I was just thinking about doing more on this blog. I got to wondering, it is something I do a lot of. Being permanently disabled, you have nothing but time to read,think,play games. Not very much money to do some things, like drive around, just for the sake of riding with diesel at $2.80 at the lowest price in Alexandria last time I was in town.
Anyhow, the old mind got to pondering some rather obscure things. My old mind does lots of obscure wondering. That is not due to any disability, it just comes naturally to me.
One thing I am a bit curious about, does the Shrub and his immediate family invest in hedge funds? One wonders about this at odd times.
Also, when the Shrub, aka little Bush, gets looking a bit scruffy, do they call in one of those $400.00 per hair cut stylists or do they just get one of the illegal Mexican gardeners to give him a trim?
I don't know about the rest of you, but this old man is curious about these sorts of things.
Well, off to ponder more improbabilities. I'll be adding to this again soon.
semper fi
31 May 2007
30 May 2007
Randon rants
Well, it has been some weeks since I last did anything on this blog. It isn't all that easy to come up with something worth being posted here. I suppose I could try a daily journal entry, but who would care? Hell, I wouldn't, and I write the crap on this blog.
No, trying to pick a topic for a blog is not as easy as it seemed once. You want to say something, but you want whatever you say to have some sort of meaning. Not just odd rants about the war or whatever happened on your trip to the gas station. To me, my blog entries ought to be worth more than just bullshit or rants against whatever has pissed me off on that particular day. So, for this old man, blog entries become less frequent. I would say that most days I either have little wroth saying, or just cannot quite figure how to say what I might want to say.
Not to worry, I will try to keep posting something here, just don't set your calendar by my posts, it may be quite some time between them. Remember folks, I was never a writer. I was a machinist and made things from metals, using a variety of machine tools. This business of writing is quite new to me.
I want to make some mention of Cindy Sheehan and her decision to quit the Democrats and all other activity, at least for a while.
First off, the donkey gang. I could have told her, before she became an activist that they would disappoint her. Contrary to popular belief, and the high school civics text books, we have but one party in America. Yes, it is the one old Justin Raimondo at Antiwar.com calls the war party. Oh, it has two wings to it, donkey and elephant. Just two sides of the same coin. Some choice you get there folks. You can have the donkey or the elephant. Neither is house broken. They both tramp through the flowers and shit in your yard.
The donkey gang recently gave in to the Shrub on the war funding. The removed any and all mention of timetables or other such things. Why? Well, Shrub didn't want those things in his war funding. So, the donkey gang, being the "fine upstanding" folks they are, caved in. Yes sir, nice to see some spine there in DC. Well, you have to look real hard for it, and either "party" is not the place to look. Nope, our politicians have no spine. Hell, mine has had to go through three major surgeries and is never going to be as good as it was before, but I still have more than any of those spineless, gutless, piss-poor examples of humanity than our "great" political "leaders" have.
The donkey gang is as much for war as the elephants are. They just do it a bit differently. They tend to put a "humanitarian" face on their wars. The elephants just do war for fun and profit, without the "window dressing" of the donkey gang. Less talk, more bullets, you could say.
Cindy, they never were going to end the war. Nor can any of them tell you that your son did not die for a lie. I wish like hell that I could offer you more comfort than that. But, then, I wish for the wars to stop also. Old warriors do not always wish to see newer, younger warriors go off to new wars. Ask a vet and see.
As to Ms. Sheehan quitting her activism, all one can say is that she has earned a rest. The woman has been going full speed for a long time. Anybody ever hear of burn-out? Sure you have, and I can imagine she must be totally burned out by now. Then add to that, her trials of being called all sorts of nasty things by the war-mongers, and now even by the donkey gang. What, the donkey gang is against her? Yes, because she dared to be critical of them. Aha! So, she "bit the hand" and all that. No, she spoke the truth. She also found out that neither side of the war party coin have any use for truth tellers. They bit, and bit hard.
I really do understand her burn out. That is one reason this blog has so few entries on it. I get burned out and have trouble coming up with topics that I feel are worth the time to post here. And I do not do any way near the amount that Ms. Sheehan has done. Hell, she did more in a week than I could do in nearly a year. OK,so I can use the excuse that I am disabled and all. Still, one does get burned out after a while. Even more so when so many people oppose you, as she found out. Hers was a public protest and we all should be thankful for her efforts. She wanted answers, but did not get them. Now, she has decided to step back and regroup. I say, good for her. Take some time off, figure out where you want to go next, then do it. According to the interview she gave today on Democracy Now, that is just what she is going to do. She did mention that she will not be working with either political party. Good for her again. It is not worth the horse shit to try to work with either of those two gangs.
Funny thing, she is not too happy with MoveOn.org either. Hell, I never did trust that group either. I replied to at least one commentator some months ago that in my opinion, MoveOn had best mover over as they were just blocking the road. MoveOn seems to be tied closely to the DLC, and that can never be a good thing.
Well, I guess I have done enough for now. Got to get back to reading more on how old dead eye Dick Cheney is itching for more war, with Iran this time. Seems he and his pals the neo-cons and certain folks in Israel want to bomb Iran before Shrub is out of office. We shall see.......
semper fi
No, trying to pick a topic for a blog is not as easy as it seemed once. You want to say something, but you want whatever you say to have some sort of meaning. Not just odd rants about the war or whatever happened on your trip to the gas station. To me, my blog entries ought to be worth more than just bullshit or rants against whatever has pissed me off on that particular day. So, for this old man, blog entries become less frequent. I would say that most days I either have little wroth saying, or just cannot quite figure how to say what I might want to say.
Not to worry, I will try to keep posting something here, just don't set your calendar by my posts, it may be quite some time between them. Remember folks, I was never a writer. I was a machinist and made things from metals, using a variety of machine tools. This business of writing is quite new to me.
I want to make some mention of Cindy Sheehan and her decision to quit the Democrats and all other activity, at least for a while.
First off, the donkey gang. I could have told her, before she became an activist that they would disappoint her. Contrary to popular belief, and the high school civics text books, we have but one party in America. Yes, it is the one old Justin Raimondo at Antiwar.com calls the war party. Oh, it has two wings to it, donkey and elephant. Just two sides of the same coin. Some choice you get there folks. You can have the donkey or the elephant. Neither is house broken. They both tramp through the flowers and shit in your yard.
The donkey gang recently gave in to the Shrub on the war funding. The removed any and all mention of timetables or other such things. Why? Well, Shrub didn't want those things in his war funding. So, the donkey gang, being the "fine upstanding" folks they are, caved in. Yes sir, nice to see some spine there in DC. Well, you have to look real hard for it, and either "party" is not the place to look. Nope, our politicians have no spine. Hell, mine has had to go through three major surgeries and is never going to be as good as it was before, but I still have more than any of those spineless, gutless, piss-poor examples of humanity than our "great" political "leaders" have.
The donkey gang is as much for war as the elephants are. They just do it a bit differently. They tend to put a "humanitarian" face on their wars. The elephants just do war for fun and profit, without the "window dressing" of the donkey gang. Less talk, more bullets, you could say.
Cindy, they never were going to end the war. Nor can any of them tell you that your son did not die for a lie. I wish like hell that I could offer you more comfort than that. But, then, I wish for the wars to stop also. Old warriors do not always wish to see newer, younger warriors go off to new wars. Ask a vet and see.
As to Ms. Sheehan quitting her activism, all one can say is that she has earned a rest. The woman has been going full speed for a long time. Anybody ever hear of burn-out? Sure you have, and I can imagine she must be totally burned out by now. Then add to that, her trials of being called all sorts of nasty things by the war-mongers, and now even by the donkey gang. What, the donkey gang is against her? Yes, because she dared to be critical of them. Aha! So, she "bit the hand" and all that. No, she spoke the truth. She also found out that neither side of the war party coin have any use for truth tellers. They bit, and bit hard.
I really do understand her burn out. That is one reason this blog has so few entries on it. I get burned out and have trouble coming up with topics that I feel are worth the time to post here. And I do not do any way near the amount that Ms. Sheehan has done. Hell, she did more in a week than I could do in nearly a year. OK,so I can use the excuse that I am disabled and all. Still, one does get burned out after a while. Even more so when so many people oppose you, as she found out. Hers was a public protest and we all should be thankful for her efforts. She wanted answers, but did not get them. Now, she has decided to step back and regroup. I say, good for her. Take some time off, figure out where you want to go next, then do it. According to the interview she gave today on Democracy Now, that is just what she is going to do. She did mention that she will not be working with either political party. Good for her again. It is not worth the horse shit to try to work with either of those two gangs.
Funny thing, she is not too happy with MoveOn.org either. Hell, I never did trust that group either. I replied to at least one commentator some months ago that in my opinion, MoveOn had best mover over as they were just blocking the road. MoveOn seems to be tied closely to the DLC, and that can never be a good thing.
Well, I guess I have done enough for now. Got to get back to reading more on how old dead eye Dick Cheney is itching for more war, with Iran this time. Seems he and his pals the neo-cons and certain folks in Israel want to bomb Iran before Shrub is out of office. We shall see.......
semper fi
23 April 2007
More random thoughts (?)
I want to pass along some good reading to you folks.
First off, regarding the shootings at Virginia Tech, check out the excellent commentary by Mr. Greg Perry at the Lew Rockwell web site. the url is;
www.lewrockwell.com/perry/perry33.html
In my humble opinion this is just about THE best commentary on this event.
Next up on the reading list is a book. Ms. Jennifer Van Bergen has given us a great little book regarding the "PATRIOT ACT" and the way America seems to be headed towards fascism. The book is "The Twilight of Democracy". In this she shows us in very plain language just how we are being screwed by this rotten law. Ms. Van Bergen supports the Constitution! My goodness me, what a concept! Well, no doubt our "esteemed"(?) Attorney General will tell us all, very soon, that the Constitution is a "quaint" and "out dated" piece of paper. Excuse me, but EVERY government official, such as Gonzales, Cheney,Shrub, and the rest took an oath to uphold that document. So did every person who ever served in the United States military.
Just one old (nearly 60) former Marine who went off to the Imperial War in Viet Nam (1970-71), but maybe it is time for a new American revolution. Maybe they even still have some tea over in Boston.
On to more current things. It sure looks like poor old Gonzo, aka Attorney General Gonzales, is about done for. Why even old Newt has come out against the poor little feller! And here we thought Newt only attacked Democrats. Ha,ha,ha. Wonder how Shrub took having the Newtster dis his old pal from Texas, Gonzo. Does this mean that Newt won't be getting a dinner invite from Mr. & Mrs Shrub any time soon? Poor Newt. Well he looks like he could stand to miss a few meals. The boy is looking more like Al,not my pal, Gore. In other words, they are FAT. OK, so sue me for being politically incorrect. Hell, there isn't much you would win. Yes, being on disability means the legal actions will net you less than zero.
Interesting how some of the elephant gang are pissing on old Senator Reid for saying what is so obvious, a blind man can see it. We have LOST the war in Iraq! Now according to my personal pocket sized copy of the Constitution, amendment number ONE, states that among other rights, we have the right to freedom of speech. I would venture to guess that this freedom of speech even applies to a US senator. But, then, when the Speaker of the House gets critical comments for a trip to a foreign country, maybe the Constitution does NOT apply to members of Congress. This is, after all Amerika in 2007, and Shrub still is president. Maybe it was in the fine print in that there "patriot" act.
sempoer fi
First off, regarding the shootings at Virginia Tech, check out the excellent commentary by Mr. Greg Perry at the Lew Rockwell web site. the url is;
www.lewrockwell.com/perry/perry33.html
In my humble opinion this is just about THE best commentary on this event.
Next up on the reading list is a book. Ms. Jennifer Van Bergen has given us a great little book regarding the "PATRIOT ACT" and the way America seems to be headed towards fascism. The book is "The Twilight of Democracy". In this she shows us in very plain language just how we are being screwed by this rotten law. Ms. Van Bergen supports the Constitution! My goodness me, what a concept! Well, no doubt our "esteemed"(?) Attorney General will tell us all, very soon, that the Constitution is a "quaint" and "out dated" piece of paper. Excuse me, but EVERY government official, such as Gonzales, Cheney,Shrub, and the rest took an oath to uphold that document. So did every person who ever served in the United States military.
Just one old (nearly 60) former Marine who went off to the Imperial War in Viet Nam (1970-71), but maybe it is time for a new American revolution. Maybe they even still have some tea over in Boston.
On to more current things. It sure looks like poor old Gonzo, aka Attorney General Gonzales, is about done for. Why even old Newt has come out against the poor little feller! And here we thought Newt only attacked Democrats. Ha,ha,ha. Wonder how Shrub took having the Newtster dis his old pal from Texas, Gonzo. Does this mean that Newt won't be getting a dinner invite from Mr. & Mrs Shrub any time soon? Poor Newt. Well he looks like he could stand to miss a few meals. The boy is looking more like Al,not my pal, Gore. In other words, they are FAT. OK, so sue me for being politically incorrect. Hell, there isn't much you would win. Yes, being on disability means the legal actions will net you less than zero.
