« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

August 31, 2005

Is this an early Halloween party? No - check out this photo from a recent Arnold protest.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

Last year, Schwarzenegger flew to Ohio to campaign with Bush Jr. This week while in California, Bush Jr. kept Schwarzenegger 500 miles away. Hard to figure out which one is more of a pariah (both in the low 30’s in the polls)!

My source in the White House told me Karl Rove ordered that Schwarzenegger not be invited to be with Bush Jr.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

Hopefully we don’t hear the Pat Robertsons and Jerry Fawells of the Republican Party saying God brought Hurricane Katrina to Louisiana and Mississippi because of all the casinos in the area.

Everyone should do what they can for the people who have lost so much, by donating to the Red Cross or similar organizations.

But 6,000 National Guard members from Louisiana and Mississippi can’t help – they are in Iraq.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

Well done editorial in the August 28th Boston Globe regarding Karl Rove’s dirty tricks over the years.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

August 30, 2005

She voted in Iraq and was immediately flown to Washington D.C. where she sat next to Laura Bush at the State of the Union address. Bush Jr. praised her and had her stand up to be recognized. Safia Taleb al-Souhail showed the blue ink still remaining on her finger from voting three days earlier, and was heavily covered by the American press. Iraq even made her their Ambassador to Egypt.

But now Safia is having second thoughts.

"But look what has happened: we have lost all the gains we made over the past 30 years. It’s a big disappointment. Human rights should not be linked to Islamic sharia law at all. They should be listed separately in the constitution." (The Independent (London), 8/28/05)

Where’s the American press with the follow up story?

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

On Sunday, Bush Jr. "welcomed" the completion (as guns are blazing in the streets) of the Iraq constitution.

I thought the U.S. goal was for Iraq to have a secular constitution with all three major groups represented – the Kurds (I doubt Bush Jr. knows they are not Arabs), the Shiites and the Sunnis. The current draft constitution states that no laws will conflict with Islam (good luck women), and the Sunnis are urging their voters to oppose it.

And Bush Jr. "welcomes" it. Actually, Iran is also welcoming this constitution – they helped write it.

When will the lies and spin stop? Most likely never – Bush Jr. is talking to his base, the majority of whom "believe" that Saddam Hussein organized the 9/11 attacks.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

Several months ago someone from the Bush administration was attacking journalists in Baghdad as being "wimps" for staying in their hotels. I thought at the time, hey you try walking around Baghdad without your state of the art body armor and tanks protecting you.

As of Sunday, 66 journalists and their assistants have been killed in Iraq since the beginning of this war (3/20/03).

According to the media group, Reporters Without Borders, during the twenty years of the Vietnam War (1965-1975), a total of 63 journalists were killed while covering that war.

So evidently Vietnam was safer for journalists than Iraq? As one who served in Vietnam (101st Airborne 1967-68), that’s hard to believe, but apparently true.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

August 29, 2005

A book about human sexuality required for some classes at Sacramento State has a section on Schwarzenegger accompanied by two photos of him, in the chapter called "Sexual Coercion."

"Then there’s 'Gropegate.' The new governor ('governator'?) of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has been accused of sexual harassment – of groping (fondling) more than a dozen women against their will a number of years ago." [Human Sexuality-A World of Diversity (Sixth Edition), page 604]

Does the Schwarzenegger staff know that the Governor of California has a state college system under him with this "Gropegate" as required reading?

Will Arnold’s staff soon be burning books inside his cigar tent at the Capitol?

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

Jean Louise Stellfox met Robert Frost when he visited her college (Dickinson College) in 1959.

The Frost visit inspired her to become an English teacher and that’s what she did for 39 years at Shamokin High School in Shamokin, Pennsylvania.

That was coal country for years, and she lived in a small row house just 12 feet wide thaat was built by a coal company. She lived a frugal life and was devoted to her students. She was killed in 2003 at the age of 64 by a hit and run driver.

Teacher Stellfox left $1.5 million to Dickinson College to help others become successful and contribute to society.

Meanwhile, Schwarzenegger continues to bash teachers.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

How does the Iraq insurgency go from the "last throes"(Halliburton’s Cheney), to four more years of 100,000+ American troops in Iraq, according to U.S. Army General Peter Schoomaker.

Only in the Bush Jr. administration!

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

The CIA Inspector General put out a report on the 9/11 fiasco. The report basically condemns ex-CIA Director George Tenet as having failed miserably on the job. Mr. Tenet is censured for failing to develop and carry out a strategic plan to take on al Qaeda in the years before 2001.

