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“OUT DAMN SPOT”

Sir Thomas More: And when we die, and you are sent to heaven for doing your conscience, and I am sent to hell for not doing mine, will you come with me, for fellowship? (A Man For All Seasons.)

Sir Thomas More was executed for refusing to accept King Henry the VIII as the supreme head of the Church of England.

We’ve been told time and time again that George Bush and Dick Cheney are following their conscious, doing what they believe “God” wants them to do. Do we believe that? Do 68 percent of the American people, who say they are against this war, believe God wants George Bush to mire this country in war, with massive murders of the innocent people in Iraq, and thousands of our soldiers marching to war for “his” God? And why do they think God wants them to do such a thing? For oil? For Halliburton? “My God” and the God of billions around the world do not agree. We cannot judge whether George believes “God” is demanding this of him, but if he is indeed following his conscious and we who are not following ours will ultimately take two different paths in what has become the war of religions, ideology, and illusions.

Last week Dick Cheney and his side kick George Bush have declared themselves above the law, above checks and balances, above Congress, above the Constitution, above the people. We are officially living in a dictatorship and we are doing nothing about it. What Cheney and Bush have done is illegal.

However -- and here's where the claim that Cheney is really a legislative official creates problems for the White House -- it seems pretty clear that the President isn't allowed to delegate executive power to a legislative official, as that would be a separation of powers violation. So to the extent that this is what's going on, the "Cheney is a legislative official" argument is one that opens a big can of worms.

http://www.rawstory.com/showarticle.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Finstapundit.com%2Farchives2%2F006543.php

Until this can be sorted out, it would appear Mr. Cheney is not the Vice President after all; therefore, his title and tax payer benefits need to be removed until this all is sorted out. Those benefits would include:

Air Force Two including any other travel expenses for himself or family
Secret Service Protection
His home, office and food expenses
All Salaries for himself and his staff
A review of everyone he’s hired for other departments
Health Care
Denied access to classified information
Denied access to any and all bunkers
Absolutely anything the taxpayers are responsible for in Mr. Cheney’s care and feeding should be removed. If GWB has broken the law (and it looks like he has) he needs to answer for that.

Mr. Cheney’s birth data and aspects that would create this kind of chaos around him due to his insane knee-jerk reaction to answering any question by Congress or oversight committees are as follows:

Birth data – January 30, 1941, 7:30pm, Lincoln, Neb.

Transiting Uranus at 18 degrees Pisces is retrograding back to square his Mars at 17 degrees Sagittarius. Transiting Saturn inconj. His Venus at 21 Capricorn and squaring his Uranus at 22 Taurus (in the 9th house, giving him not a legal leg to stand upon.) T-Saturn will soon oppose his Mercury (look for him to further stick his foot in his mouth and to stubbornly hunker down) T-Pluto inconjunct his Mid-heaven and his Chiron, setting up a yod indicating a huge power struggle for him. T-Pluto also squares his Neptune. He has a grand fire trine between his progressed Sun (17 Aries) progressed Moon (17 Leo) and natal Mars (17 Sagittarius) expect him to act swiftly over the next month to win this power struggle. Fortunately Saturn has passed 17 Leo, there isn’t anything transiting to activate the trine. In October Jupiter reaches 17 Sagittarius and that could be an activation, however Jupiter and his Natal Mars will be dealing with the square to T-Uranus.

All this adds up to physical, emotional and professional stresses for Mr. Cheney with possible ouster. His natal Mars, which is under so much stress, rules his 4th house of endings, his 8th house of death and his 9th house of court cases. From now until this time next year, Mr. Cheney has a great deal to answer for, if not Congress, then to the gods. Right after 9/11 Mr. Cheney revealed on Fox News that in order to “get these terrorists, it would be necessary to go to the dark side.” Dick Cheney went to the “dark side” long before 9/11.

On top of Mr. Cheney’s problems, the Saturn/Neptune opposition falls across Mr. Bush’s Venus, and Pluto inconj. his Saturn, their actions this week has taken away all doubt that we are living under a dictatorship formed in the “shadow government,” George said "a dictatorship would be easier, that is if he is the dictator. Even Brit Hume said Cheney “is in an undisclosed bunker of his mind.”

The 110 Congress (Jan. 4, 2007 @ 10:00am Washington D.C.) is sitting on a powder keg, and unless they light it, the United States in any recognizable form, is gone. They actually have the aspects through the summer and fall to put a match to this mess, we have to wait and see if they do, and if the judicial system is working in any manner what so ever. Are we a nation of laws or not, and if we are they are not “laws of whim.” The big question is “why hasn’t Richard Cheney been impeached by now?” The answer might be that Congress has been instructed they cannot, he is too powerful. The reality is Dick Cheney might in fact be the President of the United States.

There is no doubt that we are a sick nation and a scattered nation without much of a concept of working together to survive, there also isn’t a doubt that at some point we will get tired of being sick and rise up to heal ourselves.

A dear psychic friend, whom I trust, told me years ago that one day Congress would shut its doors for three days and come out with the original Constitution. I couldn’t see that happening then, but I do now. I also believe that we will have to go in there as a people and pull them out of the WH.

I am angry, angry at this cowed Congress and cowed nation, even angry with myself. Believe me, we will get tired of being sick and tired, millions of us are tired of it now.


Sally Cheyne McDonald on Jun 24 | Link
Comments

Many millions Sally.

Posted by: Pat C on June 24, 2007 11:01 PM

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/062407G.shtml

Their Men in Washington: Undercover With DC's Lobbyists for Hire
By Ken Silverstein - Harpers

Posted by: Pat C on June 24, 2007 11:03 PM

Alice Bailey once said that to find out whether or not it's true guidance, the messages should be consistent with true morality and not be selfish, but truly benefit benefit humankind as a whole...In addition it should be amenable to the intellect and the trained intuition.


