Despite their whining and posturing, their disruptions, obstructions, and tea bags, Republicans clearly do not want to honor our constitution.
http://www.examiner.com/x-14931-Pittsburgh-Public-Policy-Examiner~y2009m11d17-Accused-terrorists-should-be-tried-as-civilians
Where Were You When
With all the chaos and fear
Horrific happenings in the air
Explosion that brought the North tower down
Real debris thrown all around
Explosion again and the second Twin Tower fell
Were you there at 9/11 in that moment’s hell
Each person below running for their life
Ran as fast as they can, a husband and wife
Even older folk panicked with this tragedy
You never seen anything like this in all history
Our nation was again the first but this time with pain
Under the best of protection, terrorists can reign
With years of deception and shrouded right here
Here in the bowels of our country in that dreaded year
Eight years ago they changed how we go
Now any airplane above causes turmoil below
Another county heard from. Rahm Emanuel's father, who was in the terrorist organization the Irgun, talking to the Israeli press:
In an interview with Ma'ariv, Emanuel's father, Dr. Benjamin Emanuel, said he was convinced that his son's appointment would be good for Israel. "Obviously he will influence the president to be pro-Israel," he was quoted as saying. "Why wouldn't he be? What is he, an Arab? He's not going to clean the floors of the White House."
SOURCE- http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2008/11/emanuels-father-let-arabs-clean-the-white-house-floors-rahms-all-over-israel-policy.html
Election Day on November 4, 2008 will arguably be the most important date in US history and it’s because the world’s fate is in the hands of the next United States President. We've already been punctured with the global economic crisis, so take your pick if you want to further that wound with World War III or preferably repair it with World Peace.
“Confessions of a Phone Solicitor” is the title of Gail Collins’ column in today’s New York Times. Here are some excerpts.
[A] telemarketer named Ted Zoromski quit his job this week over John McCain’s message. Zoromski was prepared to interrupt people during their dinner hours to encourage them to vote Republican. But when he got the script saying “you need to know that Barack Obama has worked closely with domestic terrorist Bill Ayers, whose organization bombed the U.S. Capitol, the Pentagon, a judge’s home and killed Americans,” he packed it in.“Even though I was paid to do it, I didn’t feel comfortable,” Zoromski told WKOW-TV.
This story … struck me because I once worked as a telemarketer, and it is an occupation so soul-numbing that it is hard to imagine that anything could make it worse. I woke up people on the overnight shift who had just managed to fall asleep for the first time in six days. Sometimes, when there was clearly nobody at home, I would just let the phone ring and ring in order to avoid having to call anybody else. …
So truly, if you can come up with something that would send a telemarketer over the edge, you have really overachieved on the offensiveness front.
She then goes on to give a vivid description of all the vile mud-slinging being done by McCain, Palin, et al. My issue is with the first part of the article. Here is the comment I posted.
Once again Collins has missed the mark. Telemarketers make nuisance calls. That's what advertising is all about. It is not unethical for them to do their work. No one told Collins to let the phone keep ringing when she was a phone solicitor. Ted Zoromski quit his job because he was asked to deliver a dishonest and hateful message. Now that Collins is a Times columnist, after having been a Times editor, she feels free to trash those in her earlier line of work. This is true elitism.
Collins plays fast and loose with the facts and often fails to reason properly. This is a lot more harmful than disturbing people at dinner. The Times has a Doctor Jekyll-Mr. Hyde combo (Dowd-Collins). Maureen's brilliance is matched by Gail's dalliance. Too bad more of your readers don't catch on to this. Perhaps it is because Collins’ column causes so much ringing in their ears.
Getting back to the main point of her article, here is the front page and an inside page of a recent RNC mailer.
Fact: Bill Ayers conducted bombings of public buildings in the 60s and 70s.
Fact: Bill Ayers is a professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
[Bill Ayers] is now a professor in the College of Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago, holding the titles of Distinguished Professor of Education and Senior University Scholar. In 1969 he cofounded the radical left organization the Weather Underground, which conducted a campaign of bombing public buildings during the 1960s and 1970s. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Ayers
Allegation: Obama was associated with Ayers.
Implication: Obama is "palling around with terrorists," according to Palin.
Analysis: THEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
Palin should know (maybe she doesn’t) that Ayers is no longer a terrorist. He is a professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has repented. Palin apparently forgot she is Christian (assuming she is one) and forgot Jesus’ teachings about repentance and forgiveness. She is apparently unforgiving, and so is McCain.
Analysis: POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE
f they are bringing up this topic just to detract from the important issues that confront the nation and the world, then they are not qualified to be in the White House. The White House is reserved for those who are able to focus on what is important and not the trifles.
