September 30, 2006
WEEKEND OF FUN (38)
THERE YOU GO AGAIN!!!
WEEKEND VACATION NOTICE
PRESIDENT BUSH IS THINKING ABOUT IT.
CHENEY IS DOING EXACTLY THE SAME THING
I'M KICKING UP, HOW ABOUT YOU!
September 29, 2006
I'M PUSHING IT TODAY
THERE YOU GO AGAIN!!!
BUSH IN CHARGE
THE BRAIN-WASHING OF AMERICA
President Bush is right now speaking to the Reserve Officers Association. Like many in the republican leadership he wares the tag "DID NOT SERVE" , well in his case "DID NOT ATTEND AND COMPLETE".
He's talking about being STRONG and WRONG. Right now he is talking about liberating Afghanistan and how we are rebuilding it and holding elections. What he isn't saying is that the Taliban is making a COME BACK.
He said you need to have a strategy and to adapt as requirements change. Other than seeing our Troops being killed because they are caught in the middle of a civil war THEY HAVE NO STRATEGY.
An example of that is the number of Troops killed: 3/21/03 - 5/1/03 = 140 5/3/03 - 6/28/04 = 718 6/29'04 - 1/30/05 = 579 1/31/05 - 12/14/05 = 715 12/15/05 - 9/27/06 = 558
Under the current strategy we are on track to set a new high in terms of Troops killed during this reporting period.
It turns out I was wrong when I said the HAD NO STRATEGY, they do and I've talked about this before.
OK, here is the republican strategy: If you get enough people to repeat the same lies LOUD ENOUGH AND OFTEN ENOUGH then people who do not have their BULLSHIT deflector shields raised will be infected with these lies and then it begins to spread to others who are not directly in the line of the BULLSHIT that is being fired.
We all remember how it began 5 years ago.
WMD, WMD, WMD, WMD, WMD, WMD, WMD, WMD, WMD, WMD,
Mushroom Cloud, Mushroom Cloud, Mushroom Cloud, Mushroom Cloud, Mushroom Cloud, Mushroom Cloud, Mushroom Cloud,
Connection to AL-Qaeda, Connection to AL-Qaeda, Connection to AL-Qaeda, Connection to AL-Qaeda, Connection to AL-Qaeda, Connection to AL-Qaeda.
We went to war over lies and/or total incompetence not only do we know this so does the rest of the world, for this Bush should be impeached but I really don't want to go through that again. He'll be out of office in a couple of years and if the dems can take back control of congress we can all look for some positive change.
The republicans are trying to do it again. SHIELDS UP! AFTER 5 YEARS BUSH STILL HAS NOT GOTTEN BIN LADEN. The slogans are every where CUT AND RUN, RAISE YOUR TAXES, NO PLAN you know them all, you've heard them all over and over and over.
For those of you who DO have their BULLSHIT deflector shields up this message will make perfect sense as for the others we are still waiting for an antidote expected arrival time is Nov. 7th.
For the past 5 years 1 billion Arabs have been sitting in their homes watching as we tear an Arab country apart killing 10s of thousand Arabs, some women and children. And the Bush Admin. wants you to believe that Arabs like us more now then they did before the war.
Come on people use your head for something other than a hat rack.
HE DOESN'T KNOW
Rummy didn't know if more Terrorist are being created today. He just doesn't know of any matrix to tell him the answer. But he say we do know how many are being captured or killed.
We it just seems to me you might be able to use some third grade math to come up with an educated guess. For example let's say for the last six months we captured or killed the following: 1=10, 2=20, 3=30, 4=40, 5=50, 6=60. You might just look at that and say, hmmmmm we are killing or capturing MORE terrorist sooooooo dog gone it that must mean we are creating MORE terrorists.
I don't need no stinking MATRIX.
Watch the VIDEO first.
Rummy needs a matrix. <----( watch the video here )
DON'T FORGET MEET THE PRESS DEBATE THIS SUNDAY
This is how I see the MEET THE PRESS debates so far. The winner (in my opinion) will be the first entry if it's a draw you will see that in the first position.
DRAW: September 3rd - PENNSYLVANIA Incumbent Senator Rick Santorum (R) vs. State Treasurer Bob Casey (D)
WEBB: September 17th - VIRGINIA Incumbent Senator George Allen (R) vs. former Secretary of the Navy Jim Webb (D)
OCT 1, 2006 DEBATE
October 1st - OHIO Incumbent Senator Mike DeWine (R) vs. Rep. Sherrod Brown (D)
STILL TO COME
October 8th - MISSOURI Incumbent Senator Jim Talent (R) vs. State Auditor Claire McCaskill (D)
October 15th - MINNESOTA OPEN SEAT - Sen. Mark Dayton (D) is retiring. Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar (D) vs. Rep. Mark Kennedy (R)
October 29th - MARYLAND OPEN SEAT - Sen. Paul Sarbanes (D) is retiring. Candidates to be determined in Sept. 12th Primary
YOU GOTTA HAVE HEART
THE OFFICIAL WORD FROM MY NURSE (DAUGHTER)
Hi All,
Dad and I went to Dr King (the heart surgeon in Bremerton) yesterday and
set up my Dad's big HEART day.....October 16th is his day. They will be
doing open heart surgery to replace his valve (using either a pig or
mechanical valve) they will also be doing bypass surgery (double possibly
more but they won't say for sure until they are in operating) and they will
be doing a maze procedure. The maze procedure is where they burn a few
spots behind his heart (at least that is what I heard from the doc) this is
to hopefully get ris of his A-fib or irregular heartbeat. I just looked up
Maze procedure on the Mayo Clinic website and it says this:
Maze Procedure - In this open-heart surgery, a maze of incisions made in
the atria blocks the flow of excess electrical impulses within the atria.
Some people require a pacemaker after the procedure.
Ok, so where I got the idea that they were going to be burning a few spots
near my Dad's heart.....I don't know. But I do know the doctor didn't
mention ANYTHING about a pacemaker. HE just said the maze procedure
might work to get rid of his A-fib and it might not. Hey Dad - do you recall
Dr King talking about burning some spots??? Now I'm curious to know if I
am just starting to make up my own ideas of what needs to happen to you!?!
:-) (editor note (me): I heard the same thing.)
We spoke with the anesthesiologist and he told us all the ins and outs of
what my Dad would need to go through just to get ready for the procedure
and those risks. He is going to have a bunch of Iv's and feeding tubes and
catheters and a little ultrasound machine in his chest...sounds like lots
of fun! Of course this is expected seeing the magnitude of the procedure.
He will be in the ICU for at least a week after his surgery then he will go
to a nursing facility for another 2 weeks depending on how his body is
reacting to everything. We go in on October 12th for a pre-admission appt
which is 2 hours long. They will go over his paperwork and do some testing
and lab work along with letting us know where the family will be waiting
and little tidbits like that.
I will keep you all updated as we go along. . .
Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers!
Love you all,
Channy :-)
PRETTY GOOD JOKES
NO WORDS NEEDED
TO: GOD:
FROM: THE DOG:
PART 1 OF 3
Dear God: Let me give you a list of just some of the things I must remember to be a good dog.
1. I will not eat the cats' food before they eat it or after they throw it up.
2. I will not roll on dead seagulls, fish, crabs, etc., just because I like the way they smell.
3 I will not munch on "leftovers" in the kitty litter box, although they are tasty.
4. The diaper pail is not a cookie jar.
5. The sofa is not a 'face towel'. Neither are Mom and Dad's laps.
September 28, 2006
I NEED FOOD
THERE YOU GO AGAIN!!!
BUSH IN CHARGE
IT'S CALLED PRIORITIES
I know that now that we are in Iraq deciding on how to get out is hard. I'll leave that for another discussion on another day. Today I want to talk about PRIORITIES.
As president Bush said in his State of the Union address earlier this year "America is addicted to oil", but he really didn't lay out a plan to get off oil. Saying you have a problem is only the first step. You need to setup an action plan, provide the necessary funding to achieve that plan. And finally you need to promote this plan as if you where running for a political office.
My idea is to use the resources that are currently in place. For over 40 years we have been funding NASA to go to the moon and explore space. Well we've done that and I think our energy policy is a much bigger crises and priority right now (I explain that in a minute).
What I want to do is NOT shut down NASA but rather divide it into to two organizations under NASA, Space Development and Energy Research and Development. Space Development well obviously lose some money under my plan. It's development will be necessarily be slower but that's what happens when you set priorities.
The Energy Research group will get the biggest portion of the funding from NASA. They will work on engine development (gas and electric). They will work on alternative fuels. This group will be a One Stop Shopping for all these dealing with Energy R and D.
I think one of the best ways we can work towards getting out of the middle east is by having OIL INDEPENDENCE, this plan will work toward that goal. As was the case with many of the NASA programs a lot of businesses an products were spun off, I think the same would be true with these various Energy initiatives too.
We need to stay the HELL out of these countries business unless there is TRUE, PROVABLE, VERIFIABLE PROOF that they are fixing to harm us. Or that we have BROAD WORLD SUPPORT for some sort of military or economic action. Remember by BROAD I mean BROAD not like the Iraq Coalition that had fewer that 40 countries and not the really big ones at that.
And finally I think we need to put together a bipartisan group to develop a strategy for dealing with the various Muslim countries throughout the world. We need to HELP them with education , food and medicine not guns and bombs.
AND ANOTHER THING . . .
Don't you get tired of some of these republicans always saying that the democrats only want to raise your taxes.
Well pray tell who the HELL is going to pay off the
$8,493,834,723,161.74
National Debt that Bush and company has run up???
CLINTON V. RICE
Watch the VIDEO
Jon Stewart does it again. <----( watch the video here )
YOU GOTTA HAVE HEART
I HAVE A DATE
Well I saw my Heart Surgeon yesterday and I'm scheduled to go in for heart surgery on Oct 16, 2006. Gulp. . .
PRETTY GOOD JOKES
NO WORDS NEEDED
TO: GOD:
FROM: THE DOG:
Dear God: Are there mailmen in Heaven? If there are, will I have to apologize?
September 27, 2006
THIS IS NOT CLASSIFIED
THERE YOU GO AGAIN!!!
BUSH IN CHARGE
National Intelligence Estimate Trends in Global Terrorism:
So you think we are Winning the WAR on Terror by invading Iraq? Check this chart out and maybe you'll rethink that assessment. one of the key findings of the National Intelligence Estimate (see below), which represents the consensus of the 16 intelligence agencies, was indeed that the war in Iraq has greatly increased the threat from terrorism by "shaping a new generation of terrorist leaders and operatives."
It's hard to think of a president and an administration more devoted to secrecy than President Bush and his team. Except, that is, when it suits Mr. Bush politically to give the public a glimpse of the secrets. And so, yesterday, he ordered the declassification of a fraction of a report by United States intelligence agencies on the global terrorist threat.
I think they should release the complete report. From what I see from this report it's stuff I felt I knew or thought for a long time. It wasn't news and should never be classified.
HERE IS THE COMPLETE NIE REPORT AS RELEASED BY THE PRESIDENT.
Key Judgments:
Implications for the United States dated April 2006
United States-led counterterrorism efforts have seriously damaged the leadership of al-Qa'ida and disrupted its operations; however, we judge that al-Qa'ida will continue to pose the greatest threat to the Homeland and US interests abroad by a single terrorist organization. We also assess that the global jihadist movement-which includes al-Qa'ida, affiliated and independent terrorist groups, and emerging networks and cells-is spreading and adapting to counterterrorism efforts.
o Although we cannot measure the extent of the spread with precision, a large body of all-source reporting indicates that activists identifying themselves as jihadists, although a small percentage of Muslims, are increasing in both number and geographic dispersion.
o If this trend continues, threats to US interests at home and abroad will become more diverse, leading to increasing attacks worldwide.
o Greater pluralism and more responsive political systems in Muslim majority nations would alleviate some of the grievances jihadists exploit. Over time, such progress, together with sustained, multifaceted programs targeting the vulnerabilities of the jihadist movement and continued pressure on al-Qa'ida, could erode support for the jihadists.
We assess that the global jihadist movement is decentralized, lacks a coherent global strategy, and is becoming more diffuse. New jihadist networks and cells, with anti-American agendas, are increasingly likely to emerge. The confluence of shared purpose and dispersed actors will make it harder to find and undermine jihadist groups.
o We assess that the operational threat from self-radicalized cells will grow in importance to US counterterrorism efforts, particularly abroad but also in the Homeland.
o The jihadists regard Europe as an important venue for attacking Western interests. Extremist networks inside the extensive Muslim diasporas in Europe facilitate recruitment and staging for urban attacks, as illustrated by the 2004 Madrid and 2005 London bombings.
We assess that the Iraq jihad is shaping a new generation of terrorist leaders and operatives; perceived jihadist success there would inspire more fighters to continue the struggle elsewhere.
o The Iraq conflict has become the "cause celebre" for jihadists, breeding a deep resentment of US involvement in the Muslim world and cultivating supporters for the global jihadist movement. Should jihadists leaving Iraq perceive themselves, and be perceived, to have failed, we judge fewer fighters will be inspired to carry on the fight.
We assess that the underlying factors fueling the spread of the movement outweigh its vulnerabilities and are likely to do so for the duration of the timeframe of this Estimate.
o Four underlying factors are fueling the spread of the jihadist movement: (1) Entrenched grievances, such as corruption, injustice, and fear of Western domination, leading to anger, humiliation, and a sense of powerlessness; (2) the Iraq "jihad;" (3) the slow pace of real and sustained economic, social, and political reforms in many Muslim majority nations; and (4) pervasive anti-US sentiment among most Muslims-all of which jihadists exploit.
Concomitant vulnerabilities in the jihadist movement have emerged that, if fully exposed and exploited, could begin to slow the spread of the movement. They include dependence on the continuation of Muslim-related conflicts, the limited appeal of the jihadists' radical ideology, the emergence of respected voices of moderation, and criticism of the violent tactics employed against mostly Muslim citizens.
o The jihadists' greatest vulnerability is that their ultimate political solution-an ultra-conservative interpretation of shari'a-based governance spanning the Muslim world-is unpopular with the vast majority of Muslims. Exposing the religious and political straitjacket that is implied by the jihadists' propaganda would help to divide them from the audiences they seek to persuade.
o Recent condemnations of violence and extremist religious interpretations by a few notable Muslim clerics signal a trend that could facilitate the growth of a constructive alternative to jihadist ideology: peaceful political activism. This also could lead to the consistent and dynamic participation of broader Muslim communities in rejecting violence, reducing the ability of radicals to capitalize on passive community support. In this way, the Muslim mainstream emerges as the most powerful weapon in the war on terror.
o Countering the spread of the jihadist movement will require coordinated multilateral efforts that go well beyond operations to capture or kill terrorist leaders.