An incident that few people have commented upon is that George Bush was anointed with oil in the Pentecostal tradition the day before his inauguration. Since then he's believed, and some of his people have believed that he's an "anointed leader". But anointing is a sacrament available to all who ask. It does not make a person special above all other people.

People talk about the gifts of the spirit-but one gift nobody really talks about is the Gift of Discernment. Judgement works better than inchoate visions when it involves the health and welfare of other people.

Posted by: Carol on June 24, 2007 11:04 PM

Sally, this article tells that everyone in Congress knows already, but it explains why they aren't acting.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-e-jackson-jr/the-vices-of-cheney-wher_b_53491.html

The Vices of Cheney: Where Impeachment Must Begin

[snip]]
If the Democrats had gained control of Congress in 2005, the impeachment of Cheney might have happened. But in the summer of 2007, the Democratic members of the House Judiciary Committee have an "out" in that the prevailing political judgment among the majority is that the timing is too close to 2008 to begin such a prolonged and disruptive proceeding.

Thus, as a senior Democratic member of the Judiciary Committee recently argued to me, "we are holding what otherwise would be impeachment hearings under the heading of oversight" and
publicly "embarrassing" the Bush-Cheney White House. He went on to say that his colleagues (Republicans, as well as Democrats) on that committee -- where the impeachment process must start -- often discuss the abundant circumstantial evidence for high crimes having been committed at the highest levels of the Bush administration.

Posted by: lunaoscura on June 24, 2007 11:21 PM

The Washington Post has a 4 part article about Cheney. Here's a quick summary of all 4 articles.

Here is a summary of all four articles from the Washington Post.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/cheney/

Angler:
The Cheney Vice Presidency
Dick Cheney is the most influential and powerful man ever to hold the office of vice president. This series examines Cheney's largely hidden and little-understood role in crafting policies for the War on Terror, the economy and the environment.

Today: Part 1
Working in the Background
A master of bureau-cracy and detail, Cheney exerts most of his influence out of public view.

Monday: Part 2
Wars and Interrogations
Convinced that the “war on terror” required “robust interrogations” of captured suspects, Dick Cheney pressed the Bush administration to carve out exceptions to the Ge-ne-va Con-ventions.

Tuesday: Part 3
Dominating Budget Decisions
Working behind the scenes, Dick Cheney has made himself the dominant voice on tax and spending policy, outmaneuvering rivals for the president’s ear.

Wednesday: Part 4
Environmental Policy
Dick Cheney steered some of the Bush administration’s most important en-vir-onmental decisions — easing air pollution controls, opening public parks to snowmobiles and diverting river water from threatened salmon.

Starting as a junior aide on Capitol Hill, Dick Cheney built an unmatched Washington resume as White House chief of staff, House minority whip and secretary of defense.

******
And this is the 1st article for today

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/cheney/chapters/chapter_1/

Posted by: lunaoscura on June 24, 2007 11:28 PM

As long as he is in Office, he can drop bomb, among other things.

Posted by: Pat C on June 24, 2007 11:31 PM

Write to your Senators and Congresscritters and tell them that you will not now, or ever consent!

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/6/24/12301/4304

Qui Tacet Consentit

The Sunday paper arrived by my mailbox carrying its usual heft of ads, sports, and television schedules. Above the headlines on the front page was the story of a man who killed his wife and kids, and was foolish enough to not only do so on the basis of the plot from a popular TV crime show that aired the previous week, but to base his murder scheme on a plotline in which the murderer was caught. The rest of the front page was taken up with a story of religion in baseball, the difficulties of a local museum, and a study on mass transit. Nothing too unusual.

In the meantime, we have a Vice-President who has declared his independence from law and regulation, and a President who, far from reigning in in this ridiculous Constitutional overreach, has decided to play me too, even in reference to regulations that explicitly address the office of the president and vice president.

Cheney is not subject to the executive order, she said, "because the president gets to decide whether or not he should be treated separately, and he's decided that he should."
More...

DEMAND ACTION!

Posted by: Pat C on June 25, 2007 12:59 AM


Comment
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Where can Tony Blair go now? There's really only one possible destination
Many jobs have been touted for the outgoing prime minister. It's hard to say which of them he's most unqualified for

Geoffrey Wheatcroft
Monday June 25, 2007

Guardian

One of life's more desolate occupations is former prime minister. When Tony Blair leaves Downing Street on Wednesday he may keep a car and a bodyguard, but there will be no more scrambled telephones, massed cameras or summits. Like Wagner's gods deprived of Freya's golden apples, politicians cut off from power find their vitality draining away, and so the departing prime minister's friends are wondering what sufficiently important and revivifying job can now be found for him. What's to be done with Tony?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,,330072897-103677,00.html

Posted by: wv on June 25, 2007 02:29 AM

Saturn will be soon squaring Tony's Jupiter and then Mars, I expect he will have about a six month low and then his star begins to rise in 2008 (fall of 2008) he maintains a certain amount of respect on the world's stage for about a year and a half. In about two years give or take a few months Tony could have some serious health problems as Saturn crosses over his Saturn/Neptune conj in the 6th house, and that squares Chiron, Tony then passes from view for at least 15 years or more. It's possible that after 2020 all who were involved with this period of time will be but a footnote in history, and a nasty footnote at that.

Posted by: Sally on June 25, 2007 03:36 AM

Interesting, Sally. Did you consciously or unconsciously use the word conscious (awareness) twice, because Evil and Eviler have no conscience (sense of right and wrong)? Things that make you go hmmmm.

What are the odds of Congress actually doing anything aside from rolling over to get its stomach scratched? Anybody taking any bets?

Posted by: Noelle on June 25, 2007 03:45 AM

Capt'n Sally, you continue to amaze me with your analyses and I appreciate all you do for us. It's been years now that I've come to this site. And, whether depressed, angry, fearful--all those bad feelings that the current regime successfully imposes--I have usually found hope here. I thank you ever so much.

