Musings of a UU Pagan

Welcome Back.

2011-06-04T16:38:00.005-04:00

This blog has for all intents and purposes was put on the back burner as I concentrated on other projects.

However I have come to realize that has been a mistake in expressing my opinions as a UU Pagan and Wiccan. I am committing myself to post something at the start. At least once a Week.

While There has been a great many things that has happened in the world.. President Obama, The Birther nonsense, And just who is Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga any ways.

With Bin Laden dead we should start to see the end of the war in Afghanistan. Iraq is winding down..Still...

And now Libya. At least that is more now up to the NATO forces.

But the middle east is still in turmoil.. Egypt and other middle eastern countries are now starting to realize that in the 21rst century people are not going to be lied and oppressed so easily.. We shall see how that falls out as time goes on.

Meanwhile on the home front the far right is pushing back from the health care in the only way it knows how. By attacking women rights and making abortion harder to get. Personally I think this more the cry of a wounded animal as it realizes that perhaps it may not be so right after all.

The tea party is now having to deal with issues on the national stage and is showing that it is as clueless about what it wants and how to get there as from day one. Still a lot of anger. Sadly unfocused and unwilling to face facts of life in the political arena.

That bring us to two salient points one: Has the republican as a whole lost its message or is this just a case of temporary mass insanity..

And the second no less startling: Are we as a nation really going to stand b y while a bunch of christian fundamentalist dictate the direction of medical care and policy??

We have to the end of this post and I hope that each of you has a great day.

And the war goes on.

2007-01-12T22:49:00.000-05:00

Yes, Gentle Reader the sad truth is that President Bush really doesn't get it. He thinks that he will get his way and will show every one just how wrong they are in opposing his will.

Sadly a lot more young men and woman are going to die with nothing to show for an accomplishment. As it stands this war is going to give us two results. Strengthening Irans position in the middle east and a generation of young people that are going to have cases of post traumatic stress syndrome. The like hasn't been seen since the end of the Vietnam conflict.

The sad part in all this is that our young people that are in this fight truly want to believe that what they are doing is a good thing. You can hear it in their voices. See it in their eyes. That precious hope that someone, somewhere, has an idea that what is going on, is all to the good. My heart goes out to these young people for believing as they do. I really hope that I will be wrong. That victory is just around the corner. The increase in troops is what is needed.

I sincerely would like to have the faith that our young people have put in this President. With out that implicit faith the war would be harder. But lets be real here. The generals have stated that there is no need to increase troop levels. Yes, troops on the ground says we need more. Being on the ground and fighting a small part of the war does not give a good perspective on what is needed.

I guess President Bush has decided that as the troops on the ground who are agreeing with him must be right. This is a poor way to set policy or even on how to prosecute a war. Is it any wonder this White House is increasingly isolated and embattled.

The republicans beat up on the democrats for not doing everything. Yet, President Bush idea of consultation is to simply inform the Senators and Congresspeople what is going to happen. Is this any wonder that the democrats are leery of working with the republicans?

But they must and every one knows it. Except President Bush and the White House. No this President believes he says it and every one follows. So a war that is going no where. Our enemies that have been embolden to act against us at every turn.

A White House that is using arguements that got former President Nixon impeached. Well Gentle Reader, I feel betrayed by this President insistence that he will do as He wants and bedamned to any who dare disagree.

I can only hope that these next two years goes by fast.

Ending the War

2007-01-09T19:33:00.000-05:00

The above link will take you to columnist who has mad the agreement that if we want this insane war to end, It will be up to us the American public. A certain amount that she say, or rather writes, make sense. We put the dems in to office. At least a vast majority has.

However compelling her argument has been or will be. She has said that in future articles are going to be on stopping the war and just how much we have been deceived. As well as being deceived to this time. All this is sounding good. As far as it goes. Now will come the big question. Is there enough willingness on the part of America to end this war? Because it will take Sheenan type of protest.

This insane war is being ramped up Gentle Readers. Oh yes even as I blog this more troops are on their way to Iraq. Tomorrow Our Dear Leader President Bush is going to try and sell us all on this as a good idea. No, we the American public have been betrayed. Betrayed by an Administration that cares only for its own agenda.

The dems doing what all politicians do. Breaking thier word. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said that that the free ride is over. No more blank checks. Sounds like slogans to me. Worse like rhetoric. Rhetoric that will see more of our young men and women die in a war that is illegal and morally wrong.

The question that conservatives have always thrown into my face. At least Saddam is gone and that is a good thing. No. Sadly. No it is not. The execution showed how wrong that was. Iraq is not better off without that old murderer. Iraq is far worse off now than when that murdering scum was in charge. Ironic. That sick feeling we are experiencing is because this President has screwed up and now is too pigheaded to admit he is wrong.

Worse the democrates are poised to sell us down the river for political gains. Stand up America and Demand the end of this war. Demand that we bring our troops home. Demand that President Bush be held accountable. We turned up in record numbers in an off season voting to register our ire. After Wednesday we shall see what the democrats will do.

The republicans are running scared. The democrats are thinking that they know what we want. We shall see. We shall see.

The end of a year

2006-12-31T22:16:00.000-05:00

I find that this has been a year of ups and downs. Job going over seas. Worked a job that I would have been better suited to when I was twenty. Lost that job when worked ran low and boss started to have fits. Working temp. That has been an eye opener. Finally working steady. Have had a Calling will be starting school either in the spring or fall. Looks like fall right now. But thats OK. All in good time.

Am about to go and enjoy some Coven punch maybe I'll put the recipe for it out later. Right now I am looking towards what should be an interesting year. hope you Gentile Reader are having as a good time and Hope you will be here in the coming year.

Blesses Be All

The First out of the Gate is...

2006-12-30T23:31:00.000-05:00

The former Senator Edwards, As every one knows by now he has come out strong and heavy. the real question is will he be able to sustain this energy. Yes, he is first out. Being first out of the gate does not guarantee anything. In fact it almost guarantees a long hard battle.

