Iraqistan

Well I'm about to go on assignment for a while. I'll be gone for a few days but I wanted to give you all some good fodder...er....food for thought. It is something that I know for a fact is perplexing many. Just what is wrong with these people?

Is it not totally obvious to any true conservative that these guys are at best semi(demi?) conservatives? Bush himself won(?) election the first time saying he was opposed to nation building an I dare say that has been a "traditional republican" point of view. I know, 9/11 changed everything. I guess that's true. Traditional republicans have always opposed high deficit spending and expanded federal spending. Both of which have been done very notable degrees since Bush. I know, 9/11 changed everything. I guess that's true. They used to be for freedom from government intervention but now with Shaivo, patriot act et al they suddenly have given that one up too. I guess 9/11 changed everything. They use to think the government couldn't run the school down the street but now they can transform an entire culture. They are right. 9/11 changed everything. These frickin people are not Republicans! They are corporate globalists. Has there ever been a position they took that didn't favor a corporation in one way or the other? Look for some. It will be worth all the time it takes you to find two or three. Maybe a good lesson for you. Go ahead give it a try.

Does anybody besides the glassy eyed robots believe that we weren't conned into going to Iraq? The problem is the Administration made sure it was our "intelligence agencies" that got left with the blame (and shortly afterward gave Tenet the medal of freedom-afterall what else would you give a guy who falls on the sword). Here's a little red meat for all you righties out there. Who's to say the CIA might be pissed and that's what the whole " Rove Thing" is about? See, I can come up with these faster than you can!!:-) All I need is a few well chosen "facts" to flesh it out. Dudes , I'm sorry to say this but you are being brainwashed. You have only certain media or sources that are acceptable. The rest are all liars. Even worse they are on the side of the horrid green eyed , two toed ,giant, elitist liberal.
Hey don't believe what those guys are saying! That makes you "unamerican".

You conservatives don't even get our jokes when we say" why do they hate (fill in the blank) " and "I guess he hates(fill in the blank) ." Hint: you blow that pile of malarkey out relentlessly. It's one of the major reasons people listen to you and actually get a good laugh. How could you so perfectly do the robot.
Frankly, I would not be suprized to see the CIA thing to be the case. If so then I guess that's just the balance of power working. You blame us and we'll out you ...so don't be blaming us, we did our job!

Ever wonder why all the conservative media talk shows, conservative pundits and politicians and, interestingly enough, Fox news all seem to focus on the same thing on nearly the same day with almost identical wording and talking points?
Why is it you think we are being brainwashed by the media and you aren't? It's laughable, hence my little motto at the top of the page. If you can't take your beloved "facts" and make some rational thought out of them by looking at the world around you, they are worthless.

Is there any doubt that we need alternative energy. We are using fossil fuels. We know how serious this oil thing is going to get. Let's do something about it! Where's the leadership on the most critical issue of our time. I propose if you solve this problem you will solve several others at the same time. We should be giving these corporations tax breaks only to make it easier for them to develop alternative fuel. 5 billion went for that in the energy bill. 9 billion went for "other" tax breaks. Why would a company that is making 30 or 40% profit with less production need a tax break for anything? Unless that might be ....oh....mmmmm......corporate welfare! Palezzzzze spare me all your corporate inspired "facts". Unfortunately for you I still have common sense and the ability to reason and I, on my honor, promise you, I have looked into both sides of the facts if I have a firm viewpoint on the issue. I am what you call an openminded person.

If you don't believe that fighting for peace is better than encouraging war then don't expect anyone but the brainwashed to believe you have seriously Christian viewpoints at the heart of your beliefs. I don't care how many "facts" you can come up with. The rest of all of this is a similar deal. Frankly we are getting mighty tired of arguing the obvious. Can we now get on with making this the America of, by and for the people and not the America of corporate control and cover.

Populists Unite

I have often described myself as more of a populist than anything. Now thats what I'm talking bout! You know Real America! This is the only way to get my vote from either party, whoever is closest wins by default. DLC sucks. So does PNAC.

Alternative Energy

We all pretty much know the oil is going to run out. It's going to keep getting more expensive and not less. It is an imperative that we ignore at our own peril. How can we move into the new world. This pdf slideshow has some mighty good suggestions in it. I won't endorse the whole thing cuz frankly I haven't heard the other side. (although I must admit a real hope for some way to make biofuels work cuz they are renewable and benefit American farmers). I'm not saying this is thee answer but it's time to move this discussion forward. If you've got a better idea lets hear it! This is a place where we can all be proud unified Americans. Coming together in a cause that would band us together instead of tear us apart. That would have advantages for all of us. If we don't do this someone else will. Guess what that makes them? The leader. We are the greatest nation on Gods green earth only when we act like it. Quit making up phoney patriotism and make America authentically great again.