Will Tenet be indicted or asked to pay back a salary he didn’t earn - hardly!

On December 14, 2004, Bush Jr. gave Tenet the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

August 27, 2005

In the latest Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) poll released August 25th, Schwarzenegger is at the toilet bowl water level.

After the last polls, Republicans had claimed that it couldn’t get any worse and Schwarzenegger was about to bounce back. Instead Schwarzenegger is about to drown.

A whopping 54 percent of Californians and 50 percent of likely voters disapprove of the job Schwarzenegger is doing. Among Latinos it is even worse: a 73 percent job disapproval.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

Shiite cleric Moktada al-Sadr is back on the streets with guns blazing. At one point, Bush Jr. had a "Wanted for Murder" poster out on him, but then he said "never mind" and gave him a pass to travel anywhere in a typical flip flop for Bush Jr.

Is this what Bush Jr. had planned for -- more chaos? Actually, Bush Jr. had no plan for stability in Iraq and this street fighting over the constitution is Bush Jr.’s fault. But sadly, it’s our troops who are paying the ultimate price.

And what doesn’t get any attention – Great Britain has no constitution themselves

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

August 26, 2005

In what a Clear Channel programming director says is "war fatigue," Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity lost about 50 percent of their 25-54 age group audiences in the Minneapolis/St. Paul region.

It is most likely happening in other markets as well.

People are just tired of the blowhards acting like lap dogs for Bush Jr. and his stay-the-course "strategy" in Iraq. America needs new thinking.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

Ronald Reagan sent U.S. troops into Lebanon to join other allies – the British, Italians and the French (yes, the French) to try to provide stability in Lebanon.

In October 1983, a suicide truck bomber (this tactic is not new, but I doubt if Bush Jr. was following the Lebanon issue in the early 1980’s) drove into a building with U.S. Marines and tragically more than 250 Marines were killed.

What did Reagan do – he invaded the Caribbean Island of Grenada a few days later to take the press attention away from Lebanon.

And when Reagan pulled our troops out of Lebanon, saying "We’re not bugging out, we’re just going to a little more defensible position," not one Republican Congressmember criticized him for leaving without "finishing the job."

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

The Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) subpoenaed the documents of another company working in Nigeria for Cheney’s Halliburton.

The investigation into whether Cheney authorized $160 million in bribes, paid to Nigerian officials to grease the wheels for Cheney’s company, continues.

Cheney has still refused to order Halliburton to turn over all the documents.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

August 25, 2005

When newspapers exposed Schwarzenegger secret deals with American Media he announced he was ending his $8 million dollar deal.

But then he announced he would keep the first year check of $1 million plus,because his wife wanted some more diamonds. Yes, he said that.

The deal has Schwarzenegger listed as Executive Editor of the so-called muscle magazines (Flex and Muscle & Fitness).

The magazines are mostly ads for drugs – "Gain 23 Pounds of Muscles in 8 Weeks" and "16 Pounds in 6 Weeks" (evidently the first bottle of pills are better than the second).

Schwarzenegger’s magazines also advertised, "Take Vitrix, a Natural Testosterone Stimulator" and "Build More Muscles, Have Great Sex!"

That’s the gutter Schwarzenegger is in, pushing phony "pills" for muscles and sex.

Additionally, Schwarzenegger vetoed legislation that would have regulated these phony drugs. The industry was very happy with Arnold’s veto.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

As Bush Jr. claimed that the Iraq constitution guaranteed women’s rights he said:

We [United States] had trouble at our own conventions writing a constitution."

Yes, we did have some trouble – women, African-Americans, Native Americans, and non-property Americans didn’t get many rights – like the right to vote.

Looks like the same thing is happening in Iraq, but now Bush Jr. think that’s fine.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

August 24, 2005

Tragically, the number of Californians who have been killed in Iraq has now surpassed 200. One of them is Casey Sheehan, whose mother is grieving and under attack by Republicans – all of whom never served in the military. Bush Jr. himself avoided combat while AWOL in Alabama.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

In Boston on Sunday, the Rolling Stones concert had an odd guest in a luxury box seat.

Schwarzenegger tried to shake down people for $100,000 to sit with him. Evidently only two people sat with him, and one was his wife.

Mick Jagger made a joking reference to Schwarzenegger, "When we drove up he [Schwarzenegger] was out front scalping T-shirts and selling a few tickets."

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

After Pearl Harbor, their mothers, fathers, children, uncles and aunts were picked up by buses and taken to camps – prison camps.

Then the U.S. government asked the young men to leave the prison and join a military unit to go to Europe and fight the Nazis.