If democratic reform efforts in Muslim majority nations progress over the next five years, political participation probably would drive a wedge between intransigent extremists and groups willing to use the political process to achieve their local objectives. Nonetheless, attendant reforms and potentially destabilizing transitions will create new opportunities for jihadists to exploit.
Al-Qa'ida, now merged with Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi's network, is exploiting the situation in Iraq to attract new recruits and donors and to maintain its leadership role.
o The loss of key leaders, particularly Usama Bin Ladin, Ayman al-Zawahiri, and al-Zarqawi, in rapid succession, probably would cause the group to fracture into smaller groups. Although like-minded individuals would endeavor to carry on the mission, the loss of these key leaders would exacerbate strains and disagreements. We assess that the resulting splinter groups would, at least for a time, pose a less serious threat to US interests than does al-Qa'ida.
o Should al-Zarqawi continue to evade capture and scale back attacks against Muslims, we assess he could broaden his popular appeal and present a global threat.
o The increased role of Iraqis in managing the operations of al-Qa'ida in Iraq might lead veteran foreign jihadists to focus their efforts on external operations.
Other affiliated Sunni extremist organizations, such as Jemaah Islamiya, Ansar al-Sunnah, and several North African groups, unless countered, are likely to expand their reach and become more capable of multiple and/or mass-casualty attacks outside their traditional areas of operation.
o We assess that such groups pose less of a danger to the Homeland than does al-Qa'ida but will pose varying degrees of threat to our allies and to US interests abroad. The focus of their attacks is likely to ebb and flow between local regime targets and regional or global ones.
We judge that most jihadist groups-both well-known and newly formed-will use improvised explosive devices and suicide attacks focused primarily on soft targets to implement their asymmetric warfare strategy, and that they will attempt to conduct sustained terrorist attacks in urban environments. Fighters with experience in Iraq are a potential source of leadership for jihadists pursuing these tactics.
o CBRN capabilities will continue to be sought by jihadist groups.
While Iran, and to a lesser extent Syria, remain the most active state sponsors of terrorism, many other states will be unable to prevent territory or resources from being exploited by terrorists.
Anti-US and anti-globalization sentiment is on the rise and fueling other radical ideologies. This could prompt some leftist, nationalist, or separatist groups to adopt terrorist methods to attack US interests. The adicalization process is occurring more quickly, more widely, and more anonymously in the Internet age, raising the likelihood of surprise attacks by unknown groups whose members and supporters may be difficult to pinpoint.
o We judge that groups of all stripes will increasingly use the Internet to communicate, propagandize, recruit, train, and obtain logistical and financial support.
HOW WOULD YOU VOTE?
I'm thinking maybe I agree more with the folks that say it's the wrong priority, especially when you see that the middle and lower class folks are still waiting for FEMA to do it's thing.
KEITH OLBERMANN'S SPECIAL COMMENT
Here is another Keith Olbermann Special Comment. These are very good hard hitting segments that you will not see on any other TV show. They are always worth your time.
Watch the VIDEO first.
Keith has some words for President Bush. <----( watch the video here )
THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD
Watch the VIDEO first.
Who is better suited. <----( watch the video here )
YOU GOTTA HAVE HEART
PRETTY GOOD JOKES
NO WORDS NEEDED
TO: GOD:
FROM: THE DOG:
Dear God: More meatballs, less spaghetti, please.
September 26, 2006
GOT DONE ON TIME TODAY
THERE YOU GO AGAIN!!!
BUSH IN CHARGE
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE ESTIMATE REPORT
Didn't we already know this stuff. I've been asking the question ARE YOU SAFER NOW for months.
A stark assessment of terrorism trends by American intelligence agencies has found that the American invasion and occupation of Iraq has helped spawn a new generation of Islamic radicalism and that the overall terrorist threat has grown since the Sept. 11 attacks.
This report came out in April and since that time president Bush has said time after time that we are safer over here because we are fighting them over there. The report "says that the Iraq war has made the overall terrorism problem worse," said one American intelligence official.
The estimate concludes that the radical Islamic movement has expanded from a core of Qaeda operatives and affiliated groups to include a new class of "self-generating" cells inspired by Al Qaeda's leadership but without any direct connection to Osama bin Laden or his top lieutenants.
The panel investigating the London terrorist bombings of July 2005 reported in May that the leaders of Britain's domestic and international intelligence services, MI5 and MI6, "emphasized to the committee the growing scale of the Islamist terrorist threat."
More recently, the Council on Global Terrorism, an independent research group of respected terrorism experts, assigned a grade of "D+" to United States efforts over the past five years to combat Islamic extremism. The council concluded that "there is every sign that radicalization in the Muslim world is spreading rather than shrinking."
It also examines how the Internet has helped spread jihadist ideology, and how cyberspace has become a haven for terrorist operatives who no longer have geographical refuges in countries like Afghanistan.
Now there is some talk about declassifying the report. I think it should be. I think it's to damn easy to make something classified when there is no NATIONAL INTEREST involved.
ONLY STEWART GET'S IT RIGHT
It take Jon Stewart to put things into perspective. Watch these two very short video clips on first his take on how the media focused on the substance of what President Clinton was saying during his interview on FOX.
Watch the VIDEO first.
How the Media treats the Clinton interview.<----( watch the video here )
The second one Is Your Moment Of Zen in which he points out how hard questions are put to Clinton and Condi Rice.
Watch the VIDEO first.
Your moment of ZEN. <----( watch the video here )
HISTORICAL DEBT OUTSTANDING - ANNUAL
If you think your better off today than you were five years ago, think again. And this BULLSHIT about the economy being so great, I think you need to talk to some Ford workers.
Look at the below chart and ask yourself why do we keep sell this country to China.
1950 - 2005 * Rounded to Millions
Includes legal tender notes, gold and silver certificates, etc.
Date Amount
09/30/2005 $7,932,709,661,723.50
09/30/2004 $7,379,052,696,330.32
09/30/2003 $6,783,231,062,743.62
09/30/2002 $6,228,235,965,597.16
09/30/2001 $5,807,463,412,200.06
09/30/2000 $5,674,178,209,886.86
09/30/1999 5,656,270,901,615.43
09/30/1998 5,526,193,008,897.62
09/30/1997 5,413,146,011,397.34
09/30/1996 5,224,810,939,135.73
09/29/1995 4,973,982,900,709.39
09/30/1994 4,692,749,910,013.32
09/30/1993 4,411,488,883,139.38
09/30/1992 4,064,620,655,521.66
09/30/1991 3,665,303,351,697.03
09/28/1990 3,233,313,451,777.25
09/29/1989 2,857,430,960,187.32
09/30/1988 2,602,337,712,041.16
09/30/1987 2,350,276,890,953.00
09/30/1986 2,125,302,616,658.42
12/31/1985 1,945,941,616,459.88
YOU GOTTA HAVE HEART
DR. APPOINTMENT
Well tomorrow I have a meeting with my Heart Surgeon. This should setup my schedule for open heart surgery. More to follow.
PRETTY GOOD JOKES
NO WORDS NEEDED
TO: GOD:
FROM: THE DOG:
Dear God: We dogs can understand human verbal instructions, hand signals, whistles, horns, clickers, beepers, scent ID's, electromagnetic energy fields, and Frisbee flight paths. What do humans understand?
September 25, 2006
NICE JOB BILL
THERE YOU GO AGAIN!!!
BUSH IN CHARGE
GOOD JOB MR. PRESIDENT
Former president Bill Clinton angrily defended his administration's counterterrorism record during a Fox News interview, while accusing "President Bush's neocons" and other Republicans of ignoring Osama bin Laden until the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Clinton had planned to discuss his climate change initiative during his appearance on "Fox News Sunday," but he turned combative after host Chris Wallace asked why he hadn't "put bin Laden and al-Qaeda out of business." Clinton shot back that "all the conservative Republicans" who now criticize him for inattention to bin Laden used to criticize him for over-attention to bin Laden.
Clinton said he authorized the CIA to kill bin Laden, and even "contracted with people to kill him." He also said he had a plan to attack Afghanistan, overthrow the Taliban and hunt for bin Laden after the attack on the USS Cole, but the CIA and FBI refused to certify that bin Laden was responsible, and Uzbekistan refused to allow the United States to set up a base. By contrast, Clinton said the Bush administration's neoconservatives "had no meetings on bin Laden for nine months," believing he had been "too obsessed with bin Laden."
"At least I tried," Clinton said. "That's the difference [between] me and some, including all of the right-wingers who are attacking me now. They ridiculed me for trying. They had eight months to try. They did not try. I tried. So I tried and failed. When I failed, I left a comprehensive anti-terror strategy and the best guy in the country, [Richard] Clarke, who got demoted."
OH YEA, who did George Bush give the Presidential Medal of Freedom to? . . . that "SLAM DUNK" kind of guy l George Tenet. Crap they couldn't even get that right and they thought they could run a war. ARE THEY NUTS! ! !
Watch the VIDEO it's a little long but well worth your time.
Give him hell Bill. <----( watch the video here )
I THINK HE'S WORKING ON RETIRING THIS AWARD
The Rev. Jerry Falwell acknowledged on Sunday that he said if Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton were the Democrats' presidential nominee in 2008, it would motivate conservative evangelical Christians to oppose her more than if the devil himself were running.
It's hard for me to understand how this guy can say the things he does and still get invited back to speak.
Maybe it says more about the people that invite him back than it does him.
YOU GOTTA HAVE HEART
PRETTY GOOD JOKES
NO WORDS NEEDED
TO: GOD:
FROM: THE DOG:
Dear God: If a dog barks his head off in the forest and no human hears him, is he still a bad dog?
September 24, 2006
IT'S PARTY TIME BABY
THERE YOU GO AGAIN!!!
WEEKEND VACATION NOTICE
PRESIDENT BUSH IS THINKING ABOUT IT.
CHENEY IS DOING EXACTLY THE SAME THING
I'M WATCHING IRAQ FOR SALE
September 23, 2006
FIRST DAY OF FALL
THERE YOU GO AGAIN!!!
WEEKEND VACATION NOTICE
PRESIDENT BUSH IS READING THE PAPER.
CHENEY WHO?
I'M TURNING INTO A iMAC-iMAN.
September 22, 2006
LAST DAY OF SUMMER
THERE YOU GO AGAIN!!!
BUSH IN CHARGE
WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL WITH WAL-MART
Everybody is a-gaa-ga about Wal-Mart saying that they would be selling "SOME GENERIC" drugs in one of their stores in Florida for $4.00 for a 30 day supply.
I take 8 different pills a day. I buy them from COSTCO and have done so for years now. Every one of my prescriptions are $3.00 or less for a months supply one is $2.81.
I'm sure that if I moved to any part of the country that had a Costco I would pay the same price for my meds.
The thing is COSTCO didn't make a big deal about this. No big press release. No media show patting themselves on the back. And COSTCO did it nation wide not just one store in Florida.
As I've said before JUST DO IT FOR GODS SAKE.
SAW THIS LAST MONTH
Representative Bob Ney, the Ohio Republican who did such generous favors for the casino clients of Jack Abramoff, announced his retirement from Congress on Aug. 7; the next morning The Washington Post reported that he had acted under pressure from his fellow Ohioan John Boehner, (Majority Leader)who is said to have told Ney that, if he stood for re-election and lost, he "could not expect a lucrative career on K Street."
Well now that Ney did not run but rather pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges means that he's a shoe in for one of those high paying K Street Lobbyist jobs.
WATCH PBS NOW TONIGHT
In the voting booth this fall, voters in states across the country will find ballot initiatives with titles like "Taxpayers' Bill of Rights" and "SOS - Stop Over Spending."
The aim is to slash state spending, including deep cuts in health care, education, and other social services. But are these local initiatives really "home" grown? This week NOW investigates how organizations associated with one wealthy New Yorker, Howard Rich, are secretly providing major funding for ballot measures. Such measures are way outside of Rich's neighborhood, in states across the country.
NOW also takes a look at the questionable tactics used to put these issues on your ballot. Is someone manipulating your state's laws, your vote, and you?
Visit the SITE
Check out your state here. <----( click here to go to the site )
KEITH OLBERMANN TELLS IT LIKE IT IS AGAIN
Keith has been doing the Special Comments for a couple of weeks now and they are very, very good.
First I like his subjects but beyond that I love how it sound as I listen to him. The text is very well written and makes me realize just how far I have to go even to come close to him.
I wish he would do this segment everyday.
Watch the VIDEO first.
Keith give us one of his special comments. <----( watch the video here )
THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD
Watch the VIDEO first.
COUNTDOWN'S KEITH OLBERMANN. <----( watch the video here )
YOU GOTTA HAVE HEART
PRETTY GOOD JOKES
NO WORDS NEEDED
TO: GOD:
FROM: THE DOG:
Dear God: Why are there cars named after the jaguar, the cougar, the mustang, the colt, the stingray, and the rabbit, but not ONE named for a dog?
How often do you see a cougar riding around? We do love a nice ride! Would it be so hard to rename the "Chrysler Eagle" the " Chrysler Beagle"?
September 21, 2006
TODAY IS MAC DAY
THERE YOU GO AGAIN!!!
BUSH IN CHARGE
ARE YOU REALLY BETTER OFF TODAY???
I found this some where but can't remember where and it's still just as true now as it was when I first found this.
A culture of corruption has enveloped our nation's capital, with special interests buying influence and many White House and Congressional leaders under investigation, indictment or arrest. For too long, the Administration and their backers in Congress have promoted policies that put special interests ahead of the public interest and appeal to the most extreme elements.
- House Majority Leader: indicted for money laundering - Senate Majority Leader: under SEC investigation for insider trading - Vice President's Chief of Staff: indicted for obstruction of justice - White House's top procurement official: arrested for trading trips for lobbyist favors - A veteran Member of Congress: guilty of taking $2.4 million in bribes from government contractors - House Administration Committee chair: under investigation for exchanging legislative acts for golfing trips and campaign money has now pleaded guilty. - House Speaker: silenced the Ethics Committee. by replacing its chairman with a crony
While Washington is mired in corruption, everyday Americans have been hard hit by ill economic winds, skyrocketing health care and energy costs, an environment that grows more poisoned every day and a weakening of the values that underpin our country.
