If you're ever in NYC and happen to visit Ground Zero, you will most likely meet the folks from 911Truth.org. They have been dealing with a lot of police hassling yet they are breaking no laws as the perimeter around Ground Zero is public property. Of course, you'll probably have to go to court to find this out because the police don't care what freedoms the constitution grants Americans. You can also watch a quicktime movie from June 2004 taken at Ground Zero.

Another interesting website to check out is the 9-11 Visibility Project.

The way I look at, if I was forced to hear, read and wallow in every detail of the former president's private sex life which I had no interest in whatsoever, then I feel that all citizens of this republic are entitled to have all of our questions answered concerning September 11, 2001. It affected everyone. I had to breathe it. I want to know the truth. I want to know what happened to WTC 7. Where was NORAD? I want to know why George Bush lied about seeing the first plane hit 2 times. I'm sick of the lies. I am sick of the GOP thinking they own 9/11.

Oh no they don't. How dare they.

The Real Anarchists

So today Rudy Guiliani told viewers on "The View" that people are either with him or with the nazi's and then he went on to tell viewers how lucky we were that Bush was preznit when terrorists hit NY on 9/11 because Al Gore wouldn't have known what to do. Of course Al Gore was only VP for 8 years and wouldn't have a clue who to call while Bush admirably demonstrated that he took cover in a school for over a half hour risking the lives of hundreds of children before he took off on his plane to an airforce base where a bunch of CEOs were having a golf outing in an underground bunker, but that was just a coincidence.


According to James C. Moore, Co-Author of "Bush's Brain" Karl Rove's plan is to get the Jews over to the Republican side because they want to take their money from the Democratic party. He wants tort reform so he can put rich lawyers who support Democrats out of business. He wants to put unions who support Democrats out of commission. Then he will continue to drain the national coffers off all the money until the government can no longer function and take care of its citizens. America will finally fail and become a Rovian, one party nation. Most people aren't paying attention to this. Will Rove win?

Rah Rah Bush! Rah Rah America!

It feels like we are living in a collection of dystopian novels happening all at once. The real anarchists are those who are in power right now.

It's First Lady Night! Woo, Woo

It's First Lady Night! Woo, Woo

Okay ladies, this is the big night we've all been waiting for. Tonight the grand lady of literature and education will speak to the RNC. Yes, that's correct girls, Laura Bush speaks in NYC at the RNC.

We've got to get ready. Lets get our hair up in the hair rollers so our curls will be just so for tonight. Have tons of hairspray on hand too. Find a cute little pastel, double knit, matchy, matchy pants suit and don't forget to get a scarf to match. Now for the most fun part, let's go find that cute little bibbed apron you absolutely must own. You know, the one with the ruffles on the shoulders. You still have time to launder it and iron it using lots of spray starch for that crisp clean look.

See, I wasn't kidding you, it's so much fun to get ready to listen to Laura. Just wait until you get all dressed and ready to sit down tonight to watch lovely Laura. You'll feel just like a woman of the 50's. Be sure to smooth out your apron as you sit down and keep your knees either tightly together or you legs crossed demurely. You will be all controlled and innocent. You will represent women who didn't have to use their minds for much of anything other than trying to look good and please their men. Just look lovely, obey, and keep your sweet shiny red lips shut tight.

Laura is getting ready for the big night too. The handlers are installing new batteries in her and programming her. She will walk out on the stage and smile to her comatose adoring fans. Laura's switch will then be turned on and she will look as though she is actually talking as she tells us what a hell of a swell guy she married. She'll tell us that "W" stands for "women". She won't tell us that in her "W's W- world" he wants to hit the default key and set women back to where they were about fifty years ago. She can be so coy that way. She will talk about her husband's faith and how he's been a gem of a dad to his two daughters that he seldom sees. She'll be such a little flirty vixen in her simplicity.

If, as Laura speaks, you begin to get a little nervous and uncomfortable about what you're hearing, don't fret. You should go into the kitchen and bake a batch of cookies for the kids, or maybe get your hubby another beer from the frig. Ask him if he'd like you to make him a sandwich or some other snack. See dears, when things get tough good women don't complain. The only thing a good woman does is spend her life trying to please those around her. Women shouldn't have ambitions they should just follow assignments. Thinking can be so disturbing and tiring. I'm sure Laura would agree.

On a little personal note, there isn't a gun big enough to make me watch this drool tonight. Any woman who would stay married to a man like george bush and not recognize what is happening to our country due to his idiotic choices, has nothing to say that I need to hear. Too bad there wasn't another pre-season football game on TV tonight. That's what I did last night, after we got our hurricane list completed, I got a shower, put on my comfy night clothes, enjoyed a couple of martinis and watched my Dallas Cowboys play the Tennessee Titans. The Cowboys won.

See, I'm not exactly the type person that Laura would want to hangout with. And damn, I'm sure proud of that!

