Mao Dollar

In order to pay for Bush and Cheney's illegal and immoral war, the United States borrowed trillions of dollars from the industrialized nations of the world (most notably, China). In essence, China (and the other industrialized nations) now own most of the United States' assets.

Thanks to neo-conservative policies the world's economy is in ruins; the reputation of the US has been seriously damaged all over the world (especially in Muslim nations); millions of US citizens are out of work; millions of innocent people are dead and things may still get worse before they get better. Now conservatives are complaining that President Obama hasn't "fixed the economy" yet!

I hate to say it, but it will take more than six-months to fix the mess the conservatives have created since Bush took office nearly nine years ago. To those critics of Obama, I say this: You had your chance and you were wrong. Now shut the hell up, while we try to clean up your mess.

Iraqis Celebrate US Troop Withdrawal

The news media has been so focused on the death of Michael Jackson that people in the United States may not have noticed that US troops withdrew from Iraqi cities today.

The Iraqi people noticed though, and they have been celebrating the event with great joy. In an article from the Associated Press, one Iraqi man, Waleed al-Bahadili, is reported to have said "All of us are happy _ Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds on this day....the Americans harmed and insulted us too much." One Iraqi woman said that she "...finally feel[s] liberated."

A flagrant violation of international law, the invasion and occupation of Iraq has lasted over six years. It has destabilized the entire middle-east; caused the needless deaths of thousands (some say millions) of innocent Iraqi civilians, and seriously damaged the reputation of the United States all over the world; it has cost the US taxpayers trillions of dollars and destroyed the United State's (and the world's) economy.

The pullout is mostly symbolic, as some US troops will remain in the cities to "...train and advise Iraqi forces...," while the vast majority of them will be conducting operations from their newly built permanant military bases, outside of the cities.

Coincidental to the pullout, Iraq's oil interests were placed on the world market, allowing international investors to buy shares of Iraqi oil.

Obama Takes Out Fly With Stunning Ninja Speed!

During an interview President Obama was being harrassed by a fly. At first he tried to bat it away, but the persistant fly kept hassling him while he was trying to make a point. Finally, he focused his gaze on the offensive insect, and with a quick motion knocked the little sucker out cold. A camera man filming the interview was actually able to get a clear shot of the stunned insect on the carpet. At first, animal rights activists protested, but the attorney general said the President was acting in self defense. The fly was later executed for its viscious attack on our fearless leader.

Check out the video!

Is Waterboarding Torture?

I my opinion, waterboarding is torture. Check out this video and see how long this guy lasts:

via videosift.com

There is a big difference between what this guy is enduring and what a suspected "terrorist" would be enduring, because he had the option of ending the experiment at any time. The person being "interrogated" doesn't have the ability to stop the procedure and therefore is enduring an excruciating  experience that can and has led to death.

The ACLU has posted the secret memos which they forced the Bush administration to release with a lawsuit; see them here: http://www.aclu.org/accountability/olc.html

Iraqis Mark Sixth Anniversary of Invasion With Protests

Watching the news this morning I noticed that there was little to no mention of the thousands of Iraqis who turned out to protest the invasion and continued occupation of their country.

Even internet searches fail to produce results for the protest, which dwarfed the handful of paid protesters that were filmed pulling down Saddam Hussien's statue with the aid of US soldiers after the sacking of Baghdad in 2003. There are few people who don't remember the video footage of that event, which was aired over and over again.  

The failure of the US media to report on today's protest is reprehensible.  In fact there has been very little mention of Iraq in the news lately.  Meanwhile, US military spending continues to increase, despite the soaring national debt which has resulted from the illegal and immoral war in the middle east.

With some difficulty, I did manage to find this article on the protest. 

I welcome your comments, especially opposing viewpoints...

Bush Administration Tortures and Kills Whales

It has always been my position that the Bush administration and the Republican party in general are enemies of environmental protection and the protection of human rights. I have been citing a lot of articles in the San Francisco Chronicle lately, and there were a couple I noticed today which support my position.

As if we didn't already know it, the Senate Armed Services Committee has confirmed that the Bush administration has been in favor of and encouraged the torture of political and war detainees (prisoners) in contravention of international law and the Geneva Convention.

Also, only six weeks before leaving office, Bush and his gang of war criminals are also doing everything they can to ease restrictions designed to protect endangered species in favor of big business and the oil industry. Is anyone surprised? This kind of thing is consistant with the activities Republican politicians all over the country and at all levels of government.

December 14, 2008 | Scottdavene

Nuclear Power

Recently, I have heard a lot of conservatives talking about how "safe" nuclear power is. Is it possible that they don't remember the nuclear-meltdown that is still affecting the Town of Chernobyl? They don't remember the Three-Mile Island debacle? Can it be that the never head about what happened in Japan a number of years back? Nuclear power is not safe. It has never been, and never will be safe to use on Earth.

