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The Global Paradox
One way of looking at the world these days is through the lens of globalization. Although our earthly home retains its physical dimensions, the evolving human experience is of a planet that keeps shrinking, with each of its various parts ever more inextricably interconnected. Not many years back, who would have thought that wages in Indonesia would impact employment in North Carolina? Who would have imagined that growing car exhaust in Houston might influence the thickness of ice in Greenland? Or that diminishing ice in Greenland might threaten a radical shift in the weather in London and Paris? And who could have guessed that a small newspaper item in Denmark might inspire riots and embassy burnings throughout the Muslim world? Today, news flies around the globe like it flew around the neighborhood in yesteryear. First radio, then TV, and now the lightning-fast internet, with its blogs, e-mail alerts, and instant reporting, have exponentially augmented the power of a single story once it has been launched by only a motivated few. In Jean Paul Sartre’s torturous version of hell, described in his play No Exit, three completely incompatible people are bound together forever in a room with no escape. Likewise, we live in a world where we are bound ever more tightly with other people whose cultures, religions, and world view are often very different from and often contradictory to our own. It seems that the challenge presented to us in our newly globalized world, where there really is no retreat from our interconnectedness, is simply to learn to get along together, whether it be the red states and the blue, the fundamentalist right and the liberal left, the industrialized nations and the Third World, or the secular, democratic nations and the Islamic theocracies. And yet, in reality, this is anything but simple. It is hampered by the universal disinclination of humans to accept responsibility for their own contribution to their difficulties. It is hampered by our tendency to think in stark terms of black and white, good and evil, right and wrong, and not inwardly stretch to recognize the innate humanity of our adversaries. Much like a troubled marriage, the opposing parties will never progress if they cannot take responsibility for their own participation in the conflict. But unlike in a troubled marriage and more like the torment described by Sartre, there is no possibility of divorce. The United States likes to think of itself in a leadership role. But leadership in a globalized world is not simply who has the bigger gun or who can force his way of thinking on others. It is rapidly becoming who can lead the world to a place where our interconnectedness can be fruitful, where we can grow in understanding of one another rather than demonizing those who are different, and where we can honor and respect our differences while finding common goals to pursue together. This will take a moral courage and an intellectual integrity the likes of which we have not yet seen on our own political horizon. It will take the capacity to hear the human heartbeat that lies beneath all the anger and shouting, rather than join with it in a hollow self-righteousness. The only alternative to this visionary, inclusive leadership will be war and conflict, an ongoing battle between two sides rigidly assured of their truth, but locked in a conflict for eternity with no exit. Much has been written in the astrological world about the impending birth of the Aquarian Age. Some feel it has already begun; others, like myself, feel we may have up to a century or more yet to go. The concept of an Aquarian Age, which dates back to the astrological teachings of ancient times, derives from the division of Earth’s history into zodiacal epochs of 2160 years, with the entire 25,920 year cycle known as the Great Platonic Year. It is based on what is known as the Precession of the Equinoxes or the backwards movement of the Sun in its relationship to the fixed stars at the moment of the Spring Equinox. In other words, these historical epochs, lasting a little over two millennia each, reflect the characteristics of the constellation in which the Sun stands at the Spring Equinox during each particular epoch. This relationship shifts at a rate of about one degree every 72 years, moving backwards through the zodiac. According to Rudolf Steiner, an early twentieth-century educator and mystic who wrote extensively about these early epochs, the earliest known (post-Atlantean) history comes during the Age of Cancer when the ancient civilization of India was predominant. This was followed by the Age of Gemini and the height of the ancient Persian civilization. The Age of Taurus brought us the glories of the Egyptian empire, followed by the Greco-Roman civilizations during the Age of Aries. We are currently living at the end of the Age of Pisces, the sign of the fishes. During each age, much of the predominant symbolism, as well as the general tenor of the period, reflects the qualities in the constellation rising at the Vernal Equinox. Thus, we find that the dominant world powers during the Piscean Age, since the fall of Rome, have been largely the Western Christian nations, and one common symbol of Christianity is the image of the fish. This is based on Jesus’ words, “I will make you to become fishers of men.” (Mark 1:17) The strong focus on the virgin birth can be seen as a reflection from the opposite sign of Virgo, the sign of the Virgin. Moreover, Pisces is a mutable water sign implying a strong feeling element that is easily swayed and manipulated. Faith and belief are potent motivating factors, and many wars have been fought in the last two millennia over religion or ideology. Under Pisces, the masses are easily appealed to with emotional or religious arguments that are often devoid of clear thinking. At present, we are in the last years of the Piscean Age, which means that we are in the Pisces decanate and the Pisces dwadashamsa of the constellation of Pisces. This suggests that the Pisces qualities are stronger now than ever and will continue to be until we actually shift into Aquarius. At the same time, bits of the Aquarian consciousness are slowly infiltrating the Pisces awareness until there is an actual shift, much like the shift from one color to the next in the rainbow. The constellation of Aquarius depicts an angel pouring the waters of truth over humanity. Many have suggested that the coming Age of Aquarius will be some kind of golden age. Its dawning will certainly bring about the end of the dominance of the Western/Christian (Pisces) civilization, and it seems we are already seeing this begin to unfold. It is perhaps not a coincidence that the US progressed Sun began its 30-year crossing of Pisces beginning in late 2004, bringing with it a feeling of lost strength and a time of confused identity for the nation. The emotional and demagogic tone of political discourse, often devoid of truth and more prone to manipulation, also is a reflection of this Piscean energy. During the first two and half years of this progression (11/04 through 5/07), when the US progressed Sun is in the Pisces duadashamsa, these qualities will remain particularly strong. Innate to the Aquarian mind is a strong sense of the one human family to which we all belong, with little consequence given to the nationalistic, racial, or religious differences that sew the seeds of so much discord today. Each individual is valued for him or herself, and, at the same time, no one is accounted of greater worth than another. Herein lies the paradox. We are of one human family, and yet we must totally honor the individuality and hence the freedom of the individual. Aquarius is known for its insistence on free expression while at the same time harboring strong feelings of universal brother/sisterhood and the capacity to work as one among equals for a common goal. Along these lines, it seems that the world may move increasingly toward some form of socialism in the next centuries and away from the current focus on capitalism, where the inequality between the superwealthy and everyone else is growing daily. At present, the pressing reality of globalization would seem to be a necessary first step toward our ultimate transformation into the Aquarian Age. The immediate task is to learn to live and work together, increasingly interdependent and unified in purpose while at the same time, paradoxically, respectful and mindful of differences. We may also find that the growing crisis of climate change necessitates a global effort that supercedes our petty national differences, creating another challenge that must be mastered that will lead us to a future Aquarian consciousness. Although we still dwell in a Pisces reality, there are clearly moments when our common humanity trumps our nationalistic, religious, or ethnic differences – such as a global rescue effort after a devastating tsunami or a worldwide anti-war march over 10 million strong. Each of these moments is another drop of color that adds to the inexorable movement of the shifting rainbow spectrum, slowly moving from Pisces to Aquarius.
Nancy Waterman on Feb 13 | Link
Comments
Thank you, Nancy, for this enlightening view of astrological time. The references to Sartre added much to your big-picture perspective. I started thinking about Being and Nothingness, his most famous philosophical work, not long after reading the article. It was very enriching. Has astrology really evolved with the philosophical evolution of the understanding of time? It seems that all the astrological writing depends on a linear concept of time and spatial metaphor (a disk or circle) for the signs of the zodiac, and that may be hampering a better model of understanding. To loosely paraphrase a teenager, that is so first century. Time appears sequential and causal in all the articles I can recall here and elsewhere, although we are traveling in temporal great circles as you so eloquently explained. Perhaps we can do more than just circle the circumference of some zodiac wheel with our interpretations, and move with some determination across the circle between and among the angles and aspects, such that any given moment is not just the sum of all calculations from the stopping point on the compass ring, but rather a composite of all perspectives from each vantage point in the zodiac, much the same way the entire universe encompasses time in its unlimited vastness. If we escape the spatial two-dimensional zodiac wheel metaphor, and expand the zodiac to the dimensions in the near universe out to the constellations which form the zodiac, maybe we can create other ways of solving our problems from a much greater point of view than the astrological, geocentric prison we live in. On another related note, I really enjoyed Sally's article relating to "What the Bleep Do We Know?" There may be a lot more opportunities for expanding astrological validity and understanding if someone were to pick up the ball and run in that direction. Just a thought, or two. Posted by: Harry Haller on February 13, 2006 05:26 AMGood on you, Harry... thank you! Why does anybody assume that all things must be same-old same-old phallic thinking... laboriously moving our consciousness from Pt A to Pt B. Perhaps that was necessary at one "time"--perhaps NOT--but I do know that Gaia cannot take anymore consciousness that is conflict violent...moving laboriously from Pt A to Pt B. It's actually easy to move off the either/or stick... chuck the stick... & "see" both/and & some more both/and. Aquarius collective nurtures the leo individual in all gifts which adds to the betterment of the aquarius collective. They're NOT in a fight. They compliment. Anybody still doing ego-centered either/or had better get busy to their OWN spiritual work imo. (grump gnash gnarl-snarl) Posted by: JoannaOregon on February 13, 2006 06:06 AMYAAHOOOO!!! OFF THE GRID!!!!!! Posted by: JoannaOregon on February 13, 2006 06:08 AMAstrology is very much a practical science, maybe less of a philosophical exercise and although it's changed dramatically over time, it stays within linear time to serve our purpose at this stage of evolution. It gives us a necessary framework in an infinite environment. I'm sure it's not hampering developing understanding. That continues and the models will change as our minds evolve. Scientists now are beginning to understand the multidimensional universe we inhabit, but we are still not ready to embrace this as common thought. The same with astrology. This will probably happen in the Age of Aquarius as our minds develop new neural routes and we fully perceive the other dimensions. At this stage, the model works beautifully. And curiously, no matter how simple or complex the system, the results are often the same. What I suspect is, is that if one leaves the linear spatial zodiacal box of the present and do a composite analysis from all the varying vantage points, as you suggest, Harry, you would probably end up back in a mental construct closely resembling the prison you just tried to escape. Our minds must have this finite creation to function at this point, I think. Philosophy offers conjecture, but survival and practicality dictate. And astrology is still the best navigational map helping earthly functions immensely, without deleting the mystery, surprise, and joy of discovery. Posted by: jm on February 13, 2006 06:15 AMWhat a gas this lunation has been! Cyberspace is partying tonight. Saturn in Leo hasn't ruined the fun except for the leaders that were so vivdly humiliated. Bush got the Bejeesuss scared out of him by a bunch of nonviolent church goers and Cheney will never recover from his blast. Took the wind out of their pre-election Iran scare that's was revving up quite nicely. This Leo/Aquarius factor adds fuel to my belief that the upcoming Neptune/Saturn opposition could be devastating to the current leaders. Posted by: jm on February 13, 2006 07:09 AMjm, so what's the deal with bush & the churchgoers? Posted by: kiwijeanie on February 13, 2006 08:10 AMKiwi, I was referring to the Coretta funeral...the irony of a church filled with nonviolent civil rights' activists bringing him down. After all his violence in the name of Jesus and his claim to be bringing the light of freedom to the world, in one moment it was demolished. A little Pluto in Sag I would say. I think it's real and permanent too. This full Leo Moon and the heightend drama is interesting. Tonight on my local talk radio station a Viet Nam vet turned Buddhist monk was talking about war. He was initiated in Auschwitz and made a pilgrimage on foot to Viet Nam in monk's cloths and no money, begging for food along the way. A lot of vets around the country called in expressing their full sorrow and engaging in a real and deep discussion about violence and ending war. It's heartening to hear this on an ordinary night on an ordinary nonpartisan station. Lots of honesty tonight. Posted by: jm on February 13, 2006 09:22 AMNancy, In this vein; I read ( NYTimes) a review of the Spanish contemporary architecture, just opened at M.O.M.A. Oh & it must have been an unsettling full moon in leo weekend for W. AFTER THE ROAST AT THE KING FUNERAL, his "partner in crime" was out shootiing people instead of birds, & Laura & Barbara, went AWOL due to the storm, and stayed on in Torino! I wish i could think of astrology as a "practical science." I have dabbled in it for more years than i care to count and have seen it "hit and miss." And i have seen it hit and miss on this board as well. One of the posters here described astrology in a way that really resonated with me - - she said: "it is not a belief system; it's a phenomenon." Posted by: on February 13, 2006 02:17 PMNancy, this sweeping and panoramic article was very well written. Sans astrology it stands on its own. Though Harry's and Joanna's replies were thoughtful, I respectfully disagree. Astrology does not necessarily stand on tenets of linear thinking. I offer evidence of astrology's organic nature, a complex interrelationship between varying energies. To elucidate the probabilities of how those energies compel, repel, meld or elevate is, to me, a science compatible with physics. "What the bleep do we know?" Astrology may very well give insight into the energies of other dimensions. karen Posted by: karen on February 13, 2006 02:28 PM
This may further answer you question re port takeover by Dubai.. DP World executive nominated for presitigous US government position http://www.ameinfo.com/cgi-bin/cms/page.cgi?page=print;link=76375
