Republicans Eating Their Own

Republicans Eating Their Own: WH Slams Bennett for Black Abortions Remark.

Coming Soon and Gas Prices

I'm working on a couple of stories that will be posted soon...

Today I'd just like to take a moment to wish Martian Anthropologist a speedy recovery, and complain about gas prices.
Gas prices are once again going up. They barely moved an inch around here after Rita hit (some went up roughly 5 cents a gallon), but now they're soaring. The reason? Supposedly, it's because people have waited to fill their gas tanks post-Rita, and now must start filling up when all the refineries are not yet back on-line. I suppose that's indeed understandable, but at the same time, it truly appears that there's some price-gouging going on. The higher gas prices have led to a record number of late credit card payments. Having been in "situations" regarding my finances in the past, I can understand this happening. At the same time, however, where's the conservation?

Since fuel prices started to climb, I've been simply mapping out my days to avoid any unnescessary trips. I'll go to work, hit the gas station and post office on the way there, and the grocery store on the way home. Thankfully for me (and I know this isn't the case for everyone), everything I need (just about) is on the way to or from my job. This allows me to conserve whenever possible, and avoid extra trips on the weekends or evenings after I'm already home from work. Just a suggestion, folks...

What I'm working on:

1. TIME FOR A THIRD PARTY? Based on results from a Pew Research Poll, many are fed up not only with the Republican leadership, but getting irritated with the lack of cohesive policy coming from the Democrats. While an Independent part may be a hard sell because of corportate-controlled MSM, I'm not convinced it would fail. The winds of change may be fast and furious enough to absolutely transform the political nature of this country. And I think it is time for a change. Truth and Accountability. Too much to ask?
2. ICEBURG, RIGHT AHEAD! I started writing this one before Tom DeLay was indicted. Now that he's been indicted, and with Judith Miller's release from prison and plans to testify before the federal grand jury investigating the Valerie Plame scandal, this post will delve deeper into the Titanic the GOP has appeared to become.
   
3. Conspiracy Investigations: I'm attempting to investigate a couple of "conspiracy theories" that I've ran across (and one recommended by Chris in the comments section of this post). We'll see what information I'm able to gather. If you have any recommendations, or any information that will help investigate HAARP, please comment. Make sure to leave a contact method (easy to do in the Haloscan comment) so we can discuss if needed.

Lastly, because of high gas prices, high electric bills (it was an awfully hot summer here), I'm running into some financial issues myself. Please consider visiting the sponsors through Crisp Ads or Google Ads. I'd appreciate it. The cash will also go towards the time taken to investigate and keep bringing you the truth. Have a fantastic Friday!

Most popular recent posts: Katrina Relief To Be Burned, Fascism, Only Smarter, and The Truth Is Revealing Itself. Also visit Bush: The End posted here and cross-posted at the Impeach Bush Coalition.

Categories: Plame, Gas, Prices, Conspiracy, Politics, Truth, Bush, Impeach, DeLay

DeLay indicted in campaign finance probe

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and 2 associates have been indicted on conspiracy charges for a campaign finance probe. This should lead to the stepping down of Tom DeLay as the majority leader for the Republican Congress (update, the AP is now reporting that he will step down).

DeLay attorney Steve Brittain said DeLay was accused of
a criminal conspiracy along with two associates, John Colyandro, former
executive director of a Texas political action committee formed by DeLay, and
Jim Ellis, who heads DeLay's national political committee.

The indictment against the second-ranking, and most
assertive Republican leader came on the final day of the grand jury's term. It
followed earlier indictments of a state political action committee founded by
DeLay and three of his political associates.

For more information on this breaking news, you can visit this story.

More later, right here on this blog: "Iceberg, Right Ahead!" an indictment of the Republican led government, starting to act like they're rearranging the chairs on the Titanic as it sinks. The violin player may have just started his last song...

This is a GREAT DAY for Democracy.

Tom DeLay, Republican Party, Conspiracy, Democracy, Indicted

Create a Caption Tuesday--Bill O'Reilly

I figured this can be so hillarious, so why not. Need to lighten my mood today. Later, I am hoping to have my "Time for a Third Party?" piece done. Stay tuned...it's time for change.

Post your caption to this picture.

Monday's Open Forum: Speak The Truth

New Monday Feature--"The Truth Is Out There Roll Call"

We're going to try something new...
Open Forum: Speak The Truth

What do you know to be "truth" to you? It can be in the realm of politics, government, thoughts on conspiracy, whatever...(of course, I'm asking that it be kept "clean"). Then I'll be doing a special post called "The Truth Fact Check". We'll research and discuss the facts from this open forum, to be sure we're finding the truth.

Suggested Topics:

• American Politics
• Global Warming (Britian's Blair is also pulling out of climate treaties)
• Judge (soon to be Chief Justice of SCOTUS) John Roberts
• China's clampdown on bloggers and Internet Cafes (coming to a country near you next?)
• Conspiracy Theories: Facts or Fiction?

Comment away!

Categories: Truth, Conspiracy, Environment, Politics, Oppression, Rita, Katrina

Why I Blog for Truth

I was once a Republican. I was a super-conservative (now known as a “neo-conservative”), bordering on being what I now consider to be a Fascist. I believed that abortion should be illegal under all circumstances. I believed that Christianity had the right to bleed itself into the realm of The State, and should dictate the laws that were created. I believed that Carter was weak, Clinton was a threat, and Reagan and Bush Sr. were the greatest gifts to Democracy. Yes, I was a Conservative. So, what changed?

Several years ago, a day changed the course of my entire life. While still living in Wisconsin Rapids,WI (at around age 17 or 18), I had a huge blowout with my family. I was going through a difficult and depressing time in my life regarding things happening to me, and the realizations I was having about myself (that I was “different” from others). It was a classic war between the reality of my life and the beliefs driven into me by the Lutheran Church. Then, my mother decided to drop a bombshell on me—to hopefully get me to understand her thoughts—she told me that when I was young (probably only 3 or so), she had to have an abortion. My blood ran cold. She told me the story, which I will not go into here (because it’s really nobody’s business), and it set me on a course of change. First my views on the legal issue of abortion began to change. They’ve become more “liberal” over the years since the change began, but this was the moment that shifted my world.