But the Administration and the Congress have largely ignored the real problems of real people as they have catered to the special interests.
Real Problems
- Letting health care costs skyrocket and 46 million Americans go without coverage at all - while giving away billions of taxpayer dollars to drug and insurance companies
- Standing by while oil companies spike fuel and home heating prices and take record profits - while letting them write their own tax breaks in secret White House meetings
- Ignoring the effects of global warming on our environment and our lives - while letting companies that pollute our water, air and land off the hook
- Spying on Americans without warrants - while interfering in the personal, private decisions of Terri and Michael Schiavo. Letting huge corporations walk away from their pension obligations to U.S. employees - while giving them tax breaks when they take their jobs overseas
- Requiring more one-size-fits-all tests for public school children - while diverting scarce public school resources into private education
- Preventing minimum wage increases for workers on the first rung of the economic ladder - while giving exorbitant tax breaks to the wealthiest few at the top
- Cutting student loans, veterans health care and Social Security benefits for seniors - while piling up trillions in deficits and debt
- Giving no-bid contracts to political supporters like Halliburton - while our soldiers go without the equipment and protective gear they need
It's time to start the clean-up of Washington
- to break the hold that special interests have over too many elected officials
- to bring back honesty and integrity, and
- to restore faith in our government
THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD
Watch the VIDEO first.
Countdownds Keith Olbermann. <----( watch the video here )
GAS PRICES GOING DOWN???
So you say the gas price is dropping. Well it is. But the real question is where will it end up?
As I've said before I have tracked my gas purchases for that past 5 and half years. In the chart above I've listed the price per gal I paid the first time I bought gas each month. I don't drive much so many months I bought gas only once.
As you can see when I started tracking my gas it was under a dollar per gallon so that's why I ask the question now Where will it end up?
I guessing that we will not see it go much below $2 may $2.75 at the lowest.
What do you think.
UPDATE
The other day I sent my local U.S. Rep and email asking him while he voted against the bill to create a searchable database on Earmarks.
As of right now I got no reply.
My iMac came yesterday. Now I need to start learning how to use it. Should be fun.
YOU GOTTA HAVE HEART
PRETTY GOOD JOKES
DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR FIRST KISS?
TO: GOD:
FROM: THE DOG:
Dear God: When we get to heaven, can we sit on your couch? Or is it still the same old story?
September 20, 2006
IT MUST BE TODAY
THERE YOU GO AGAIN!!!
BUSH IN CHARGE
SHOUT OUT TO ALEXIS
THE PLAN
Watch the VIDEO first.
Who is better suited. <----( watch the video here )
Last night on Larry King he had Laura Ingraham and Bill Richardson on to talk about the election. Like all good republicans she had her TALKING POINTS in order but I think she ended up going just a little to far by answering her own question.
She asks the question "WHO IS BETTER SUITED TO KEEP THIS COUNTRY SAFE" with the ongoing threat of terror. She goes on to say that with all the miscalculations President Bush has made. Then she say the dems don't have a plan.
All I can say is if the republicans have had a plan IT ISN'T WORKING and it hasn't worked since we went into IRAQ.
Watch the VIDEO first.
Cut spending is a joke. <----( watch the video here )
In the second video she predicts the republicans will keep both the house and the senate.
Bill Richardson answers her with the PLAN that has been out there for a very long time.
Laura comes back to her TALKING POINTS and adds the KILLER LIE OF THE WEEK. Who are you going to pressure more to cut spending and waste?
Let's see The bridge to Nowhere is a Ted Stevens deal. . . he's a republican. Do we have the biggest deficit in history. What about our National Debt is that a good thing. Give me a break.
WILL THEY EVER SAY THEY WERE WRONG
Meet The Press on Sept 10, 2006 had VP Dick Cheney as the guest. I'll paraphrase the questions and maybe some answers, but you can hear the full question and answer in the video clip after each question.
MR. RUSSERT: But the alternative view is that this has been a
fundamental set of misjudgment, there were no
weapons of mass destruction, there was no linkage of
Iraq to September 11 and that there's a, there's a
disconnect between rhetoric and reality. I want to go
back to May 30, 2005, when you said to the American
people and to the world, "I think the level of activity
[in Iraq] that we see today, from a military standpoint,
I think will clearly decline. I think they're in the last
throes, if you will, of the insurgency."
VP. CHENEY: Hmm.
MR. RUSSERT: Since that time, Mr. Vice President, look at this.
Between the beginning of the war and May 30 when you
made that statement, we had 1,656 deaths in Iraq.
There are now a thousand more American servicemen.
There are 7,500 more wounded and injured. There are
20,000 more dead Iraqis. Wasn't it a flat-out mistake
to say we were in the last throes of the insurgency?
VP. CHENEY: I think there's no question, Tim, that the insurgency's
gone on longer and been more difficult that I had
anticipated. I'll be the first to admit that. But I also
think when we look back on this period of time 10 years
from now-and this is the context in which I made that
statement last year-that 2005 will have been the
turning point. Because that's the point at which the
Iraqis stepped up and established their own political
process, wrote a constitution, held three national
elections, and basically took on the responsibility for
their own fate and their future.
And as I mentioned before, in Afghanistan, in Pakistan,
in Saudi Arabia, and in Iraq, the key to victory is for
us to be able to get the locals into the fight. The
United States can't do it all by itself. It can't be only
U.S. security forces fighting in, in Iraq or
Afghanistan. They've got to be willing to step up and
take on the responsibility for their own fate. But
they're doing it and it's absolutely essential that we
complete that mission.
Now, is it tough and difficult? Absolutely. No doubt
about it. You know, you regret every single casualty. I
visit with the families. We spend time with the
wounded when they come back. I visit with the troops
every chance I get. It's the toughest thing the
president has to do, but it is absolutely the right thing
to do, Tim, because if we weren't there, if Saddam
Hussein were still in power, the situation would be far
worse than it is today.
Watch the VIDEO
Watch the VP spin this one. <----( watch the video here )
WE'D DO EXACTLY THE SAME THING
VP. CHENEY: You'd have a man who had demonstrated capacity for
violence, who started two wars, who had, in fact, been
involved with weapons for mass destruction, who had
every intention of going back to it when the sanctions
were lifted. And by this point, especially with
Ahmadinejad living next door in Iran, pursuing nuclear
weapons, there's no doubt in my mind that if Saddam
Hussein was still in power, would have a very robust
program under way to try to do exactly the same thing.
The world is better off because Saddam Hussein is in
jail instead of in power in Baghdad. It was the right
thing to do and if we had it to do over again,
we'd do exactly the same thing.
MR. RUSSERT: Exactly the same thing?
VP. CHENEY: Yes, sir.
MR. RUSSERT: Leading up to the war, three days before the war, you
were on this program and I asked you a question.
VP. CHENEY: Hmm.
MR. RUSSERT: And I asked you about an analysis of what could occur.
VP. CHENEY: Mm-hmm.
MR. RUSSERT: Let's just watch, and we'll talk about it.
VP. CHENEY: Now, I think things have gotten so bad inside Iraq
from the standpoint of the Iraqi people, my belief is,
we will, in fact, be greeted as liberators.
MR. RUSSERT: If your analysis is not correct, and we're not treated
as liberators, but as conquerors, and the Iraqis begin
to resist, particularly in Baghdad, do you think the
American people are prepared for a long, costly and
bloody battle with a-significant American casualties?
VP. CHENEY: Well, I don't, I don't think it's likely to unfold that
way, Tim, because I really do believe we will be
greeted as liberators.
MR. RUSSERT: In fact, it did unfold that way. It has been a long,
costly and bloody war.
VP. CHENEY: It has.
MR. RUSSERT: And. . .
VP. CHENEY: Well, the first part, getting rid of Saddam, was not.
But clearly, the insurgency and the aftermath has
been.
MR. RUSSERT: But again, wasn't your judgment overly rosy?
"Greeted as liberators." Now we're not. . .
VP. CHENEY: You, you gave me a choice, Tim, "Will you be greeted
as occupiers or liberators?" and I said we'll be greeted
as liberators. And we were.
MR. RUSSERT: But I said what about a long, costly, bloody battle, and
you said it's unlikely to unfold that way.
VP. CHENEY: And that's true within the context of the battle
against the Saddam Hussein regime and his forces.
That went very quickly. It was over in a relatively
short period of time. What obviously has developed
after that, the insurgency, has been long and costly
and bloody, no question.
MR. RUSSERT: Mr. Vice President, Tommy Franks, when he landed in
Iraq, had a meeting and said, "All right, stop making
plans, we're going down to 30,000 troops at the end of
this year in 2003." There was a view of the
administration that you were going to walk in, topple
the government, and that was it. And now, three and a
half years later, we are in Iraq for a long, long time,
with 2,500 deaths, 20,000 wounded and injured.
There were some fundamental misjudgments made.
VP. CHENEY: I think there's no question, but what we did not
anticipate an insurgency that would last this long.
Watch the VIDEO
Watch the VP spin this one. <----( watch the video here )
YOU GOTTA HAVE HEART
PRETTY GOOD JOKES
NO WORDS NEEDED
TO: GOD:
FROM: THE DOG:
Dear God: Why do humans smell the flowers, but seldom, if ever, smell one another?
September 19, 2006
OH HAPPY DAY TODAY
THERE YOU GO AGAIN!!!
BUSH IN CHARGE
REMEMBER. . . HE DID NOT SERVE. . .
I'M PISSED
The Kitsap Sun publishes a section called HOW OUR U.S. LAWMAKERS VOTED. In yesterdays paper I was surprised to see that my Rep. Jay Inslee had voted NO on this bill.
It pissed me off.
The reason as I suggest in the email I sent Rep Inslee, is that DAMN Bridge to Nowhere that Ted Steven, Alaska wants. This bill would give the American people a LITTLE transparency in to how Congress works.
Transparency now there's a word the folks back in DC love to through around but when it comes to voting for it they don't think we are looking.
I'll post his answer if he sends one.
TO: REP. JAY INSLEE
I can not believe that you voted AGAINST the Earmarks Disclosure Bill
(H Res 1003) the other day. Do you have something to HIDE like that
Senator (Ted Stevens) from Alaska? Are you building a bridge
somewhere?
When I see what congress is doing with their votes I ask myself who the
hell is looking out for me?
Can you explain to me why you don't want to track Earmarks?
Why you don't want me to have an easy way to look up these Earmarks.
NO LINK.
Meet The Press on Sept 10, 2006 had VP Dick Cheney as the guest. I'll paraphrase the questions and maybe some answers, but you can hear the full question and answer in the video clip after each question.
MR. RUSSERT: And the meeting with Atta did not occur?
VP. CHENEY: We don't know. I mean, we've never been able to, to, to
link it, and the FBI and CIA have worked it
aggressively. I would say, at this point, nobody has
been able to confirm. . .
MR. RUSSERT: Then why, in the lead-up to the war, was there the
constant linkage between Iraq and al-Qaeda?
VP. CHENEY: That's a different issue. Now, there's a question of
whether or not al-Qaeda, or whether or not Iraq was
involved in 9/11. There's a separate-apart from
that's the issue of whether or not there was a
historic relationship between Iraq and al-Qaeda. The
basis for that is probably best captured in George
Tenet's testimony before the Senate Intel
Commission, an open session, where he said
specifically that there was a pattern of relationship
that went back at least a decade between Iraq and
al-Qaeda.
MR. RUSSERT: But the president said they were working in concert,
giving the strong suggestion to the American people
that they were involved in September 11th.
VP. CHENEY: No. There are, there are two totally different
propositions here, and people have consistently tried
to confuse them. And it's important, I think-there's
a third proposition, as well, too, and that is Iraq's
traditional position as a strong sponsor of terror.
So you've got Iraq and 9/11, no evidence that there's
a connection. You've got Iraq and al-Qaeda,
testimony from the director of CIA that there was
indeed a relationship, Zarqawi in Baghdad, etc. Then
the third. . .
MR. RUSSERT: The committee said that there was no relationship.
In fact. . .
VP. CHENEY: Well, I haven't seen the report; I haven't had a
chance to read it yet, but the fact is...
MR. RUSSERT: But Mr. Vice President, the bottom line is. . .
VP. CHENEY: We know, we know that Zarqawi, running a terrorist
camp in Afghanistan prior to 9/11, after we went in to
9/11, then fled and went to Baghdad and set up
operations in Baghdad in the spring of '02 and was
there from then, basically, until basically the time we
launched into Iraq.
MR. RUSSERT: The bottom line is, the rationale given the American
people was that Saddam had weapons of mass
destruction and he could give those weapons of mass
destruction to al-Qaeda and we could have another
September 11. And now we read that there is no
evidence, according to the Senate Intelligence
Committee, of that relationship. You've said there's
no involvement. The president says there's no
involvement.
VP. CHENEY: No, Tim, no involvement in what respect?
MR. RUSSERT: In September 11, OK. The CIA said, leading up to the
war, that the possibility of Saddam using weapons of
mass destruction was "low." It appears that there was
a deliberate attempt made by the administration to
link al-Qaeda in Iraq in the minds of the American
people and use it as a rationale to go into Iraq.
VP. CHENEY: Tim, I guess-I don't-I'm not sure what part you
don't understand here. In September-or in 1990,
the State Department designated Iraq as a state
sponsor of terror. Abu Nidal, famous terrorist, had
sanctuary in, in Baghdad for years. Zarqawi was in
Baghdad after we took Afghanistan and before we
went into Iraq. You had the facility up at Kermal,
poisons facility, ran by Ansar Islam, an affiliate of
al-Qaeda. You had the fact that Saddam Hussein, for
example, provided payments to the families of
suicide bombers of $25,000 on a regular basis. This
was a state sponsor of terror. He had a relationship
with terror groups. No question about it. Nobody
denies that.
The evidence we also had at the time was that he
had a relationship with al-Qaeda. And that was
George Tenet's testimony, the director of the CIA,
in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee. We
also have a-had knowledge of the fact that he had
produced and used weapons of mass destruction and
we know, as well, that while he did not have any
production under way at the time, that he's clearly
retained the capability, and the expectation from
the experts was as soon as the sanctions were lifted
he'd be back in business again.