Analysis: NATIONAL SECURITY PERSPECTIVE
If Bill Ayers is a terrorist, McCain and Palin are aiding and abetting Ayers by not turning him into the authorities. They know where he is but have done nothing. They have chosen to let him remain at large, allowing him to threaten the safety of all Americans. McCain and Palin are therefore by extension terrorists themselves and are unpatriotic.
Fact: There is another known terrorist. His name is bin Laden.
Fact: McCain chooses to follow him to the Gates of Hell rather than to the mountains and caves near the Afghanistan and Pakistan border.
Speculation: Perhaps he is waiting for both bin Laden Bill Ayers to start running toward Hell before McCain as Batman will start chasing them with Palin as Wonder Woman carrying a moose-hunting rifle.
"I look at every human being from a more positive angle; I try to look for their positive aspects. This attitude immediately creates a feeling of affinity, a kind of connectedness," ~The 14th Dalai Lama
When we look for the positives in humanity, it is more difficult to feel hopeless, hateful, or alone. That is why, though it is easy to overlook the best in others in light of glaring imperfections, it is imperative that we look closely for the creativity, generosity, compassion, and openness of others.
Only then may we truly share in and enjoy the human condition of another.
"If we think about the vast majority of human problems, both on a personal and on a worldwide scale, it seems that they stem from an inability to feel sincerely involved with others, and to put ourselves in their place. Violence is inconceivable if everyone is genuinely concerned with the happiness of others," ~Matthieu Ricard
Please enlighten me, does a "terrorist" cease to be a human being with needs and desires, such as yourself, when he or she loses all hope and resigns to a life of inflicting terror? Must we destroy the body of the "terrorist" to protect ourselves? Or would it create five more, out of hate for our dispassion? Only the mind of the "terrorist" can yield to compassion and humanity, thereby destroying the "terrorist."
How many have been terrorized by the bombs and bullets of the United States? And as United States citizens, with all the rights and responsibilities that come with the title, are we not each as responsible for the terror our weapons of mass destruction have caused as President George W. Bush? Are we each not guilty by association? For the law of the U.S. says that it falls to us, the People of the United States of America, to seek and see justice prevail.
How is it justice to maim, kill, or destroy innocent lives in search for retribution? The events of September the 11th, 2001 were a FUCKER of a wake-up call… to punish the infidels, someone said. And the question that taunted so many minds, so many days ago and to this day, is for what? Why?... And to this day, we have yet to look at ourselves – examine the nature of our existence.
I think on the many species we have and/or may yet INADVERTENTLY wipe from existence thanks to archaic notions of "DIVINE RIGHT," necessity, ambition, selfishness, and greed – and on a good day I think, "I would BLOW UP THE OUTSIDE WORLD just to prevent the inevitable, slow destruction of all that is of the Earth," but I would prefer a world wide contaminant, deadly to humans and nothing else.
Face it, the United States is full of creeps who fret over every little electronic, but couldn't care less for the natural world of the people around them. Then there are the soccer mom's who buy the biggest, most ridiculous pieces of gas-guzzling machinery they can get their hands on so they can take their children TEN OR TWENTY BLOCKS to the field! Should her "freedom" to own a Hummer or a Chevy Escalade outrank your "freedom" to live in a planet-friendly, clean environment? Apparently so, or we would have legislation dictating who has the right to own and/or use oversized vehicles.
Maybe you have recently come to grips with what it means to despair. Maybe you have lost your job or a portion of your retirement fund or a loved one to war. Maybe you know what it is to be angry at a system that won't help you get the things you need.
Maybe now you can examine what it is about America—about us—that would make people want to destroy our way of life. Maybe now you can contemplate what is wrong with our way of life.
Next time you think about or hear of "terrorists," think of them as people and try to see them from a more positive angle; try looking for their positive aspects. Then perhaps you may gain a sense of affinity, a kind of connectedness to another who suffers, like you.
I believe they would not have attacked us unless they believed our actions would determine their fate. In fact, our actions may determine more than just their fate. Our actions—or inactions—may determine the fate of this planet.
What about the neighborhood terrorists (ex?) on Chicago's South Side? What "makes" a "terrorist" ? Some of the pro-life (anti-abortion) people, mostly women, don't seem to have a huge problem with people (men) killing doctors who have been known or thought to have performed abortions. Yesterday, Friday, I was concerned that the Bill Ayers business (Weather Underground of the end of the 1960s - start of the 1970s) might develop into something more than slightly problemmatic. Ayers does not sound particularly repentent. Senator Obama (who was around eight years old and far away, when the Weather Underground were . . . destroying themselves as much or more than anyone else) did not seem sufficiently perturbed, to me . . . but it was 40 years ago, +/- . . . long ago and far away, in another America -- one which never would have considered either a woman or a black person as a candidate for President of the United States of America.