More on New Yorker's POV

Half of New Yorkers Believe US Leaders Had Foreknowledge of Impending 9-11 Attacks and “Consciously Failed” To Act; 66% Call For New Probe of Unanswered Questions by Congress or New York’s Attorney General, a New Zogby International Poll Reveals

On the eve of a Republican National Convention invoking 9/11 symbols, sound bytes and imagery, half (49.3%) of New York City residents and 41% of New York citizens overall say that some of our leaders "knew in advance that attacks were planned on or around September 11, 2001, and that they consciously failed to act," according to the poll conducted by Zogby International. The poll of New York residents was conducted from Tuesday August 24 through Thursday August 26, 2004. Overall results have a margin of sampling error of +/-3.5.

It's probably more than half. They didn't ask me. Most everyone I know in New York except for the very uninformed and very naive believe that the Bush Admin knew exactly what was happening in New York on 9/11. The WTC Attack was Bush's Pearl Harbor and they aren't going to let us forget it this week.

More Bitchin': France's WMD

by pissed off patricia

Oops sorry, that should be Frances' WMD.

Okay class, get out your map of Florida. See the big hole in the southern part of the state? That's Lake Okeechobee, one damned big lake too. Now lay your ruler so that it is across the top edge of the lake and draw a straight line due east to the coast. Okay you have drawn a line to my home. I am six miles inland. Now look at the projected path of hurricane Frances. Yes siree, that middle line in the cone intersects with the line you drew to my house.

This explains why we were out last night getting a few more supplies, like extra water, pet food, horrible canned food that we hope to goodness we never feel compelled to eat, and of course more batteries. There is some sort of comfort in owning tons of batteries if you live in the hurricane zone. If Frances doesn't make some serious path changes, we will be putting up the storm shutters Thursday or Friday, depending on where the storm is located by then. We invested in these little jewels five years ago and if we have to put them up this week it will be the first time. Seemed all this time that just owning them was some sort of hurricane repellant, but now I'm starting to wonder if they’ve lost their magical powers.

A hundred and twenty-five plus miles an hour wind can blow away pretty much anything except the sidewalk, and it can neatly remove the roof of a home. If this should happen the two of us will be in our walk-in closet with Murphy, the medium sized dog, Fred the cat, who will be in a pet carrier and Lovey, the twenty year old white dove, who will also at that point be in a pet carrier. Most likely we will all be under the mattress taken from our bed. Now doesn't that sound cozy? It could be an interesting if not terrifying experience. I sure hope it doesn't happen.

Between now and the weekend we all wait and wonder. The Weather Channel will have lots of southern viewers this week. I dare say they will get more hits that the RNC from this neck of the woods.

Probably about Thursday or Friday I'll hang up my keyboard once again in the name of "hurricane preparedness", as we bring in all the patio and yard stuff and basically sweat to the music of fear, because we may be victims of Frances' Winds of Mass Destruction.

Despicable

by blondesense and pissed off patricia

We are collectively disgusted at how rethuglican delegates mocked senator kerry's service. If Bush doesn't call off his dogs, he is only painting himself as a sicker and more desperate presidential candidate.

"This is the Republicans idea of "support American troops". Like small children they made fun of Senator Kerry's service to his country by wearing little purple heart bandages. Despicable!
Go fight in a war, come home and be made fun of. Despicable!"
-Pissed Off Patricia

"The hubris, the unmitigated gall and the collective spittle spat on the faces of the brave men and women who have served our country by republican delegates who support a most hawkish regime only goes to show you just how low the GOP values the military, their families and their service."
-Blondesense

Via CNN and Kicking Ass

More Swift Lies

Another MUST READ today by Dana Milbank at the Washingtonpost.com

"A Swift Shift in Stories"

Here's a little taste to make you hungry for more.

"Four days ago, retired naval Rear Adm. William L. Schachte Jr. seconded accusations made by the group Swift Boat Veterans for Truth seeking to discredit Democratic presidential nominee John F. Kerry's record in Vietnam. But since then, Democrats have discovered that Schachte is also a long-standing supporter of President Bush and a lobbyist whose client FastShip Inc. recently won a $40 million grant from the federal government."

Are you salivating yet? Go read it all. Chow down!

The RNC So Far

It's more like the NY Tourist Bureau Convention than the RNC so far. Seriously. Former Mayor Ed "how am I doing" Koch, a democrat, spoke at the convention, then former NYC mayor Rudy Guiliani a moderate republican gave a rah rah speech for NY, then we'll have Gov. Pataki who except for his death penalty, which hasn't been used yet and probably never will be used, is essentially a democrat compared to the Bushites. This is New York's PR Team. Even if they disagree with Bush politically, they won't tell because they are out to show the world that New York has come back since 9/11 thanks to Republican leadership. yawn. Rudy said on CNN this morning that he will always be mayor of NYC.

Moderate Republican speakers will be touting Bush as a good 'leader' because they can't really talk about how much they admire his social policies... and they had to think of something!

Rudy Guiliani and George Pataki are looking for some sort of future in national politics so they jumped on the Bush bandwagon although ideologically they have very little in common. New York is a far cry from Texas. Our republicans and their republicans are different animals. We have republocrats. I guess it's all politics because it makes no sense to a thinking person.

PS. What the hell is Don King doing at the RNC? He just called Bush a "white liberal". hahahahhahahhahaha. What's he been smoking?


Wow, it's A31 day in NY. Check it out.

UPDATE: I was just visiting Dark Window and Pete M., who slays me, has a lot to say about September 11th coming early this year. Ho ho ho.