His platform is one that has the Fox and other conservative wailing. Trying to decry oohh he just Kerry's shadows. Some how I don't really think so. He has by coming out now is showing a certain amount of genius. Yes, all the candidates are going to run on similar themes. However, he was the first to state it in his campaign.

At this point I am willing to bet that Sen. Clinton is having kittens. I think she was hoping that Sen. Obama would be her only headache at least as far as democrats were concerned. And perhaps that Gov. Vilsack. Now she has to contend with someone that comes to the table with an already made base.

He could sweep in to the White House with either Sen. Obama or the Gov. Vilsack as his running mate. Though I am willing to predict that among the democrats its going to be a close run between Edward, Vilsack, and Obama. Forget Sen. Clinton she will be the noise the right will be making.

Currently I think that I can safely predict that the best choices for the democratic party will be one of these three men in one combination or another. Sen. Clinton will have by the time the democratic party selects its Presidential hopeful, it will have sideline Sen. Clinton. The dragon will have to be placated after all. So watch as the three aforementioned gentlemen try and make peace with her.

"We all must take responsibility and take action now to:
Provide moral leadership in the world
Strengthen our middle class and end poverty
Guarantee universal health care for every American
Lead the fight against global warming
Get America and other countries off our addiction to oil "

I took the above off his website directly. This makes for great rhetoric. I hope he really is intending to do more than addressing these issues. We need to do these things we need a person who can at least fight to see that the ball gets started to rolling. Will I vote for this man? At this time I am more inclined to wait and see how this campaign season goes. Cause it sure does look interesting and will be entertaining.

There is only on more thing that I will add to this blog. Out of all the candidates presently in the field. I find that John Edwards who come across as being people. That is being some one that can be related to as a person and thought as being human. Not just as another pol throwing his name in to the hat.

My thoughts on Gerald Ford

2006-12-29T22:08:00.000-05:00

Yes, Gentile Reader I know that I should have blogged this days ago.

I remember that he was a good man the last of what the republican party once was. Gerald Ford was a man that knew what was good in a tumultuous time. He was a person who neither sought nor wanted to be Vice President nor President. He stepped up and did all that was asked. Including taking the fall for his party. If there is anything that can be said for this man it is thus. He was the right man at the right time in history. We all were blessed to have him in our midst.

Iran And North Korea

2006-12-24T08:30:00.000-05:00

What do these two nations have in common? Both have and are nuclear powers. Both have the been voted unanimously to have sanctions imposed on them. And both interestingly are defiant. The only difference is there politics one is an Islamic dictatorship and the other pretends to be a communist nation. Politics do make strange bed fellows and this must be one of the strangest.

Where North Korea is impoverished Iran is actually quite well off. Benefit of oil. Selling it to both Soviet Russia and now Russia. As well as to China from time to time. Iran has pursued nuclear power since 1979 when the Islamic regime came to power. This is an old issue that has been quietly percolating since that time.

But now the U.N. has decided to do something. Sanctions. Iran and North Korea believe that this is a joke. I wonder is this something that is a new thinking on the part of such countries that have in the past supported and even encouraged these nations to pursue nuclear power. That in spite of what the U.S. has maintained. Such nations with nuclear capabilities can only lead to destabilizing the regions that they are in. As well as being a threat to the rest of the world.

Today it appears the U. N. and the rest of the world are finally waking up to this ongoing threat. Amazingly the U.N has taken steps to recognize that threat by imposing Sanctions. This is a good start. Though what will be the next step is now being debated. Iran and North Korea will be defiant in the hopes that history will repeat. The U.N. makes a lot of noise. Then forgets and everything returns to what it was.

Maybe before 9/11. But today both Russia and China are voting along with the rest of the security council. Something that has not been done since The Korean war. Yes, the sanctions against Iran came after some tough notations. However, it is still important that these sanctions still have bite. Which is still far better than some of the sanctions that have been imposed in the past.

The Bush Administration had wanted tougher sanctions. The U.N. is not about to do that. Not yet anyways. Personally I think that Both China and Russia are finally coming around to the idea that nations like Iran and North Korea that have nuclear capabilities are a larger threat than at first thought. Yes, it made sense to use these countries as way to tweak the U.S. nose. Now a new day is a dawning.

A day that has China reevaluating what North Korea means to China and how willing they are to allow a nuclear nation that close to its borders. Both Iran and North Korea have shown that they are willing to to use any means to achieve an agenda. That could include the use of nuclear weapons. Both are willing to use terrorism as a weapon. Both use rhetoric that can be disturbing. As it is not all rhetoric that has been demonstrated from time to time.

So cheers to the U.N. for stepping up. And to both China and Russia for finally recognizing that Iran and North Korea need to be stopped before a tragedy occurs.

And the winner is?

2006-12-20T19:03:00.000-05:00

Not any one here that's for sure. Iraq war is going do well that hey why don't we.....expand the military!!! Never mind the Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force are all saying the same thing. Our politicians unable to go up with a viable solution to Iraq, have decided to do the most insane thing they could think of. Well the second most.

The Generals are all saying the same thing. Don't do this. We don't want to add more troops in Iraq. What does Our Dear Leader President Bush want to do? Three guess and the first two wont count. That's right Gentile Reader. Unable to think of anything else. Leaving this mess with any dignity is not even an option. What is left? Send more troops.

Oh the Army is stretched thin. My oh My. Well we can up the recruitment. After all loyal Americans are just frothing at the mouth to go over there and shoot those people. Never mind what that lefty, err that is that fine conservative, Fox station is saying.

What is so unforgivable is that some democrats are actually proposing this same thing along similar lines. What is it with politicians? America is sick of fighting a war that should be over. Iraqs problem is now more about fighting a civil war. We tried to set up a government that would be as close to democracy as could be managed.

The Iraqis are voicing their disapproval of this idea. No matter what our intention were. It is obvious now that Iran and Syria were going to be spoil sports. So what do we do? Invade these countries? There is as a solution out there. What it might be I don't really know. However, I do know that increasing our Military is not the answer.