Interesting how some of the elephant gang are pissing on old Senator Reid for saying what is so obvious, a blind man can see it. We have LOST the war in Iraq! Now according to my personal pocket sized copy of the Constitution, amendment number ONE, states that among other rights, we have the right to freedom of speech. I would venture to guess that this freedom of speech even applies to a US senator. But, then, when the Speaker of the House gets critical comments for a trip to a foreign country, maybe the Constitution does NOT apply to members of Congress. This is, after all Amerika in 2007, and Shrub still is president. Maybe it was in the fine print in that there "patriot" act.
sempoer fi
11 April 2007
more random thoughts
A couple of things have got me to wondering about this country of ours. Some oddities from the latest "news" on CNN among other "news" outlets.
First up, Imus. Yes the idiot made some strange and hurtful comments about the Rutgers women's basketball team. His comments have distracted from the great post season run they made towards the championship. It also has way over-shadowed the winning team from Tennessee.
While Imus did make racist remarks and generated a storm of protest, I keep finding myself wondering about him. First up, does anybody actually still listen to that jack-ass? I would guess so, as there is this uproar about his comment.
Now, I agree that his comment was racist and sexist. I agree that he should be fined or maybe fired for this. It is not the first time he has run afoul of some group or other. What he said about those women basketball players was shameful. Actually, they are all nice looking young women. They also have way more class than Imus could ever hope to have.
I still keep wondering why anybody listens to his crap radio/MSNBC TV show. I tried once to watch his program on the satellite. Why? Well, many folks kept telling me about this Imus person. I figured, if the guy is so popular, I might as well check this program out. I actually made it through about 25 minutes of his "entertainment" before I had to switch the channel, hell, even an info-mercial was a relief after Imus and his crap. Not as gross as Howard Stern, but almost as intelligent. My personal opinion, Imus is a waste of my time to watch or listen to. How anybody with a functioning brain can stand to listen to his crap is beyond me.
Next up, according to CNN, Shrub wants a "war czar" to oversee the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq! What the hell? This is very odd indeed.
First, it is a new government position. It probably will require a staff and much office space. More big government. But, wait! Shrub claims to be a conservative. It used to be (heavy emphasis on used to) that conservatives, particularly Republican party members, were for small government. How can a "real" conservative be in favor of MORE government?
Next, our "decider" is also the commander in chief during wartime. He already has a Secretary of Defence also. There are numerous other national security personnel already in the White House and Pentagon. Can't any of them do this job?
According to CNN, an hour ago, the job has supposedly been offered to three retired generals. They have all turned it down.
W. Hey bud! Ask me. Hell yes, I'll take the job. I can start this coming Monday even. I was a Marine, I did a tour in Viet Nam. See, I have military experience as well, something you and dead-eye Dick lack. Now before any of my friends get all pissed at me for being willing to take this job, let me explain a bit.
I would take the job because disability doesn't pay much. I could use some extra money to finish the remodeling job on the house. Also, I won't need a very big staff, nor much of an office. Actually, I would be willing to work from home. This could save big bucks right away as there would be no need to move.
The other reason I would take the job is that before the 4th of July, I would no longer need the job. Yes, by early July, I would have finished the job, mission accomplished as it were.
How could I do this, you ask? Well, it is quite easy. My first order would be for all the active duty and National Guard troops who are getting ready to re-deploy to either of those countries would have them stand down and take 30 days leave. When they return from leave, the Guard troops would go back to their civilian jobs. The active duty troops would report to their regular duty stations in the US of A.
Now, as for the troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. Easy as pie. I would issue orders for ALL of them to start packing their equipment and be prepared to re-deploy back the the old US of A. Yes, by god damn it, I would bring them ALL home. Screw the damned wars. Just say, piss on this bullshit, come on home troops.
See, easy as pie. Now if I can just get my resume to W before some jack-ass applies for this short term job.
semper fi
First up, Imus. Yes the idiot made some strange and hurtful comments about the Rutgers women's basketball team. His comments have distracted from the great post season run they made towards the championship. It also has way over-shadowed the winning team from Tennessee.
While Imus did make racist remarks and generated a storm of protest, I keep finding myself wondering about him. First up, does anybody actually still listen to that jack-ass? I would guess so, as there is this uproar about his comment.
Now, I agree that his comment was racist and sexist. I agree that he should be fined or maybe fired for this. It is not the first time he has run afoul of some group or other. What he said about those women basketball players was shameful. Actually, they are all nice looking young women. They also have way more class than Imus could ever hope to have.
I still keep wondering why anybody listens to his crap radio/MSNBC TV show. I tried once to watch his program on the satellite. Why? Well, many folks kept telling me about this Imus person. I figured, if the guy is so popular, I might as well check this program out. I actually made it through about 25 minutes of his "entertainment" before I had to switch the channel, hell, even an info-mercial was a relief after Imus and his crap. Not as gross as Howard Stern, but almost as intelligent. My personal opinion, Imus is a waste of my time to watch or listen to. How anybody with a functioning brain can stand to listen to his crap is beyond me.
Next up, according to CNN, Shrub wants a "war czar" to oversee the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq! What the hell? This is very odd indeed.
First, it is a new government position. It probably will require a staff and much office space. More big government. But, wait! Shrub claims to be a conservative. It used to be (heavy emphasis on used to) that conservatives, particularly Republican party members, were for small government. How can a "real" conservative be in favor of MORE government?
Next, our "decider" is also the commander in chief during wartime. He already has a Secretary of Defence also. There are numerous other national security personnel already in the White House and Pentagon. Can't any of them do this job?
According to CNN, an hour ago, the job has supposedly been offered to three retired generals. They have all turned it down.
W. Hey bud! Ask me. Hell yes, I'll take the job. I can start this coming Monday even. I was a Marine, I did a tour in Viet Nam. See, I have military experience as well, something you and dead-eye Dick lack. Now before any of my friends get all pissed at me for being willing to take this job, let me explain a bit.
I would take the job because disability doesn't pay much. I could use some extra money to finish the remodeling job on the house. Also, I won't need a very big staff, nor much of an office. Actually, I would be willing to work from home. This could save big bucks right away as there would be no need to move.
The other reason I would take the job is that before the 4th of July, I would no longer need the job. Yes, by early July, I would have finished the job, mission accomplished as it were.
How could I do this, you ask? Well, it is quite easy. My first order would be for all the active duty and National Guard troops who are getting ready to re-deploy to either of those countries would have them stand down and take 30 days leave. When they return from leave, the Guard troops would go back to their civilian jobs. The active duty troops would report to their regular duty stations in the US of A.
Now, as for the troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. Easy as pie. I would issue orders for ALL of them to start packing their equipment and be prepared to re-deploy back the the old US of A. Yes, by god damn it, I would bring them ALL home. Screw the damned wars. Just say, piss on this bullshit, come on home troops.
See, easy as pie. Now if I can just get my resume to W before some jack-ass applies for this short term job.
semper fi
05 April 2007
My curiosity and our language
This post is just me ranting about language and definitions of words. This is something I have been curious about far many years. I have most likely done postings on this before. I know I have commented on this to other writers in my replies to them over the years. I may be whipping a dead horse as it were, but it just is something I decided(!) to post here.
This all stems from the events of yesterday and today regards the British Marines and sailors who have been released by the Iranians and are now back home in the old UK.
I have no negative things to say about those folks, they were doing their job and were captured by the Iranian navy. I want to state up front that I am very happy to see that they are home and safe and, as far as I have heard, unharmed. For that I and many others are very thankful. Yes, even a person (me) who has no religion can be thankful for various reasons.
My "problem" is with how they have been characterized, especially by the American media. They are being called heroes by CNN among other "news" outlets. Excuse me if I fail to see how they are/were heroic. They were preforming their military duty, inspecting ships in the gulf, and they were captured by the Iranian navy. What the hell is heroic about being taken prisoner? What actually constitutes heroism today? Anybody have an idea?
This goes back many years also. Our senator from Arizona, McCain, is called a hero. Why? He got shot down over North Viet Nam and in doing so, lost a very expensive aircraft. Yes, he was held as a prisoner of war for some years and suffered as a result. The question still remains. How is being shot down heroic?
Another incident happened during Billy Bubbas' "war" in the Balkans. An Air Force pilot, I think his name was O'Grady (if I got his name wrong, please let me know and I will post an apology), was shot down and lost his very expensive F-16. Yes, he did evade capture and after some days was rescued by the highly trained and very brave Air Force commando troops. I was very happy to see that he was safe and returned to the good old US of A. Our news media insisted on calling him a hero. There was much talk of making a "movie of the week" of his heroism. Now, to his great credit, he declined the hero label. He said, as I remember, that he was on his mission, got shot down, bailed out, and his survival training kicked in and he was glad he was able to evade capture. He also, as I recall,said the real heroes were the commando troops who rescued him. He gets my full credit for being honest.
Maybe I am being the "grinch" here, but I fail to see how being captured is heroic.
Here is an idea for our troops in Iraq, it will get them hero status and they will be able to get back home. Just cross the border into Iran, get taken prisoner. Our great media will call you heroes, and you will be flown back home. Great way to end the damn war. All the troops will be welcomed home as heroes and the war will be over as there will be no American troops to get shot and or killed.
Maybe this hero stuff can do our troops some good after all.
I for one would welcome all of our troops back home, as heroes, or just as survivors. Stay safe troops.
semper fi
This all stems from the events of yesterday and today regards the British Marines and sailors who have been released by the Iranians and are now back home in the old UK.
I have no negative things to say about those folks, they were doing their job and were captured by the Iranian navy. I want to state up front that I am very happy to see that they are home and safe and, as far as I have heard, unharmed. For that I and many others are very thankful. Yes, even a person (me) who has no religion can be thankful for various reasons.
My "problem" is with how they have been characterized, especially by the American media. They are being called heroes by CNN among other "news" outlets. Excuse me if I fail to see how they are/were heroic. They were preforming their military duty, inspecting ships in the gulf, and they were captured by the Iranian navy. What the hell is heroic about being taken prisoner? What actually constitutes heroism today? Anybody have an idea?
This goes back many years also. Our senator from Arizona, McCain, is called a hero. Why? He got shot down over North Viet Nam and in doing so, lost a very expensive aircraft. Yes, he was held as a prisoner of war for some years and suffered as a result. The question still remains. How is being shot down heroic?
Another incident happened during Billy Bubbas' "war" in the Balkans. An Air Force pilot, I think his name was O'Grady (if I got his name wrong, please let me know and I will post an apology), was shot down and lost his very expensive F-16. Yes, he did evade capture and after some days was rescued by the highly trained and very brave Air Force commando troops. I was very happy to see that he was safe and returned to the good old US of A. Our news media insisted on calling him a hero. There was much talk of making a "movie of the week" of his heroism. Now, to his great credit, he declined the hero label. He said, as I remember, that he was on his mission, got shot down, bailed out, and his survival training kicked in and he was glad he was able to evade capture. He also, as I recall,said the real heroes were the commando troops who rescued him. He gets my full credit for being honest.
Maybe I am being the "grinch" here, but I fail to see how being captured is heroic.
Here is an idea for our troops in Iraq, it will get them hero status and they will be able to get back home. Just cross the border into Iran, get taken prisoner. Our great media will call you heroes, and you will be flown back home. Great way to end the damn war. All the troops will be welcomed home as heroes and the war will be over as there will be no American troops to get shot and or killed.
Maybe this hero stuff can do our troops some good after all.
I for one would welcome all of our troops back home, as heroes, or just as survivors. Stay safe troops.
semper fi
03 April 2007
An Easter gift from Shrub?
According to a report leaked by Russia, the Shrub may start bombing Iran on 6 April, 2007.
It has not made much news here in the old US of A, but did merit an article on Counterpunch by Professor Leupp.
Now an interesting thing with this is, 6 April is Good Friday. As I am not a member of any organized religion, I needed to check the old calendar to verify that date. That makes Sunday 8 April Easyer Sunday.
Now maybe it is just cynical old me, but isn't it a bit strange that our "decider" claims to be a "good Christian", yet he just may start a third war(!) during the Easter season. It is my understanding that this is one of THE two high holy days for the Christian church. Is this really a good way to prove how "godly" he is? I really do wish to understand this, as I said, I am not religious and am curious about this. I mean, I respect the rights of all peoples to their religious beliefs, but this does seem a bit odd. If anyone could explain this to me, feel free to do so.
It is a bit odd in another way as well. Think about the facts as we have them. We have two(!) failed wars right now. Afghanistan, yes, we are still there and fighting is ongoing. Iraq, well, not much else need be said, it is going very bad for us so far. Now, having two failed/failing wars, would any SANE person decide(?) to start a third war? Or is this new war with Iran supposed to take the overtaxed American brains away from the failed wars? Just curious.