The 442nd Regimental Combat Team ended up being one of the fiercest and most decorated units of the American military in WWII.

Many from the 442nd died in combat for America to protect freedom, but not for their family – most were still being held in prisons.

Last Sunday in Los Angeles County, 200 Japanese-Americans finally got the high school diplomas that had been denied them -- because a country in fear overreacted and rounded them up.

It was long overdue, but for many it helped bring some closure.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

As the Vietnam War dragged on under Nixon and millions of Americans in the polls, and some on the streets, demanding an end to it, Nixon turned his anger on the press and on the American people.

Nixon accused people, not with him, as against America – they want to weaken our commitment, etc. Sound familiar?

Well, Nixon is back – and his name is George Bush Jr.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

August 23, 2005

Both Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson have blasted Bush Jr. for failing to provide adequate resources at their borders with Mexico, and have announced a "State of Emergency."

Meanwhile, Bush Jr. blasts Syria for not providing enough security at their border with Iraq. Syria says, what about your own borders?

Speaker Fabian Nunez has called on Schwarzenegger to call a "State of Emergency" for California.

Schwarzenegger, who went to Ohio to help Bush Jr. win a second term, refuses to criticize Bush Jr. Instead Schwarzenegger has praised the Minuteman Project – a group of civilians with guns and RVs, which even Bush Jr. calls vigilantes.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

Last week the story broke that the Bush Jr. administration is trying to seize the home of Republican Congressman Duke Cunningham.

The Feds charge that Cunningham bought the $3 million plus home using ill-gotten money.

Isn’t that how the Feds treat marijuana growers?

Cunningham (a big critic of President Clinton) will ultimately be indicted for high crimes.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

Over the weekend Nebraska U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (who earned two Purple Hearts in Vietnam) blasted Bush Jr. on national news for his mismanagement of the Iraq situation. I doubt if Vietnam veteran Hagel will be invited to the White House again.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

August 22, 2005

Schwarzenegger left California Friday afternoon for more fundraising around the country, much of it with special interests whose industries have legislation pending in the State Capitol in Sacramento.

But Schwarzenegger’s image is so tarnished he has been forced to beg on his knees for money – it’s no longer so easy.

Even at the Rolling Stones concert in Boston on Sunday, Schwarzenegger didn’t sell all his tickets that he bought, so he had to sell them at a lower price, and there were nurses, teachers, firefighters and others there to denounce his policies and fundraising.

In the history of California, no governor has been AWOL out of the state, as much as Schwarzenegger.

But Arnie will go anywhere for a buck.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

"Some might question whether encouraging homemakers to become lawyers contributes to the common good, but I suppose that is for the judges to decide."

John Roberts wrote this in 1983, while he was a lawyer in the Reagan White House, in response to a program that honored women who changed their lives after 30 and had made contributions in their new fields.

And John Roberts wants to be on the U.S. Supreme Court!

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

The Ohio Republican Party and its governor, Bob Taft, are up to their extended belt line in scandals and indictments.

Many of the crimes committed by Taft and other Republicans go back several years. Why didn’t these crimes get any prosecution in 2004?

Ohio would have voted for Senator John Kerry – that’s why!

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

August 20, 2005

America "wouldn’t have all these problems over the years" if Strom Thurmond had been elected president in 1948. This is what Lott said at Thurmond’s 100th birthday party.

Thurmond ran on the Segregationist Platform.

The regular press clapped and went home. The Bloggers published the asinine and racist remark.

Bush Jr. immediately had his press secretary announce that he wanted Lott to stay on the job – let’s support a guy who said America would be better off with segregation (so much for a new policy).

But soon afterwards, Lott stepped down as Senate Majority Leader.

In Lott’s new book, he blasts Bill Frist for "personal betrayal" in helping to remove Lott.

Was Frist outraged about Lott’s pro-segregationists comments? No, Frist just wanted the job.

Recently the U.S. Senate passed a resolution condemning the fact that the U.S. Senate never passed an anti-lynching bill while hundreds of African-Americans were being lynched over 80 years – Lott did not vote for it.

In his book, Lott also criticizes the federal government for invading 'ole Miss to allow the first African-American to attend the University of Mississippi in 1962.

Lott states Mississippi could have handled it themselves. Sure - segregationists since the Civil War, the South would not change its policies.

As far as this good old white boy (Lott) from Mississippi thinks – the South was right, and Democrats were wrong to end segregation.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

August 19, 2005

Those Nixon Republicans don’t stop their dirty tricks.