Unless of course President Bush is thinking of invading another country. Like say North Korea?
The Talks are going no where as predictable. Yes it slow going even under the best conditions. These are not those conditions. But as always Kims diplomats are playing the usual game of holding to the line; We have them and not giving them up.

So are these new incoming troops, if there is any, really going to Iraq? It does make one wonder. Personally I think that One: no politician has any real idea what to do with Iraq. And two: Kim Jong Il had better watch himself especially if we do expand our military.

North Korea is being bold

2006-12-18T20:06:00.000-05:00

But just how bold will it be? Yes North Korea is saying it will attend the talks. I am willing to believe that N.Korea is betting that the US will cave. A risky bet. But then Kim has learned a lot over the years. One is always be bold. Never back down till necessary. Then only until the moment is past. Then ignore any agreement previously made. Going back to what ever the original plan was.

The talks in themselves cost North Korea nothing. Kim gets to sound off how everyone is being miserable to him and his impoverished country. expect to see that rhetoric as the negotiations to unfreeze the bank accounts. Also watch as Kim seemingly will give a little only to demand greater from The US, Japan, Russia and South Korea. Kim is a lot of things, but stupid he is not. The only real question is how long until the war?

Though Kim Jong Il has indicated that he will not give up the new toys. He really has no reason to do that in any case. Short of invading and starting the war back up. I don't really think there is a way at this point to convince or even give the North Koreans a compelling argument to dismantle their program at this time.

However I do take some hope that the talks might slow down this march to war. Maybe we can find an answer that will finally pull this madman back from a very deadly brink. I do think that until Kim is gone we are going to have that war.

North Korea - The next war?

2006-12-17T09:59:00.000-05:00

The above link will take you to the article in the Australian paper. The up coming round of talks with this highly volatile regime is about to commence. Only is this round just a step in a what is increasingly becoming a justification to going to war? Kim Jong Ill is not about to stop his countries nuclear program. Washington and now even China are very concerned.

Chinas pronouncement that N. Korea is

"The important meeting of the central committee of the Communist Party three months ago proclaimed that a nuclear North Korea was a formidable challenge to China's "core interests" - a phrase previously used only about Taiwan independence."

Is telling in the most severe way. China has made a misstep in it balancing act of keeping the west at bay. Their catspaw has now become a dagger at their throat as well. With the threat of losing power and influence in Asia as a result. Something Beijing is not going to accept with good grace.

At the end of the day will China accept their catspaw now having some real muscle? Knowing that Kim Jong Ill has the chance to use nuclear toys. It really is more than rhetoric with Kim and Beijing know that fact as well. So it really is not a if question. It becomes a when and where question. The only other question would be how near the US will Kim strike? Or would it be China?

Thats where Beijing worries the most. If N. Korea strikes a Asian target. Asia as a whole will hold China responsible. Even if that target is South Korea. Remember that the Korean war is still active. It is in a perpetual cease fire. The war can resume at any time, in theory. So is Kim Jong Ill looking to restart the war his father left? that is a very good question.

However I think he is really is making a desperate move to keep what is increasingly unstable condition at home. Yes, he is still very much in charge, but for how long? Even a people who have existed under the iron fisted regime like North Korea have revolted. Something that Kim Jong Ill is very aware of. South Korea must look real inviting to a lot of his citizens. China with its own booming economy must look like almost paradise. The rumors that Asia as a whole is making money and doing well has to be worrying the Leader of North Korea.

In a fit of madness North Korea has decided to pursue this march to war. Believing that the US will not attack or even retaliate at this time. My thinking is the Kim will attend this six party meeting if for no other reason than to buy him more time. Knowing that our elections are only two years away and a new US Administration will be in the White House. A new Administration that might not be so willing to go to war.

That decision may not be Washington's to make. Rather it might be Beijing.

President Bush is still not in tune to the reality

2006-12-13T16:53:00.000-05:00

Well Gentile Reader How do you like that? Hmm? Our Dear Leader President Bush is a still thinking he is going to get his way no matter what it takes. The Iraq Commission was not as well thought out as any of us would have liked, but it was a beginning. Not a catch all. Though the way its told from some quarters one would presume that very thing.

President Bush in a masterful or Rove maneuver has locked it till after the Democrats come in to the majority in the Houses. This way he does not alienate any more of his party. Though that really is not the reason. The more likely reason is that one must choose your field of battle carefully. Something President Bush might have given more thought before running into Iraq. But thats blood under the bridge.

No he is still trying to "stay the course". No matter how many bodies of our young that must fill the body bags. Our allies are leaving this coming year. The British are ready to go at any time. Thanks to this fool in the White House we are going to be left holding the bag. Or body bag.

Take a look at the war and tell me that we are even fighting the same war that our enemies are fighting. Iraqis want us out. The the Iraqi government needs us there to prop them up. Its Saigon all over. I am old enough to remember the last helicopter leaving Saigon. Is that what we are eventually going to have again?

Another memory of the last helicopter leaving an embattled captital city? While the enemy fighter pour in to the city killing and throwing the government out. Instituting their own brand of government.

Lets face it, those people in Iraq don't want us there. We are seen as invaders. Not as liberators, not as a people who are helping them. If the Iraqi people truely wanted us there, do you think the civil war would be raging? Would the killing be going on to such an extreme if the Iraqi people as a majority wanted us there? What the US and Britain and our other allies tried to help establish?

Lets be honest the Iraqi people have spoken. Those people are not willing to end the violence whether we are there or not. We are fighting the insurgents. Meanwhile the Iraqis are fighting a civil war.

President Bush is clueless as usual. And the Gentile Reader brings us back to the Iraq Study Group. Because the commision doesn't seem to be any more connected to the reality of Iraq. One proposal is to engage in talk with the same two nations that are fueling this civil war.

We either admit that a civil war is raging or we bury our heads in the Iraq sand. It seems President Bush as well as the politicians in Washington, DC seem to think that if no one say the those deadly words to much maybe the Iraqis will end the fighting and every one will get a long.