An Ohio company has embedded silicon chips in two of its employees - the first known case in which US workers have been “tagged” electronically as a way of identifying them. Anyone ever visit this place on the web? It's the blog of Kevin Site's, a courageous journalist who has been spending a year in the Mideast (maybe longer). He seems to cover it from a humanistic side - stories about the people who deal with the bloodshed each day. Many of the articles are about Palestine & Israel. wv, I think you would want to visit it. Posted by: Sharon on February 13, 2006 03:57 PM"Though Harry's and Joanna's replies were thoughtful, I respectfully disagree. Astrology does not necessarily stand on tenets of linear thinking. I offer evidence of astrology's organic nature, a complex interrelationship between varying energies. To elucidate the probabilities of how those energies compel, repel, meld or elevate is, to me, a science compatible with physics." Exactly, Karen. There's no disagreement that I can see. Posted by: JoannaOregon on February 13, 2006 03:57 PM* UN inquiry demands immediate closure of Guantanamo Telegraph.co.uk A UN inquiry has called for the immediate closure of America's Guantanamo Bay detention centre & the prosecution of officers & politicians "up to the highest level" who are accused of torturing detainees. The UN Human Rights Commission report, due to be pub'd this week, concludes that Wash shld put the 520 detainees on trial or release them. The Red Cross monitors the centre at Guantanamo monthly It calls for the US to halt all "practices amounting to torture", incl the force-feeding of inmates who go on hunger strike. The report wants [rez regime] to ensure that all allegations of torture are investigated by US criminal courts, & that "all perpetrators up to the highest level of military/political command are brought to justice". It does not specify who it means by "political command" but logically this wld incl [rez] George W Bush. ... http://tinyurl.com/d7ptd Posted by: JoannaOregon on February 13, 2006 04:07 PMSorry, didn't see your article on electronic tags and I shouldn't let that one just pass by. I have a friend, a Chinese doctor, who has lived in the U.S. for a while (not able to practice medicine as she hasn't passed the certifying exams). She tells me that, although China is known as repressive, she feels that some of their techniques are necessary for managing so many people. It is a double edged sword. We do not want to be controlled more than we are, but now the extra element of distrusting our government on a more widespread scale (illuminati-backed?) has come into the picture. Organization is necessary but you have to trust your organizers. In addition to the expressed intent of the "experiment," it might also seem from the point of view of employers that an electronic chip could make employees honest and accountable, but it is still very frightening in a Big Brotherish way. I saw both "2001: a Space Odessy" and "The Day the Earth Stood Still" (the best Sci Fi movie of the 50s), over the weekend. It seems the future is upon us and many of the Sci Fi movies we watched over the last 50 years are closer to becoming reality. Posted by: Sharon on February 13, 2006 04:07 PM* bush-bashing on the rise within GOP Cons love to quote Ronald Reagan at every opportunity, to invoke him as the exemplar of their ideology. But in their winter of discontent, many on the right are breaching Reagan's 11th commandment, which decrees that no Republican shall ever speak ill of another. And the target of their ire is [rez] bush. ... http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/news/politics/13854697.htm Excellent comments here today, a perfect example of raising our consciousness just through our questioning. And yes, mistakes are made in Astrology, not because the information isn't there, it is, but because of our limited understanding in "reading" that planetary map. Not much different than our bodies. Our bodies are perfect and hold the clues to our health and well-being, but mistakes are made not because our bodies aren't giving the clues but because we lack total knowledge to always grasp those clues. Another example for today would be our Veep. All astrologers can see his energy is in a downward spiral, but I for one never foresaw that through carelessness or drinking or whatever he would shoot someone on a hunting trip and even that won't be the end of negative events affecting him. Astrology is and can be on its lowest level of understanding, a map of events, but more than that it is a map of our response to those events, on an individual and collective level. While the patterns in astrology are evident, individually and collectively, we have the opportunity to change our choices to repetitive patterns in our lives. Science does know that there are galaxies beyond this galaxy and I suspect there are more and more beyond that. We cannot even get to those galaxies much less know what choices are being made there or how those choices might impact our response to our own events. Nancy is right about the fact that we are in basically a three legged race here and if we want to get to the finish line we are going to have to learn how to walk together. But I do agree with Harry is absolutely correct, there is nothing that says we can't shift out of where we've been into something different, a different way of being. Plantary influences "impel" they don't "compel." We may believe everything is linear, or everything is circular, but the reality is we don't know if it's one or the other or if it's both. I do know that I for one do not possess all the knowledge of the universe and therefore I cannot afford to dismiss new or additional information or thoughts. I believe we are on the verge of shifting from left brain thinking vs. right brain to a melding of the two with hopefully a better balance, however that will take a little evolutionary time. I don't think it will be a century because we have been in this process for awhile now. Early man didn't know they were going from one evolutionary stage to another and neither do we know, but it's becoming more and more evident in the scientific community that this is what is happening and it doesn't happen over night. The poet William Blake wrote that Time and space are real beings a male and female. that "Time is man and Space is woman" When we arrive at a more "balanced view" when we "marry" time and space we will have arrived at the age of Aquarius. Are we there now? There is certainly evidence that some are, and evidence that there is a ways to go, we don't really know if we are arriving or have arrived but the world wide chaos would indicate there we are not there yet. I do know one thing there are souls on earth right now trying with all their might to pull those lagging behind forward. Posted by: Sally on February 13, 2006 05:49 PMWow. Well, while I certainly am not qualified to participate in the rarefied discussion going on here right now, I would like to alert y'all to this: http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Outed_CIA_officer_was_working_on_0213.html It could be yet one more large nail. Posted by: shylurker on February 13, 2006 06:19 PMShylurker, was just about to post that link also....it has HUGE implications....especially since I was just reading a Guardian article WV sent me on Blair 'crossing the Rubicon' (and an excellent analysis of Lyndon Johnson doing the same).... Just another brick in the wall..... Sally....have you ever read the 1905 book "Cosmic Consciousness" by Dr. Richard Bucke? He was a friend of Walt Whitman's, a Canadian doctor....his premise being that we assimilate new knowlwege like the hundreth monkey...as evolutionalry steps. He gave numerous examples (in fact, the color yellow had no word in ancient Greek language. They didn't have the word because they couldn't discern the color itself.....sort of like the natives when Columbus' ships came into view over the sea horizon....they didn't see the ships because they had no reference for anything like them, so their brains said they didn't exist.) I like Harry's point (and Joanna's) although I don't understand it specifcally, I immediately thought of what the Buddhists said about each of us containing the knowledge of everything in the world...we are a part of a hologram, and everything we experience contributes to the 'whole'.... Posted by: JudiG on February 13, 2006 07:30 PM* Numerous charges filed against coin dealer in corruption scandal Prosecutors charged a prominent GOP fundraiser Mon with theft/money laundering in an investigation of a controversial state investment in rare coins that has embroiled [necroporns] in scandal during an election year. Coin dealer Tom Noe already is charged in a separate case with using colleagues/associates to illegally funnel $45,000 to bush's election campaign. The 53-count indictment over the coin investment, which also incl charges of forgery/tampering with records, concludes a 10-mo investigation by a team of state/fed prosecutors into the $50mn investment Noe managed for the state ins fund for injured workers. ... http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?/base/news-23/1139843644282920.xml&storylist=cleveland Posted by: JoannaOregon on February 13, 2006 07:52 PM* Numerous charges filed against coin dealer in corruption scandal Prosecutors charged a prominent GOP fundraiser Mon with theft/money laundering in an investigation of a controversial state investment in rare coins that has embroiled [necroporns] in scandal during an election year. Coin dealer Tom Noe already is charged in a separate case with using colleagues/associates to illegally funnel $45,000 to bush's election campaign. The 53-count indictment over the coin investment, which also incl charges of forgery/tampering with records, concludes a 10-mo investigation by a team of state/fed prosecutors into the $50mn investment Noe managed for the state ins fund for injured workers. ... http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?/base/news-23/1139843644282920.xml&storylist=cleveland Posted by: JoannaOregon on February 13, 2006 08:03 PMHere are some interesting thoughts to wrap your mind around regarding the Precession of the Equinoxes. A human being's normal pulse rate is 72 per minute. (Yes, I know runners are lower and babies are higher, but bear with me.) The Sun precesses at the rate of one degree every 72 years. The "average" rate of respiration is 18 breaths per minute. If you multiply it by 60 you get 1080 breaths per hour; and times 24 you get 25,920 breaths per day. The number of breaths we breathe per day is equal to the number of years in the Great Platonic Year, 25,920 years (72 years per degree x 30 degrees per sign x 12 signs). It is as if the Great Platonic Year is a day in the life of the Universe. There is no doubt some way to move this concept up to yet another level of expansion, which might give some understanding of the idea that the world was created in "6 days." Posted by: Nancy on February 13, 2006 08:15 PMFascinating, Nancy... more indications that we & the Energetic Universe are One. It could be no other way anyhow. ;O) Posted by: JoannaOregon on February 13, 2006 08:21 PMAnd I've always been fascinated with the fact that all living beings have to breath. Posted by: JoannaOregon on February 13, 2006 08:23 PMAnother omen for Pallas? From the time and place of Alexander, no less. Thank you Nancy. Beautiful article as always. Truthfully the whole dismantling of the United States economy and ownership of public and private property and the ensuing globalization bothers me more than I can say. There are many roads to global brotherhood. Posted by: Pat C on February 13, 2006 09:04 PMNancy wrote: "The number of breaths we breathe per day is equal to the number of years in the Great Platonic Year, 25,920 years (72 years per degree x 30 degrees per sign x 12 signs)." "It is as if the Great Platonic Year is a day in the life of the Universe. " To add one more piece to the puzzle, or perhaps the answer : In Judaiism and Kabala, Yahweh (God) has 72 names.
Thank you Shylurker - If I were to take is as an omen, I would say it was one for dimbot - Alexander was the greatest conqueror and colonizer who ever lived, unmatched to this day - but kept his generals and army at war, and more war, and more war - ever reaching to conquer more territory - until his army was exhausted and his generals finally killed him - by poison if I remember correctly. Posted by: Pallas1800 on February 13, 2006 10:45 PMPracticality means to put to use. Say you got a new machine with an instruction manual. One person could read the manual and use the machine. Another would get befuddled and not be able to apply the instructions to the use of the object. I see astrology like this and I've always felt it was our grand and incredible good fortune to have this manual. It's simply the macrocosm theory and the map of the sky is the same as the map of the psyche. The mystery must prevail, however, which is what might lead us to our sometimes foggy interpretation. We can and will always expand and complicate, seeking millions of obscure connections, but the simplicity of the basic knowledge is of immeasurable value and ours for the taking. Posted by: jm on February 13, 2006 10:52 PMSally, the symbolism of the shooting is immense, and I think part of this Neptunian cloud around leadership that has been dark and ominous but like all clouds, ever-moving and changing. Maybe it's finally time. How can we trust our military defense to these people who have never served, do not understand military protocall, are ultimately unsophisticated in strategic thinking(it's too late to fight Iran), and now unable to handle a gun? This last point is clear even to the less than brilliant. It will sink in. Posted by: jm on February 13, 2006 11:02 PMIt occurred to me that astrology used to be taught in universities as a science. It has always been with us. Men instinctively look to the stars for navigational information. Maybe the Age of Pisces took it out of this realm and mystified it, even making it less accessible. Seperated it from us and took it to an arcane place to be practiced by the chosen elevated few and based on belief. Lou Dobbs is apoplectic. The ambush administration has privatized the protection of the United States ports ........by turning it over to a Saudi Arabian country with connections to the 9/11 hijackers. Scuse me? Did we hear that right? Yes. He repeated it so far, three times! Posted by: Pallas1800 on February 13, 2006 11:50 PMExcuse me. Correction needed. That's pretty strange. Exporting the protection of US ports. When is enough , enough? Is this the opening to the administration's connection to the 9/11 "attack" Sally spoke of? Posted by: Pallas1800 on February 13, 2006 11:55 PMI thought it was a UAE company. I'll check and be back with the info. Whatever it is, it is most strange. Posted by: shylurker on February 14, 2006 12:01 AMGallup (who is a very pro-ambush pollster) polls If they're admitting that, it must really be something like down to 29%. Posted by: Pallas1800 on February 14, 2006 12:09 AMPallas, a friend in Ohio had clued me in on that business of turning the protection of the entire east coast port system over to a Saudi company but I couldn't find a link....he finally wrote back and said it had been on CNN a couple of days ago....still haven't seen it in print....thanks for the post When I posted above, I suddenly was frozen out of AW So Nancy, just wanted to add that this is a wonderful piece, and thanks very much for the additional info on the link to the 'great year' and our respiration.... I keep going back to Pink Floyd and 'all in all it is just another brick in the wall" which of course can mean many things.... Posted by: judiG on February 14, 2006 12:09 AMWhy is that I think the delay in the Secret Service and the Vice President revealing that he shot the republican lawyer is because negotiations were going on to buy the lawyer off for a million or several million before he or his family would file suit and that explains the delay in the news being released. If you're going to shoot anybody by accident, it's not a good idea to shoot a hot shot well known lawyer in Texas. Furthermore, the State Police and local police have let it be known that the Secret Service would not let them investigate the shooting. Duh - By the way - what medication is darth vader on? Pallas, here you go (it is the UAE and this is one of the most colorful DU posts I've seen in a while): Shy, Pallas, It is a company from the United Arab Emeriates. Fox News reported it about 9:00 p.m. EST last night. A huge discussion insued on the program I was listening to out of Ohio, which totally interrupted and voided the topic at hand. I am devastated and didn't think my stomach could churn anymore than it has. THIS WAS ALL DONE IN SECRET! No one seems to know as yet who actually made the secret arrangements. Was it Bush/Cheney or Congress?? Or Both? Do any of you think this issue will blow up? Posted by: Beverly on February 14, 2006 12:26 AMI think the wounds are serious and the incident worse than we know. jm, I am looking forward to reading your comments and ysis on the U.S. financial standing compared to the 9/11 chart. Actually, I can't wait. So you think it's "too late" to go to war with Iran? I hope so and I think so too. I don't see how we could do anything more than some limited strikes. No ground troops....where would we get them from unless privitized troops are standing by. Just heard on ABC radio news this a.m. that plans were being drawn up for a March strike in Iran. Posted by: Beverly on February 14, 2006 12:35 AMYes, jm, he is ill and depraved. His waton destruction of living things shows his cruelty and brutality. He shot and killed 70 quail on Saturday....and will he eat them all? He killed as many when he was out with Scalia a few years ago. I am against this barbaric killing. To kill for food is another issue altogether. Posted by: Beverly on February 14, 2006 12:40 AM Oh, BTW, over at DU they are talking that Mr Man and Mr Shellshot lawyerman were with two lady hunters, not their wives, shooting quail at 5:30pm. Cocktail hour for four. This is rich, blood and death cannot change a Fundie's mind, but kinky sex can. Dontcha just love the Karma movie? This is well written, get the popcorn. Oh, BTW, over at DU they are talking that Mr Man and Mr Shellshot lawyerman were with two lady hunters, not their wives, shooting quail at 5:30pm. Cocktail hour for four. This is rich, blood and death cannot change a Fundie's mind, but kinky sex can. Dontcha just love the Karma movie? This is well written, get the popcorn. Just got this from my friend in Ohio who wrote me about the port/Saudi connection:
Check your listings to catch his show. He's the only TV guy taking it too the administration in the last years. Beverly, I completely agree with you about limited air strikes. We should all learn the hard lesson of being careful of what we hear. Rumors always fly and anxieties mount. I'm fed up, really fed up with this perpetual fear that people insist on not only keeping up but magnifying at every opportunity. This is exactly what they count on and the people fall for it every single time. There has been a planned attack for every season this last year. I think they are continuing their political games. Iran has highly sophisticated missles and plans for the Persian Gulf. They talk of regime change, but I doubt that will happen. Precision strikes would come and go quickly. And so what? What can we do? They make the decisions and that's that. I always rely on cosmic orchestration and I think we are in a stalemate in the ME. I am looking forward to the end of this administration. http://www.forbes.com/work/feeds/ap/2006/02/11/ap2518368.html OK...here is the article from Forbes on this takeover by the British/Dubai UAE company....! Posted by: judiG on February 14, 2006 01:05 AMMars will be in Gemini this saturday and the battle with Pluto in Sag and all of this false information will be in high gear. One of the glorious aspects of these forums is that we can put our minds together and try to sort it out. Good question, Beverly. Will he eat them all? Posted by: jm on February 14, 2006 01:09 AMWhat a pleasant surprise to run accross this flippant, intelligent, and well deserved reply to Porter Goss' egotistical, misleading Op Ed from a week ago pertaining to leaking. It's just great reading! Whistelblower Sibel Edmonds replies to Porter Goss What is even better....John Conyers had the nerve and gall to write a letter to the Administration asking "if it is really true that V.P. Cheney authorized Libby to leak classified intelligenc." I love it! I haven't gotten to read it yet but he says it's at bradblog.com if you want to see it. Posted by: Beverly on February 14, 2006 01:13 AMjm, on the fear thing....Randi Rhodes was talking about the speech Bush gave in New Hampshire last week where he used the words , ism, or ist 97 times! I haven't heard anyone else in the news media mention this, usually Cokie Roberts does, but believe Randi. Yes, fear is their big marketing gimmick for 2006 elections. Posted by: Beverly on February 14, 2006 01:21 AMI read that Beverly! The 97 times and I was jubilant. A clear sign of the end of their game. As I've said 1000 times, the War on Terror is exactly that. A chance for us to find confidence and courage. Here we are after all those years, alive, kicking, and even enjoying life. These fears...annihilation, domination, imprisonment...always are there. We have to live with them. And not let these lower creatures manipulate us with it all. We will be annihilated. We die. We are already imprisoned. In our bodies. And we are dominated. By are own fears. So we might as well accept it, stand up, and carry on. We are all captains of our own ships and the better navigators we become the more we can circumnavigate the everpresent forces trying to spook us and zap our strength and power. Jeeziss God! Posted by: jm on February 14, 2006 01:33 AMWhen push comes to shove the only things we really have to fear are our own inner demons. And that's plenty. Posted