From there, along with things about my life I could not change, I started to become progressively more liberal. In 1992, I was still very much a Republican, and I admit I voted for George Herbert Walker Bush. My first presidential election (I was 19), and I voted (what I would learn later) against my own best interests. Thankfully, Bush did not win re-election. With Clinton president, I was able to learn and grow—and realize how my “conservative past” really did not serve me (or anyone else). So the path to being a progressive was born…

Things are so much different for me now. I label myself a Democrat, but I have a sense that even that label will change. I’m more progressive than the Centrists, so even though my democratic leanings were born of being a “Clinton Democrat”, I’m more than that now. I’m progressive—not conservative. That part of me is gone for good. And my life, and that of those around me, is better off for it.

The Truth Is Out There was born of my disdain for the lies being spewed forth by the Right (and even a few “liberals”—in the loosest sense of the term) during the 2004 election cycle. I needed to make a difference. I needed to write about what is true, and what people can do (no matter where they live) to further the cause of Truth and Freedom. Many out there don’t like “political blogs”—they just see it as someone whining about the way they wish things were. My view is that without the bloggers—whether they’re progressive, conservative, or somewhere in between—listing their thoughts in a cohesive manner, there would be less knowledge (and therefore less power) in the general public. With the mainstream media’s propensity to go with the current Administration (without question) so often, or providing only the news stories they feel are “worthy” to the general public; there’s a disconnect in this country (and forming around the world, as I’ve learned through other blogs and stories). Propaganda runs rampant. Yes, on both sides.

I ask that people would consider facts, make their decisions, and go with them. Be informed, and be free. I’m of the opinion that facts are hidden from the general public far too often (especially by this Administration) in an attempt to control freedom. Knowledge is power. Facts=Freedom. Truth=Life.

I love America. I love the principles that it was founded on (read the Constitution). Yes, America made mistakes. The Constitution didn’t free the slaves and didn’t allow women to vote. And what the United States did to Native Americans was reprehensible at the very least. But American can learn from it’s mistakes. If nobody questions what their government is doing, there is no room for learning. There’s only repetition of the darkest days of history, and America becomes the place that the Founding Fathers despised so much—a Monarchy, Dictatorship, or even a Theocracy.

And despite what the Right would have you believe, I support our troops. Completely. That’s why I think they should come home. There’s no “noble cause” in Iraq anymore (and it appears there never really was). Our troops are dying so that others may profit, and that is not supporting our troops. Having “mercenaries” and contractors in there making 50-150 times the amount of money our troops are (while having the troops protect them) is not supporting our troops. Dissent can be the highest form of patriotism. Without dissent, America would not be what it became. With the suppression of dissent (through propaganda) by this Administration, America has become less than what it once was. We can be that bastion of Freedom again.

“You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.” ~Jesus Christ

“Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you mad.” ~Aldous Huxley

“It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself” ~Thomas Jefferson

Due to the personal nature of this post on sensitive issues such as abortion, any comments posted as “Anonymous” (no matter what they say) will be deleted. Any comments that are a personal attack on myself or my family will be deleted, and I’ll be sure to note your IP Address. I welcome comments, but you need to read this first. If you cannot form a good argument, but can only spew hate and name calling, you cannot comment. Period. That being said, I look forward to your comments…

Categories: Truth, Freedom, Politics, Democracy, Democrat, Progressive, Blogging

Frist Joins DeLay: Liars Both

Sep. 24, 2005 - Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., was updated several times about his investments in blind trusts during 2002, the last time two weeks before he publicly denied any knowledge of what was in the accounts, documents show. (From the article...)
Click the Title of this post to read more from ABC News...

Open thread: How does exposing Republican lies affect your views on the House of Representatives changing majority, and the Senate Republican leadership severely eroded in 2006?

AND...

Will it further fuel the fires of the movement to Impeach Bush?

"It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself." ~Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia

Categories: Frist, Congress, Senate, Lies, Truth, Politics, News, Impeach, Bush

Operation Offset

"Operation Offset"
or
Republicans to Screw The Military, Amtrak, Seniors and the Disabled, and First Responders.

Raw Story has received a document completed by the Republican Study Committee called "Operation Offset", which is an internal study by the Republican members of Congress (86 total Republicans are on the committee) on how to reduce spending in the wake of Katrina. This document contains all of the items that the Republicans have been frothing at the mouth to get rid of for years, but never had the broad support to do so. Many of the items appear so inflammatory, I'm not sure what this committee was smoking when they came up with their ideas...

Some of the "highlights":

Medicare Cuts:

• Delay the Medicare Prescription Drug Program until January 1, 2007 (currently slated to begin January 1, 2006). Yes, this is the same program that Bush was out supporting while NOLA was beginning to drown.
• Increase Medicare Part B co-payments from 25% to 30%. With seniors and the disabled now having to choose between gas, food, prescriptions, and heating their home this winter due to the expected 125 or more percent increase in Natural Gas costs, draw your own conclusions on the effect this may have...
• Impose a Home Health co-payment of 10% for Medicare.

Military Benefits and Administrative Cuts:

• Close the Domestic Dependent School System. Yes, that's right--let's cut benefits to the families of the men and women currently serving overseas under already increasingly harsh conditions (such as Stop-Loss orders and dying in a war that Americans now believe we cannot win).
• Introduce HSAs as an TRICARE option. In other words, try to force military members and their dependents off of the TRICARE health care system. From the party of "supporting the military".
• Restrict First Responder grants to "At-Risk Communities". Love this one. So, now it must be that only the Republicans really know who's going to be attacked?