Bush Jr.’s staff got a folder (from the Reagan Library) on John Roberts’ work in the Reagan administration dealing with Affirmative Action.

After the Bush Jr. people reviewed it, the folder disappeared.

Nixon got rid of his troubles on a tape by erasing 18 minutes of it. Now Bush Jr. and Roberts have "lost" a folder.

And Roberts wants to be on the U.S. Supreme Court.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

Another secret memo has surfaced. This one, dated 2/7/03 from the State Department, warned Bush Jr. one month before the invasion of Iraq that he had no real plans to deal with the aftermath of the invasion.

A Bush Jr. staffer responded to this new memo by saying – "This isn’t a new story."

What story? That Bush Jr. lied and misled the American people about Iraq?

And since Bush Jr. doesn’t read newspapers or intelligence memos, we can believe he never saw it.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

August 18, 2005

As a presidential candidate in 2000, Gov. George W. Bush said if he was president, he would bring down gasoline prices through sheer force of personality and by creating enough political good will with oil-producing nations that they would increase their supply of crude.

"Ours is a nation that helped Kuwait and the Saudis, and you’d think we’d have the capital necessary to convince them to increase the crude supplies," he said.

Asked why the Clinton administration had not been able to use the power of personal persuasion, Mr. Bush said: "The fundamental question is, 'Will I be a successful president when it comes to foreign policy?'"

"I will be," he said. "But until I’m the president, it’s going to be hard for me to verify that I think I’ll be more effective." (NY Times, 6/28/2000)

In July of 2000, gasoline in California cost $1.71 a gallon. Now it is almost $3.00 a gallon.

How incompetent is Bush Jr.?

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

While RNC Chair Ken Mehlman continues the spin that Republicans will no longer pick on minorities and immigrants, the Republican Party continues with their age- old practice of bashing minorities.

The Texas Republicans are pushing forward with a plan to arm civilians (with no background checks) and deploy them as militia for the Mexican border.

Meanwhile, Schwarzenegger supports the same concept at the California-Mexican border.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

The disgraced Secretary of State and National Security Advisor to Richard Nixon, Henry Kissinger, now acknowledges parallels to Vietnam in Iraq, citing the divisions in the U.S. in both cases.

Kissinger and Nixon, of course, were serial liars about the war in Vietnam. Kissinger spent years in meetings and ultimately failed – he just wasn’t up to the job.

And the famous line from the Kissinger years was that Kissinger and Nixon could see the light at the end of the tunnel, meaning a "successful" end to the Vietnam War. It turned out that light was of a train coming straight at them.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

August 17, 2005

More and more of John Roberts’ memos are coming out.

As a White House lawyer for Ronald Reagan, Roberts wrote in response to a federal court decision that sought to guarantee women equal pay to men by calling it "a radical redistribution concept."

Roberts now wants to be on the U.S. Supreme Court.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

Bush Jr. is now in his worst poll shape.

The latest Associated Press poll has Bush Jr.’s job approval at only 42 percent!

At this stage in their second terms, Clinton had a 61 percent approval rating and Reagan was at 57 percent job approval.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

In the 2005 California Driver Handbook, Schwarzenegger has a message: "don’t take drugs or drink alcohol before you drive." I guess Schwarzenegger is saying take your illegal drugs after you drive.

Interesting that he didn’t mention anything about prescription drugs.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

August 16, 2005

Babies, some who can’t even walk yet, are being pulled aside by airport security officials because their names are on the Homeland Security Watch List. So families are missing their planes while their 10 month-old is "interviewed."

Computers still don’t communicate with each other in the federal government, and babies are on the terrorist watch list!

How incompetent is Bush Jr.?

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

First, Bush Jr. sent U.S. troops to Iraq without enough body armor, resulting in thousands being wounded and more than 1,800 killed so far.

Now the New York Times reports that the U.S. military does have a more protective body armor, but Bush Jr. has left it to mom and pop shops to make them, so more troops are wounded or dying while they wait for the next box of body armor pieces to arrive.

If Bush Jr. had been president during World War II, the U.S. would have lost!

President Franklin Roosevelt had whole factories turned over to war manufacturing facilities to ensure our troops had what they needed.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

"Mission Accomplished" banners, dancing in the streets, oil productions at record levels and democracy breaking out all over Iraq -- wasn’t that what Bush Jr. said?

In an expose the Washington Post reports that the Bush Jr. administration is now "significantly lowering" their expectations, and Bush Jr. is giving up on most of his naive goals.