by: jm on February 14, 2006 01:36 AMNancy, thanks for the great thought-provoking article, and love the comments, all. Eileen Garrett, the great 20th Century psychic said once that the concept, "All Time Is Now" was much easier for her to grasp than the equally true, "Everywhere is Here." About the United Arab Emirate company running US ports: the company (Dubai Ports World) is owned by the UAE government, i.e. the royal family. What isn't being reported right now is that the same company, Dubai Ports World, bought out CSX Corporation earlier. CSX is based in Jacksonville FL and runs a 22,000 mile rail network in the US, with rail/truck connections to more than 70 river, ocean, and lake ports. Interestingly, CSX also owns The Greenbriar, the West Virginia resort that has the Cold War bunker under it. (The bunker built to hold a government in exile in case of atomic attack.) Posted by: Barbara on February 14, 2006 01:46 AMCorrection--I was wrong about Dubai Ports buying CSX--they bought CSX Terminals (a subsidiary of CSX which, I think, manages ports in Asia and in Latin America.) The US railroads are still owned by CSX in the United States. Sorry abou that. Posted by: Barbara on February 14, 2006 02:45 AMBarbara thanks for the clarification. After catching up on the world via this blog I've fired off emails to all these wanna be president dems, and those who are supposed to be working for us. I missed Lou (working), I caught Wolfie on my lunch hour and went nuts over the Armstrong decadence and boy we the common people are sure being ...... you fill in the blank. Posted by: Morgana on February 14, 2006 03:03 AMNancy, wonderful facts linking us to "out there" and within. And why not think of the the universe as breathing in and breathing out. Shylurker, I wasn't trying to hold back, honest. :) I just thought everybody could look at the chart of the Constitution and see what is happening to it now. It is a Cancer Rising chart. It has an inherent T square which involves the 9th (Aquarius, the 12th (Taurus) and the 5th (part of which is Scorpio) which is now being triggered by transiting Mars (12th) Moon (3rd) Neptune, Sun (9th) and Jupiter (5th). Fixed. Of course, I could be wrong...I'm not a professional astrologer. Posted by: Beasley on February 14, 2006 03:11 AMOh, you better be right, Beasley! I'm counting on you. I'm going to print out what you wrote and study it. Very, very interesting. You're wonderful to take the time and explain it to me. Happy Valentine's Day to you--and all other DUers, too. * Cheney/shooting victim were hunting illegally, officials say [v-rez] cheneypilledup was hunting illegally - without the required $7 stamp on his license for quail - when he ["accidentally"] shot one of his hunting partners, TX Parks & Wildlife officials said Mon. And so was Harry Whittington, 78, who was recovering Mon from a shotgun blast to the face, neck & chest. In its report, the state agency that oversees hunting/fishing said it found that neither cheney nor whittington had purchased the game bird stamp required to hunt quail in TX, altho both had valid hunting licenses. Both will get warning citations, & there will be no fine or other penalty. cheney's office said Mon he hadn't realized he was lacking the proper stamp & has since sent a $7 ck to the TX Parks & Wildlife Dept [?!?!?!]. cheney has not commented publicly about the accident, which took place on the 50,000A Armstrong Ranch in Kenedy County on Sat afternoon. ... http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/nation/13864503.htm This is so interesting. Good idea Bease, Bev, and Shy. I looked at the Treasury and 9/11 charts and came to the same conclusion, Beasley, about we the people. There is so much there but a few basic things stick out. In the Treas chart, the North Node is in Scorpio and the South in Taurus. This indicates a fear of poverty and excessive greed and clinging to material goods. The belief that we don't have enough money and if we had more, our problems would be solved. There are lessons about letting go and sharing with others. Pluto in Cap in the second in the USA chart verifies this. The Moon is in Aquarius conjunct Pluto in the Treas chart, meaning the money belongs to we the people. Some say that the privatization of our monetary system last century was the cause of a lot of our trouble. And now we see that we don't control our finances. In the 9/11 chart Uranus at 21 Aquarius was just past the Moon and squaring these nodes, probably bringing awareness of our need to horde our wealth, steal from others, and confuse power with money, at the same time allowing criminals to control it. Like letting some shady broker make us a fortune. In the 9/11 chart, the South Node was in Capricorn and Mars was there, bringing down the financial structure and all it symbolized. But the North in Cancer indicates that our future security is within our grasp if we learn our lessons. Mars in the Treasury chart is also in Cancer exactly conjunct Jupiter at 11 Cancer in the 9/11.. Soon Pluto will pass this Capricorn point and head for our second house. We can find the security we seek if we learn to share, let go, and combine resources with others rather than control it all. Perhaps first we have to know what it's like to be with less, so we'll understand. Another very interesting factor is Jupiter at 17 Leo in the Treas chart and Venus at the same degree in 9/11. Not bad. And guess what? It's the same Mars/Saturn midpoint we discussed and the point that will be hit so hard in August. A 'we the people' fuss would certainly be advisable. It's still our money if we want to have any left. Posted by: jm on February 14, 2006 04:45 AMTo tie into this...the people in power now are responsible for the recent theft in South America and other places. Much of South America apparently is released from the grip and is giving the IMF trouble. If they can do it, we can do it. I think it would be symbolic if we get rid of them once and for all. We don't want to do business that way anymore. It ties in with Kerry, BCCI, and Iran Contra. We have a long long way to go to redeem ourselves, but this would be a start. They've used our political system and our money to get where they are and the same factors can remove them. The corporations don't care about them. They care about themselves. There are lots of players in the game. The official report on Katrina is coming out Wednesday: Failure of leadership. Posted by: jm on February 14, 2006 06:05 AMRegarding the port thing: As I understand it, this is coming about because P&O shipping, originally a british corporation, is being taken over with shareholder approval by a company from united arab emirates. And they bid on providing services to various ports - trying to neuter the dock workers unions I imagine. Having been a "british empire" company, NZ has had longtime ties to P&O shipping. With its role in early globalization I find it rather interesting that the company now seems to be evolving in yet another direction, and one that is SO tied to the global events of today. I will be curious to see how this affects other countries around the world. http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/lines/pando.html Posted by: kiwijeanie on February 14, 2006 06:50 AMIn 1917, P&O purchased the Hain Line.................. I do so appreciate all the excellent philosophical musings going on here. It gives me something to ponder while I proceed on my very CONCRETE, PHYSICAL PLANE. Mars aspect in the 8th house means for me; complete depth overturn of my phsical environment & putting it back together, differently & more efficiently. But when this ( house redo)is over with I have new & interesting directions to express visually. Please read and make of this what you will---personally, I'm more inclined to believe this than the "peak oil" theory of Mike Ruppert(rumored to be a CIA disinfo guy)..... http://www.rense.com/general69/noncrisis.htm Posted by: Garry on February 14, 2006 02:21 PMJUST UNBELIEVABLE NYTimes February 14, 2006 U.S. Royalty Plan to Give Windfall to Oil Companies WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 — The federal government is on the verge of one of the biggest giveaways of oil and gas in American history, worth an estimated $7 billion over five years. New projections, buried in the Interior Department's just-published budget plan, anticipate that the government will let companies pump about $65 billion worth of oil and natural gas from federal territory over the next five years without paying any royalties to the government. ... more Posted by: Pat C on February 14, 2006 02:24 PMPoll: Should the WH have told us earlier about Snarly's Al-Quailda mishap? http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3080261 / Posted by: shylurker on February 14, 2006 02:30 PM My note to Mike above (2/13/06 - 3 PM) and further posts on last thread pretty well explains Judi G - thanks for the Forbes post, it verified
Categories: Dick Cheney It’s not every day the vice president shoots a man and then decides not to tell the public about it for almost 24 hours. Simple accident or symbol of a White House culture of secrecy? Count the Washington Post editorial page among those in the latter camp: “Saturday’s incident required immediate public disclosure — a fact so elementary that the failure to act properly is truly disturbing in its implications.” On the Post’s op-ed page, columnist Eugene Robinson sees Cheney’s hunting accident as a metaphor for the Bush administration’s foreign policy as well: “The man is out of control. Then again, out-of-control is the way this whole administration operates: Ready, fire, aim. Global war on terrorism, global war on poultry, what’s the difference? You see something moving, shoot it.” (The Times editorial page says the White House “once again demonstrated that it would rather look inept than open.”) James G. Poulos of the American Spectator, on the other hand, says there’s nothing troublesome about the 18-hour delay in reporting the incident: “Cheney accidentally kills a man — news. Cheney accidentally shoots a man — at what point is the public on a need-to-know basis?” And National Review’s Jonah Goldberg sees an opportunity for the vice president to turn the accident to his political advantage: “If I were a Cheney advisor, I would tell him — er — ask him to go on one of the Sunday shows. The interest in the shooting would soak up much of the interview time and since he has to talk about it anyway, this would make him seem responsive and open without having to spend a lot of time on the tougher and more politically unpleasant issues like war, Katrina etc.” And of course, there are lots of jokes being made at Cheney’s expense. The Nation’s David Corn writes on his personal blog, “Why did the White House not release news of this shooting accident for 24 hours? I’m guessing Bush officials will explain it this way: if we were to provide details of such episodes, it would prevent other vice presidential pals from going on hunting trips with the vice president during which they provide important and valuable advice.” Meanwhile, at The Notion, the The Nation’s group blog, John Nichols says the country should be thankful that Cheney received five deferments from the draft during Vietnam: “[I]t has become clear that Cheney was doing the country a service when he avoided service. … U.S. troops had enough problems in Vietnam without letting a trigger-happy incompetent like Dick Cheney start shooting things up from behind the lines.” Hard as it may be to resist, liberals shouldn’t try to score too many political points from the Cheney Bites Man story, writes the New Republic’s Jason Zengerle. “It’s an irresistible item to add to the pile of Bush administration screw-ups. But rather than treat this story as what it is–a relatively insignificant but nonetheless juicy little scandal– liberal bloggers are already overreaching and trying to turn it into something bigger,” he writes. “But when Cheney’s victim is released from the ICU, and when the Halliburton connection fails to be significant–and when it turns out Scalia wasn’t on the trip–the whole story will suddenly seem a lot smaller than it actually is. Not that it’s that big to begin with, but still. . . . I mean, Dick Cheney shot a man! Shouldn’t that be enough?” Link to ThisComments (0)
Filed by RAW STORY
Cincinnati, OH - Paul Hackett released the following statement today to his friends and supporters regarding his withdrawal from the campaign for U.S. Senate in Ohio. Today I am announcing that I am withdrawing from the race for United States Senate. I made this decision reluctantly, only after repeated requests by party leaders, as well as behind the scenes machinations, that were intended to hurt my campaign. But there was no quid pro quo. I will not be running in the Second Congressional District nor for any other elective office. This decision is final, and not subject to reconsideration. http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Hackett_statement_on_pullout_from_Ohio_0214.html
02/14/2006 @ 10:56 am
"It is an outrage that the Democratic Party has forced Paul Hackett out of the race for U.S. Senate. Hackett brought credibility on the number one issue facing the nation - the war in Iraq. The Democratic Party loses credibility on that issue because he is no longer running, and because they had a hand in his decision. "The good news is that there are still a number of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans running for office around the nation. We are committed to getting these patriots the early institutional support they need, because it is becoming abundantly clear that the party leadership has no interest in them." Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America PAC (http://www.iavapac.org/) is the only political action committee led by a Veteran of the war in Iraq, exclusively benefiting those Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans running for public office, and holding public officials accountable for their actions that affect the Troops and Veterans.
By IAN URBINA Paul Hackett, an Iraq war veteran and popular Democratic candidate in Ohio's closely watched Senate contest, said yesterday that he was dropping out of the race and leaving politics altogether as a result of pressure from party leaders. Mr. Hackett said Senators Charles E. Schumer of New York and Harry Reid of Nevada, the same party leaders who he said persuaded him last August to enter the Senate race, had pushed him to step aside so that Representative Sherrod Brown, a longtime member of Congress, could take on Senator Mike DeWine, the Republican incumbent. Mr. Hackett staged a surprisingly strong Congressional run last year in an overwhelmingly Republican district and gained national prominence for his scathing criticism of the Bush administration's handling of the Iraq War. It was his performance in the Congressional race that led party leaders to recruit him for the Senate race. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/14/politics/14ohio.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=print http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/02/14/impeach_yes_but.php Impeach: Yes, But… Jamin B. Raskin (jbr@jaminraskin.com ) is a professor of Constitutional Law at American University and Director of its Program on Law and Government. He is also a Democratic candidate for the Maryland State Senate in the 2006 elections. As the rule of law shrinks all around us in George W. Bush’s second term, many citizens are looking to presidential impeachment as a path back to civilized limits on state power. Indeed, impeachment, as legal historian Raoul Berger once argued, is our major constitutional instrument for defending the rule of law against willful presidents who defy Congress and refuse to accept any constraints on their power. The Framers made impeachment our key check against presidents with dangerous kingly ambitions. They believed strongly in the “high political purposes served by impeachment” and saw, as Berger put it, that impeachment’s 17th century forerunner—declarations by Parliament that ministerial acts were treasonous—“played a mighty role in the achievement of English liberty.” Yet in the political opposition today, there is no consensus about impeachment. Registered Democrats all over America jump to their feet and applaud when someone calls for impeaching President Bush. According to a Zogby poll, fully two-thirds of all Democratic voters believe that impeachment proceedings should take place if Bush indeed ordered the wiretapping of U. S. citizens outside the law. To be sure, talk of impeachment is cathartic—but it is also totally serious. Yet Democrats in Congress have pulled down a curtain of silence over the I-word. They believe that, with mounting corruption woes at home and spiraling war worries from Iraq, the Republicans are about to get their comeuppance anyway in the 2006 midterm elections. With all the stars aligned for victory in November, Democratic leaders in Washington do not want the inexorably nasty politics of impeachment distracting the nation, mobilizing the Republican base and possibly driving away Independent voters at the last minute. They remember the terrible image that stuck to Republican House managers who brought the puritanical case against Clinton—not for political crimes against the state but personal ethical lapses—while most Americans were indeed eager to simply “move on.” More… Posted by: Pat C on February 14, 2006 06:21 PMGo to DU General Discusssion: Cheney and friend were hunting with two women pals, yeah right! On Valentine's weekend. One galpal is the ambassador to Switzerland Pamela Willeford. A much younger Lynn Cheney look-alike. Tee Hee. This is really the story behind the shooting that everyone is missing that would rile the Fundies and prove that Cheney is a phony Xtian. Loving this Karma flick. This part of the story is not getting out and needs to. The only thing that might bring Mr Man to his knees rather than Ms Willeford. Oh, yeah, if this is impolite, remember Monica. Sex is such a repressed issue for Fundies that this story could light the match for a downfall of a Dicktator. Posted by: bhakti on February 14, 2006 06:29 PMThanks for the post at 6:21, Pat C. This is the crux of it, the excuse: the Dems "remember the terrible image that stuck to Republic House managers who brought the puritanical case against Clinton . . . while most Americans were indeed eager to simply 'move on'." Here the Dems have before them multiple and very serious instances of conduct that are contrary to the very core of humanity (respect for truth, compassion for others, abhorrence of violence, etc.) and of our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Instead, they flap about and fold because they don't want to be out of step with a public which might want to simply "move on". This is an excuse that is staggering in what it reveals about the DLC-based Dem "leadership". (I'm all out of sorts today anyway what with the Hackett debacle Schumer and Reid have created.) Posted by: shylurker on February 14, 2006 06:33 PMIt is indeed staggering shy. That's just the right word. Posted by: Pat C on February 14, 2006 06:44 PMPat and Shy just fired off an email to Morgana, absolutely!! Posted by: Pat C on February 14, 2006 07:05 PM
Hey, he was acting on the best intelligence available.
