316 previous thread

Legally, inside the intelligence agencies, a real WHISTLE BLOWER goes to congress first,
a CRIMINAL LEAKER, goes to the press first.
END OF CASE, legally, no more discussion needed.

That may well be true, but if I don't like it, I should be able to slander anyone I want. It is the liberal way.

#1 is from idiot on the last thread-a poseur-listing e-mail@http://frontpagemag.com/, conservative rag. I here your mommy calling you poseur boy, time for your diaper change I think. Bye all!

Why waste any thought on Pat Robertson? It is obvious that he's either insane, on serious zoo-dope, or a bigoted, backwater, fundamentalist ASSHOLE, and anybody who follows him can easily be labeled the same.

-t

...all three make the most sense!

-T

This is my contribution to the world intending to make said world a better place. I put the same item on the previous thread, which seems to be running neck and neck with this one. Anyway, this is it:

I pledge allegiance to the Constitution
of the United States of America

And to the Republic for which it stands

Because both spring from love of liberty
and honor independence

God bless America
and all the people
who make her great

Hajji,
3 Hajji,
can easily be labeled

Labeling, another liberal trait.

Very good Hajji. Throw some slander in next time. As you have proven many times over, slander, lying, and dishonesty are your specialties.

If there is a god....she.he.it...is not a real estate agent.

A bunch of Jewish guys made claim to that land thousands of years ago and then came up with a real estate scam and included the almighty (whatever that is) in the deal.

The land scam is still promoted by radical settlers, christians and zionist when it fits their needs.

What a bunch of Bible/Torah hogwash. Both Palestinians and Jews and others have their historical roots in this part of the world..when will they be forced to share.

Hopefully the radical zionist, christians and muslims will be put back in their corners, and moderate folks will win out. Sure does not look good at this point in time

"forced to share"?!?!?!?!?

Like with a war?

Sounds like Robertson is using some of Sharon's tactics that he used on the Palestinians.

Blame the person or persons injured and on their backs.

If Pat is helping divide Israel up for his superstition theme park, doesn't that mean that god is going to smack the shit out of him next?

# 8 Dean...no by forcing Israel to abide by Un resolutions....and to get out of the occupied territories.

Next..force Israel to sign the IAEA non-proliferation treaty that they want Iraq and Iran to abide by.

Sharon refused to do both.

START THERE.

Robertson made a comment that Sharon's stroke is punishment from God for giving away (I believe?) God's land. Robertson is an idiot. All of Earth is God's land and we are to be steward's of the land and not debase God's creation.

God Is Beautiful

Let me start by saying that God is beautiful. But, why is God beautiful? We have only to look at the Bible for the answer. The Bible is divided into two parts, the Old Testament and the New Testament.

In the Old Testament we read verses of a punishing and vengeful God. We are also to believe that God's plan was etched from the beginning of time. Yet, what makes God beautiful is that He can change His plans. God changed His plan by being born of human flesh and to walk among us and have similar experiences as you and me. God felt the cold weather, the warm weather, and the temptations as a few examples.

In the New Testament God gave us His words to guide and lead us to Him. He gave us the promise of everlasting life to be with Him in the Kingdom of Heaven. God changed from a punishing and vengeful God to a God of love and mercy. God's plan was not etched in stone. He can change and forgive us seventy times seven. These are some reasons why I believe that God is beautiful.

Here are some beautiful words to remember from our beautiful God. "I have come to serve and not be served." Yes, God is beautiful.

Minister, a Bush Ally, Gives Church as Site for Alito Rally

Holy crapola! No wonder this country is in the shape it's in. What's your price? When bought, this guy stays bought!

"...So God visited a stroke upon Sharon because God is opposed to the Middle East peace process? That's what Robertson is saying. (But if God didn't want progress in the Middle East, why did God let Arafat die? I'm confused.)..."
++++++++

Robertson would tell you, "God works in mysterious ways."

Do not trust Bush because a zebra cannot change his stripes!!!

American Soldiers

More American soldiers are killed in the Middle East.

2,447 American soldiers have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan for Bush's evil lies.

16,000+ American soldiers have been maimed in Iraq and Afghanistan for Bush’≥ evil lies.

40,000+ American soldiers are suffering from PTSD.

Over 100,000+ Iraqis have been killed in Iraq since Bush declared shock and awe bombings on March 19, 2003.

Are you feeling more safe and secure with Bush in the WH and Cheney as his chief hatchet man overseeing America and her people.

American elections are rigged to favor the repugnants.

We will have to see how events play out. Seymour Hersh (when he was asked to comment about the 2004 election)

Bush will declare martial law in 2008 and the elections will be suspended.

Our military men and women are used as cannon fodder for a terrorist American government.

Our enemies are innovative and resourceful and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we. George W. Bush, August 5, 2005

There is no sense trying to make sense from those who have no sense.

THE GLORY OF BUSH IS MAN FULLY DEAD!!!

This war in Iraq really pisses me off!!!!!

Rigged elections doom American democracy. American soldiers are being killed and maimed TO PROMOTE AN AMERICAN NAZI STATE.

THE GLORY OF GOD IS MAN FULLY ALIVE. St. Irenaeus

I shall pass this way but once. Any good that I can do let me do it now for I shall not pass this way again. St. Ambrose

We must work tirelessly for man to be fully alive.

American soldiers are being killed like flies for Bush's lies. To date 2,447 American soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan and Iraq.

DON'T PATRONIZE ME WITH TALK ABOUT HUMAN LIVES. COLIN LAPDOG POWELL

It sounds like human lives are not important to Lapdog.

I was provided with additional input that was radically different from the truth. I assisted in furthering that version. Oliver North

There is no sense trying to make sense from those who have no sense!

Wolfowitz + World Bank = War + Poverty

As Diebold goes, so goes the election!

American democracy is dead as we know it. We are now OUTSOURCING our dead American democracy around the world with our dead and maimed soldiers who are fighting in foreign lands so these lands can revel in our dead democracy.

My fellow Americans, Bush does not view our Constitution as a piece of paper. He views our Constitution as a piece of toilet paper so he can wipe his ass with it.

When God means to punish a nation, He deprives its rulers of wisdom. Linda Schrock Taylor

No one can terrorize a whole nation, unless we are all his accomplices. Edward R. Murrow

All Americans are accomplices in Bush's murders and war crimes.

To sin is a human business; to justify sin is a devilish business. Leo Tolstoy, Russian author 1828-1910

The incestuous relationship between government and big business thrives in the dark. Jack Anderson

PEACE TAKES COURAGE!

HONOR THE TROOPS, DEMAND THE TRUTH!

The CIC (Coward in Crawford) lies about lying about his lies.

A Real President

A real president goes to a judge first to receive warrants to spy on Americans. A real president goes to Congress for their thoughts on the torture of human beings.

Bush is a murderer and a war criminal. His thought processes are a deadly function. We cannot trust Bush because a zebra does not change his stripes.

Gerald #12

Have you seen the news on the 'Set me free from Jesus' lawsuit filed in Rome? Seems an atheist sued a parish priest who spoke the same way you tend to speak. He, the atheist, says Jesus was an invented character, that none of the writers of the new testament ever met him, and that the gospels of Mathew, Mark, Luke and John were made up out of mythical beings, creating the son of man as a component of those who preceded them all. They were acting in the spirit of those who invented Mount Olympus and Zeus and those gods.

I recommend you check out "Anatomy of Power" by John Kenneth Galbraith from your public library. Professor Galbraith gives an excellent portrayal of the business of Christianity and communism and other bugaboos in that little book.

Happy reading.

Hey #6, why don't you post under your own name you gutless wingnut.

Bushianity makes a mockery of Christ

I read God's love letter to me. Whenever I read God's love letter to me, I have these warm fuzzies all over my body and soul. My God is a warm fuzzy that comforts me.