However, nuclear power could be safely generated in space. Space is already radioactive, so there would be no harm from the radioactive by-products that result from generating nuclear power in space. Nuclear waste could be fired out of the solar-system or into the Sun, and it wouldn't hurt anybody. The energy generated could then be be transmitted to a receiving station on Earth, via microwave.

November 4, 2008 | Scottdavene

The Three Mile Island accident affirmed how well the western world designs and builds their nuclear power plants. Even in a worst case accident, US reactors' containment and other design enhancements will protect the public. If Russia (or Ukraine) built an inferior naval ship, we would conclude that America can build better ships. However with nuclear power, people want to lump all nuclear power globally together, when there are different standards in the western world. All of the used nuclear fuel produced in the united states in the past 40 years (that has provided 20 percent of our nations electricity) could be placed in an area the size of a football field and would only be seven stories high. Critics of nuclear power often cite the weight of the used fuel instead of the volume, because weight sounds worse than volume. Used fuel is made of some of the heaviest metals known to man. Fossil fueled plants do not have to pay for what they emit. Nuclear power has no emissions from the generating unit. In fact it only has small amounts of emissions from fossil fueled generators on site that are run periodically for a few hours for testing, but their only operational purpose and use is for emergency support of the plants safety systems.
Scottdavene, not only is space radioactive, radioactivity is all around you. Everything has a certain level of natural radioactivity. Though we can communicate using a wireless medium, we can not efficiently transfer energy through wireless means. Transmitters and receivers employ an external power supply to allow signal processing to occur.
It is unfortunate that nuclear power has not been more widely used globally, because it's benefits to mankind are overwhelming. Nuclear proliferation is a large concern, but we need to own that risk and manage it, not treat nuclear power as unnatural. We have the capability to produce proliferation resistant fuel and sell it to developing nations, so that they can benefit from the peaceful uses of nuclear power without acquiring the deadly capability to produce nuclear weapons. There is a wealth of technical knowledge and ideas behind nuclear power, just waiting for the people to become educated enough to allow and promote its growth. Nuclear power plants have a large upfront cost to build, but once they are online they drive older fossil fueled plants offline that are significantly more expensive to operate than a nuclear power plant. Our environment deserves the best source of energy that money can buy, and nuclear power is the only emission free source that can offer that on a large (baseload) scale. Nuclear power plants are almost always producing 100 percent power, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
http://www.terrestrialenergy.org/

November 6, 2008 | Not believing, knowing

Thank you for your comment, Bel Air, Maryland.

However, I noticed that you didn't address the reason I say that nuclear power is not safe, and never will be safe on Earth. Never mind the very real possibility of a nuclear meltdown which you brush a side so casually, you have not addressed the problem of how we dispose of the deadly nuclear waste that your power plants will produce. Further, you pretend that you can accommodate or nullify any nuclear disaster, and fail to realize that a similar disaster in any other country would be just as deadly to the entire planet, regardless of where it occurs.

Please elaborate, and tell me why you can't build your reactors in space instead?

November 6, 2008 | Scottdavene

Post Your Reply

Enter your information below to post a reply to this thread.

Author: (forget stored information)

Author Email (optional):

Author URL (optional):

Post:

↓ | ↑

All HTML will be escaped. Hyperlinks will be created for URLs automatically.

It takes a lot of work to perform this labor of love, please help to keep this site on the web

Election Tampering

There is only one way the Republicans can win this election--If they steal it, like they stole the last two elections.

The world is in deep doo-doo, if they do...

October 31, 2008 | Anonymous

I hope that any type of voter fraud that allows McCain/Palin to win the election is met with such fierce intolerance that Americans will stand up and protest in ways that have not been experienced since the 60's. I for one will not stand back and be silent.

On the other hand, if Obama is elected I will for the first time in my adult life, raise an American flag in front of my home. Hell, I might even buy a bumper sticker.....

November 2, 2008 | Brenda

Security Guards in Hardhats

Watching Palin's speech on CNN this morning, I noticed that her bodyguards were dressed up as construction workers. I have never seen that in an election before. Ironic, coming from a person who spent $150,000 on wardrobe...

October 27, 2008 | Scottdavene

Attack on Syria, the Republican "October Surprise"

Oh come on. Are you kidding me? At virtually the same time the press was reporting that the only issue McCain has a lead on in the polls is Iraq, we go in and stage a preemptive strike on Syria? I thought the news of the Holocaust flyers was disgusting enough. But the only surprise here was that it wasn't Israel attacking Iran.

I for one have contacted my representatives to express my concern and disgust at what appears to be a last minute attempt to to sway undecided stupid Americans to vote for McCain....at the cost of the lives of innocent people.

It's shameful.

October 26, 2008 | Brenda

....at the cost of the lives of innocent people....you enjoy your freedom today because we killed the British.
You do not believe in preemptive strikes... Of course you always warn your bad neighbor before you hit?
Let's wait for the media or the rest of the fact like why it happened?
Of course the WTC victims were killed by BUSH and McCain.
Obama wants to attack Pakistan unilaterally and you have no problem with that.
Your euphoria with Obama is like Jim-Jones, without a second a guess you will take the Kool-Aid when he will ask you!