I am posting this for everyone, a preview of what the WaPo is supposed to have tomorrow. I urge you all to gather strength and a barf bag before clicking on the link:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1176591

Posted by: shylurker on June 25, 2007 04:01 AM

Ha, it was a Freudian Slip Noelle, I don't think I will change it.

You're right Shy, it's worth the read but one will have to suck it up. It looks like one of my daughters is going to England to work, if she does maybe I will just leave the country too. Oh that's wishful thinking, I don't think I could leave my grandchildren, maybe I could get all my kids to move to Ireland, Wales or Scotland with me.

Posted by: Sally on June 25, 2007 04:34 AM

Yeah, I'm with you Sally. Would have been long gone but there are little ones here that need me, especially one of them. Wasn't it Iceland that is very far advanced in alternative energy? Doesn't matter, we just have to suck it up and provide as much for the little ones as we can.

Posted by: on June 25, 2007 07:17 AM

Sally,
Your writing just gets better & better!
And they are trying to deny us peons even the smallest relief!

Vanity over mood elevation!
Real chocolate is made from crushed cacao beans, which provide not only solid cocoa mass but also cocoa butter that is vital to texture because, quite literally, it melts in your mouth. Industrial confectioners have petitioned the Food and Drug Administration to be able to replace cocoa butter with cheaper fats and still call the resulting product “chocolate.” The reason: the substitution would allow them to use fewer beans and to sell off the butter for cosmetics and such.
In America, the Food and Drug Administration can act swiftly to change rules based on what it calls a citizen’s petition. Last year, “citizens” like the Grocery Manufacturers Association added new guidelines for chocolate onto an omnibus petition covering more than 200 foods that called for, among other things, altering food standards to “permit maximum flexibility in the food technology used to prepare the standardized food” and to allow “any alternative process that accomplishes the desired effect.”

This could have sweeping effects on food manufacturing overall; for chocolate in particular, the guidelines provide for no effective limit on how much cocoa butter can be substituted nor restrictions on what fats can be used. There is no attempt to mimic the real thing.

This might have passed unnoticed had a California chocolate maker, Gary Guittard, not banged the alarm. He rallied opposing forces; the F.D.A. extended its comment period to today. The agency says it isn’t making any immediate decision.
CALL the FDA!
I first experienced Tobler Chocolate in Germany ( Switzerland when I was 17)
Now Kraft Foods owns Tobler & it just ain't the same!
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/25/opinion/25rosenblum.html?th&emc=th
QOP

Posted by: on June 25, 2007 11:03 AM

Yes indeed, Sally, this is one of your finest.

I've come to believe that maybe the time for letter writing and protesting may be over, that it is time to figuratively "take up arms" and physically take our brooms, shovels and cleaning solutsions to the whitehouse, where our "guests" have overstayed. We'll have to shut down the town to clean out the vermin. Maybe, just maybe Kucinich will be our Pied Piper in waiting. We need someone like him, uncompromised and unafraid.

Posted by: karen on June 25, 2007 01:22 PM

CHOCOLATE!!!!!! That's too much. Maybe we will protest over chocolate, I certainly am going to protest. I heard about this about a month ago but I thought it was resolved. I called the FDA and registered my complaint, and I thought they stopped it then.

It's going to be a long and frustrating summer I think as the mess in our government that keeps growing continues to balloon. A new study out says that 41 percent of the people still believe that Iraq had something to do with 9/11 and that number has grown by 5 percent over the last six months. Incredible.

I agree Karen, I'm not sure what protests will do at this point. I don't think they are listening at all.

Posted by: Sally on June 25, 2007 01:46 PM


Cheney - Chapter 2

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/cheney/chapters/pushing_the_envelope_on_presi/index.html

Posted by: wv on June 25, 2007 01:48 PM


Cheney on Presidential Power

James A. Baker III came to see Wyoming's sole member of Congress on Nov. 19, 1980, days after Ronald Reagan was elected president. He was about to assume the post of White House chief of staff, which then-Rep. Richard B. Cheney (R-Wyo.) had held at the age of 34. Cheney's advice, recorded in four pages of handwritten notes on Baker's yellow legal pad, began with this:

1. Restore power & auth to Exec Branch -- Need strong ldr'ship. Get rid of War Powers Act -- restore independent rights.****** Central theme we ought to push

Cheney's muscular views on presidential power, then and now, offer one answer to the question raised often by former colleagues in recent years: What happened to the careful, mainstream conservative they once thought they understood?

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/cheney/sidebars/cheney_on_presidential_power/index.html

Posted by: wv on June 25, 2007 02:06 PM

Geeze, these guys have to screw up everything...chocolate even! Me, I only buy chocolate from a Swiss company that uses Rice milk (can't do cow) so American chocolate manufacturers can kiss my money good bye.

Posted by: Morgana on June 25, 2007 06:56 PM

Pat B and C, I just would like to make you aware that this holy mess we are experiencing now, was not just initiated during the Bush&Cheney presidency but actually centuries ago. Unfortunately it just culminates now. Maybe this is the reason for the Mayan date line of Dec. 2012.
If you have the time, you should read the books written by Antony C. Sutton. It will give you first hand knowledge and you do not have to quote opinions.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antony_C._Sutton
He was also one of former Presidents Clinton|s teachers. His lectures were very illuminating!!
He originally planed to write several more books put somehow was convinced not to. One of them was supposedly to be about the Financial System and the roll of the Federal Reserve Bank.
The title of some of his books.:
An Introduction to the Order
How the Order Creates War and Revolution
The Secret Cult of the Order
How the Order controls Education
By the way Goebels would be proud of the global players in charge, how successful the propaganda machine is working now a days, even much better than he probably could ever have imagined.

Posted by: Charles on June 25, 2007 08:44 PM

I forgot to add Carroll Quigley
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carroll_Quigley
also one of Clinton's teachers.

