American Fascist Policy: 55-Year Marijuana Conviction
Wed Jan 11, 2006 at 11:14:27 AM PDT
The guy's first offense, no violence.
And we chastise China and Saudi for human rights abuses... peshaw! Absolutely shameful, unconstitutionally treasonous, and fucking ridiculous.
As I have said repeatedly since Spygate erupted, nobody should express outrage or surprise at the recent criminal, unconstitutional power grabs by Republicans.
Whether NSA power grabs or overruling torture laws with "implicit" executive power, our government has been operating illegally since at least 1919 when Alcohol Prohibition was instituted via the 18th Constitutional Amendment. I am not enough of a Constitutional scholar to outline all the other power grabs, be it Lincoln or Truman or whomever but they are all despicable, treasonous acts.
And Bush can kiss my ass with his "aiding and abetting the enemy talk": HE and complicit Republicans (and some Democrats) are the real traitors, traitors to democracy and traitors to the US Constitution.
US Rep. Hall: Iraq is a "...war for energy" (Poll)
Mon Jan 09, 2006 at 04:38:11 PM PDT
The first non-lying, yes truthful, Republican politician, U.S. Rep. Ralph Hall, has stepped forward, but beware, he smells of Winger with a capital W:
"The War on Terror involves keeping the bad guy from having his foot on half the oil reserves in that most populated area," Hall said. "For that reason I think you could glean that this is a war for energy."
War for energy. Ok. I'll buy that. Sounds reasonable.... except that your silly prez, Heil W!, ranged from WMD to "spreading freedom" as the reason...
I think you are right Rep. Hall. That makes Bush and Cheney liars however.
Hall's next statement is so laughable that it makes me gag that this is one of the people running this country:
Gnosticism And Jesus' "Destroy This Temple"
Sat Jan 07, 2006 at 06:42:48 PM PDT
The controversy over Jesus and the
Gnostics began in 325AD at the Council of Nicea when competing sects such as the Gnostics were outlawed, branded as hell-bound by the "martyr" or Orthodox groups and were put to death by the Orthodox if they didn't convert; we live with the same centralized authority today that was set up in 325AD albeit with the complicit "Protestant" sects in tow.
As we all instinctively know, education is the key to stopping creeping chaos in the world and it is key to defeating the radical Christians and Islamists: they hate education. The people of the world must embrace education to defeat the totalitarian ideology of these "christian" groups who utilize hate, fear, and guilt to achieve their wicked ends.
AP Poll: Congressional Democrats Favored
Fri Jan 06, 2006 at 08:42:15 PM PDT
The latest poll is out, post-spygate, post-corruptiongate. Per the AP, it's looking "ominous" indeed for the corrupt, Constitution-destroying Republicans:
http://news.yahoo.com/...
In an ominous election-year sign for Republicans, Americans are leaning sharply toward wanting Democrats to take control of Congress, an AP-Ipsos poll finds. Democrats are favored 49 percent to 36 percent.
The poll was taken this week as Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty to tax evasion, fraud and corruption charges and agreed to aid a federal investigation of members of Congress and other government officials.
President Bush's job approval remains low -- 40 percent in the AP-Ipsos poll. About as many approve of his handling of Iraq, where violence against Iraqis and U.S. troops has been surging.
Check out Polling Report for all the trends.
Thank you Ariel Sharon (Poll)
Thu Jan 05, 2006 at 09:04:56 AM PDT
After Ariel Sharon passes away or leaves office due to his condition, I hope that Kossacks can join together to mourn a changed man.
Sharon's unilateral policies, the fence and the settlement evacuations, have brought the first real hopes for peace since the inception of Israel in my opinion.
Sharon worked his whole life building the settlements and worked against liberals' concepts of how to bring peace to Israel, but once he became prime minister, he started implementing, albeit unilaterally, the liberals' vision for peace in Israel and Palestine by disengaging from the settlements he spent his life building.
There is no explaining it, but he deserves eternal credit for his change of heart.
