and California into the national political scene which now makes our state a more formidable presence than ever before. Your politics were always more conservative than mine, but you so often made decisions and cast votes I could live with, so I’ve continued to support you as my elected official.

But no more Senator Feinstein. You current despicable actions have placed you into
’Lieberman Land’. Another turncoat democrat without integrity or honesty. You should perhaps join Senator Lieberman in his “Party of One.” The two of you could get a table for two and discuss why you’ve gone astray from democracy and let greed, ego and self-intrerest become the ONLY factor in your decision making for the country. I will never vote for you again and shall work tirelessly to see you are not re-elected. That you are never allowed to shame my state and the Democratic Party. I doubt you feel shame over the bad choices you have made in your self-interested votes, no doubt you have lost that element of ethos long ago, yet another trait you share with the GOP and certainly this criminal administration.

I encourage you to change course before you are defeated in 2012.

Sincerely, (my true name, USAF Veteran)

Will 'Noncombat' Deaths be Investigated?

Who Will Probe 'Noncombat' Deaths in Iraq? About 20% of the U.S. deaths in Iraq are officially labeled "noncombat," and that number has been surging. This includes accidents, friendly fire and well over 120 suicides. But the government, and the media, seem reluctant to expose the tragedy, argues vets leader Paul Rieckhoff.

These "noncombat deaths" are commonly referred to as "frags" by foreign journalists and others. Greg Mitchell at Editor and Publisher asks the question: Will these deaths be investigated? The DoD rarely releases information about these deaths and we personally, are trying to get additional information about someone we knew who's death was classified as "noncombat."
[H/T to Lotus for link]

Double Standards at the New York Times

Dave Lindorff's This Can't Be Happening! posts some truth about the Grey Lady:

The New York Times, which claims to draw a clear distinction between its news articles and its commentary articles, dropped any pretense of such a distinction in its minimalist "coverage" of yesterday's dramatic effort by Rep. Dennis Kucinich to force the House to consider the impeachment of Vice President Dick Cheney.

In a small 230-word piece on Kucinich's privilege motion, and the subsequent vote to send his H Res. 333, now called H. Res. 799, to the House Judiciary Committee, after it has been consigned to limbo for over 6 months by the House leadership, the Times succeeded in dissing both Kucinich and the notion of impeaching the vice president.

As the anonymous Times reporter wrote in the lead of this hit piece:

"It is hard to know which effort has longer odds, the bid by Representative Dennis J. Kucinich, Democrat of Ohio, to become president of the United State, or his bid to unseat Vice President Dick Cheney by impeaching him".

read the rest...

Over the First Impeachment Hurdle-UPDATE

Dennis Kucinich's H.Res 333 "Articles of Impeachment Against Vice President Richard B. Cheney." Has cleared the first obstacle to becoming. Next it goes to the house judiciary committee.

After Downing Street has a live blog of the attempt to kill the bill. Impeach Cheney Now! Read the Dennis Kucinich essay on why Cheney should be impeached, contact the members of the house judiciary committee. Here are the current members who will be voting on whether it will go up to the full house for an up or down vote.

The painful truth about today's vote is more republicans voted to send this resolution to committee than democrats. Call your rep and tell them you want them to vote to impeach Cheney.


UPDATE: Okay...my take on the sudden change of heart by the rethuglicans in voting to send this resolution into committee: David Swanson's live blog of the vote opines,

"No doubt the Republicans want to get the Dem leaders on tape on the floor defending Cheney against impeachment."

Or could it be that impeachment has been off the table because the Dems are afraid the truth will come out about their complicity in the very crimes Cheney is accused of. If an investigation gets underway into Cheney's role in lying us into war, the Dems collusion will begin to show. Their constant whining, "we didn't know" will be exposed. The back room deals will come to light. The utter spinelessness of the Dems, repeatedly complained about by the American public, will suddenly make sense.

I believe the mask of connivance is slipping as demonstrated by Dianne Feinstein's vote for Mukasey. Her vote is part of the price she's paying to her master the BushCo war-mongering, war services industry which directly benefits her war-profiteering husband Richard Blum, a 75% partner in Perini Corporation. Perini is a construction company that has received nearly a billion dollars in Iraq reconstruction funds.

There are a number of theories running around the blogosphere, from The GOP is trying to embarrass the Dems, to a thug trick that backfired on them. I'm sticking to my guns. I think this is the reason dems have been so weak since they took the house.

Whatever the case, I hope the truth comes out, for the very survival of our country.

I gave my opinion to Mike Malloy and WaPo, for what it's worth.