Posted by: Charles on June 25, 2007 08:51 PM

May all the politicians who deserve criticism get the same treatment Christine Whitman got at this public meeting.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070625/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/attacks_health;_ylt=ArAA3pC4Gm7I0a8KQKMvdh7MWM0F

Whitman on hot seat over 9/11 aftermath

By DEVLIN BARRETT

WASHINGTON - Ex-EPA chief Christie Whitman was bombarded by boos and a host of accusations Monday at a hearing into her assurances that it had been safe to breathe the air around the fallen World Trade Center.


The confrontation between the former head of the Environmental Protection Agency and her critics grew heated at times. Some members of the audience shouted in anger, only to be gaveled down by Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., who chaired the hearing.

For three hours Whitman faced charges from Nadler and others that the Environmental Protection Agency's public statements after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks gave people a false sense of safety.

more...

Posted by: lunaoscura on June 26, 2007 12:51 AM

I knew it! I knew it! We are really from another galaxy:
http://viewzone.com/milkyway.html

Maybe we picked up alien types like Dick "Dick" Cheney when our galaxy collided with this one. Ya think?

Posted by: shylurker on June 26, 2007 01:07 AM

If toldja so. Alien sighting:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1182889

Posted by: shylurker on June 26, 2007 01:37 AM

I too am thinking of moving to England - for a while anyway. I'm visiting my sister, and friends there next month. I love England, especially the English countryside, but the winters are cold and damp and grey, and it gets dark at 4, so that's the downside of living there. I may be too Americanized to live there though. It's a very different lifestyle, and very expensive.

By the way, where is JoannaO. I hope she's ok. Haven't seen any posts from her recently.

Posted by: Crystal on June 26, 2007 02:19 AM

I think Al Gore is about as frustrated as we all are. Maybe moreso. This is the angriest I've seen him yet:

--

Too little, too late: Gore blames scientists for climate crisis

US could have acted sooner if experts had reached consensus

In an extraordinary outburst aimed at America's failure to tackle global warming, Al Gore says that if scientific agreement on the climate crisis had been reached sooner it would have been easier to "galvanise the public and persuade Congress to act".

The failed presidential candidate claims that the stronger scientific consensus he knew was about to emerge meant "we in the US were about to shift into high gear in addressing the climate crisis". Mr Gore argues that if he had made it to the White House, he would have been able to use the office as a "bully pulpit" to achieve change.

"The nature and severity of the climate crisis had seemed painfully obvious to me for quite a long time," claims Mr Gore, writing in a new foreword to a revised edition of his book, Earth in the Balance, being published this week.

In a swipe at the scientific community, he says: "I wish that we could have had in the 1990s the deafening scientific consensus that has emerged in more recent years."

Mr Gore accuses his nemesis, President George Bush, of having taken "virtually no steps to address the problem. Worse, he and Vice President Cheney have led the nation in precisely the wrong direction."

He goes on to detail how the Bush administration reversed a pledge to regulate carbon dioxide as a pollutant, pulled out of negotiations on the Kyoto treaty and replaced key scientific advisers with ones suggested by oil giant ExxonMobil.

The point of no return will be reached within 10 years, the former vice president says, and we cannot wait any longer to solve the crisis. He blames a focus on instant gratification for the "exclusion of long-term consequences in our decisions and policies" and writes about his "mission of solving the climate crisis". His Oscar-winning documentary on climate change, An Inconvenient Truth, became the surprise box-office hit of 2006.

More: http://environment.independent.co.uk/climate_change/article2701314.ece

Posted by: NEOBuckeye on June 26, 2007 04:12 AM

Welcome Charles. I am assumming you are new to this site. The influence of the 18th century on the present day, the East India Trading Company, the monopolies of old, the decision after the Civil War to give corporations status equal to or greater than humans have been the subject of many Sally articles. The archives are a treasure trove,

Posted by: M. on June 26, 2007 04:21 AM

M, thank you for reading the archives, I am flattered. And Charles you are right all this started Centuries ago.

The more I read about Dick Cheney and the office of the Vice President, the more I realize that we have been mistaken about the VP office. The people didn't vote him into office and he doesn't work for either the GOP or Democratic Party, he works for the President. His oath of office to uphold and defend the Constitution has absolutely no meaning for his office. As such, I agree with the concept of completely cutting off his funding for everything. I think the President should pay for him and his needs out of the President's budget. Mr. Cheney and Mr. Bush has made it perfectly clear that the Vice President and the Attorney General work for him. Please call your Congressmen and women and let them know the Vice President's position is Mr. Bush's financial responsibility not ours.

Posted by: Sally on June 26, 2007 06:30 AM

Lets see..................we send them to Iraq to be murdered.
BUT Good forbid they should die from peanut allergy once they return home safe! Peons aren't smart enough apparently to bake nutfree oatmeal cookies~! BUT we can rely on Nabisco, Keebler, Mars, Nestle, & Hershey to provide safe snacks containing ONLY
high fructose corn syrup. ( It just takes longer to die from diabetes related illnesses!)

BANGOR (NEWS CENTER) -- Troops that landed at Bangor International Airport Monday morning got something a little different with the usual greeting.

Instead of homemade cookies and other goodies that have traditionally been served to the troops, there were plates of miniature candy bars and store-bought cookies.

The change is the result of a dispute that erupted about a month ago. Airport officials told troop greeters that the original agreement to give greeters gathering space prohibited them from serving any kind of food.

Late last week the two parties came to an agreement of what could be served.
http://www.wlbz2.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=64431
QOP

Posted by: on June 26, 2007 11:50 AM


Taking on the Supreme Court Case

When it came to vetting potential nominees, the vice president steered the selection committee.


In May 2005, a small group of the president's senior advisers gathered to weigh a historic choice: who should succeed an ailing William H. Rehnquist as chief justice of the United States.

The meeting wasn't held at the White House or the Justice Department. And the highest-ranking official in the room wasn't the attorney general, the White House chief of staff, the White House counsel or the president's chief political adviser, although they were all there.