There's much more that can be found in the document here. (PDF)
It seems to me that the Republican party is intent on cutting spending in areas that will affect mainly the poor and already disenfranchised instead of "cutting the fat" that Tom Delay claims no longer exists. I really wonder how they plan on sneaking this proposal through. Whatever their ways--we must all join together and say enough is enough. Become fiscally responsible in other ways, like stopping no-bid contracts to Halliburton and other Bush cronies, rolling back the tax cuts to the 1% of the richest Americans (which would pay for Katrina and Iraq), and stop handing out money-candy to their biggest supporters.

It's time to start fall cleaning. 2006 is the year in which Congress must be cleansed. Enough lies, deciet, and ineptitude. We can teach the Beltway a lesson.

Categories: Katrina, budget, politics, Republican, Medicare, Military, Truth

Gas Prices Rise With Rita

Unleaded Gasoline Average Prices
Madison		USA
Today Yesterday One Week Ago One Month Ago One Year Ago	2.698 2.686 2.813 2.667 1.878	2.748 2.741 2.850 2.587 1.864

How bad is it where you are?

Yesterday I learned that gas prices could soar to $3.85 a gallon after Rita makes landfall if it remains at it's current strength (Category 5, weakening to a Category 4 just before landfall). And the Hurricane Season hasn't even peaked yet...



Categories: Rita, Gas, Prices, Hurricane, Madison, Wisconsin

Rita a 5

Make sure to read Katrina Relief To Be Burned...and Katrina Reconstruction Problems: Update. Here's the latest from the National Hurricane Center...

UPDATE: RITA A CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE...09/23/05...

BULLETIN
HURRICANE RITA ADVISORY NUMBER  17
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
4 PM CDT WED SEP 21 2005

...RITA REACHES 165 MPH WINDS...
BECOMES AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS
CATEGORY FIVE HURRICANE...
THE SECOND OF THE 2005 SEASON...
 (FULL TEXT HERE)

000
WTNT63 KNHC 211955
TCUAT3
HURRICANE RITA TROPICAL CYCLONE UPDATE
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
255 PM CDT WED SEP 21 2005

DATA FROM RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT
INDICATE THAT RITA HAS REACHED
CATEGORY FIVE INTENSITY WITH ESTIMATED
 MAXIMUM SUSTAINED SURFACE
WINDS OF 165 MPH.  THIS WILL BE
REFLECTED IN THE 4 PM CDT ADVISORY.

FORECASTER AVILA

$

Here we go again...

Categories: Rita, Hurricane

Katrina Relief To Be Burned

400,000 NATO Ration Packs that were sent to the United States by Britian for Hurricane Katrina relief are to be eaten...by fire.
It seems the U.S. Government's obsession with Red Tape (hmmm...Red States, Red Tape?) continues in the aftermath of Katrina. Britian's Daily Mirror reported on Monday that red tape from the Department of Agriculture has landed these rations in an FDA incineration plant. The story on their website contains an advertisement that is quite annoying, so the story is excerpted here, found on Raw Story.

The food, which cost British taxpayers millions, is sitting idle in a huge warehouse after the Food and Drug Agency recalled it when it had already left to be distributed. Scores of trucks headed back to a warehouse in Little Rock, Arkansas, to dump it at an FDA incineration plant.

But officials blamed the US Department of Agriculture, which impounded the shipment under regulations relating to the import and export of meat.

One British aid worker, who would not be named, said: "This is the most appalling act of sickening senselessness while people starve.

"The FDA has recalled aid from Britain because it has been condemned as unfit for human consumption, despite the fact that these are Nato approved rations of exactly the same type fed to British soldiers in Iraq.

"Under NATO, American soldiers are also entitled to eat such rations, yet the starving of the American South will see them go up in smoke because of FDA red tape madness."

The worker added: "There will be a cloud of smoke above Little Rock soon - of burned food, of anger and of shame that the world's richest nation couldn't organise a p**s up in a brewery and lets Americans starve while they arrogantly observe petty regulations.

One has to wonder...will this ever end? Will the federal government grow some brains and stop using regulations to further disrupt the lives of those most affected by Katrina? And it begs the question: Whe terrorists nuke a large American city, or the Big One hits San Francisco, or the New Madrid fault fails...how many will be strangled to death (literally) by Red Tape? President Bush needs to get on the phone and kick some a**.

In the meantime, preparations should continue to be made to impeach Bush. Not just for his response to Katrina (negligent homicide), but for the web of lies, deceit, and downright disregard for the constitution. The truth will prevail.

Also, read this post for updated information on the suspension of the Davis-Bacon Act of 1931.

"Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set ye free" -Jesus


Categories: Katrina, Bush, impeach, Aid, hurricane, relief

Katrina Reconstruction Problems: Positions on Davis-Bacon Update

Updates on positions related to the suspension of the Davis-Bacon Act of 1931:
(Updated 09/24/2005)-See Comments Section for Transcript of Sept. 21st WH Press Briefing...
It's interesting to note where Congress stands on this issue, so I'm presenting a list with information gleaned from Congressional websites, correspondence, and the Talking Points Memo list of "Wage Cut Wigglers."

Where you see No Statement Avaliable, please comment if you're in that congressional district and have contacted your representative's office regarding the president's suspension of the Davis-Bacon Act.

We're going to start with Wisconsin, my home state:

• Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) 2nd Congressional District (Map): No statement available. Awaiting answer to e-mail sent (see "Katrina Reconstruction Problems: Where are the Democrats?") Update: Rep. Baldwin is a co-sponsor of H.R.3763, a bill "to reinstate the application of the wage requirements of the Davis-Bacon Act to Federal contracts in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina."
  