I guess it would be like trying to build a deck and making two miserable attempts then deciding to build a third deck on another side of the poor, broken down house. OK, maybe that isn't a good example. Got any that are better? Any that make sense?
Any way, it looks like our great "decider" may have a new(?) and wondrous "gift" for the whole world this Easter season. Have fun kids. Don't overeat the chocolate eggs. Please don't shoot the bunnies this year.
semper fi
It has not made much news here in the old US of A, but did merit an article on Counterpunch by Professor Leupp.
Now an interesting thing with this is, 6 April is Good Friday. As I am not a member of any organized religion, I needed to check the old calendar to verify that date. That makes Sunday 8 April Easyer Sunday.
Now maybe it is just cynical old me, but isn't it a bit strange that our "decider" claims to be a "good Christian", yet he just may start a third war(!) during the Easter season. It is my understanding that this is one of THE two high holy days for the Christian church. Is this really a good way to prove how "godly" he is? I really do wish to understand this, as I said, I am not religious and am curious about this. I mean, I respect the rights of all peoples to their religious beliefs, but this does seem a bit odd. If anyone could explain this to me, feel free to do so.
It is a bit odd in another way as well. Think about the facts as we have them. We have two(!) failed wars right now. Afghanistan, yes, we are still there and fighting is ongoing. Iraq, well, not much else need be said, it is going very bad for us so far. Now, having two failed/failing wars, would any SANE person decide(?) to start a third war? Or is this new war with Iran supposed to take the overtaxed American brains away from the failed wars? Just curious.
I guess it would be like trying to build a deck and making two miserable attempts then deciding to build a third deck on another side of the poor, broken down house. OK, maybe that isn't a good example. Got any that are better? Any that make sense?
Any way, it looks like our great "decider" may have a new(?) and wondrous "gift" for the whole world this Easter season. Have fun kids. Don't overeat the chocolate eggs. Please don't shoot the bunnies this year.
semper fi
10 March 2007
Our National Shame
The crisis at Walter Reed Army hospital is a National Shame. It is a disgrace to ALL of our troops and veterans. How dare we send our military off to fight in totally bullshit wars of choice, then give them substandard facilities when they return home wounded?
Congress has started making some noise about the sorry state of affairs at Walter Reed. Shrub has appointed a commission to "study" things. That is a certain guarantee that not much will be done. How many "blue ribbon" commissions have ever accomplished anything? Our great(?) government and our fearful; leaders run to the ultimate do-nothing tried and true method of establishing commissions to "study" the problems. They will study and study, finally releasing a report at some future date. In the meantime, our brave troops and other military veterans will continue to suffer neglect. If this isn't a National Disgrace, well, then I have no idea what could ever constitute a National Disgrace. Maybe an illegal war? Wait, we already have two of those going on right now. With a third damn near ready to be started. What sort of "treatment" will those troops get? Same old shit? Most likely.
Shrub and his evil puppet master dark Dick Cheney use our troops like they were their personal possessions. They treat our troops as if they alone "decide" to have them put in harms way. Congress? Well, just overlook the fact that the United States Constitution gives the power to declare war to Congress, NOT the "decider in chief".
Shrub and his crew are the most disgusting, piss poor examples of leadership yet. When I was in the Marines, I went to NCO school for two weeks after I returned from Viet Nam. One of the main lessons we were taught about being a leader was to never ask your troops to do what you would not do yourself. Hear that W? How about it Dick? Neither of you had the balls to see combat during Viet Nam. W got off with Texas Air National Guard duty and then failed to serve out his contract. Cheney got plenty of deferments, he "had other priorities". Hell so did every Marine, soldier,sailor, and airman in Viet Nam. We called our "other priorities" staying alive to get back to the States!
Fucking goddamn cowards have sent our troops off to fight, die, and suffer in two illegal wars. Chickenshit Democrats will do nothing except pass non-binding resolutions saying we ought to keep supporting the troops. Hell yes, I support our troops! I support them by saying that we need to get them ALL back to the States, NOW!
Oh, they say, if we quit Iraq now there might be a civil war there! What a load of horse shit. Iraq IS in a civil war now. Shia against Sunnis against Kurd violence has been and continues to be ongoing. Our being there just gives all sides more targets. How could our troops stop a civil war in Iraq? To do so, we would appear to be choosing sides. Well, we have done that already. Of course we change sides when ever it suits W's political purposes. Today we back the Shia, tomorrow we back the Sunnis. What total hypocrisy!
What total bullshit!
Support the troops, demand they end the war in Iraq and come back home.
Afghanistan? Well, NATO isn't doing much good there either. Now Blair is telling other NATO countries to "step up" and deliver more troops to that mess. Looks like NATO is starting to get involved in intra-mural(sp) infighting. Poor old NATO, an organization that has outlived its purpose.
Since the USSR broke up, what IS the reason for NATO? Is it now just a quasi military club? What is the purpose of an organization started to defend against a now, non-existent foe? Looks to me like an "old boy" club for want to be military people who award themselves all sort of ribbons and medals. Glory be!
God knows we sure "need" more of that bullshit also.
The war on terror is almost as smart as the war on drugs. Neither can ever be won. The real solution for either is to eliminate the need, for terror, or illegal drugs. Prevention is the key. Ah, but prevention is NOT sexy! The local cops getting on TV and showing the "biggest (drug of choice) bust" in history IS sexy. It sells newspapers, it leads the TV news. Prevention, that doesn't make the news at all. It also takes hard work and dedicated effort, NOT military style guns and hardware. Notice how in recent years, even in the smallest towns, the cops all LOVE the new "toys" they have to play with. Yes sir, they sure do love those new guns, helicopters, and other goodies. Hell, most cops even dress like the goddamn mercenaries from Blackwater!
America, where are you now? Don't you know that we need your help to fight the monster?
Almost makes me wish I believed in some religion or other. At least that way I could ask some god or the other for help. Looks like we are on our own with this shit.
semper fi
Congress has started making some noise about the sorry state of affairs at Walter Reed. Shrub has appointed a commission to "study" things. That is a certain guarantee that not much will be done. How many "blue ribbon" commissions have ever accomplished anything? Our great(?) government and our fearful; leaders run to the ultimate do-nothing tried and true method of establishing commissions to "study" the problems. They will study and study, finally releasing a report at some future date. In the meantime, our brave troops and other military veterans will continue to suffer neglect. If this isn't a National Disgrace, well, then I have no idea what could ever constitute a National Disgrace. Maybe an illegal war? Wait, we already have two of those going on right now. With a third damn near ready to be started. What sort of "treatment" will those troops get? Same old shit? Most likely.
Shrub and his evil puppet master dark Dick Cheney use our troops like they were their personal possessions. They treat our troops as if they alone "decide" to have them put in harms way. Congress? Well, just overlook the fact that the United States Constitution gives the power to declare war to Congress, NOT the "decider in chief".
Shrub and his crew are the most disgusting, piss poor examples of leadership yet. When I was in the Marines, I went to NCO school for two weeks after I returned from Viet Nam. One of the main lessons we were taught about being a leader was to never ask your troops to do what you would not do yourself. Hear that W? How about it Dick? Neither of you had the balls to see combat during Viet Nam. W got off with Texas Air National Guard duty and then failed to serve out his contract. Cheney got plenty of deferments, he "had other priorities". Hell so did every Marine, soldier,sailor, and airman in Viet Nam. We called our "other priorities" staying alive to get back to the States!
Fucking goddamn cowards have sent our troops off to fight, die, and suffer in two illegal wars. Chickenshit Democrats will do nothing except pass non-binding resolutions saying we ought to keep supporting the troops. Hell yes, I support our troops! I support them by saying that we need to get them ALL back to the States, NOW!
Oh, they say, if we quit Iraq now there might be a civil war there! What a load of horse shit. Iraq IS in a civil war now. Shia against Sunnis against Kurd violence has been and continues to be ongoing. Our being there just gives all sides more targets. How could our troops stop a civil war in Iraq? To do so, we would appear to be choosing sides. Well, we have done that already. Of course we change sides when ever it suits W's political purposes. Today we back the Shia, tomorrow we back the Sunnis. What total hypocrisy!
What total bullshit!
Support the troops, demand they end the war in Iraq and come back home.
Afghanistan? Well, NATO isn't doing much good there either. Now Blair is telling other NATO countries to "step up" and deliver more troops to that mess. Looks like NATO is starting to get involved in intra-mural(sp) infighting. Poor old NATO, an organization that has outlived its purpose.
Since the USSR broke up, what IS the reason for NATO? Is it now just a quasi military club? What is the purpose of an organization started to defend against a now, non-existent foe? Looks to me like an "old boy" club for want to be military people who award themselves all sort of ribbons and medals. Glory be!
God knows we sure "need" more of that bullshit also.
The war on terror is almost as smart as the war on drugs. Neither can ever be won. The real solution for either is to eliminate the need, for terror, or illegal drugs. Prevention is the key. Ah, but prevention is NOT sexy! The local cops getting on TV and showing the "biggest (drug of choice) bust" in history IS sexy. It sells newspapers, it leads the TV news. Prevention, that doesn't make the news at all. It also takes hard work and dedicated effort, NOT military style guns and hardware. Notice how in recent years, even in the smallest towns, the cops all LOVE the new "toys" they have to play with. Yes sir, they sure do love those new guns, helicopters, and other goodies. Hell, most cops even dress like the goddamn mercenaries from Blackwater!
America, where are you now? Don't you know that we need your help to fight the monster?
Almost makes me wish I believed in some religion or other. At least that way I could ask some god or the other for help. Looks like we are on our own with this shit.
semper fi
15 February 2007
Do we get "real" news in America?
Well, the last few days here have been most curious. It would seem as though America no longer is allowed network access to "REAL" news stories.
How so? Well, take this Anna Nicole mess(PLEASE take it, as in very far away). How is it that a bleached blond bimbo, whose only claim to "fame" is being a Playboy playmate and marrying a very rich old guy. Old enough to have been her grandfather, gets so much coverage for being dead? Her death has been the lead on much of CNN and this morning on CNN Headline news, nearly one half of that half hour "news" program was devoted to squabbles over DNA testing of her remains. That is nearly 15 minutes of a 30 minute "newscast" given to some dead blond bimbo who, as far as I can tell, never did much to help anybody except herself.
Notice, that Iraq, Afghanistan, and Iran had to be held until we got plenty of trivial crap about this dead bimbo. Other than her lawyers and those of the estate of her dead(old and very rich) husband, who the hell cares?
It would seem that as the wars are going badly for us, divert the public with spectacle. Anna Nicole fits that profile to a "T". Spectacle for sure.
More on the two wars going bad. As Iraq sinks further into chaos, and Afghanistan gets less and less news coverage on the networks, Bush and crew are beating the drums of war with Iran. Well, sure, when you have a war (or two) that go quickly to hell, start another war with another country, this way the public won't focus on the mess in Iraq! What strategy! Why, it is near brilliant! If only Johnson had done this he might have run for re-election in 1968. Maybe he should have started a shooting war with Cambodia. Oh, wait, Nixon did that. Well, even Nixon was capable of a mistake or three.
A comment or more on Congress. The good news from the November 2006 elections, the Republicans lost control of both houses of Congress. The bad news on those elections. The Democrats won control of Congress.
What ARE the donkey gang doing? They make some noise in front of the TV cameras, then go and vote on non-binding resolutions! Big damn deal. Almost like telling the dog that you will beat his ass if he shits on the rug and when he does, you just bend down and clean it up, end of story. Our "wonderful" Democratic controlled Congress is almost as useful.
Some bits of good news. First off, the Dixie Chicks won some Grammy awards. Good for them. The crap they took for saying they were ashamed that the president was from Texas was stupid. Hell, this current criminal administration makes some of us ashamed to call ourselves Americans. Take that you non-music lovers.
More good news. For those of us who like our race cars to run short and dead on straight, the NHRA season started last weekend. Some really good racing was seen at the Winternationals. Ah, 22 more races left in the new season. Next drag race for them, 23 to 25 February at Phoenix, AZ.
Good news for folks who like long distance (400 to 500 miles) racing with only left turns, NASCAR gets going at Daytona this week. Some of the qualifying races were held today. No, I don't have the results at hand now, sorry. The Daytona 500 is this Sunday. The truck race is Friday and the Busch race on Saturday. So, while the two Bush league wars may be going down the toilet, at least racing is started again at home. Race fans, enjoy. War fans, go to hell, do not pass "GO", do not collect $200.00. As General Smedley Butler said, there are only two reasons for war. To defend OUR homes and the Bill of Rights. All other reasons for war are a racket. No wonder Cheney likes war so much. Racketeers love their rackets.