Now this was the place where, probably, there was a
greater prospect of a connection between terrorists
on the one hand and a terrorist-sponsoring state and
weapons of mass destruction than any place else. You
talk about Iran, North Korea, they're problems, too,
but they hadn't been through 12 years of sanctions
and resolutions by the U.N. Security Council and
ignored them with impunity.
Watch the VIDEO
Watch the VP spin this one. <----( watch the video here )
IS THERE A CONNECTION BETWEEN SADDAM AND 9/11?
MR. RUSSERT: The American people have now pretty much made their
views of the war known. We asked them, "The Iraq
war, is it worth it?" And look at this: 39 percent say
worth it, 59 percent-nearly six in 10--say not worth
it. The president has said we will stay the course. . .
VP. CHENEY: Mm-hmm.
MR. RUSSERT: . . .complete the mission, finish the job. How do you
define victory? And why have the American people
turned against the war?
VP. CHENEY: Well, Tim, I think people obviously are frustrated,
because of the difficulty, because of the cost,
because of the casualties, but you cannot look at Iraq
in isolation. You have to look at it within the context
of the broader, global war on terror. Remember what
we've been involved in here. We've been involved in
Afghanistan, take down the Taliban, stand up to the
regime, etc. Pakistan, we've gone in and worked closely
with Musharraf to take down al-Qaeda. Saudi Arabia,
same thing. In all of those cases, it's been a matter of
getting the locals into the fight to prevail over al-
Qaeda and al-Qaeda-related tyrants.
Now comes Iraq. Now we've got people saying, "Gee,
get out of Iraq. You ought to pack it in and go home.
It's unrelated." Now you've got hundreds of thousands,
millions of people out there who have staked their
fate in some extent on the United States. Think of all
those people who turned out in the face of assassins
and car bombers to vote. Think of the hundreds of
thousands of folks who've signed on to the security
forces of Iraq and Afghanistan. Think of Musharraf
who puts his neck on the line every day he goes to
work, when there've been attempts on his life because
of his support for our position. And they look over
here and they see the United States that's made a
commitment to the Iraqis, that's gone in and taken
down the old regime, worked to set up a democracy,
worked to set up security forces, and all of a sudden
we say it's too tough, we're going home. What's Karzai
going to think up in Kabul? Is he going to have any
confidence at all that he can trust the United States,
that in fact we're there to get the job done? What
about Musharraf? Or is Musharraf and those people
you're talking about who are on the fence in
Afghanistan and elsewhere going to say, "My gosh, the
United States hasn't got the stomach for the fight.
Bin Laden's right, al-Qaeda's right, the United States
has lost its will and will not complete the mission," and
it will damage our capabilities and all of those other
war fronts, if you will, in the global war on terror.
Watch the VIDEO
Watch the VP spin this one. <----( watch the video here )
YOU GOTTA HAVE HEART
PRETTY GOOD JOKES
NO WORDS NEEDED
THESE ARE ACTUAL NEWSPAPER ADS!
1.) COWS, CALVES: NEVER BRED...Also 1 gay bull for sale. 2.) NORDIC TRACK: $300 hardly used, call Chubby. 3.) GEORGIA PEACHES, California grown - 89 cents lb. 4.) JOINING NUDIST COLONY! Must sell washer and dryer $300. 5.) WEDDING DRESS FOR SALE. WORN ONCE BY MISTAKE. Call Stephanie. 6.) FOR SALE BY OWNER: Complete set of Encyclopedia Britannica - 45 volumes. Excellent condition. $1,000 or best offer. No longer needed, got married last month. Wife knows everything.
September 18, 2006
WAITING ON MY MAC
THERE YOU GO AGAIN!!!
BUSH IN CHARGE
REMEMBER. . . HE DID NOT SERVE. . .
MEET THE PRESS SCORE CARD TODATE
This is how I see the MEET THE PRESS debates so far. The winner (in my opinion) will be the first entry on the line, if it's a draw you will see that in the first position.
DRAW: September 3rd - PENNSYLVANIA Incumbent Senator Rick Santorum (R) vs. State Treasurer Bob Casey (D)
WEBB: September 17th - VIRGINIA Incumbent Senator George Allen (R) vs. former Secretary of the Navy Jim Webb (D)
STILL TO COME
October 1st - OHIO Incumbent Senator Mike DeWine (R) vs. Rep. Sherrod Brown (D)
October 8th - MISSOURI Incumbent Senator Jim Talent (R) vs. State Auditor Claire McCaskill (D)
October 15th - MINNESOTA OPEN SEAT - Sen. Mark Dayton (D) is retiring. Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar (D) vs. Rep. Mark Kennedy (R)
October 29th - MARYLAND OPEN SEAT - Sen. Paul Sarbanes (D) is retiring. Candidates to be determined in Sept. 12th Primary
I KNOW THEY WORK BUT IS IT RIGHT
Experts and political insiders have predicted that Santorum's campaign would have to go negative to raise doubts in voters' minds about Casey.
Pennsylvania's already nasty U.S. Senate election took a decidedly negative turn yesterday after U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum's campaign began airing a television commercial portraying Democrat Robert P. Casey Jr.'s supporters as a bunch of criminals puffing cigars in a prison cell.
"The ad only confirms that Santorum isn't fit to be in the Senate and can't be trusted to tell the truth," said Phil Singer of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
Polls show that Santorum trails Casey, the state treasurer, but he has cut the lead to 5 percentage points.
YOU SAID SADDAM HUSSEIN WAS BOTTLED UP.
Meet The Press on Sept 10, 2006 had VP Dick Cheney as the guest. I'll paraphrase the questions and maybe some answers, but you can hear the full question and answer in the video clip after each question.
MR. RUSSERT: But let's look at what you told me on that morning of
September 16, 2001, when I asked you about Saddam
Hussein. Let's watch.
VP. CHENEY: At this stage, the focus is over here on al-Qaeda and
the most recent events in New York. Saddam Hussein is
bottled up at this point.
MR. RUSSERT: Do we have any evidence linking Saddam Hussein or
Iraqis to this operation?
VP. CHENEY: No.
MR. RUSSERT: You said Saddam Hussein was bottled up.
VP. CHENEY: Mm-hmm.
MR. RUSSERT: And he was not linked in any way to September 11.
VP. CHENEY: To 9/11.
MR. RUSSERT: And now we have the Select Committee on Intelligence
coming out with a report on Friday, it says here, "A
declassified report released [Friday] by the Senate
Select Committee on Intelligence revealed that U.S.
intelligence analysts were strongly disputing the
alleged links between Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda
while senior Bush administration officials were publicly
asserting those links to justify invading Iraq."
You said here that it was pretty well confirmed that
Atta may have had a meeting in Prague, that that was
credible. All the while, according to the Senate
Intelligence Committee in January and in June and in
September, the CIA was saying that wasn't the case.
And then the president. . .
VP. CHENEY: Well, let me, let me-on that-well, go ahead.
MR. RUSSERT: No, go ahead.
VP. CHENEY: No, I want a, I want a chance to jump on that.
MR. RUSSERT: OK, but, but you said it was pretty well confirmed that
it was credible and now the Senate Intelligence
Committee says not true, The CIA was waving you off.
VP. CHENEY: No.
MR. RUSSERT: Any suggestion there was a meeting with Mohamed
Atta, one of the hijackers, with Iraqi officials?
VP. CHENEY: No. The sequence, Tim, was, when you and I talked
that morning, we had not received any reporting with
respect to Mohamed Atta going to Prague. Just a few
days after you and I did that show, the CIA, CIA
produced an intelligence report from the Czech
Intelligence Service that said Mohammad Atta,
leader of the hijackers, had been in Prague in April of
'01 and had met with the senior Iraqi intelligence
official in Prague. That was the first report we had
that he'd been to Prague and met with Iraqis. Later
on, some period of time after that, the CIA produced
another report based on a photographer-on a
photograph that was taken in Prague of a man they
claim 70 percent probability was Mohammad Atta on
another occasion. This was the reporting we received
from the CIA when I responded to your question and
said it had been pretty well confirmed that he'd been
in Prague. The-later on, they were unable to confirm
it. Later on, they backed off of it.
But what I told you was exactly what we were
receiving at the time. It never said, and I don't
believe I ever said, specifically, that it linked the
Iraqis to 9/11. It specifically said he had been in
Prague, Mohamed Atta had been in Prague and we
didn't know. . .
Watch the VIDEO
Watch the VP spin this one. <----( watch the video here )
IS THERE A CONNECTION BETWEEN SADDAM AND 9/11?
MR. RUSSERT: Well, I asked you, I said, "is there a connection
between Saddam and 9/11 on September '03" and you
said "we don't know."
VP. CHENEY: (Unintelligible). That's right.
MR. RUSSERT: So you raised that possibility.
VP. CHENEY: It was raised by the CIA who passed on the report
from the Czech Intelligence Service.
MR. RUSSERT: All right. Now the president has been asked, "What
did Iraq have to do with the attack on the World
Trade Center?" and he said "nothing." Do you agree
with that?
VP. CHENEY: I do. So it's not...
MR. RUSSERT: So it's case, case closed.
Watch the VIDEO
Watch the VP spin this one. <----( watch the video here )
YOU GOTTA HAVE HEART
MEDICAL COST UPDATE
PRETTY GOOD JOKES
NO WORDS NEEDED
THESE ARE ACTUAL NEWSPAPER ADS!
1.) FREE YORKSHIRE TERRIER. 8 years old. Hateful little dog. Bites 2.) FREE PUPPIES: 1/2 Cocker Spaniel, 1/2 sneaky neighbor's dog. 3.) FREE PUPPIES... Part German Shepherd, part stupid dog. (Lisa...this could be Oscar!) 4.) FREE GERMAN SHEPHERD 85 lbs. Neutered. Speaks German. 5.) FOUND DIRTY WHITE DOG. Looks like a rat been out awhile. Better be a reward.
September 17, 2006
NEED TO CLEAN THE HOUSE TODAY
THERE YOU GO AGAIN!!!
WEEKEND VACATION NOTICE
PRESIDENT BUSH IS WHINING.
CHENEY IS DOING IT AGAIN CAUSE HE HAS TO.
I'M TURNING INTO A iMAC-iMAN.
REMINDER FOR MEET THE PRESS TODAY
The second in their Senate debate series this time with Senator George Allen and challenger Jim Webb is scheduled air today.
ONLY TWO DAYS TO GO! ! !
September 16, 2006
GOING TO BE NICE TODAY
THERE YOU GO AGAIN!!!
WEEKEND VACATION NOTICE
PRESIDENT BUSH IS READING.
CHENEY IS RELOADING HIS SHOTGUN.
I'M KICKING UP.
REMINDER FOR MEET THE PRESS THIS WEEKEND
The second in their Senate debate series with Senator George Allen and challenger Jim Webb is scheduled for this Sunday.
September 15, 2006
WEEKEND IS HERE
THERE YOU GO AGAIN!!!
BUSH IN CHARGE
HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU HAVE TO SAY THIS
Why is it that even when they ADMIT that there was NO CONNECTION between Saddam and 9/11 they still talk and act like there is.
Watch the VIDEO
THERE WAS NO CONNECTION. <----( watch the video here )
IRAQ THE CENTRAL FRONT ON TERROR?
Meet The Press on Sept 10, 2006 had VP Dick Cheney as the guest. I'll paraphrase the questions and maybe some answers, but you can hear the full question and answer in the video clip after each question.
MR. RUSSERT: It is Iraq, however, that the president has said is
the central front in the war on terror.
VP. CHENEY: It is now. I beg to differ. Look at where we are in
Iraq today. I do think we've made major progress. Five
years ago, Saddam Hussein was in power in Iraq. Iraq
was a major state sponsor of terror. Saddam Hussein
was providing payments, bonuses to the families of
suicide bombers. He had a history of starting two wars,
he had produced and used weapons of mass destruction.
It was one of the worst regimes in modern times. We
moved aggressively against Saddam Hussein.
I think the VP said it all in his three word answer right out of he box: IT IS NOW!
Watch the VIDEO
Whatch the VP spin this one. <----( watch the video here )
WOULD YOU STILL HAVE GONE INTO IRAQ?
MR. RUSSERT: Based on what you know now, that Saddam did not have
the weapons of mass destruction that were described,
would you still have gone into Iraq?
VP. CHENEY: Yes, Tim.
MR. RUSSERT: So if the CIA said to you at that time, "Saddam does
not have weapons of mass destruction, his chemical and
biological have been degraded, he has no nuclear
program under way," you'd still invade Iraq?
VP. CHENEY: No stockpiles, but they also said he has the capability.
MR. RUSSERT: But the rationale was he had it.
VP. CHENEY: Now, what Saddam represented was somebody who had
for 12 years defied the international community,
violated 16 U.N. Security Council resolutions, started
two wars, produced and used weapons of mass
destruction and was deemed by the intelligence
community to have resumed his WMD programs
They had the capability!!! Is that why we went to war??? CRAP that same thing could be said of plenty of other countries. . . come to think of it that would be said of us.
Guess North Korea should be grateful that they don't have any oil or we might have gone after them.
Watch the VIDEO
Whatch the VP spin this one. <----( watch the video here )
YOU GOTTA HAVE HEART
MEDICAL COST UPDATE
I made a mistake on my Cost update so I've gone back to square one and added them all up and post it here now.
All I can say is thank god for my Health Insurance and Medicare. I mean I'm up to $36k plus and I'm still faced with my open heart surgery.
JAN $164.00
FEB $109.00
MAR $28.00
APR $748.00
MAY $4,590.00
JUN $13,155.00
JUN $237.00
JUL $160.00
AUG $17,694.23
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
TOTAL $36,885.23
PRETTY GOOD JOKES
NO WORDS NEEDED
DID YOU HEAR THIS ONE?
I was just in London - there is a 6- hour time difference. I'm still confused. When I go to dinner, I feel sexy. When I go to bed, I feel hungry.
September 14, 2006
MOVIE DAY TODAY
THERE YOU GO AGAIN!!!
BUSH IN CHARGE
Watch the VIDEO
Bush gets an interpreter. <----( watch the video here )
A HARD QUESTION
Meet The Press on Sept 10, 2006 had VP Dick Cheney as the guest. I'll paraphrase the questions and maybe some answers, but you can hear the full question and answer in the video clip after each question.