Bush Bypasses Torture Ban / Cheney Lies About NSA Wiretaps
Wed Jan 04, 2006 at 08:46:14 AM PDT
Dick Cheney, with they usual neo-con lying and distracting, today again put forward the usual lies in regards to Spygate, implying that the FISA-authorized wiretaps of terrorists, which they never challenged the legal way, didn't provide enough authority to thwart the next terrorist attack:
http://news.yahoo.com/...
Cheney, in speech excerpts released by the White House, called President George W. Bush's decision to intercept "a certain category of terrorist-linked international communications" a vital step.
I don't remember hearing the discussion about a lack of authority!
European/ Ukrainian Natural Gas Shut Off Sunday (Poll)
Thu Dec 29, 2005 at 04:55:28 PM PDT
Soj's diary on the Iranian bourse disturbed me and much thanks for that diary indeed. Apparently, the Iranian Euro-based oil exchange (Bourse), slated to compete with the dollar-based NYMEX stock exchange and with the London IPE exchange this spring, could deliver a massive blow to the US dollar and we American workers.
This means that the dollar is fucked if this new exchange starts trading oil in Euros. And guess who will first in line: China, the second largest holder of US dollars in the world, and who holds said dollars in order to buy, among other things, oil. But mostly for oil.
This means that a recession is almost inevitable due to a dollar devaluation in response to the bourse opening... and keep in mind that the yield curve finally inverted last week, AND the Ruskies, who bankroll the Iranian nuke program, might turn off the gas spigot in 3 days, initiating another worldwide fuel crisis. The London Times is ominously calling this article "Fears of a new cold war as Russia threatens to switch off gas."
Rice IS NSA-Gate / Allies Out / Lebanese Target Neo-Cons (Poll)
Tue Dec 27, 2005 at 11:03:39 AM PDT
While many if not most Arabic newspapers are fascist apologists themselves, their publications still deserve attention when accusations start flying in regards to Plamegate so lets take a gander at what Bush's fellow religio-fascists are saying about Plamegate, the neo-cons, and their middle-eastern conspiracy of wars for oil.
They point the finger at Wurmster, who is supposedly going to roll on Cheney...(yeah right).
I personally think that Lebanese newspapers are laughable considering the apologist attitudes toward religio-fascists in their part of the world, but hey, to each their own until it affects me (9/11): I say, at least acknowledge your own religious fascism when criticizing other fascists (Bush) but that's just me.
Apparently though, the neo-cons want to clear out all of their religio-fascist competition in the Middle East using 9/11 as their lying catalyst.
Oh, and if you haven't heard, some of new Europe is in, some are out of Iraq and also, Raw says that it was Condy Rice who initially illegally authorized NSA-gate. What a fake she is...
DIEBOLD LEAVES NC IN DISGRACE... AGAIN
Fri Dec 23, 2005 at 06:04:40 AM PDT
So, the North Carolina Diebold saga continues and Diebold again announces its plans to leave NC in disgrace... for the second time. I still can't quite sort this out. Maybe I can start a discussion to sort this out. Here's what I have found so far:
From today's edition of Greensboro NC's News & Record:
Voting machine maker Diebold has told the State Board of Elections that it will not sell its equipment in North Carolina, at least for the time being.
The move leaves one company, ES&S of Omaha, Neb., eligible to sell voting equipment in the state with tight deadlines looming in advance of primary elections scheduled for May.
Election officials said they will have to wait until next week to figure out how severe the impact of Diebold's withdrawal will be on the state's ability to conduct elections. But under the state's current timetable, counties have until Jan. 20 to sign a contract to buy new voting machines.
Last I heard, Diebold was out, then back in, code escrow snafu be damned... But now, after some Dkos national exposure, our good Dem NC guv might have quietly asked wut-the-fuck.
Is Tom Delay Going To Jail? / Abramoff To Roll (Poll)
Thu Dec 22, 2005 at 09:34:20 AM PDT
Oh my. Tom Delay's pay-for-play scheme just got dealt a fatal blow, at least for this current batch of corrupt Republican lawmakers.
