The following was in the opinion section of the New York Times this morning.
I think this just says it all!
President Bush and his advisers have made a lot of ridiculous charges about critics of the war in Iraq: they’re unpatriotic, they want the terrorists to win, they don’t support the troops, to cite just a few. But none of these seem quite as absurd as President Bush’s latest suggestion, that critics of the war whose children are at risk are too “emotional” to see things clearly.
The direct target was Matthew Dowd, one of the chief strategists of Mr. Bush’s 2004 presidential campaign, who has grown disillusioned with the president and the war, which he made clear in an interview with Jim Rutenberg published in The Times last Sunday. But by extension, Mr. Bush’s comments were insulting to the hundreds of thousands of Americans whose sons, daughters, sisters, brothers and spouses have served or will serve in Iraq.
They are perfectly capable of forming judgments about the war, pro or con, on the merits. But when Mr. Bush was asked about Mr. Dowd during a Rose Garden news conference yesterday, he said, “This is an emotional issue for Matthew, as it is for a lot of other people in our country.”
Mr. Dowd’s case, Mr. Bush said, “as I understand it, is obviously intensified because his son is deployable.”
Over the weekend, two of Mr. Bush’s chief spokesmen, Dan Bartlett and Dana Perino, claimed that Mr. Dowd’s change of heart about the war was rooted in “personal” issues and “emotions,” and talked of his “personal journey.” In recent years, Mr. Dowd suffered the death of a premature twin daughter, and was divorced. His son is scheduled to serve in Iraq soon.
Mr. Dowd said his experiences were a backdrop to his reconsideration of his support of the war and Mr. Bush. There is nothing wrong with that, but there is something deeply wrong with the White House’s dismissing his criticism as emotional, as if it has no reasoned connection to Mr. Bush’s policies.
This form of attack is especially galling from a president who from the start tried to paint this war as virtually sacrifice-free: the Iraqis would welcome America with open arms, the war would be paid for with Iraqi oil revenues — and the all-volunteer military would concentrate the sacrifice on only a portion of the nation’s families.
Mr. Bush’s comments about Mr. Dowd are a reflection of the otherworldliness that permeates his public appearances these days. Mr. Bush seems increasingly isolated, clinging to a fantasy version of Iraq that is more and more disconnected from reality. He gives a frightening impression that he has never heard any voice from any quarter that gave him pause, much less led him to rethink a position.
Mr. Bush’s former campaign aide showed an open-mindedness and willingness to adapt to reality that is sorely lacking in the commander in chief.
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Fox, The New Pork
Show of hands... who out there remembers Sam Fox?
Here's a hint. He's the wingnut that contributed to the swift boat ads against Senator Kerry in the 2004 presidential race.
It seems as if, yet again, bushco has rewarded his loyal scumbags.
Recognizing Fox did not have the votes to obtain Senate confirmation in the Foreign Relations Committee, Bush withdrew the nomination last week. On Wednesday, with the Senate on a one-week break, the president used his power to make recess appointments to put Fox in the job without Senate confirmation.
(snip)
"It's sad but not surprising that this White House would abuse the power of the presidency to reward a donor over the objections of the Senate," Kerry said in a statement.
Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, said he plans to ask the
Government Accountability Office to issue an opinion on whether the recess appointment is legal.
Recess appointments are intended to give the president flexibility if Congress is out for a lengthy period of time, such as the four-week adjournment in summer. But Dodd said the law was not intended to circumvent lawmakers' approval.
"This is really now taking the recess appointment vehicle and abusing this beyond anyone's imagination," said Dodd, a candidate for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination. "This is a travesty."
Bush also used his recess appointment authority to make Andrew Biggs deputy director of
Social Security. The president's earlier nomination of Biggs, an outspoken advocate of partially privatizing the government's retirement program, was rejected by Senate Democrats in February.
Welcome to the kingdom of the shrub! We have no say, we have no voice. Our wants and needs mean nothing here in the kingdom, only his. He calls health care of the elderly "pork". He calls billions of dollars of annual profit for Exxon, free enterprise. He sends young men to war, without cause, without proper training or body armor. He calls the ELECTED president of Iran a dictator. Maybe he should look into a mirror?