When the public learned that it was a lawyer who was shot by Cheney,
Shy, I am in total agreement with you regarding the Democratic stance to the Republican corruption and their silence on impeachment. If they are not going to take a stand for strong ethics and the rule of law now, then it is unlikely that we will do much good in 2006. They may have their points about Republicans imploding on their own, but their silence gives the impression that they are one of the "gang" and just as corrupt......willing participants, enablers, etc. I mentioned Dean's comments a few days ago when asked about impeachment he said --"we need to remember how Clinton's approval rating shot up when Republicans sought impeachment. We don't want Bush to receive a similar jump in his poll numbers." It's just an excuse for staying lame and fearful. Following with the theme of this article, an the changes takeing place within people, I listened to the most remarkable program last night about the Democrats taking the advantage in the 2006 election if they would only embrace the spirituality of undecided voters and moderate conservatives. This group seeks to change the mis-use of religion in the hands of Republicans. The book in discussion is titled "The Left Hand of God" by Rabbi Lerner,and is about the millions of people seeking meaning and purpose, something more than just material sustence, and that the Democrats are the best group to address these people because the Democrats basically embrace the idea of sharing on a universal level. This group will be meeting with Democratic leadership in May hoping to get their point expressed and eventually establish a new progressive party. I would love to see Dennis Kucinich get involved in this. Listening to this program gave me such hope for positive change in this country. Beasley and jm.....Thanks to both of you for your interesting and insightful comments above. Will copy to study. Fantastic reading and discussion here! I'm so appreciative of everything here. Anyone who is interested in taking an active role in bringing about impeachment should go to this web-site. There is some good organizing going on: Posted by: on February 14, 2006 07:28 PMThe above link was from me. Good read Nancy! Posted by: M. on February 14, 2006 07:29 PMVice President Cheney and The Fight Over "Inherent" Presidential Powers: His Attempt to Swing the Pendulum Back Began Long Before 9/11 By JOHN W. DEAN Friday, Feb. 10, 2006 Vice President Dick Cheney has stirred up an old fight in Washington. He sent a rookie, however, to make his case publicly. It did not work. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee to offer what may have been the weakest legal argument for presidential power to conduct warrantless electronic surveillance since Nixon's Justice Department invoked the views of King George III. King George III's take on the matter did not carry any weight either. Indeed, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals could barely believe the Nixon Justice Department was serious. The panel reminded the government's lawyers that warrantless searches were among the very reasons the colonies fought for their independence. As for the reaction to the Gonzales testimony, a New York Times editorial described it as "a daylong display of cynical hair-splitting, obfuscation, disinformation and stonewalling." The Times also noted committee chairman Arlen Specter's analysis of the Attorney General's legal position: It "just defies logic." The Illogic Of the Bush Administration's Position on Congress' Law and Views con't http://writ.corporate.findlaw.com/dean/20060210.html Posted by: Pat C on February 14, 2006 07:30 PMi don't see much here about Cheney blasting his 78 year old friend, but i couldn't help but notice that soon mercury goes retrograde, and wouldn't you know it, it makes its station at the same degree that it is at today. More reprehensible behavior from the Rove. The man just doesn't quit! So shameless. It's just unspeakable. "Rove Threatens Judiciary Committee with Blacklist If They Oppose Bush On NSA Issue" Rove is fearing impeachment proceeding against Bush unless he gets full GOP backing. Cheney's target has now suffered a heart attack because of one of the peices of shot which entered his heart. Posted by: Pat C on February 14, 2006 08:13 PMi don't see much here about Cheney blasting his 78 year old friend, but i couldn't help but notice that soon mercury goes retrograde, and wouldn't you know it, it makes its station at the same degree that it is at today. i hope some of you astrologers will weigh in on this subject particularly since a 78 year old guy's heart is involved http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001996613 Fitzwater, Former WH Press Secretary, Blasts Handling of Cheney Shooting -- As Victim Suffers Heart Attack Posted by: Pat C on February 14, 2006 09:07 PMMeanwhile, Gaiacide continues unabated. Perhaps we'll have to make greater changes than we can presently conceive. I hope that stocking away a few canned goods will suffice. Posted by: JoannaOregon on February 14, 2006 09:40 PMI have to offer my criticism of mankind at this point. There is no doubt as to the inhumanity of Dick Cheney. And the laws of the universe will deal with him. I'm involved with this too, although fortunately I don't watch television and it's despicable reaction to life's events. It's times like this that I get disgusted with the whole human race and realize how far we have to go to have great societies. When it becomes impossible for men like Dick Cheney to lead other men, we will have arrived. And no amount of ridicule now will achieve this. When we all face our complicity, we might progress. We can't talk about high and mighty ideals and then howl at the television when it arouses our inhumanity as we stone people in the village square, and expect to have societies that deal with wrong-doing effectively. In the meantime, I'll overlook normal behavior and try to forgive myself but I will keep my awareness intact. Posted by: jm on February 14, 2006 11:00 PMHere's an interesting comment on the heart attack from a nurse: "**The really interesting possibility here is poetic justice to me. The probability is that the pellet that penetrated his heart entered his body in the the area under or around the arm - just beyond the range of a lot of protective gear. jm, I have been wondering since yesterday, if the words "peppered", "sprayed with shot", etc., these I do not think that Dick Cheney will be harmed legally for anything related to this issue no matter the outcome nor will the outcome benefit the Democratic Party. The doctor said this afternoon that Mr. Whittingham has an exceptionally strong heart with no abnormalities or blockages. Remarkable for a 78 year old gentleman.
The Patriot Act is due for vote in the Senate this week. It should be fillabustered, and there has been minor talk of that anywhere. Posted by: Beverly on February 15, 2006 12:15 AMLet's cut the sanctimonius !@#$. Whichever way it takes to level the playing ground works to get this thug out of office. About time some egg sticks on his face. My sympathies go out to the thousands and thousands of dead people who died due to this thug. Posted by: on February 15, 2006 12:18 AMMy point exactly. It's serious. It's as if we're in solitary confinement and news is completely controlled by the jailer. If the issue of manipulation sticks and people realize the dangers of being controlled like this, then it's worth it. I would expect that Cheney's power is gone no matter what happens, but that was coming for a while. If only we could take some forward step as a result of this. Not laugh it off and run to the next amusement. Posted by: jm on February 15, 2006 12:41 AMJust curious since the above post is anonymous. Is that PQ who posted it, or is there another anonymous? Posted by: Pallas1800 on February 15, 2006 12:42 AMYa'll of course know, they'll be using this "Look over there!" This is a Safe media story they don't have to deal with the real corruption in our government both Democratic and Republican. In particular the nut job running us off the cliff. Harry Reid should be replaced and Schumer can kiss is grab for the brass ring goodbye. Pressuring Hackett to get out of the race what scum buckets. Posted by: Morgana on February 15, 2006 12:42 AMInteresting article up on www.stariq.com/MAIN/Articles/p0006916.HTM. "One way to track the U.S. relationship with Iran is to relocate the U.S. horoscope to Tehran." Very clear and interesting. Posted by: KAT119 on February 15, 2006 12:43 AMThem doctors n' pundits are wearing out the word "accidentally" regarding cheney's "accident." cheney "accidentally" knew nothing about hunting protocol, choosing instead to make the "accident" look like the buddy's "accidental" fault, nor did cheney "accidentally" care... oh, & it "accidentally" didn't have a hunting license. Very very very very special pink supremacist bots don't need any of thoooooose. "Satan" means "adversary"... the inner/collective grasping/fearful shadow ego appears to be standing out in ever sharper relief, it seems to me, & it's not well... definitely not well. And it mebbe has a Great Purpose in standing out... not "accidentally." ;O)
This seems to be a prelude to Mars in Gemini opposing Pluto as the issue of information manipulation comes to the fore. Today the talk of this is escalating. I AM encouraged by the fact that this is even being mentioned at all. We'll see when the dust settles. Posted by: jm on February 15, 2006 12:56 AMAnother interesting thing is the AOL news headline going into millions of brains to counteract that "accident" blitz. Something's percolating. "Cheney victim has heart attack" Posted by: jm on February 15, 2006 01:02 AMPallas, I don't think from reading PQ's post for the last several years she would accuse anyone of being sanctimonious or use expletives. Do you? Posted by: Beverly on February 15, 2006 01:07 AMWhile I completely agree that important issues are being ignored, I think this is a vitally important opportunity to keep Cheney in the spotlight with a failure like this. He's the unbreakable one, always in control and behind the scenes, that frightens the masses with his terror threats. His spell is broken and it's a chance to take a hard look at him. I don't want the media to move on. I want him to stand (or try too) in the glare powerless. It's our call. Posted by: jm on February 15, 2006 01:10 AMWe can't pass this up. The Saturn in Leo and the fall of kings is obvious. The full Moon in Leo brought Bush down easily, but the surprise is Cheney. His large oppressive physical presence and his sneer, his fixed steadfastness, and his ability to stay in power with every setback, showing no weakness, has made him especially fearsome. This could be the crack, and maybe the end of his powerful grip. It's our chance. Probably one of several, though. Beverly, yes you're right, I almost made a second post saying it didn't sound like PQ - but figured someone would say who they were.. Meanwhile, does anybody remember that song, "Oh The Little White Lies You Told Me" - I vaguely think it was sung by Johnny Ray - if anybody remembers him from their childhood :) Waaaaall - 1st - darth vader doesn't allow the news to be released that he shot a man, not even to the resident, until 20 hours afterward to the press and the following morning after the shooting to the resident. 2nd- the State police are not allowed to interview 3nd - It's slowly coming out that Mrs. Armstrong mentioned "there might have been some beer drinking prior to the hunting - and it turns out that that statement was left out by the media. - good reason not to let the police interview or take a breathalyzer test until hours afterward. 4th - Mrs. Armstrong, instructed by darth vader , but a doctor on Keith Olbermann's show, (and now it comes out that several Texan authorities are also questioning) says " if darth vader had shot at 90 yards the "pellets" would not have broken through the man's clothes or skin - it's more likely that he shot the man at 15 to 30 yards". Once a liar, always a liar. the press is digging - finally. And it doesn't look like this story is going to die. Of course, unfortunately, the story covers up the fact that analysts under Cheney have now come clean about his orders to dig up embarrassing dirt on Wilson and Plame as payback, revenge, and to discredit them. Um - I dont think so. That's not the whole truth either. It's more likely Plame was investigating Darth's illegal sales of nuclear equipment to Iran, was about to catch him AGAIN (not the first time he was caught doing this as CEO of Halliburton and fined)only this time he would be finished as veep.
JM, Good stuff on the treasury chart. Thanks. Yeah, that Leo Moon. And don't forget, Cheney has an Aquarian Saturn, Natally. And don't forget that that Leo Moon and Saturn were conjunct by transit. Haha, Hahee! I'm gonna go watch ice skating and have myself a buckshot cocktail...hheee, eheee,ha, ha... Anybody given thought to the Mercury Retrograde on the day of the 2006 Elections?! Posted by: Beasley on February 15, 2006 02:51 AMPaul Hackett's departure from the Ohio Senate seat race doesn't surprise me at all. But from my vantage point here, it isn't at all as bad as I know it seems to so many who have supported Hackett. Yes, it's true that the Democratic Party machine has coalesced behind Congressman Sherrod Brown, but the fact that they are even coalescing at all in Ohio is something I don't think I've ever seen happen in this state. If you don't mind a bit of a history lesson... The Democratic Party of Ohio has always been extremely formidable in the state's urban centers (Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, Toledo, Akron, Dayton, Youngstown and Canton) and, with the exception of Canton's Mayor's office, now dominates government in all of the Big 8 Cities. One might think that dominating so much urban territory might make state-level success a given. The truth is that the party, as it is structured in Ohio, has always been more of a "ground-up" operation, strong at a city and county levels, with far more limited organization at the state level. This wasn't a liability for the Dems while Industry still thrived and the majority of Ohio's population and political influence remained concentrated around the urban centers. But with the collapse of industry, the mass exodus of population from the cities, and the rise of the affluent suburbs and exurbs, the lack of a more cohesive, state-wide organization became a real liability for the Dems, versus the Ohio Republican Party, which has mantained a strong state-level presence since its' inception. The unfortunate result for Ohio over the past two decades has been a regressive, one party government, acting in the best interests of the GOP and its' backers, which more often than not haven't been in the best interests of Ohioans in general. The Ohio Dems, who have struggled in recent years to look beyond the scope of urban politics, may finally be figuring things out. Enter Sherrod Brown, an extremely well-connected, influential Democratic congressman from suburban Cleveland with a consistent voting record strongly supporting middle class and labor concerns. He already possesses a larger campaign chest than GOP Incumbent Senator Mike DeWine, and is receiving major financial support from all over the state, and from the national party. Today, it was announced that billionaire speculator George Soros and Progressive Insurance chairman and philanthropist Peter B. Lewis are both offering their support and financial backing to Brown. Similar efforts are underway for Democratic gubernatorial frontrunner Ted Strickland, who will face either Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro, or Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, who are both competing for the Republican nomination. What I am viewing is an emerging clarity, focus and sense of purpose at the state level that has sorely been lacking among Democrats for a very long time. And maybe just in time. This state is finding itself in increasingly dire straits as the American Auto Industry implodes, and will likely take out what little remains of Ohio's industrial base within the next few years. With a collapsing economy, rising unemployment, our schools criminally underfunded -- declared that way no less than four times by the State Supreme court, to which current Gov. Taft just balked and shrugged his shoulders -- and the second most expensive tuition in the nation, Ohio's youth and future are leaving this state in droves. (I admit that I, too, expect to be elsewhere before my first Saturn Return hits later this year.) This state needs real practical solutions and vision, and now. I do admire and support Paul Hackett for his candor and his forray into politics, and I hope that this isn't his last campaign or the end of his political interests. But Sherrod Brown truly is the best candidate we've got, and the one who can put Mike DeWine -- sans the spine to do what is right -- out of commission, and give progressives one more seat in the Senate this fall. Posted by: NEOBuckeye on February 15, 2006 03:44 AMThanks for the vote of confidence! No that wasn't my post. The accident!..........How many people do you know, who have accidentally harmed another? I can't think of anyone in my life. IMHO, gross carelessness, & incompetance such as this demands firing! The Hackett news is very disturbing!