That these crooks are even "lawmakers" is incredibly disturbing. But they're good at PR!
Let's jump to the juicing part:
Jack Abramoff, the Republican lobbyist under indictment for fraud in South Florida, is expected to complete a plea agreement in the Miami criminal case, setting the stage for him to become a crucial witness in a broad federal corruption investigation, people with direct knowledge of the case said.
And:
At the same time, prosecutors in Washington have been sifting through evidence of what they believe is a corruption scheme involving at least a dozen lawmakers and their former staff members, many of whom worked closely on legislation with Mr. Abramoff and accepted gifts and favors from him. Although Mr. Abramoff is also in negotiations in that case, it is unclear whether a settlement can be reached in time for both agreements to be announced at once.
Don't they execute corrupt lawmakers in China?
ANWR ALERT! Good news from Sen. Durbin?
Tue Dec 20, 2005 at 12:25:17 PM PDT
Had bump old diary for
this:
WASHINGTON, Dec 20 (Reuters) - A senior Senate Democrat said on Tuesday that prospects were brightening that a provision included in a massive defense spending bill that would allow oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) was closer to being dropped.
The fate of the Alaskan refuge, which shelters caribou and migratory birds in the summer and becomes a polar bear nursery in the winter, has been debated in Congress for decades.
"I think we're close," said Richard Durbin, an Illinois senator who is also the assistant Democratic leader in the chamber.
Nazi America? (Poll)
Fri Dec 16, 2005 at 10:29:35 AM PDT
While the Patriot Act debate rages in Congress and here at Dkos, I thought I would attempt some context for this debate and characterize that policy simply as fascist and a total abrogation of the Constitution. A slow coup if you will.
I have been criticized, usually by Bush-complicit DLC types, for my use of words like "fascist" and "nazi" when describing Bush and Republicans in general.
Of course, I think they deserve to be called that and worse and that goes for DLC Democrats as well who have taken part in this disgusting descent into oligarchic power centralization almost as much as the despicable Republicans: that characterization of them would be accurate by just by looking at the criminal Holy Drug Inquisition alone which occurred after alcohol Prohibition failed due to a citizen insurgency.
One doesn't even need to discuss the numerous war crimes committed by Bush and his multinationalist shills to deserve much worse characterizations. I think "The Beast" would be gentle for these ilk and Constitution-destroyers.
Leaking Lawyers: Rove To Go Down / Hannah To Roll On Rove
Tue Dec 13, 2005 at 11:01:37 AM PDT
Apparently, Rove is about to go down due two factors, according to the leaking lawyers of Treasongate: Hannah rolling over on him and the now infamous Hadley email.
Great Rove comb-over picture AND yet another excellent Jason Leopold and Larisa Alexandrovna scoop.
Hadley:
Fitzgerald was concerned that Rove had hidden or destroyed evidence, lawyers close to the case tell RAW STORY. His suspicions may have been right: an email he sent to then Deputy National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley in early July 2003 later proved Rove had spoken to Time magazine reporter Matthew Cooper about Plame--a fact that Rove omitted when he was first interviewed by the FBI.
Hannah:
Hannah gave Fitzgerald the names of some White House officials who knew about Plame Wilson and disseminated her CIA status to reporters and other White House officials, the laywers said. One of the officials Hannah appears to have implicated was Rove, they added.
Get the champaign ready! We may very well have an indictment in time for Christmas, er Fitzmas!
Freep Story Back To Life / Historians: Bush is W.P.E. (Poll)
Wed Dec 07, 2005 at 05:33:45 PM PDT
Theo-con... Kos coined that one today. Bout sums it up.
The Richard Reeves story "IS GEORGE BUSH WORST PRESIDENT -- EVER?" ran, and is still running after almost a week, in the Yahoo "Most Popular" for the longest period of any story since I've been watching that grouping. Anyone notice that? Go ahead and be sure to click the above link so that maybe the story won't fall off list. [Oh, seems you have to email it to freep it...uh... duh]
For those that missed it, those who want a re-read, or those who might want to freep it back to life before it falls off that grouping, let me remind you of this amazing poll of historians conducted by the presitigious George Mason University.