The festivities will include John McCain reading some favorite passages from My Pet Goat and Rudy Giuliani hopping from one part of the stage to another to demonstrate how Mr. Bush so skillfully evaded the terrorists that day.

There's even talk that Zell Miller will hide behind the podium during his keynote address to remind voters of Dick Cheney's role after the attacks.

Bitchin'

by pissed off patricia

~ Some quotes by the pretzelnit from Friday's New York Times article:

"He (the pretzelnit) said that in North Korea's case, and in Iran's, he would not be rushed to set deadlines for the countries to disarm, despite his past declaration that he would not "tolerate'' nuclear capability in either nation. (See, it's less scary to invade a country without nuclear weapons, oh say like, Iraq) He (the same pretzelnit ) declined to define what he meant by "tolerate.'' (Yeah, a definition would be nice to have here. Are American lives going to be involved? We need clues on this one.)

"I don't think you give timelines to dictators,'' Mr. Bush said, speaking of North Korea's president, Kim Jong Il, and Iran's mullahs. (He thought timelines were pretty neat when he was dealing with Saddam didn't he?) He said he would continue diplomatic pressure - using China to pressure the North and Europe to pressure Iran - and gave no hint that his patience was limited or that at some point he might consider pre-emptive military action." (Might we finish at least one of the two wars we are involved in before getting into another one or two?)

Too bad he didn't use this method when he was screaming and clawing to invade Iraq, huh? Maybe his decision and timing with Iraq was one of his misunderestimated miscalculations.


~ Speaking of miscalculations and flip flops, this from Bloomberg.com:

"NBC said Bush's interview with Matt Lauer was taped Saturday in Ohio and will be broadcast in segments. In a segment run earlier today, Bush said he doubted the U.S. can win the war against terrorism. (Did he have these doubts when he sent almost 1000 soldiers to die in this war in Iraq?) Asked by Lauer if he can win it during a second four-year term in the White House, the president said, ``I don't think you can win it. (Refer to my last question.) But I think you can create conditions'' so that ``those who use terror as a tool are less acceptable in parts of the world.'' (And where exactly might that be?)

Okay, if you don't give timelines to dictators and you don't feel we can win the so called war on terror, then WTF have these last couple of years been all about? Why have so many American soldiers died? I am so hearing echoes of Vietnam, the other war we couldn't win. We gotta get this guy out of office before he causes any more damage at home and around the world. Bush clearly has been a "catastrophic success". He has been overly successful in creating multiple catastrophes.


~ Check out what Paul Krugman says today in the NY Times. This is the last paragraph in his piece:

"Yesterday Mr. Bush, who took a "winning the war on terror" bus tour just a few months ago, conceded that "I don't think you can win" the war on terror. But he hasn't changed the national security adviser, nor has he dismissed even one of the ideologues who got us into this no-win situation. Rather than concede that he made mistakes, he's sticking with people who will, if they get the chance, lead us into two, three, many quagmires. "

Quagmires are not good for the health of our country and they are especially dangerous for our soldiers. So while speakers drone on this week at the Republican convention and the audience chants "four more years", chant back at them, "no more quagmires". War should not be declared as a perk for a president's career, or a financially profitable convenience for big corporations. War is not something you declare, send your military to fight and die for and then tell your country it's something that will not end and cannot be won.

War has been bush's only claim to fame. Had it not been for the attacks of 9-11, he would probably already be gone. Before the attacks, he was looking pretty pathetic and the "war on terror" basically saved his ass from the fire. It worked so well for him that he kept it going by convincing the already edgy public that if he didn't declare war in Iraq we would suffer the same attacks all over again, but this time it would be Saddam calling the shots.

From 9-11 on, the citizens of the US have been so paranoid that they believe anything he tells them if he can work the words "attack", "kill", or "danger" into his reasoning. Nobody cares if the reasons are verifiable. All they seem to care about is that we kill anyone and everyone who could kill us. The insanity of his strategy is evident to most of us, but it seems to elude so many more. I would suggest that we are not experiencing the fog of war. We are experiencing the fallout of the convenience of war, and it is deadly.

Another one bites the dust

I've always had a hard time trying to figure out why there would be such a thing as a Log Cabin Republican. Actually it took this blonde a lot of googling to find out what it meant. Why not be a moderate Democrat if you're gay? Maybe they enjoy pollution? They enjoy despicable foreign policy? They enjoy fiscal irresponsibility? They like faux cowboys? They are all tremendously wealthy? well I don't know... anyway I just love it when another republican congressman is forced out of the closet especially, most especially, yes especially especially when they have a high christian coalition rating of 92% and co-sponsor the federal marriage amendment. Well maybe I don't love it. I love the idea of it, but I feel bad for the person.

My blondesense tells me that the reason that many conservatives are uptight, rather mean and judgmental is this: They have so much to hide. They are fearful of being themselves in public. Someone told them that they are not worthy of love and respect unless they conform to certain specifications. It must be painful as hell to not be able to love yourself because you're a conservative republican and your ideals are impossibly high.

Conservatives have to pretend that they are better than everyone else. It's impossible to pull it off 24/7. People who elect to pretend that they are better than everyone else usually have the most to hide. It's really quite sad. They deserve our prayers. God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.