A semi-neighbor or mine sends me pro-life / anti-Obama email forwards, and I send them on to watchdog@barackobama.com . One this afternoon nearly bled all over the inbox: "WHY are the democrat party and the media attacking Sarah Palin?! It's reprehensible! We hsve to be sure this does not become an 'ObamaNation!' More reasons to vote Republican! :)"
We must learn to become a nation wherein people's differing views can be acknowledged, and where we can shove our shoulders together for the good of all. We need to do it speedily, too. Yes.
Guilt by Association? Don’t go there, McPallin.
Keith O tells it like it is, not just like it was 40 years ago:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/27057346#27057346
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/#27092691
If you liked this message, then please have a look at the rest of my blog, http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/blog/henrymu and please consider donating to the campaign: http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/PListe4Obama
Henry M
[This is an amazing story by a very courageous woman and what happened when she went to a Palin rally (the one where she started the BS about Obama and Ayers) and shouted in a stadium: "LIAR"! It reveals so much about her shallowness and her veiled racism that when distributed widely in borderline states, I think it could help us win all 13 of them! Please take some time and make sure everyone you know gets a copy of this and prints it out for 5 neighbors! 26 days left! from Stephen Fox]
OpEdNews
Original Content at http://www.opednews.com/articles/What-I-Learned-At-The-Sara-by-Linda-Milazzo-081007-243.html
October 7, 2008
On Saturday I went to Carson, California, to attend a rally for Republican Vice Presidential candidate, Sarah Palin. For those who aren't familiar with the city of Carson, it's approximately 19 miles south of downtown Los Angeles. In the 2004 Presidential election, Carson, which had a population of just under 90,000, donated three times as much money to George W. Bush than to John Kerry. This year, for the 2008 elections, residents of Carson have given slightly more to Republican candidates than to Democrats by a slim margin of $3,000. Thus the gap between Republicans and Democrats in Carson has narrowed. The Palin rally, which you may have seen on youtube and TV, was held at the Home Depot ADT Tennis Stadium. Because of the surprising popularity of Mrs. Palin and easy access to free tickets, all 20,000 stadium seats, plus an overflow area were filled. I got a handful of tickets, recruited my friend Rebecca Tobias, Program Director of the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Ethics, and trekked on out to Carson. We scored ground level seats in the stadium from which I watched, listened and steadily bristled. When I could no longer stomach Palin's lies and distortions, I jumped up, and at the top of my lungs, repeatedly called Palin a L-I-A-R!
I was shouted down in Palinese by her 20,000 admirers, then escorted out by security. I took extra time as I climbed the steps from the ground up to the top just to keep her admirers shouting. The few minute reprieve from Palin's lies was to me a righteous diversion. When I neared the top of the steps I turned back to Mrs. Palin and continued to call her a L-I-A-R, until I was ushered out the door. Thankfully my escorts showed me the utmost respect for they privately shared my feelings. They're working folk. They see through Mrs. Palin. But that's just the start of this story... You see, I'd gone to this event for a reason. Not to see Sarah Palin. I already knew who she was. I went to see the Palinettes - the supporters of this unspectacular woman who had so readily been won over. I wanted to meet them and speak with them and understand their attachment to this lowest common denominator politician - a woman so unqualified for Vice President that her appointer running mate should be imprisoned for treason. As a patriot and voter, I disagree categorically with the choice of Sarah Palin. I seek knowledge, experience, maturity, integrity, charity, clarity, humanity, intellectual curiosity, and wisdom from the leaders I select. Since Palin, in my opinion, exhibits none of these traits, I wanted to assess her supporters' rationale (or rational-ity). What I witnessed was thoroughly alarming!! Among this raptured crowd of 20,000 was a frightening mix of Christian zealots, anti-abortion fanatics, and mostly white suburban women and men reconnecting with their high school mentality. Bright colored pom-poms were everywhere - as if Sarah Palin were head cheerleader, the women were on her squad, and the men were the football heroes. Sarah Palin, the quintessential 4ever-school-girl had revitalized their youth and saved them from adulthood. Check out the red pom-pom "hair" on the man behind Palin. If that isn't high school, what is?? Photo by Linda Milazzo Want further proof of pom-pom Palin? Try this as an experiment. Put on an audio of a Sarah Palin speech. Close your eyes and listen. What you'll hear is the high pitched voice of a teenage girl, speaking in circular reasoning, incomplete sentences, and juvenile idioms. No sophistication. No leadership. No wisdom. Just the sound of a snarky school girl. Sarah Palin is America's greatest nightmare. Sarah Palin is George W. Bush in a dress! Of course there are those who might say that my own outburst toward Sarah Palin was juvenile - to which I'd respond with a resounding NO! It's never juvenile to speak truth to ignorance. To say nothing would be derelict. Certainly, I'd be naive to think that calling Palin a L-I-A-R would make her adorers believe me. But to sit quietly while Palin accused Obama of being:
"someone who sees America, it seems, as being so imperfect, imperfect enough, that he's palling around with terrorists [Bill Ayers] who would target their own country"
"terrorists who would target their own country"
Keating Five
Phil Grahamn - lobbiest for United Bank of Scotland
Wendy Lee Graham (Mrs. Phil Graham) - former Enron executive and board member
Well, we now see what the McCain/Palin tactic will be. Drudge up William Ayres. Palin is on the stump saying that Obama is "Paling around with a terrorist." Because Obama served on a board with the man.