My guess is that we will be burying a lot more of our young people, while our leaders argue about reality. Be prepared for that scene of a last helicopter leaving an embattled capital. I hope I am wrong, but unless President Bush and Congress figure this out. That helicopter is going to be the reality.

A few things of Note

2006-12-07T18:21:00.000-05:00

Gates has been nominated. Good. Don't envy the man his job. The second time he has had to come in and clean up some Else's mess. Hope he can do it. A military that has watched a lot of career officer go down when they couldn't stomach the insanity of Mr. Rumsfeld. A white house that seems to live in a world all to its self.

But that world is coming apart. Yes, Our Dear Leader is taking advantage of the vagueness of the Iraq Report. To whit: No time table saying just when our troops are to leave Iraq. That gives him just enough room to turn this debacle around and proclaim he "can stay the course." .

But thats what he wants. leave office and dump this tragedy in some else's lap. How sweet for him.

But on to other news. Caught Rev. Al Sharpton the other day one news or other. Not making any more sense now than he ever did. That was until he call Condoleezza Rice an Uncle Tom. Now there was something I haven't heard since I was a kid in New York. Even then it wasn't something that every one recognized.

Mostly He made himself look foolish. Please yes Condaleezza Rice is the white House Tool. She knows it and accepts it. But does that make her an Uncle Tom? If so what does that make Henry Kissinger when he was Secretary of State for Former President Nixon?

The White at the time of the Nixon Administration wasn't as prone to the stupidities we see today, But seriously he had to go where his boss said and do the impossible. He is a Jew and having to get the Arabs to sit down and talk with him was a small triumph all its own.

Today Ms. Rice has built a trust with the world leaders that most are willing to sit down and talk with her before they are willing to talk to President Bush.

And pardon me for begging the question but, does that make her an Uncle Tom? Maybe yes. Most likely no. Why? Really two reasons. One is that she understands the President that Colin Powell never could. Our Dear Leader President Bush makes the decisions. Right or wrong he is the one that in the end is going to do what he wants and no one is going to tell him differently.

I find that Donald Rumsfeld leaving was the most self serving exit that I have had witness in a long time. Please, a memo? Saying that there should be a new direction? Well he does have to leave in a way that he can be employed in the future. Being known as Bushes right hand may not look so good on a resume.

Now the recommendation from the Baker commission. Has a lot of good ideas and some off the wall ones. First it is a bad idea to talk to Iran. Never mind Syria. At this point Iran is hoping to repeat what it did to us in 1979. Lets get to the real point of this Iran is our enemy. It has never made any bones about that.

Engaging them in a dialog about Iraq is insane. So what is the solution? A hard difficult one. One is face the facts that the Iraqi people are embracing those people across the borders. By recognizing that we can fight this war in much saner way. Iran and Syria has stuck their nose where it doesn't belong. So how do we spank them?

The sad truth is I don't believe we can. The way this war has been mismanaged is criminal. It will be a long time before we will be able to do anything. The only alternative is to expand the war. There can be no real way around this. At this point Iran will once more sneer in our faces and once more be able to laugh at the foolish Americans.

Its a shameful day Gentle Reader when you know the enemy, having fought in one war that has gone no where only to find that we missed the real enemy by one country. Only now do we as a Nation find that an old enemy has been the one laughing at us as we fought one war. When in reality it was an entirely different war.

To late now. Continuing the war now will get more young people killed. and not much more than that.

Iraq Civil War? looks like more are finally saying it

2006-11-29T20:31:00.000-05:00

But more specifically Colin Powell has broken ranks and said what was happening add in the scholars are already calling the war in Iraq a civil war. Now President Bush is having a hard time with his own party. When he asked a certain Senator elect about his son. The reply was less than President Bush liked.

A sharp rebuke did nothing to deter this freshman Senator from coldly answering.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/29/webb.bush.ap/index.html Now Gentile Reader I am wondering if your own party is basically telling you that its time to get out of an already unpopular war. More importantly a war that has now dissolved into a civil war. Would not one with the sense that Deity granted a retarded ant would not that tell you that it's time to go?

But apparently President Bush still wants to buck the odds. At least as of today. What tomorrow may bring is another thing. Maybe someone will knock some sense into President Bush. Though I think Colin Powell has done all the knocking that really needs to be.

Lets face it when Mr. Powell makes a statement people listen. If a man of his intelligence is saying what is already happening is, well happening. Does this not say a great deal about the war in general? Yes in the end it is one man, one opinion. But oh Gentile Reader what an opinion.

Lets hope President Bush sees the sense and starts finding a way out. Or at least asks for help in formulating the exit strategy

Iraq Civil War?

2006-11-28T21:07:00.000-05:00

Hmm well according to the online dictionary it is "a war between opposing groups within a country" and according to my "The American Century Dictionary" it s definition is "war between citizens of the same country". Now while I am welling to concede that not all the participants are not all Iraq civilians. But even our Civil War attracted a number of adventurers.

So where does this leave us? With A White House in deep denial that they have lost any kind of control on the ground. Fueled no doubt by ours and the British willingness to want to resolve this mess in a more timely matter.

Simple English, we all want out. We all want it to happen now. Unfortunately by expressing that thought with the likely action for carrying it out. The various factions, who no doubt are supported in part in Iran and likely Syria, have ramped up the violence to an almost crescendo.

However this does leave us with a knotty problem that must be resolved. To whit: Will the present Iraqi government stand after we leave? The short answer is... Not too likely.

And that has a lot of people here in Washington D.C. and London worried. For perhaps very good reasons. The least of which both the British and we Americans toppled a legitimate regime. Please lets not get in to why Saddam had to go. The fact remains he headed the legitimate government of Iraq up until we walked in threw the bum out.

However we are now, at the least morally, responsible for the Iraqi Government at present. So we must some how tell this new government that it is time to stand on their own. As well as love us after we leave.