Here's to Pissed Off Patricia

Today Patricia was published in Buzzflash mailbag!

Hi BuzzFlash,

Don't you think that when Nixon was trying to shut down Lt. Kerry's movement back in the early seventies, if there had been any question about Lt. Kerry's medals, Nixon would have brought it to light? Remember Nixon sought out John O'Neill to go up against Kerry because he wanted someone to counter Kerry's comments. Nixon was President and we all know he had no problem using his power any way he wanted. He wasn't stupid and I believe the first thing he would have done would have been to check out Kerry's service record. At that time O'Neill never mentioned anything about Kerry not earning his medals. Why does he do it now?

The following is a quote from an article by Michael Kranish, a staff writer for The Boston Globe (6-17-03): "I don't ever remember finding anything negative about Kerry or hearing anything negative about him," Colson said. "If we had found anything, I'm sure we would have used it to discredit him.

(Charles "Chuck" Colson was counsel to President Nixon)

pissed off patricia
http://blondesense.blogspot.com/

Those were some very good points that "professional" journalists never bothered to think about. Bloggers have got it going on! Thanks for linking to blondesense!

Show us what democracy looks like!

More Bitchin'

by pissed off patricia


Many emotions circled around in me as I watched the protesters yesterday in New York. I had hoped there would be lots and lots and there sure were. When the cameras panned down the street and I saw that sea of people that seemed to reach into next week, I was amazed and excited. Then they started to march and chant and wave signs and you know what? I realized that I was crying. I think what made me cry was the realization that there were that many people from all over the US, and they thought just like I think. Maybe that's what a little lost whale feels like when it finds its own pod. Whatever, it felt so good.

Then as they marched in front of the Fox news studio they verbally expressed their, to put it politely, displeasure with Fox news. They even went so far as to leave little messages on the roadway for the Fox folks. The message was suggesting that intercourse was the proper action for Fox.

There was one lady protester who wore nothing above her waist but two little golden patches appropriately placed to cover two other little places on her breasts. I'm not sure what that was about but I hope she used a lot of sunscreen all around those two little golden patches.

Then the green dragon deal caught fire. The cops and firemen put out the fire and the march continued. (pictures)

The last group in the march carried lots and lots of cardboard, death-sized caskets draped in American flags. Pretty impressive display and pretty damn well on the mark, I might add.

So, did the giant protest march accomplish anything? Did it change any minds? I doubt it. But it sure did make the rest of us feel good to know that we aren't alone in our anger and confusion. It let us know that we aren't the only ones who are mad as hell, and the peacefulness of the march reaffirmed that we are good people who don't accept bad things. Another thing the march did was to show the rest of the world that not all Americans endorse what our country has become over the past four years. It told the world that not all Americans are war loving, lying, money-hungry, heartless pieces of shit. I think sending that message was important.

If anyone who attended that march yesterday reads this, thank you so very much. You really did show us what democracy looks like.

Just Say No To Bush

Hundreds of thousands of the faithful gathered in New York City on Sunday to remind the GOP that they are not packing for the rapture just yet.

"But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father." -Mark 13:32

...especially not George Bush.

Bitchin'

by pissed off patricia


What a weekend!


We had guests over to dinner Saturday night. We've known this couple for years and they are what I would call, deer in the headlights, Republicans. By that I mean that anytime anything is mentioned which in any way relates to politics, they just stare at you and don't say a word. I mean, they don't present their opinion, rather they go mute. God, that's frustrating. Of course my blackboard in my kitchen has "Kerry/Edwards 2004" written in big letters on it and little stars drawn all around the words. My frig sports a sign that says "Democrats Vote" accompanied by some little magnets, one of which states, "You're Certainly Entitled to Your Own Little Fucked Up View of Reality". Humm, come to think of it, maybe our guests were a little intimidated. lol

Sunday afternoon I was mesmerized as I was glued to the TV for four hours watching every minute of C-span's coverage of the NYC protest marchers. Best thing on TV in a long, long time. C-span didn't have a delay on the events or sound, so the viewers got to hear and see everything. C-span deserves a big round of applause for doing what TV used to do, and that's let us decide what we want to hear and see.

After enjoying the views of the protesters, my husband and I watched the video "Outfoxed". I had ordered it a couple of weeks ago from TvNewsLies.org . There wasn't a lot new to learn but it nicely showed you what is happening as big news is being controlled by big biz. Scary, scary stuff. Today I have loaned out the video to friends and hopefully it will travel all over our area. If you haven't seen it yet, you should.

So this morning I arise to discover a category four hurricane has it's eye aimed at my area of Fla. Whew, what next? This just may not be a great week. Nothing will be on TV news but the Republican convention. A big storm is churning this way. They predict that if the hurricane does come here it will be sometime the later part of this week. I'm feeling more stressed than pissed today, because just as soon as I get to say goodbye to the damned convention coverage, I could well be saying, Hello Hurricane Frances!

See what I mean? Life just may not be much fun down here for the next several days. First it's gonna suck and then it's gonna blow.