MR. RUSSERT: So if the Pakistanis aren't willing to seek bin Laden,
and have a peace pact with the terrorists, where are we?
VP. CHENEY: I don't buy the premature question, Tim. I, I think it's
wrong and I think the sources you've quoted are wrong.
Cheney has been WRONG EVERY STEP OF THE WAY and now he says he doesn't buy the premature question. What does it take to get this man to see a problem when it comes to this war in Iraq.
Watch the VIDEO
Whatch the VP spin this one. <----( watch the video here )
A SECURE AFGHANISTAN
MR. RUSSERT: "if we had not been distracted by Iraq, we could have
secured Afghanistan, "and we took our eye off the
ball."
VP. CHENEY: I disagree.
Once again the VP DISAGREES with Tim. Is anyone surprised at his answer.
Watch the VIDEO
Whatch the VP spin this one. <----( watch the video here )
YOU GOTTA HAVE HEART
LORD YOU GAVE THEM A MOUNTAIN TO CLIMB
Deirdre Imus (Don Imus's wife) was on his show this morning giving an update on her and others effort to get some legislation passed in Washington DC. The Senate has already passed it with a unanimous consent vote so it's in the house that they are trying to get this bill through.
It's a hard go for this group because they have to fight the big lobbyists and of course these guys are looking to get out of town because they need to get re-elected.
She really has passion for this cause and won't quit. I just love her and if I were ever in trouble I'd sure want her on my side.
Watch the VIDEO
Listen to the Deirdre explain what she is trying to do. <----( watch the video here )
PRETTY GOOD JOKES
NO WORDS NEEDED
DID YOU HEAR THIS ONE?
My wife and I went back to the hotel where we spent our wedding night, only this time I stayed in the bathroom and cried.
September 13, 2006
SLEPT ALL NIGHT LAST NIGHT
THERE YOU GO AGAIN!!!
BUSH IN CHARGE
WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD
Watch the video on who will be The Worst Person In The World.
Watch the VIDEO
Some people need to be on this list full time. <----( watch the video here )
THE TALIBAN IS BACK
Meet The Press on Sept 10, 2006 had VP Dick Cheney as the guest. I'll paraphrase the questions and maybe some answers, but you can hear the full question and answer in the video clip after each question.
MR. RUSSERT: The Taliban is back, that the opium crop has
increased 60 percent. We have not secured
Afghanistan.
VP. CHENEY: So you look at situation today in Afghanistan or even
in Iraq, and you've got people who have doubts. They
want to know whether or not if they stick their heads
up, the United States, in fact, is going to be there to
complete the mission. And those doubts are
encouraged, obviously, when they see the kind of
debate that we've had in the United States,
suggestions, for example, that we should withdraw U.S.
forces from Iraq, simply feed into that whole notion,
validates the strategy of the terrorists.
By all reports the Taliban is back. Sure you kill 100 - 200 of them and think now we have them on the run. Well think again they seem to have an unlimited source on which to draw.
Cheney needs to stop being the administration analyst on this War. . . he's been wrong about everything at every turn.
Watch the VIDEO
Whatch the VP spin this one. <----( watch the video here )
THE TRAIL IS STONE COLD
MR. RUSSERT: The Washington Post today, bin Laden, the trail is stone
cold, according to intelligence officials. Do you agree
with that?
VP. CHENEY: I don't.
The VP said he doesn't think the trail for bin Laden is cold. Whoa, it's only been 5 years that we've been looking for him. I'm thinking they are using the "OJ" system to find him. And you know how effective that has been.
Watch the VIDEO
Whatch the VP spin this one. <----( watch the video here )
YOU GOTTA HAVE HEART
DOCTORS APPOINTMENT
YIPES!!! Yesterday my daughter and I spent most of the day over in Seattle at Swedish Hospital. I had three follow up appointments, two with Doctors and one with the Neck Scan Machine.
All the test look very good just as an example the blood flow before the Stent was put in was some where around 300 after the Stent went in it's now down to about 50 which is a good thing. The way it made sense to me was to think about a garden hose with your finger on the end, it sprays water very fast (high speed which is bad) and now their is no restriction. Just a free flow.
PRETTY GOOD JOKES
NO WORDS NEEDED
PRODUCT WARNINGS:
Five million of our older Americans have not signed up yet for their Medicare, Part D, drug plan--they are old and confused. We are not going to grant them an extension.
However, 12 million illegal aliens are in our country and we are going to allow them to stay, protest, procreate, receive support monies, attend schools, avoid paying income taxes, have our teachers take 300 hours of ESL (English as a second language) training at our expense, etc.
WE MUST REALLY DISLIKE OUR OLD PEOPLE! OR, WE MUST REALLY LOVE TACOS!.
September 12, 2006
OFF TO SEATTLE TODAY
THERE YOU GO AGAIN!!!
BUSH IN CHARGE
SPECIAL REPORT
Keith Olbermann has added a feature to his Countdown show that TELLS IT LIKE IT IS.
These are powerful essays talking about things that you don't hear or see on TV.
Watch the VIDEO
I think many of us have felt this way as well. <----( watch the video here )
ARE WE CREATING MORE TERRORISTS?
Meet The Press on Sept 10, 2006 had VP Dick Cheney as the guest. I'll paraphrase the questions and maybe some answers, but you can hear the full question and answer in the video clip after each question.
MR. RUSSERT: Are we creating or recruiting more terrorists
than we are killing?
VP. CHENEY: It's hard to say, Tim, and hard to put a
precise number on it. -would say I think we've
made significant progress.
It's hard to say was his answer. So five years after 9/11 he doesn't know if we are creating more terrorists, yet he was certain there were WMD's in IRAQ.
I say BULLSHIT we indeed are creating more terrorists.
Watch the VIDEO
Whatch the VP spin this one. <----( watch the video here )
POLL ON U.S. INVOLVEMENT IN IRAQ OR AFGHANISTAN
MR. RUSSERT: It's interesting. Here's what the American people said
in a recent poll.
VP. CHENEY: I, I, I can't buy that. I mean, I think you've got to look
what's happening in Afghanistan and Iraq in terms of
the-where we were five years ago and where we are
today.
The VP got a little chocked up. Someone needs to tell the VP that the Taliban are BACK!!!
I think he watches why to much of that FAIR and BALANCED channel.
Watch the VIDEO
Whatch the VP spin this one. <----( watch the video here )
YOU GOTTA HAVE HEART
MEDICAL COST UPDATE
YIPES!!! I just got the bill for my one day hospital visit to Swedish for my neck angiogram. This doesn't give me a good feeling about the cost of my 3 day stay for the actual Stent procedure.
JAN $164.00
FEB $103.00
MAR $22.00
APR $661.00
MAY $2,882.00
JUN $12,820.00
JUL $17,695.00
PRETTY GOOD JOKES
NO WORDS NEEDED
DID YOU HEAR THIS ONE?
She was at the beauty shop for two hours. That was only for the estimate. She got a mudpack and looked great for two days. Then the mud fell off.
September 11, 2006
NEVER FORGET
AMERICA
Ray Charles America<----( click to play. )
CAN'T CRY HARD ENOUGH
We can remember, but we must never forget.
Can't cry hard enough. <----( click to play. )
Yesterday I saw President Bush and Mrs. Bush at Ground Zero laying wreaths and as I work on today's post it occurred to me that that was nice, but I wondered if maybe a better tribute might be to work on getting the 9/11 Commission Report Recommendations implanted. Wouldn't that be a more powerful tribute.
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE 9/11 COMMISSION
1. The U.S. government must identify and prioritize actual or potential terrorist sanctuaries. For each, it should have a realistic strategy to keep possible terrorists insecure and on the run, using all elements of national power. We should reach out, listen to, and work with other countries that can help. Document Page Number: 367
2. If Musharraf stands for enlightened moderation in a fight for his life and for the life of his country, the United States should be willing to make hard choices too, and make the difficult long-term commitment to the future of Pakistan. Sustaining the current scale of aid to Pakistan, the United States should support Pakistan's government in its struggle against extremists with a comprehensive effort that extends from military aid to support for better education, so long as Pakistan's leaders remain willing to make difficult choices of their own. Document Page Number: 369
3. The President and the Congress deserve praise for their efforts in Afghanistan so far. Now the United States and the international community should make a long-term commitment to a secure and stable Afghanistan, in order to give the government a reasonable opportunity to improve the life of the Afghan people. Afghanistan must not again become a sanctuary for international crime and terrorism. The United States and the international community should help the Afghan government extend its authority over the country, with a strategy and nation-by-nation commitments to achieve their objectives. Document Page Number: 370
4. The problems in the U.S.-Saudi relationship must be confronted, openly. The United States and Saudi Arabia must determine if they can build a relationship that political leaders on both sides are prepared to publicly defend -- a relationship about more than oil. It should include a shared commitment to political and economic reform, as Saudis make common cause with the outside world. It should include a shared interest in greater tolerance and cultural respect, translating into a commitment to fight the violent extremists who foment hatred. Document Page Number: 374
5. The U.S. government must define what the message is, what it stands for. We should offer an example of moral leadership in the world, committed to treat people humanely, abide by the rule of law, and be generous and caring to our neighbors. America and Muslim friends can agree on respect for human dignity and opportunity. To Muslim parents, terrorists like Bin Ladin have nothing to offer their children but visions of violence and death. America and its friends have a crucial advantage -- we can offer these parents a vision that might give their children a better future. If we heed the views of thoughtful leaders in the Arab and Muslim world, a moderate consensus can be found. Document Page Number: 376
6. Where Muslim governments, even those who are friends, do not respect these principles, the United States must stand for a better future. One of the lessons of the long Cold War was that short-term gains in cooperating with the most repressive and brutal governments were too often outweighed by long-term setbacks for America's stature and interests. Document Page Number: 376
7. Just as we did in the Cold War, we need to defend our ideals abroad vigorously. America does stand up for its values. The United States defended, and still defends, Muslims against tyrants and criminals in Somalia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq. If the United States does not act aggressively to define itself in the Islamic world, the extremists will gladly do the job for us. Recognizing that Arab and Muslim audiences rely on satellite television and radio, the government has begun some promising initiatives in television and radio broadcasting to the Arab world, Iran, and Afghanistan. These efforts are beginning to reach large audiences. The Broadcasting Board of Governors has asked for much larger resources. It should get them. The United States should rebuild the scholarship, exchange, and library programs that reach out to young people and offer them knowledge and hope. Where such assistance is provided, it should be identified as coming from the citizens of the United States. Document Page Number: 377
8. The U.S. government should offer to join with other nations in generously supporting a new International Youth Opportunity Fund. Funds will be spent directly for building and operating primary and secondary schools in those Muslim states that commit to sensibly investing their own money in public education. Document Page Number: 378
9. A comprehensive U.S. strategy to counter terrorism should include economic policies that encourage development, more open societies, and opportunities for people to improve the lives of their families and to enhance prospects for their children's future. Document Page Number: 379
10. The United States should engage other nations in developing a comprehensive coalition strategy against Islamist terrorism. There are several multilateral institutions in which such issues should be addressed. But the most important policies should be discussed and coordinated in a flexible contact group of leading coalition governments. This is a good place, for example, to develop joint strategies for targeting terrorist travel, or for hammering out a common strategy for the places where terrorists may be finding sanctuary. Document Page Number: 379
11. The United States should engage its friends to develop a common coalition approach toward the detention and humane treatment of captured terrorists. New principles might draw upon Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions on the law of armed conflict. That article was specifically designed for those cases in which the usual laws of war did not apply. Its minimum standards are generally accepted throughout the world as customary international law. Document Page Number: 380
12. Our report shows that al Qaeda has tried to acquire or make weapons of mass destruction for at least ten years. There is no doubt the United States would be a prime target. Preventing the proliferation of these weapons warrants a maximum effort -- by strengthening counter proliferation efforts, expanding the Proliferation Security Initiative, and supporting the Cooperative Threat Reduction program. Document Page Number: 381
13. Vigorous efforts to track terrorist financing must remain front and center in U.S. counterterrorism efforts. The government has recognized that information about terrorist money helps us to understand their networks, search them out, and disrupt their operations. Intelligence and law enforcement have targeted the relatively small number of financial facilitators -- individuals al Qaeda relied on for their ability to raise and deliver money -- at the core of al Qaeda's revenue stream. These efforts have worked. The death or capture of several important facilitators has decreased the amount of money available to al Qaeda and has increased its costs and difficulty in raising and moving that money. Captures have additionally provided a windfall of intelligence that can be used to continue the cycle of disruption. Document Page Number: 382
14. Targeting travel is at least as powerful a weapon against terrorists as targeting their money. The United States should combine terrorist travel intelligence, operations, and law enforcement in a strategy to intercept terrorists, find terrorist travel facilitators, and constrain terrorist mobility. Document Page Number: 385
15. The U.S. border security system should be integrated into a larger network of screening points that includes our transportation system and access to vital facilities, such as nuclear reactors. The President should direct the Department of Homeland Security to lead the effort to design a comprehensive screening system, addressing common problems and setting common standards with system wide goals in mind. Extending those standards among other governments could dramatically strengthen America and the world's collective ability to intercept individuals who pose catastrophic threats. Document Page Number: 387
16. The Department of Homeland Security, properly supported by the Congress, should complete, as quickly as possible, a biometric entry-exit screening system, including a single system for speeding qualified travelers. It should be integrated with the system that provides benefits to foreigners seeking to stay in the United States. Linking biometric passports to good data systems and decision making is a fundamental goal. No one can hide his or her debt by acquiring a credit card with a slightly different name. Yet today, a terrorist can defeat the link to electronic records by tossing away an old passport and slightly altering the name in the new one. Document Page Number: 389
17. The U.S. government cannot meet its own obligations to the American people to prevent the entry of terrorists without a major effort to collaborate with other governments. We should do more to exchange terrorist information with trusted allies, and raise U.S. and global border security standards for travel and border crossing over the medium and long term through extensive international cooperation. Document Page Number: 390
18. Secure identification should begin in the United States. The federal government should set standards for the issuance of birth certificates and sources of identification, such as drivers licenses. Fraud in identification documents is no longer just a problem of theft. At many entry points to vulnerable facilities, including gates for boarding aircraft, sources of identification are the last opportunity to ensure that people are who they say they are and to check whether they are terrorists. 41 Document Page Number: 390