It makes sense to me. God does not want peace in the middle east and that's why his intelligent design created George W. and Pat Robertson in his image and allowed Arafat to die and Sharon to have a stroke. See how plausible everything is if you embrace the Intelligent Design theory?

A girl asked her mother, "Mom, we are studying government in school and had a test. George Washington was our first president, right? Am I smart or just blond?"

mom "You sure are smart dear."

girl "And there are 50 states, right? Am I smart or am I blond?

mom "You sure are smart dear."

girl "Mom why am I more developed physically and intellectually that the other 5th graders?"

mom "Cause you're 24."

Bush went to War, sent our economy to hell and spies on Americans and imposes his hubris on the planet because he has been empowered by a just cause.

When asked why he went to War, screwed up our economy and spied on Americans and imposed his hubris on the planet, his response is "jus cause"

Have you guys seen this?

http://americablog.blogspot.com/2006/01/nbc-changes-official-transcript-of.html

Mitchell: Do you have any information about reporters being swept up in this net?

Risen: No, I don't. It's not clear to me. That's one of the questions we'll have to look into the future. Were there abuses of this program or not? I don't know the answer to that

Mitchell: You don't have any information, for instance, that a very prominent journalist, Christiane Amanpour, might have been eavesdropped upon?

Risen: No, no I hadn't heard that.

AND:

http://americablog.blogspot.com/2006/01/what-it-means-to-john-kerry-wesley.html

But before you say "yeah, go for it," consider the implications of tapping Christiane Amanpour's phones:

1. Such a wiretap would likely include her home, office, and cell phones, and email correspondence, at the very least.

2. That means anyone Christiane has conversed with in the past four years, at least by phone or email, could have had their conversation taped by the US government.

3. That also means that anyone who uses any of Christiane's telephones or computers (work or home) could also have had their conversation bugged.

4. This includes Christiane's husband, former Clinton administration senior official Jamie Rubin, who was spokesman for the State Department.

5. Jamie Rubin was also chief foreign policy adviser to General Wesley Clark's presidential campaign, and then worked as a senior national security adviser to John Kerry's presidential campaign.

6. Did Jamie Rubin ever use his home phone, his wife's work phone, his wife's cell phone, her home computer or her work computer to communicate with John Kerry or Wesley Clark? If so, those conversations would have been bugged if Bush was tapping Amanpour.

7. Did Jamie Rubin ever in the past four years communicate with any elected officials in Washington, DC - any Senators or members of the US House? Any senior members of the Democratic party?

8. Has Rubin spoken with Bill Clinton, his former boss, in the past 4 years?

As I mentioned in my post the other day, the Bush administration is unscrupulous enough to release the name of a NOC CIA agent, so why would they have the tact to not wiretap political opponents.

I rarely agree with anything you people have to say but I agree that Pat Robertson is off his rocker.

Why would anyone follow any religious leader anywhere? Your faith is not well placed, nor duly served, by doing so.

Robertson, Bush, and his cabal are off their rockers!!! You cannot change a zebra's stripes.

Zapped

I was reluctant to share a personal experience because there are some non-believers on this website. The experience occurred on January 4, 2006 around 10:15 am. I went shopping for my wife at a food market. I only had to buy a few items. As I was checking out in the express lane, I became woozy and I fell to my knees. On my knees my defibrillator kicked in. In a second it felt like a horse had kicked me in my chest.

When the heartbeats go down to 40 beats per minute, the defibrillator is programmed to kick in. Being zapped is a very draining experience. I still feel physically and emotionally drained.

The marvels of medical technology have helped to keep me alive but I also believe that God is with me, plus my praying the Holy Rosary does not hurt.

You can believe what you want to believe and I will believe what I want to believe.

Pat Robertson reminds me of the medicine man and bible thumper that comes into town to sell his holy elixer. Lord have mercy. Just like the Bush administration and the bull they're trying to sell.

Lots of holy elixer sellers come into town lately. Boys! get that tar boiling. Girls! Git out there and do some pluckin. We got some thieving, lying, coyotes in our midst.

Those #$#% think we don't see a con when it hobbles into town.

Hope you're feeling better Gerald.

Speaking of men of the cloth....Oklahoma City pastor redefines "pastoring"

An executive committee member of the Southern Baptist Convention was arrested on a lewdness charge for propositioning a plainclothes policeman outside a hotel, police said...Lonnie Latham, senior pastor at South Tulsa Baptist Church, was booked into Oklahoma County Jail...Latham, who has spoken out against homosexuality, asked the officer to join him in his hotel room for oral sex. Latham was arrested and his 2005 Mercedes automobile was impounded...Calls to Latham at his church were not immediately returned Wednesday.

However, when Latham left jail, he said, "I was set up. I was in the area pastoring to police."

He has also spoken out against same-sex marriage and in support of a Southern Baptist Convention directive urging its 42,000 churches to befriend gays and lesbians and try to convince them that they can become heterosexual "if they accept Jesus Christ as their savior and reject their 'sinful, destructive lifestyle."'

This serenity prayer is easier said than done.

Serenity Prayer

#29 Jeanne, I am still quite tired. I tire easily. Cornposters protect your heart for health and love of humanity.

Heaven

Father John Dietzen wrote an article, "On the entrance into heaven," a writer from Ohio shows concern that the rich will receive lesser rewards in heaven. My concern is that just to be in heaven through a merciful God's love is important. We do not have to wonder about heaven upon our death; we need only to look and see parts of heaven on earth as we live.

While we live, we should try to complete God's work of making a heaven on earth. There is one way to pursue a heaven on earth through the reading and the practicing of Matthew 25:31-46.

I hear people from time to time talk about what heaven is like. I cannot give you a definitive description of heaven but I can say that there are parts of heaven all around us.

If you want to experience an immediate part of heaven right here on earth, just go inside of a church. Why should we wait to die to experience heaven, let us look around and see parts of heaven right here on earth and work to complete God's intended goal for us of a heaven on earth.

I also believe that heaven is like a place of total peace. There is no more constant nonsense from Bush and his cabal. We are in total peace without the entire cabal. That would be heavenly.

Robertson's a nut case, but he's unfortunately a powerful nut case. If you want to let him know how you feel, go to: http://www.cbn.com/contact/feedback-700club.asp His antics are reported around the world and shame us every time he opens his mouth. But this one is particularly vile...

My name is Corky. I have no problem admitting I am an idiot. I care not for facts. I am an ignorant blow hard, spewing ridiculous crap every time I open my mouth. I am, just plain F**king Stupid. I am also a cowardly pathetic looser.

Just one more thing. I have a very tiny penis.

There,
you know everything worth knowing about me.

Corky,

Since you tried the truth thing, I will finally give it a try too. Bare ... with me, I have never tried being truthful before.

Here goes, I have given two blow-jobs to each capt, James Ha and one blow-job to Corky. Only one to Corky, because he is so small, it was like sucking on a tooth pick. None of the guys has returned the favor yet, however, capt did want me to do him from behind. I am working up the courage.

I feel better now, getting that off my chin.

Hajji

to #8 Kathleen, you are an idiot. The Jews' historical roots in Israel are stronger than any other people's connections to their land. Also, the Israelis were (and still are) willing to compromise and share the land but it is the Palestinian and their apologists who will be satisfied only when there are no Jews in Israel. Finally, the moral comparison you make between Israeli settlers and Palestinians is vile. The Israeli settlers don't have a policy of murdering Palestinian children or blowing themselves up. How could you honestly compare that? And why do the Palestinians deserve a state more than the Kurds or Armenians? ItÔøΩs not like they have a unique identity separating them from the other Arabs in the Middle East. You are brainwashed so wake up.