Fox, a 77-year-old St. Louis businessman, gave $50,000 to the Swift Boat group. He is national chairman of the Jewish Republican Coalition and was dubbed a "ranger" by Bush's 2004 campaign for raising at least $200,000. He is founder and chairman of the Clayton, Mo.-based Harbour Group, which specializes in the takeover of manufacturing companies.
Fox has donated millions of dollars to Republican candidates and causes since the 1990s.
In answer to questions about the Swift Boat donation, Fox has said he gives when asked, insisting he was not involved with the writing of the ad scripts and never saw them before they aired but had been aware of the general thrust of the group.
Fox issued a statement saying he is "delighted and honored" to accept the ambassadorial appointment.
"As the son of a man who fled Europe to find freedom and a better life, I am especially humbled by the opportunity to return to that continent as this nation's representative," he said.
Do you think he cares that he's "delighted and honored" to be serving a communist dictator and best and a hitler clone at worst?
Do you think that we, the people, the tax payers should sit back while this continues? We, the tax payers, pay shrubs salary. Yet he cares not for us, just his own "pork".
Here's a hint. He's the wingnut that contributed to the swift boat ads against Senator Kerry in the 2004 presidential race.
It seems as if, yet again, bushco has rewarded his loyal scumbags.
Recognizing Fox did not have the votes to obtain Senate confirmation in the Foreign Relations Committee, Bush withdrew the nomination last week. On Wednesday, with the Senate on a one-week break, the president used his power to make recess appointments to put Fox in the job without Senate confirmation.
(snip)
"It's sad but not surprising that this White House would abuse the power of the presidency to reward a donor over the objections of the Senate," Kerry said in a statement.
Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, said he plans to ask the
Government Accountability Office to issue an opinion on whether the recess appointment is legal.
Recess appointments are intended to give the president flexibility if Congress is out for a lengthy period of time, such as the four-week adjournment in summer. But Dodd said the law was not intended to circumvent lawmakers' approval.
"This is really now taking the recess appointment vehicle and abusing this beyond anyone's imagination," said Dodd, a candidate for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination. "This is a travesty."
Bush also used his recess appointment authority to make Andrew Biggs deputy director of
Social Security. The president's earlier nomination of Biggs, an outspoken advocate of partially privatizing the government's retirement program, was rejected by Senate Democrats in February.
Welcome to the kingdom of the shrub! We have no say, we have no voice. Our wants and needs mean nothing here in the kingdom, only his. He calls health care of the elderly "pork". He calls billions of dollars of annual profit for Exxon, free enterprise. He sends young men to war, without cause, without proper training or body armor. He calls the ELECTED president of Iran a dictator. Maybe he should look into a mirror?
Fox, a 77-year-old St. Louis businessman, gave $50,000 to the Swift Boat group. He is national chairman of the Jewish Republican Coalition and was dubbed a "ranger" by Bush's 2004 campaign for raising at least $200,000. He is founder and chairman of the Clayton, Mo.-based Harbour Group, which specializes in the takeover of manufacturing companies.
Fox has donated millions of dollars to Republican candidates and causes since the 1990s.
In answer to questions about the Swift Boat donation, Fox has said he gives when asked, insisting he was not involved with the writing of the ad scripts and never saw them before they aired but had been aware of the general thrust of the group.
Fox issued a statement saying he is "delighted and honored" to accept the ambassadorial appointment.
"As the son of a man who fled Europe to find freedom and a better life, I am especially humbled by the opportunity to return to that continent as this nation's representative," he said.
Do you think he cares that he's "delighted and honored" to be serving a communist dictator and best and a hitler clone at worst?
Do you think that we, the people, the tax payers should sit back while this continues? We, the tax payers, pay shrubs salary. Yet he cares not for us, just his own "pork".
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Neil Young - Vampire Bush
Our friend Jim Derosa suggested Neil Young. Here you are Jim! Great song, truthful video. Enjoy!
Gorillaz- Fire Coming Out of the Monkey's Head (LIVE)
I have decided that the left peace seekers, aka the sane and rational, need some anti-bushco songs. Know any? I know a few and over the next few days I'm going to be a music posting fool.
Let me know what you think!