Karl Rove had Bush Jr. invade Iraq for one reason – put the country at war to use in the campaigns and the American people would “rally” around the flag.

With Congressional elections in 2006 coming, Rove and Bush Jr. will undoubtedly come out with some new spin – we have accomplished a lot, so we’re pulling some troops out.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

Everyday we see pictures and read stories of people, especially babies, dying in Niger (Africa) from lack of food and water.

Meanwhile, Bush Jr. is riding his new mountain bike at his ranch.

Does Bush Jr. care about anything but himself?

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

August 15, 2005

In late World War II, as Hitler and his Nazi storm troopers were still rounding up Jews to send to their death, a Swedish diplomat was assigned to Sweden’s Budapest, Hungary office.

Raoul Wallenberg produced Swedish Protective Passes (that had no legal bearing, but worked) for Jews, saving tens of thousands of Jews from the concentration camps.

When the Soviet troops arrived in Budapest, they took Wallenberg for a "Jimmy Hoffa" ride and he was never heard from again.

In 1983, the family of Raoul Wallenberg asked President Ronald Reagan to bring pressure on the Soviets to explain (or release) what happened to Wallenberg, who clearly was a hero.

A White House lawyer, named John Roberts, wrote a memo to Reagan and recommended "essentially dodging" the question of whether a century-old law could be used on behalf of the missing diplomat.

So instead of Roberts recommending to Reagan to do the right thing, "Mr. Andropov, release Raoul Wallenberg," Roberts thought it would be better not to bring the issue up.

Now Roberts wants to be on the U.S. Supreme Court.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

First, Bush Jr. ordered Pentagon officials to "leak" to the press that in several months there will be troop in Iraq.

Then the Bush Jr. people announce they will increase U.S. troop numbers for the upcoming October election.

Then on Thursday, Bush Jr. told reporters that he was not certain that he could reduce U.S. military troop levels next spring in Iraq!

Is this a strategy?

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

Recently Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman said the Republicans were wrong to use race and voter intimidation of minorities to win elections, over the last several decades.

Well, to no one’s surprise, Mehlman has spent almost a million dollars for legal bills to defend James Tobin, who ran the New England campaign for Bush Jr. in ’04 and Tobin’s boss - none other than Mehlman.

Mehlman’s employee is charged in federal court with felonies, accusing him of jamming Democrats’ phone banks (calls to minorities) in the November 2002 election.

Sure Ken, I bet you’re sorry.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

August 13, 2005

"Why do you make time for donors and not for me?" -- sign held by Cindy Sheehan as Bush Jr. drove by in Crawford, Texas heading to another fundraiser (for campaign, not for military families).

Cindy Sheehan lost a son in Iraq. She has some simple questions for Bush Jr. but he refuses to meet with her.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

August 12, 2005

On Friday August 12, Schwarzenegger faces a court hearing in Sacramento for sending out fake news videos.

Schwarzenegger was sued by the California Nurses Association, SEIU, and the California AFL-CIO for misusing taxpayers’ funds to produce fraudulent news video.

This is the same type of fraud that Bush Jr. was guilty of.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

Republican House leader Tom DeLay is already up to his knees in a cesspool of corruption, with three of his staff indicted and numerous investigations going on about him and his deals.

On Thursday, DeLay’s close friend Washington D.C. lobbyist Jack Abramoff was indicted and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was picked up in Los Angeles late Thursday and is now facing extradition.

Will Abramoff talk against DeLay as part of a legal deal? DeLay is "praying" that Jack doesn’t talk.

And remember, Bush Jr. went out of his way to fly DeLay on Air Force One from Texas to D.C. to show his support for Tommy. Will Bush Jr. be a character witness for Abramoff and DeLay at their trials?

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

In another cover-up, Bush Jr. refuses to turn over new material to 10 members of the disbanded 9/11 Commission. Thomas Kean, former Republican Governor of New Jersey, has blasted Bush Jr. for refusing to turn over the needed materials.

You will remember that Bush Jr. originally opposed the creation of the 9/11 Commission, then when he was forced to change his mind, he demanded that the Commission not be allowed to place any blame for 9/11 (i.e. on him). Bush Jr. also wouldn’t let Condi Rice testify, then flip-flopped and allowed Rice to testify, then said he wouldn’t testify himself, then flip-flopped and did go before the Commission, but took Halliburton’s Dick Cheney with him to hold his hand, and ordered that his testimony would be kept secret.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

August 11, 2005

Schwarzenegger has been pushing Proposition 77 as a "reform" measure to change political district lines, but the courts have thrown it off the ballot.