How about the Economic Terrorists John McCain has been associated with. The Keating Five!? IF we are going to bring tangential associations as hard evidence of questionable integrity, then John McCain, as one of those Five Keating Fellas, deserves the same regurgitation. And as far as I am concerned, that association is far more damaging and relevant to today's issues.
Speaking of past associations, how about McCain's choice of economic advisor, Phil Graham? Lobbiest for United Bank of Scotlan (USB) who called Americans suffering economically as a "nation of whiners" and whose wife is a former exectutive of ENRON. No wonder, with those associates surrounding him, giving him advice, McCain felt the economy was"fundamentally sound!"
McCain has aligned himself with ECONOMIC TERRORISTS. If guilt by association is going to be the barometer- then McCain deserves the scrutiny and exposure to all of his. By that measure, McCainis risky, scary and untrustworthy and against the interests of every day, middle-class Americans.
From Time Magazine, Thursday, Sep. 18, 2008
The Pain in Spain Falls Mainly on McCain, By Lisa Abend
You gotta feel for Jos[a {e}] Luis Rodr[a {i}]guez Zapatero. Here the Spanish Prime Minister is only four months from an end to his government's strained relations with that of President George W. Bush and blam! — along comes John McCain to suggest that the next four years might not be any better. During an interview in Miami earlier this week with Spanish-language station Union Radio, a reporter asked McCain whether, if elected, he would receive Zapatero in the White House. McCain answered, "Honestly, I have to analyze our relationships, situations and priorities, but I can assure you that I will establish closer relationships with our friends, and I will stand up to those who want to harm the United States."
Bush's new motto
"BRING THE TERRORISTS HERE SO WE DO NOT HAVE TO FIGHT THEM OVER THERE"
“F__ it, we're going in!" said Bush the Decider, as he launched his invasion of Iraq. That mindset pretty much describes John McCain’s campaign for president.Damn the facts and the egregious record of the last 8 years! Bravo, Karl Rove, Roger Ailes & Co. - you’ve made Americans almost forget that it’s the republican politicians not the democrats – McCain & Palin included – who got America into the outrageous & shameful messes our proud nation is bleeding from. Let’s see: Lying about WMDs, a misguided and unjustifiable war, 4,000+ brave American heroes unjustifiably sacrificed, war profiteering, Abu Ghraib, Katrina, Bank & Hedge Fund bailouts, Mortgage Mess, Financial failures, rising unemployment, 47M uninsured Americans, $4 gas. An impressive record!
The long shot McCain & Palin needed to create an image far from Bush & Cheney and mainstream republicans. Well, Mission Accomplished! No one actually seems to remember, or care too much, that McCain & Palin are the same folks who backed Bush & Cheney for 8 long years, or that they vigorously voted for, cheered and encouraged the last 8 years of horrors! “Oh, they’re just maverick independents, who just happen to be waving the republican flag!” Really now!