• Rep. Mark Green (R-WI) 8th Congressional District: No statement available. (Please comment if you're in Rep. Green's district and have contacted his office regarding the suspension of the Davis-Bacon Act)
• Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI) 4th Congressional District: No statement available. Update: Rep. Moore is a co-sponsor of H.R.3763, a bill "to reinstate the application of the wage requirements of the Davis-Bacon Act to Federal contracts in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina."
• Rep. David R. Obey (D-WI) 7th Congressional District: No statement available. Update: Rep. Obey is a co-sponsor of H.R.3763, a bill "to reinstate the application of the wage requirements of the Davis-Bacon Act to Federal contracts in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina."
• Rep. Tom Petri (R-WI) 6th Congressional District: No statement available.
  

(More to be added)
Other States (Not in any particular order--yet):

• Rep. Mike Ferguson (R-NJ) 7th Congressional District: From the Talking Points Memo, read this reported staffer conversation with a consitutent.
• Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA): Also from TPM, as listed on Rep. Pitts' Press Release site: "Simply put, absent the suspension of Davis-Bacon, the Gulf Coast's entry-level workers would not have been able to work on projects that they were funding with their own tax dollars. Everyone deserves the opportunity to help put back together their homes, lives, and livelihoods." (The Truth's Comment: What kind of twisted logic is that?)
• Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO): (Obviously needs to check his history book): read here on what his office is saying to inquiries.
  

Update: For a list of representatives who have co-sponsored H.R.3763 visit this site.

More to come. If you know your Representative's position, post it in the comments and it will be added to the list with you as the source.

Ending institutionalized poverty has got to be one of the priorities in the Katrina Recovery Effort. Ask you represenative to support a bill recinding the president's suspension of the Davis-Bacon Act, and asking for accountability regarding no-bid contracts already awarded...

Categories: Katrina, reconstruction, rebuild, Congress, Contracts, Politics, News

Katrina Reconstruction Problems: Where are the Democrats?

Like father, like son.

There's a lot of talk going around the 'net about the suspension by president G. W. Bush of the Davis-Bacon Act for reconstruction of effected areas in the Gulf Coast region in the wake of Katrina. First, it turns out that his father, George H. W. Bush, also suspended the Davis-Bacon Act in 1992 following the devastation of South Florida after Hurricane Andrew. His suspension was indefinite, and was not restored until Clinton took office in 1993. Created in 1931, the act is named after it's two Repubican sponsors (yes, back when Republicans seemed to respect workers) James Davis and Robert L. Bacon. The other presidents who suspended the Davis-Bacon act were Franklin D. Roosevelt, who suspended it for 3 weeks to manage administrative adjustments because of the New Deal in 1934. Richard M. Nixon also supsended the act in February of 1971 in an attempt to lower inflation pressures. He reinstated the act after just 28 days due to allegations of political motive behind the move--giving the impression that construction workers were to blame for the inflation problems.

Proclamation 7924 was issued and signed by the president on September 8th, 2005. Rep. George Miller (D-CA) has stated in a post at TPMCafe that he believes that the proclomation was issued "illegally" by President Bush, because it was done before a national emergency had been declared. I cannot find any information on the time or date that an "official" procomation of "National Emergency" was listed by the President as required to be able to use the wording as an "excuse" or reasoning for the suspension of the Davis-Bacon Act. You can read Rep. Miller's posting here.

According to various sources, the "prevailng wage" in New Orleans (which was protected as the "lowest wage" possible under the Davis-Bacon Act) was around $9.00/hour. This "prevailing wage" in inadequate by many standards, especially for skilled labor. To pay laborers less than this amount, while at the same time rewarding no-bid contracts to friends of the administration, is despicable. It shouldn't, of course, be surprising to anyone.

However, my growing dissapointment is what I perceived as a lack of Democratic action or speaking out against the proclamation suspending the Davis-Bacon Act. I was able to find that Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA) has co-sponsored legislation that would recind the president's proclomation. You can read her statement here. It is time for the Democrats to stand up, speak out (and speak loudly) about this proclamation's effect on the residents of these already devastated areas, as well as questioning the supsension (whether or not it was done legally), and the awarding of no-bid contracts to Bush family friends (such as Halliburton for millitary base reconstruction, and this disturbing story about the award of a contract to remove bodies by Kenyon International. Kenyon International is a subsidiary of Service Corporation International (SCI), a scandal-ridden Texas-based company operated by a friend of the Bush family. Recently, SCI subsidiaries have been implicated in illegally discarding and desecrating corpses.

This is not a time for inaction. If you agree that the Davis-Bacon Act should not have been suspended by President Bush, write your congressperson today. I just wrote my congresswoman, Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) regarding the Davis-Bacon Act and the activities of this adminstration that should lead to Articles of Impeachment being drafted against President Bush. Below is an excerpt:

I am particularly concerned with the president's choice via Executive Proclamation 7924 which suspends the Davis-Bacon Act in areas hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina. Since the prevailing wage as set by the Dept of Labor is considerably less than what most skilled individuals here in Madison, WI would receive, I believe that suspension of this Act is dangerous to the nation as a precedent being set for the dismantling of the Davis-Bacon Act. I believe that these low wages that gov't contractors would be able to pay will continue the institutionalized poverty along the Gulf Coast, especially in areas of New Orleans and Mississippi.

I have also learned that President Bush may have signed the executive order before the actual declaration of a "National Emergency" which is required to be able to suspend the Act. This information was posted at TPM Cafe (http://www.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/9/16/20551/6136) by Rep. George Miller (D-CA).

It is my further opinion that it is time the Democrats in the House of Representatives took a stand and speak out in the strongest possible terms regarding the diastrous response to Katrina by FEMA and DHS, and the president himself (who played golf, got a guitar, and ate cake while New Orleans drowned, and required a DVD 4 days after the hurricane to be able to "understand" the gravity of the situation). This is neglect of his Oath of Office of the highest order.

Because of this and our nation's disastrous policies in an illegal war (Iraq), I have joined with (now approaching over a hundred) other bloggers in a progressive coaliton that believes it is time to begin strong investigations in the House and begin the process of bringing Articles of Impeachment against the President George W. Bush.

You can use the text above if you'd like, and tailor it to your own needs (obviously if you're not in Rep. Baldwin's district, you'd want to remove the reference to Madison, WI). This is a time of action. Inaction is as good as agreeing with the Bush Administration.