Anne Coulter

A rare case of honesty from Miss Anne here. It is an audio file so it will take a few seconds to load but worth it. Damned liberal media!!!!!

Corporations Play While The Little Man Pays

Latest on oil stuff here. What really gets me is this:

Exxon Mobil Corp. , the world's largest publicly traded oil company, posted a 32 percent jump in quarterly profit on Thursday, as a relentless surge in crude oil prices and higher refining margins helped offset a hit from lower production.

Ok , read that again.........do you see that!?? A 32% jump in profit with lower production! I bet all the hard working regular folk that work there will all get a nice raise for their contribution. NOT. Please give us alternative energy soon.

The Sell Outs

You asked for it and here it is. The Democrats that are selling the American worker out and sucking up to corporate America be it the bankrupcy bill or Cafta. Here More good stuff here.

Preach Brother Preach

I love this piece. One of those " I couldn't have said it any better" things. I'm singin in the Choir.

Excuse me, what do we still make that the Chinese either can't make themselves or can't copy five minutes from now?

today's transient global economic relations are a product of very special transient circumstances, namely, relative world peace and absolutely reliable supplies of cheap energy. Subtract either of these elements from the equation and you will see globalism evaporate so quickly it will suck the air out of your lungs.

Three quarters of the world's oil is in the eastern hemisphere -- two-thirds of the total is in the Middle east alone. Guess what? All of it is a lot closer to China than it is to us. Some of it they can walk to. Do you have any idea how desperate for oil both China and America are going to be in five years? Do you have a clue how tapped out America's WalMart shoppers are going to be as jobs vanish and the value of a dollar craters in the face of runaway energy prices? Globalism is yesterday's tomorrow. The future is about living locally on a much smaller scale.

China is not tomorrow's geopolitical colossus, it's a geopolitical super train wreck waiting to collide with the reality of its environmental devastation, population overshoot, and energy starvation.

More Here

Bloody Well Right! Amen Brother!!!!

Why Are Hate Mongers Admired?

An American Islamic civil rights group is calling on a Washington, D.C. radio station to reprimand its talk show host for claiming "Islam is a terrorist organization."
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said it received complaints Monday from Muslim listeners who heard WMAL's Michael Graham say "Islam is a terrorist organization," "Islam is at war with America," "The problem is not extremism. The problem is Islam," and "We are at war with a terrorist organization named Islam."
"Such hate-filled and inflammatory remarks only serve to encourage those who would turn bigoted views into violent or discriminatory actions against ordinary American Muslims," said CAIR Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper.
"Reasoned discussion on issues related to terrorism should be encouraged, but extremist anti-Muslim rhetoric harms our nation's image worldwide and serves as a recruiting tool for terrorists," said Hooper.

CAIR challenged remarks made by Graham last year as well reportedly implying that Americans should take violent action against Muslims. "I don't wanna say we should kill 'em all (Muslims), but unless there's reform (within Islam), there aren't a lot of other solutions that work in the ground struggle for survival."
"Would you hire an Arab-Muslim group for a friend's daughter's Bat Mitzvah, I wouldn't, if you would you're a dope, that's not bigotry, that completely reasonable smart discrimination," Graham said last year.

He can't really believe this can he? If so I personally would question his problem solving skills. Isn't this getting a little far out in the "entertainment" realm. Sure there are some bad guys. Regardless of your country, race,religion, political party, sexual orientation, among professions, husbands and wives, fathers and sons. To say we should wipe out 20% of the worlds popuation because of their religion, that all are evil, is ludicrous on its face. The saddest thing is that many people that agree with him I bet would claim to be good Christian people. Sorry, I'm calling you on this one. Just who is the evil one here?

A Light Comes On At The White House

Although I could have saved them a lot of money and lives, I and others have been pushing this agenda for a year or two now, I give the administration credit for finally seeing the light and back on an effective track to fight terror. Click here.