Mike, WHO is brainwashed? You have just regurgitated the biggest lie on the planet. Most of the Jews left Palestine over many decades and spent most of their time wandering around Europe making enemies everywhere they settled. They inter-married with Europeans which diluted their semite bloodlines. The Palestinians who remained are the true semites in the region. The state of Israel is the interloper and has been practicing genocide ever since they set foot back in that desert. Instead of repeating the Israel firsters line, how about doing a little research first? Do you tell yourself this same BS about the fate of the American Indians?

#37 #38

Whoa! You both make claims -- and accusations -- that are not backed with historical fact, but are steeped with bias.

So much hostility, so little time.

No long diatribes, must keep comments brief. How 'bout the Thursday night funnies.

=====+=====

I still love the way this guy makes Chimpy look like that Paddington Bear critter.

Chimpy wants to set the tone for the national debate on Scientological learning. At least he's trying to explain his position from planet Dipshit.

Giving-up-my-Liberty Dad doesn't realize what he's doing to our International reputation. Maybe he could see it if he looked in the mirror.

Kanye West was right, George Bush doesn't care about Black people in 2006 either. With the help of his handy dandy NYResolution list, Chimpy's going to do what he always does when the going gets tough: Absolutely nothing.

While Spygate may be dragging Chimpy's poll numbers to Nixonian levels, Republicans have decided to cope like all cowards do: cut and run‚Ñ¢.

Cracker Jack seems to be a Republican favorite; but never, ever turn your back on them when the cookie jar is within reach.

On the plus side, they have tried to revive their image as the "Party of Lincoln." As with all of their other efforts, they have not met with success.

Remember when the Reds took over the Hill and George Will said that we could all sleep better at night knowing that the "Adults" were now in power? Turns out he was wrong. (That one is really, really pathetic)

And if President Cheney let his Secret Energy Taskforce make the rules, no one will sleep safer.

And when your opponent is sinking, hand him an anvil. Thanks BoBo.

# 38 Mike you are in denial..you need to read more historical facts not fiction.

I have witnessed radical zionist demonstrate extreme hate far more often than Palestinians. I have witnessed radical zionist get violent when the truth about Israel's ruthless beginnings and the kiling and displacement of Palestinians. I have witnessed radical Zionist call people who were attending a conference on the Palestinian /Israeli conflict murderers.

The truth hurts. You need to read more ... start by reading about the history of the Zionist.

If Israel and the U.s. do not deal with this conflict in a fair and balanced way..the cycle of violence will continue.

If Israel continues to refuse to sign the NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY, sale military technology to China. If Israel to refuse to abide by Un resolution 242 (Israel has more violations at the UN than any other nation).

If Israel and the U.s. continue to refuse to deal with the Israeli/Palestinian conflict in a fair and balanced way..the cycle of violence will continue. That is the TRUTH.

I have often been surprised by Pres. Bush's words in regard to Israel. He has come out and completely supported a Palestinian state and has let Israel know that he is against the continued expansion of illegal settlements.

I often like the diatribes of the folks who post here more than David Corns DIATRIBES.

Some folks do as much research as the journalist.

chad 23,

I believe you are right about the information that may have been gathered on people called and the people calling. One can only imagine what a corupt bunch like John Kerry, Jamie Rubin and Wesley Clark would do if they knew their crimes, lies and scams were about to be released.

Pres. Bush's words in regard to Israel. He has come out and completely supported a Palestinian state and has let Israel know that he is against the continued expansion of illegal settlements.

and yet they continue to grab more land and they continue to receive financial aid from the U.S.- of all the countries that receive aid from the U.S., Israel is the only one not required to pay it back.
I believe that saladin#39 is correct in her statement.

so. abramoffgate? ha. john Q's mind will scurry around like a hamster forgetting all about the previous outrage of wiretapgate, which caused poor old john Q to forget about torturegate, and before that whitephosphorousgate, and so on and so on. remember gannongate? "what an outrage!" ha. one outrage after another all the way back to the crime of the century 911, which is STILL being ignored by the mcMedia to this day.

someone sed last month - "we have short attention spans" - surely, we do.

We subsidize the country that spends more per capita on their military than any other country on the planet. We are not just occupiers we are occupier enablers.

capt

I had a similar thought, but really, if God is smacking people down according to whether they do what he pleases or not, explain this:

Why is it that every member of the hair band Poison is alive, and yet Kurt Cobain, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Jimi Hendrix are all dead?

maybe they've been lifted up rather than smacked down

"When the President starts lying he begins to need evidence to back up his lies because in this democracy he is questioned on his statements. It then percolates down through the bureaucracy that you are helping the Boss if you come up with evidence that is supportive of our public position and you are distinctly unhelpful if you commit to paper statements that might leak to the wrong people.

The effect of that is to poison the flow of information to the President himself and to create a situation where a President can be almost, to use a metaphor, psychotically divorced from the realities in which he is acting...." : Daniel Ellsburg to the US Senate on Foreign Relations, May 13, 1970

=
"The only foes that threaten America are the enemies at home, and these are ignorance, superstition and incompetence." : Elbert Hubbard (American editor, publisher and writer, 1856-1915)

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"Whatever America hopes to bring to pass in the world must first come to pass in the heart of America." : Dwight David Eisenhower (American 34th President (1953-61). 1890-1969)

=
"America did not invent human rights. In a very real sense, it is the other way around. Human rights invented America." : Jimmy Carter (American 39th US President (1977-81). Nobel Prize for Peace in 2002. b.1924)

===
Thanks ICH Newsletter!

The Quiet Death Of Freedom

01/05/06 "ICH" -- -- On Christmas Eve, I dropped in on Brian Haw, whose hunched, pacing figure was just visible through the freezing fog. For four and a half years, Brian has camped in Parliament Square with a graphic display of photographs that show the terror and suffering imposed on Iraqi children by British policies. The effectiveness of his action was demonstrated last April when the Blair government banned any expression of opposition within a kilometre of Parliament. The High Court subsequently ruled that, because his presence preceded the ban, Brian was an exception.

Day after day, night after night, season upon season, he remains a beacon, illuminating the great crime of Iraq and the cowardice of the House of Commons. As we talked, two women brought him a Christmas meal and mulled wine. They thanked him, shook his hand and hurried on. He had never seen them before. "That's typical of the public," he said. A man in a pin-striped suit and tie emerged from the fog, carrying a small wreath. ""I intend to place this at the Cenotaph and read out the names of the dead in Iraq," he said to Brian, who cautioned him: "You'll spend the night in cells, mate." We watched him stride off and lay his wreath. His head bowed, he appeared to be whispering. Thirty years ago, I watched dissidents do something similar outside the walls of the Kremlin.

As night had covered him, he was lucky. On 7 December, Maya Evans, a vegan chef aged 25, was convicted of breaching the new Serious Organised Crime and Police Act by reading aloud at the Cenotaph the names of 97 British soldiers killed in Iraq. So serious was her crime that it required 14 policemen in two vans to arrest her. She was fined and given a criminal record for the rest of her life.

*****end of clip*****

So sad.

capt

The only New Year that counts is the one where you wake up and change your life because otherwise the Ferris wheel is just going to go round again and you’ll just be a year older; a year stupider, a year disappearing into a waistline widening as you go on with the vain hopes you never took the trouble, nor had the faith or courage to manifest; just wishing in one hand and shitting in the other.

you keep believing Gerald!

What do you suppose a pack of criminals has to do when their backs are against the wall? What did they do before? What have they been doing? What do you think they might do? What do you suppose you have to do with the attention when the attention is all over you? When you’re a criminal caught in the headlights you have got a few options. Even if they carry you away, you got a few options. Rats never stop thinking about how to get away and you got to remember… they’re rats.

It should be a very interesting year. I hope you have a good one. I sincerely hope you wake up. It’s always dangerous when you don’t pay attention.