Recind the proclamation. Now.

On another note from Wisconsin: More censorship of Freedom of Speech?

Categories: Katrina, Bush, Halliburton, Davis-Bacon, wages, labor, Louisiana, NOLA, Mississippi, impeachment, Congress, Wisconsin, Politics

Michael Brown Blames State

Today in an interview with the New York Times, former FEMA chief Michael Brown blamed the state officials for the botched recovery effort. Claiming he contacted the White House and informed them of the gravity of the situation, and the urgency needed, he did not place any blame on the White House.

WTF?

First, he blames the state, but in the same interview says he informed Michael Chertoff and the White House of how bad the situation really was “within hours” of Katrina making landfall. Then why did he place zero blame on Chertoff or the White House? If they were indeed informed of the seriousness of the situation, why did the DHS and White House drag their feet when it was their responsibility to begin with? Remember, the president declared a state of emergency for the entire Gulf Coast region, causing the responsibility for rescue and recovery efforts to fall directly on the federal government. This fact cannot be spun, even though they’re trying. It’s fact. Truth. And apparently, the truth makes the far right very uncomfortable lately.


Second, if it was the state’s fault, then why the hell did you resign, Brownie? The big boss had just told you a week before you were doing “a heck of a job.” Maybe you should go back to horses. Seriously. Because what’s coming out of your mouth in this interview is absolute horse shit.

Hope you’re enjoying private life. Stay there. For the sake of our people, please, stay there!

Oh yeah, and this will just add more fuel to the fire of the movement to impeach Bush.




Categories:
Impeach Bush, Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, The Truth

What To Blog About? Reader Poll

I’ve been doing some thinking during my campaign to raise awareness about the option to impeach Bush. I’m focused on finding the truth, and bringing it to the readers of this blog. As the number of readers steadily increases, I need to regain my focus, bring news about the inevitability of the end of the Bush administration, but also about other truths. I want to know what you, the reader, would like to see on “The Truth Is Out There.”

One thing I plan on doing is to focus on local Wisconsin issues as well as national/international. There’s a lot that needs to change in my home state, and there’s a lot of truths waiting to be told. I’m (almost) positive there’ll be very few Wisconsin stories at first, there are higher priorities. However, I want your input.

For those that “believe” in the Law of Attraction, I invite you to visit Powerful Intentions.

For those that agree and desire the impeachment of Bush, go to the IBC, and come back here (often) for further coverage. I should be guest blogging over at the IBC soon, too.

Something funny for the day (unless, I’m sure, you’re a supporter of Bush)…
I have no clue how this happened…but…
If you go to Google, type in Miserable Failure, and click on “I’m Feeling Lucky” instead of “Search,” you’ll be in for an absolutely hilarious surprise. It’s not a trick…I have no clue how a site without those words anywhere in it could come up #1. Go for it. And I look forward to your comments…Categories: Bush, Impeach, Blog, Poll, Wisconsin

“I Take Full Responsibility…”

Today the president said “I take responsibility…” for failures in dealing with Hurricane Katrina and the aftermath. You can read the story on MSNBC.com if you’d like.

Mr. President, I’d like to believe you when you say you take “full” responsibility. Now is the time to take some action to really show that you meant it. Otherwise, I’m sorry to say, I feel like you’re blowing smoke up my ass again. If the buck stops with you, will you resign like Michael Brown did? Maybe a failure in a response to a disaster such as Katrina isn’t quite enough to call for a resignation of the president…

However, with repeated failures (“I’m sure I’ve made a mistake, I just can’t think of any right now…”) in Iraq, the “War on Terror” (or am I supposed to be using “The Global Struggle Against Extremism” now? I get so damned confused sometimes…), and the failures of Katrina just highlighting all the rest—I believe resignation is warranted. If not, then there’s always another way. In 2006, barring any really unforeseen miracles in Iraq, Republican control of the House of Representatives will fail. If hearings are not already under way, one of the first acts of the new Congress in 2007 will be to draw up Articles of Impeachment against the president, and maybe even the vice-president, too.

So what kind of responsibility will he take? What does “full” responsibility mean to him? In the past, “full responsibility” meant sending out the political hacks with Rove’s talking points to all four corners of the earth (and especially to FOX News), with lies, lies, and you guessed it—a few more lies, to attack anyone who “dare” question the integrity of this president. Michael Brown has already resigned…how much blame will be heaped upon his sorry ass? He deserves about as much blame as he ends up getting—but Bush still retains a hefty dose of responsibility (you know, like full) for himself. Of course, the first thing to be lashed out at me is “but what about the local officials?” What about them? Am I living in NOLA right now? Click on my profile. Where am I? I can’t hold the local officials responsible in any real way. Only the people effected by the disaster and the failed response can do that. I’m not saying they have no blame—everyone, and I do mean everyone—could have done a far better job. The only one who seems to have been doing their job 110% of the time, making the calls, sounding the warning bells, and “yelling” the loudest (in his quiet but powerful voice) was Max Mayfield of the National Hurricane Center.

But I can hold my elected “leaders” and their subordinates responsible. So I’ve chosen, along with many, many others, to hold George W. Bush accountable for his repeated failures (and not just with the hurricane), by joining the Impeach Bush Coalition. Our goal is to bring attention to the matter, and lobby our elected officials to begin hearings in congress immediately. We can, and will, make a difference. Michael Brown has resigned. That’s one down. So many more to go.

So let’s all see what “full responsibility” is to this president. I suppose that depends on what the meaning of “responsibility” is, doesn’t it?

One last thing, who should be the Democratic candidate for president in 2008? I’m thinking I’ve narrowed it down to Hillary Clinton or Russ Feingold. What say you?

I’ll get to the nomination hearings of John Roberts soon too. That cute little fascist. Hmmm…not feeling very nice today, am I? Calling ‘em as I see ‘em. The Truth is marching on.

