VirusHead

The whole nation turned on Clinton over trying to coverup a sexual infidelity, while so many just swallow Bush’s lies without complaint. Can you imagine if Clinton did this kind of stuff? God, they probably would have hung him on a tree.

Here are just a few random things that I don’t think of as “American.”

Bush Administration Refuses to Comply With FOIA Request on Pre-War Intelligence – This will make it hard to proceed to stage 2 of the Senate Investigation. We need a Prosecutor.

Authorized National Security Agency to wiretap calls of American citizens without seeking court permission, as is indisputably required by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), passed by Congress in 1978. And no, he does not have the authority.

Transformation of USA into a Rogue State by refusing to honor our international agreements or to enter into new ones: Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, Non Proliferation Treaty, Geneva Conventions Protocol, UN Charter, US Constitution, Failure to Ratify Kyoto Agreement on Climate Change, Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, UN Agreement to Curb the International Flow of Small Arms, International Criminal Court Treaty, etc.

1) Wars of Aggression
2) Torture and Indefinite Detention
3) Destruction of the Global Environment
4) Attacks on Global Public Health and Reproductive Rights, with particular reference to the genocidal effects of forcing international agencies to promote “abstinence only” in the midst of a global AIDS epidemic.

On and on and on and on. What does it take to have such blinders on – how can anyone support the policies of this administration? What do you think you’re going to get out of it?

Don’t you understand that we are all expendable to these people? Even the protection of the homeland from further attacks focuses on controlling US, not sealing up areas of risk. Ask New Orleans. Check out how the Homeland Security Budget is split up and how funds have been spent so far.

Hey, and did you ever think about those coffins with our dead soldiers in them? They are flying back as _freight_ on civilian planes, for pete’s sake.

What fantasy world do you have to build to think that all of this is beneficial, moral, in our national interests? Don’t you understand that we are looking at a move into complete corporate fascism? What’s next? Put everyone from the middle class on down in our shiny new jails (more every year!) and use our country as a prison colony for cheap labor so we can compete with China, who holds our debt in the first place?

Geez – what’ll it take? I see some signs that more Americans are starting to sense that something might be wrong, but we are so easily distracted, so easily bamboozled into little wars amongst ourselves.

While we look elsewhere, they steal our future and line their pockets with the booty while they can. This is not leadership, it’s a big street gang. It’s the Mafia. It’s international crime. It’s a slash and burn zone. And all of you who refuse to see it will learn in time how mistaken you are – but it won’t make any difference by then.

Willful ignorance – but why? I’ve considered all the explanations… and perhaps all together they account for it, but I am still not entirely convinced. I expect more from the people of this great nation.

Where is the investigative journalism? Where are the interviews with Iraq Vets? Other world papers carried interviews with some who at been at Gitmo and Abu Graib, not to mention the other prisons.

Why aren’t there thousands at the White House demanding the truth and the release of all the information that this administration repeatedly holds back?

And those of you who actually support all these actions and policies -I’m not talking about people who just somehow think King George is an ok guy- I have just one question:

How do you sleep at night?

You can’t all be sociopaths.

Live Vote: Should Bush be impeached? – Politics – MSNBC.com

Here’s how it stands right now in the MSNBC online poll:

Do you believe President Bush’s actions justify impeachment? * 182687 responses

Yes, between the secret spying, the deceptions leading to war and more, there is plenty to justify putting him on trial.
86%

No, like any president, he has made a few missteps, but nothing approaching “high crimes and misdemeanors.”
5%

No, the man has done absolutely nothing wrong. Impeachment would just be a political lynching.
8%

I don’t know.
2%

WHAT I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS
Boston, December 1897
Robert G. Ingersoll

If I had the power to produce exactly what I want for next Christmas, I would have all the kings and emperors resign and allow the people to govern themselves.

I would have all the nobility drop their titles and give their lands back to the people. I would have the Pope throw away his tiara, take off his sacred vestments, and admit that he is not acting for God — is not infallible — but is just an ordinary Italian. I would have all the cardinals, archbishops, bishops, priests and clergymen admit that they know nothing about theology, nothing about hell or heaven, nothing about the destiny of the human race, nothing about devils or ghosts, gods or angels. I would have them tell all their “flocks” to think for themselves, to be manly men and womanly women, and to do all in their power to increase the sum of human happiness.

I would have all the professors in colleges, all the teachers in schools of every kind, including those in Sunday schools, agree that they would teach only what they know, that they would not palm off guesses as demonstrated truths.

I would like to see all the politicians changed to statesmen, — to men who long to make their country great and free, — to men who care more for public good than private gain — men who long to be of use.

I would like to see all the editors of papers and magazines agree to print the truth and nothing but the truth, to avoid all slander and misrepresentation, and to let the private affairs of the people alone.

I would like to see drunkenness and prohibition both abolished.

I would like to see corporal punishment done away with in every home, in every school, in every asylum, reformatory, and prison. Cruelty hardens and degrades, kindness reforms and ennobles.

I would like to see the millionaires unite and form a trust for the public good.