It was Vice President Cheney, and it was to an unpretentious room off the vice president's quarters that potential candidates were summoned for interviews.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/cheney/sidebars/taking_on_the_supreme_court_ca/index.html

Posted by: on June 26, 2007 03:39 PM


Is Tony Blair right for Mid-East job?
What role do you think Mr Blair should take on in the future?

Tony Blair could get a new job as Middle East envoy for the EU, Russia, the UN and the US. The quartet are meeting in Jerusalem and are expected to discuss the scope of the role and how it should work.

The US and the Israel are keen to take advantage of Mr Blair's experience and status, while the Palestinians are said to be more reticent about the idea.

The outgoing PM has said several times that he is committed to advancing peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

Is Mr Blair right for a high-profile international role? Could he bring about change in the Middle East? What other options would be suitable for the out-going prime minister?

Click here to read the main story

Published: Tuesday, 26 June, 2007, 08:33 GMT 09:33 UK

The comments following this story are mainly
against Tony doing anything...

Posted by: wv on June 26, 2007 05:06 PM

http://commonsense.ourfuture.org/conservative_activism_grips_our_supreme_court?tx=3

Conservative Activism Grips Our Supreme Court

Today, we're seeing the conservative judicial activist vision in all its glory.

Posted by: Pat C on June 26, 2007 05:54 PM

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Iowa_radio_ads_urge_Gore_to_0626.html

'Draft Gore' radio ads begin in Iowa.

From the Raw Story article:

On Monday, the 'Draft Gore Committee' launched is first ad in Iowa, dubbed "You Who," which the Committee plans to take to the national stage in July. According to an Iowa newspaper, the 30-second radio spot features a chorus of voices which ask Gore to run...

Gore backers cite a Quinnipiac University poll released May 31, which asserted that Gore would perform stronger than any of the other Democratic contenders in the race today.

"Even without campaigning for the 2008 presidential nomination, Al Gore runs far better than any of the declared Democrats against the Republican front runner in a new poll in Pennsylvania," Gore backers write on their website, DraftGore.com. "Gore leads Giuliani 45 to 44 percent. By comparison, Giuliani leads Hillary Clinton 47 - 43 percent and Barack Obama 45 - 40 percent. Gore also moved up rapidly in the primary race poll. He's now second to Clinton in the state, while Obama dropped to third"...

More than 94,000 have signed the committee's online call to Gore, according to their site.

Posted by: Pat C on June 26, 2007 06:03 PM

I'm depressed. Look what emptywheel (who's usually correct) has to say about the ongoing/unending? influence of "Dick":
http://thenexthurrah.typepad.com/the_next_hurrah/2007/06/the-liz-cheney-.html

Posted by: shylurker on June 26, 2007 06:16 PM

Are we looking at the undoing of KKKKarl, Cap'n Sally? Is it time?

First, here's this (links are there):
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3339958

Then go here:
http://rawstory.com/showarticle.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.correntewire.com%2Frovian_justice_in_the_banana_republic_of_alabama


Posted by: shylurker on June 26, 2007 06:59 PM

Read this story and immediately thought of Sally and the posters here. Thought you would enjoy this mote of sunlight in the murk of current news--

http://www.alternet.org/story/54920/?page+1

Posted by: Barbara on June 26, 2007 08:30 PM

That should be

http://www.alternet.org/story/54920/?page=1

Posted by: Barbara on June 26, 2007 08:31 PM

Discernment.
That is the one word that has written itself on the blackboard of my mind for these past 7 years.
I find the lack of it is absolutely astonishing.

From the congress and senate who cut out the voice of the people to favor instead the whim of a dishonorable dufus who had already proven he was corrupt when he stole the 2000 election and refused to count the peoples votes. He obviously couldn't be trusted.
Then they did it again with the un-Patriot Act and on and on.
I had hoped the democratis would just close shop and pull a 4 year filibuster but apparently they all have been living in that dirty fishbowl for so long they don't even recognize the filth their swiming in and that they have themselves become a part of the problem.

I keep remebering miz Condleeza telling an auditorium full of school children that George Bush was our 'Ruler' and another time hearing Richard Perle explain how "we allow our people to vote..." and wondering who the f*&# does this priss think he is?
WE allow?? OUR people? good luck with that buddy... Those kind of attitudes really mess with my American spirit and give me the heebeegeebees.

Then we got these religious militant nuts calling themselves Christians yet lacking the discernment to see the obvious - for one thing Gods voice is heard in the masses , in the millions of protestors . The kingdom of heaven IS amoung US and not in some gangsters head who says god told him to attack a country based on his premonition of what their leader might do in the future.
Obviously it was not of God. More like insanity.

When I watch George Bush talk (lie) it's like listening to a 3 year old who claims he has not been in the cookie jar yet he has chocolate all over his face. He is just that easy to see through.

It's a really a shame that our country has fallen so far behind that the only things we are number one at now are weapons of mass destruction and prisoners. This definately is not of, for or by the people in no way , it is due to a tyranical government in a murderously frenzied state or as it's said -run amuck. It will change.

Posted by: dedacherry on June 26, 2007 10:14 PM

Excellent article, Barbara. I was struck near the very end at how Neptunian/Piscean this quietly growing yet ubiquitous green movement seems to be, as Paul Hawken described it. Vague, with a low sense of self esteem, not desiring power or status, yet present in every possible place around the globe and seeking to dissolve the pathological concentrations of power and corruption.

This may be the best thing yet to emerge from the mutual reception between Uranus in Pisces and Neptune in Aquarius, as concern for the fate of the world and humanity continues to grow. Though truthfully the seeds for the eventual and emerging Green Revolution were planted 40 years ago during the Uranus-Pluto conjunction in Virgo/Saturn opposition in Pisces. We are now seeing trends and indications that the seeds have indeed sprouted and are growing.

Posted by: NEOBuckeye on June 26, 2007 10:16 PM

Thanks, NEO, and your post is a great synopsis of the article BTW.