Oh Good news about Sharrod Brown! good one, Pat C! From my hunter friends in Texas it is the range that disturbs them, the official story is not consistent with the severity of the wounds. Also Ms. Armstrong once said she watched from the car, then another account she gave was she saw the Secret Service running in the direction of the VP and she thought he had another heart attack. So how could she have seen the incident if her initial reaction was the VP had a heart attack, that indicates she didn't witness the incident at all. There is also a question of time. In the state of Texas you have to be finished within 30 minutes after sundown, and sundown was at 5:45 so they had to be done by 6:15, If this accident took place after 6:15 that is absolutely a broken law. Keith Olbermann had a guy on tonight from Texas and he said they were curious as to why they didn't take him to the closer and better equipped hospital in Corpus Cristi but took him instead to the hospital further away and under the control of Cheney. It's run by a Bush and Cheney buddy. Posted by: Sally on February 15, 2006 05:35 AMHunting is a sport and falls in the 5th house. Cheney's progressed 5th house cusp is Pisces, ancient rulership is Jupiter. Progressed Jupiter is at 18 Taurus opposed by Jupiter and squared by Neptune indicating carelessness. Transiting Mars was in a square to his solar return VOC Moon in the 8th house. The "hunt" would not have gone as planned, neither will anything else for him. I do have some concerns regarding his friend. Cheney's natal Moon rules his 11th house and the Solar Return Moon is in the 8th. It doesn't indicate a violent pattern so much as a careless pattern Posted by: Sally on February 15, 2006 05:53 AMI grew up about fifty miles from the Armstrong ranch. I've never been to the ranch, but many areas around there and the hunting is the same. I am not a hunter, but I grew up with alot of hunters and hunting was a way of life for most. My Dad and I preferred fishing on my grandfather's shrimpboat off Seadrift, Texas (look at a map. It's not far from Corpus). Anyway, I understand why people are so upset by this story. If people don't understand the complexity of the global impact of the failure of Bush policy, they can understand that Cheney did not follow hunting etiquette and ground rules. Usually hunters hunt close to each other because it keeps down the likelihood of an accidental shooting. Why didn't he shout for a clear? Didn't they have hunting dogs to pick up the dead birds? I mean the questions are numerous. Ultimately, I think this shows that the Repugs and Bushie and friends play a second seet of standards. If this was anyone else, the hunter would be in jail and charged with accidental manslaughter. They Cheney...well, let's not get technical. Also, any advise for a transiting Uranus passing by IC conjunct Venus/Mercury in Pisces and opposite Jupiter in Leo in the MC? How, it's a rollercoaster ride but it is fun. Thanks ya' Posted by: Travieso on February 15, 2006 06:05 AMMy thought on this ordeal is Cheney may have had little heart problem, possibly causing him to pass out, lose his balance or stumble, drop his gun, which caused it to go off and unfortunately almost kill Whittingham. A 28 gauge shotgun blast at 90 feet will not do the damage that occured during this "accident" when wearing a jacket and vest. Definitely a cover up. My hope is that the man survives and tells the world what really happened. The story we are getting is ridiculous. Posted by: Cybear on February 15, 2006 06:16 AMThank you so much Neo for your sensible analysis from the source. The Neptune square concerns me in the Cheney chart. And if you notice there is always a time lapse with any big news with these bastards. Remember the 12hr lapse on the leak. Gives them a lot of time to get their stories straight and to make sure that they have all the bases covered. Stinky, stinky, stinky.... Posted by: Cybear on February 15, 2006 06:24 AMFrom the nurse's mouth: "The information released about Harry Whittington’s condition and complications is apalling on the surface. Going a little deeper between the lines brings up some questions and a few correlations that the average reader would miss. I have worked on a “step down unit” like the one Whittington was transferred to for six years. In a hospital with a state-of -the-art heart center and the cardiologists to make it probably the best place to go in Denver metro if you are having chest pain*. I have also hunted; birds and large game." More...http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=1941#comments Posted by: jm on February 15, 2006 06:29 AMsleepy fingers again, that should be Whittington. back to getting caught up on all the post from the past week... Posted by: Cybear on February 15, 2006 06:35 AMwv, thanks for that link upthread. it explains a lot. we're screwed six ways from sunday (and not enjoying it). nancy, what about the end of the world "tipping point" scenario? Posted by: on February 15, 2006 08:05 AM
By Larry Chin
This dubious and unverifiable allegation collapses of its own weight when viewed against years of established fact and information. Skepticism from within the US intelligence ranks themselves has only added to Bush’s new political problem. Bush’s Warmed-Over Action Thriller http://onlinejournal.com/artman/publish/printer_501.shtml Posted by: wv on February 15, 2006 02:20 PM
Willie Nelson Releases Gay Cowboy Song NASHVILLE, Tenn.
"Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly (Fond of Each Other)" may be the first gay cowboy song by a major recording artist. But it was written long before this year's Oscar-nominated "Brokeback Mountain" made gay cowboys a hot topic. http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/02/15/D8FPJK2O8.html Posted by: wv on February 15, 2006 03:19 PMB* boy, Promise Keepers and Armaggedon... S.R. Shearer of Antipas Ministries writes, "Most of the leaders of the Promise Keepers embrace a doctrine of 'end time' (eschatology), known as 'dominionim.' Dominionism pictures the seizure of earthly (temporal) power by the 'people of God' as the only means through which the world can be rescued.... It is the eschatology that Bush has imbibed; an eschatology through which he has gradually (and easily) come to see himself as an agent of God who has been called by him to 'restore the earth to God's control', a 'chosen vessel', so to speak, to bring in the Restoration of All Thingss." Shearer calls this delusion, "Messianic leadership"-- that is to say usurping the role usually ascribed to the Messiah. http://www.counterpunch.org/hill01042003.html Posted by: on February 15, 2006 04:21 PMThe White House announced Wednesday morning that Cheney would be interviewed on Fox News at 2 p.m. ET. Sources earlier told NBC News that Cheney was preparing to speak to the issue, but they also cautioned that “we're at Wednesday” and suggested that progress made by Harry Whittington, the 78-year-old lawyer shot by Cheney, would play a big role in how any public comment is handled.
Katharine Armstrong's mother, Anne Armstrong, served on the board of directors of Halliburton, the oil field service company Cheney ran before becoming vice president.
Low levels of these enzymes are normally found in your blood, but if your heart muscle is injured, such as in a heart attack, the enzymes leak out of damaged heart muscle cells and their levels in the bloodstream rise." (see link below) Troponin is one of the leading indicators for heart attack... So, Bill, I have now returned to my original conjecture --- Whittington probably expressed the heart attack at the scene of the shooting... doctors on the scene may not have been able to verify that without the bloodwork... but since the theory about the pellet migrating was a piece of nonesense obviously put forward by those protecting Cheney... it is obvious these folks have been covering up from the get-go link for enzymes http://www.webmd.com/hw/heart_disease/hw224485.asp Was Cheney Hiding His Lewinsky? Sirius radio's Alex Bennett just broke a rumor that the delay in reporting the news that Cheney shot an old man in the heart was due to an effort to hide or spin Cheney's female companion. Pamela Willeford (shown right), ambassador to Switzerland and -- yes -- Liechtenstein, was part of the hunting excursion with Cheney and Whittington. And according to Willeford's account, Cheney and the ambassador were side-by-side when the shooting of Whittington took place. The vice president's Secret Service detail had to decide what to do with Willeford by way of perhaps covering up her relationship with Cheney, and thus the delay in reporting the news. The rumor goes that Lynn Cheney isn't happy with Cheney's close relationship with Willeford. Again, just a rumor. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-cesca/was-cheney-hiding-his-lew_b_15705.html "We are grateful to the Washington Post, the New York Times, Time Magazine, and other great publications who directors have attended our meetings and respected their promises of discretion for almost forty years. It would have been impossible for us to develop our plan for the world if we had been subject to the bright lights of publicity during those years but the world is now more sophisticated & prepared to march towards a world government which will never again know war but only peace and prosperity for the whole of authority." -- David Rockefeller, CFR/Bilderberg/TC, 5 June 1991.
G = 3 (gimel) http://www.bushisantichrist.com/ That one's for you Garry. The Illuminati is watching YOU. Posted by: on February 15, 2006 04:37 PMWell, well-- This should be good--$10 bucks says he still doesn't apologize or act the least bit contrite and still blames Whittington.... http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060215/ts_nm/cheney_accident_interview_dc Posted by: Garry on February 15, 2006 04:44 PMWhy thanks, anonymous!!! I'm flattered that THEY are watching "little ole me"(to quote Bugs Bunny). I do recall a t-shirt from the 80's that read "Ronald Wilson Reagan = 6 6 6" though...heh Posted by: Garry on February 15, 2006 04:49 PMWhat the, that was weird. I wouldn't worry about the Illuminati's. They are lust a bunch of misguided black magicians who manipulate energy to create chaos in the world. And as far as I know they do not have contact with any of the governments or are acknowledged by them. Check out Robert Anton Wilsons site and you'll get an idea of what those freaks are about. He's a kook. About 20 years ago I met some high rankers in the OTO that claimed to be Iluuminati and they were really a screwed up bunch. To much Crowley influence and way too many dealings trying to manipulate things that they really have no business messing with. Some eventually went crazy and one commited suicide after taking to many acid trips trying to conjure up "demons". They are a joke. Well you know that Darth Cheney's version is the truth. You know that we mere mortals are so stupid that we'll believe anything that comes from their mouths. Bah! I hope the bastard is sucked into the abyss when he finally drops dead, never to see the light again. Posted by: Cybear on February 15, 2006 05:14 PMLOL--Cybear you crack me up...can't say I disagree, though! Posted by: Garry on February 15, 2006 05:18 PMDoesn't the moon square Pluto about interview time today? Posted by: Teresa on February 15, 2006 05:45 PMTwo things-- and, I know we've talked about this site being 'disinfo', but this entry is a must read, whether completely true or not: http://www.thetruthseeker.co.uk/article.asp?ID=4168 Posted by: Garry on February 15, 2006 06:10 PMIf you're getting a winter vacation next week, here is the latest US flu map to consider before traveling. C-span is showing the Katrina hearings. Low and behold even the Repugs are appalled at some of it.
That's lovely Jean. Posted by: Pat C on February 15, 2006 06:52 PMJean- Buddhism is not a religion. It is a spiritual way of life. Their have been many discussions lately in the Buddhist communities about it being a religion and most disagree that it is. Religion is the downfall of humanity as it is used to control. Buddhist take responsibility for themselves, not seeking someone or something else to do it for them. Buddha was a real person that taught others how to obtain enlightenment, not someone who said to follow his dogma like religions do. That is why buddhist are peaceful. Religions claim that their way is the only way, which has led to much war, suffering and strife throughout the past 2 thousand years. If Buddhism were to become a religion it would go against everthing that the Buddha's teachings are about and it would become what the "others" have become. Posted by: Cybear on February 15, 2006 07:13 PMAlso, I find it interesting that the Dalai Lama shares the same b-day as Jr. B*. The Dalai Lama is all about peace and Jr. is all about war. What a contrast! More people are turning to the teachings of the Buddha and not the teachings of a false god. Posted by: Cybear on February 15, 2006 07:31 PMPQ, Your welcome. NEOBuckeye, I love the history lesson. I would have never suspected you to be so young. Your first saturn return coming up....you sound so mature and knowledgeable for your age. How is Mr. Bush's visit going over there today? Posted by: Beverly on February 15, 2006 08:23 PMJean and Garry, you said it before I could. The objectivity of Buddhism is so compatible with the Aquarius approach. It is so much easier for me to be neutral/compassionate toward those who offend me than it is for me to love them. Also, it occured to me early on that Budhism and existentialism are very compatble. As a chilly Aquarius I also think it might be easier to receive neutrality/compassion than love that comes with implied demand for reciprocation. Posted by: Barbara on February 15, 2006 08:41 PMUm, not to be confrontational or anything but Aquarians can also be some of the most anal people in the zodiac. Don't go tooting your horns too loud. I have know quite a few that are impossible people to deal with, one being my dear ol dad who displays every negative trait of that sign. But I have also known others that you would never expect them of being Aquarian. Posted by: on February 15, 2006 09:05 PM
Shooter Slips on a Silencer By MAUREEN DOWD Who did this old guy think he was, coming between Dick Cheney and his helpless prey? The luckless 78-year-old Texas lawyer, Harry Whittington, is in intensive care after a heart attack, with up to 200 pellets riddling his face and body — one stuck in his heart — from Dick Cheney's designer Perazzi Brescia shotgun. And still his friend, the vice president, is Swift-BB-ing him. Private citizens have been enlisted to blame the victim. Maybe poor Mr. Whittington put himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. But he was, after all, behind Vice, not in front of him. And the hunter pulling the trigger is supposed to make sure he has a clear shot. Wouldn't it be, well, classy for Shooter to express just a bit of contrition and humility? Instead, the usual sliming has begun, with the Cheney camp trying to protect the vice president by casting a veteran hunter as Elmer Dud. Scott McClellan told the White House press corps that Katharine Armstrong, a lobbyist with government ties who owns the Texas ranch (and whose mother, Anne, was on the Halliburton board that hired Mr. Cheney as C.E.O.), "pointed out that the protocol was not followed by Mr. Whittington when it came to notifying the others that he was there." As the story of the weekend's bizarre hunting accident is wrenched out of the White House, the picture isn't pretty: With American soldiers dying in Iraq, Five-Deferment Dick "I Had Other Priorities in the 60's Than Military Service" Cheney gets his macho kicks gunning down little birds and the occasional old man while W. rides his bike, blissfully oblivious to any collateral damage. Shouldn't these guys work on weekends until we figure out how to fix Iraq, New Orleans, Medicare and gas prices? This version of "The Most Dangerous Game" neatly follows the four-step Bush-Cheney cycle: Step 1: Set out to pick off what you think is an easy target, like quail this time or pen-raised and netted pheasant in the past, or a certain sanction-caged Iraqi dictator. Step 2: In the corrupt company of lobbyist-contractor friends, botch things up. Ignore the peril at hand — as with, oh, Osama at Tora Bora, or Katrina, or the Iraq occupation — and with steely resolve, indulge your raging incompetence. (Oops.) Step 3: Stonewall. Resist giving Congress information about 9/11 or Katrina; don't tell the public how you're tapping phones at home, setting up gulags abroad and making war and energy policy in secret. Why give the taxpayers, who are ponying up for these weekend hunting trips, the extraordinary news that Vice shot his hunting companion in the face and chest? Scott McClellan knew before yesterday's White House briefing at noon that Mr. Whittington was worse, but did not tell the reporters. He left that to Corpus Christi doctors, who spun the heart attack as "an inflammatory response to a metallic foreign BB." Step 4: Admit no mistakes. Express sympathy. Blame the victim without leaving fingerprints by outsourcing the smear to the private sector. Trent Lott joked in a meeting yesterday that Mr. Cheney was now the "shooter in chief," while other wags noted that Quayle was always a problem for Bushes. Presidential staff members and lawmakers speculated yesterday about whether Shooter would resign and make room for Condi if Mr. Whittington did not survive. His death would trigger a more thorough police investigation and probably a grand jury. "Are you crazy?" one Republican senator told a reporter. "He'd never quit." (Aaron Burr presided over the Senate after he killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel.) The shooter in chief can't quit because he is the administration. Who'd even tell him to quit? If necessary, he'd probably make W. take the fall. Despite efforts by Mr. McClellan to joke and urge reporters to get back to "the pressing priorities of the American people," the hunting debacle once more showed Mr. Cheney running the imperial show. He didn't talk to the sheriff for 14 hours, or even call the president to notify him after the 5:50 p.m. accident. Vice left that to Andy Card, who called Mr. Bush at 7:30 p.m. to say there had been a hunting accident, without mentioning that Vice was the gunman. Soon after that, Karl Rove called Mr. Bush back with that little detail. A reporter, surprised, pressed Mr. McClellan: "The vice president did not call the president to tell him he was the shooter?" Usually when there's a White House cover-up, the president's in on it.