Parties not running from scandal
Both Democrats and Republicans are dealing with the controversy by embracing it

WASHINGTON - In a rush to turn adversity into political advantage, both major parties are hashing out strategies to limit damage from the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal — largely by embracing it.

Because more Republicans, including Rep. Tom DeLay of Sugar Land, are linked to the disgraced former dealmaker, they should take the lead in reforming the lobbying system, GOP consultants and independent analysts said Thursday.

"Republicans have to demonstrate that they are taking this scandal seriously, that they have learned from it and are reforming the system on their own," said Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics.
===============
They still get the "they did it too" excuse in there.

The headline of your post is somewhat misleading. Robertson is not a Fundamentalist. He is a Charismatic.

Man Executed in 1992 to Have DNA Test

RICHMOND, Va. Jan 5, 2006 — Gov. Mark R. Warner on Thursday ordered DNA evidence retested to determine whether a man convicted of rape and murder was innocent when he was executed in 1992.

If the testing shows Roger Keith Coleman did not rape and kill his sister-in-law in 1981, it will be the first time in the United States a person has been exonerated by scientific testing after his execution, according to death penalty opponents.
---
---
Coleman's attorneys argued that he did not have time to commit the crime, that tests showed semen from two men was found inside McCoy and that another man bragged about murdering her. Coleman was executed on May 20, 1992.
=====================
This'll be big if it exonerates him.

some more about DNA tests in here...

DNA tests could have national implications

Lynn Swann, Hall of Famer, is running for governor of Pennsylvania as a Republican. ugh!
Reminds me of a story from Charles Barkley. He said is grandma was getting on to him about being a republican now and 'losing his roots'. Said he told her "But grandma, I'm rich now and make alotta money, I have to be a Republican!"

Voices From History Echo Anew
Former Cabinet Officers Offer Advice on Iraq to Commander in Chief

By Jim VandeHei
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, January 6, 2006; Page A15

President Bush summoned most of the living former secretaries of state and defense to the White House yesterday for what participants described as a cordial but pointed discussion about the future of Iraq.

The bipartisan advice-seeking was virtually unprecedented for this White House, which has drawn criticism even from Republicans for being insular in its deliberations and dismissive of dissenters.
=====================
I'm guessing they berated his azz, and that's why we didn't hear a fkn thing about this while it was happening... least I didn't!

What's up with all the bitching?
Everything is great.
The economy is great, Jobs are up, more people own their homes, gas is way lower than it should be, no more terrorist attacks at home, American soldiers are killing way more terrorists than terrorist killing American soldiers, so the war against terror is going great.

President Bush not only saved saved us from the Clinton recession, he saved our lives.

Life couldn't get much better, and yet you bitch.
What a herd of whining, bitching f--ken assholes you cornholes are.

China signals reserves switch away from dollar

By Geoff Dyer in Shanghai
Andrew Balls in Washington
January 5 2006

China indicated on Thursday it could begin to diversify its rapidly growing foreign exchange reserves away from the US dollar and government bonds –†a potential shift with significant implications for global financial and commodity markets.

Economists estimate that more that 70 per cent of the reserves are invested in US dollar assets, which has helped to sustain the recent large US deficits. If China were to stop acquiring such a large proportion of dollars with its reserves –†currently accumulating at about $15bn (€±2.4bn) a month –†it could put heavy downward pressure on the greenback.

"It is a subtle but clear signal that they are interested in moving away from the US dollar into other currencies, and are interested in setting up some kind of strategic commodity fund, maybe just for oil, but maybe for other commodities," he said.

*****end of clip*****

You wonder if this will hurt? Watch out. Just the pressure will bring $100 per barrel oil.

capt

Spying on Unfriendly Journalists

May 10, 2005

The inquisition side of NSA is the one that Hayden and his advisers do not want the public to see. In fact, NSA maintains a database that tracks unofficial and negative articles written about the agency. Code named "FIRSTFRUITS," the database is operated by the Denial and Deception (D&D) unit within SID. High priority is given to articles written as a result of possible leaks from cleared personnel.

According to those familiar with FIRSTFRUITS, Bill Gertz of The Washington Times features prominently in the database. Before Hayden's reign and during the Clinton administration, Gertz was often leaked classified documents by anti-Clinton intelligence officials in an attempt to demonstrate that collusion between the administration and China was hurting U.S. national security. NSA, perhaps legitimately, was concerned that China could actually benefit from such disclosures.

*****end of clip*****

I think WMR was the first to break the journalist tapping.

capt

Prosperity in George Bush's Economy

Why are folks so pessimistic about our boom-boom American economy? Because for most of us, it's painful to live in.

Consider these numbers from the Economic Policy Institute -- a left-leaning think-tank (this essay leans heavily on EPI's excellent research):

Salaries are still below where they were at the start of the recovery in November 2001. That, while productivity -- the growth of the economic pie -- is up by almost 15 percent. Meaning we're working harder, producing more, for the same money as five years ago.

Since the recession ended in 2001, 50 percent more of the growth in corporate income was sucked up as profits than after past recessions. That's left less for those of us who work for a living.

As a result, median household income has now fallen for five years in a row. It was 4 percent, or $2,000, lower in 2004 than it was in 1999.

That last figure means that Joe and Jane Average American -- the household smack in the middle of the booming go-go American economy -- have gotten a pay cut for five years in a row. Small wonder they're sporting long faces.

And that hasn't occurred in a bubble; health care costs for that same family (with kids) rose over 40 percent -- yeah, 40 percent --between 2000 and 2003.

*****end of clip*****

Just wait until the price of oil goes to $100. It is a financial debacle never seen before.

The economy is so well the Chinese are dumping the dollar. Many will follow that lead.

capt

How Did the U.S. Government Annihilate $1 Trillion of American Wealth?

What needs to be understood, emphasized, and underscored, what needs to be seen as clearly as possible, are the reality and the mind-boggling size of the wealth destruction that our leaders have caused Americans to bear. It is not believable that most Americans, presented with a choice between spending one trillion dollars or achieving the current status in Iraq, would have chosen to spend that sum. One trillion dollars is 100 million $10,000 bills. It is not believable that 100,000,000 families would have willingly given up $10,000 each for the results so far achieved by the Iraq War. I wonder if 10 million or even 1 million families would have given up half that amount.

Where does this $1 trillion figure come from, and how can we be sure that it is accurate? The answers involve new but straightforward ideas and applications of finance.

Leigh, Wolfers and Zitzewitz (LWZ) made their wealth destruction estimates by using a then-existing Saddam Security futures contract trading at TradeSports.com. These securities, which traded between 18,000–≥1,000 contracts a month, were contingent upon the ouster of Saddam by future dates. This was a market in the prediction that Saddam would be removed from office. In other words, the contract traded in the prediction of another Iraq War.

*****end of clip*****

I know where they can find some of the trillion - in the pockets of members of this misadministration and their military-industrial defense contractors and cronies.

capt

November job creation set at 108,000

WASHINGTON, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- The number of U.S. jobs created in December was 108,000, far less than expected, but the unemployment rate dropped to 4.9 percent, the Labor Department said.

The national unemployment rate dropped from 5.0 percent to 4.9 percent, the department said

"Over the month, employment increased in manufacturing, food services, professional and business services, and healthcare," the department said in a statement.

Manufacturing added 18,000 jobs over the month. There were noteworthy gains in wood products and in computer and electronic products. The factory workweek declined by 0.1 hour to 40.7 hours, and overtime was unchanged at 4.5 hours.

Economists had expected an increase of at least 200,000 jobs and the economy delivered about half that. The department, however, revised its November payroll figures to 305,000 new jobs created. That figure was 90,000 higher than the preliminary November number issued a month ago and marked the best hiring month since April 2004, the Labor Department said.