We have accomplished the first part. At least as far as the insurgents are concerned. But the real question is; Will these people love after we have left? I hope they do, but lets face it the ongoing Civil War and that Gentle Reader is what is happening in Iraq. That perhaps has been happening for a long time. Only now we are having to face the fact we have allowed ourselves be lied to. We have bought the whole "those people who opposed the now Legitimate Iraqi Government were foreign fighter from Syria, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere" sop.

Now we as a people are having to face the truth. Those people that are opposing the Iraqi government are the Iraqis themselves. Yes, there have been some foreign fighter mixed in. However as we have all been aware of. Might have found it hard to accept is that its the people themselves expressing a desire to change a government to their liking.

A civil war. Some, perhaps a significant minority, Likes the closeness that Washington and London would afford them. Unfortunately until the Iraqi people as majority decide that they want a government that is friendly to the "west" we may have a government that will emerge that will despise us and the "west".

The question is not whether it is a civil war. It is. The real question should we have invaded? The short answer seems to be coming down on the side of no we should not have gone in there no matter who was in charge.

History will in 50 or a hundred years will decide on this. But for now we will deal with a civil war that this Administration refuses to acknowledge. In might even be a denial of Dr. Seussian proportions.

A Conservative Supreme Court

2006-11-27T22:14:00.000-05:00

Just did to Our Dear Leader President Bush something that would have been unthinkable when Supreme justice Roberts was seated and when Sandra day O'Connor left. Pres. Bush was able to seat yet another Conservative Justice. Liberals every where wore sack cloth and lamented the end of an era where there was just enough liberal thought on the Supreme Court to be view with suspicion on the conservatives side.

After all it was "liberal" court that had enacted the Roe vs Wade. My oh my it looks like President Bush wont be able to continue without getting impeached. You may ask how?

The Supreme Court just handed President Bush the strongest rebuke yet. Forget the Democrats taking Both Houses people. We The People had our say. It did give our Dear Leader a momentary pause. But then it was just going to be business as usual after all The America an public hadn't turned him out.

With the broad powers at his finger tips There was no way he could be impeached. Even the new Speaker to be wasn't about to try and that. So believing he was bullet proof and with the various Spy programs in place he still had a free hand. Right?

Wrong and oh so wrong. To whit the military tribunal in the words of the majority of justices
"Majority quote: "We conclude that the military commission convened to try Hamdan lacks power to proceed because its structure and procedures violate both the (Uniform Code of Military Justice) and the Geneva Conventions." -- Justice John Paul Stevens"

Though one Justice remembered who was his boss. That being Justice Clarence Thomas.
Minority quote: "Our duty to defer to the executive's military and foreign policy judgment is at its zenith; it does not countenance the kind of second-guessing the court repeatedly engages in today." -- Justice Clarence Thomas.

So not all is lost. There exists possibly three Justices that might side with Our Dear Leader President Bush. And if the Supreme Justice Roberts can be brought to heel. Why this fiasco might get turned around on a different argument, but don't count on it.

The Majority opinion has made it clear that this Administration has over stepped its bounds and should be reined in. Now President Bush little team of bright minds will have to figure out a legal way to circumnavigate both the Geneva Convention. Oh wait we don't really believe in that so problem there. The U.C.M.J. ? The military will do what it is told. Maybe. Under Herr Rumsfeld it would have been an almost certainty.

Today the Generals might just tell President Bush to take a hike. Well not in those words, but close enough.

If you bother to read down the list of cases. The Justices did not, I repeat did not, strike down Roe vs Wade. From the list it would be apparent that the Supreme Court is doing the same business with maybe nodding ever so slightly in the favor of state and the individual.

As in the case of the assisted Suicide that Oregon made legal the Justices found for the state. A sharp rebuke to the Attorney General. Though there was some losses for sure Evidently our free speech is not protected while in the work place. So mind what you say....

But in all it is what I would call a Supreme Court that might be a little to the right, but is still handing down Judgment that tries to be within the law and Constitution.

PETA

2006-11-25T12:00:00.000-05:00

Well as I was looking around to for something a little more amusing and perhaps to get away from the war and how it is spirally out of control. Gee, I guess that will be blamed on the democrats for having the audacity for taking the houses away from the republicans. Anyways I came across this little tidbit for every ones amusement.

http://ap.peninsulaclarion.com/pstories/state/ak/20061124/123340858.shtml this from a paper in Alaska. Now mind I have nothing against a person who truly believes in what he or she is doing. Even if it is some where out on the fringes. But PETA. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is a bunch of nuts who see things in one way.

Here is their URL http://www.peta.org/ . Now why would I blog about this? Well when this esteem organization can not even do anything as mundane as a little research before sparking a response.

No instead they will believe that every one is out to be cruel and as inhumane to our furry little friends. Why do a little research that would show that instead of using actual animals that *gasp* have humans taking their place. Further research might show that the church might use a plastic baby doll. Plastic. My gosh the inhumanity of subjecting a plastic object in such extreme weather that Alaska is prone to.

But no PETA would rather go after this Church for the audacity of using a human instead of an animal. What an animal might be harmed if a human stand in for the poor dumb beast? If that is the argument; is it any wonder that the whole organization is a farce. Please, if it wasn't for Pamela Anderson support this collection of left wingnuts would still be a small social club going no where fast.

Lets face it. The role of Ms. Anderson with in PETA has only given this bunch of luneys national exposer and taught them how to operate more on a national and perhaps international stage. What she obviously didn't do was add any real sense to those people. Though I guess for a person who purportedly has enough plastic to make a a good size salad bowl it was all she could do. One wonders if a little of that plastic went to her mind as well. Though I haven't heard a word on the ethical treatment for the extinct dinosaurs from this organization.

I guess it didn't make the grade or the mil. If I could find anything nice to say about this organization I would the first to trumpet it. However for the all the supposed good that is done in the name of this organization it is with the idea of ending the pet trade and effectively shutting down the entire farming, ranching, and the related industries.

Those people would have us all eating a vegetarian/Vegan diet. With no thought as to what the rest of us want. No much like a religious fanatic, those people who are PETA would impose a way of life and politics on the rest of us for our own good. And for the good of all the animals.