Accountability
WASHINGTON - President Bush denounced "irresponsible" Democrats on Tuesday for going on spring break without approving money for the Iraq war with no strings. He condemned House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's trip to Syria, too, accusing her of encouraging a terrorism sponsor.
I spent yesterday sitting in the sun at a place called Cuppers, drinking coffee with my son. During my several double shots of espresso with a shot of hazelnut, we had an interesting, and long conversation about accountability.
If we pick apart that one statement my by the clueless wonder, we can see that he has absolutely no idea what the word means.
He states that those irresponsible democrats went on spring break.
In truth, the new congress has done more in the first 100 days than the old congress has done in years.
He wants approved money for his Iraq war with no strings.
We'd like a president without them too... but...
He needs to be accountable for the disaster Iraq is in, not be spoon fed more ammo to continue. He needs to be accountable for the deaths and maiming of thousands of American soldiers. It was HE who put them into harms way without just cause. It was HE who sent them into a war with no plan and no exit strategy. It was HE who, even after all of these errors, sent them there without body armor or proper armor for their vehicles. Now, he is, again, demanding "his way or else." Accountability.
He is accountable for the destruction of a nation. Ours. He has destroyed our good name and our good standing within the world. He has spent our great grandchildren into bankruptcy. He has lowered the middle class to borderline poverty. He has allowed gas costs to skyrocket and Exxons profits to be in the billions.
He has chastised Pelosi for talking to Syria. Something he refused to do. He called them all terrorists and axis of evil people. How can you claim this, without ever sitting down with them? Stupidity does not eliminate accountability. Neither does arrogance.
He has lost a great city, then never bothered to care about it or it's people. Almost three years later there is little progress in the city of New Orleans. Yet the money fraud is still continuing to rise.
He has lost two twin towers, three airliners, over three thousand American citizens. Using that as his excuse, he waged a war of aggression, an illegal war, never once caring about the families of the 9/11 victims, never caring about the where or how's of Osama.
While I believe the Congress needs their break, I don't see how responsible it could have been to flop a file on your desk and head out AGAIN on vacation. Especially when that file proclaims, "Osama BinLadan said to strike within the U.S." Accountability.
He has lost the backing of this country. He has lost the faith of damn near 80% of all Americans. Yet, there he stands, believing he's on some mission from God, and proclaiming for all the world to here, "It's my way, or else!"
With Congress out of town, Bush tried to take the upper hand over Democrats who are making increasing forays into foreign policy as his term dwindles and his approval ratings remain low.
Speaking a day before he heads out of town for six days for events in the West and an Easter break at his ranch, the president said Democrats are failing their responsibility to the troops and the nation's security by leaving for their own recess after passing bills to fund the war that contain time lines for American withdrawal.
Given his promised veto of anything containing a deadline — and the likelihood that his veto would be sustained on Capitol Hill — Bush said Democrats are merely engaging in games that "undercut the troops."
"Democrat leaders in Congress seem more interested in fighting political battles in Washington than in providing our troops what they need to fight the battles in Iraq," Bush said. "In a time of war, it's irresponsible for the Democrat leadership — Democratic leadership in Congress to delay for months on end while our troops in combat are waiting for the funds."
Wait! Did that just say he was heading... where...? Vacation AGAIN!!?? Let us all hope and pray this time, he didn't leave behind any discarded files.
Accountability.
"Democrat leaders in Congress seem more interested in fighting political battles in Washington than in providing our troops what they need to fight the battles in Iraq," Bush said. "In a time of war, it's irresponsible for the Democrat leadership — Democratic leadership in Congress to delay for months on end while our troops in combat are waiting for the funds."
Nearly two months ago, Bush asked for more than $100 billion to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan this year. Congress has approved the money, but the Senate added a provision also calling for most U.S. combat troops to be out of Iraq by March 31, 2008. The House version demands a September 2008 withdrawal.
These bills still must be reconciled before legislation can be sent to the president.
"They need to come off their vacation, get a bill to my desk, and if it's got strings and mandates and withdrawals and pork I'll veto it," the president said. "And then we can get down to the business of getting this thing done."
Not so fast, Democrats responded.
"Americans want compromise, not a cowboy-style showdown," said House Majority Whip James Clyburn D-S.C.