Which brings me back to the "dark lord" Cheney. That draft dodger is damn quick to send our kids and grand kids off to fight and die in war. The son of a bitch didn't have the balls to even serve in the military himself. He would NOT have made it through Marine Corps NCO school. The Marine Corps taught me in NCO school that a good leader should never ask his troops to do something he was unwilling to do himself. Such is the "leadership" of the criminal administration we have in our country today. Gutless bastards who were too damned chickenshit to serve in the military sending our young people off to do what they were too damned scared to do themselves when they had the opportunity. Screw Bush and Cheney and the sheep they rode in on.
semper fi
charlie
How so? Well, take this Anna Nicole mess(PLEASE take it, as in very far away). How is it that a bleached blond bimbo, whose only claim to "fame" is being a Playboy playmate and marrying a very rich old guy. Old enough to have been her grandfather, gets so much coverage for being dead? Her death has been the lead on much of CNN and this morning on CNN Headline news, nearly one half of that half hour "news" program was devoted to squabbles over DNA testing of her remains. That is nearly 15 minutes of a 30 minute "newscast" given to some dead blond bimbo who, as far as I can tell, never did much to help anybody except herself.
Notice, that Iraq, Afghanistan, and Iran had to be held until we got plenty of trivial crap about this dead bimbo. Other than her lawyers and those of the estate of her dead(old and very rich) husband, who the hell cares?
It would seem that as the wars are going badly for us, divert the public with spectacle. Anna Nicole fits that profile to a "T". Spectacle for sure.
More on the two wars going bad. As Iraq sinks further into chaos, and Afghanistan gets less and less news coverage on the networks, Bush and crew are beating the drums of war with Iran. Well, sure, when you have a war (or two) that go quickly to hell, start another war with another country, this way the public won't focus on the mess in Iraq! What strategy! Why, it is near brilliant! If only Johnson had done this he might have run for re-election in 1968. Maybe he should have started a shooting war with Cambodia. Oh, wait, Nixon did that. Well, even Nixon was capable of a mistake or three.
A comment or more on Congress. The good news from the November 2006 elections, the Republicans lost control of both houses of Congress. The bad news on those elections. The Democrats won control of Congress.
What ARE the donkey gang doing? They make some noise in front of the TV cameras, then go and vote on non-binding resolutions! Big damn deal. Almost like telling the dog that you will beat his ass if he shits on the rug and when he does, you just bend down and clean it up, end of story. Our "wonderful" Democratic controlled Congress is almost as useful.
Some bits of good news. First off, the Dixie Chicks won some Grammy awards. Good for them. The crap they took for saying they were ashamed that the president was from Texas was stupid. Hell, this current criminal administration makes some of us ashamed to call ourselves Americans. Take that you non-music lovers.
More good news. For those of us who like our race cars to run short and dead on straight, the NHRA season started last weekend. Some really good racing was seen at the Winternationals. Ah, 22 more races left in the new season. Next drag race for them, 23 to 25 February at Phoenix, AZ.
Good news for folks who like long distance (400 to 500 miles) racing with only left turns, NASCAR gets going at Daytona this week. Some of the qualifying races were held today. No, I don't have the results at hand now, sorry. The Daytona 500 is this Sunday. The truck race is Friday and the Busch race on Saturday. So, while the two Bush league wars may be going down the toilet, at least racing is started again at home. Race fans, enjoy. War fans, go to hell, do not pass "GO", do not collect $200.00. As General Smedley Butler said, there are only two reasons for war. To defend OUR homes and the Bill of Rights. All other reasons for war are a racket. No wonder Cheney likes war so much. Racketeers love their rackets.
Which brings me back to the "dark lord" Cheney. That draft dodger is damn quick to send our kids and grand kids off to fight and die in war. The son of a bitch didn't have the balls to even serve in the military himself. He would NOT have made it through Marine Corps NCO school. The Marine Corps taught me in NCO school that a good leader should never ask his troops to do something he was unwilling to do himself. Such is the "leadership" of the criminal administration we have in our country today. Gutless bastards who were too damned chickenshit to serve in the military sending our young people off to do what they were too damned scared to do themselves when they had the opportunity. Screw Bush and Cheney and the sheep they rode in on.
semper fi
charlie
13 January 2007
New Year, same old shit
Well, it is now 2007, a new year. I had put off posting during the holidays to wait and see what the Shrub would do about his wars.
The Baker Hamilton report has been discussed by many. It did seem somewhat reasonable in the recommendations, of course that meant that Shrub would ignore it out of hand.
Now we are told that the "decider" has the urge to surge. More than 21,000 more troops will be sent to Iraq. He also wants to increase the Marines and Army by some 92,000 new troops as well. More recruits will need to be found among the population. Good luck on that. I hadn't checked on this lately, but for many months they were not able to meet the recruitment quotas in the past years, how are they going to increase the size of those organizations now?
Being anti war, myself, I hope they will not find any willing people to meet this new increased Army and Marine Corps. If it was truly for national defence, they would be swamped with willing volunteers. Hell they would even find veterans of past wars ready to enlist to fight off an invasion of our country. All the Shrub thinks of is his "legacy". Ha! His legacy is already insured. He will go down as the absolute worst "leader" we have had up to this date. Yes, there may, in the future, be an even worse president. I know, that is almost beyond belief, but it IS possible. How so? Well, I am constantly amazed by the stupidity of some of our fellow human beings. Every time I think I have seen the worst or the stupidest, some one will do something that tops what I had seen before. Our species seems to have an unlimited capacity to do stupid things.
Back to the surge. This increase of 21,000 plus new troops to Iraq just means 21,000 more targets for the Iraqis. It is too few to control the country, and way too many new targets.Even the Shrub admitted in his speech that with the troop increase the violence and killing will continue. So why send more targets? He still keeps on with his idea that we(?) must succeed in Iraq. OK, but what IS meant by success in Iraq today? I have yet to hear any true measure of this "success". The goals in Iraq keep changing. First it was WMD, then to topple Saddam, then to install democracy. What is the current "idea" of this "victory"?
If any one knows, please share it with the rest of us.
One thing I have noticed, on a very personal level, this war is waking up old memories. Things that were "put away" in the darkest closet of my mind. They were put there and left to be untouched in this life. Now, thanks to the constant war we are in, they have come out to haunt me. The bad memories of the fighting in Viet Nam have resurfaced. Not in the last weeks, but many months ago. I had not spoken of this before, but feel the need to do so now. If only for my own personal benefit. Yes, some times talking about "bad experiences" helps. The flashbacks and nightmares have returned. Some would say, stop watching the news, quit reading the web sites that report the war, stop following it on the net and the TV. Would that it were that easy.This war is like the old saying about the train wreck. You don't want to see the carnage, but feel compelled to look anyway.
If the veterans of other wars,looked away, or tried to ignore the current war, they would find that it is not possible.Those of us who have been to war feel compelled to stay informed on this one. We cannot turn our backs on this disaster. Hell, our children are fighting this war. How could we choose to ignore that?
Lucky me, in that respect. I have only one child living. She is 36 years old and has children of her own. Many other veterans have children who ARE in the military and are in Iraq or Afghanistan. Will they be in Somalia next?
The scar of war run deep. They are not easily healed. Even time does not lessen them very much.
Somehow, someway, we the people MUST put and end to war.
semper fi,
charlie
The Baker Hamilton report has been discussed by many. It did seem somewhat reasonable in the recommendations, of course that meant that Shrub would ignore it out of hand.
Now we are told that the "decider" has the urge to surge. More than 21,000 more troops will be sent to Iraq. He also wants to increase the Marines and Army by some 92,000 new troops as well. More recruits will need to be found among the population. Good luck on that. I hadn't checked on this lately, but for many months they were not able to meet the recruitment quotas in the past years, how are they going to increase the size of those organizations now?
Being anti war, myself, I hope they will not find any willing people to meet this new increased Army and Marine Corps. If it was truly for national defence, they would be swamped with willing volunteers. Hell they would even find veterans of past wars ready to enlist to fight off an invasion of our country. All the Shrub thinks of is his "legacy". Ha! His legacy is already insured. He will go down as the absolute worst "leader" we have had up to this date. Yes, there may, in the future, be an even worse president. I know, that is almost beyond belief, but it IS possible. How so? Well, I am constantly amazed by the stupidity of some of our fellow human beings. Every time I think I have seen the worst or the stupidest, some one will do something that tops what I had seen before. Our species seems to have an unlimited capacity to do stupid things.
Back to the surge. This increase of 21,000 plus new troops to Iraq just means 21,000 more targets for the Iraqis. It is too few to control the country, and way too many new targets.Even the Shrub admitted in his speech that with the troop increase the violence and killing will continue. So why send more targets? He still keeps on with his idea that we(?) must succeed in Iraq. OK, but what IS meant by success in Iraq today? I have yet to hear any true measure of this "success". The goals in Iraq keep changing. First it was WMD, then to topple Saddam, then to install democracy. What is the current "idea" of this "victory"?
If any one knows, please share it with the rest of us.
One thing I have noticed, on a very personal level, this war is waking up old memories. Things that were "put away" in the darkest closet of my mind. They were put there and left to be untouched in this life. Now, thanks to the constant war we are in, they have come out to haunt me. The bad memories of the fighting in Viet Nam have resurfaced. Not in the last weeks, but many months ago. I had not spoken of this before, but feel the need to do so now. If only for my own personal benefit. Yes, some times talking about "bad experiences" helps. The flashbacks and nightmares have returned. Some would say, stop watching the news, quit reading the web sites that report the war, stop following it on the net and the TV. Would that it were that easy.This war is like the old saying about the train wreck. You don't want to see the carnage, but feel compelled to look anyway.
If the veterans of other wars,looked away, or tried to ignore the current war, they would find that it is not possible.Those of us who have been to war feel compelled to stay informed on this one. We cannot turn our backs on this disaster. Hell, our children are fighting this war. How could we choose to ignore that?
Lucky me, in that respect. I have only one child living. She is 36 years old and has children of her own. Many other veterans have children who ARE in the military and are in Iraq or Afghanistan. Will they be in Somalia next?
The scar of war run deep. They are not easily healed. Even time does not lessen them very much.
Somehow, someway, we the people MUST put and end to war.
semper fi,
charlie
12 November 2006
Election results
Well, the elections are over. The pundits have had their say on how it all turned out. They have "spoken from on high" to tell us riff-raff why we voted as we did. "They" always have to explain how and why "we" do what we do in these matters. We cannot be trusted to give our own opinions, it all has to be dissected by the pundit class.
Well, from my lowly point of view, we the people, just were damn tired of the bullshit coming from the White House and Congress. Of course I am not a member of the pundit class. I am just a lowly citizen of this once great country. Oh, I am also a Viet Nam vet and a former Marine, but that doesn't count for much among the pundits. Funny how so few of them ever wore any uniform, not even a Cub Scout uniform. The same holds very true for the neo-cons as well. The war lovers have very seldom ever been in an actual war. Odd how that works isn't it? It is one of those "life mysteries" I guess.
OK, the donkey gang seems to have won enough seats in BOTH houses of Congress to hold majorities in both. Wow! Well, OK, they won, they had their "victory" parties and the paper cups have been picked up and the floors swept. Now what? Will they hold W. Gump and his side kick old "Dead Eye" Dick Cheney to account? Will they repeal that evil Patriot Act? Will they repeal that even more evil Military Commissions Act? Will they start(!) to bring the troops home? Will they ENSURE that the Gulf States get HONEST rebuilding efforts?
Just what will "THEY" do now that they are in control of Congress?
Hey! Democrats! The nation wants some direction from you. You folks have the "power" now, what are you going to do? Do you folks HAVE a plan? If so, what is it? Hells bells, you KNEW there was a chance you could get control of Congress (or at LEAST the House) before the election. You SHOULD have had at least some sort of IDEA of what you might want to do with that power. Let us in on the plan. You DO have one, don't you?
Me? Well, I do NOT look for much change in the way things are. The Democans are just the other side of the same coin as the Republocrats to me. I voted for the Independent candidate in my district. Yes, the "big two" would say I wasted my vote. Well, it was MY vote, and therefore mine to "waste" if I decided to do so. My vote, my choice. At least I deprived the War Party of one vote here in central Louisiana. It didn't matter, Mr. Alexander won any way. So, he could care less if he got my vote or not. So be it, that is how we operate. I can still send him emails and such. He IS my representative and I will continue to let him know my opinions. Bet he won't like that. Actually, he doesn't seem to care. I never even get a form letter reply from his office. How nice of him and his staff. They must know I never cast my vote for him. LOL!
One other reason I don't hold much hope for real change, the neo-cons are jumping ship and returning to their origin, the Democratic Party. Yes sir, most of them started out as "Scoop" Jackson Democrats. You can look this up on the net, or just google it. The neo-cons didn't lose the war either. They blame old Rummy. Nice to see him gone, but Gates is tied to the Iran-Contra deal plus much more from the Bush 1 administration and even that of old Ron Ray-gun and Nixon. Nixon called Rummy "that ruthless little bastard". Nice bit of character analysis there Dick! Hell, the description still fits today. Bye, bye Rummy. We won't miss you. Oh, and don't let the door hit your ass as you walk out.
