A good summary of Republican negatives!

"If they want to talk about “negatives,” perhaps Democrats should note that the Republican field is littered with candidates awash in “negatives” — important ones. We find men who, like George Bush, are grossly uninformed and even less curious, and who, like George Bush, hold dangerous, authoritarian views about government’s power over individuals, along with arrogantly imperialist views about how American should interact with the world. We see political chameleons — Guiliani, Romney, McCain — who abandon long-held principles and openly pander to those they once abhorred. Can anyone trust these people with our national security or anything else that matters?

At a time when the American people are crying out for effective, honest and fair government, the Republican candidates come across as mostly anti-government, biased against the middle class and the poor, and especially immigrants. Americans respond to tolerance, but these men are intolerant Christianists, sometimes anti-non-Christian and often anti-science. And to a public sickened by lawlessness, these men come across as anti-Constitution, arguing the President is above the law. Most are indifferent to how America must look when it sanctions torture, rendition, indefinite imprisonment without habeas corpus. Where the public wants accountability and limits on abusive powers, the Republicans support unchecked spying, amnesty/immunity for lawbreakers and aggressive wars."

Written in defense of Clinton (I'm not voting for her in the primary, but would in the general election).

How many days until we bomb Iran, Dick?

So Rice is cutting off banks and condemning an influential Iranian militia...what affect could that possibly have in Iran? Any ideas?

So there's no change in policy in Iran (which is really only the rhetoric of one man, as far as I can tell), then we bomb?

As far as I can tell, there's nothing stopping these nuts from doing this except a public campaign by move-on. I think we need to get verbal commitments from our Senators and Representatives, today.

Basically, if we need to bomb Iran, we have time to make that decision after these neocon nutjobs are out of office.

Can you imagine if that's what the 2008 election will come down to? Bomb Iran or not?

Class warfare

No one knows exactly why Bush and Co. wanted to invade Iraq. I think at this point it's easy to see that oil was a big motivator, and so was the WW2 idea that we could fight a grand war and seem to be beating terrorists (after all, how many terrorists were we going to find in Iraq? It should have been easy.).

I personally think that it was the simple sin of greed.

I recently heard a story, from a good source, about the Saudi King and Queen when they go to Las Vegas (usually in a stretch luxury vehicle). They spend millions of dollars there. So much so that they have been given a multi-million dollar diamond necklace as a parting gift by the hotels and casinos. It's a kind of wealth that seems unimaginable to me (not desired) but it occurred to me that perhaps THIS is what the Bushes, Cheneys and Roves want for themselves. They want to be as rich and internally _powerful_ as the Saudi royalty. As I write about it the whole thing seems less profound than when the idea first occurred to me, but then, what else do they want? This seems to make sense to me...as trivial as it seems now (since these are not my values).

I'm hoping to write several entries on my criticism of elites (the very wealthy and influential) in our country. I think they are a mess and we need to reform our economic system and cultural ideals radically and quickly.

Bush threats

I heard on Air America that Cheney and three others have leaned on Chris Matthews to keep quiet about his opinions and criticisms of Bush and the war. It reminded me of a conversation I had with friends from Texas years ago who THEN accused the Bush family of committing murder over the drug trade. These fears and threats might be exactly why so many Republicans and Democrats vote with Bush...personal fear. It's wrong, and these guys should be impeached.

Contrasts

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." - Theodore Roosevelt

It's stunning to me that Bush and Congress awards the Dalai Lama a medal for peace when they all drum for war. The Dalai Lama's visit to a sitting President has never been this public or spectacular (is this one of Laura's ideas?). It also occurs on the same day that Turkey decides to send in troops in northern Iraq to attack Kurds. All that Bush can say to that is that this action is not in Turkey's interest...which is a moronic statement. Meanhwhile, the recognition for Armenians that was working its way through Congress is dying. That is because Turkey might stop letting us use a military base if we pass it. That is also moronic.

Why does the Dalai Lama accept an award from these devils of war? Perhaps China is right about him, this god to Hollywood stars, even though they are wrong in their domination of Tibet.

Peace

Okay, so it has become an issue

I thought I'd try to stop knocking Obama on this point, but now it seems to be becoming a central theme of his campaign. It just sounds like, "I told you so!" and "I was RIGHT!" which is so annoying even though I do it (see, the things that bother me the most I actually do).

Democrats and money

My husband and I have had personal wounds of shame inflicted on us as a result of Edwards' seemingly purist putting-your-money-where-your-mouth-is talk (which we don't think he's been absolutely pure about); but nevertheless, he's still a convincing, passionate and authentic progressive candidate who's economic priorities make sense (and this campaign is not about us!).

The Boys Who Cry Wolf

I was just ruminating about how it is that Justice Clarence Thomas LIED through his judiciary committee testimony and he still got appointed to the Supreme Court.

How is it that our President LIED during his debates about nation building and now gets to do it unquestioningly. How is it that he has continually lied to us about Saddam Hussein, our government's spying capabilities, the state of the war/occupation, and any number of things (I'm certain there's a list somewhere that's easy to find) and he gets away with it?

I'm sure people are breaking laws and getting away with it.

I don't know what I'm going to tell my children, because, quite honestly, you can lie your way through and become a Supreme Court judge and the President of the United States. That's what's real when we peel all the filters and arguments and layers of crap away.

The conservatives are supposed to be the reward and punishment party. Where are the punishments?

I can say this, I have NO PATIENCE for any liberal or conservative or journalist that looks away when they have a responsibility or happenstance to hold someone accountable for untruths and law breaking...it's got to start with parenting, too.