We swallow greedily any lie that flatters us, but we sip only little by little at a truth we find bitter. ~Denis Diderot
Categories: Categories: Bush, Katrina, Lies, responsibility, Clinton, Feingold, hurricane, NOLA, truth, impeach, resign, brown, michael

Time to Impeach George W. Bush

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Brown Out

Well, one of the calls for resignation has a follow-up...

Michael Brown, former director of FEMA, has resigned.

This is a great day for Americans. When the people suffer as a result of the ineptitude of a leader of a federal agency tasked with protecting and rescuing American citizens in the aftermath of a disaster such as Katrina, there is a price to be paid. And so it is.

Now we move forward, awaiting the resignation of the rest of Bush's cabinet for reasons from false intelligence in the lead-up to the Iraq war, the failures to protect the citizens of the United States of America because of lack of focus, and other reasons...

And, of course, the "big fish." Impeach Bush.

Categories: Katrina, Impeach Bush, Michael Brown, FEMA, Bush, The Truth

BUSH: THE END.

BUSH: THE END.

The bumper sticker says it all. With the proceeds from its sale going to The Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation, I highly recommend you proudly display “The End” on your vehicle…

The Blogosphere has erupted in activity around the mantra “Impeach Bush”, making this phrase one of the top 5 searched items on Technorati (frequently at #1). The Impeach Bush Coalition was born on Thursday, September 8th, 2005, of which I am a proud Coalition supporter from the very first day. So is this just a bunch of crazy liberal moon bats that have fallen off their rockers, or will this effort actually gain traction? Can impeachment occur?

In a word, yes it will gain traction (and already is), and impeachment can indeed occur.

The Case for Impeachment

In Article I, sections 2 and 3, the procedures of Impeachment are laid out in the U.S. Constitution. Article II, section 4 gives the grounds for impeachment as follows:

“The President, Vice President, and all civil officers of the United States shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.”

Abuse of power and serious misconduct fall under the vast area of “high crimes and misdemeanors,” and these are the primary sections that I feel a case for the impeachment of George W. Bush lies. To quote the Articles of Impeachment against Richard M. Nixon, the following is very fitting of this president:

“…has acted in a manner contrary to his trust as president and subversive of constitutional government, to the great prejudice of the cause of law and justice, and to the manifest injury of the people of the United States…”
-Summary of the 3 Articles of Impeachment against Nixon, July 30, 1974 (underline mine)

Draft Articles of Impeachment
Source: Democratic Underground

Article I
In his conduct while President of the United States, George Walker Bush, in violation of his constitutional oath faithfully to execute the office of President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in disregard of his constitutional duties as Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of the United States and to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, willfully, knowingly and without lawful cause or excuse made false, misleading and deceitful statements to the Congress regarding evidence justifying military action against Iraq.
In doing this, George Walker Bush has brought disrepute upon the Presidency, has undermined the integrity of his office, has betrayed his trust as President and has acted in a manner subversive of constitutional government and the rule of law and justice, to the manifest injury of the people of the people of the United States.
Wherefore, by such conduct, George Walker Bush warrants impeachment and trial, removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust or profit under the United States.

You can read the rest here.
Of course, articles would need to be added to cover the response to Hurricane Katrina, because the president of the United States was incompetent in his response to the disaster, which he ultimately holds responsibility for, insomuch as he declared the entire region a Federal Disaster Area before the hurricane made landfall, thereby giving FEMA and the DHS responsibility to manage, respond, and coordinate rescue efforts before, during, and after the hurricane struck. As much responsibility that should be taken by local officials for their mistakes, the ultimate responsibility lies at the foot of the president, George W. Bush. Period.

It is my further opinion…
The Congress of the United States shall be held accountable by the citizens of voting age of the United States during midterm elections in 2006, as well as recall elections deemed necessary by a majority of citizens in any one district. The congress passed the Patriot Act without adequate hearings (many didn’t even read it), authorized the use of force in Iraq (although, to their credit, they were given false information on which to base their decision), and failure to immediately begin hearings and judicial proceedings into the falsification of evidence for the case for war, seriously investigating the administration for leaking the identity of an undercover CIA agent (which by definition of the laws of this nation is labeled clearly as treason), and a failure to call for an independent commission (as of this date) to investigate the federal governments response to the disaster of hurricane Katrina.

Furthermore…I hereby call on the President of the United States to immediately request the resignations of the following Administration officials who have failed the trust of the American people by dereliction of duty:

Department of Homeland Security Chief Michael Chertoff
FEMA Director Michael Brown -->DONE!
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld

And any other individual who failed their office in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, resulting in the deaths of an untold number of American citizens. This is tantamount to class warfare upon the people of the United States of America, and therefore should be considered a High Crime.

This will not go away. Republicans, Democrats, Independents, and whatever other party affiliation (or none) people may have—these people are now coming together to identify and urge the congress to take action against a gathering threat to the security of the United States of America: President George W. Bush and his entire administration.

Get the word out.

Bush: The End.
Categories: impeach, impeachment, Bush, lies, Truth, Katrina, Iraq, Politics, Constitution, disaster, Impeach Bush

Bush: Katrina's Next Casualty

Newsweek now has an article posted (click the title of this blog post to go
there, or click here)
that President Bush may be the next victim of Katrina. As I mentioned in a previous
post, Bush approval ratings are falling at an ever-increasing rate.

This just goes to show that when the lies start to unravel, as they
always do and will, the American people have the wherewithall to stand up to
whomever it is that has been ripping them off. And this administration has done
a fantastic job of ripping off the American people--from Civil Liberties, to the
environment, the catastrophic budget, the Department of Homeland Insecurity, to
countless other acts against the people. Their enemy is us, America. And the
trust in Bush is waning.