*****end of clip*****

Average monthly job growth? Still a negative number and as the months roll on seemingly impossible for Crusader Bunnypants to achieve a positive number.

Rove colored glasses cannot make negatives into positives.

capt

Faith in God is a good thing for those who live their lives by a code (except of course by those who act in ways harmful to others.) The point is, their faith gives them guidance on how to treat others.

The Faithful who believe they have insight to recognize the motives behind God's "actions" are full of shit. "God did this to punish blaa blaa..." I.E. God hates Tom Delay and Jack Abromoff because he had them indicted.

President Bush not only saved saved us from the Clinton recession, he saved our lives.

Delusional.

Capt shrub doesn't need to achieve those numbers he just has to say he achieved those numbers. See it is all in the smoke and mirror category, like the we are safer and progress in Iraq. Deny reality and substitute feel good rhetoric. Works for those asshats.

#52 James Ha, when I believe in God, I know that He gives to me 100% of His love. When I believe in my government, I will receive maybe 10% of my government's love for me. We cannot fail with God on our team.

Ok you night owls hear this:** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ** ABIOTIC OIL vs. PEAK OIL: THE DEBATE IS ON The much anticipated debate between Michael C. Ruppert and Jerome Corsi, Ph.D. will take place live on George Noory's Coast to Coast AM, January 12th from 11 PM to 2 AM Pacific Standard time. Ruppert is the publisher and editor of the newsletter From The Wilderness, www.fromthewilderness.com, and author of the landmark Crossing The Rubicon: The Decline of the American Empire at the End of the Age of Oil. Corsi is a frequent contributor to WorldNetDaily, and is also the co-author of both Unfit for Command and Black Gold Stranglehold. The two will debate this critical issue on one of America's favorite late night radio talk shows next Thursday evening. Check you local AM stations or XM#165.

micki, 39, excuse me? I have no bias in the matter you accuse me of, and I have plenty of evidence based on historical facts. Have you known me to practice the habbit of making statements that cannot be backed up? Everyone makes mistakes, but I try very hard to get my facts straight. I do not just jump on the bandwagon that sounds good to me! I will be happy to provide you with all the facts you want, if you are really interested.
Kathleen 41, The worst thing the Zionists do is to hide behind the entire Jewish population, using the holocaust, a story which itself is full of lies and is forbidden to investigate upon threat of inprisonment, to commit atrocities against the Palestinians. The Jewish people and the Zionists are two different creatures. I visit the Jews against Zionism website often, they are kind and compassionate people who want no part of the zionist movement and condemn it wholeheartedly. It is this zionist behavior that causes the backlash againgt all the Jewish people. Also, you cannot trust anything bush says about any subject. There is always an ulterior motive.
WTF, even if those numbers were correct, I don't count service sector jobs because they don't PRODUCE anything that we can sell to offset the trade deficit. They are even importing nurses from the Philippines for God's sake! When my husband was in the hospital fully half of the staff were foreign. Don't any Americans want to work at hospitals anymore, or is it that the imports work cheaper?

Any body that has not seen the new DNC video can find it here you need Quicktime to view it.

Capt,
After reading your posts all I can say is "Now I'm mad."

Really mad. And I knew it was bad. Think of the people who have been sticking their heads in the sand. Jeeezz.

Sal, #39 was not micki, I believe it was the troll grabbing our ID's and posting shyt. Micki has more sense than that.

OK anyone willing to take bets on how long it will be before Abramoff is "Suicided", I give him 2 weeks max.

Capt 65,

It is important to remember that those jobs numbers are actually below what is needed to keep up with the population.

Also, the unemployment figures only count the people recently out of work. People out for more than 2 months (or is is 4?) are not included anymore. Also, this is just the number of people who are getting unemployment benefits. It doesn't include people just out of school who cannot find a job.

DEN, that didn't sound like the idiot troll who's been doing that, but if you are right I apologize to micki.

Sal, only micki knows for sure but the troll posted as me, hajji and Gerald. Juvenile at best.

Falwell Confirms Lewinsky
Affair Linked To
Israeli Lobby Intrigue

By Michael Collins Piper
1-6-6

Television evangelist Jerry Falwell couldn't resist bragging and finally admitting the truth: he and former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu did conspire-at a critical time-to trip up President Bill Clinton and specifically use the pressure of the Monica Lewinsky sex scandal to force Clinton to abandon pressure on Israel to withdraw from the occupied West Bank.

Regarding Falwell's recounting of how he worked with Netanyahu in undermining Clinton's pressure on Israel, Vanity Fair reported:

On a visit to Washington, D.C. in 1998, Netanyahu hooked up with Jerry Falwell at the Mayflower Hotel the night before [Netanyahu's] scheduled meeting with Clinton. "I put together 1,000 people or so to meet with Bibi [Netanyahu] and he spoke to us that night," recalls Falwell. "It was all planned by Netanyahu as an affront to Mr. Clinton." . . . The next day, Netanyahu met with Clinton at the White House. "Bibi told me later," Falwell recalls, "that the next morning Bill Clinton said, 'I know where you were last night." The pressure was really on Netanyahu to give away the farm in Israel. It was during the Monica Lewinsky scandal . . . . Clinton had to save himself, so he terminated the demands [to relinquish West Bank territory] that would have been forthcoming during that meeting, and would have been very bad for Israel." (END OF VANITY FAIR EXCERPT)

What Falwell did not mention-at least as reported by Vanity Fair-is that his meeting with the Israeli leader took place on the very evening before the mass media in America broke open the Monica Lewinsky scandal with much fanfare. Nor did Falwell mention-as this author pointed out at the time- was that one of Netanyahu's leading American media publicists, neo-conservative power broker, William Kristol, the first American media figure to publicly hint (in the days before the scandal was officially unveiled) that there were forthcoming revelations regarding a White House sex scandal that was about to be unleashed.
------------
You DON'T mess with Israel. Remember what happened to Kennedy right after he refused to go along with Israel's plans to aquire nuclear weapons? That, plus his intention to cut the central bankers, AKA The Federal Reserve, out of the money maker loop by forcing the US to resume minting it's own coin and returning to the gold/silver standard, as required by the constitution, sealed his fate.

DEN, the trolls stand out like a sore thumb! I know within the first line and scroll right past! That is an old tactic anyway, I guess they have run out of original ideas!

"So God visited a stroke upon Sharon because God is opposed to the Middle East peace process?"

This comment carries the implication that Sharon's approach was the only approach to reaching a lasting peace in the region. I'm defending neither Robertson nor his boneheaded comment, but it is thsi sort of white/black nonsense from supposed open minded people that has always turned me off of the "liberal" message.

Remainder of excert from above.

In addition, this author pointed out that at least six days before the first news of the Lewinsky scandal began breaking in the media at midnight on Tuesday, January 20, 1998, an advertisement appeared in the January 15 edition of the distinguished Washington Jewish Week newspaper accusing President Clinton of having "turned his back on Israel."

What made the advertisement so striking was that it used a rear view of President Clinton (first captured on video in 1996) that had never been published but which, in the wake of the Lewinsky scandal, became very familiar. It was a view of the president, his back to the camera, clearly taken from the video in which he was seen hugging the soon-to-be infamous Miss Lewinsky when she was in a receiving line at the White House some two years before. This was an image that Miss Lewinsky had bragged about among her associates prior to the time that the scandal broke. So clearly, Clinton's critics among the hard-line pro-Netanyahu forces in the United States-who sponsored the advertisement in question-were already tuned in to the fact of the Lewinsky-Clinton liaison and of the fact that it was soon to be unleashed against the president to undermine him.

This author can now reveal, for the first time, that two figures at the very highest level of the Clinton White House were personally given copies of The Spotlight's articles regarding these matters and that, at the time, they quietly acknowledged that the articles were "probably right."