Now if we can just bring him up on war crimes charges. Then get Cheney to quit and charge him also. Then get the rest of this criminal administration when they try to sneak out of Dodge. Put them ALL in orange jumpsuits and have them making little rocks from big rocks. For life.
We need to keep the heat on the Democrats to restore OUR Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the rule of law.
The election is over. The Democrats won. Now WE the people must hold them accountable for their actions.
semper fi
Well, from my lowly point of view, we the people, just were damn tired of the bullshit coming from the White House and Congress. Of course I am not a member of the pundit class. I am just a lowly citizen of this once great country. Oh, I am also a Viet Nam vet and a former Marine, but that doesn't count for much among the pundits. Funny how so few of them ever wore any uniform, not even a Cub Scout uniform. The same holds very true for the neo-cons as well. The war lovers have very seldom ever been in an actual war. Odd how that works isn't it? It is one of those "life mysteries" I guess.
OK, the donkey gang seems to have won enough seats in BOTH houses of Congress to hold majorities in both. Wow! Well, OK, they won, they had their "victory" parties and the paper cups have been picked up and the floors swept. Now what? Will they hold W. Gump and his side kick old "Dead Eye" Dick Cheney to account? Will they repeal that evil Patriot Act? Will they repeal that even more evil Military Commissions Act? Will they start(!) to bring the troops home? Will they ENSURE that the Gulf States get HONEST rebuilding efforts?
Just what will "THEY" do now that they are in control of Congress?
Hey! Democrats! The nation wants some direction from you. You folks have the "power" now, what are you going to do? Do you folks HAVE a plan? If so, what is it? Hells bells, you KNEW there was a chance you could get control of Congress (or at LEAST the House) before the election. You SHOULD have had at least some sort of IDEA of what you might want to do with that power. Let us in on the plan. You DO have one, don't you?
Me? Well, I do NOT look for much change in the way things are. The Democans are just the other side of the same coin as the Republocrats to me. I voted for the Independent candidate in my district. Yes, the "big two" would say I wasted my vote. Well, it was MY vote, and therefore mine to "waste" if I decided to do so. My vote, my choice. At least I deprived the War Party of one vote here in central Louisiana. It didn't matter, Mr. Alexander won any way. So, he could care less if he got my vote or not. So be it, that is how we operate. I can still send him emails and such. He IS my representative and I will continue to let him know my opinions. Bet he won't like that. Actually, he doesn't seem to care. I never even get a form letter reply from his office. How nice of him and his staff. They must know I never cast my vote for him. LOL!
One other reason I don't hold much hope for real change, the neo-cons are jumping ship and returning to their origin, the Democratic Party. Yes sir, most of them started out as "Scoop" Jackson Democrats. You can look this up on the net, or just google it. The neo-cons didn't lose the war either. They blame old Rummy. Nice to see him gone, but Gates is tied to the Iran-Contra deal plus much more from the Bush 1 administration and even that of old Ron Ray-gun and Nixon. Nixon called Rummy "that ruthless little bastard". Nice bit of character analysis there Dick! Hell, the description still fits today. Bye, bye Rummy. We won't miss you. Oh, and don't let the door hit your ass as you walk out.
Now if we can just bring him up on war crimes charges. Then get Cheney to quit and charge him also. Then get the rest of this criminal administration when they try to sneak out of Dodge. Put them ALL in orange jumpsuits and have them making little rocks from big rocks. For life.
We need to keep the heat on the Democrats to restore OUR Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the rule of law.
The election is over. The Democrats won. Now WE the people must hold them accountable for their actions.
semper fi
10 November 2006
Semper Fi
Semper Fi Marines.
On this day, 10 November 1775 in Tunns Tavern the Marine Corps was born.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Marines!!!
Now, you notice that our great organization was started in a tavern. Guess even back then you needed a good stiff drink before enlisting. LOL!
Just kidding, sort of.
SEMPER FI! And a huge salute from me to ALL Marines, former and present.
May the gods look over all of you and particularly those who are serving today in Afghanistan and Iraq.
charlie
On this day, 10 November 1775 in Tunns Tavern the Marine Corps was born.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Marines!!!
Now, you notice that our great organization was started in a tavern. Guess even back then you needed a good stiff drink before enlisting. LOL!
Just kidding, sort of.
SEMPER FI! And a huge salute from me to ALL Marines, former and present.
May the gods look over all of you and particularly those who are serving today in Afghanistan and Iraq.
charlie
23 October 2006
Fix to errors
Some how the links in my latest post didn't print right.
I will try them again for those who stop by here.
The Orwell link is; www.cato.org/research/articles/orwell.html
The link to Ms. Taylor's excellent article on reading is; www.lewrockwell.com/taylor/taylor131.html
I apologize for this error, the links should work now.
charlie
I will try them again for those who stop by here.
The Orwell link is; www.cato.org/research/articles/orwell.html
The link to Ms. Taylor's excellent article on reading is; www.lewrockwell.com/taylor/taylor131.html
I apologize for this error, the links should work now.
charlie
22 October 2006
Words and the MCA
Got some things to kick around today. Words, or language is the first one. Then on to the MCA, or as it is officially called, the Military Commissions Act recently passed and signed into law by our "dear leader" W. Gump.
Words or language and the misuse of it really has been a thing that has been wearing on this old fart for decades. Now I enjoy word games or "playing" with words as much as the next person. My Dad was really good at that. It makes you think, exercise for the old brain. It is the misuse of language that is what has got me really pissed off. The reason is that words are the way we communicate. When our language is abused, it makes any true communications very difficult.
I am NOT talking about the way our language has changed,that is entirely different. Our language IS changing and changeable. It is a fluid sort of thing. Meanings change with time, new words come into use, old ones drop from use. That is natural in my opinion.
The abuse of words has been a "sore spot" to me for many years. Those who know me, who have worked with me, my Marine buddies, any others who have any association with me know this. The "politically correct" bull that was on a high in the recent past and still continues somewhat is a good example of language abuse. What passes for communication from the criminal administration of W. Gump and his puppet master, Cheney are the new height of language abuse. Fueled, in my opinion, by the political correctness of the 80's and 90's.
It is my opinion that the political correctness crap let this current gang get away with their language abuse without notice by many. If we had not gone through the PC crap, their word abuse might be more noticeable. I may be wrong here, I did say this is my opinion, I did NOT take any survey or investigation of this issue.
I DID look to see if any "authority" had ever addressed this issue. I had figured that some "learned" person MUST have written a book or at least a paper on this. I found an interesting one on this subject. It is available on the internet for free. It is by George Orwell, entitled "Politics and the English Language". It was written in 1945. OK, so it might be dated, but it IS very good and worth reading. The link is; www.cato.org/research/articles/orwell.html. I recommend this one as an excellent start for those interested in the abuses of our language.
Another great article that is not quite on this topic is also worth your time. This is written recently by a very kind person, she allowed me to post the link here, that is kind in my book. The article is on the importance of reading. Reading? Yes, reading. Americans don't do enough of it. According to the author, our children are not even being taught how to read correctly. The link is;www.lewrockwell.com/taylor/taylor131.html. Ms. Linda Taylor has given us an excellent article on the lack of proper teaching of basic reading skills in America. If we and our offspring don't read, how will we get our information? From the TV? We ALL know that is so biased that it isn't really worth the effort to turn it on if we are looking for anything close to the truth.
Here we are, back to words, language, and reading. I am not much of a writer, but I never set out to be. After the Marines I worked as a machinist. I made parts according to the old blueprints. Writing articles was not a requirement. Reading was required. You had to be able to read to make the parts. Yes, blueprints have actual words on them, not just numbers.
Reading is one of the most cherished things I do. I have always enjoyed reading. It is one way to learn things. Good fiction lets you escape the cares of this world for a time. Reading is so essential to life, or I think it is.
The abuse of words takes away from this as well as confusing communications. The most outrageous abuse of language is "extraordinary rendition". What a term that is. What it really is, in fact, is plain old kidnapping of a person. Kidnapping and taking the person off to some facility for "interrogation", which can mean whatever W. Gump "decides" that day.
The man is president of America, but how is it that he gets to say what words mean? Where is THAT granted in the Constitution? Oh, right, in order to find out, one needs to read! The "decider" gets to "decide" what a word means now. We know he has declared that he can "decide" what law or portion of a law he will follow or obey.
Signing statements, another abuse of language. Why not be truthful there Gump, just tell us all in plain language that NO law applies to you unless you "decide" it does.
What makes this all so disgusting is the LACK of any outrage at this. Does the press ever ask anything about this state of affairs? I do NOT mean some blog on the net, I am waiting for the main stream press to WAKE UP to the language abuse. I am in for a long wait, the MSM hardly notices the physical and psychological abuses of real people. Words are so easy to abuse, and the press just goes along with all the abuses. Oh dear, don't rock the boat. If the "reporters" don't suck up to power, their careers may not advance or may not advance very fast. Abuses, whether of people or words, well, that doesn't count.
The Military Commissions Act. Wow. Now W. Gump got Congress to pass this piece of excrement. How they could do this is beyond comprehension. Senator Specter said it was unconstitutional before the vote. How did he vote? In favor of it! Senator McCain, who was tortured in Viet Nam was against it. How did he vote? He voted FOR it! What the hell you say. Yes, a majority of OUR senators voted for this thing, this rotten piece of crap.
Now this president can declare (decide) that ANY person, anywhere is a terrorist or at least an "illegal enemy combatant". Anyone! It does NOT just apply to foreigners. He can decide any American is an "evil doer", just because he says so. If he does, off you go to whatever hell hole prison they send you to. No way do you get to even SEE a lawyer. Habeas corpus? Forget it! This "law" kills that ancient right. Speedy trial? Maybe, maybe not. The right to see the evidence against you? Maybe, IF the "judge" thinks he feels like letting you see anything. Jury? Nope, just a judge. Oh, the judge can be ANY serving military officer who happens to get "judge duty" that day. They can hold you as long as they like. If they feel like letting you sit in Gitmo for 25 years BEFORE any sort of "trial", well, make a comfy nest, you gonna be there till they "decide" otherwise. Send you to a foreign country for some "aggressive" interviews? Sure. No problem. We "don't torture" anymore. The prez has said so. The Attorney General has said so. The thing is, they REDEFINED what IS torture. Water boarding is NOT torture by the new "rules" according to the "decider". In other words, once they get you, they can place you where they wish and do to you what they wish. For as long as they wish.
Another part of this deal. It is retro active. And the penalties are retro active also. I think they call it "ex post facto". If you WERE an "evil doer" oh, say 5 years ago, but stopped doing evil, they can still bust you and send you off to where ever. It also ABSOLVES ALL the "officials" of any PAST "crimes" that may have occurred since the "war on terror" started. Now this is VERY interesting. Ex post facto laws are totally un-Constitutional! So, basically, Congress passed, and the "decider" signed into law, a law that is completely UNLAWFUL! Well, we USED to live in a Constitutional Republic, welcome to the dictatorship of W. Gump! We are in for one hell of a ride folks.
In all this gloom, there IS one very small bright spark out there. When the current "decider" retires, the next president COULD use this same law to declare W. and his ENTIRE criminal administration to be "evil doers" and lock them all away. The same COULD even be done to those in Congress who voted for this goddamn abortion called the Military Commissons Act. Now THAT would be worth seeing! Would that be irony, or poetic justice? Either way, I think it would be damn good fun to see.
Just my 2 cents.
semper fi,
charlie
Words or language and the misuse of it really has been a thing that has been wearing on this old fart for decades. Now I enjoy word games or "playing" with words as much as the next person. My Dad was really good at that. It makes you think, exercise for the old brain. It is the misuse of language that is what has got me really pissed off. The reason is that words are the way we communicate. When our language is abused, it makes any true communications very difficult.
I am NOT talking about the way our language has changed,that is entirely different. Our language IS changing and changeable. It is a fluid sort of thing. Meanings change with time, new words come into use, old ones drop from use. That is natural in my opinion.
The abuse of words has been a "sore spot" to me for many years. Those who know me, who have worked with me, my Marine buddies, any others who have any association with me know this. The "politically correct" bull that was on a high in the recent past and still continues somewhat is a good example of language abuse. What passes for communication from the criminal administration of W. Gump and his puppet master, Cheney are the new height of language abuse. Fueled, in my opinion, by the political correctness of the 80's and 90's.
It is my opinion that the political correctness crap let this current gang get away with their language abuse without notice by many. If we had not gone through the PC crap, their word abuse might be more noticeable. I may be wrong here, I did say this is my opinion, I did NOT take any survey or investigation of this issue.
I DID look to see if any "authority" had ever addressed this issue. I had figured that some "learned" person MUST have written a book or at least a paper on this. I found an interesting one on this subject. It is available on the internet for free. It is by George Orwell, entitled "Politics and the English Language". It was written in 1945. OK, so it might be dated, but it IS very good and worth reading. The link is; www.cato.org/research/articles/orwell.html. I recommend this one as an excellent start for those interested in the abuses of our language.