October 26, 2008 | verbum

How casually you discuss war. Don't you understand that children are murdered in these situations? Oh, but not to worry--they aren't exactly like our kids, so aren't quite human. Bombs away!

October 27, 2008 | Rosemary Molloy

I think he said if 'we have actionable intelligence'. He also said he would enter into discussions before he would use military action. And besides, that wasn't the point. The point was using military action to further his pathetic struggling campaign.

No, I do not prescribe to the Zeitgeist theory of the WTC, but I will be a prouder American if Mr. Obama is elected. You strike me as someone who ran out and put a flag on their pick up truck 3 days after the attacks on the World Trade Center.

One generalization deserves another.........

October 27, 2008 | Brenda

Verbum is totally wrong. There is a big difference between defending your own country on your own soil and invading a peaceful, non-aggressive country.

October 30, 2008 | Scottdavene

Post Your Reply

Enter your information below to post a reply to this thread.

Author: (forget stored information)

Author Email (optional):

Author URL (optional):

Post:

↓ | ↑

All HTML will be escaped. Hyperlinks will be created for URLs automatically.

It takes a lot of work to perform this labor of love, please help to keep this site on the web.

Fox News - Where Will They Go

Will Fox News start changing their bent towards the democrats? Being owned by Murdock..and knowing that it's all about money, I for one see a slight change in their coverage of the debates. Will they fold to what will bring in more viewers and more moola? Hmmmm. I'm wondering.

October 15, 2008 | Brenda Funk

Brenda,
Thank you for your insightful comment. I have observed that before Bush came to power, the Fox network was perceived by most to be liberal. I was surprised, after the rise of neo-conservative movement that they moved so hard to the right. I wouldn't be surprised if, as you suggest, they now go back towards the left again.
Although, I personally am so far to the left that even the even the democrats appear to me to be "right-wing," I certainly hope that they win this election. If they don't I fear that this country, indeed the entire planet is in serious trouble. The war that the conservatives have rekindled against the Muslim nations is already likely to last for years, if not centuries. Hopefully, Obama can do something to ease the tension.
This war is really a continuation of the holy wars that began so many thousands of years ago. And unfortunately, it appears that religion has shown itself to be the biggest catalyst of hatred that the human race will ever see.

October 21, 2008 | Anonymous

Hey "Anonymous" you have some very relevant comments there: "And unfortunately, it appears that religion has shown itself to be the biggest catalyst of hatred that the human race will ever see."

A few years ago, there was a National Debate Forum that chose the following question to discuss: "Which has been more destructive in the history of civilization........................RELIGION or SCIENCE?"

It really made me think. I can't remember which side of the question won, but I know in MY mind that it would definitely be RELIGION! Thanks for reminding me.

BE A SUCKER FOR THE RICH...........................VOTE REPUBLICAN!

October 25, 2008 | JNH88KR

Yes, JNH88KR. Definitely, Religion has been more destructive in human history. I actually see science as the beginning of civilization. Before humans became self-aware and started to study their surroundings, we were basically wild animals. Unfortunately, that same self-awareness "I exist" led to question "How did I come to exist?", so perhaps Science and Religion were born at the same time and are somewhat interconnected.

I astonishes me how many poor and middle class people are Republicans, when it is obvious that the Republicans are doing everything they can to benefit the wealthy at their expense. Maybe it is a matter of lack of education...

October 26, 2008 | Anonymous

Interesting that this has taken a religious bent. I would recommend a very good book for thinking through the falicies and tragedies of Religion--Richard Dawkins - The God Dillusion.

For those who would say that religion is a personal and private issue, I would vehemently disagree. When it affects political and financial decisions in this country...it becomes public domain and can and should be criticized by every rational thinking person in this county.

No only has it been the cause of suffering and intolerance in the past....religion and the belief in a supreme being, no matter what the religion, is alive and well in this country. Religious zealots in this country are JUST AS frightening as fundamentalists in any other country or culture.

October 26, 2008 | Brenda

I'd rather be rich so that I can help the poor without violence but with money.
(October 21, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterAnonymous said "I personally am so far to the left that even the even the democrats appear to me to be "right-wing,"......The war that the conservatives have rekindled against the Muslim nations " ) <------------ Rich Muslim nations should stop supporting Muslim terrorist all nations w/ Muslim terrrorist group. Race and religious agenda using our political groups must be exposed.

October 26, 2008 | verbum

I'll agree with the way this thread seems to already be headed and concur that more EVIL has been done in the name of GOD than any other point of focus period. It would be so nice if we could all somehow live in harmony complete with all our diversity. It would be so nice, if as a society we could agree that certain good things are just GOOD and not have to create a corresponding BAD to try to kill off with laws and wars. I too am so far left of center that I'm completely off the charts. It's good to have a place to vent a bit of it. Maybe this place and others like it can be the root source and drive of some of the change our world so badly needs.

December 2, 2008 | Frank