The fact that Jerry Falwell's acknowledgment of how the Lewinsky affair was used as a club against Clinton-in tandem with "Bibi" Netanyahu's appearance at the White House, following the meeting with Falwell-was published in Vanity Fair is interesting in and of itself. That magazine is owned by the far-flung publishing empire of the billionaire Newhouse brothers ("Si" and Donald) whom Forbes dubbed the 25th richest family in America and who are known to be generous contributors to the Anti-Defamation League and other elements of the pro-Israel lobby. --
---------
Falwell, a Christian? These people are as foul and vile as they come.

Time for mommy to hide the booze? Hiccup! Urp!.

I was thinking about the NSA this morning. Think of the career people at NSA who have been trying to do a fairly honest job for their country. They always thought they worked for the people. Now they work for Bush and his administration.

Think about working on something and realizing that what you are doing is illegal and you are ordered to continue. Then think about knowing that you could go to prison for what you are doing. And then think about realizing that your president and his administration are ordering certain activities to be done and if you end up in trouble...they don't care. They will sell you down the river for their own needs.

And then you remember that the POW camps in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Cuba were ordered to do things that were against the Geneva Conventions and some soldiers went to jail. And the Bush administration to this day demands the right to torture.

And think of the rendition policy and the fact that there are people within the CIA that may end up in prison for committing crimes while working for the CIA. They were doing what was ordered. Where are Cheney and Bush when they need help?

Bush and his administration demand the right to spy on Americans even though it is illegal. And they won't go to jail you will. Think about that.

#60
...jobs are up...

what jobs are up exactly? fast food workers? great. look at the manufacturing industry- dwindling. auto industry - dwindling. aircraft industry - dwindling. oh, you know which jobs ARE up? the construction industry and the tree trimmer industries, except in those fields americans are being replaced with illegal immigrant workers who are willing to work for less -
where did you get your info that jobs are up? because I don't think that they are.

#75
It doesn't matter. I have to believe the prosecution has recorded everything he is saying. The damage he could do to people has been done. I'm sure he's even dotted the i's and crossed the t's for them. Everything is tied up with a neat little bow. Evidence made pretty.

I meant #76

Drunken poster screwed up the link, try this Hic!

Oh damn...nevermind.

Jeanne, what bothers me more than the govt. spying is the attitude exibited by intelligent, middle class people like the friends I described the other day, that it is perfectly OK by them! Remember 25 years ago when it was the Communist threat we were under? There was nothing worse than the thought of Communist Russia spying on it's citizens and arresting people to throw in jail without charges or trial, forever. "Oh, that could NEVER happen here" everyone thought! 9/11 sure has been a great tool, all around.

DEN, #78

"It is not the SODOMY,
It is the HYPOCRISY
That GETS to me!

Jesus didn't have much to say about sodomy,
but he SURE had a lot to say about HYPOCRITES!"

-Ron Shock, regarding the downfall of Jim and Tammy Baker's PTL club and religeous themepark.

Bugger the Trolls!

-T

American Soldiers

More American soldiers are killed in the Middle East.

2,453 American soldiers have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan for Bush's evil lies.

American Soldiers

More American soldiers are killed in the Middle East.

2,453 American soldiers have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan for Bush's evil lies.

Saladin,
I remember you posting about the price of beer going up. I think they always kept the price of Vodka down in the Soviet Union. That made for a healthy nation.

Jeanne, if the price of beer ever goes over $8.00 a six pack, I know that sounds pricey, but you get what you pay for, I am able to make my own! It's fun and cheap.

Look James, I found all the New Job Opportunities
In America!

And you won't need a college education!

Saldin,

With the "Buck Fush" and "Impeach Now!" stickers on the Jeep, I continuously invite commentary from the masses.

When I point out the change in their own (blind) support for the war in Iraq, the socio-economic policies that are driving them further and further into debt and threatening their own healthcare, as well as their jobs IN the healthcare profession, all I get is "Well, it's just disrespectful..."

And then we discuss the increase in food, fuel, rents and just about every other price increase, (except for beer, of course) invasion of privacy, erosion of civil liberties. "Well, that's the cost of security."

Members of my family, just across the river from Ohio, (Brother's Chemo and Radiation in WV, cutting off the extreme tip of Ohio is quickest) were taken aback when I asked them if they had all their ID and that they'd BETTER, since they're trying to pass a law that anyone must show ID when approached by Law Enforcement, for ANY reason. (Papers, please!)

Even Lindsey Graham (repug, SC) has spoken of the changing attitudes of his constituents from "the most patriot state I know..." toward the foibles of Bushco.

Question is...will he or any other member of congress put such words into holding Bunnypants accountable for their actions and/or inactions?

My guess is that they'll do whatever their handlers tell them is most likely to get them re-elected without strangling the influx of corporate (bribes) "contributions".

-T

#78 DEN, if they can't defeat us, they join us in name only but not a loving heart that loves all of God's children.

From: Antiwar.com

Libby, Franklin, the OSP and Sibel Edmonds - What's It All About?

`DeLay Inc.' Lobbying Firm Has Links to Three Capital Scandals

Jan. 6 (Bloomberg) -- Representative Tom DeLay's campaign to get Republicans to dominate Washington lobbying may have worked too well for Alexander Strategy Group.

The firm has links to no fewer than three of the scandals convulsing the U.S. capital. One partner, former DeLay aide Tony Rudy, is now a focus of a federal investigation of lobbyist Jack Abramoff. The group's founder, former DeLay chief of staff Ed Buckham, set up a South Korea junket for his old boss that violated ethics rules. And the firm represents a company whose owner, prosecutors allege, bribed former Representative Randy Cunningham.

Alexander Strategy's links to lawmakers are an outgrowth of a decade-long effort by DeLay, 58, to force lobbying firms to hire more Republicans, who can direct corporate money to the party. The system, known as ``DeLay Inc.'' or ``the K Street Project,'' has fueled a surge of money in politics, and critics say it has also created the potential for greater corruption.

``Alexander Strategy Group is really part of DeLay Inc. and Abramoff Inc.,'' said Melanie Sloan, a former federal prosecutor who now heads Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, an ethics watchdog group. ``There have been some aggressive prosecutors trying to unravel those ties. I am sure that Alexander Strategy is going to have more than Tony Rudy as a problem when this is over.''
-----------------------
Al Capone went down so will DeLay.

Congress asks Whitehouse Straight out

Whitehouse, no doubt considers it "Rhetorical"

__________________

In light of recent disclosures by NBC that CNN Reporter Christiane Amanpour's telephone calls may have been intercepted by the Bush Administration -- a fact caught by AmericaBLOG's John Aravosis. The Democrats asked for information regarding whether any reporters or other members of the media have had phone calls intercepted under the NSA program.

The congressmembers also asked the President to propose statutory language that would specifically authorize the program so that it could be considered as part of a possible extension of the USA PATRIOT Act scheduled to sunset Feb. 3.

-Raw Story
___________________

Absolute Despotism

antiwar.com for January 6, 2006 has several great articles in the Highlights and News sections.

Katrina vanden Heuvel

I am honestly impressed by you Regulars' passion on politics; however misguided I think you are on most, but not all, issues.

This being a politcial Blog, I've come to accept your preachings, mostly to each other, as outlets for your passions & for ?entertainment? However, when I see comments on economic matters, the urge to jump in and `shock and awe' you just kills me but...I need to exercise will power and just Let it Be. As this is the start of 2006, with my own Predictions on the line, I do want to interject some general observations:

The economy is clearly doing well OVERALL and no amount of spin can change that. When you even `jump' on this `battle', perhpas the least worthy of a 100, you lose and further discredit the Left.