Posted by: Barbara on June 26, 2007 11:36 PM

Hey y'all, yet another scandal involving Cheney(fake yawn)--does anybody know how we can remove these bastards? See this link:

http://dissidentnews.wordpress.com/2007/06/24/will-bae-scandal-of-century-bring-down-eney/

I've been lurking silently lately and getting moved, yada yada yada, but I still love this site, and all of y'all fine folks...

Oh yeah, and meet my new heroine at this link--SUE ARRIGO! She's part of the feminine resurgence that will take over(and Goddess knows it won't be a moment too soon)--lots of interesting reading here: http://www.geocities.com/intuitivemd/

Namaste and love y'all!!

Posted by: Garry Todd on June 27, 2007 03:40 AM

Oops, bad link above, try this one for the Cheney story(damn you, Mercury retrograde...lol)

http://dissidentnews.wordpress.com/2007/06/24/will-bae-scandal-of-century-bring-down-cheney/

Posted by: Garry Todd on June 27, 2007 03:42 AM


Cheney- Pt 4

Leaving No Tracks

By Jo Becker and Barton Gellman
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, June 27, 2007; Page A01

Sue Ellen Wooldridge, the 19th-ranking Interior Department official, arrived at her desk in Room 6140 a few months after Inauguration Day 2001. A phone message awaited her.

"This is Dick Cheney," said the man on her voice mail, Wooldridge recalled in an interview. "I understand you are the person handling this Klamath situation. Please call me at -- hmm, I guess I don't know my own number. I'm over at the White House."


Enlarge PhotoThe vice president has intervened in many cases to undercut long-standing environmental rules for the benefit of business. Wooldridge wrote off the message as a prank. It was not. Cheney had reached far down the chain of command, on so unexpected a point of vice presidential concern, because he had spotted a political threat arriving on Wooldridge's desk.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/cheney/chapters/leaving_no_tracks/index.html

Posted by: wv on June 27, 2007 04:12 PM

http://www.wlwt.com/print/13271378/detail.html#

Former Marine Claims Illness From Mystery Vaccine

Military Source Believes Experimental Shots May Have Been Given

CLERMONT COUNTY, Ohio -- Target 5 has discovered that an alarming number of U.S. troops are having severe reactions to some of the vaccines they receive in preparation for going overseas.

"This is the worst cover-up in the history of the military," said an unidentified military health officer who fears for his job.

A shot from a syringe is leaving some U.S. servicemen and women on the brink of death. "When the issue, I believe, of the use of the vaccine comes out, I believe it will make the Walter Reed scandal pale in comparison," said the health officer.

Lance Corporal David Fey, 20, has dialysis three days a week. His kidneys are failing, his military career is over, and he feels like his country abandoned him. "I can't look at my old pictures. I really can't," said Fey. "I start looking at my old pictures, and I start crying."

Fey grew up amid the farm fields of Clermont County. "I never missed a day at school," he said. "I was never sick. I was never sick."

More...

Posted by: Pat C on June 27, 2007 04:14 PM


A good read...how we are screwing Canada...

Original Content at http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_stephen__070627_reviewing_linda_mcqu.htm


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
June 27, 2007

Reviewing Linda McQuaig's Holding the Bully's Coat

By Stephen Lendman

Reviewing Linda McQuaig's "Holding the Bully's Coat" - by Stephen Lendman

Linda McQuaig is a prominent, award-winning Canadian journalist, sadly less well known in the US because she writes about her own country. She was a national reporter for the Toronto Globe and Mail before joining the Toronto Star where she now covers Canadian politics with her trademark combination of solid research, keen analysis, irreverence and passion. She's easy to read, never boring, and fearless. The National Post called her "Canada's Michael Moore."

McQuaig is also a prolific author with a well-deserved reputation for taking on the establishment. In her previous seven books, she challenged Canada's deficit reduction scheme to gut essential social services. She explained how the rich used the country's tax system for greater riches the way it happened in the US since Ronald Reagan, then exploded under George Bush. She exposed the fraud of "free trade" empowering giant corporations over sovereign states while exploiting working people everywhere.

http://www.opednews.com/maxwrite/print_friendly.php?p=opedne_stephen__070627_reviewing_linda_mcqu.htm

Posted by: wv on June 27, 2007 05:30 PM

How we are screwing Canada...

OpEdNews

Original Content at
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_stephen__070627_reviewing_linda_mcqu.htm


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
June 27, 2007

Reviewing Linda McQuaig's Holding the Bully's Coat

By Stephen Lendman

Reviewing Linda McQuaig's "Holding the Bully's Coat" - by Stephen Lendman

Linda McQuaig is a prominent, award-winning Canadian journalist, sadly less well known in the US because she writes about her own country. She was a national reporter for the Toronto Globe and Mail before joining the Toronto Star where she now covers Canadian politics with her trademark combination of solid research, keen analysis, irreverence and passion. She's easy to read, never boring, and fearless. The National Post called her "Canada's Michael Moore."

McQuaig is also a prolific author with a well-deserved reputation for taking on the establishment. In her previous seven books, she challenged Canada's deficit reduction scheme to gut essential social services. She explained how the rich used the country's tax system for greater riches the way it happened in the US since Ronald Reagan, then exploded under George Bush. She exposed the fraud of "free trade" empowering giant corporations over sovereign states while exploiting working people everywhere.


http://www.opednews.com/maxwrite/print_friendly.php?p=opedne_stephen__070627_reviewing_linda_mcqu.htm

Posted by: wv on June 27, 2007 05:34 PM

White House, Cheney's office, subpoenaed

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070627/ap_on_go_pr_wh/eavesdropping_subpoenas

Could this be the beginning of the end of the Real Tricky Dick?

Posted by: Cybear on June 27, 2007 06:34 PM

Don't get your hopes too high, Cybear. Click on the link I posted above at 6:16 pm. They're addicted to power (and the money it can bring them).