Another great article that is not quite on this topic is also worth your time. This is written recently by a very kind person, she allowed me to post the link here, that is kind in my book. The article is on the importance of reading. Reading? Yes, reading. Americans don't do enough of it. According to the author, our children are not even being taught how to read correctly. The link is;www.lewrockwell.com/taylor/taylor131.html. Ms. Linda Taylor has given us an excellent article on the lack of proper teaching of basic reading skills in America. If we and our offspring don't read, how will we get our information? From the TV? We ALL know that is so biased that it isn't really worth the effort to turn it on if we are looking for anything close to the truth.
Here we are, back to words, language, and reading. I am not much of a writer, but I never set out to be. After the Marines I worked as a machinist. I made parts according to the old blueprints. Writing articles was not a requirement. Reading was required. You had to be able to read to make the parts. Yes, blueprints have actual words on them, not just numbers.
Reading is one of the most cherished things I do. I have always enjoyed reading. It is one way to learn things. Good fiction lets you escape the cares of this world for a time. Reading is so essential to life, or I think it is.
The abuse of words takes away from this as well as confusing communications. The most outrageous abuse of language is "extraordinary rendition". What a term that is. What it really is, in fact, is plain old kidnapping of a person. Kidnapping and taking the person off to some facility for "interrogation", which can mean whatever W. Gump "decides" that day.
The man is president of America, but how is it that he gets to say what words mean? Where is THAT granted in the Constitution? Oh, right, in order to find out, one needs to read! The "decider" gets to "decide" what a word means now. We know he has declared that he can "decide" what law or portion of a law he will follow or obey.
Signing statements, another abuse of language. Why not be truthful there Gump, just tell us all in plain language that NO law applies to you unless you "decide" it does.
What makes this all so disgusting is the LACK of any outrage at this. Does the press ever ask anything about this state of affairs? I do NOT mean some blog on the net, I am waiting for the main stream press to WAKE UP to the language abuse. I am in for a long wait, the MSM hardly notices the physical and psychological abuses of real people. Words are so easy to abuse, and the press just goes along with all the abuses. Oh dear, don't rock the boat. If the "reporters" don't suck up to power, their careers may not advance or may not advance very fast. Abuses, whether of people or words, well, that doesn't count.
The Military Commissions Act. Wow. Now W. Gump got Congress to pass this piece of excrement. How they could do this is beyond comprehension. Senator Specter said it was unconstitutional before the vote. How did he vote? In favor of it! Senator McCain, who was tortured in Viet Nam was against it. How did he vote? He voted FOR it! What the hell you say. Yes, a majority of OUR senators voted for this thing, this rotten piece of crap.
Now this president can declare (decide) that ANY person, anywhere is a terrorist or at least an "illegal enemy combatant". Anyone! It does NOT just apply to foreigners. He can decide any American is an "evil doer", just because he says so. If he does, off you go to whatever hell hole prison they send you to. No way do you get to even SEE a lawyer. Habeas corpus? Forget it! This "law" kills that ancient right. Speedy trial? Maybe, maybe not. The right to see the evidence against you? Maybe, IF the "judge" thinks he feels like letting you see anything. Jury? Nope, just a judge. Oh, the judge can be ANY serving military officer who happens to get "judge duty" that day. They can hold you as long as they like. If they feel like letting you sit in Gitmo for 25 years BEFORE any sort of "trial", well, make a comfy nest, you gonna be there till they "decide" otherwise. Send you to a foreign country for some "aggressive" interviews? Sure. No problem. We "don't torture" anymore. The prez has said so. The Attorney General has said so. The thing is, they REDEFINED what IS torture. Water boarding is NOT torture by the new "rules" according to the "decider". In other words, once they get you, they can place you where they wish and do to you what they wish. For as long as they wish.
Another part of this deal. It is retro active. And the penalties are retro active also. I think they call it "ex post facto". If you WERE an "evil doer" oh, say 5 years ago, but stopped doing evil, they can still bust you and send you off to where ever. It also ABSOLVES ALL the "officials" of any PAST "crimes" that may have occurred since the "war on terror" started. Now this is VERY interesting. Ex post facto laws are totally un-Constitutional! So, basically, Congress passed, and the "decider" signed into law, a law that is completely UNLAWFUL! Well, we USED to live in a Constitutional Republic, welcome to the dictatorship of W. Gump! We are in for one hell of a ride folks.
In all this gloom, there IS one very small bright spark out there. When the current "decider" retires, the next president COULD use this same law to declare W. and his ENTIRE criminal administration to be "evil doers" and lock them all away. The same COULD even be done to those in Congress who voted for this goddamn abortion called the Military Commissons Act. Now THAT would be worth seeing! Would that be irony, or poetic justice? Either way, I think it would be damn good fun to see.
Just my 2 cents.
semper fi,
charlie
11 October 2006
Some random thoughts
Some of this may be a bit belated. I wanted to get permission from MickeyZ to link to his article before I wrote this. Thanks for the permission Mickey, I hope to do you justice with this.
On the Oct 9 web edition of Counterpunch, Mickey Z wrote an article entitled,
"Who Killed Michael Moore?". This was in response to the brutal killing of a very courageous Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya. He basically is asking in this article, suppose the right wingnuts in America killed Michael Moore, what would the reaction be here in America.
I replied to him that such an event might rate all of say 15 seconds on CNN. I also thought that O'Reilly and all of Faux News, the likes of Ms. Coulter, etc, would be an orgasm. Then, it would be forgotten, old news, and that would be it.
The following is a link to his excellent article. Please read it and answer the question for yourselves.
http://www.counterpunch.org/mickey10092006.html
Another article that jumps out is by Jim Lobe today over at Antiwar.com.
The link is http://www.antiwar.com/lobe/?
This is about the neo-cons calling for war with North Korea now that they have supposedly tested a nuclear device. I say supposedly, as the "hard" evidence is not in yet. According to some experts it may take days or even weeks to confirm as the yield was quite low, as in, it was a small blast.
The neos wanting war with North Korea is nothing new, nor is it very surprising. They want another war, in fact they love any war they do NOT have to do any actual fighting in. Indeed, they are very willing, too willing for me, to send our children off to fight and die for their lofty goals of world domination.
What with the North Koreans now supposedly having an actual atomic bomb, the Navy sending extra ships to the Persian Gulf, and our two "other" wars failing, it comes as no shock at all that we NEED more war. No shock that is, if you are one of the "great" neo-con "thinkers". If you are a regular working class person in America, it should scare the living shit out of you. Why? Well, our armed forces, ground pounders (of which I am proud to have been one of) are stretched paper thin in Afghanistan and Iraq already. Troops are being extended before the can rotate home. Units that have rotated home are being recalled for deployment sooner than they thought. In other words, we are running out of boots to put on the ground.
Oh, the Navy isn't doing too bad, they may be extending the tour of duty for some ships in the Gulf region, but not that many, yet.
The Air Force seems the only service that has more or less "regular" capacity for more war right now. That may explain why the main "strategy" for an Iran war is to bomb the hell out of them. There is a problem with that however. As has been explained by others who know more about all this sort of stuff than I do, folks called experts, bombing is fine, but to "win" any war, you need boots on the ground. Don't think so. Just look to Lebanon this summer. Israel bombed them back at least the 20 years they set out to do. Israel did not "win" in Lebanon because they didn't put the "boots on the ground". So they withdrew back across the border. Well, this way, both Israel and Hezbollah can claim they "won". Interesting, a war where there are only winners.
Back to Iran. Where will W.Gump (G.W.Bush) get the "boots" to put on the ground so he can "win"? Can't take them from Korea or Japan, it might signal Kim that we are letting him "off the hook". Germany? Britain? Where?
Can you say "draft"? Of course you can. This time around women will be drafted as well, hey, score a point for "equal rights". Yes, that was very cynical and sarcastic. I would also suggest that they MAY lower the minimum age to 16. The upper age is already 42 for enlistments, so make the maximum age for the draft, oh say, 45. That ought to get old W a few more "boots" to put on the ground. Why, with a draft, they may even be able to stop trying to enlist drug users, gang members, and mental patients. Wow!
Having been through Viet Nam, I am very cynical and distrustful of government. I remember Nixon got elected in 1968 because he said "elect me and I will end the war in Viet Nam". Then, he got re-elected in 1972 by saying "re-elect me and I will end the war in Viet Nam." And you folks still trust the government? Wow! What are you smoking?
I also tend to be sarcastic, that is my nature, and experience. I wish like hell I had some GOOD news to pass on. Well, last post, I gave that link to the commentary by Mr. Olberman, that was good, or so I thought.
Until my next post.
semper fi,
charlie
10 October 2006
09 October 2006
Have they finally gone too far?
Here is a question for you. Senator Arlen Specter says he KNEW the senate bill dismantling habeas corpus was a violation of the Constitution. If he knew this why did he and a majority of other senators vote FOR it?
How in the bloody hell can a US Senator vote FOR a bill that he/she KNOWS is a violation of the Constitution? Does some idiotic party loyalty trump your oath to uphold the Constitution? Does the though of W. Shrub not inviting you over for dinner make you forget that oath? Does Cheney scare you that much? Did Rummy tell you that if you voted against the bill he might have the Air Force drop a bomb on your D.C. area condo? Did Rice say if you voted against the bill she would come to your house and stand in your front yard and call you names?
What the hell could have made U.S. Senators vote FOR a bill that is a violation of the U.S. Constitution? Can somebody out there give me an answer? What trumps the Constitution and the Bill of Rights? Hell, I took an oath to defend that Constitution against ALL enemies, foreign AND domestic when I joined the Marines. When I was discharged, I was NOT asked to revoke that oath. Who got these senators to revoke their oaths? How did that happen? Goddamn it, I DEMAND an answer. So should every other American who has the least little bit of respect for the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. We need to know how OUR senators could vote a majority for a bill that VIOLATES the Constitution.
I want to give a HUGE shout out to Mr. Keith Olberman at MSNBC. Back when he was doing the sports report on KNXT/KCBS in Los Angeles, I would never have guessed that he had such an eloquence and satirical wit. I am providing a link to an article of his, it has a lot of advertising on it, but, as the person who sent it to me said, well worth reading. I second that! Very well worth reading indeed. In it, Mr. Olberman takes W. Shrub to task and does so in a style that is way beyond my ability. Then, I never did set out to be a writer. I was just a dumb kid who joined the Marines in 1968 (very dumb kid) and then spent my working life as a machinist. An honorable trade, but not the sort of thing that would tend to make a writer of a person. Notes to the engineers do not count as writing.
Here is the link; http://www.msnbc.com/id/15147009/
Another bit of news here, the Foley mess. Well, of course he has at least an excuse or three already lined up before he could admit to anything. After all, he is an American politician, AND a Republican. This is coming from a man who is trying his best to be a political atheist. I don't trust the donkey gang any more than I trust the elephant gang. Which is to say, not at all.
Look, they are both animals, neither is house broken, they both just tramp through the flowers and shit in the yard. Where is the big difference? Oh, right, Senator Kerry and Senator Hillary Clinton could fight the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan BETTER than W. Shrub has done. Sure, they could, and we have some very nice beach front property to sell you folks from the mid west. Yes sir, right down here along the good old Louisiana gulf coast. Prime real estate it is too. And the price, well, let me tell you, it can be had for a song. Just don't spit into the wind, keep your car gassed up at all times, and if it looks like a storm over the gulf, well, run like hell for Arkansas.
OK, back to Foley. Yes, what he is supposed to have done is despicable. It is not the sort of thing you would think your elected representative to the House would be engaged in. Well, it is probably not what you would want him/her doing. You might, if as cynical as I am, think he/she might be into that sort of thing, but you would not want them to be.
NO, I am NOT gay bashing. Personally, I think he is claiming to be gay as a "way out" (is that a pun?) of his troubles. Just as I think the being molested as a teenager and being an alcoholic are just "excuses" as well. Gay men are NOT pedophiles. Pedophiles are not gay. OK, they can be gay and gays can be pedophiles, nothing is 100% certain, not even the "divine" speaking to W. Shrub. Most gays are not pedophiles and most pedophiles are not gay. There, does that satisfy the "PC" crowd, or the "thought police" or whomever you are supposed to keep happy? If not, please write to your congressperson, in triplicate, using NO carbon paper, and do NOT tape,staple,or fold to your payment slip. Send the complaint to the said congressperson by pony express or your local chapter of the Hell's Angels.
Foley, back to him, would appear to be a very sick person. Those who use authority to "get something" from folks further down the "pecking order" are sick. I don't care if the power is abused for sex, money, position, whatever. If it is an abuse of power, it is wrong. When you throw into this mix, young, impressionable persons and an older member of Congress, the abuse is very bad. We are taught in high school civics that our members of Congress are honorable people. OK, so the school books got it wrong. Congress members are folks who are looked up to, in more ways than one apparently. Sorry, I can't stop the sarcastic remarks just now.