***

Read this article by Eleanor Clift
Here's a little taste to get you going:

"My Republican mole on Capitol Hill says the green light has gone out to Republicans to do whatever it takes to get Bush elected. “This is the way we hold onto power,” he says with disgust."

Food For Thought

The Thinker

It started out innocently enough. I began to think at parties now and then to loosen up. Inevitably though, one thought led to another, and soon I was more than just a social thinker. I began to think alone-"to relax," I told myself-but I knew it wasn't true. Thinking became more and more important to me, and finally I was thinking all the time.

I began to think on the job. I knew that thinking and employment don't mix, but I couldn't stop myself. I began to avoid friends at lunchtime so I could read Thomas Paine, John Locke, and Adam Smith. I would return to the office dizzied and confused, asking, "What is it exactly we are doing here?"


Things weren't going so great at home either. One evening I had turned off the TV and asked my wife about the meaning of life. She spent that night at her mother's.


I soon had a reputation as a heavy thinker. One day the boss called me in. He said, " I like you, and it hurts me to say this, but your thinking has become a real problem. If you don't stop thinking on the job, you'll have to find another job." This gave me a lot to think about. I came home early after my conversation with the boss. "Honey," I confessed, "I've been thinking. . ."

"I know you've been thinking," she said, "and I want a divorce!"


"But Honey, surely it's not that serious."

 
"It is serious," she said, "You think as much as college professors, and college professors don't make any money, so if you keep on thinking we won't have any money!"
 
"That's a faulty syllogism," I said impatiently, and she began to shout.

 
I'd had enough. "I'm going to the library," I snarled as I stomped out the door. I headed for the library, in the mood for some Aristotle, with NPR on the radio. I roared into the parking lot and ran up to the big glass doors... They didn't open. The library was closed. To this day, I believe that a Higher Power was looking out for me that night. As I sank to the ground clawing at the unfeeling glass, whimpering, a poster caught my eye. "Friend, is heavy thinking ruining your life?" it asked. You probably recognize that line. It comes from the standard Thinker's Anonymous poster. Which is why I am what I am today: a recovering thinker.

 
I never miss a TA meeting. At each meeting we watch a non-educational video; last week it was "Porky's." Then we share experiences about how we avoided thinking since the last meeting. I still have my job, and things are a lot better at home.

 
Life just seemed .... easier, somehow, as soon as I stopped thinking. Soon, I will be able to vote Republican....


My good friend and neighbor, Pat sent me this gem this morning via email

Lady Bush Speaks Out. Get Thee a Xanax. Get Thee A Double on the Rocks.

Laura Bush doesn't think it was very nice of John Kerry to say that her husband shouldn't have sat in the classroom for 7 minutes. "And I think what my husband did was perfectly appropriate. I think it was the right thing to do in front of the children." Bullshit. Kids are quite flexible. She should have paid attention to hers when they were growing up and she would know that. And apparently it was ok that the whole fucking country derided clinton for a bj in "front of the children".

Then the first lady went on to deride the protesters who will be in NYC: "We're all very lucky to live in a country where they have the right and opportunity to protest. As we look around the world, we know there are a lot of places that people don't have that right," the first lady said.

But then of course there are the tons of other countries where you CAN protest, biatch. This is NOT the only one. Aren't we getting tired of that line about that this is the only country where we have free speech? The Post says the Laura likes NY even though NY doesn't like her. She likes the designers in NY. Well isn't that special? She is just soooo in tune with typical Americans, now isn't she? Most NYers aren't event aware of who the fucking designers are. Somebody shoot me.

In an interview with Time, Laura is compared to Mamie Eisenhower who once said, "Ike runs the country; I turn the pork chops." I'm sorry, but you don't have to be a feminist to puke at the thought of what an insult that is.... unless of course you have been subject to some sort of lobotomy. She also told Time that the Swift Boat Vet ads weren't unfair. In that case, let's keep the ads coming against Bush. Where do I send my contribution?

She went on to explain that the reason she's against stem cell research is because it will take a long time to actually make it work. The cures won't be around the bend. So let me get this straight... we shouldn't bother to investigate something that would cure diseases because it will take too long? Does she know something we don't know? (Remember Bob Woodward reporting that Bush doesn't care what history will make of him, because we'll all be dead or that the Christian Right which is consulted by the WH is hell bent on armageddon and Jesus' return.)

"The first lady worries that America's political tone has gotten so nasty that "what we see people say about the presidential candidates — I don't think that's a really good role model for our children." " -NY Post

The First Lady of Stepford believes that we should pretend for the sake of our children that everything is just peachy keen. Of course when we get blindsided by an al Qaida attack again, they will just sit idly by and believe that there was just nothing anyone could do... we should expect our children to be so fucking dumb that they will somehow believe that the most 'powerful nation in the world' had no way to see that it was coming and there was no way that anything could be done to stop it. Perhaps Mrs. Stepford-Bush has already been tested and on medication under the president's mental health initiative. The only way on earth that our children will be stupid enough to buy this drivel is if they are severely drugged, ill informed, brainwashed, under-educated, drafted into the military and shot with viles full of unknown chemicals.

On one hand she's worried about illiteracy and on the other hand she doesn't want children to know anything.

Ya wanna know what the really sad sad thing about all of this is? And it's sad. Go away if you don't want to cry. I won't be mad...