It is time we hold him and his buddies accountable. They did this. They reap the profits of death, we pay the price. We must make them accountable.
I spent yesterday sitting in the sun at a place called Cuppers, drinking coffee with my son. During my several double shots of espresso with a shot of hazelnut, we had an interesting, and long conversation about accountability.
If we pick apart that one statement my by the clueless wonder, we can see that he has absolutely no idea what the word means.
He states that those irresponsible democrats went on spring break.
In truth, the new congress has done more in the first 100 days than the old congress has done in years.
He wants approved money for his Iraq war with no strings.
We'd like a president without them too... but...
He needs to be accountable for the disaster Iraq is in, not be spoon fed more ammo to continue. He needs to be accountable for the deaths and maiming of thousands of American soldiers. It was HE who put them into harms way without just cause. It was HE who sent them into a war with no plan and no exit strategy. It was HE who, even after all of these errors, sent them there without body armor or proper armor for their vehicles. Now, he is, again, demanding "his way or else." Accountability.
He is accountable for the destruction of a nation. Ours. He has destroyed our good name and our good standing within the world. He has spent our great grandchildren into bankruptcy. He has lowered the middle class to borderline poverty. He has allowed gas costs to skyrocket and Exxons profits to be in the billions.
He has chastised Pelosi for talking to Syria. Something he refused to do. He called them all terrorists and axis of evil people. How can you claim this, without ever sitting down with them? Stupidity does not eliminate accountability. Neither does arrogance.
He has lost a great city, then never bothered to care about it or it's people. Almost three years later there is little progress in the city of New Orleans. Yet the money fraud is still continuing to rise.
He has lost two twin towers, three airliners, over three thousand American citizens. Using that as his excuse, he waged a war of aggression, an illegal war, never once caring about the families of the 9/11 victims, never caring about the where or how's of Osama.
While I believe the Congress needs their break, I don't see how responsible it could have been to flop a file on your desk and head out AGAIN on vacation. Especially when that file proclaims, "Osama BinLadan said to strike within the U.S." Accountability.
He has lost the backing of this country. He has lost the faith of damn near 80% of all Americans. Yet, there he stands, believing he's on some mission from God, and proclaiming for all the world to here, "It's my way, or else!"
With Congress out of town, Bush tried to take the upper hand over Democrats who are making increasing forays into foreign policy as his term dwindles and his approval ratings remain low.
Speaking a day before he heads out of town for six days for events in the West and an Easter break at his ranch, the president said Democrats are failing their responsibility to the troops and the nation's security by leaving for their own recess after passing bills to fund the war that contain time lines for American withdrawal.
Given his promised veto of anything containing a deadline — and the likelihood that his veto would be sustained on Capitol Hill — Bush said Democrats are merely engaging in games that "undercut the troops."
"Democrat leaders in Congress seem more interested in fighting political battles in Washington than in providing our troops what they need to fight the battles in Iraq," Bush said. "In a time of war, it's irresponsible for the Democrat leadership — Democratic leadership in Congress to delay for months on end while our troops in combat are waiting for the funds."
Wait! Did that just say he was heading... where...? Vacation AGAIN!!?? Let us all hope and pray this time, he didn't leave behind any discarded files.
Accountability.
"Democrat leaders in Congress seem more interested in fighting political battles in Washington than in providing our troops what they need to fight the battles in Iraq," Bush said. "In a time of war, it's irresponsible for the Democrat leadership — Democratic leadership in Congress to delay for months on end while our troops in combat are waiting for the funds."
Nearly two months ago, Bush asked for more than $100 billion to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan this year. Congress has approved the money, but the Senate added a provision also calling for most U.S. combat troops to be out of Iraq by March 31, 2008. The House version demands a September 2008 withdrawal.
These bills still must be reconciled before legislation can be sent to the president.
"They need to come off their vacation, get a bill to my desk, and if it's got strings and mandates and withdrawals and pork I'll veto it," the president said. "And then we can get down to the business of getting this thing done."
Not so fast, Democrats responded.
"Americans want compromise, not a cowboy-style showdown," said House Majority Whip James Clyburn D-S.C.
It is time we hold him and his buddies accountable. They did this. They reap the profits of death, we pay the price. We must make them accountable.
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