From the article:

In Katrina’s wake, the president’s popularity and job-approval ratings have dropped across the board. Only 38 percent of Americans approve of the way Bush is doing his job overall, a record-low for this president in the NEWSWEEK poll. (Fifty-five percent of Americans disapprove of his overall job performance.) And only 28 percent of Americans say they are “satisfied with the way things are going” in the country, down from 36 percent in August and 46 percent in December, after the president’s re-election. This is another record low and two points below the satisfaction level recorded immediately after the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal came to light. Fully two-thirds of Americans are not satisfied with the direction of the country.

But Katrina’s most costly impact could be a loss of faith in government generally, and the president, in particular. A majority of Americans (57 percent) say “government’s slow response to what happened in New Orleans” has made them lose confidence in government’s ability to deal with another major natural disaster. Forty-seven percent say it has made them lose confidence in the government’s ability to prevent another terrorist attack like 9/11, but 50 percent say is has not. (Note: our question asked about “government” in general, so we cannot say whether respondents meant state, local, federal or a combo of any of the three.)

More critical to President Bush—and the GOP’s future as the nation’s majority party: most Americans, 52 percent, say they do not trust the president “to make the right decisions during a domestic crisis” (45 percent do). The numbers are exactly the same when the subject is trust of the president to make the right decisions during an international crisis.

It is time to impeach Bush.

Fascism, Only Smarter

What is Neoconservatism? Fascism in disguise?

From Wikipedia:

Foreign Policy

In foreign policy some argue that neoconservatives have a tendency to view the world in 1939 terms, comparing the threat from adversaries as diverse as the Soviet Union, Osama bin Laden (and, more broadly, Islamofascism), and China to the threat then posed by Nazi Germany, while American leaders such as Reagan and Bush stand in for Winston Churchill. There is also a tendency to compare leftists, and others who oppose them to Neville Chamberlain, as appeasers and/or Anti-American. The fullest account of this is Donald and Frederick Kagan's While America Sleeps, the entirety of which is dedicated to these comparisons.

There's a lot in that little blurb about foreign policy, isn't there? The tendency to compare leftists and others who oppose them as appeasers and/or Anti-American. Many liberals have been called "unpatriotic" by the Bush Administration and the Republican Party Talking Points. Right now, in the aftermath of Katrina, the Republican National Committee is sending out it's hacks to the talk shows. They are to view images of the suffering in New Orleans as "hostile" to the Bush Administration. They are to bring up the "blame game," and how they're taking the high road and not engaging in it, but at the same time pointing at Louisiana governor Blanco and NOLA mayor Ray Nagin as being at fault. Of course the "swimming buses" picture is used over and over and over again.

How does Neoconservatism compare to Fascism in the United States?
The following is also from Wikipedia:

Some writers claim that the United States now meets some or all requirements for a Fascist state. Cases have been made both for and against this allegation on all sides of the political spectrum.

Cases made to support the contention that the US is currently Fascist or moving towards fascism include:

• Reports such as the Bush Administration paying journalists to promote the policies of the Administration. This would lend credence to the allegation that Media is being controlled by the Administration. Also, self-censorship such as the sort practiced in open forums to prevent the spread of viewpoints that oppose the current administration may be considered evidence that the administration need not openly censor, but can rely on supporters to carry out the necessary censorship. (The Armstrong Williams incident)(The Balkans Website incident)

• The widespread use of religion as a justification for many laws and policies (such as Faith Based Initiatives) and the blocking of certain legislation on religious grounds (such as gay marriage and stem cell research). Also the widespread use of religious rhetoric and symbolism in many speeches and appearances lend credibility to the allegation of religion being intertwined with Government.

• Fraudulent Elections have been suspected in both of the last presidential elections. There is evidence such as the sworn testimony of Mr. Clint Curtis, and other widespread indications of deceptive election processes in Ohio and other locations, in addition to the conflicts of interest with Secretary of State of Ohio Mr. Blackwell also being the co-chair of the Bush-Cheney re-election campaign in Ohio.

To counter the claim that the United States is becoming fascist, opponents point to the fact that George W. Bush won a majority of the popular and electoral votes in the 2004 U.S. presidential election. However it should be noted that the Electoral Votes are usually based on the popular vote counted from the election. It is further noted that the belief that the US is becoming fascist is fiercely disputed under any administration by all sides of the debate.

This movement is dangerous to the United States. The charectaristics are obvious:

In 1944, John T. Flynn made the case in "As We Go Marching," where he enumerated the stigmata of generic fascism, surveyed the interwar policies of Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany, and pointed to uncomfortably similar American policies.

For Flynn, the hallmarks of fascism were:

• 1) unrestrained government;
• 2) an absolute leader responsible to a single party;
• 3) a planned economy with nominal private ownership of the means of production;
• 4) bureaucracy and administrative "law";
• 5) state control of the financial sector;
• 6) permanent economic manipulation via deficit spending;
• 7) militarism, and
• 8) imperialism (pp. 161-62).

He proceeded to show that all these were alive and well under the wartime New Deal administration (pp. 166-258). Pragmatic American liberalism had produced "a genteel fascism" without the ethnic persecutions and full-scale executive dictatorship seen overseas." - Joseph R. Stromberg, Fascism: Déjà Vu All Over Again

Let's look at parts of the above listings and put them in 2005 terms:

#1 Unrestrained Government
The Bush Administration has been able to garner support for the Iraq War through complete deception (see The Truth is Being Revealed, number 8). Billions of dollars, untold amounts of money given to corporations in no-bid contracts (#s 3, 5, and 6 of the above list).

Hitler used this same tactic to support the expulsion of the Jews, by creating a belief that the German people were "under attack," and thereby paving the way for unrestrained militarism and imperialism.

#4 bureaucracy and administrative "law"

The creation of the Department of Homeland Security created the largest bureaucracy in the history of the United States. That along with the Patriot Act, which has it's own similiarities to the Reichstag Fire Decree and the Enabling Act of the early days of the rise of Nazi Germany.

Why do so many not recognize what is happening? To their credit, the Neocons have been doing an excellent job of spinning, getting their supporters from the early days of the administration to watch "Fair and Balanced" FOX News, thereby creating a propoganda platform for themselves.