The stock market is up a bunch in just 4 traading days. I spend at least an hour a day and prepare my investments accordingly. What could you do by spending an hour, or even a half-hour, per day on studying up on investments? Most of you know next to nothing; remember what I declared as to Zero potential to learn Economics? The incremental return you would get would be phenominal.

James Ha: Your logics on economics is below Zero! The only thing you got right is the Quiz but did you act on it? Being 27% invested in the Energy sector, I am already up by 4~5% for 2006 due to overall rising market and an even better rise in Energy.

Please don't attack anything I say. I mean all of you well personally (not politically) and I am, like you, a little pissed off at some of the Right that abuses David's hospitality.

Jack booted thugs snooping in your mailbox? Oh yea, govt. paranoia is getting worse. Everywhere

From that liberal bastion Free Market News

Go-go GDP

It's not just that the growth in GDP over the past four years has been skewed towards investors -- it has -- it's that much of it is a chimera. Defense spending, consumer spending -- financed largely by debt -- and rising home values have been the growth engines for the current recovery. Author James Howard Kunstler estimates that from "2001 through 2005, consumer spending and residential construction had together accounted for 90 percent of the total growth in GDP."

That growth hasn't been free and isn't sustainable. U.S. household debt, adjusted for inflation, rose by more than a third over the last four years. Mortgage and consumer debt equals 115 percent of after-tax income, and the amount American families spend paying off those debts is at an all-time high of almost 14 percent of their paychecks. In other words Americans are all paying a hefty monthly debt tax to banks and creditors on top of what we already pay the government.

Wealth, wealth everywhere

The National Review's Jerry Bowyer blames the "mainstream media" for "obsessing over the level of debt of the average American family, which they only look at in a vacuum, [and] completely ignoring the growth of family net worth." If they were honest, he argues, they'd have to acknowledge "the highest level of household wealth in our nation's history."

But much of that newfound wealth is in our homes, and all signs point to a bubble in the sky-high housing market (although it varies widely by region). According to the Center for Economic Policy Research [PDF] -- a progressive think tank -- the current market "has created more than $5 trillion in bubble wealth, the equivalent of $70,000 per average family of four." Housing prices are way above their historic pattern when you look at demand, population and earnings. What's more, the price for home sales has been way out of step with the rental market -- something one wouldn't expect to see if the high prices were based on economic fundamentals. The estate might be real, but its value isn't.

Unemployment

The headline is that the unemployment rate is low and holding steady at around 5 percent. But it's a tricky statistic: people who give up trying to find a job aren't counted, nor are people who are underemployed. Private sector jobs have increased by only about 1 percent since the start of the current economic recovery. Four years into previous recoveries, private sector job growth had averaged almost 9 percent and it's never been less than 6 percent. According to EPI, "The percent of the population that has a job has never recovered since the recession and is still 1.3 percent lower than in March 2001."

The data tell the tale. While one can spin all day long according to his or her worldview and offer up grand theories about Americans' pessimism, the truth is that for about eight out of 10 people on American payrolls, the economy sucks.

Add in high fuel costs and large, highly visible rounds of layoffs in some of America's leading firms, especially in the auto industry. Then consider the latest tactic sweeping across corporate America: using bankruptcy to "seek relief" from pension and health care obligations. As the Wall Street Journal reported:

Whether an assembly-line worker or middle manager, an employee can no longer assume that promises made earlier -- health benefits or fully funded pensions -- will be there when he or she retires. The loss of security arising from Chapter 11 reorganizations has introduced a new element of anxiety into the lives of baby boomers who are approaching 60, not to mention younger workers just starting out in their careers.

That's just part of a growing trend. Of course, last year's bankruptcy reform bill will prevent most working families from enjoying similar "relief."

None of these issues are of any concern to people earning a couple of hundred grand to discuss the economy on Fox or MSNBC. Contra the right's liberal media conspiracy theories, the major media from across the spectrum are reporting the good news about America's booming economy with zeal.
----------
Happy, you are obviously one of those people who can't see the forest for the trees! Most of the growth and wealth they rave about is nothing but false credit illusion. But bushbots are completely oblivious to that fact. Let's not screw up the fantasy with reality! I assume you consider yourself a conservative republican, if that is the case I advise you to read articles by true conservatives like Richard Daughty of 321 Gold. He will set you straight, if that is even remotely possible.

Al Jazeera Asks Questions About Israeli Intelligence Ties To 911

a number of intelligence officials have raised questions about BIN LADEN's capabilities. "This guy sits in a cave in Afghanistan and he's running this operation?" one CIA official said at the time. "It's so huge. He couldn't have done it alone."

BIN LADEN himself denied any involvement in the attacks. The BBC published his denial in which he clearly stated: "I was not involved in the September 11 attacks in the United States nor did I have knowledge of the attacks. There exists a government within a government within the United States. The United States should try to trace the perpetrators of these attacks within itself..." (Most of us never heard that quote on our nightly newscast).

Happy wrote:

Most of you know next to nothing; remember what I declared as to Zero potential to learn Economics?

And exactly what are your qualifications? The fact that you spend "at least an hour per day" on your investments? (That in and of itself sounds like bullshit to me.) Does that make you Warren Buffet or something?

And the guy who made the phony admission was obviously NOT OBL!

Sal #107,

I would've done that myself, but I didn't think Happy was worth it. Good job.

happy:: James Ha: Your logics on economics is below Zero! The only thing you got right is the Quiz but did you act on it?

what the devil are you talking about? I never put forth any logics on economics . and while I'm happy for you that you're doing so well, I honestly don't care about your investments. I DID say something about jobs, to which Saladin posted a very good link located at #96

Don, I do not like it when total strangers draw conclusions about people they do not even know. He assumes that everyone posting here is a socialist liberal with no economic sense whatsoever. I would challenge his assertions any day of the week because I DO have knowledge of the economic climate and the hurricane on the horizon. But as that article pointed out, financially comfortable people have no clue what it is like out there for the everyday WalMart shopper. I would suggest he read the book "Nickel and Dimed" by Barbara Ehrenreich, but I know he never would. This lady put her money where her mouth is, she walked the walk, but the happy's of the world couldn't care less because all is rosy in their little world.

Jack Abramoff, Super Zionist

As usual, the corporate media is ignoring the larger picture, this time in regard to the criminal Jack Abramoff.

But, as the blogger Juan Cole, professor of History at the University of Michigan, tells it Abramoff represents something far more sinister and threatening: he is a super-Zionist, according to Mike Issikoff of Newsweek, and not only did he spread his illicitly gained money around the halls of Washington, but the illegally occupied territories of the West Bank as well.

Abramoff spokesman Andrew Blum told Issikoff that his boss is an especially strong supporter of Israel and has tried to find ways to help Israelis and others to be less susceptible to terrorist attacks. Of course, terrorist attacks is code for the Palestinians defending themselves (and retaliating) against the encroachment and violence of Jack's sociopathic friends who invade and shoot up Arab villages with Uzis (often courtesy of the Israel Defense or rather Occupation Forces) and shoot solar panels on roofs of buildings, torch automobiles, shatter windowpanes and windshields, destroy crops, uproot trees, abuse merchants and owners of stalls in the market, and other various forms of terrorist activity (see B'Tselem for more disgusting details).

It should be no secret to those who pay attention that extremely (and fanatically) strong supporters of Israel control the foreign policy of the United States government. Unfortunately, a whole lot of Americans don't pay attention.

Jack Abramoff, super Zionist, is emblematic of the indisputable fact that Jabontinsky Likudites have subverted our government, although the corporate media would have you believe all of this is simply a garden variety corruption scandal. Moreover, it should come as no surprise that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee is able to steal American secrets and fork them over to Israel and this act of treason is essentially little more than a blip in the corporate media news cycle. As Juan Cole notes elsewhere, AIPAC has a virtual stranglehold over the government in the United States.
-----------
The love of money may be the root of all evil, but zionism represents the branches that produce such rotten fruit. Everywhere it raises it's ugly head, the innocent Jewish people are made to suffer. Zionists sacrificed their own people to the cause before, I have no doubt they are perfectly willing to do it again.