Posted by: shylurker on June 27, 2007 07:38 PM

Power outages zap NYC

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/newyork/ny-nysubway0628,0,5840965.story?coll=ny-linews-utility

The power is back on in Manhattan and the Bronx after an outage darkened large parts of those boroughs on Wednesday, knocking out traffic lights, cutting subway service and forcing the evacuation of the Metropolitan Museum of Art on one of the hottest days of the year.

Scattered outages are still affecting parts of the Upper East Side, East Harlem and the Bronx.

Con Edison said the blackout affected 136,700 customers in all. In the West Bronx, approximately 57, 900 customers between the Harlem River, 174th Street and 144th Street and Park Avenue were affected. In Manhattan, approximately 78,800 customers between Fifth Avenue and the East River, from 77th to 110th Streets are without power. Randall’s Island also wass affected.

The cause was under investigation, but spokesman Chris Olert said it was some sort of transmission disturbance. He didn’t know the heat was a factor. “We won’t even speculate on the cause yet,” Olert said.

The outage stretched from the east side of Manhattan to the Bronx. The office of the Bronx borough president office said multiple spots were affected, including all around Yankee Stadium.

More…

Posted by: Pat C on June 27, 2007 10:45 PM

Not political; Not astrological; but very much the way life should be. If this family comes to a city near you, go buy their books and bring spare auto parts!
QOP
I'm a writer. I write novels for teens. Three months ago I quit my day job as a healthcare data cruncher to become a full-time writer, and now I'm doing my best to get the word out about my recent novel, LEMONADE MOUTH. And this is what my family and I came up with...

LEMONADE MOUTH ACROSS AMERICA! is my family's audacious attempt to make a writer's dream come true with a road-trip adventure and a shoestring budget. It's a summer-long, 26-city, 9,000 mile book tour across the USA and back--two adults, three small children and a pile of books all crammed into a minivan! For the story behind the story, click here. My website is www.markpeterhughes.com.

National Public Radio: Over the course of our summer adventure, I'll be sending "audio-postcards" to NPR's "All Things Considered" -- radio essays that will be heard by 12 million listeners. (!!)

The Route: For a list of cities and dates, click here. If you're nearby, come see us--we'd love to meet you!
http://mph33.livejournal.com/

QOP

Posted by: on June 28, 2007 02:36 PM


New Hampshire Dem leader is . . . Al Gore

By: New Hampshire Union Leader
June 27, 2007 05:14 PM EST

Boston – A New Hampshire presidential poll by WHDH-TV and Suffolk University shows that local Democrats prefer Al Gore to any of the current contenders.

Hillary Clinton has a solid lead over the rest of the current Democratic field. The poll, released this afternoon, shows 37 percent of likely Democratic voters backing Clinton or leaning towards her. Barack Obama was at 19 percent, with both John Edwards and Bill Richardson at 9 percent.

Al Gore, however, could enter the race as the leader. When his name is added, Clinton loses more than a quarter of her support, while Gore is backed by 32 percent.

Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani lead the GOP field. The former Massachusetts governor is supported by 26 percent of likely GOP voters, with Giuliani slipping to 22 percent. John McCain and Fred Thompson are both at 13 percent, a major move backwards for McCain. Romney's support, which relies heavily on younger voters, is up 7 percent from a comparable poll in March, when he trailed Giuliani (37 percent) and McCain (27 percent).

The poll, which has a 4.4 percent margin of error, surveyed 500 likely voters from June 20 to 24.



TM & © THE POLITICO & POLITICO.COM, a division of Allbritton Communications Company

Posted by: wv on June 28, 2007 03:13 PM

Pat B and all other blog readers. Maybe after reading this interesting an well written book you start looking at the US with different eyes. How the people have been representing their country and under which delusion you all have been living. How a lot of US citizen judged and still judge people of other nations.

Book Review
http://www.astrococktail.com/soulsick.html
Soul-Sick Nation: An Astrologer’s View of America
by Jessica Murray, Author House 2006.


Reviewed by John Townley

If you wondered if this mess we’re in hasn’t been obvious all along, then wonder no more. Jessica Murray’s take on what’s wrong with America (and through it, much of the rest of the world) reads a little like an astrological version of a Michael Moore cinematic polemic, including a wonderful sense of wit, ironic contrast, and literate outlook. Her insightful comments on the myriad conflicting aspects in the July 4, 1776 chart focus on the manifestations of Pluto and Saturn and how they’ve recently triggered much of the worst of what the national character has to offer. Economically power-mad Pluto in the second house opposite Mercury in the eighth, a feckless Mars square Neptune, and an insecure Daddy-complexed Sun square Saturn – all conspire to the nation’s undoing. Only the Saturn-Uranus trine seems to stand up to the hopes of history. And with both Saturn and Pluto about to drag us through some more lessons, there are dire times yet to come.

Posted by: Charles on June 28, 2007 03:23 PM


Al Gore's $100 Million Makeover

Not long ago, he was the butt of jokes--lockbox, earth tones, a postelection beard. Then he dusted off an old slide show and jumped with both feet into the private sector. The untold story of how an epic loser engineered what may be the greatest brand makeover of our time.

From: Issue 117 | July 2007 | Page 70 | By: Ellen McGirt

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A l Gore is a funny guy. And, for his $175,000 speaking fee, he tells this story: after leaving the White House and heading back to Tennessee sans motorcade--"in a rented Ford Taurus," he sniffs--he and Tipper stop to get a bite to eat at a Shoney's, "which, as you may know, is a low-cost family restaurant." The people in the restaurant "made a huge fuss...over Tipper." Then, a man spies Gore and stage-whispers, "Didn't he used to be the Vice President? He's fallen so low." Peals of delight from the audience. Gore smiles back. It's a nice moment.

But wait, there's more. Later, he goes on, he attempts the same story in Nigeria. Punch line, laughter, applause--no problem. The next day, an official at the airport yells out to him, "Call Washington!" Hmmm. "What could be wrong in Washington?" he muses, scratching his chin. "That's when I remembered it could be a lot of things." The crowd goes wild.

http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/117/features-gore_Printer_Friendly.html

Posted by: wv on June 28, 2007 03:31 PM

Good luck Lemonade Mouth, we will have to watch for it QOP.