19. Hard choices must be made in allocating limited resources. The U.S. government should identify and evaluate the transportation assets that need to be protected, set risk-based priorities for defending them, select the most practical and cost-effective ways of doing so, and then develop a plan, budget, and funding to implement the effort. The plan should assign roles and missions to the relevant authorities (federal, state, regional, and local) and to private stakeholders. In measuring effectiveness, perfection is unattainable. But terrorists should perceive that potential targets are defended. They may be deterred by a significant chance of failure. Document Page Number: 391
20. Improved use of "no-fly" and "automatic selectee" lists should not be delayed while the argument about a successor to CAPPS continues. This screening function should be performed by the TSA, and it should utilize the larger set of watch lists maintained by the federal government. Air carriers should be required to supply the information needed to test and implement this new system. Document Page Number: 393
21. The TSA and the Congress must give priority attention to improving the ability of screening checkpoints to detect explosives on passengers. As a start, each individual selected for special screening should be screened for explosives. Further, the TSA should conduct a human factors study, a method often used in the private sector, to understand problems in screener performance and set attainable objectives for individual screeners and for the checkpoints where screening takes place. Document Page Number: 393
22. As the President determines the guidelines for information sharing among government agencies and by those agencies with the private sector, he should safeguard the privacy of individuals about whom information is shared. Document Page Number: 394
23. The burden of proof for retaining a particular governmental power should be on the executive, to explain (a) that the power actually materially enhances security and (b) that there is adequate supervision of the executive's use of the powers to ensure protection of civil liberties. If the power is granted, there must be adequate guidelines and oversight to properly confine its use. Document Page Number: 394
24. At this time of increased and consolidated government authority, there should be a board within the executive branch to oversee adherence to the guidelines we recommend and the commitment the government makes to defend our civil liberties. Document Page Number: 395
25. Homeland security assistance should be based strictly on an assessment of risks and vulnerabilities. Now, in 2004, Washington, D.C., and New York City are certainly at the top of any such list. We understand the contention that every state and city needs to have some minimum infrastructure for emergency response. But federal homeland security assistance should not remain a program for general revenue sharing. It should supplement state and local resources based on the risks or vulnerabilities that merit additional support. Congress should not use this money as a pork barrel. Document Page Number: 396
26. Emergency response agencies nationwide should adopt the Incident Command System (ICS). When multiple agencies or multiple jurisdictions are involved, they should adopt a unified command. Both are proven frameworks for emergency response. We strongly support the decision that federal homeland security funding will be contingent, as of October 1, 2004, upon the adoption and regular use of ICS and unified command procedures. In the future, the Department of Homeland Security should consider making funding contingent on aggressive and realistic training in accordance with ICS and unified command procedures. Document Page Number: 397
27. Congress should support pending legislation which provides for the expedited and increased assignment of radio spectrum for public safety purposes. Furthermore, high-risk urban areas such as New York City and Washington, D.C., should establish signal corps units to ensure communications connectivity between and among civilian authorities, local first responders, and the National Guard. Federal funding of such units should be given high priority by Congress. Document Page Number: 397
28. We endorse the American National Standards Institute's recommended standard for private preparedness. We were encouraged by Secretary Tom Ridge's praise of the standard, and urge the Department of Homeland Security to promote its adoption. We also encourage the insurance and credit-rating industries to look closely at a company's compliance with the ANSI standard in assessing its insurability and creditworthiness. We believe that compliance with the standard should define the standard of care owed by a company to its employees and the public for legal purposes. Private-sector preparedness is not a luxury; it is a cost of doing business in the post-9/11 world. It is ignored at a tremendous potential cost in lives, money, and national security. Document Page Number: 398
29. We recommend the establishment of a National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), built on the foundation of the existing Terrorist Threat Integration Center (TTIC). Breaking the older mold of national government organization, this NCTC should be a center for joint operational planning and joint intelligence, staffed by personnel from the various agencies. The head of the NCTC should have authority to evaluate the performance of the people assigned to the Center. Document Page Number: 403
30. The current position of Director of Central Intelligence should be replaced by a National Intelligence Director with two main areas of responsibility: (1) to oversee national intelligence centers on specific subjects of interest across the U.S. government and (2) to manage the national intelligence program and oversee the agencies that contribute to it. Document Page Number: 411
31. The CIA Director should emphasize (a) rebuilding the CIA's analytic capabilities; (b) transforming the clandestine service by building its human intelligence capabilities; (c) developing a stronger language program, with high standards and sufficient financial incentives; (d) renewing emphasis on recruiting diversity among operations officers so they can blend more easily in foreign cities; (e)ensuring a seamless relationship between human source collection and signals collection at the operational level; and (f) stressing a better balance between unilateral and liaison operations. Document Page Number: 415
32. Lead responsibility for directing and executing paramilitary operations, whether clandestine or covert, should shift to the Defense Department. There it should be consolidated with the capabilities for training, direction, and execution of such operations already being developed in the Special Operations Command. Document Page Number: 415
33. Finally, to combat the secrecy and complexity we have described, the overall amounts of money being appropriated for national intelligence and to its component agencies should no longer be kept secret. Congress should pass a separate appropriations act for intelligence, defending the broad allocation of how these tens of billions of dollars have been assigned among the varieties of intelligence work. Document Page Number: 416
34. Information procedures should provide incentives for sharing, to restore a better balance between security and shared knowledge. Document Page Number: 417
35. The president should lead the government-wide effort to bring the major national security institutions into the information revolution. He should coordinate the resolution of the legal, policy, and technical issues across agencies to create a "trusted information network." Document Page Number: 418
36. Congressional oversight for intelligence -- and counterterrorism -- is now dysfunctional. Congress should address this problem. We have considered various alternatives: A joint committee on the old model of the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy is one. A single committee in each house of Congress, combining authorizing and appropriating authorities, is another. Document Page Number: 420
37. Congress should create a single, principal point of oversight and review for homeland security. Congressional leaders are best able to judge what committee should have jurisdiction over this department and its duties. But we believe that Congress does have the obligation to choose one in the House and one in the Senate, and that this committee should be a permanent standing committee with a nonpartisan staff. Document Page Number: 421
38. Since a catastrophic attack could occur with little or no notice, we should minimize as much as possible the disruption of national security policymaking during the change of administrations by accelerating the process for national security appointments. We think the process could be improved significantly so transitions can work more effectively and allow new officials to assume their new responsibilities as quickly as possible. Document Page Number: 422
39. A specialized and integrated national security workforce should be established at the FBI consisting of agents, analysts, linguists, and surveillance specialists who are recruited, trained, rewarded, and retained to ensure the development of an institutional culture imbued with a deep expertise in intelligence and national security. Document Page Number: 425
40. The Department of Defense and its oversight committees should regularly assess the adequacy of Northern Command's strategies and planning to defend the United States against military threats to the homeland. Document Page Number: 428
41. The Department of Homeland Security and its oversight committees should regularly assess the types of threats the country faces to determine (a) the adequacy of the government's plans -- and the progress against those plans -- to protect America's critical infrastructure and (b) the readiness of the government to respond to the threats that the United States might face. Document Page Number: 428
September 10, 2006
WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT NOW
THERE YOU GO AGAIN!!!
WEEKEND VACATION NOTICE
PRESIDENT BUSH IS READING.
CHENEY IS RELOADING HIS SHOTGUN.
I'M KICKING UP.
PRE 9/11 5th ANNIVERSARY REALITY CHECK
HAD ENOUGH YET???.
UP FRONT - UPDATE
I watched Up Front with Robert Mak this morning. His guest was Mike McGavick. They were talking about his admissions that backfired and has caused him some pain.
I had to log on to the Up Front Blog and post the following and decided to update my Blog as well.
OK, let's see if I have this right. Mike McGavick want's to make a TRUE CONFESSION by admitting to all his past indiscretions (well maybe only 3 or 4).
He didn't have to do this because it seems he was the only one that KNEW ABOUT THEM. My guess is he thought he would get the reaction he FIRST got when he came out with this heart felt confession. He didn't seem to think anyone would say "HUH."
During the UP FRONT Show he said he was surprised that we are still talking about this. Far as I could see Robert Mak wasn't holding a gun on McGavick. I would guess he got to the studio on his own wouldn't you agree. So my question is who is keeping this story alive.
Did you happen to notice Mr. McGavick's reaction when Robert asked him, (I'm paraphrasing here but it's close) "How much did things change, how much did you drink, how often, how much".
His first reaction was to jerk upright and say "YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME." I thought it was a fair question. Has he changed his drinking habits? My guess is NO! (Check out the www.thebscorner.com for his reaction).
Robert asked McGavick about his admission to running a misleading ad against Mike Lowery and how much he regretted that. But apparently not enough to call Lowery up and apologize for doing so. He said that Robert is right he should do that. Well it's been over 2 weeks since this all started and he hasn't called yet and didn't say that he would. Hey, he can't be sorry for everything. He's running for the senate.
IS MIKE A JERK or DOES HE JUST JERK
Check old Mike out here. <----( watch the video here )
September 09, 2006
BAD GRADE
THERE YOU GO AGAIN!!!
WEEKEND VACATION NOTICE
PRESIDENT BUSH IS READING.
CHENEY IS RELOADING HIS SHOTGUN.
I'M KICKING UP.
HAD ENOUGH YET???.
September 08, 2006
ABOUT TIME DON'T YOU THINK
THERE YOU GO AGAIN!!!
BUSH IN CHARGE
SEND ABC OR YOUR LOCAL ABC AFFILIATE A LETTER
Does it matter at all that we be honest and truthful or do we just charge everything off to "JUST POLITICS" or the "BOTTOM LINE."
What I'm talking about is this show that ABC will run this weekend called The Path to 9/11. It has all the earmarks of being a hatchet job on the Clinton administration "because he didn't get Bin Laden" while ignoring the fact that Bush changed the focus of the war to find Bin Laden to Iraq a country that had NOTHING TO DO WITH 9/11.
I've heard all the defenders (including ABC) come up with all their RATIONALE for why this show should go on the air and yet not one, including Gov Tom Kean who was a consultant (surprised?) on this movie has said that it SHOULD BE THE TRUTH.
I wrote and sent the below letter to our local ABC affiliate, KOMO-TV expressing my displeasure. It may not change these or convince them to not air the show but it made me feel good. I'm watching Goodmorning America right now and this may be the last time for a long time. Why because telling the TRUTH IS IMPORTANT just like I said in the letter I will retink my watching of ABC and KOMO-TV.
Hi,
I watch KOMO-TV/ABC every day. I may have to rethink that.
Why I say that is because ABC's decision to run "THE PATH TO 9/11". ABC claims that the show is based on the 9/11 Commission Report and, as Steve McPherson, President of ABC Entertainment, has said: "When you take on the responsibility of telling the story behind such an important event, it is absolutely critical that you get it right."
ABC and by extension KOMO-TV has not been fair in handling this program. They have not given the COURTESY of previewing the film and listening to his side of the story.
As Bruce R. Lindsey, CEO of the Clinton Foundation said: "Frankly, the bias of the ABC drama is not surprising given the background and political leanings of its writer/producer, Mr. Nowrasteh, which have been well-documented on numerous conservative blogs and talk shows in his promotion of this film. Mr. Nowrasteh's bias can be seen in an interview he gave to David Horowitz's conservative magazine Frontpage, during which he said:
"The 9/11 report details the Clinton's administration's response - or lack of response - to Al Qaeda and how this emboldened Bin Laden to keep attacking American interests. The worst example is the response to the October, 2000 attack of the U.S.S. Cole in Yemen where 17 American sailors were killed. There simply was no response. Nothing."
This statement is disputed by the 9/11 Commission Report page 192, 193, 195 and the executive summary. If you don't have a copy of the report I can send you one.
This is just a small part of what I think is wrong with this program. You can call it anything you want but it's still TRASH. I believe KOMO-TV is not obligated to air this TRASH and you should take a stand on what is right and not air this program.
The choice is yours to show this program just as it is mine to watch ABC and KOMO-TV. I recommend that you not air this show.
Mick Horan, Bremerton, Wa.
PS: I think ABC should be given a SCHRAMMIE and then you can break the mold.
TELLING IT LIKE IT IS
This was an interview that I captured from Hardball yesterday. It is one of the best I've seen that talks about a strategy for getting out of Iraq.
I also feel Kerry nailed the republicans to the wall and any thinking person will see that he is right about saying the republicans are good at talk but not at LEADERSHIP.
There are three clips of from 2 to 4 minutes each. Well worth your time.
First Part
Interview with John Kerry on IRAQ part 1 of 3. <----( watch the video here )
Second Part
Interview with John Kerry on IRAQ part 2 of 3. <----( watch the video here )
Third Part
Interview with John Kerry on IRAQ part 3 of 3. <----( watch the video here )
YOU GOTTA HAVE HEART
PRETTY GOOD JOKES
WHY WE LOVE CATS AND DOGS
NO WORDS NEEDED
DID YOU HEAR THIS ONE?
Q: What's the difference between in-laws and outlaws?
A: Outlaws are wanted.
September 07, 2006
THE TRUTH IS
As Sept 11 draws near I think this is a good time to post this letter by Kristen Breitweiser. It is her response to Ann Coulter's book Godless and the charges she makes about these women.
This is the only post I'll make today so I want to keep it clean and simple.
A LETTER TO ANN COULTER
Dear Ann,
But for the murder of our husbands on 9/11, we would not have gone to Washington to fight for an independent 9/11 investigation. Our involvement in national security would have begun and ended at the voting booth, like most citizens. But for the initial failure of our leaders and elected officials to create an independent 9/11 Commission to investigate the terrorist attacks, we would not have been forced to publicly fight for it.
An important part of that fight required us to demand the attention of our elected officials by speaking out in the media. Sadly, in many cases, such public pressure (and its possible effect on Election Day) is needed to inspire elected officials to do the right thing. That is not my opinion. That's reality. Had President Bush and Congress impaneled an independent commission on their own, we would not have needed to lobby Washington. Likewise, had Congress thoroughly investigated the attacks and not limited its investigation into intelligence-only areas, we would not have needed to fight for the 9/11 Commission.