Never let it be said that I am advocating that PETA be shut down. I am not. I say let them talk all they want. Demonstrate at hospitals, and grocery stores. Yes, stand up and be heard. Send those letters to Churches who allow humans to stand in for the animals at nativity scenes. It is the American way to be as foolish as one wants to be.

The Draft??

2006-11-24T13:20:00.000-05:00

First let me apologize to you Gentile Readers. I have been sick and not feeling all that well. I still am sick, but now it is more of an old fashion head cold.

Now on to the main body I saw the whole idea of a draft earlier this week and really wanted to blog this.

Question does the idea that democrats taking both at the beginning of the year making the Democratic Party a little crazy? I can not think of anything more insane than instituting a draft.
While a 44 I am hardly eligible for any draft it wouldn't by necessity affect me. But I do remember the draft. I remember the older guys worrying if they would go to 'Nam. And later if another war might be in the offing.

Democratic Rep. Charles Rangel is out of his ever loving mind if he thinks a draft would keep any administration from going to war. The mere mention of a draft is likely to ruffle a lot of feathers.

He actually believes that if politicians sons can be drafted that this would give pause to any thought to a war. Deferments would kick in. Lets be honest here. No politician is going to let their lilJohnny go marching off to war. No lilJohnnys time will be spent in some ivy league university or collage.

If not there then dear daddy and mumsy will find the dear apple of their eye somewhere nice and safe. declaring that it is in the national interest that lilJonny should be allowed a deferment to help their dear friend get elected or some such tomfoolery.

Democratic Rep. Charles Rangel has got know that. Fortunately Incoming Speaker Nancy Pelosi has put the kibosh to this nonsense

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/20/rangel.draft/index.html

The above link gives the death knell to this piece of nonsense.

Though this actually might be begging the question. Is this what we have to forward to? The Democrats proposing legislation that is so counter intuitive and outlandish that even their own party wont support it? Personally I sure hope not.

Who idea was this?

2006-11-17T21:07:00.000-05:00

Our Dear Leader President Bush has traveled all the way to Vietnam. A country he studiously avoided when in the Air Guard. Yes, Amazingly he went that far to... Shoot himself in the foot. He came with a lot of hope and promises to the Vietnamese government. He stated that his bill to normalize relations with Vietnam was in the bag. He smiled and shook hands as Congress. A still Republican Congress. Voted it down. Not even a line party vote, very much expected to materialize on the day of the vote. It didn't happen.

There was an American president facing an enemy that we had fought to a stand still. We won every battle against those people and still lost the war. Those people laughed at us for almost thirty years. Laughed at the foolish Americans that came to set right what the people of this land did not want. That being democracy that was going to be. A U.N. Charter said there was going to a North and South Vietnam.

Well the people of both 'Nam's spoke. They wanted to be a people and so they were. Thirty odd years later an American President with goodies in a bag ready to spread Capitalism to those people that seem so ready for it. But ahh once more Vietnam has proven to be more than an American president can handle. Only this time it was an American Congress telling an American President that the Americans are not ready to normalize any relations with those people.

WTO be damned We here in America will decide when and if we will trade with any one. Its about time that idea starts to get across to these trading partners. Its long past time to reassess our role in that organization.

So now some people will be called on the carpet, but gently. O so gently after all the President does not need an open rebellion on his hands. No not a good thing.

But this President is not content with just having egg on his face. No he has to draw parallels with the war we lost to those people. While the allusions were apt it should have been delivered else where.. Actually anywhere would have been better. South Korea at the very least.

Yes a place where the American people said fighting a war that wasn't going any where and doing nothing but filling body bags with our then young people. Yes, interesting parallels but one that should never have been made in Vietnam.

And to add insult to the injury though mostly through his own arrogance and pride he has to deal with the blow to his ego.. Former President Clinton was cheered by those people a lot more warmly. Former president Clinton was accorded an almost rock star status. President Bush will return to an increasingly embattled White House who's own party is almost ready to revolt.

Its only a few weeks from the November 7th. Its going to be a lonnnggg 2 years.

Some foolishness..

2006-11-17T19:24:00.000-05:00

OK people we have a real live firewalker here . He is going to tell you wimin how it be. Yea he gonna bring the GOOD BOOK ta Y'ALL!!

Yes he is going to instruct people to abstain from sex. Cause that will prevent unwanted pregnancies and help prevent such things as AIDS, stds, and gingivitis. One would think that what has already failed repeatedly and demonstrably. One would conclude that instead of trying to get people to stop having sex, one would explore how to make sex safer.

And that people is having a coherent sex education program. One that teaches what all the boy and girl parts are for and where all those bits are located. Just when it look like such program is about succeed, or has shown some success, do these bloody fools come in with all they're foolishness of abstinence crap.

Well Our Dear Leader President Bush had to appease the his Wingnut Fundamentalist fool christians. So now as a consequence young woman who need sound advice are going to be treated instead to these nut cases take on why abortions are bad. Oh don't get me wrong there will be sound medical diagnosis.

It will be the counseling that comes afterward that will be bias. How many people are going to listen and follow. How many woman are going to swallow their drivel.

I am Pro Choice. Do I like abortion. No.

Will I deny a woman to that choice. Brother I am here to tell you that is not even a choice I can make for some one else. One way or the other. Ask some one why they are really against abortion. and after correcting the obvious inflated, erroneous statistics, and more than obvious exaggerations. After all that presuming you can get that far. The real reason comes out. It's religious. Surprised? I should hope not gentle reader. It's really not that those people really try to hide it any more. Why should they?

After all a friend in the White House is better than any nine justices on any given day. Roe versus Wade bedamned all those people want to do is tell you how you should believe. And worship as they tell you.

The agenda is right there. For all to see. Why do you think those people of the Fundamentalist movement are going to do if the day comes when the nation embraces a more christian outlook?
Well people what are you going to do. I will write to my Senators and Representative and let them know of my dismay at this persons appointment.

What about you?