Reeves: "These were the results: 338 said they believed Bush was failing, while 77 said he was succeeding. Fifty said they thought he was the worst president ever. Worse than Buchanan." Their findings below:
Breaking Diebold Whistleblower Story...(Poll)
Tue Dec 06, 2005 at 10:04:22 AM PDT
Raw Story link is up.
Many of us know from last week that the North Carolina Board of Elections certified Diebold election machines despite the fact that they, along with 2 other sketchy vendors, wouldn't disclose their code per the new election law to the NC Board of Elections. The state election Board had no comment to my calls and have not posted any statement on the decision.
That law was in reaction to the 2,500 lost votes in the last NC election. Here's a good summary of that story.
The news just breaking on Raw Story, and with Brad Blog at least giving us a teaser, has to do with a Diebold insider who is now saying that there was in fact some manipulation of votes and, per the Brad Blog teaser, that the Diebold CEO is the diabolical figure behind this fascist insanity.
We all suspected it. Now, let's hope that the facts come out to prove that the exit polls were in fact correct (as they usually are) in the past 2 elections and that Bushco has taken us firmly into the realm of Nazi Germany.
With Thousands Stranded/ Dead, Bush Wanted "Technical Request"
Sat Dec 03, 2005 at 07:42:47 PM PDT
The George W. Bush legacy will be summed up with one word:
incompetence. (Maybe two. Number 2? Liar.)
Witness the shit about to re-hit the fan for Bushco.
"I have determined that this incident will be of such severity and magnitude that effective response will be beyond the capabilities of the state and the affected local governments and that supplementary federal assistance will be necessary," Blanco wrote.
Three days after the storm, Blanco wrote Bush asking that the 256th Louisiana National Guard Brigade be sent home from Iraq to help. The governor also asked for more generators, medicine, health care workers and mortuaries.
Five days later, Bush assistant Maggie Grant e-mailed Blanco aide Paine Gowen to say that the White House did not receive the letter.
"We found it on the governor's Web site but we need 'an original,' for our staff secretary to formally process the requests she is making," Grant wrote. "We are on the job but appreciate your help with a technical request. Tnx!"
"Tnx!"... Thx?... Thx?!?!... God DAMN them.
Condi: Europe, Shut up and Back Off on Torture Flights
Fri Dec 02, 2005 at 01:29:38 PM PDT
Condi, neo-con extraordinaire, torturer, apologist, per this new
Reuters article just out, is basically going to tell allies to "trust" that the US hasn't been torturing detainees in the CIA black ops eastern European prisons and that, since some governments have been cooperating with these black ops, they need to "back off" on their inquiries, according to "diplomats" and "US officials." In other words, they leaked her new "offensive."
Can you fricking believe Bushco's arrogance? They are just telling Europe to shut up and trust them, to trust that Cheney isn't torturing, the same Cheney who is fighting for his right to order torture (for Bush).
Listen to this shit:
She will remind allies they themselves have been cooperating in U.S. operations and tell them to do more to win over their publics as a way to deflect criticism directed at the United States, diplomats and U.S. officials said.
Pyrrho Dkos Dead Diary Straw That Broke Camel's Back?
Thu Dec 01, 2005 at 07:01:04 AM PDT
As the
article says, "what a short strange trip its been" in regards to the taper/ soundsboard mini-scandal.
Archive.org can put the soundboards back up and tapers can freely tape.
Bloggers strike again!
What a short, strange trip it was. After the Grateful Dead angered some of its biggest fans by asking a nonprofit Web site to halt the free downloading of its concert recordings, the psychedelic jam band changed its mind Wednesday.
Internet Archive, a site that catalogues content on Web sites, reposted recordings of Grateful Dead concerts for download after the surviving members of the band decided to make them available again.
Band spokesman Dennis McNally said the group was swayed by the backlash from fans, who for decades have freely taped and traded the band's live performances.
"The Grateful Dead remains as it always has -- in favor of tape trading," McNally said.