I would like to see a fair division of profits between capital and labor, so that the toiler could save enough to mingle a little June with the December of his life.

I would like to see an international court established in which to settle disputes between nations, so that armies could be disbanded and the great navies allowed to rust and rot in perfect peace.

I would like to see the whole world free — free from injustice — free from superstition.

This will do for next Christmas. The following Christmas, I may want more.

(Hat tip to Every Stretch of the Imagination – thanks for posting!)

My mom was concerned about stories she had heard about the “bird flu” making its way from the American West, with patients clogging hospitals, etc. She had heard it had come as far as Kansas. Huh? So I looked it up. Here ya go, Mom.

California Flu: NOT the “Bird Flu”, But Still Needs Your Attention By Gilbert Ross, M.D.

Reports are coming from California describing clogged emergency rooms and doctors’ offices ascribed to a sudden surge in influenza cases, a localized flu insurgency, as it were. This “California Flu” epidemic should be noted in the context of the yearly flu onslaughts we see each year, and there are some caveats we need to keep in mind, this year particularly:

*This has nothing to do with the “bird flu” pandemic we have been hearing about, over and over again of late. That epidemic is thus far almost exclusively confined to birds in southern Asia. There have been about 130 human cases, and some sick birds have been found in eastern Europe. This human flu now invading California and contiguous states is part of the annual flu season and is not a harbinger of pandemics yet to come.

Recommendation: Get flu shot, wash your hands, and wash surfaces with hot water and soap (doorknobs, telephones, anything that is regularly touched). When you cough or sneeze in public (better to stay home!), do so into the crook of your elbow, not into the air or onto your hands. Drink plenty of liquids, stay warm.

Reads:

• AlterNet: The 14 Worst Corporate Evildoers
• Big Brother Bush By Molly Ivins
• Presidents all the same when scandal strikes by Bob Barr
• It Has Happened Here: The growth of executive power in this country has some disturbing precedents by Alan Bisbort
• Top 12 media myths and falsehoods on the Bush administration’s spying scandal
• White Phosphorous: The U.S. Used It; The U.S. Says It’s Illegal
• The Exotic Adventures of Neil Bush by Bill Berkowitz

Friends Roundup:

• Etherealgirl's Adventures in Cyberland – Great post on Jewish Paganism and reconnecting with Shekinah: “As a result, Gafni said, our culture has gotten so devoid of spirit that paganism is needed to rescue ethics itself. ‘All ethical failure comes from a lack of eros. When you’re moved to act unethically, what is happening? You’re responding to a primal insecurity. In order to be ethical, we have to be in eros. Bonfires, chanting, ecstatic dance, embodied ritual — all recapture divine energy.’”
• Virtual Pus – On selling hi-tech arms to countries dominated by Muslim dictators, the Constitution in exile, and please hold the Chalabi.
• Postcards from Hell's Kitchen – Boo to the family Christmas gifts: “Once again, the bag of gifts from family members hit a new low record for proving how well they actually know me: A giant box of microwaved sugar coated(!) popcorn, a Charleston Heston(!) movie on VHS (!), three pop culture violent films (!) DVD’s, and two shirts that didn’t fit.” Plus a great photo of old New York.
• Rosei Timeless Thoughts – Christmas in Brazil and two stunning brides. I’ve wiggled my way into your unconscious, Rosei! (grin)
• Where the Dolphins Play – On the difference between partisan politics and ethics: “Have we reached a point in this country where things are no longer looked at as right or wrong but only as right or left? Is it no longer ok to say that fenced off “Free Speech Zones” are wrong whether they’re done in Boston at the DNC or done by Bush at various public appearances both as Governor and now President. Can I not simultaneously disapprove of both the numerous GOP attempts at making it illegal to burn a flag and Hillary Clinton’s support for similar measure? Is it impossible for me to think that Kelo was an atrocious court decision while agreeing with other decisions made by the same justices? Exactly when was it decided that one’s conscience is the property of political parties?”
• heather anne dot org – Wonderful Christmas photos and two Walmart move reviews (she likes Is Wal-Mart Good for America?: Frontline a bit more than Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price).
• Grateful Bear – On Light and Irrational Advent.
• Zhayena – How to write text links, thoughts on blogs, and a public announcement on YELLING.
• AlterKarma – Breaking the winter break (and yes, buy yourself the iPod!), and a review of King Kong.
• ::Love Ministries:: – An interesting take on evolution and creation, a somewhat corny but touching Christmas tale, and the Christian Peacemakers response to a Presidential address.
• The Raven's Retreat – Great Christmas pix and some background on winter celebrations.
• Mystical Grrl – Tons of new quiz results for blog fun.
• Just Rambling – The story of the Wooden Bowl and thoughts on Human Angels.
• Philosofairy – Exponential Expressionism, occupational hazards of pizza delivery, and the karma police.
• Icey – Danie – A time of transitions.
• Gentle Breezes – uh-oh! Posts have disappeared. Are you on retreat?
• M.A.M. – A letter from Patrick J. Kennedy, and rants on Christmas wars.