The Bush administration is retooling its slogan for the fight against Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups, pushing the idea that the long-term struggle is as much an ideological battle as a military mission, according to senior administration and military officials.Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and the country's top military officer have spoken of "a global struggle against violent extremism" rather than "the global war on terror," which had been the catchphrase of choice. Administration officials say the earlier phrase ... focused attention solely, and incorrectly, on the military campaign. General Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the National Press Club on Monday that he had "objected to the use of the term 'war on terrorism' before, because if you call it a war, then you think of people in uniform as being the solution." ... he said, future efforts require "all instruments of our national power, all instruments of the international communities' national power." The solution is "more diplomatic, more economic, more political than it is military," he concluded.

New opinion polls show that the American public is increasingly pessimistic about the mission in Iraq, with many doubting its link to the counterterrorism mission.

It's encouraging to see them step outside their little box. If actions match words there may be a chance now. Sorry to bring the skunk to the party neo cons but here is John Kerrys statement from his website on how he would fight terrorism if elected:

The threat of terrorism demands alliances on a global scale - to utilize every available resource to get the terrorists before they can strike us......The war on terror cannot be won by military might alone. Kerry - Edwards will deploy all the forces in America's arsenal - our diplomacy, our intelligence system, our economic power, and the appeal of our values and ideas - to make America more secure and prevent a new generation of terrorists from emerging.

The really frustrating part of this is, if they do it, they will claim it as their own and all the screach monkeys who detested Kerrys stand will now embrace it as proof that dear leader knows how to think with big ideas.

But Ron where's your facts? Where's the proof!? :-)

Coffee Table

Random thoughts. Stuff you would like to share. Go for it.

A Perspective On Economics

Yes I know, all this numbers stuff is boring but its good stuff to know when you come up against "supply side" (read tax cuts for the rich) economics.

Increasing National Debt Caused by Supply-Side Economics As a result of fiscal irresponsibility, the Republicans have amassed a record of ever increasing debt. According to the Treasury department:
Ronald Reagan started his term with total debt outstanding of 930 million and increased total debt outstanding to 2.7 trillion. This is a 13.71% compound annual increase. He never balanced a budget.
Bush I started his term with outstanding debt of 2.7 trillion and increased total debt to 4 trillion. This is a 10.32% compounded annual increase. He never balanced a budget.
Clinton started with total debt outstanding debt of 4 trillion and increased total debt outstanding to 5.6 trillion. This is a 4.2% compounded annual increase. He balanced his last three budgets.
Bush II started with 5.6 total outstanding debt and increased total outstanding debt to 7.7 trillion. This is a 6.5% annual increase. He has never balanced a budget.
For 25 years the Republicans have held the presidency for 17 of the last 25 years. They have never balanced a budget and have increased total debt outstanding 11.69% in each year they have held the White House.
The Democrats have held the White House for 8 of the last 25 years. They have balanced the budget 3 times and increased total debt outstanding 4.2%............
ReaganÂ’s economy really took off in the first quarter of 1983, when first quarter GDP increased 5%. Supply-siders will argue their tax cuts were responsible for this growth. What they fail to mention is that starting in June 1981, the Federal Reserve started lowering the discount rate from 12% to 8.3% by year-end. In other, once again the economy started growing about 6-9 months after the Federal Reserve started cutting interest rates.
The relationship between interest rates and economic growth is a solid direct relationship that existed before supply-side economics.

As we all know from our own personal lives, no matter how much you have it seems you could always use a little more. With all the economic advantages that wealth has(compounding of interest, tax shelters etc.) the rich will take it all if they can. No matter how well they are doing they are always "disadvantaged" by their large tax bill. Sorry, I ain't playing. A rising tide should lift all boats. We all work hard and pay taxes too. We are entitled to share in the bounty of this country that we helped create. That's not socialism, that's an equitable society that will continue to flourish. Sorry rich, you can't have it all.

Nonsmoking Nazis Want To Take More Of Your Freedom

This, whether you are a smoker or not should send shivers down the spine of freedom loving people.

Two state lawmakers want to make it illegal to drive a car while smoking -- a seemingly long-shot proposal that extends the tobacco debate from public places into privately owned automobiles.
The bill, A-4306, introduced June 27, would stipulate up to a $250 fine for smoking while driving. It would be a secondary offense -- enforced only if a motorist had been pulled over for a separate traffic violation or other offense.

Damn, driving down the road in my private car that I paid for. On a road partially paid for by my tax dollars, smoking a cigarette that I payed for(with a huge tax payment to the state by the way). One place I must say I agree with the right is that too many on the left seem to want to protect us from ourselves. Occasionally it is appropriate but it's way overdone in this country. They always do it in the name of some higher "collective" good but it always comes down to the diminishment of freedom to live as you choose.