Last November, Schwarzenegger raised millions of dollars and campaigned up and down the state for Republican candidates; he lost every one of those races, so he decided on Proposition 77 to try to gerrymander Republican seats.

In Republican-controlled Ohio, Common Cause, some Democrats, and others have an initiative to take redistricting out of the hands of the Republicans -- sound familiar?

"Quite frankly, the Democrats have failed to run competitive candidates in this state for two decades now and suddenly they are seeking to manipulate the Constitution because they have been impotent as a political party," said Jason Mauk, political director of the Ohio Republican Party.

This is an attack on Schwarzenegger’s motives by the Ohio Republican Party – the same party that Schwarzenegger went to Ohio for, to campaign with Bush Jr. to help give Bush Jr. a second term.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

Federalist Society, corporate lobbyist and now U.S. Supreme Court nominee, John Roberts, has 25 years of legal work behind him.

Bush Jr., who is committed to overturning Roe v. Wade, has nominated Roberts for the highest legal job in the country – a position he would hold for life.

Now Bush Jr., like Schwarzenegger’s favorite president, Nixon, is refusing to hand over Roberts’ files. Will we have to go to the U.S Supreme Court to get the papers released?

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

While Bush Jr. has our troops in a quagmire in Iraq, and he spends his time fishing (like he did on 8/6/01) at his "ranch," North Korea and Iran are moving forward with developing nuclear weapons.

Is anyone "home" in Crawford, Texas? Does anyone read newspapers?

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

August 10, 2005

If Democrats today proposed a plan to get 90 percent of America’s elderly out of poverty, the Republicans, led by Bush Jr., would call it a big government program that was not needed.

On August 14, 1935, New Deal Democratic President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law. Because of Social Security, today only 10 percent of seniors live below the poverty level.

Actually, about 40 percent of the recipients are not elderly. Social Security is also a lifeline for the widows and children of troops who died in Iraq or Afghanistan, or as a result of natural deaths, as well as those who are permanently disabled by an injury.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

Another Hummer flat tire for Arnold – first his pension initiative was towed to the junkyard, when the "reform governor" realized his consultants had made major writing errors.

Now the courts have thrown out Proposition 77 – the redistricting one.

Can you imagine, in the middle of a war, California has a governor working on changing precinct lines.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

Kerryann Simpson was 21 years old when a judge asked her to raise her right hand.

Simpson and 142 other foreigners serving in the U.S. military in Iraq were sworn-in as U.S. citizens in late July in a former Saddam Hussein palace.

These new U.S. citizens are serving in the military (and in combat) for their country.

There are presently 27,000 foreigners in the U.S. military. When Republicans read about these foreigners serving in the U.S. military, I wonder if they embarrassed? After all Republican families are way below quota in joining the military.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

August 09, 2005

On August 9, 1974, Schwarzenegger’s mentor and favorite President, "I am not a crook" Tricky Dick Nixon, resigned. About 40 members of Nixon’s staff were convicted and sent to the slammer.

Schwarzenegger was the only person who mentioned Nixon’s name at the Republican National Convention last summer, in New York City.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

Now only 28 percent of Americans say the war in Iraq has made our country safer from terrorism according to the the latest Newsweek poll (August 15, 2005 edition).

And 64 percent say it has not made our country safer.

Bush Jr. is seen more and more as a liar and incompetent Commander-in-Chief.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

The Chair of the Mendocino County (CA) Republican Party was given a leave of absence to clear up his "problems."

Republican Kenny Rogers has been charged with attempted murder, hiring someone to murder a Republican opponent, and marijuana cultivation.

Rogers asked for a six-month leave and the California Republican Party granted it to him. A leave – can you believe it?

But the California Republican Party still lists Rogers as their main contact on their website as of late Monday night.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

August 08, 2005

While Bush Jr. continues to claim the U.S. economy is doing well, there is another story.

We all know about the $400 billion annual deficits – who wouldn’t like the ability to carry that balance in their own personal checking account?

Now the Bush Jr. administration has put out another report. In June, the nation’s saving rate fell to .02 percent, which is the second-lowest monthly rate since the Great Depression which began in 1929 - 76 years ago!

In other words, the U.S. economy is based on Bush Jr. and American consumers spending beyond its means – it’s just a house of cards.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

Brig. General Johnny Weida, commandant of cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy, didn’t get promoted after all.

One-star Johnny was promised two stars by Bush Jr. Johnny has been under investigation for pushing Christian evangelism at the academy, instead of military rules and tactics.