Happy-

spare us the ownership society tripe

From: Unknown News

Justice Dept asks court to abandon US system of justice
by Neil A. Lewis, The New York Times
Summary: The Department of Justice is seeking the immediate dismissal of over 180 cases filed by Guantanamo inmates, arguing that prisoners have no right to habeas corpus. That's the right to challenge one's imprisonment, one of the key foundations of our justice system since centuries before America was founded. A last-minute amendment to the anti-torture bill says that Guantanamo prisoners have no such rights.

Jan. 4, 2006

WASHINGTON, Jan. 3 -- The Bush administration notified federal trial judges in Washington that it would soon ask them to dismiss all lawsuits brought by prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, challenging their detentions, Justice Department officials said Tuesday.

The action means that the administration is moving swiftly to take advantage of an amendment to the military bill that President Bush signed into law last Friday. The amendment strips federal courts from hearing habeas corpus petitions from Guantanamo detainees.

On Tuesday, the Justice Department sent notices to all the federal judges in Washington who have cases involving challenges brought by Guantanamo inmates, informing them of the new amendment. The officials said the department would file formal notices within several days asking the judges to dismiss more than 160 cases involving at least 300 detainees.

If the administration wins its argument it would mean an abrupt end to a wide effort by dozens of lawyers to use the right of habeas corpus in federal courts to challenge the imprisonment of suspected terrorists at Guantanamo as enemy combatants.
-----------
Will this set a precedent? Will habeas corpus then be eliminated for anyone who opposes the US Govt? bushco has threatened to prosecute the NY Times for revealing that American citizens are being illegally spied upon, while the illegal spying continues unchecked. Has our country been shanghaied and moved to Red China while I was asleep??

Lou Rawls dead at 72
CNN - 40 minutes ago
Lou Rawls sings the national anthem before Game 2 of the 2005 World Series in his Chicago hometown. (CNN) -- Lou Rawls, whose mellifluous baritone was featured on hits ranging from his own "You'll Never Find ...

Another RIP.

James, I just stumbled onto this article describing FBI actions against Urban Moving Sytems. I wonder what ever became of the info they collected. Did they know of these people and tried to capture evidence of their existance that would be incriminating, or were they honestly pursuing suspected terrorists? A very suspicious company UMS.

Sal #113,

...the happy's of the world couldn't care less because all is rosy in their little world.

More likely, his right palm is the only thing that's rosy.

Anyway, you're correct about the trolls in general on this blog. Very presumptuous little buggers.

Lew Rawls Rocked! He will be missed.

Absolute Despotism

"We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness –†That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government..."

~ The Declaration Of Independence

George Bush and his Party have asserted absolutely that they have total power granted by the Constitution to them to do whatever they decide is necessary to protect the American people. They have seized these totalitarian powers to spy massively upon the American people in total secrecy for totally secret reasons and in totally secret ways, to abrogate domestic laws and precedents and procedures to protect the rights of the American people, to abrogate Constitutionally legislated foreign treaties and agreements, to carry out massive kidnappings and transportations of citizens to foreign lands to be tortured and murdered in obvious violation of the laws of America under the Declaration of Independence and The Constitution, to carry out imperialist invasions and annihilations of foreign nations under the pretenses of Lies that they were threats to our existence, to carry out massive other war crimes of every conceivable form, to terrorize ("Shock and Awe") the world by veiled threats of nuclear attacks and conventional annihilations from the skies, to carry out a secret war against science to distort and eviscerate its findings and conclusions of fact, and to launch a Permanent World War Against undefined "terrorists" and "Evil Ones" which in turn is used in false justification of the overturning of the Declaration of Independence, The Constitution and the laws and treaties of the American people in all of these and many other ways.

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Commander Codpiece will lose the "I am king of the world" argument if the premise is tested. The real question is: has it been too long? Did the character of America die when the Supreme Court decided Bush v. Gore? We have clearly lost our way but have we also lost our ways, our values, our heart and soul dedicated to peace and freedom?

capt

DEN, The 5 Israelis that were arrested filming the collapse of the WTC's were sent back to Israel, even though witnesses reported seeing them dancing and celebrating the event. The videos they took are now classified, the Govt. refuses to release them, just like the Pentagon videos. I wonder, is it possible that those guys actually caught on film the first plane that crashed into the WTC? And if so, is that why they are keeping the tapes classified? That would definitely prove that they had prior knowledge of the attack and were set up and ready to go. They admitted on Israeli television that they were there to film and document the event. The only answer we ever got was "information pertaining to the Israelis is classified." Typical response from a lying govt!

I would suggest he read the book "Nickel and Dimed" by Barbara Ehrenreich, but I know he never would.

that's a very good point, and it should be elaborated on - for him the economy IS good, so of course he will say "the economy is good", all the while either not aware that for many it is NOT good, or else not caring that for many it is not.
I have a friend who hates the mere thought of a welfare state; he thinks all social programs should be eliminated and people should either succeed or fail based on their own moxie. but, he is not afraid to come right out and say so.
I think that many 'haves' in the govt. don't care that people don't have enough to eat or a place to live or any meds, but they can't come right out and say "too bad", because it's all the 'have-nots' that are their constituents - they want all the poverty people to quietly go away but they are unwilling to admit it - thus, the endless political bickering about funding for social programs. it would be a simple matter to create many good jobs and feed everyone here in america, but the 'uber-haves' can't have that! because it goes against their grain to not squeeze every drop of everything for themselves while at the same time being afraid to admit it.

OH! we didn't mean to spy on her...it was inadvertent maybe

Did y'all catch where an unidentified senior U.S. intelligence official has assured CNN that Christiane Amanpour had never been "targeted" for eavesdropping, but he also said that if any of her calls had been recorded "inadvertently" the recordings would have been deleted because that is the "law."

Holy baloney! How can you "inadvertently" wiretap someone -- unless, of course, the wiretaps were meant for her husband, Jamie Rubin, and the bushspooks even screwed up THAT and "inadvertently" eavesdropped on Amanpour, too.

Carol's prediction of "doom" may be prescient.

Diplomacy stalled

In the protracted standoff between Iran and the West over Tehran's nuclear program, diplomacy appears to be heading down a dead-end, but it's not too late to reverse the situation.

Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad has declared his country's position on nuclear development non-negotiable, and this week Iran refused to attend a meeting in Vienna called by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for Tehran to explain its latest move - a plan to resume nuclear-fuel research next week.

There is a widespread belief that Iran is bent on building a nuclear arsenal, although it insists that its program is a peaceful one and

in line with its obligations as a member of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

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What if Iran is telling the truth? I think they (whomever the powers that be - are in Iran) might make that play. Imagine the support they could rally, worldwide.

You know that Busheney will trot out pictures of "dual-use" equipment and torture confessions out of "captured" scientists after an Am-Israeli invasion.

Will Busheney actually bring the WMD’≥ when they invade?

Will any other country actually believe the liars.

capt

Happy sez: I'm RICH biach! I got mo money, mo money! countin my money, countin money. Gonna go buy me a Hummer to carry my money, HA!

James, I do not like the idea of a welfare state either, but neither do I like the overt hindrance tactics they use to PREVENT people from the ability to make it by their own moxie. Whenever I hear people make the claim that this is capitalism, like it or not, it makes me want to gag! Capitalism is fine when it is fairly supported and everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed. The facist style corporatism that is the reality in this country guarantees that only those with money will continue to make money. The rest will slave away and die with nothing, and their children will do the same.

All I have t