We wanted the 9/11 attacks investigated thoroughly and competently so that fewer terrorist attacks would succeed in the future and more lives would be saved on the day of the next attack. When you study the events of 9/11, you learn that many more lives should have been saved, and many damages and injuries could have been mitigated. We wanted to hold the government accountable so that, going forward, our nation would be better prepared for future attacks and disasters.
Fighting for national security--securing the homeland or wanting to make the nation safe--ought to be an unassailable objective, similar to the Amber Alert, Megan's Law, and providing body armor for the troops. Regardless of who the messenger raising these issues might be, the goals are inarguable because they are pure, true, and right. Will these issues receive more focused attention if the message is delivered by people who speak passionately because they have been personally affected? Yes, absolutely. But it's the issue that is unassailable--not the people espousing that issue. If your conservative Republican friends are on the wrong side of the issues, that's their problem.
Ann, the Jersey Girls are moms. We have children. Perhaps one day if you have a child, you may understand the sense of duty and obligation that parents feel toward their children to provide them with a safe and secure environment, both in the present and the future. There were many, many times when we wanted to give up. We were tired and frustrated. But we didn't. The reason? Our children. We were left as their sole protectors; we wanted them to know that even though their fathers were brutally killed, they could be and would be safer living in America.
You complained to many interviewers that they hadn't taken the time to read your book. But did you take the time to look at the Family Steering Committee Web site (www.911independentcommission.org)? You might discover that we shared some of the same disappointments, concerns, and grievances that you have expressed with regard to the 9/11 Commission. The difference is that we made those concerns known while the Commission was doing its work--that is, when it could have made a difference. Why didn't you?
We could have used some more support back then, when we were fighting against individual commissioners' apparent and very possible conflicts of interest and the need for more hard-hitting hearings. We needed more help in fighting for an extended deadline, so as to remove the Commission's final report from the politics of the 2004 election, and a budgetary increase so the Commission could complete its unfinished work on questions about Able Danger. (You see, I did read your book.)
But frankly, I wonder how much you really know about the 9/11 Commission. You don't seem to understand that President Bush picked Tom Kean to be the chairman--not the "co-chairman." You don't seem to be aware that Philip Zelikow was the Commission's staff director or of why that position was so important. You also seem ignorant of the fact that Zelikow had served previously on the Bush National Security Council transition team and on the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. (Do you even know who the current members of PFIAB are or what PFIAB does? Probably not.) I wonder whether you even know that Zelikow is currently serving as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's Special Counsel. Finally, and most important, are you aware that the White House exercised the "final edits" on the Commission's report? Tell me, Ann, how does that add up to a Democratic whitewash?
Because I was one of twelve family members who lobbied fiercely for an independent commission, I was invited to meetings in the White House and on Capitol Hill. I testified before Congress, as well. I wish you knew about the battle that occurred behind the scenes because then you might not make silly statements such as "nobody could ever debate the Jersey Girls." Ironically, it is because we kept most of those meetings confidential that you probably don't know how nastily certain elected officials behaved behind closed doors. Trust me, we were countered, rebutted, and challenged in almost every meeting we attended. Did we go on the record about those incidents? No. We could have, and I can assure you that some of your conservative Republican friends would not have come off well.
When I kept my mouth shut about the way a certain Republican official spoke to me merely because it would have made people in your party look bad, was I being "political"? I'm sure there are some Democrats who would say yes. Did that mean I was being manipulated by your right-wing friends? No. It meant that I had a job to do and I found no reason to distract attention from our cause by dragging people through the mud. There was plenty that I could have spouted off about then, and there still is to this very day. But I don't--mostly because my mother and father taught me to rise above bullies rather than stoop to their level.
You branded the Jersey Girls media whores, a bunch of celebrity-seeking widows who enjoyed their husbands' deaths. Had your friends--including many elected officials in the Republican Party and conservatives in Washington--not put up a fight, and a very nasty fight, we wouldn't have needed to raise public awareness through the media. So if you want to blame anyone for our appearances on television, you should blame your own coterie, not us. We simply wanted to inform the nation about what needed to be done. And we still intend to do that.
Earlier this year, some of us were invited to appear on television to discuss the verdict in the Zacarias Moussaoui case. We agreed to do that because the U.S. has in custody three individuals with a more direct connection to the 9/11 attacks than Moussaoui. To us, it is important to show the world that we are a nation of laws and that the U.S. can successfully bring terrorists to justice. Does that matter to you, Ann? If so, then you ought to support us in our goal of bringing Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Ramzi Bin al-Shibh, and Khallad bin Attash to trial. Our judicial process should hold these madmen accountable for the deaths of nearly 3,000 innocent people on 9/11.
I am truly puzzled by your accusation that we were operatives of or used by the Democrats. We were never paid for television appearances, we did not drive around in limos, we did not have publicists or PR people, and we wrote all of our own press releases, talking points, letters to the editor, statements, and testimony. (I don't know if the 9/11 family members who chose to support the Republican Party can say the same.) At any rate, your statements are false and defamatory, although that is nothing new for you.
As a public figure I'm in a poor position to hold you legally accountable for your lies. But I will take the time to set the record straight here. The Democrats were nearly the only people in Washington willing to help us. That is not my opinion; it is a fact, notwithstanding a few honorable exceptions, such as Chris Smith and John McCain. We worked with anyone of either party who supported an independent investigation.
For some unknown reason--and as a seasoned right-wing operative maybe you can enlighten us--most Republicans we encountered were completely opposed to learning any lessons from 9/11. It's a shame, too. After all, the Republican Party has been in total control of Washington for the past three years. Had they made true national security a higher priority, perhaps our cities would be better protected against terrorist attacks and disasters. Again, the sorry conditions in our cities and across our nation are a matter of fact, not opinion. Please don't blame me for that failure. Assign the responsibility where it belongs.
Similarly, one of the reasons we are still fighting for national security reforms (and encountered so much resistance in fighting for an independent commission) is that very few people actually read commission reports. They often sit on bookshelves gathering dust. Have you read the 9/11 Commission Report, along with its accompanying footnotes? Have you read the Robb-Silverman report on the Iraq intelligence failures? What about the Joint Inquiry of Congress report on 9/11? How about the Hart-Rudman report? Or even the Bremer report? Probably not. If you haven't, you should, because I think you would find those volumes illuminating.
You have expressed outrage that few of your critics actually read your books. You complain that they merely cherry-pick your most inflammatory comments while missing your overall message. Frustrating, isn't it?
You also wrongly accused us of being in the pocket of former president Clinton. The obvious reason for why we always directed our questions and requests to President Bush was simply because Clinton was no longer in office. The former president had no power to commence an investigation into the 9/11 attacks, nor did he have any power to effect change to make the nation safer after 9/11. That power lay in the hands of President Bush--you know, the guy who in your opinion has supreme authority.
Ann, I don't want to get into a debate with you. It's not because I am afraid of you or your nasty bullying tactics. I'm not going to debate you because we have many, many more important issues to deal with in our country right now.
But I will leave you with this: We live in America, the world's oldest democracy. Democracy can prevail (is that what you and your friends really fear?), but that requires hard work, as President Bush might say. Every citizen in this country is entitled to his or her beliefs, and every citizen is entitled to participate. We still have the right to speak our minds to effect change (within the parameters of the law, of course). So don't try to silence the voices of victims or anyone else, merely because you disagree with them or feel threatened by their political choices. In my opinion, your method of using intimidation and insults to "win" a debate is truly unpatriotic.
Actually, I expect that you will continue to scream and shout and smear as nastily as you want, so long as you think that that kind of behavior sells books. But we have tackled bigger bullies than you and lived through far worse circumstances than your book tour. We're not intimidated by you. We're not running away.
And under no circumstances will we be silenced by your "godless" rantings and ravings.
Kristen Breitweiser, New York City June 2006
September 06, 2006
WOW A LOCAL ISSUE TODAY
THERE YOU GO AGAIN!!!
BUSH IN CHARGE
@ @ Watch the VIDEO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @
Another Great Bush speech. <----( watch the video here )
THE EXPLANATION?
Yesterday on The Dori Monson Show, Mike McGavick, who is running for US Senate tried to answer questions about his retelling of accounts of a DUI he got 13 years ago.
This became an issue for him when he decided to bring it up himself, unfortunately for him he didn't tell "THE REST OF THE STORY" and he got caught.
Turns out the actual police report tells a very different story. Mike claims he was relying on his memory. I found it funny that he could remember that he blew a .17 on the breathalyzer but didn't remember that he was cuffed and hauled into jail. . . little detail wouldn't you say?
These are all audio clips that run between 1 minute and 2 minutes.
Listen to his response.
The explanation. <----( click here to listen. )
CUT A LIGHT
He still doesn't want to face the truth. . . HE RAN A RED LIGHT, GOT A TICKET, WAS PUT IN HANDCUFFS and TAKEN TO JAIL.
The reason he was trying to get this out there was so he would be looked on as a strait shooter and he didn't expect to get caught.
He is still spinning it even now.
Listen to his response.
Listen to the spin. <----( click here to listen. )
DON'T REMEMBER
This is just silly. His explanation here just isn't believable. He want's to be upfront and honest and instead he lies. Yes I said lies!!
If he was that out of it in my opinion he has a serious drinking problem.
Listen to his response.
Didn't remember. <----( click here to listen. )
STAFF DIDN'T KNOW?
He's a smart guy and by his own admission knows how to run a dirty campaign (ie: Slade Gordan). So for him to say he couldn't find these records is BULLSHIT.
To me the first place you might look for your police record is at THE POLICE STATION THAT ARRESTED YOU. . . DUH!!!
As to his staff, I think they knew he just lied to them too.
Listen to his response.
Staff didn't know. <----( click here to listen. )
DRINKING STILL
I think this guy is in denial. He says he still drinks and drives.
I won't get into his relationship with his son.
He says he want's to stay focused on the ISSUES yet he ran a smear ad just a week or so ago.
Old habits die hard I guess.
Listen to his response.
Still drinking after all these years. <----( click here to listen. )
WORLD'S LARGEST OIL FIELD
The U.S. government is currently investing money to extract oil from its own natural deposits. Located in northwest Colorado is the world's largest deposit of oil shale. This area is believed to be larger than all of the Middle East's oil reserves.
Even though it's the largest deposit in the world, the process of extraction is quite a gamble. Oil companies are using complex methods. New methods are being developed so there will be less environmental impact.
Shell's method, which it calls "in situ conversion," is simplicity itself in concept but exquisitely ingenious in execution. Drill shafts into the oil-bearing rock. Drop heaters down the shaft. Cook the rock until the hydrocarbons boil off, the lightest and most desirable first.
An estimation of 800 billion barrels is contained in the area, which is three times larger than Saudi Arabia's reserves. This resource can provide 40 years of U.S. oil consumption.
AUTISM RISK RISES WITH AGE OF FATHER
Children born to fathers of advancing age are at significantly higher risk of developing autism compared with children born to younger fathers, according a comprehensive study published yesterday that offers surprising new insight into one of the most feared disorders of the brain.
The finding comes at a time of great controversy over autism in the United States, as a recent surge in diagnoses has fueled speculations about various possible causes of the disorder. For scientists, both the origins of and potential treatments for the disorder remain a mystery.
With every decade of advancing age starting with men in their teens and twenties, the new study found, older fathers pose a growing risk to their children when it comes to autism -- unhappy evidence that the medical risks associated with late parenthood are not just the province of older mothers, as much previous research has suggested.
Of special concern is the finding that the risk for autism not only increases with paternal age but also appears to accelerate.
When fathers are in their thirties, children have about 1 1/2 times the risk of developing autism of children of fathers in their teens and twenties. Compared with the offspring of the youngest fathers, children of fathers in their forties have more than five times the risk of developing autism, and children of fathers in their fifties have more than nine times the risk.
Autism is a developmental disorder that is often characterized by social and verbal problems. It becomes manifest early in childhood and is associated with learning deficits and other problems. Many cases are diagnosed shortly after children enter school, where differences among kids become too obvious to ignore.
A wide variety of interventions are increasingly available for autistic children, and early behavioral interventions have been said to help with outcomes and functioning. There is, however, no cure for the disorder, and scientists are not sure about its biological roots.
The new study presents an intriguing new avenue for research, because it suggests that genetic traits passed along by fathers, as opposed to mothers, may play some significant role in creating susceptibility to autism. Several other studies have suggested that older parents of both sexes are at greater risk of having children with developmental disorders. Three earlier studies looking at the relationship between paternal age and autism have produced mixed results; the new study is the most rigorous analysis conducted to date.
Children of fathers who were 15 to 29 years of age had a risk of about six in 10,000 of developing autism. Children of fathers in their thirties had a risk of nine in 10,000. Children of fathers in their forties had a risk of 32 in 10,000, and children of fathers who were older than 50 had a risk of 52 in 10,000.
While the link between older fathers and autistic children is likely to be genetic, the researchers who conducted the new study also acknowledged the possibility that unknown other factors could simultaneously be causing men to delay parenthood while independently increasing autism rates.
YOU GOTTA HAVE HEART
PRETTY GOOD JOKES
MEDICAL ALERT!
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a warning about a new virulent strain of Sexually Transmitted Disease. The disease is contracted through dangerous and high-risk behavior.
The disease is called Gonorrhea Lectim and pronounced "gonna re-elect him." Many victims contracted it in 2004, after having been screwed for the past four years. Cognitive characteristics of individuals infected include: anti-social personality disorders, delusions of grandeur with messianic overtones, extreme cognitive dissonance, inability to incorporate new information, pronounced xenophobia and paranoia, inability to accept responsibility for own actions, cowardice masked by misplaced bravado, uncontrolled facial smirking, ignorance of geography and history, tendencies towards evangelical theocracy, categorical all-or-nothing behavior.
Naturalists and epidemiologists are amazed at how this destructive disease originated only a few years ago from a bush found in Texas.
NO WORDS NEEDED
DID YOU HEAR THIS ONE?
We always hold hands. If I let go, she shops.
September 05, 2006
DAY AFTER LABOR DAY
THERE YOU GO AGAIN!!!
BUSH IN CHARGE
STATE CHAFES UNDER WAL-MART'S WAY
IT'S NOT EASY being humungous. Just ask Wal-Mart. With its well-earned reputation for squeezing the most out of every buck, the world's largest retailer has become the poster child for the growing health insurance crisis in this country-and right here in Washington, as well.
Roughly 20 percent of Wal-Mart's employees in Washington rely on state-supported health insurance, according to two confidential state reports that were leaked to the press earlier this year.