The U.S. Senate decided to derail the promotion and put it on the shelf. I guess Johnny either didn’t pray enough or was pushing too many cadets to pray.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

August 06, 2005

A week ago, Judge John Roberts said he couldn’t remember if he had been a member of the Federalist Society (right–wing corporate lawyers).

Couldn’t remember – sure!

Now Roberts is caught in another lie. He failed to list on his job application to the U.S. Senate that he was a lobbyist for the Cosmetics, Toiletries and Fragrances Association in 2001. Roberts now admits it, before being asked to take a lie detector test.

What else in Roberts lying about or can’t remember? Shouldn’t Roberts be charged with perjury?

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

Since 9/11 Bush Jr. and his incompetent team have used the phrase the "war on terror." But just in the last new weeks, Bush Jr. had Rumsfeld and the others start calling it a "global struggle against violent extremists."

Lo and behold, at his ranch earlier in the week Bush Jr. forgot the order he had given and called it a "war on terror," not once, not twice, but five times. Another flip-flop -- and this has to be very confusing to our troops.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

August 05, 2005

As if the $8 million magazine deal wasn’t enough of a scandal, the San Jose Mercury News broke the story ealier this week that three of Schwarzenegger’s top aides are double dipping from the taxpayers (governor’s office) and Schwarzenegger’s campaign committees.

Rob Stutzman, Communications Director, got $20,000; Patricia Clarey, Chief of Staff, got $20,000; and Schwarzenegger's Legislative Director, Richard Costigan, grabbed $25,000.

The big special interests contributed to Schwarzenegger’s political committees, which in turn gave $65,000 to the three, who then talked to the same special interests about what legislative bills to veto or sign.

Newspaper editorials are blasting this pay-to-play scheme of Schwarzenegger.

And Karen Hanretty, the California Republican Party’s spokesperson, when asked about this type of deal last year said, “there ought to be a clear line between political work and work that is done on behalf of taxpayers.” (Los Angeles Times, 11/11/04)

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

Bob Novak was asked on CNN’s Inside Politics on Thursday afternoon about former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich’s warning to Republicans about Paul Hackett almost winning a congressional seat in Ohio.

Novak’s response – Gringrich is “sort of a gadfly.”

Novak was on with James Carville and they got into a squabble and Novak, like a crybaby, walked off the show.

Novak spins that he is a brilliant political analyst, yet on CNN in October of 1998 he predicted Republicans would pick up 25 House seats. On election night, Democrats actually gained five seats, thus Novak was off by 30 seats. But he never once acknowledged his blunder, sort of like Bush Jr.

Late Thursday, CNN suspended Novak for his behavior.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

While 21 Marines were killed in Iraq this week, Bush Jr. made his fifty-first trip to his ranch in Crawford, Texas.

That’s 51 trips in 55 months.

He was at his ranch on August 6, 2001 when the CIA warned him that Osama bin Laden was planning to hijack planes in America and crash them into tall buildings.

Bush Jr. ordered that the FBI not be told, and then he went fishing.

And 34 days later, that’s exactly what bin Laden did.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

The future leaders of State Democratic Parties, future Governors, U.S. Senators and Mayors, as well as many business and union leaders are meeting in San Francisco -- and they are all Democrats.

Their national convention (YDAs) goes through Sunday – speeches, workshops and the election of officers.

For further information go to the YDA Web site.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

August 04, 2005

In 1984 a movie called "The Killing Fields" came out. This well done but tragic movie was about the Khmer Rouge taking over Cambodia (1975-79) and then finally being driven out by the Vietnamese Army.

The Khmer Rouge led by the late Pol Pot systemically killed up to two million Cambodians who were considered “bourgeois” – they had gone to school, had glasses, no calluses on their hands, etc.

A new report from the RAND Corp. reports the long-term effects suffered by many of these refugees of the war.

Most of the 150,000 Cambodian refugees in America live below the poverty level, have six times the rate of major depression and 17 times the rate of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), compared to the general population.

This is another warning of what is happening to those in Iraq and Afghanistan – both civilians and military. Many of our troops will be dealing with PTSD for decades.

Do Bush Jr. and the Republicans understand this problem, and are they prepared to fund the Veterans Administration to handle it? No!

p.s. Additionally several years ago, I read about a number of Cambodian refugees in California who were "mentally blind." They had seen so much death and dying that their brain shut down their eyesight, despite there being no physical reason for their blindness. They simply had seen too much horror.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

The people of Ohio last November decided to give Bush Jr. a second term in the White House (a shift of 30,000 votes would have made Senator John Kerry president), and on Tuesday they had a chance to repent.