...about half of this country feels this way. They've drunk the koolaid of willful ignorance. Bush didn't cause a retarded country. A retarded country caused Bush.

****************
And in other typical contrary Republican news:

Former unpopular mayor and on his way out of NYC until after 9/11, Rudy Guiliani who is a pro-choice Republican and makes no bones about it and boringest NY governor ever, George Pataki who cut taxes, brought back the death penalty while supporting gay and abortion rights and gun control will be speaking on behalf of the GOP at the convention. WHA????? Read it again. Even Republicans in NY are not your typical Bush backing Republicans. There are no right wing christians up this way and if there are, they keep it to themselves. Most NYers (those with at least 2 brain cells to rub together of either party) are furious with Guiliani and Pataki for supporting Bush because of the way the administration shit on NY after 9/11.

....and yes, dammit, I am pissed off today. I read the paper today and they are trying to make us believe that everything is just fine and the protesters are somehow misguided fools. bah.

Say It Ain't So

Did you guys read this from CNN's Inside Politics? (it's down towards the bottom of the article)

And finally today, we offer you this unconfirmed gem of a rumor from the New York Post, our favorite newspaper in the whole wide world. Apparently the good folks at Page Six are told by their well-placed sources that GOP delegates are all abuzzagogg that Dick Cheney will resign at the convention for health reasons. That's right, he's gonna resign, sparking a prime-time floor battle that will result in a draft movement for Sen. John McCain, described by the Post as a "bigger war hero than John Kerry."

This better not be true. Although I wouldn't be surprised. It's from the NY Post though.

Bush Lies About HIS Service

In 1978, Bush, while running for Congress in West Texas, produced campaign literature that claimed he had served in the US Air Force. According to a 1999 Associated Press report, Bush's congressional campaign ran a pullout ad in the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal that declared he had served "in the US Air Force and the Texas Air National Guard where he piloted the F-102 aircraft."

...He had only been in the Air National Guard. But when AP asked Bush if he had been justified in claiming service in the Air Force, Bush, then the governor of Texas and a presidential candidate, said, "I think so, yes. I was in the Air Force for over 600 days." ...

...Anyone in the Air National Guard is always considered a guardsmen and not a member of the active-duty Air Force, according to an Air Force spokeswoman in the Pentagon. A National Guard member may be called to active duty for pilot training or another temporary assignment and receive active-duty pay at the time, but they remain Guard members. -David Corn, The Nation

Here is a photograph published on the Presidential Library site of George H.W. Bush. We can clearly see that in this photograph taken sometime before his promotion to 1st Lt. in 1970, George W. Bush is wearing an Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (AFOUA) and a Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (SAEMR) just below his pilot wings. According to a just-completed investigation by Walt Starr, Bush's unit (the 111th Fighter Intercept Squadron / 147th Fighter Intercept Group) did not receive its first AFOUA until 1975. For weeks, the media has put John Kerry's 5 medals under a microscope. Now we learn that George Bush was so ashamed of his undistinguished service record that he had himself photographed with a ribbon he NEVER earned. That makes Bush an IMPOSTOR.

USA TODAY: What explains the apparent gap in the president's Guard service in 1972-73, a period when commanders in Texas and Alabama say they never saw him report for duty and records show no pay to Bush when he was supposed to be on duty in Alabama?

Since February, the White House has banned all Guard and military commanders outside the Pentagon from commenting on Bush's records or service. Requests for information must go to the Pentagon's Freedom of Information Act office.

The Pentagon last week responded to a 4-month-old request from USA TODAY for additional records from Bush's files by sending another copy of documents that were released by the White House in February. The documents do not address the unexplained year in Bush's Guard service or his decision to stop flying.

The Associated Press filed a lawsuit this summer requesting copies of Bush's military records stored in a Texas archive on microfilm. It sought information that might explain why Bush did not take his flight physical and whether he showed up for duty in Alabama in the fall of 1972, AP spokesman John Stokes said.

Why do you think Bush's guard service is such a secret? Why do you think that the press is being so silent about the questions?

Oh What The Hell

A great big kick in the ass goes to Gwinnett County's Grayson High School in Georgia.

I live in the Town of Hempstead, NY. I grew up in the Village of Hempstead, NY. Apparently the school officials in Georgia have never heard of us as they sent a student home from school who sported a Tshirt that said "Hempstead, NY 516" thinking it related to drugs. 516 is the area code... ooooohhhhhh. does that relate to drugs too? The zip is 11550 as I recall.

Hempstead is the nation's largest township, with 759,000 residents spread across 22 villages and more than 142 square miles. That's right, we have almost a million people squished here .

You must have heard of us! We have very nice ocean beaches and bay beaches as well. Good sailing and boating. Great golf courses and good schools in some areas where the tax base is high. The schools suck where the tax base is mostly minority people. (Something should be done about that.) We have pretty good sanitation service and the roads get plowed in snow storms. I guess with all the news we have gotten lately, a lot of people have heard of us. I have tried to get one of those shirts to wear to NYC tomorrow but they are no where to be found now. Waldbaums supermarket in my area had them for a while and no one thought anything of it until this news story hit.