Let me stop for a while with this comment. If Foley is guilty as claimed, he should suffer the same punishment as if he were an "average" citizen, and NOT as a "respected" member of Congress. Do not let him use any excuse or rehab clinic to get off with a lighter punishment. Treat him equally as if he were just "Joe Citizen" and caught in/after the act.
As to all of the above, my wonderful German born grandmother used to have a little phrase she said when she had seen or heard something very bad, I think it applies to all the above. Here is what my Grandma Welke would have said to this mess; "For shame, all of you, for shame." That about sums it up quite well for me also. Of course having been a Marine, my language tends to be more "colorful" as it were.
Oh, before I stop for this post, some personal comments. W. Shrub is a damned coward! Dick Cheney is a goddamn draft dodger shithead who can't shoot straight, unless his target is a Republican lawyer. Take that you bastards!
How in the bloody hell can a US Senator vote FOR a bill that he/she KNOWS is a violation of the Constitution? Does some idiotic party loyalty trump your oath to uphold the Constitution? Does the though of W. Shrub not inviting you over for dinner make you forget that oath? Does Cheney scare you that much? Did Rummy tell you that if you voted against the bill he might have the Air Force drop a bomb on your D.C. area condo? Did Rice say if you voted against the bill she would come to your house and stand in your front yard and call you names?
What the hell could have made U.S. Senators vote FOR a bill that is a violation of the U.S. Constitution? Can somebody out there give me an answer? What trumps the Constitution and the Bill of Rights? Hell, I took an oath to defend that Constitution against ALL enemies, foreign AND domestic when I joined the Marines. When I was discharged, I was NOT asked to revoke that oath. Who got these senators to revoke their oaths? How did that happen? Goddamn it, I DEMAND an answer. So should every other American who has the least little bit of respect for the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. We need to know how OUR senators could vote a majority for a bill that VIOLATES the Constitution.
I want to give a HUGE shout out to Mr. Keith Olberman at MSNBC. Back when he was doing the sports report on KNXT/KCBS in Los Angeles, I would never have guessed that he had such an eloquence and satirical wit. I am providing a link to an article of his, it has a lot of advertising on it, but, as the person who sent it to me said, well worth reading. I second that! Very well worth reading indeed. In it, Mr. Olberman takes W. Shrub to task and does so in a style that is way beyond my ability. Then, I never did set out to be a writer. I was just a dumb kid who joined the Marines in 1968 (very dumb kid) and then spent my working life as a machinist. An honorable trade, but not the sort of thing that would tend to make a writer of a person. Notes to the engineers do not count as writing.
Here is the link; http://www.msnbc.com/id/15147009/
Another bit of news here, the Foley mess. Well, of course he has at least an excuse or three already lined up before he could admit to anything. After all, he is an American politician, AND a Republican. This is coming from a man who is trying his best to be a political atheist. I don't trust the donkey gang any more than I trust the elephant gang. Which is to say, not at all.
Look, they are both animals, neither is house broken, they both just tramp through the flowers and shit in the yard. Where is the big difference? Oh, right, Senator Kerry and Senator Hillary Clinton could fight the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan BETTER than W. Shrub has done. Sure, they could, and we have some very nice beach front property to sell you folks from the mid west. Yes sir, right down here along the good old Louisiana gulf coast. Prime real estate it is too. And the price, well, let me tell you, it can be had for a song. Just don't spit into the wind, keep your car gassed up at all times, and if it looks like a storm over the gulf, well, run like hell for Arkansas.
OK, back to Foley. Yes, what he is supposed to have done is despicable. It is not the sort of thing you would think your elected representative to the House would be engaged in. Well, it is probably not what you would want him/her doing. You might, if as cynical as I am, think he/she might be into that sort of thing, but you would not want them to be.
NO, I am NOT gay bashing. Personally, I think he is claiming to be gay as a "way out" (is that a pun?) of his troubles. Just as I think the being molested as a teenager and being an alcoholic are just "excuses" as well. Gay men are NOT pedophiles. Pedophiles are not gay. OK, they can be gay and gays can be pedophiles, nothing is 100% certain, not even the "divine" speaking to W. Shrub. Most gays are not pedophiles and most pedophiles are not gay. There, does that satisfy the "PC" crowd, or the "thought police" or whomever you are supposed to keep happy? If not, please write to your congressperson, in triplicate, using NO carbon paper, and do NOT tape,staple,or fold to your payment slip. Send the complaint to the said congressperson by pony express or your local chapter of the Hell's Angels.
Foley, back to him, would appear to be a very sick person. Those who use authority to "get something" from folks further down the "pecking order" are sick. I don't care if the power is abused for sex, money, position, whatever. If it is an abuse of power, it is wrong. When you throw into this mix, young, impressionable persons and an older member of Congress, the abuse is very bad. We are taught in high school civics that our members of Congress are honorable people. OK, so the school books got it wrong. Congress members are folks who are looked up to, in more ways than one apparently. Sorry, I can't stop the sarcastic remarks just now.
Let me stop for a while with this comment. If Foley is guilty as claimed, he should suffer the same punishment as if he were an "average" citizen, and NOT as a "respected" member of Congress. Do not let him use any excuse or rehab clinic to get off with a lighter punishment. Treat him equally as if he were just "Joe Citizen" and caught in/after the act.
As to all of the above, my wonderful German born grandmother used to have a little phrase she said when she had seen or heard something very bad, I think it applies to all the above. Here is what my Grandma Welke would have said to this mess; "For shame, all of you, for shame." That about sums it up quite well for me also. Of course having been a Marine, my language tends to be more "colorful" as it were.
Oh, before I stop for this post, some personal comments. W. Shrub is a damned coward! Dick Cheney is a goddamn draft dodger shithead who can't shoot straight, unless his target is a Republican lawyer. Take that you bastards!
02 October 2006
What interesting times we live in
What a fine mess we have now. The Senate voted on SB 3930 the other day. It passed. This is the so-called "torture bill". I am including the link so you can see how your Senators voted. Both Senators from the state I live in, Louisiana, voted in favor of it. Shame on them both.
To check how your Senators voted, go to http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00259#state.
Thanks to this bill, anyone can now be picked up and held for as long as "they" wish to hold you. If(!) you get a trial, it will be in front of a military tribunal. No defense lawyer, no knowing the evidence(?) against you, just you before some military officers, accused of being an "unlawful combatant".
How so, you say? Easy! If you are the least bit critical of Cheney/Bush and their imperial wars, you MIGHT be an unlawful combatant! If you put such thoughts into the written word, even more so, I would venture.
Free speech isn't quite so free anymore folks. Under the "rule" of the "decider", everything comes with a price, including speech. Blessed be the Shrub. And blessed be his master, Cheney. Blessed be his number one servant, Rummy. Blessed be his favorite clown, Rice. Screwed be the people of America.
I still wonder if there might not be some "incident" before election day. Just a "little something" to help the "decider" decide that we cannot afford to have an election. Then, well, you know, sort of declare martial law, for the "good of the country" of course. It will just be a temporary matter. Oh, and since we cannot have the election, well, the "decider" will need to be made "president for life". All for the "good of the country" of course. Just the thing needed to keep them "terrerists" off the streets of 'Merica. Best to fight them there, rather than here, ya know.
Course we got to "fight" that "fifth column" here at home also. Therefore the need for martial law. Marshall Dillon and all that cowboy, gunslinger stuff that our "decider" likes to play at so much. Yes sir, it's cowboys and Ay-rabs. Boy howdy! Shoot from the hip and ask questions in the next episode!.
And to think I once believed in what we were taught in high school civics. Hell, I even joined the Marines and fought in Viet Nam. Just so I could see our country devolve into this shit hole we are in today. Almost makes me wish I believed in some god or gods, at least then I could ask that god(s) for help. Well, we got ourselves into this shit, it is up to us to get ourselves out of it.
Now, let's start making a ladder and try to climb out of this hole.
semper fi
To check how your Senators voted, go to http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00259#state.
Thanks to this bill, anyone can now be picked up and held for as long as "they" wish to hold you. If(!) you get a trial, it will be in front of a military tribunal. No defense lawyer, no knowing the evidence(?) against you, just you before some military officers, accused of being an "unlawful combatant".
How so, you say? Easy! If you are the least bit critical of Cheney/Bush and their imperial wars, you MIGHT be an unlawful combatant! If you put such thoughts into the written word, even more so, I would venture.
Free speech isn't quite so free anymore folks. Under the "rule" of the "decider", everything comes with a price, including speech. Blessed be the Shrub. And blessed be his master, Cheney. Blessed be his number one servant, Rummy. Blessed be his favorite clown, Rice. Screwed be the people of America.
I still wonder if there might not be some "incident" before election day. Just a "little something" to help the "decider" decide that we cannot afford to have an election. Then, well, you know, sort of declare martial law, for the "good of the country" of course. It will just be a temporary matter. Oh, and since we cannot have the election, well, the "decider" will need to be made "president for life". All for the "good of the country" of course. Just the thing needed to keep them "terrerists" off the streets of 'Merica. Best to fight them there, rather than here, ya know.
Course we got to "fight" that "fifth column" here at home also. Therefore the need for martial law. Marshall Dillon and all that cowboy, gunslinger stuff that our "decider" likes to play at so much. Yes sir, it's cowboys and Ay-rabs. Boy howdy! Shoot from the hip and ask questions in the next episode!.
And to think I once believed in what we were taught in high school civics. Hell, I even joined the Marines and fought in Viet Nam. Just so I could see our country devolve into this shit hole we are in today. Almost makes me wish I believed in some god or gods, at least then I could ask that god(s) for help. Well, we got ourselves into this shit, it is up to us to get ourselves out of it.
Now, let's start making a ladder and try to climb out of this hole.
semper fi
19 September 2006
Very interesting.........
Wow! Some VERY interesting news today.
Thanks to the old satellite TV, I caught the morning edition of the BBC America news feed. Also interesting that I was awake at the right time.
The prime minister of Hungary was caught on tape telling members of his cabinet that "We fucked up....." In a later news conference, he admitted it again, in more polite terms. Can ANYONE imagine old W saying anything remotely close to that? Hell, can ANYONE even imagine him having that thought? I didn't think so..........
Old W is off to "speak" at the UN this week. The good news there is that old Bonkers Bolton may be looking for a new job soon. The Senate, in an actual moment of reality, does not look ready to confirm him for the job, AGAIN! As I understand it, he CAN get another recess appointment, BUT he would not be able to be paid for the job if he gets a second "appointment". Do you think he would work for free? I guess a "belief" system only goes just so far with the neo-cons. LOL. Poor baby......But I imagine he will get some government job or other. If not, he can always shop for work(?) at one of those many right wingnut "think tanks" that abound in the D.C. area.
Afghanistan is back in the news. That is never a good thing, always means things are going badly in that poor country. It appears that the NATO troops, "underestimated" the strength of the old Taliban. Hey, just like Wolfie, Rummy, Colin, and Cheney did. They got the Iraq thing wrong also.
Speaking of which, Iraq is off to a great fall. Oh.......Bad pun there. OK, autumn is not going well in Iraq. Record numbers of Iraqis are being killed. Things are so bad that the newest Iraqi construction project is for TWO new morgues. Well, if you don't build houses for the people, you got to put them some place.
I should apologize for the sarcastic comments, but, well, I won't. This whole Bushwar crap is just beyond ALL reason. Screw up two countries, don't have the decency to say "sorry", and now rattle your little tin sword at a third country. These idiots in D.C. never learn. It is one thing for them to ignore history of say, the early part of the 20th century, but when they don't even learn from their own last "invasion", that pushes tolerance of their stupidity beyond any human limits.
impeach the entire administration! Don't wait until after the elections, do it NOW. Then bring our troops home.
Tell the goddamned NSA to STOP spying on Americans in America. It is ILLEGAL! Tell Homeland Security to get their act together as well. We have been very lucky so far this hurricane season. It isn't over yet.......... Last year, we even had one "out of season", so be prepared folks.
One last "happy" note for this posting. The old housing bubble looks ready to burst. According to some reports, next year may see it break. That could start a world wide mess. If America goes into a recession, will China sell off those treasury bills they hold? If they do, look out for a very hard landing right here at home. What? You didn't know that good old China (aka communist China) holds billions of dollars of US treasury bills/bonds? Somebody needs to "google" like, right away.
That is right folks. Old W is fighting terror on borrowed money. Yes indeed, we are so broke, that we need to borrow money to fight the war on terror. Ain't America grand?
Well, that is more than enough, maybe too much for this posting. Until next time, if the NSA don't send me to Gitmo first.....LOLMAO
Screw the feds!
Thanks to the old satellite TV, I caught the morning edition of the BBC America news feed. Also interesting that I was awake at the right time.