Conservatives are a strange breed

2006-11-13T22:06:00.000-05:00

Conservatives voted for the Dem's as much as Liberals did. Judging from the number of so called Evangelicals that said their votes went to the democrats, one would conclude that they knew what they were voting for. But as in all things once the hoopla wore off the reality is slowly seeping in. "The oh shit we did what?" effect.

Yes, the Democrats for now hold both houses. That is the Dem's will right up until the good Sen. Joe Lieberman declares for the Republican Party. He says he is a Independent Democrat. But that wont last. The Dem's will try and come to terms with this maverick. But he has made his views known and will make doing business iffy at best and harder at worst.

But that is really a side note. The reality is that now the Dem's have the power to affect things. Conservatives who normally vote a Republican ticket are wishing they had not been so quick to spank the Republican Party for the errors of an American President who happens to belong to the same Party.

My only question to such Conservatives. Did you really think that the Republican Party would let another Republican run his/her place? Or if you really wanted spank the Republican Party. Here is an idea.

Vote for the so called third parties. Hey for you libertarians vote for the Libertarian or independent candidates, and nothing says that you independents couldn't have done the same. there was a place for any one to vote for a write in candidates. And there was a few "third" party candidates on ballots across the nation. But nope you conservatives voted for the Dem's. So now some of you are crying in your bourbon and scotch.

My heart bleeds. Well now we will see if the Democratic Party has changed at all. Though I personally think what we will see is a White House embattled and being a lame duck. Blaming the lack of cooperation on the Democrats for temerity of trying to follow through on their agenda.

Nothing will have changed. The beltway will continue and we the voting public will get screwed. Don't worry about things you poor lost conservatives. Two years from now you will have the chance to vote your precious republicans back in... Or maybe, just maybe, vote a third party ticket. Wouldn't that be a kick in the teeth. The Libertarians that has been waiting in the wings lo these many years suddenly finding itself in the beltway in a meaningful way? Or a flood of Independent Candidates? It would be a near historical first.

But what do I know I am just a Moderate Liberal who is a by the by a Libertarian...

Presidential Elections candidates are already to get started

2006-11-12T21:44:00.000-05:00

But which ones would run. More importantly which pols will run. I don't have an answer to either questions. However I do have an idea as to who would be stronger, or weaker, candidates.

This is in no particular order.

Senator McCain: is a good true moderate. And would make for a good Reagan like candidate for the right.

Senator Hillary Clinton: Pulease. If the dems run this person I can about guarantee a loss. And not because she is a woman. She is too far to the left. And very few people would be able to buy a centrist stand from her.

Sen. Barack Obama: "a political phenomena" as described on CNN. However he does not come with any real baggage. Is moderate liberal. With a very good idea of what it means to be centrist and able to work with either party.

Senator John Kerry: Another dark horse. He should really think about some other job in the DNC.

Senator John Edwards: A good possibility, but can he overcome being associated with John Kerry?

Governor Tom Vilsack: A strong possibility. He comes to the table of proving he is not a raise and spend democrat. Check out the web page
http://www.governor.state.ia.us/bios/vilsack_bio.html This Governor certainly has the right stuff. Deeds talk louder than any rhetoric. And his deeds talk very loudly.

Former Mayor of New York Giuliani: Certainly stepped up to the plate on Sept. 11. But is that enough to make an effective run at the White House? Personally, I don't think so.

Governor Pataki: He is kidding right? Lets face it his Presidential campaigns were never all that effective at any point in time. Don't really think he will run an effective campaign this time either.

Sen. Joe Lieberman: Now he would make for an interesting candidate. Vilified by the democrats. His party is forced to swallow an awful truth. His constituency love him and don't care whether he is a democrate or not. Worse yet, they have to work with him after winning a huge victory. That swept both democrats would be fair haired boy and the republican candidate right out. Is that enough to make a run for the White House? I personally don't know. There is one thing for sure. He would give color to this election season.

I threw the good Senator Lieberman for chuckles. He has not thrown his name into the hat that I am aware of at this time. However he would give pause to some of the people on this list.

But aside from the aforementioned Senator that would seem to be the cast of characters that are either thinking, or people who have floated their names, as possible candidates at this point in time.

The first Muslim goes to Washington.

2006-11-10T21:42:00.000-05:00

I love this Country. Say what you want, but every once in a while we Americans actually can rise above petty, and not so petty, differences. In this case Minneapolis, Minnesota has shown the way by electing a man who's religion has declared the U.S.A. its enemy.

Only is the religion or the people of that religion. The answer from Minnesota is that it is not the religion, but the people who we are fighting. And reading over the article raises some very interesting questions about this man. He is liberal and pro choice. WOW!!

How many other followers of Islam feel this way? And more importantly will these moderate/liberal Muslims find a voice? What does this say about the war? I think we as a nation might want to rethink what our attitude towards Islam.

Yes, those people in the middle east are Islamic. Yes, It is true that their Imans and clerics in general seem to be running the majority of this war. But are we really looking at a people that are expressing their beliefs in a violent manner or a people that are using their beliefs to justify a war against the U.S. .

If you live in Minneapolis that answer is seems to be more the latter than the former. Take note people this is a win for more than the democrats. Its a win for America. Once more Americans were able to discern a man from his religion. Lets face it, that took some doing. How many mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, and loved ones with family members in Iraq and Afghanistan looked at the man and voted for him realizing his religion was not the issue.

Now if we can see that and start fighting those people as an enemy who disguises a political agenda as a religion. That maybe the hardest thing for us to do.

Now here is a couple of Items that I thought was interesting

2006-11-08T20:14:00.000-05:00

the first is that Dear old Rush Limbaugh is now saying that he was only doing a job he didn't really have a heart for. Ok quick question for this fine gentleman. Who do you think you are kidding? Is this how conservatives act? Well the ship is sinking and instead of pointing it out you just go along until the ship has sunk?