Hey anonymous up there at 9:05, you're right--- Aquarian Dreams
We've been had again, but it's not altogether bad. The reasons our country is in such a political pickle are many, one of them being the people's refusal to take responsibility. I hope this changes with Pluto in Capricorn. The USA has Mars in Gemini (now getting a return by transit) square Neptune. This has it's plusses, but a big problem is scattered energy and focus and a great propensity toward total distraction(Neptune square). Cheney is one of the most despicable low men on earth, but he's here to teach us like all of them. Not only is he involved in murdering people now to make a buck, but he peed on the memory of all the dead from the concentration camps of WWII when he attended this solemn, highly dignified event in a ski parka. He is in another dimension detached from the sanctity of life, which is fine for him, but not for whole societies. The VP's job is to represent us at funerals and memorials like this. He's not doing his job correctly. I don't want people like that in charge of my country. Really. The WH was extremely worried about the incident but leapt with joy when the entire Left Netroots community got distracted by Hackett. This proved how out of touch and self serving Hackett is by not caring about the people and stealing the spotlight with this gossipy, one against the other childish stuff just when we had Cheney hooked. When we could have leaned into him with full force. Hackett can exit stage left as far as I'm concerned. The Constitution is perfectly all right. This is all game-playing and, of course, meant to scare you. As long as amendments aren't made or repealed, the thing is intact. We've just got to get these people to move on down the road. The dismantling of the fairness of the media went on in earnest under Clinton and now we see the results. If we continue to fool around and stay isolated and manipulated things will continue to deteriorate. When we take it seriously enough to respond, and demand to be informed by people like Cheney, then we will progress. wv, Maureen Dowd is fabulous! Excellent article - thanks. She says "shouldn't these guys work week-ends until things are fixed?" They don't even work during national emergencies....how can we ever get them to work on week-ends! Posted by: Beverly on February 15, 2006 10:35 PMHaven't posted in eons, but still lurk... re post at 4:34 by anon (no name) --- don't know where you got that info, but it's incorrect. I have dabbled in numbers for decades. The Chaldean-Hebrew Kabala Numerical Alphabet indicates single digits for all letters... none have double, such as the 70 you posted of letter "o" --- Numbers 1-9 are divided into three groups: The One (1,2,3), The Many (4,5,6), and The All (7,8,9) Many believe GWB to be the anti-christ... you don't have to go to great lengths to prove it, as he pretty much has. But the Kabala does not --- Sorry for the interjection... but there is enough disinformation in the world without adding to it. Hope you are all well here in Sally's comfy corner in cyberspace... now back to my lurking mode. namaste, Excellent clarification, Jo. Thank you. I especially crusade for a realistic assessment of Bush. Very helpful in solving the problem. Posted by: jm on February 15, 2006 10:47 PMHi jm, *http://astrospeak.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1220643.cms namaste Posted by: Jo on February 15, 2006 10:49 PMWhistleblower Alleges Second Wiretap Program EU Seeks CIA Info on Secret Prisons jm for chrissake don't blame Hackett...put the blame I blame them all, wv, including us. It's a collective job. I stopped blaming others long ago for this simple reason. You can't change them. If you want change you have to recognize your own part in the deal and change that. It's your only hope. Posted by: jm on February 15, 2006 11:16 PMAnd another thing. How many times to we have to satisfy our prurient desires be gawking at pictures of torture and clicking our tongues when it accomplishes NOTHING? Do you really truly believe that by escalating this voyeuristic practice and looking at man's horrors from the armchair, it will stop. Something needs adjustment. We keep playing musical chairs with these leaders, pitting one against the other and still looking for heroes. It should be obvious that we are in a leadership deficit. And why exactly is that? Posted by: jm on February 15, 2006 11:22 PMIt's not Hackett, himself, wv. I don't like any politicians. I don't understand why people expect things from them. It's all the energy put into agonizing about him that bothers me. All that wasted energy. Let him go. One other little thing. The Power of Transiting mid-points is clear with Dead Eye Dick Cheney shooting his friend last Saturday. In The Elmer Fudd of Washington's chart, he had transiting Uranus/Pluto opposing his natal Pluto exact on Monday.My book says "hidden or buried situations come to light, radical changes create major consequences. I'm with Starman. Posted by: shylurker on February 16, 2006 12:18 AMOoooh, Mr. Starman. E. Francis says even sooner: (from Planetwaves) Posted by: shylurker on February 16, 2006 12:40 AMBeverly, Neo,
By the way, it has come out that this is the first time that darth vader ever hunted with the victim. AND that although he met him 30 years ago, he wouldn't call them friends..."I'd call him an acquaintance". I'll say it again - in the delay or the delay was because: either a settlement was being made, or the victim is more or less being held over in a hospital until he comes to his senses and agrees to sign not to sue and to settle privately. Nothing is beyond this lawless crew. Posted by: Pallas1800 on February 16, 2006 12:52 AMCheney has a huge history of not taking responsibility. He was part of how they got away with Iran Contra when his committee called it "mistakes". Sounds a lot like "accidents". His Moon in Pisces has helped slip, slide, and swim away, never having to explain anything. Saturn's got him caught in a vise grip now. His false attempt today at claiming responsibility is not sitting well with many people. And Saturn will probably be tightening his grip. The 12th house placement now of karma and self undoing is a factor. I think it's in the best interests of the country that this man be halted. Posted by: jm on February 16, 2006 12:53 AMAfterthought I hope Mr. Wittington has a wife or children around to watch out for him and protect him -- If not, he's in deep trouble. Posted by: Pallas1800 on February 16, 2006 12:55 AMThis could be the beginning of the end for the evil bastard and his little fiends. Posted by: Cybear on February 16, 2006 12:56 AMSecond afterthought. What if Mr. Wittington is an old time republican, not a neo con, and had a discussion telling darth how off the wall his administrations policy were. Bang - is more expressive of your hatred than a "F__k you Leahy". Leahy was lucky no arms are allowed in the Senate. Talk about loose cannons. Posted by: Pallas1800 on February 16, 2006 12:59 AMHi Jo, you rock! The energies are very high and the Pluto/Shiva roto-rooter on the GC is turning liars into criers. Chill out jm, take suggestions from your own words. 'Do' something . Philosophical discussions on a planets movement's 5 years from now is not 'doing'. Stop wasting energy. I am confused, I am blamed (along with the collective) but then you do not blame others. Which is it? Go out and smell some roses, be in nature. Hope you feel better. Living in the future is not my thing and rather think about the problems of the now. I'm gonna slide down from my peak of spirituality to say that I am enjoying a pathological liar so cavalier and arrogant get some medicine. Compassion is for myself that I stayed healthy and safe and sane under this current climate of fear. That I can function and teach others how to move around the obstacles and I can move forward *out in the world* without so much fear. And I live in Orange NYC. Get out of the house and enjoy your lives. Ding Dong! The Wicked Dick is Dead. You can just smell it in the air. Trust my own sniff more than any planet. Posted by: bhakti on February 16, 2006 01:11 AMYea, verily, jm... I'm not into being a dark-side aquarian borg yet... & I'm not into the "we" stuff. I certainly "hear" your frustration & have great sympathy for it, however, consciousness raising DOES have great affect imo... just learning at the computer for instance. And that's what's occurring among peoples on Gaia everywhere. When I look into a new infant's face, I know that the original living contract is still well & whole... that the distortion takes place after the birth. That distortors must continually do the crime of distorting leads me to understand that they cannot distort/maim once & for all. Saaaayyy, Jo!!!!!! Why're you only lurking?! I certainly miss you, your sense of humor, & your fine contributions. Whassup with lurking?! ;O) Posted by: JoannaOregon on February 16, 2006 01:12 AMOh for Heaven's sake, Bhakti. I AM doing something. I'm expressing myself. My greatest life's challenge. I will, however, take your suggestion, being a policing Capricorn as you are and at times correct. I will give you a short break. When things get personal, it truly is best to step back. Posted by: jm on February 16, 2006 01:19 AMShylurker, Dear Jo, So nice to hear from you and glad to know you are still with us eventhough visiting behind the scenes. I hate the word "lurking" - doesn't it sound nefarious? Pallas, You won't mind if I just get that quote of Cheney's a little more percise, with my Virgo moon and all I feel compelled. He told Patrick Leahy to "Go f--- yourself." Some of the punch is lost without the official/actual wording. Actually, Pallas, I am glad you remembered that. It was so unbecoming of a Vice President to use that kind of language on the Senate floor. Very strange that the so-called religious, moral, and so Christian conservative supporters could just overlook (forgive) him for his vulgar transgression but are totally unwilling to forgive their fellow Americans when they display minor and major social slights. Posted by: Beverly on February 16, 2006 01:21 AM Hahaaa... Fundie on cheney: "He may be a nasty foul-mouthed guy, but he's OUR guy!" Posted by: JoannaOregon on February 16, 2006 01:31 AMjm, Expressing myself is my life's purpose also according to Dan Millman's book of the same subject. According to my birthday, I am a 33/6 which is a DOUBLE dose of expression due to the double three. #3 - Expression and Sensitivity (double) - that's why I would never infer nor ask that someone refrain from expressing themselves. It is not within me to do so because of the inner importance to myself and my own growth. Nor is it my right to ask others to limit their expression unless they are being abusive to me. #6 - Acceptance and Vision - Acceptance that my vision and idealism will not alway be readily available or seen in the real world. This is very hard for me as I tend to be very progressive thinking and forward looking with good ideas the world isn't ready for. Please continue to talk to us. I love your contributions! Posted by: Beverly on February 16, 2006 01:35 AMBeverly, You are so wise. And full of graceful manners. I will. Posted by: jm on February 16, 2006 01:40 AMHere you go, Beverly. I just hope Starman won't think me fickle. PS Beverly. I am not nefarious, either. Even if I am a double Cancer. Hahahahaha. Posted by: shylurker on February 16, 2006 01:49 AMForgot to mention this last night. Ann Coulter at it again calling Arabs "ragheads." And Pipes is up to his usual informed statements. See this weeks http://www.aaiusa.org/countdown/countdown.htm And we wonder what is wrong with our country! Posted by: Beasley on February 16, 2006 01:59 AMToday I heard an hystericallly funny parody called "Cheney's Got a Gun" on Randi Rhodes show....(take off on "Janey's Got a Gun"....I'm sure it is going to get a lot of air play.... and http://www.democrats.com/cheney-shooting-crimes has graphic and explanation of the distance in this shooting by Cheney...and it doesn't add up at all. Clinton would have been doing a slow turn on a hot spit by this point in time....and all we've got are a lot of comedians. But hey...humor works better than getting all sanctimonious and righteous. It goes down better ....as I am sure most of us have had occassion to learn by now. Posted by: judiG on February 16, 2006 02:12 AMToday I heard an hystericallly funny parody called "Cheney's Got a Gun" on Randi Rhodes show....(take off on "Janey's Got a Gun"....I'm sure it is going to get a lot of air play.... and http://www.democrats.com/cheney-shooting-crimes has graphic and explanation of the distance in this shooting by Cheney...and it doesn't add up at all. Clinton would have been doing a slow turn on a hot spit by this point in time....and all we've got are a lot of comedians. But hey...humor works better than getting all sanctimonious and righteous. It goes down better ....as I am sure most of us have had occassion to learn by now. Posted by: judiG on February 16, 2006 02:12 AMYou know, I'm going to disagree with yal'll on Hackett..first of all, I like the guy, I remember seeing him on a CSPAN event investigating the war in Iraq which came from, of all places, N.O. in 2004...it was a democrat platform event. I was impressed, and I am still impressed with him. Except that he is talking of his 'honor' when he should be talking about his 'naivete' in expecting that he could walk right into the election without going thru the Democratic party, ESPECIALLY now. I agree with neobuckeye....there is a lot at stake in Ohio. I think Hackett was really naive and somewhat rigid, as military types can be. That being said, I hope he gathers up his marbles and reenters the game at some point..... Posted by: judiG on February 16, 2006 02:21 AMBev, In certain numerological teachings, 33 is a highly evolved and spiritual number which they do not reduce to 6. It's like an 11, 22 , 33 - none are reduced in that particular numerology...all spiriutal numbers Maybe you can find the spiritual meanings online, I have the book explaining this somewhere..but no one would want to search for it in my office :) I just saw the smoking gun report on the Cheney shooting of Harry Whittington. His dob is March 3 1927. Why are Pisces always a victim? Anyway,transiting Mars/Pluto was conj his Sun approx on Monday, no time of birth. JFK was born with Mars=Pluto 135 Bang. Cheney is Bush's Agnew and who will be Bush's Ford? Its late bye. Starman Posted by: Starman on February 16, 2006 02:37 AMTo the numerologists: Isn't the name George Herbert Walker Bush....don't full names count? Posted by: Beasley on February 16, 2006 02:40 AMBeverly, Pallas - I use the Divine Triangle for numerology and I am a 22/4. Adding the master number gives a little more insight to your personality when combined with Tarot cards. But you are correct Pallas about not reducing the master numbers in a traditional sense. Posted by: Cybear on February 16, 2006 02:46 AM Beverly and Pallas, Thanks for your compliments. The maturity you perceive about me probably has much to do with the rather weighty natal moon in Capricorn that I am carrying. It probably shines even more with my "wounded" natal Sun in Taurus tightly conjunct Chiron (less than 2 degrees). Since a couple of "eye-opening" experiences in my early twenties, I feel that I have identified very little with my natal Taurean Sun energy, and much more with my Natal Moon energy, perhaps among other energies. In addition, my natal Saturn in Leo is in my Third House, giving me the structured mind and communications that you might expect with this placement. I've actually had some formal journalistic training, and wrote a number of historical and political research papers as an undergraduate in college. But you probably wouldn't believe how challenging and time consuming it really is for me to write anything of considerable length. Unlike Jupiter, Saturn is no joyride, though it too has its' rewards. They just don't come easy. As for Bush's visit to Ohio, I'm not sure how it went today. I see that he was in Columbus. Although I, too, was in the Columbus area today for a conference (more like the fringe outskirts of the metro area), I've been offline and out of the news loop until now. But I'm sure that more than the usual coalition of protesters showed up to greet him. Posted by: NEOBuckeye on February 16, 2006 02:46 AMBeasley.....you are speaking of the elder Bush. this one is George Walker Bush. Neither much good in my mind. Posted by: judiG on February 16, 2006 02:48 AMYes Beasley, the full name is used when doing numerology. Posted by: Cybear on February 16, 2006 02:48 AM* The Cartoons & the Neocon Daniel Pipes & the Danish Editor ...So, let’s look at the guy who started this whole cartoon escapade. He’s Flemming Rose, the cultural editor of the Danish newspaper. In all of the Lexis-Nexis database of stories from the American media on the Mohammed cartoons, there is absolutely no mention of the fact that Rose is a close confederate of arch-Islamophobe Daniel Pipes. Indeed, there is almost no context at all about Rose’s newspaper. On a brief mention in the WaPo gave a hint at a fact desperately needed to understand the situation. The Post described the affair as “a calculated insult … by a rt-wing newspaper in a country where bigotry toward the minority Muslim population is a major, if frequently unacknowledged, problem.” How bad is Pipes? He wants the utter military obliteration of the Palestinians; indeed, from the Muslim world, his racism is about as blatant as that of the Holocaust denying Iranian Pres Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Pipes’ frequent outbursts of racism--designed to toss gasoline on the neo-cons’ lust for a wholesale conflict of cultures--earned him a [bushaolic] nomination to the US Institute of Peace, a congressionally funded think tank. Rose came to America to commune with Pipes in 2004, & it was after that mtg the cartoon gambit materialized. It’s also worth noting that Danish PM Anders Fogh Rasmussen wrapped himself in protestations about freedom of speech, & that’s commendable. But he is one of bush’s few fans in Europe, steeped in the we-vs-them rhetoric, & having sent troops to the Iraqi Crusade. Is Rose an equal opportunity offender? No way. As the British press reported last wk, his newspaper refused in 2003 to run cartoons that ridiculed Jesus. And, of course, free expression in Europe is very relative. Many of the democracies have laws banning certain speech. Rose gave a rather misanthropic rejoinder to AP when asked about whether