Similar examples of the Wal-Mart health care burden are being reported across the country. Any time state legislatures want to highlight how much of their spending is being eaten up by Medicaid and other health care expenses, they paint a bulls-eye on the Arkansas-based "big box."
"Here's Wal-Mart, the wealthiest company in America, who . . . has literally billions of dollars, [but] who cannot step forward and do what Costco is doing," says Rep. Steve Conway (D-Tacoma), chairman of the state House Commerce and Labor committee. "I love to contrast Wal-Mart with Costco in this state. They compete eyeball-to-eyeball with Costco, and yet Costco employees don't show up on state health care insurance rolls, but Wal-Mart employees do."
In Sundays Kitsap Sun, Commentary section I read an article by Philip Gailey defending WAL-MART and it's pay. He was talking about democratic presidential candidates and said "No doubt they would hear complaints from some Wal-Mart employees about their pay and benefits. But those workers know that plenty of people stand ready to fill their jobs." He went on to say a recent call for 325 positions at Wal-Mart in the Chicago area had 25,000 people apply.
I don't think that's a sign that people are breaking down the door to work for Wal-Mart because they think it's a great place to work as much as it is a sign that for the middle and lower income folks are out of work and need a job. And regardless how often the Bush administration say the economy is doing great it isn't for the average wage earner.
He then goes on to say "Instead of bashing Wal-Mart, Democrats should enlist the company's CEO in their cause. Lee Scott is on record supporting a higher minimum wage and calling for measures to address the nation's soaring health-care costs. They should make an ally of Wal-Mart, not an enemy to be pilloried for cheap political gain.
Well it seems to me that maybe since Mr. Scott supports a higher minimum wage that he show some LEADERSHIP and raise his employees wage to $7.50 to $8 dollars across the country as a sign of good faith. I also think he is right on addressing the nations soaring health-care.
IT'S STILL THE ECONOMY STUPID . . .
So the Bush administration says we have a BOOMING ECONOMY well maybe we need a closer look at this lie errrr claim.
Despite strong productivity growth, wages don't keep pace and fewer workers receive health and pension coverage.
Between 1995 and 2005, productivity -- a measure of the quantity and quality of what workers produce per hour -- grew 33.4 percent. But hourly wages rose only 11 percent, with almost all of that increase coming during the late 1990s, according to the Economic Policy Institute.
Looking back even farther, the disparity is greater. Since 1979, productivity rose 67 percent, while wages rose only 8.9 percent." The economic expansion continues to bypass most working families."
Benefits reduced: When it comes to benefits, pension and health coverage has fallen in the past five years.
The percentage of full-time private-sector workers whose employer sponsors a retirement plan fell from 66.3 percent in 2000 to 59.7 percent in 2005, according to the Congressional Research Service (CRS).
Among part-time private-sector workers, the percentage covered fell from 45.3 percent to 39.9 percent during the same period.
In terms of health insurance, coverage for all private-sector workers fell from 58.9 percent in 2000 to 55.9 percent in 2004, according to EPI's report. In 1979, by contrast, 69 percent of workers had health coverage from their employers.
I FEEL GOOD, LIKE I KNEW I WOULD . . .
I'm anxious to see the latest polls in our US Senate race. This is the latest I have. But these where before Mike came clean (???) on his DUI.
He got some really good press right out of the box, but after just a little digging we find out he wasn't telling the "REST OF THE STORY" and so now he is looked at as being a damn liar.
BILL MAHER HAS SOMETHING TO SAY
I really like Bill Maher. I don't get HBO so I can't watch his show. The next best thing is to pick up video clips from time to time or to capture him as a guest on a show like Larry King.
I have two clips from Bill that I found fun with a twist. Check them out and see for yourself.
NOTE: the second clip is a Quicktime movie.
First Clip
@ @ Watch the VIDEO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @
Bill Maher say's leave the girls alone. <----( watch the video here )
Second Clip
@ @ Watch the VIDEO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @
This is a Quicktime movie. <----( watch the video here )
YOU GOTTA HAVE HEART
PRETTY GOOD JOKES
NO WORDS NEEDED
IT'S TIME FOR PEACE. . .
For everything there is a season,
And a time for every matter under heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to seek, and a time to lose;
A time to keep, and a time to throw away;
A time to tear, and a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate,
A time for war, and a time for peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
DID YOU HEAR THIS ONE?
Someone stole all my credit cards, but I won't be reporting it. The thief spends less than my wife did.
September 04, 2006
HAPPY LABOR DAY
THERE YOU GO AGAIN!!!
BUSH IN CHARGE
@ @ Watch the VIDEO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @
David Letterman sees a lip curl. <----( watch the video here )
QUOTATION OF THE DAY
"The scoreboard said I lost today, but what the scoreboard doesn't say is what it is I have found. Over the last 21 years, I have found loyalty. You have pulled for me on the court and also in life. I found inspiration. You have willed me to succeed, sometimes even in my lowest moments, and I've found generosity. You have given me your shoulders to stand on to reach for my dreams, dreams I could never have reached without you."
. . . ANDRE AGASSI, to the fans after the last match of his professional tennis career.
POSITIVE PRESS ON IRAQ
The U.S. military leaders in Baghdad have put out for bid a two-year, $20 million public relations contract that calls for extensive monitoring of U.S. and Middle Eastern media in an effort to promote more positive coverage of news from Iraq.
This is pure BULLSHIT and a damn waste of money. When you have over 100 people a day being blown up it doesn't make sense to me to say "TODAY OUR TROOPS PAINTED A SCHOOL"
The contract calls for assembling a database of selected news stories and assessing their tone as part of a program to provide "public relations products" that would improve coverage of the military command's performance, according to a statement of work attached to the proposal.
Are these guys worried that the American people are sick of this damn WAR OF CHOICE. . . the so called LONG WAR. . . it'll never end. They should be.
This ranks right up there with the $700 toilet. Speaking of toilet that where this contract should go.
EIGHTH NUMBER 2 MAN CAUGHT
They label the "Capture a 'severe blow' to al Qaeda in Iraq." Al Qaeda's number two operative in Iraq, Hamed Juma Faris al-Suaidi, has been arrested, the U.S. military and Iraqi officials announced today. "Deliberate intelligence work both by Iraqi forces and as well as multinational forces have dealt a very severe blow to al Qaeda organization in Iraq," the planning minister of Iraq told CNN.
Seems to me this number 2 guy has been captured a number of times over the past couple of years. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad they caught this guy but it just seems to me everyone can't be number two.
YOU GOTTA HAVE HEART
PRETTY GOOD JOKES
NO WORDS NEEDED
DID YOU HEAR THIS ONE?
Did you hear about the blue silkworm and the red silkworm that had a race?
Do you know which of them won?
Neither; they both ended up in a tie.
September 03, 2006
GREAT DAY TODAY
THERE YOU GO AGAIN!!!
WEEKEND VACATION NOTICE
PRESIDENT BUSH IS READING.
CHENEY IS RELOADING HIS SHOTGUN.
I'M KICKING UP.
September 02, 2006
NICE LONG WEEKEND
THERE YOU GO AGAIN!!!
WEEKEND VACATION NOTICE
PRESIDENT BUSH IS ON VACATION
CHENEY IS IN AN UNDISCLOSED LOCATION.
I'M STILL SLEEPING.
September 01, 2006
OFF FOR THE WEEKEND
THERE YOU GO AGAIN!!!
BUSH IN CHARGE
SEND YOUR SENATOR A LETTER
Yesterday we talked about the BIG PORKER trying to kill the Accountability and Transparency Act by playing his CHILDISH GAME of HIDE THE BILL. Well it didn't work and now it's payback time.
Do your part and send your senator the below letter and tell them to quit playing Teddy-Boys game and move this bill forward, we need it.
It came as no surprise to the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) when the Senator who had placed the secret "hold" on the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (S. 2590) was revealed Wednesday. CCAGW celebrated the end of a political whodunit with the revelation that it was Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) who placed the hold.
The bipartisan legislation, introduced by Sens. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.), will establish a public database for $800 billion worth of federal grants and contracts. An anonymous hold had been placed on the legislation, preventing it from moving forward. Grassroots pressure from a coalition of groups and bloggers from across the political spectrum prompted Sen. Stevens to confirm, through a spokesperson, that he is the one blocking the bill.
Since 1999, the Alaska delegation has brought home more than $3 billion in federal pork, thanks mostly to former Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Stevens. The state has ranked number one in pork per capita since we began calculating the statistic in 2000, pulling in $489.87 worth of pork per resident in 2006. In December 2003, The Los Angeles Times revealed how Sen. Stevens made millions of dollars from investments with businessmen who received government contracts or other aid through his legislative efforts.
Dr. Coburn is one of the Senate's biggest pork foes; he even tried to de-fund Alaska's infamous "bridges to nowhere." Sen. Stevens is known for using his powerful position to reward supporters and retaliate against enemies.
When Congress reconvenes, bringing S. 2590 to the floor should be a top priority for Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. You can help by telling your U.S. Senators today to support S. 2590, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006! <----( click here to go to the site ) CCAGW will keep you informed of developments in the effort to pass this legislation. As the longest running program on television, NBC's "Meet the Press" has a proud history of presenting its viewers with the very best in political debate. This election year will be no exception. Starting September 3rd and continuing throughout October 2006, "Meet the Press" will again devote a portion of the broadcast to a special series of Senate Debates with candidates from some of the most interesting and competitive races in the country. The debates will be moderated by Tim Russert and will originate live, from the NBC Studios in Washington, D.C. The debate series will kick off Sunday, September 3rd, with one of the most closely watched races this year -- Pennsylvania. Tim Russert will moderate the live debate between Senator Rick Santorum (R) and State Treasurer Bob Casey (D). The complete schedule is as follows: September 3rd - PENNSYLVANIA Incumbent Senator Rick Santorum (R) vs. State Treasurer Bob Casey (D) September 17th - VIRGINIA Incumbent Senator George Allen (R) vs. former Secretary of the Navy Jim Webb (D) October 1st - OHIO Incumbent Senator Mike DeWine (R) vs. Rep. Sherrod Brown (D) October 8th - MISSOURI Incumbent Senator Jim Talent (R) vs. State Auditor Claire McCaskill (D) October 15th - MINNESOTA OPEN SEAT - Sen. Mark Dayton (D) is retiring. Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar (D) vs. Rep. Mark Kennedy (R) October 29th - MARYLAND OPEN SEAT - Sen. Paul Sarbanes (D) is retiring. Candidates to be determined in Sept. 12th Primary Now you can watch "Meet the Press" wherever and whenever you want. With our "Meet the Press Webcast", You can now watch the show in its entirety, free of charge, on-demand and online beginning at 1:00 p.m., ET on Sunday afternoons at www.mtp.msnbc.com. You can also get the latest "Meet the Press Podcast" downloaded for free to your computer or MP3 player at: www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8132577/#mtp. Meet The Press is regularly seen on Sunday, check your local listing for time and channel.
By using what I call CREATIVE EDITING, by taking things out of context and by using stupid talking points these guys create these ads that the general public has no way of knowing if what they are seeing and hearing is true. The problem is I think most people want to be positive and believe what they see and hear on TV/Radio. The creators of these ads KNOW EXACTLY what they are doing. They know that when they make a cut here or there that without the full context or follow up it will change the meaning. In other words it CREATES THE LIE I talked about above. I'm breaking this ad up into a five part series. I'll post a small part of this add and talk about that add. You can always go back to the FIRST part and to review the ad from start to finish to check out what it's says.
As you go through this Rant the BuzzFlash info is in "GRAY" or "RED" my comments are in "BLUE". Ok Here we go. Man if you believe that, I have a piece of land I'd like to sell you. This is just another "TIRED" slogan. They haven't a clue as to where and how many terror cells we have in this country, but you can be assured there are some. These folks are here for the long haul don't kid yourself. As John Kerry said over two years ago and conservative George Will recently admitted he was right (see 8/22/6) that the war on terror is "Primarily a law enforcement and Intelligence operation that requires cooperation around the world". We don't need our troops caught in the middle of a civil war. We need police investigative and intelligence work here at home and abroad. Are they just looking at 9/11 style attacks. We need to improve our boarders, our ports and other facility that are unprotected. DO YOU FEEL SAFER Democrats can talk about the war on terror, but the facts speak for themselves. A Stronger America. A Safer America. In case you didn't notice, there were no real facts in the whole video! Besides, all Democrats can do is talk because Republicans won't let them stop the madness. The only hope this nation has is the voters in November and the court system doing its job by reining in on the increasing violations of the law. If America is stronger or safer in any respect, it's in spite of Republicans, not because of them. The Republicans must truly be getting desperate. We honestly can't think of any issues they can win on, but national security would have to be the last one on the list. With all the money the party's national organization has for their attack machine, even the party's national organization can't come up with a coherent reason why people should vote for them. And for good reason.
Here is today's Worst person in the World. <----( watch the video here )
Three strangers strike up a conversation in the airport passenger lounge in Bozeman, Montana , while awaiting their respective flights. One is an American Indian passing through from Lame Deer. Another is a Cowboy on His way to Billings for a livestock show and the third passenger is a fundamentalist Arab student, newly arrived at Montana State University from the Middle East. Their discussion drifts to their diverse cultures. Soon, the two Westerners learn that the Arab is a devout, radical Muslim and the conversation falls into an uneasy lull. The cowboy leans back in his chair, crosses his boots on a magazine table and tips his big sweat-stained hat forward over his face. The wind outside is blowing tumbleweeds around, and the old windsock is flapping; but still no plane comes. Finally, the American Indian clears his throat and softly he speaks, "At one time here, my people were many, but sadly, now we are few." The Muslim student raises an eyebrow and leans forward, "Once my people were few," he sneers, "and now we are many. Why do you suppose that is?" The Montana cowboy shifts his toothpick to one side of his mouth and from the darkness beneath his Stetson says in a smooth drawl "That's 'cause we ain't played Cowboys and Muslims yet, but I do believe it's a-comin' JUST A REMINDER
MORE OF THE "R's" BULLSHIT
FAKE REPUBLICAN ADS PART 5 of 5
YOU GOTTA HAVE HEART
PRETTY GOOD JOKES
COUNTDOWN'S WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD
@ @ Watch the VIDEO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @
NO WORDS NEEDED
DID YOU HEAR THE ONE?