The prime minister of Hungary was caught on tape telling members of his cabinet that "We fucked up....." In a later news conference, he admitted it again, in more polite terms. Can ANYONE imagine old W saying anything remotely close to that? Hell, can ANYONE even imagine him having that thought? I didn't think so..........
Old W is off to "speak" at the UN this week. The good news there is that old Bonkers Bolton may be looking for a new job soon. The Senate, in an actual moment of reality, does not look ready to confirm him for the job, AGAIN! As I understand it, he CAN get another recess appointment, BUT he would not be able to be paid for the job if he gets a second "appointment". Do you think he would work for free? I guess a "belief" system only goes just so far with the neo-cons. LOL. Poor baby......But I imagine he will get some government job or other. If not, he can always shop for work(?) at one of those many right wingnut "think tanks" that abound in the D.C. area.
Afghanistan is back in the news. That is never a good thing, always means things are going badly in that poor country. It appears that the NATO troops, "underestimated" the strength of the old Taliban. Hey, just like Wolfie, Rummy, Colin, and Cheney did. They got the Iraq thing wrong also.
Speaking of which, Iraq is off to a great fall. Oh.......Bad pun there. OK, autumn is not going well in Iraq. Record numbers of Iraqis are being killed. Things are so bad that the newest Iraqi construction project is for TWO new morgues. Well, if you don't build houses for the people, you got to put them some place.
I should apologize for the sarcastic comments, but, well, I won't. This whole Bushwar crap is just beyond ALL reason. Screw up two countries, don't have the decency to say "sorry", and now rattle your little tin sword at a third country. These idiots in D.C. never learn. It is one thing for them to ignore history of say, the early part of the 20th century, but when they don't even learn from their own last "invasion", that pushes tolerance of their stupidity beyond any human limits.
impeach the entire administration! Don't wait until after the elections, do it NOW. Then bring our troops home.
Tell the goddamned NSA to STOP spying on Americans in America. It is ILLEGAL! Tell Homeland Security to get their act together as well. We have been very lucky so far this hurricane season. It isn't over yet.......... Last year, we even had one "out of season", so be prepared folks.
One last "happy" note for this posting. The old housing bubble looks ready to burst. According to some reports, next year may see it break. That could start a world wide mess. If America goes into a recession, will China sell off those treasury bills they hold? If they do, look out for a very hard landing right here at home. What? You didn't know that good old China (aka communist China) holds billions of dollars of US treasury bills/bonds? Somebody needs to "google" like, right away.
That is right folks. Old W is fighting terror on borrowed money. Yes indeed, we are so broke, that we need to borrow money to fight the war on terror. Ain't America grand?
Well, that is more than enough, maybe too much for this posting. Until next time, if the NSA don't send me to Gitmo first.....LOLMAO
Screw the feds!
29 July 2006
The war victims
The news of the past weeks is extra depressing. Not bad enough that we have wars in Afghanistan and Iraq that are going badly, now we add to it poor old Lebanon and of course Gaza.
Gaza, they never get any peace there at all. Those people who live there are in the worst possible place on earth I think. They have their entire lives controlled by outsiders. The children, who have committed no crime other than be born to parents who live there suffer the most. Kids always do suffer the most during hard times. War, the "great depression" and natural disasters. Or in the case of Gaza, living in the worlds' largest open air prison. If they go outside to play they may get shot by a sniper for going too close to the border. Chase a soccer ball, get shot by a sniper. Go looking for scrap metal to pick up, get blown up by stay, unexploded bombs. If the are very "fortunate"(?) they may even pick up the unexploded contents of cluster bombs. Of course they have the chance of any day or time of day, seeing their parents or siblings get killed by the Israeli "protectors" ( not supposed to call them jailers, not polite to do so,even "liberal" Democrats refuse to use that term).
Children, YES even Palestinian children, deserve much, much better than that. So do the children of Lebanon. They live in a small country with a rather weak government. Their government is unable to "disarm" Hezbollah. The "wonderful" Israelis, "protectors" of the Middle East, want Hezbollah disarmed. The Lebanese government cannot do this at this time. Solution, the "wonderful" Israeli Army invades Lebanon to "disarm" Hezbollah. Now more children are dying, seeing their family members die. They are getting huge doses of PTSD.
As a former Marine, who did a tour in Viet Nam as a 20 year old who was trained for combat, my life after war has been a battle with this "disorder". No big deal, many others have lived through it as well, I am in no way special, nor do I claim any special status. Just pointing out that PTSD affects ALL who are involved in the war personally. The bystanders who get caught in the war through no active participation. The farmer, the teacher, the clergy, the children.
In Afghanistan, Iraq, Gaza, and now Lebanon, way too many children are being caught up in war. Children should not ever have to see the things they cannot avoid seeing in those and other war zones today. We have some idea of the effects of PTSD on adults who have been to war, the troops have been studied more than others who have been in a war. I admit the studies may not be very adequate, but at least there are some that have been done on this.
Have there ever been any studies done on the effect of PTSD on the children of wars? Have the Vietnamese children from that war ever been studied to see how this has affected them? Probably not. Will there be any done on the children of Iraq, Afghanistan, Gaza, Lebanon, etc? Probably not. It would cost too much. They are "just Arabs" or some other bullshit, throw away reply to my question.
These children deserve better than that. ALL children deserve better. How would you feel if they were your children?
Just my depressed 2 cents for today.
Gaza, they never get any peace there at all. Those people who live there are in the worst possible place on earth I think. They have their entire lives controlled by outsiders. The children, who have committed no crime other than be born to parents who live there suffer the most. Kids always do suffer the most during hard times. War, the "great depression" and natural disasters. Or in the case of Gaza, living in the worlds' largest open air prison. If they go outside to play they may get shot by a sniper for going too close to the border. Chase a soccer ball, get shot by a sniper. Go looking for scrap metal to pick up, get blown up by stay, unexploded bombs. If the are very "fortunate"(?) they may even pick up the unexploded contents of cluster bombs. Of course they have the chance of any day or time of day, seeing their parents or siblings get killed by the Israeli "protectors" ( not supposed to call them jailers, not polite to do so,even "liberal" Democrats refuse to use that term).
Children, YES even Palestinian children, deserve much, much better than that. So do the children of Lebanon. They live in a small country with a rather weak government. Their government is unable to "disarm" Hezbollah. The "wonderful" Israelis, "protectors" of the Middle East, want Hezbollah disarmed. The Lebanese government cannot do this at this time. Solution, the "wonderful" Israeli Army invades Lebanon to "disarm" Hezbollah. Now more children are dying, seeing their family members die. They are getting huge doses of PTSD.
As a former Marine, who did a tour in Viet Nam as a 20 year old who was trained for combat, my life after war has been a battle with this "disorder". No big deal, many others have lived through it as well, I am in no way special, nor do I claim any special status. Just pointing out that PTSD affects ALL who are involved in the war personally. The bystanders who get caught in the war through no active participation. The farmer, the teacher, the clergy, the children.
In Afghanistan, Iraq, Gaza, and now Lebanon, way too many children are being caught up in war. Children should not ever have to see the things they cannot avoid seeing in those and other war zones today. We have some idea of the effects of PTSD on adults who have been to war, the troops have been studied more than others who have been in a war. I admit the studies may not be very adequate, but at least there are some that have been done on this.
Have there ever been any studies done on the effect of PTSD on the children of wars? Have the Vietnamese children from that war ever been studied to see how this has affected them? Probably not. Will there be any done on the children of Iraq, Afghanistan, Gaza, Lebanon, etc? Probably not. It would cost too much. They are "just Arabs" or some other bullshit, throw away reply to my question.
These children deserve better than that. ALL children deserve better. How would you feel if they were your children?
Just my depressed 2 cents for today.
22 July 2006
Getting a jump on the "end times"?
Well, we FINALLY got the satellite link fixed. What a mess. The "perfect" installation had left at least one coaxial cable connector un-crimped on the feedhorn! American professionalism at it's un-best. That does NOT even make it as a rookie mistake!
Anyway, a TRUE professional finally got the site up and running. Now I should be able to keep this updated better. The only outages would be powerful rain storms which cut the TV reception as well as the internet, or maybe an electrical outage. We have a nice generator thanks to Miss Katrina and her sister Rita who stopped by our way last year. Thanks ladies.
Pity the poor nation of Lebanon!
And the Israelis think they can "win" this time? They occupied that country from 1982 until 2000 and were unable to dis-arm Hezbollah. Why do they think they can do better now? America is in a much weaker position than back in 82. We have about 130,000 troops bogged down with Bush's tar baby Iraq. Where will we get more troops from? Our depleted National Guard? It IS hurricane season here along the Gulf and Florida. Maybe Cheney/ Bush haven't looked at the calendar lately.
Of course the poor Lebanese can thank America for all the missiles and bombs dropping on them. The weapons used by Israel are made by huge corporations right here in the good old US of A. Thanks be to Boeing and Lockheed-Martin for all that death from above. War, what is it good for? Corporate profits of course. For every missile fired, for every bomb dropped, there will be new purchase orders to replace them. Ca-ching! More money to the weapons makers. Of course, we American tax payers get the final bill. Much of the money America "loans" Israel comes back as weapons orders to the big defense contractors right here in America. Talk about the revolving doors. And the wheel goes round.........as the Bridgestone commercial says.
As one who has lived through war in Viet Nam, I despise all wars. As Smedley Butler said, there are only two reasons for war; to defend OUR homes and the Bill of Rights. All other war is a racket. War is the most pornographic thing we humans have ever devised. War kills not only the bodies, but the spirits of those who are involved in it. The effects of war stay with the participants for life. Memories, as one song says, are like star light, they go on forever. Many of us who have been to war wish it were not so. Wishing doesn't make it so, however.
I never want to see another human being kill another in war. I never want to see the absolute horror that war makes of lives. As my Veterans For Peace sticker says; No more Lies, No more Lives. Enough of war!
So how, some way, we the people need to stop the war machine. I don't have the answer, if I did, I'd be shouting it from the mountain tops. War kills in so many ways. It kills bodies of course, but it also kills the soul. It kills the humanity of the participants. Oh, sure, after time, we may awake from the nightmares and live "productive" lives, but there will always be that dead part of us, still there, still haunting us, until we are no more in this life.
We need to end wars and realize that people are people, no matter what religion, skin color, sex, race,creed, etc. All most "regular" people the world over want, is to live their lives in peace, provide for their families, and hope their children have as good or better lives than they have.
Just my 2 cents worth for today.
Anyway, a TRUE professional finally got the site up and running. Now I should be able to keep this updated better. The only outages would be powerful rain storms which cut the TV reception as well as the internet, or maybe an electrical outage. We have a nice generator thanks to Miss Katrina and her sister Rita who stopped by our way last year. Thanks ladies.
Pity the poor nation of Lebanon!
And the Israelis think they can "win" this time? They occupied that country from 1982 until 2000 and were unable to dis-arm Hezbollah. Why do they think they can do better now? America is in a much weaker position than back in 82. We have about 130,000 troops bogged down with Bush's tar baby Iraq. Where will we get more troops from? Our depleted National Guard? It IS hurricane season here along the Gulf and Florida. Maybe Cheney/ Bush haven't looked at the calendar lately.
Of course the poor Lebanese can thank America for all the missiles and bombs dropping on them. The weapons used by Israel are made by huge corporations right here in the good old US of A. Thanks be to Boeing and Lockheed-Martin for all that death from above. War, what is it good for? Corporate profits of course. For every missile fired, for every bomb dropped, there will be new purchase orders to replace them. Ca-ching! More money to the weapons makers. Of course, we American tax payers get the final bill. Much of the money America "loans" Israel comes back as weapons orders to the big defense contractors right here in America. Talk about the revolving doors. And the wheel goes round.........as the Bridgestone commercial says.
As one who has lived through war in Viet Nam, I despise all wars. As Smedley Butler said, there are only two reasons for war; to defend OUR homes and the Bill of Rights. All other war is a racket. War is the most pornographic thing we humans have ever devised. War kills not only the bodies, but the spirits of those who are involved in it. The effects of war stay with the participants for life. Memories, as one song says, are like star light, they go on forever. Many of us who have been to war wish it were not so. Wishing doesn't make it so, however.
I never want to see another human being kill another in war. I never want to see the absolute horror that war makes of lives. As my Veterans For Peace sticker says; No more Lies, No more Lives. Enough of war!
So how, some way, we the people need to stop the war machine. I don't have the answer, if I did, I'd be shouting it from the mountain tops. War kills in so many ways. It kills bodies of course, but it also kills the soul. It kills the humanity of the participants. Oh, sure, after time, we may awake from the nightmares and live "productive" lives, but there will always be that dead part of us, still there, still haunting us, until we are no more in this life.
We need to end wars and realize that people are people, no matter what religion, skin color, sex, race,creed, etc. All most "regular" people the world over want, is to live their lives in peace, provide for their families, and hope their children have as good or better lives than they have.
Just my 2 cents worth for today.