he wld have pub'd the cartoons in light of the subsequent protests. Rose said: "I do not regret having commissioned those cartoons & I think asking me that question is like asking a rape victim if she regrets wearing a short skirt Fri night at the discotheque." That, of course, makes the assumption that women are responsible for being raped. It’s just as fallacious as assuming the Muslim world shld passively accept an intentional provocation, one that gratuitously attacked one of the religion’s strictest prohibitions. Was the reaction overwrought? Absolutely. Was it predictable? Absolutely. Was it an intentional scheme to provoke Arab anger, & thereby engender Western disgust with the Muslim world? The involvement of Pipes/Rose argues that that is exactly what happened... http://www.counterpunch.org/sugg02142006.html The lethal pink supremacist malebot marches on... Posted by: JoannaOregon on February 16, 2006 02:48 AMJudi G., Yeah, what you said. This turn of events is most revealing--whether or not Hackett rode in on a white horse. The Dem leadership urged him to compete; he captured many supporters; he almost won a race that initially no one thought he had a chance of winning. And then the Dem leadership (apparently, DLC types) dropped him like a hot potato. Of course his feelings are hurt. I hope he turns his anger into resolve to carry on the fight against corruption, lying, cronyism, etc. And the Dem leadership should be ashamed of themselves. Lead, follow or get out of the way. And what they did in this instance was just muck things up. Poor show. I don't know how Dean stands it. Amazing how much he cares. Posted by: shylurker on February 16, 2006 02:49 AMI was also taught that you do not reduce master numbers....my son in law is an 11, as is his younger sister. I don't know any others in my immediate surroundings. I do know that age 33 is when most people (on average) have their first experience of 'cosmic consciousness'.... Posted by: judiG on February 16, 2006 02:50 AMOoops, I forgot something. When working with master numbers. The master number is the personality number and the reduced number is the soul number. Posted by: Cybear on February 16, 2006 02:57 AMShylurker...yeh, absolutely, tho NeoBucheye is also right that Sherrod Brown is more the sure thing....it is bad timing all around, but when is timing good for dems in the first place? I worked for CA State senator Jackie Speirer back in 1984 or 85 when she did her first state run....she went in and ran against Willie Brown 's (he was State Assembly speaker then, before being mayor of SF) handpicked candidate (who was also a good man)....Jackie won by 500 write in votes and went up to Sacramento...first thing she did wa make peace with Willie. And Willie was smart enough to see a real winner in Jackie. (Jackie Speier, for those of you outside CA, was the assistant to Congressman Leo J. Ryan and she went to Jonestown with him to investigate. He was shot and killed, she was shot 5 times9 she almost lost her arm, and laid on the tarmac for 24 hours until help arrived) and spent a year in the hospital. She ran, when she recovered, for Leo's seat in Congress and lost big time. It was too soon for her. But I know, as I told her in 1985, that she will be Governor of CA one day. She is a state Sanator now...and her secret was always her diligent grass roots work. hackett will have to do that as well if he wants to be the Man. Posted by: judiG on February 16, 2006 02:58 AMPoll needs help: Should Snarly have alerted the media immediately after shooting Mr. Whittington? Yep, Judi G., What you said again (about Jackie Spier). The most important issue about Hackett, for me, is nurturing the grass-roots (Dean style) or continuing the Good Ol' Boy, heavy-handed, "we know what's best for you" so shut up and vote crappola (DLC style). Posted by: shylurker on February 16, 2006 03:09 AMjudiG, I'd personally like to see Paul Hackett run in a rematch against Mean-Jean Schmidt in his home congressional district. He didn't lose to her by much the first time -- quite excellent for a Democrat in a very Red/Republican district. He might have an edge over her now, with even many conseratives finally waking up and finding themselves disgusted with the foolish behavior of Neocon Republicans like Schmidt. Even if they still don't vote for Hackett, they're much more likely to simply stay home than to vote again for Schmidt. For now, I think Hackett should take a bit of a breather and maybe link up with former Senator Max Cleland and other veterans who are fighting to turn the tide against the men who have so gleefully sent them into high-risk combat, yet wish to contribute nothing towards the high costs that these soldiers must pay for their sacrifices. The way the NeoConservative Republicans have treated Cleland alone should have incensed Americans enough to drive the GOP from office. That they still remain in power unfortunately speaks volumes about where we are in our collective understanding of War and its' consequences. Posted by: NEOBuckeye on February 16, 2006 03:17 AMIf there's one thing I've observed about this Pluto in Sag era, it's that there seems to be a very nonchalant, "hands-off" attitude towards the consequences of one's actions, particularly, of course, where it pertains to power. Leaders elected (or selected) during this transit take little, if any responsibility for their actions, and the people, for their part don't seem to care much what these leaders are doing. At least not enough to hold them accountable. I'd be interested in knowing if this was also very much the case during Pluto's previous transits of Sagittarius. At any rate, it gives me a great deal of hope for Pluto in Capricorn, which suggests a time of accountability and responsibility for one's actions in power. If Cheney, Rumsfeld and the NeoCons were more intelligent men, they'd already be packing their bags and heading for the hills. Posted by: NEOBuckeye on February 16, 2006 03:30 AMA friend told me this AM that she heard Imus also used the term "raghead" * Not all people with the Sun sq Saturn are emotionally challenged, but many can be. Note the reaction of a typical Sun/Saturn person, a Mr D Cheney from the USA. Confronted with demands for public accountability, he reacts in a Saturnine way by shutting up shop. Of course, his Moon in Pisces opp Neptune is fully demonstrated by his compassion/empathy for all living things, & any suggestions about this planetary combination showing a low tolerance to alcohol are inflammatory/repugnant. With Saturn currently opp his Sun & squaring his Saturn/Jupiter, small wonder he is choosing to keep a low profile. But look at his progressed chart – this is the beginning of the end for him. I suggest that the bubble around him is about to break, by the end of March he’ll be in quite serious trouble, by the end of April his position will be untenable, & that by the 2nd week of June irrevocable actions will have taken place concerning him. Quote from a Guardian blog: ‘Actually, it may have been an act of mistaken self-defense. With all of the investigations going on into the CIA-leak, the Abramoff corruption scandal, & the Iraq/Halliburton corruption scandals, & with Libby's, DeLay's & Enron's Ken Lay's trials all coming up soon, cheney may have been on a hair-trigger, ready to shoot any lawyer who came near him that wasn't his own personal lawyer. He cld actually create a totally new category of defense plea: subpeona-phobia.’ http://www.stevejudd.co.uk/ Posted by: JoannaOregon on February 16, 2006 03:42 AMThe transiting North Node in Aries is about to leave and go into Pisces. Active combat might be curtailed then as we go with the flow in Pisces. These last few months are an opportunity to see some action, carry it through, and get some results. One very interesting thing about Cheney is how his Taurus Stellium conjuncts the South Node in Taurus of this country's Treasury chart, a sensitive trouble spot. This makes me think that he is a large part of the financial drain we've recently experienced. Maybe he thinks that our money is all his. As a taxpayer, I would like to see a stopper put into this process. Posted by: jm on February 16, 2006 06:37 AMI'd just like to be able to tell Cheney, "you're fired." Posted by: NEOBuckeye on February 16, 2006 06:41 AM"That they still remain in power unfortunately speaks volumes about where we are in our collective understanding of War and its' consequences." Neo, I think with the coming progressed Mars retro and the recent Pluto opposition combined with our failed wars of late, this is about to change. Posted by: jm on February 16, 2006 06:57 AMBy The Way, I'm asking forgiveness for any feather ruffling I might have committed, speaking of birds. {{{{Astroworld}}}}} Onward we go. Posted by: jm on February 16, 2006 07:55 AMHunting is big in America. A lot of people around the country right now are disturbed by what this ultra rich Republican is doing to sully the reputation of this great American sport. NRA folks included. I think there's going to be some ripples. Posted by: jm on February 16, 2006 09:40 AMhttp://www.upi.com/SecurityTerrorism/view.php?StoryID=20060214-053955-9494r Whistleblower says NSA violations bigger WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- A former NSA employee said Tuesday there is another ongoing top-secret surveillance program that might have violated millions of Americans' Constitutional rights. Russell D. Tice told the House Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations he has concerns about a "special access" electronic surveillance program that he characterized as far more wide-ranging than the warrentless wiretapping recently exposed by the New York Times but he is forbidden from discussing the program with Congress. Tice said he believes it violates the Constitution's protection against unlawful search and seizures but has no way of sharing the information without breaking classification laws. He is not even allowed to tell the congressional intelligence committees - members or their staff - because they lack high enough clearance. Neither could he brief the inspector general of the NSA because that office is not cleared to hear the information, he said. Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Conn., and Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, said they believe a few members of the Armed Services Committee are cleared for the information, but they said believe their committee and the intelligence committees have jurisdiction to hear the allegations. "Congressman Kucinich wants Congressman Shays to hold a hearing (on the program)," said Doug Gordon, Kucinich's spokesman. "Obviously it would have to take place in some kind of a closed hearing. But Congress has a role to play in oversight. The (Bush) administration does not get to decide what Congress can and can not hear." Tice was testifying because he was a National Security Agency intelligence officer who was stripped of his security clearance after he reported his suspicions that a former colleague at the Defense Intelligence Agency was a spy. The matter was dismissed by the DIA, but Tice pressed it later and was subsequently ordered to take a psychological examination, during which he was declared paranoid. He is now unemployed. Tice was one of the New York Times sources for its wiretapping story, but he told the committee the information he provided was not secret and could have been provided by an private sector electronic communications professional. Posted by: Pat C on February 16, 2006 01:00 PMThere are so many things that are appalling that one hardly knows where to begin, jm, but one that that you touched on and that continues to boggle my mind is that they seem to believe they are ENTITLED to as much of tax payers' dollars as they can absorb. Amazing.
Posted by: shylurker on February 16, 2006 02:11 PM Poll's doing better, but still needs your help re how Snarly should respond: Another poll that needs help re what to do with "Gitmo": http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11383956/ Posted by: shylurker on February 16, 2006 02:40 PM
Critics slam Cheney's interview choice - Matea Gold, Los Angeles Times
Cheney finally addressed the incident Wednesday, but the forum in which he chose to do so -- in an exclusive interview with Fox News host Brit Hume -- quickly became another source of contention. Fox News executives cast the scoop as the result of persistence and the growing clout of the top-rated cable news network. Posted by: wv on February 16, 2006 02:50 PMAh, but let's hope this one gets wide coverage: TO HECK WITH THE POLLS!
By BOB HERBERT It's time for Dick Cheney to step down — for the sake of the country and for the sake of the Bush administration. Mr. Cheney's bumbling conduct at the upscale Armstrong Ranch in South Texas seemed hilarious at first. But when we learned that Harry Whittington had suffered a mild heart attack after being shot by the vice president in a hunting accident, it became clear that a more sober assessment of the fiasco at the ranch and, inevitably, Mr. Cheney's controversial and even bizarre behavior as vice president was in order. There's a reason Dick Cheney is obsessive about shunning the spotlight. His record is not the kind you want to hold up for intense scrutiny. More than anyone else, he was fanatical about massaging and distorting the intelligence that plunged us into the flaming quagmire of Iraq. He insisted that Saddam Hussein had chemical and biological weapons and was hot on the trail of nukes. He pounded away at the false suggestion that Iraq was somehow linked to Al Qaeda. And he spread the word that the war he wanted so badly would be a cakewalk. "I really do believe," he told Tim Russert, "that we will be greeted as liberators." Well, he got his war. And while the nation's brave young soldiers and marines were bouncing around Iraq in shamefully vulnerable Humvees and other vehicles, dodging bullets, bombs and improvised explosive devices, Mr. Cheney (a gold-medal winner in the acquisition of wartime deferments) felt perfectly comfortable packing his fancy 28-gauge Perazzi shotgun and heading off to Texas with a covey of fat cats to shoot quail. Matters went haywire, of course, when he shot Mr. Whittington instead. That was the moment when the legend of the tough, hawkish, take-no-prisoners vice president began morphing into the less-than-heroic image of a reckless, scowling incompetent who mistook his buddy for a bird. This story is never going away. Harry Whittington is Dick Cheney's Monica. When Mr. Whittington dies (hopefully many years from now, and from natural causes), he will be remembered as the hunting companion who was shot by the vice president of the United States. This tale will stick to Mr. Cheney like Krazy Glue, and that's bad news for the Bush administration. The shooting and Mr. Cheney's highhanded behavior in its immediate aftermath fit perfectly with the stereotype of him as a powerful but dangerous figure who is viewed by many as a dark force within the administration. He doesn't even give lip service to the idea of transparency in his public or private life. This is the man who fought all the way to the Supreme Court to keep his White House meetings with energy industry honchos as secret as the Manhattan Project. (Along the way he went duck hunting at a private camp in rural Louisiana with Justice Antonin Scalia.) This is also the man whose closest and most trusted aide, Lewis "Scooter" Libby, has been indicted for perjury and obstruction of justice as a result of the investigation into the outing of a C.I.A. undercover operative, Valerie Wilson. Mr. Cheney is arrogant, defiant and at times blatantly vulgar. He once told Senator Patrick Leahy to perform a crude act upon himself. A vice president who insists on writing his own rules, who shudders at the very idea of transparency in government, whose judgment on crucial policy issues has been as wildly off the mark (and infinitely more tragic) as his actions in Texas over the weekend, and who has now become an object of relentless ridicule, cannot by any reasonable measure be thought of as an asset to the nation or to the president he serves. The Bush administration would benefit from new thinking and new perspectives on the war in Iraq, the potential threat from Iran, the nation's readiness to cope with another terror attack, the development of a comprehensive energy policy and other important issues. President Bush's approval ratings have dropped below 40 percent in recent polls. Even Republicans are openly criticizing the administration's conduct of the war, its response to Hurricane Katrina and assorted other failures and debacles. Dick Cheney is a constant reminder of those things the White House would most like to forget: the bullying, the intelligence failures, the inability to pacify Iraq, the misuse of classified information and the breathtaking incompetence that seems to be spread throughout the administration. Mr. Cheney would do his nation and his president a service by packing his bags and heading back to Wyoming. He's become a joke. But not a funny one.
National security experts have long warned that the ports are a key point of vulnerability. One of the worst fears about terrorism is that a nuclear device might be shipped from overseas and set off when it arrived in a port in a large city. The federal government should be doing everything it can to ensure that port security is as rigorous as possible, including keeping port management in trusted hands. But the British company that operates the Port of New York, and other ports, has been acquired by Dubai Ports World, based in the United Arab Emirates. Although that nation is considered an ally, there have been troubling connections between it and anti-American terrorism. Many of the Sept. 11 hijackers and planners traveled through that country, and its banking system was used in preparing for the attacks. But the Bush administration appears to have brushed these concerns aside. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, a panel that includes representatives from Homeland Security, Treasury and other departments, has given its approval to the transfer of control. Senator Charles Schumer, Democrat of New York, who has long raised questions about port security, is asking the Homeland Security Department to take a closer look at the impact of the takeover. Much remains to be done to protect the nation's ports against terrorism. Putting port management in the hands of a country with such a mixed record in the war on terror is a step in the wrong direction.