The RNC alchemists started nasty rumors and transmuted them into a substantial republican wave against Obama’s faith, patriotism, experience, popularity and motives! The faith-based viral tactics they pioneered in 2000, polished in 2004 and have now mastered are truly a lesson for all Americans how easily we can be manipulated. Does the record even matter? Does America even matter, despite all the flag waving? "Well folks, since Newt, Rush and Hannity haven't called for public outrage this time around - there’s no reason to be upset!"And, what exactly has Sen. McCain done over the last 8 years to help Americans? Ok: McCain-Feingold campaign reform bill & voting with Bush 90% of the time leading to the current mess. And those are qualifications to be the next President? ‘Cause he's not looking too good in the leadership department.The true test of leadership for McCain was the last 8 years, everything before that is history. “2001 changed everything” we’ve been told every day by McCain and the republican politicians and post-2001 is a whole new ballgame. Ok, we believe you. By that standard, McCain’s votes for Bush’s egregious policies and his direct culpability for Bush’s disastrous failures, disqualify him from holding public office, or at least applying for the highest office in the nation. He stood back when he should have stood up to the pillaging & plunder of America. His 'experience' went AWOL precisely when Americans most desperately needed it.
He’s a genuine war hero. So how come he supported and continues to support Bush who sent our men & women into harm's way without adequate armor, intelligence or arabic speakers? how come we have vets sleeping in the streets, and being neglected in awful conditions at Walter Reed Army hospital? Not looking too good there Johnny Mac.
McCain says he’ll send forces to find al qaeda near Iran’s border with Pakistan? Hello! How can he, a military man with presidential ambitions, who was taught how to read maps in basic & advanced training, not even know the basic simple map of the middle east and asia? No wonder he’s clueless about where to find al qaeda and the evildoers who attacked us! For others tuning in late: al qaeda has been created, nurtured & funded out of Pakistan.
He said he’ll follow bin laden to the gates of hell. But old chap, you haven't even followed him to where he’s actually hiding - in Pakistan & Afghanistan for the last 7 years! Instead, you have helped squander thousands of precious American lives and hundreds of billions scarce American dollars chasing ghosts in Iraq! That’s not leadership - that’s stupid followership.
“Let’s drill for oil, let’s be rich & free again”. Good for you & your rich friends, sir! What questions, senator, have you pressed on Bush & Cheney to uncover the looting of America and recover our stolen billions? Fuzzy? Let’s see: Halliburton, Blackwater, War Contractors – do any of those ring the bell of your conscience? Apparently not. You’re just a good soldier who takes orders!
Over gins and tonics & single malts clinking softly in crystal glasses at the country clubs, you & other faithful readers of the Robb Report are plenty harsh and indignant about the fall of America. But instead of going after the actual perps (Bush-Cheney-Rove-Condie-Rumsfeld-Wolfowitz…..), you’re blaming democrats? “What will those muslim loving weaklings do next - attack the country?” “Good god! Rally the forces, outlaw everything, lock 'em up, and exile them to obscurity”. "Karl, why don't you use your wicked dark arts to whiplash democrats and whip all flag waving conservatives into a frenzy? Roger & his people are waiting in the ante room to discuss their latest broadcast strategies with you. Go forth and scare the bejeezus out of the American people again, and god bless you my dark knight!"Mr. McCain knows his Thomas Pinks from his Brooks Brothers, ah, the joy & comforts of a $100 Million! So how could he even begin to understand the woes of ordinary Americans? Why, make it up of course and smile confidently! The new math is: war hero + beau coup dough + rich wife + republican funding = solid chap, good presidential material! Facts, schmacts.And, thank God he's white, what a relief! Can you imagine a black man leading a nation? (um..South Africa? By the way, does that mean they can say they are freer & braver than the US?). But suburban & rich folks can sleep easy at night because McCain is white (and presumably right!). Don’t be silly, he didn't let us down over the last 8 years - that was Bush & Cheney! Forget them they're going to be gone soon, forget that McCain toed the line and voted with them every step of the way. And hey, Bush even brought him a cake to the airport to celebrate his birthday! Now, how many people do you suppose Bush did that for? That just goes to prove that McCain is so independent that Bush has to come to see him. A shining example of the power McCain has over Bush! You can't ask for more proof of power and leadership from a future president, now can you?
And, hey, no fear about guns - got that one covered! We'll finally have a shooting range at the White House ! “Lapierre, bring your silver plated Winchester repeater signed by the original confederate owner, we’ll give it a chance to grace the White House collection of the people’s right to bear arms!”
Yes, Katrina was a disaster, And so was Abu Ghraib. Enron. Blank checks to Halliburton. Rumsfeld. Cheney. Secret oil deals. War profiteering. Bank and Hedge fund bailouts. Rendition. Oops – Invaded Iraq not bin laden’s stronghold. 47M uninsured.
“Hey, s_it happens!”
Dear Sarah:
In your speech the other day, you said: "Al Qaeda terrorists still plot to inflict catastrophic harm on America ... he's worried that someone won't read them their rights?"
It sounds like you don't agree with the recent decision of the Supreme Court to grant Guantamano and other detainees the ability to challenge their detention?
I'm curious...