Thanks again to astute reader Paul for bringing this up to me. I read it in the paper yesterday and thought it was a hoot. Today in Newsday they have a picture of that toy with the plane and the towers that I posted yesterday. Wow. That's bad.

Start Spreading the News...

It's starting. You've no doubt heard about the nude protesters for AIDS. Last night the NYPD arrested 250 cycling protesters out of a possible 5,000 cyclers. You can see pictures of the arrests here.
It is illegal to ride your bike more than 2 abreast in NYC and you must stay in the bike lanes. What is usually a monthly Critical Mass bike ride turned into an anti-RNC protest. Imagine that! Here's a first hand account from a cyclist about some err um... police intimidation.

I have been hearing a lot of complaining on the news about the protesters disrupting the city. The right wingers are just furious. I kind of don't blame them for being pissed off at the disruptions if they in fact are city denizens trying to get from point A to Point B, however, I find it odd that they don't have a clue as to the enormity of pissedoffedness of American people. They keep branding everyone as radical liberals and anarchists, but they are so wrong. And these protests aren't only about electing Kerry. They just don't get it. It's all about being anti-fascism. Anti-Bush.

For years the media has been ignoring bush protests. The only possible way to get attention is for hundreds of anti-bush rallies to convene on the city with hundreds of thousands of protesters in attendence. Bush has asked for this for 4 years. He is so afraid of NY that he will just pop in to make his speech on Thursday and then fly right out.

The real people to watch out for and be wary of in NYC during the RNC are the neonazi right wing groups who will be there to protest the protesters. They will do all in their power to make the peaceful protests turn into a riot.

Hookers with STDs are already in NY getting ready for the republicans.

UPDATE: Astute reader, Paul brought it to my attention that you'd better not mount your placards on sticks and use NJ Transit. Sticks are never ever allowed on trains. Sticks can cause damage to the trains and others. Paul recommends an umbrella since they are much safer.

Bitchin' on Saturday

by pissed off patricia


Seems to me that it's time for the US to issue a recall for American apples.

Lately there have been just too many "bad apples". First we found a few of these "bad apples" abusing prisoners at Abu Ghraib. Now we know there were bushels of them. Then bush admitted that he had made some "miscalculations" before he gleefully invaded Iraq. And I'm guessing he based those miscalculations on a few bad apples in the white house. Last night we were told, first by CBS correspondent Lesley Stahl, that there is a very bad apple stench coming from within the office of the Secretary of Defense at the pentagon.

I demand we find the cause of this inordinate number of bad apples. Perhaps the wisest thing to do is to recall and trash all the apples and start a new orchard.

In the words of the little guys on South Park, I call bad apple "shenanigans" on the USA!

Speaking of South Park, I bet there are more than a few of our soldiers in Iraq who would agree with Cartman when he says, "Screw you guys, I'm going home." I wouldn't blame them a bit.



And the beat goes on.

BuzzFlash sent out an email last night. Here's what it said:
Former TX Lt. Gov. Barnes Admits on Video That He Got George W. Bush, Son of a Rich Man, Into the TX Air Nat'l Guard While Kerry Volunteered to Face Enemy Fire in Vietnam (See "Barnes on Patriotism" Video)," goes to the source for this video, Austins4Kerry.com.


Go watch it. Former Texas Lt. Governor Barnes will tell you how he helped bush become an Olympic quality, dodge ball pro. Yes siree, this is how bush managed to jump ahead of all the poor suckers who were fairly awaiting their chance to get into the Air National Guard. The draft ball was rolling george's way, so Lt. Governor Barnes helped him dodge a ticket to Vietnam. Meanwhile, that wily John Kerry volunteered to go to Vietnam, but that doesn't count, because according to some angry vets, Kerry didn't bleed enough when he was injured. What a wimp! If, heaven forbid, Senator Kerry had been killed in Vietnam, would he now be dead enough? I wonder about this because there are those who question Max Cleland's patriotism, and this guy lost three limbs in that war. Sorry Max, a real patriot would have lost all four limbs. With your one unpatriotic remaining arm, roll you wheelchair to the back of the patriotism line.

In my opinion, anyone who went to that war, and most especially anyone who volunteered to go to that hellacious war, deserves whatever the hell awards he received. Just the fact that someone volunteered would make me want to give him a whole sack full of bravery awards. Then to go and be injured, I don't care if they bled a teaspoon of blood or a pint, gets them another ton or so of ribbons and medals. Americans were dropping like leaves on a crisp Autumn day during that war. So, anyone who volunteered for a mission like that is, in my book, not only a hero but one hell of a human being. They not only deserve all the medals they received and more, they deserve respect. But, and this a big but, if you could get a Lt. Gov. of your state to help you dodge the draft ball, well hell, you get to be president of the United States of America. You get to declare your very own damned war and you get to send men and women into another senseless bloody war while you boast of victory like a kid with a new sack of plastic green toy soldiers. You get to sit home safe and sound, and watch this war just like you did over thirty years ago - sit home safe and sound while others are dying.

So here's the core of the story. If you volunteer to go to war and receive awards, that my dear is questionable. But if you cheat and avoid the draft, you get the white house and all the amenities that go with it. How do you like those apples?