Ooooooh, Pat QOP, you ROCK!!! Posted by: shylurker on February 16, 2006 03:54 PMPosted by jm: "I don't like any politicians. I don't understand why people expect things from them. It's all the energy put into agonizing about him that bothers me. All that wasted energy. Let him go." I clearly remember you being a voiciferous cheerleader for Kerry, as late as last month. I don't agree that we shouldn't hold them to their responsibilities: to protect the rights of the people and project and promote the common good. In regards to Kerry though, I agree with you "Let him go." Posted by: Brie on February 16, 2006 04:06 PMhttp://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-02-15-specter-earmarks_x.htm Senate aide's spouse gets a windfall WASHINGTON — Sen. Arlen Specter helped direct almost $50 million in Pentagon spending during the past four years to clients of the husband of one of his top aides, records show. Specter, R-Pa., used a process called "earmarking" 13 times to set aside $48.7 million for six clients represented by lobbyist Michael Herson and the firm he co-founded, American Defense International. The clients paid Herson's firm nearly $1.5 million in fees since 2002, federal lobbying records show. Herson's wife, Vicki Siegel Herson, is Specter's legislative assistant for appropriations. She deals with Specter's work on the Senate Appropriations Committee and its defense subcommittee, where all the earmarks originated. Siegel, who uses her maiden name at work, is a former lobbyist for defense contractors who has worked for Specter since 1999. Earmarks are a way for powerful members of Congress to specify how federal money must be spent. They have been the subject of attention on Capitol Hill because they played a role in recent scandals, including the bribery conviction of former representative Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R-Calif. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., a longtime critic of earmarks, introduced legislation last week to curb the use of earmarks. The 2005 federal budget included 15,877 earmarks for $47.4 billion in spending, according to a Congressional Research Service study that McCain requested. n a statement responding to questions from USA TODAY, Specter said he did not know the earmarks were going to clients of Siegel's husband. "I am advised that at no time did her husband lobby my office or seek appropriations from any member of my staff," the statement said. Specter declined to be interviewed. Specter claimed credit for all the earmarks in news releases, noting the projects' ties to Pennsylvania. "These projects, key to our nation's defense, will be invaluable in our continuing war on terror," a Dec. 22 press release said in announcing $56 million worth of earmarks, including $17 million for four Herson clients. The earmarks paid for research, software and oxygen masks. The largest of the earmarks — $11 million in fiscal 2005 and $6.5 million in fiscal 2006 — went to Drexel University for an initiative to link the military's computer systems. Senate ethics rules prohibit senators and their staffers from using their positions to further their personal financial interests. Taking official action in return for money or other benefits is illegal. Ethical issues arise more frequently than criminal cases, said Jan Baran, a Washington lawyer who has handled several ethics cases. "Usually these types of situations are political and not legal issues," he said. More... Posted by: Pat C on February 16, 2006 04:40 PM
http://www.sfgate.com/comics/fiore/ Posted by: wv on February 16, 2006 05:26 PMA lovely artist/activist John Perry. http://www.johnperrystudio.com/AboutJohn.htm Shylurker, Thanks for that link to Eric Frances! I don't know if you ever noticed but when I first came to this site 3-4 years ago, I always addressed any replys to you as - Skylurker...you never said anything and I just kept doing it for the longest time until I noticed one day that someone called you Shylurker. I thought, oh, they spelled Sky's name wrong. I looked closer and how embarrased I was to think I had been calling you the wrong name for so long. You lurk out in the open Shy, you could never be nefarious! Pallas and CyBear, Dan Millman's book uses the birthday rather than totaling the numeric quality of the letters in the name. It's all so iteresting but there are so many systems it's hard to know which one accurately reflects who we really are but Millman's appraisal works good for me. The 3 quality fits with all my Gemini planets. Also, he sites descriptions for the negative, as well as the positive expressions of the numbers. Posted by: Beverly on February 16, 2006 09:00 PMOh, the shameful Republican! "Republicans Block Investigation of Domestic Spying Program" - by John Conyers Former Senior CIA Analyst, Paul R. Pillar has an upcoming essay in Foreign Affairs Magazine regarding the Iraq War intelligence. He states that intelligence was misused publicy to justify decisions already made.....Surprising, the link will not copy due to copyright restrictions. But it is easy enough to find with google. Also you can hear Terri Gross interview him this a.m. on npr.org if interested. I hope this gets spread far and wide. Posted by: Beverly on February 16, 2006 09:25 PMBrie...Posted by Brie at February 16, 2006 04:06 PM Such good advice. And said beautifully in such a rational, non-hurtful way that's easy to accept and follow. Gives me hope again. Beverly...There's a book called Numerology and the Divine Triangle by Faith Javane and dusty Bunker that has a lot of info on this. And here is James Galloway's assessment of the Iranian situation: "The West is in a very difficult conundrum with Iran, not least as have
Folks, Swami Beyondananda has got it and is sharing it, yet once again! Sally: thanks for your advice for all of us progressives to be like the "ant" as the summer turns to winter. You had some really good advice on a previous thread to think about buying gold, stockpiling food, etc. Can everybody see that the sands of the hourglass are running low? Look at Washington: it's currently in a meltdown mode. There are so many crises happening around the world that I can't list them all. Just one of them going out of control could push us over the edge domestically. While Washington should be keeping its eye on all this stuff, they are probably working feverishly on Cheney's alibi, to get the story "straight". = in other words, they're not taking care of defending this country. Surely Katrina showed us how much they really "care" about us. We are starting to prepare for some kind of breakdown in society. It doesn't have to cost much at all: just buy a few extra cans when you go shopping. Put them in the garage. Also buy a bottle of filtered water, it's cheap. Before long, you will have a very nice stockpile of food. As far as hoarding gold: I am starting to save silver coins. They have these at any coin shop. Be sure to get silver coins from before 1964. Anything after that is worthless. Silver coins will be very valuable and useful in a breakdown. For about $10.00 per month, you can build up a nice stash. This is probably more useful than gold anyway (as far as barter). Start getting ready. Don't worry; once you have a stock pile, you don't worry as much. Think of it as an insurance policy. Posted by: Cliss on February 16, 2006 10:14 PMWow jm, does sound familiar, but highly evolved?? I'm always working on that.
He also says: "This will create a power vacuum and cause strife within the Republican party as it is now". Eric didn't back this statement up with any astrological indications (which is ok) so am asuming it is his personal observation. No one will be there to direct the idealogical ship of state. What on earth would they do with DeLay out of power? and the rest incompetent. Frist lame. Bush a madman. Would they be able to handle a crisis? Posted by: Beverly on February 16, 2006 10:44 PM"Would they be able to handle a crisis?" Have they yet demonstrated that they can handle one? Posted by: shylurker on February 16, 2006 11:16 PMWhat state is Senator Pat Roberts of the Intelligence (oxymoron) committee from? He's an enabler. He's enabling the enlarging dictatorship , fascism, and the destruction of Move-On ought to target their ads in his state to get rid of him...and some Iraq vet should run against him. I intend to call his office tomorrow during office hours and tell them my opinion. Bush is succeeding at destroying this country with the help of republicans like him. How can the republicans in congress not see how they are helping him and his administration destroy the treasury, the labor force, the earning power, the entire fabric AND RULE OF LAW they are so fond of this is the website of the whistleblower computer programmer who participated in the programming of e now says he has written a program, that will identify voters for recount, which the machines don't, so that they can be told their vote has been " flipped". He's running against Tom Feeney in Florida, the scuz that ordered the vote flipping program be written. http://www.bradblog.com/archives/00002415.htm Posted by: Pallas1800 on February 17, 2006 12:08 AMFrom my friend, Gary... ;O) http://images2.jokaroo.net/videos/grandpajapan.wmv Posted by: JoannaOregon on February 17, 2006 12:38 AMIt used to be that we said "humans" are like this... now we should be understanding by now that a SUB-group of humans are like this. ...very emotionally/mentally sick individuals in need of meds & locking away for therapy... NOT RUNNING COUNTRIES! Canny Comments from a fellow poster, another site... * As a strong corollary to the well-understood theorem that Absolute power corrupts absolutely whichever human group is permitted (for whatever reason: fear of war with them, desire for some of their wealth, sanctimony, neglect, denial, toxic demagoguery, etc.) to consider and comport itself as the Master Race, Master Nation, Flagship Culture, Invincible Military, Deity-Chosen Ethnic Group, or other elitist conceit by which it rationalises domination or subjugation of the rest of humanity to its own will, standards, and whims becomes increasingly: - embedded in denial to maintain its illusions of inherent superiority and of immunity from the requirements of equity and universality ("Do unto others...") - enmeshed in a growing web of lies and deceit in order to conceal its growing list of crimes and the scale of its exploitation of the subjugated - divorced from any widely-distributed (truly participatory) influence of the governed over their governors (political and financial elites) - militant, even belligerent, in its abuse of military and economic power in order to force its own control over others and its ability to plunder their local natural resources at will - arrogant in its breaching of prior contracts and agreements, its flouting of international law and signed/ratified treaties, and its intentional destruction of any potential competitors - hypocritical in its pretensions of piety or adherence to humane (civilised) values and moral standards while it lawlessly violates most of the values and standards it claims to observe -- usually in secrecy (enforced by Draconian sanctions) designed to render the hypocrisy publicly deniable - treacherous in its subversion of publicly-announced values and agreements (even of national constitutions and underwritten guarantees) and even of the "civilisation" it claims to defend. Ancient Egypt, ancient Babylon, ancient Rome, imperial Spain, Austria-Hungary, Nazi Germany, Stalinist Russia, imperial America... America had damned well better have "God on our side" because America's current govt certainly doesn't have honesty, integrity, transparency, mercy, charity, humaneness, regard for human rights, or even the advancement of human freedom on its side anymore. It will likely be many generations before any reasonable person again calls America the "flagship" of anything except carefully-disguised totalitarian tyranny misrepresented as "democracy". Posted by: JoannaOregon on February 17, 2006 12:59 AM
By Chris Floyd What shall we say when history asks how such crimes came to be committed in the name of America? Will we say that we stood silently by, shrugging our shoulders, filling our bellies, closing our eyes? Or will we be able to say: We saw. We dissented. We resisted. We condemned.
Iraq: the forgotten victims : Military under fire for 'abandoning' more than 1,000 veterans with mental problems http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health_medical/article345709.ece Posted by: wv on February 17, 2006 03:24 AM This is all about Iran switching to the Euro for Russia Warns U.S. Against Striking Iran : Russia's top military chief on Thursday warned the United States against launching a military strike against Iran and a top diplomat voiced hope that close cooperation with China could help resolve the Tehran nuclear crisis. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article11957.htm === The Bush administration made an emergency request to Congress yesterday for a seven-fold increase in funding to mount the biggest ever propaganda campaign against the Tehran government, in a further sign of the worsening crisis between Iran and the west. http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,,329413536-110878,00.html Posted by: wv on February 17, 2006 03:33 AMA member of the Human Rights Commission was just on the disgusting scarborough on msnbc. He made the point that "we hanged people in Nuremberg for the type of torture and killings occuring in Iraq and at Abu Graib".... good point. At least these bastids should be jailed. of course scarborough got huffy and asked "Just who do you suggest we hang?" Posted by: Pallas1800 on February 17, 2006 03:57 AMFrom the site I posted before "bradblog" Governor of Maryland writes Diebold that their voting machines are no longer trusted and wants to go back to paper ballots! and he's republican! Copy of his letter should be sent to every governor and newspaper in the country.....with some help from patriotic Americans, don't you think?
Chairman Gilles Burger Dear Chairman Burger: As you are aware, there has been widespread national concern about the reliability and security of electronic voting systems. Many states have decertified Diebold voting machines, including those similar to the ones used in Maryland, because certain components were never subjected to federal testing. In light of these recent national decertifications and the Maryland General Assembly’s decision to override my vetoes of bills implementing early voting and allowing voters to cast ballots anywhere in the state, I no longer have confidence in the State Board of Elections’ ability to conduct fair and accurate elections in 2006. California, Pennsylvania, and dozens of local jurisdictions recently have decertified or denied certification to the Diebold voting machines pending further testing by federal authorities, citing, among other concerns, the potential for manipulation of election results due to the susceptibility to tampering of the vote-counting memory cards. In response, the Independent Testing Authority (ITA) has been reviewing Diebold voting systems and their electronic components for almost two months and has not released any findings. The State Administrator issued a letter to Diebold requesting daily status reports on the testing, but to my knowledge, no information has been shared with the State Board of Elections members, the Administration or the General Assembly about the implications for Maryland with regard to this testing. It is imperative that I receive accurate information on the potential consequences that these test results may have on Maryland’s ability to conduct fair and accurate elections this year. In discussions with my staff, you have stated that members of the State Board of Elections have not received regular updates on the testing controversy. I believe that it is time for the Board to get aggressive in responding to citizens’ concerns over public confidence in the elections system.
In 2005, the State Board of Elections provided a fiscal estimate of $175,000 for the State costs associated with an early voting program, which will now be implemented because the General Assembly overrode my veto. Astonishingly, the State Administrator recently submitted a supplemental budget request that increases these statewide costs from $175,000 to $11.5 million.
Very truly yours, I'm not much of a fan for "eye-for-an-eye" capital punishment, Pallas. I see the death penalty as lowering ourselves to the level of the very murderers we claim to oppose. But I would be very happy to see Cheney, Rumsfeld and Co. stand trial in The Hague for the numerous War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity that they have so murderously authorized. For the people of the US to turn them over to the ICC alone would be a tremendous accomplishment, and would deal a devestating, mortal blow to the NeoConservative/PNAC methodology and movement, by broad public scrutiny, regardless of the trial's outcome. Actually, as I've said here many times, Poppy Bush should be forced to stand trial even more than his son. And maybe even more than Cheney and Rumsfeld. The "kindly grandfather" mask he wears nowadays hides the some of the most breathtakingly insidious corruption ever to infest the human heart. It's almost unnerving for me to think that he is actually human. And he is, which is the rub. I don't know that his dark secrets will come to light before he goes to the grave, but once revealed, I believe as Sally has suggested that they will completely oblitterate his family's name and all of their political clout and influence, if not bring down the GOP and the US government itself. On the bright side, might very well clear the way for us to build something much more ideal in the aftermath. Posted by: NEOBuckeye on February 17, 2006 05:58 AMTransits are like novels to me. I think we're at the climax point of the Pluto transit where action speeds up, maybe chaos prevails for a moment, but soon, I think, we will have our resolution, and some lesson will be learned. something gained from the experience. This is why I think the shooting incident is so important. Aside from all the symbolism is the shock wave sent through the hunting community. These people have great pride in their skill and complete respect for the power of the gun. They have strict codes of behavior, and strong traditions. They have folk heroes like Ernest Hemingway who was one of the most strict and cautious hunters known. It's woven into the fabric of their whole lives. This man's desecration of what they deem holy with his six packs and babes in the woods is a crime to them. They also know something isn't right about the story. His unmanliness is apparent. And all throughout the country, hunters like this are there in great numbers, with families and contacts that go out concentrically. The whole West is populated by such people, mostly Republican. Maybe some seeds of doubt will sprout about the Republican leadership they so loyally follow. Ed Schultz is there to help them too. We can't do anything now about the things going on in Washington. It's all a game and it will play itself out. But around the country things can be done. The one party oppressive rule is our problem and this has been accomplished by the blind unquestioning support so many Republicans embrace. Last night on my local radio station I heard a Republican speak for two hours about the coming split in the party in one to three years. This ties in perfectly with the Pluto wind-down. If this is so, when it happens some will come over to the Democratic Party, and hopefully others will have the sense to vote independently. Hating the Democratic Party is understandable, but we're stuck with it now and the breaking of the one party stranglehold is the most important thing. If this can be done by '08, it will coincide with Pluto leaving Sagittarius and the end to extremist fundamendalist domination of our county. Correction. Hemingway was a real hero. Posted by: jm on February 17, 2006 09:56 AMAnother "crazy making item": as if we needed another.......techno pressure! Why don't they STOP TWEAKING & UPGRADING! jm, it's time to jettison BOTH parties and create new structures. Down with the old! In with the new!!! Marta Posted by: Marta on February 17, 2006 05:08 PMMarta, if We, the People, start a new party maybe it should be called the Constitution Party. Nobody else is using the Constitution these days. Posted by: Barbara on February 17, 2006 07:54 PMI agree with you .
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