I know as a liberal I will just as quickly point at what a liberal is doing wrong as fast as I would a conservative. But as a conservative your not allowed to criticize your party? How does that work? Judging from the elections I would imagine not well. but here is the link

http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_110806/content/rush_on_a_roll.guest.html

Where he is trying to justify his actions in defending a party that he claims he saw heading for disaster. Personally, it comes across as being a little self serving and cowardice.

The other is one if the republican base stayed home then there really is a lot more liberals democrats and independents than there are republicans. as this article suggests that the turn out rate was at forty percent.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061109/ap_on_el_ge/eln_turnout_7

So, I have to wonder at Tom Delay. Is he really going to suggest that sixty percent are republicans. That all these sixty percent stayed home? That takes some doing. You would have to be conspiracy nut to buy into that idea. Seriously, though is Tom DeLay going to make that argument? If so I would have to either question his sanity or be extremely worried about the power of being able to get sixty percent of the voting public to not to show up on election day.

AND THE DEMOCRATS WIN!!!

2006-11-08T15:09:00.000-05:00

Yes, I know I should have posted last night, But really wanted to see how things worked out. We saw the end of this republican rule. President Bush will be a little less smug and wont be smirking quite so much.

First let me wish Mr Rick Santorum well in whatever he decides to do in Virginia. Let this be a lesson to our politicians here in Pennsylvania. Why did Mr. Santorum lose? Simply he forgot who he was representing. Down here in the Valley we really don't expect our politicians to be perfect. We do expect them to maintain a residence here in Pennsylvania. We also expect them to work for us and not be taking photo ops with the bigwigs in Washington. While the fantasy of being able to do that as a President may have played through his head. The reality is that he was in Washington to do a job. One he continuously failed to do properly.

Please do note that we sent Representative Dent back to Congress and he is republican. So what was the difference? Aside from what I have already written. The real difference is that instead of playing to a national audience he talked to the voters in his district in a meaningful way.

While Mr Santorum may, or may not, have a dream of running for the Presidency. Which is fine if he does. Just don't always expect your constituency to back that dream. The folks back here want our Representatives and Senators to represent us. Which is what Representative Dent and Senator Spector have done.

On to other things. What does all this mean to me. Well, I expect this Congress to start to get a handle on Iraq. On the economy, as well as bringing business back to America.

Note I do not expect nor is there a real expectation that this Congress will accomplish all these things. Just start the ball rolling and keep the momentum up till either after the Presidential elections. I would like to see something come to fruition of course. The real question will President Bush really work with this Democratic Congress?

Will the President try and force his agenda in spite of the losses? He might. He has nothing to lose certainly. He has taken a healthy rebuke from the American people. Though He is still rumbling that his policy concerning Iraq is not going to change.

Typical. Really it is. Young people are dieing over there for this man ego. He really, I would guess can't shake the feeling that he should run the war and that congress should now just leave it alone. He is going to find out that this is only a beginning. The war will come to an end.

Whether it is with him or not. I expect that he will be spanked more than once. Isn't it interesting that now that they are not in power that suddenly the idea of working together suddenly becomes attractive again. Sacrificing Rumsfeld to the alter of political necessity is only a begining.

Mr. DeLay has voiced that the democrats didn't win. The republican party lost. Uhuh. Mr. DeLay that means that the Democrats WON. And there was just as many republican as conservatives in that line yesterday. More than a few voiced what a disappointment that republican party had become. Most let drop that their vote was going to the democrats. And for the most part that was true. Note we, here in Pennsylvania, did send Rep. Dent back. If your base stayed home. Then how did this man get elected?

No, the American public is sick of republican parties running roughshod over everyone. The democrats won. Take it like an adult and live with it.

But as always today the democrats have won. Tommorow may have a different answer.

Illegal Aliens

2006-11-06T18:18:00.000-05:00

What I am going to write will piss off a lot of Liberals.. So be it...

My personal thought on this question is really easy.. If are here in the U.S. illegally.. YOU go back to YOUR country. Not difficult. Not hard to understand

I went to church Sunday and while I didn't get a chance to listen to all of what this person had to say on this subject. What I did hear made me sick. He was standing there defending Illegal aliens right to stay here in this country. While I didn't have a chance to talk to him. If he comes back I will.

Illegal aliens do not have any rights. NONE! Yes we grant them due process, but that's a privilege. However how do we take care of this problem? Here is my idea.

First we make it easy for a person to return to his/her home country. A cut rate flight or bus ticket. What ever. The returning aliens signs a document that he/she will not return to this country. However we catch you living and working here. We confiscate everything that you have here. Bank accounts , belonging, ect. We then send you home penniless.

Any, and I mean ANY, business caught or found to have hired this person get fined with a strong possibility of seeing the owners or CEO's with any executives found culpable gets to go to jail. It doesn't take rocket science to see what happens when enough people going back to the home country penniless as opposed to those who are returning to their home country with their money. Equally, It doesn't take to much smarts to see how fast businesses changing they're hiring practices as they're bottom line is affected by hiring illegal aliens.

As for that tripe that Illegals do the work that Americans refuse to do? I grew up around farms. I have dug ditches, I have cleaned toilets. I worked in textile mills. I saw women who had worked in a mill for twenty years making $8.00 an hour. They were all Americans or were here in this country legally.

Americans have a good idea what our time is worth. We also know when an employer is jerking us around. An illegal alien put themselves in positions were they can be taken advantage of and exploited. Americans will always stand up for our rights. That people is where these outlaw companies can't stand. You work me for 12 hour straight; 6 or seven days straight. You better have my overtime in that check.

Yes several outlaw companies come to mind and I will name the biggest one here.. Walmart. Walmart would love to see a guest worker program. Get rid of those pesky Americans and they're muttering about work environment and wages. Believe me people Walmart and others like them will shove honest working people out of the market. Unless we agree to a return to a simpler time. Your grandfathers or great grandparents might remember.

Boss man says thats the way it is.. Then thats the way it is. No way to argue or fight. No real way to end the exploitation of the working class at that point. Life is hard enough. Lets not make it harder. Send these illegal aliens back to their home country.