However...the truth is making people wary. They're waking up. Looking around. Seeing that all is not what it seems. Poll numbers for the president continue to slide. The Iraq war lies are showing themselves. The neocon's reaction to Hurricane Katrina, horrific as it was, is serving to unravel their carefully planned takeover of America. And now the time has come to take action. The people must stand up and be heard. Dissidence is patriotic. Always has been, always will be. Freedom is free, by it's very nature.

So now is the time to take action. Bloggers can do so by visiting The Impeach Bush Coalition, of which The Truth Is Out There is a proud coalition member. It is time to Impeach Bush. Together, we can bring the truth to millions. The American people can handle this, it is in our very nature to survive, and it is in our very nature to have the desire to be free, and stay that way. All we need to do is focus on what we do want. Bush is the contrast. Impeachment is an inspired action, and the intention to have Bush removed from office through impeachment grows day by day. Show your support today. Sign the petition. Join the coalition. Tell everyone you know. Let The Truth shine!


Categories: impeach, bush, katrina, lies, truth, fascism, freedom, politics, liberal, democrat, Impeach Bush, "Impeach Bush"

On A Lighter Note...

I was just reading my roommate's blog, "Free To Be Me", and have to recommend a visit to her post about our cat, Pumpkin, and the Angel's Wish Coalition. If you're in Wisconsin, I recommend it for getting (saving!) a pet.

I'd also like to take a quick moment to say to all of those who think "we liberals" just bitch and moan about the fed's response to Katrina, and say we should get out and do something...

Well, I've donated to the American Red Cross, to an organization attempting to save the pets, and am buying supplies this weekend for a co-worker to take with on her mission to help pets beginning in Hattiesburg, MS. Unfortunately, I still have to work for a living, so going down there is not an option at the moment. Click on some Google Ads so I can go. And I'll still say: Bush MUST be impeached. Ooops...this is supposed to be on a lighter note...

I love Pumpkin. And I'm thankful for Angel's Wish.

Techonrati Stuff... Impeach Bush, Bush Lied, Wisconsin, Saving Pets, Pets, Daniel Dashnier, Katrina

Ineptitude Has It's Price

Impeach Bush
Join...
The Bulldog Manifesto
The Martian Anthropoligist
and Coalition Suporter The Truth Is Out There
The time is right.
The time is now.

Eight Big Lies about Katrina

Alternet has a fantastic article about 8 lies surrounding the response to Hurricane Katrina. You really should take the time to read this:

Eight Big Lies About Katrina

In addition...if you blog and feel the same way as we do, that Bush should be impeached, then be sure to drop on over to the Impeach Bush Coalition blog. Sign up. Join in. This is not just us "whacko Left Wing Moonbats", it's really those of us that seek the truth and are not going to sit idly by and let the government lie to us--over and over--and then defend a president who couldn't defend us.

Speaking of "moonbats", I ran across an interesting comment and reply to my comment in The Martian Anthropologists blog--so I did visit his blog. And he calls Cindy Sheehan a "Ditch Witch." (now isn't that fantastic Christian compassion at work?) He should read the news. Yesterday, Cindy Sheehan and the Gold Star Families for Peace raised $200,000.00 in ONE HOUR for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, as was discussed on the Randi Rhodes show last evening.

And the lies march on...

...but the truth is marching as well...

Technorati: Impeach Bush, Hypocrisy, Politics, Hurricane Katrina, Bush, The Truth

The Truth Is Revealing Itself

The Truth Is Revealing Itself

1. We knew this already (those of us that don’t rely on Drudge or FOXNews for all of our information), but now MSNBC has a story stating that FEMA “leaders” lack experience completely (Suffers “Brain Drain” Since 2001).
2. Meanwhile, FEMA employees are beginning to blame Bush for the bureaucracy. Maybe Bush won’t be able to scapegoat on FEMA after all… FEMA Union Speaks Out
3. President Bush continues to act opportunistically: the “fill my pockets with bucks, but don’t let any of them stop here” president has allowed contractors such as Halliburton to pay below the prevailing wage.
4. Tom Delay’s Political Action Committee Indicted: No charges against the man himself, but I can’t imagine he’s going to be able to hide all that much longer. Seems that Right Wing World is unraveling at the seams.
5. Newsweek asks “Did the Bush Administration have the wrong priorities?” in the run up to Hurricane Katrina. Seems like the DHS focused on terrorism and ignored warnings about natural disasters. I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say: “Ya think?”
6. And as The Truth continues to flow through the American Experience and awaken people to what’s really going on, Cheney got a dose of his own medicine in Gulfport, MS yesterday. Rock on.
7. And is this proof that race played a role? The elite of New Orleans hint at a “whiter New Orleans” when it’s rebuilt. They don’t want the poor back. Isn’t it wonderful to see all the love in the air? Starts to make me think: Was God punishing the sinners in New Orleans, or was He saying “Yo! Wake up and smell your hypocrisy!”?
8. Colin Powell: “I never saw evidence to suggest” that there was a clear connection between 9/11 and regime of Saddam Hussein. Are you paying attention, Michelle Malkin? If I recall correctly, she stated on “Hardball” several weeks ago that there “absolutely was” a connection. So much for the talking points.
9. America is waking up. They believe that the Iraq War Is Going Worse Than Expected. The truth will always prevail.
10. The Martian Anthropologist writes that it is time to Impeach Bush. And I can’t agree more. So read his entry on the Impeach Bush Rally of September 24th, and read this entry from The Bulldog Manifesto: Impeach George W. Bush – A call to All Blogs and Activists! (Note: You get to see Bush flipping off the camera when you visit the Bulldog site. You were warned)

On a lighter note, I’m from Wisconsin, and we’re leaving.

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FEMA, Impeach Bush, Hurricane Katrina, The Truth, New Orleans, Politics, Truth, News, Current Affairs, Bush Lied