A couple of other items may draw your interest. First, did you know there was prison abuse during interrogations at Abu Ghraib? You are probably replying, "Yes, Patricia I know it and my cat and dog know it too." Well I, along with my pets, know it as well, but apparently one of us should have called Don Rumsfeld and clued him in on these facts. Seems old Don hasn't been paying attention to the investigations and reports about this subject. Read this article in SeattlePI.com and sit back in your dismayed zone until you can get your breath.



Here's a "Florida" moment for ya.

From the Palm Beach Post: "FEMA check for $1.69 adds insult to injury". This is so bizarre that you have to read it yourself. It's not torture enough to go through a major hurricane like Charley, but you then have to deal with the insanity of government bureaucracy.

Espionage Investigation

FBI Probes Pentagon Spy Case


The FBI believes it has "solid" evidence that the suspected mole supplied Israel with classified materials that include secret White House policy deliberations on Iran.

(CBS) CBS News has learned that the FBI has a full-fledged espionage investigation under way and is about to -- in FBI terminology -- "roll up" someone agents believe has been spying not for an enemy, but for Israel from within the office of the Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon.

60 Minutes Correspondent Lesley Stahl reports the FBI believes it has "solid" evidence that the suspected mole supplied Israel with classified materials that include secret White House policy deliberations on Iran.

At the heart of the investigation are two people who work at The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a powerful pro-Israel lobby in Washington.

The FBI investigation, headed up by Dave Szady, has involved wiretaps, undercover surveillance and photography that CBS News was told document the passing of classified information from the mole, to the men at AIPAC, and on to the Israelis.

CBS sources say that last year the suspected spy, described as a trusted analyst at the Pentagon, turned over a presidential directive on U.S. policy toward Iran while it was, "in the draft phase when U.S. policy-makers were still debating the policy."

This put the Israelis, according to one source, "inside the decision-making loop" so they could "try to influence the outcome."

The case raises another concern among investigators: Did Israel also use the analyst to try to influence U.S. policy on the war in Iraq? read the rest

UPDATE by Astute Patricia: here is a lot more on this investigation. It gets all twisty now.

Holy Cow!

The toy was recalled.

This week in God: God is not a Republican.

Miss Pissed Off Patricia asked that I repost this. It was originally posted on August 19th. It is important.


From Sojourners:

God is not a Republican.
Or a Democrat.

Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and others on the Religious Right claim that God has taken a side in this election, and that Christians should only vote for George W. Bush. The Bush-Cheney campaign even told volunteers it was their "duty" to make church directories available to the campaign.

How has the love of Jesus, the Prince of Peace - and his good news to the poor - been distorted by the pro-war, pro-rich political agenda of the Religious Right? Our faith has been hijacked, and it's time to take it back!

Click here to sign our petition and send a message to America that God is not a Republican or a Democrat, and that the Religious Right does not speak for you. Remind America that Jesus taught us to be peacemakers, advocates for the poor, and defenders of justice.

With your help, Sojourners will also place a full-page advertisement in The New York Times, followed by local newspaper and online ads across the United States.

Please forward this message to your family and friends. Tell faithful citizens to make their voices heard. Sign the petition, support the campaign, and spread the word. Together we can take back our faith!

Watch the flash video!

Sentient Non-Idiots For Kerry

Mark Morford:

Sentient Non-Idiots For Kerry
Repubs pick a fight about Vietnam while Bush ruins America right now? Is the nation drunk?

And isn't it funny how at least 13 members of Congress have actually requested that the United Nations monitor this year's U.S. presidential election...

And isn't it even more funny how, when firebrand U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, from Florida, brought the issue up on the floor of Congress, she was actually shouted down by the Republicans, scolded that she was out of order and told her comments should be stricken from the record?

....And isn't it hilarious how the absolute worst thing the Right has been able to dredge up about John Kerry is that he might sort of maybe have exaggerated some facts about his various Vietnam medals and acts of and valor and deeds of astounding heroism...

...So, let's see: Bona-fide war hero turned incredibly articulate, educated, gifted Vietnam War protester and respected senator on one side, alcoholic AWOL failed-businessman born-again pampered daddy's boy evangelical Christian on the other. Is this really the contest? Bush slugs gin and tonics like Evian while Kerry is accused of ... what again? Not being incredibly heroic enough? Wow.

Wow is right. Great piece by Mark today.

Mommy, was there ever a smart or good republican president?

Hmmmm?

Hmmmm?

Hmmmm?

Not in my lifetime, honey. No.

Mom, was Reagan evil?

Hmmm?

Hmmm?

Not sure, honey. I believe he was out of his mind. When grandpa got alzheimers, don't you remember everyone saying that Reagan must have had alzheimers too cause their behavior seemed the same? In the early stages, they could put on a good show, but there was something just a bit off. It seemed scripted and somehow familiar.

Mom, is Bush evil or just dumb?

I think both honey. Well maybe he isn't evil on purpose, he just lacks the intellectual capacity to comprehend what he is doing because he is blinded by his hatred of his father. If hatred and revenge are evil, then I suppose he is.

Mom, then how did Reagan and Bush get to be president?

That's easy. Smart and evil people with the PR skills of Bill Gates run the show f