Instead of showing some patriotism and electing a Democrat to Congress, one who had served in Iraq but has been speaking out against Bush Jr. and his incompetent policies in Iraq, they elected a Republican who has never served in the military and in fact attacked the Iraq veteran for being out of state and away from the district (when he was serving out country in Iraq!).

The Republican won with only 52 percent of the vote – last November Bush Jr. got 64 percent in this district. Democrat Iraqi veteran Paul Hackett got 48 percent of the vote.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

Like in California, where the people don’t like Schwarzenegger anymore, the American people don’t like Bush Jr. either.

In the latest Zogby poll (conducted July 26-30), 55 percent of Americans have a negative view of the job Bush Jr. is doing.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

August 03, 2005

On August 6, 1965, the Voting Rights Act was signed into law by Democratic President Lyndon Johnson.

This week marks the 40th anniversary of that law and Democrats all across America will recognize the importance of this historic act.

Meanwhile, the Republican are pushing John Roberts for the U.S. Supreme Court.

Roberts doesn’t like legislators who pass civil rights’ type legislation. After all, Roberts has had a very good life financially, so his understanding of average Americans, especially minorities, is nil.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

On Monday, the Regimental Combat Team-2, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, based about 100 miles northwest of Baghdad, lost seven marines.

They were serving their country in a war that Halliburton’s Dick Cheney said several weeks ago was in its “last throes.” These Magnificent Seven have left parents and spouses and children without their loved one.

On Wednesday, 14 more marines from the same unit died in one vehicle when a mine or roadside bomb blew up. After all the attacks, why would Bush Jr., as Commander-in-Chief, still allow that many people to be in the same vehicle?

Bush Jr.’s daughters and Karl Rove’s son still refuse to join the military.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

A new report out with more news about the Bush Jr. people.

In the spring of 2001, the CIA was told that Iraq had abandoned its nuclear weapons program years earlier. But the CIA agent who tried to pass it onto the higher up was fired.

The agent is now suing the Bush Jr. administration in federal court, and the Bush Jr. cover-up of Iraq continues.

1,800 Americans, including seven marines on Monday, are dead in Iraq, along with almost 30,000 Iraqis.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

August 02, 2005

We know that Bush Jr. is easily impressed by others, as his administration is full of incompetent people. In fact, if you read books, newspapers or intelligence memos, Bush Jr. thinks you’re very intelligent.

John Bolton, despite chasing a female employee through a hotel, trying to fire staff who didn’t tow the administration’s line, and completely misreading the Iraq intelligence, is now America’s UN Ambassador.

This is a guy who couldn’t even get 60 votes in the U.S. Senate. Isn’t 60 an "F" on a report card?

So now Bush Jr., the president with the worst and weakest diplomatic record in decades, is sending an Ambassador with an “F” grade to the UN to represent America.

Bolton will have as little credibility there as he does in the Senate.

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

"Over here I can afford to go play golf every other day," a U.S. Army recruiter in Guam said.

The New York Times reports that U.S. military recruiters are doing exceptionally well in U.S. territories, from American Samoa to Guam to Yap.

In some of these territories, per capita income is only $2,000 (in American Samoa it is $8,000) – so an offer of a $5,000 bonus to join, is a big incentive.

Where are all the Republican boys and girls in red states like Ohio - why are they not joining?

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

August 01, 2005

Bush Jr. spoke to 40,000 Boy Scouts and their leaders at their annual Jamboree on Sunday in Virginia.

Tragically, four of the Boy Scout leaders were killed on the first day, due to a tent pole touching an electrical line.

Bush Jr. had previously told the Scouts he would visit them, but then thunderstorms came in and Bush Jr. made them wait and wait in formation, until 300 Boy Scouts collapsed due to heat exhaustion.

Finally Bush Jr. decided he would not fly over that day, but by then the first aid tents were overflowing with 300 patients.

How incompetent is Bush Jr.?

« July 2005 | Archives | September 2005 »

On Saturday, Ralph Neas (People for the American Way PAC) spoke to several hundred Democratic Party activists in Sacramento about Judge John Roberts.

The issue of privacy (i.e. Roe vs. Wade, etc.), civil rights, and affirmative action were all topics that Neas cited as key issues for the Roberts hearings.

Neas said this decision by the U.S. Senate will effect us for several decades.

In other words, if Roberts gets on the U.S. Supreme Court, whose new term starts in October, on October 30th, Americans will turn their clocks back by one hour, but Roberts will turn back America’s recent individual rights back 30 or 40 years.