Great posted articles here and all pointing to increased frustration of the people. Taking the 1760 to 1775 (first shot of the Revolutionary War) there is a rising tide of anger with the people. As in the late 1760's Pluto will be in Capricorn AND opposing our Venus, Jupiter, Sun and then Mercury, at the same time Uranus squares it all from Aries. This anger and frustration will begin to break out across this country. It remains to be seen whether it's in pockets or wide-spread, but it will break out.

The pressure will be kept up on Cheney, somehow his health will stop it for awhile and August is coming (everyone is gone) and then in the fall, (unless this administration does something dramatic to shift the energy back to fear) the drum beat against him keeps going. July will be his worst month and his power will continue to diminish. I do believe they will do something to try and pull the people back to fear as they attempt to hold on to money and power. They will not buckle to Congress and Congress needs to make a big noise about it all. His Profection progressions added up to a hard year this year and next. GWB's really bad year begins in 2008, do not trust them to do the right things. This is a lawless, corrupt group of people and all bets on them are off.

While Gordon Brown will probably not win UK's general election in 2009, especially since the conservatives will be working to find someone better, he is there now, with lots of Pisces in his chart and Uranus on the Pisces, he will shake things up for everyone, including us. The energy has shifted and there won't be the lock step agreement with Bush from Gordon, unless he's blackmailed into it.

Hopefully tomorrow I will be able to get to Gordon Brown and how it might change.

Posted by: Sally on June 28, 2007 03:35 PM

Is there any indications that GWB will have many bad years to come? Even if he plans to retire he could still be hounded to the grave with litigation. Maybe even sent to jail. Wouldn't it be major justice if he were sentenced to death? Now that would be karma!

Posted by: lunaoscura on June 28, 2007 05:26 PM

I'm not sure this is the right thread for this, but here goes. There are a couple of links within that provide detail.

http://commonsense.ourfuture.org/harvard_energetic?tx=3

Harvard: energetic!

When I wrote earlier this year on The Big Con about research institutes at universities who are actually outposts for industry interests, I thought I'd found quite a score when I discovered one at so distinguished a university as Tufts. More distinguished universities than that wouldn't dare so prostitute themselves, right?

Now I've just learned about the Harvard Electricity Policy Group - find a list of its eminently disinterested funders here - and their "thirty-one reports supporting energy deregulation in California. HEPG research director William Hogan explicity advised the state to adopt the 'Enron model.'"

Posted by: Pat C on June 28, 2007 05:29 PM

Sorry, that first sentence was really for Salon, where I first posted that article.

I see no one posted the blocking of the Immigration Bill this morning. The vote was final at approx. 11:28 am, EDT in DC.

Posted by: Pat C on June 28, 2007 05:31 PM

Now, if anyone has any doubts that the *ush/Cheney cabal is going to continue in the manner to which they're accustomed, no matter what congress or the people might say or think, just read this and wonder what the next "event" might be to trigger military rule.

http://www.globalresearch.ca:80/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=20070627&articleId=6169

Posted by: karen on June 28, 2007 07:50 PM

karen, your link is bad. It goes to a page that says the website doesn't exist.

Posted by: lunaoscura on June 28, 2007 08:01 PM


This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."
– Winston Churchill, November 10, 1942.


Back in 1998 in an article for Dell Horoscope entitled “The Hammer Of Destiny" we surmised that the coming (then) transit of Pluto to the U.S.A. Ascendant (12 Sagittarius, the Sibly chart) in 2000 would indicate a suppression and then a transformation of the country’s world power and the transfer of control and influence to a cooperative mix of nations in the world community. And that was only if war was avoided and if the country adapted without resisting the hammer-like transit of Pluto. The history of both nations and individuals shows that when you roll with this transit, you rise and grow, but when you don’t, it’s like beating your head against a wall. Unfortunately war was not avoided, and the country’s response was to fly in the face of implacable Pluto and fire its guns in all directions, mostly in solo disregard of the rest of the world. It was as if its superpower status was by divine right, and thus unassailable.

http://www.astrococktail.com/newsletter5.html

Posted by: wv on June 28, 2007 09:08 PM


Here is Karen's page....

The "Use of the Armed Forces" in America under a National Emergency
Unrestricted & Arbitrary Powers conferred to the President & Vice President


by Prof. Michel Chossudovsky

Global Research, June 27, 2007

In October 2006, Bush signed into law the Department of Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007.

DDAA 07 includes specific provisions which allow the military to take control of normal policy and law enforcement functions at the Federal and State levels.

Sec. 1042 of the DDAA 07 overturns the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, which prevents the military from intervening in the conduct of civilian government activities, including the conduct of Justice and Law Enforcement. Posse Comitatus has been central to the functioning of constitutional government. (It should be noted that other previous pieces of legislation have already invalidated the substance of Posse Comitatus).

What is significant in these specific provisions of DDAA 07 (Sec. 1042) is that they dovetail the provisions of Bush's National Security Presidential and Homeland Directive (NSPD 51, HSPD 20) enacted on May 9, 2007.

NSPD 51 would essentially scrap Constitutional government in the case of a so-called "Catastrophic Emergency". .

If an emergency situation were to be called by the President, NSPD 51 would instate martial law under the authority of the White House and the Department of Homeland Security. It would suspend constitutional government under the provisions of Continuity in Government (COG). It would establish extraordinary powers for the president and vice-president.

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=20070627&articleId=6169

Posted by: wv on June 28, 2007 09:12 PM


Lots of goodies...not for the faint of heart...

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=theme&themeId=7

Posted by: wv on June 28, 2007 09:24 PM

Thank you, wv

Posted by: karen on June 28, 2007 09:41 PM


AMERICA IN TRANSITION, JUNE 2007

by Jessica Murray

Astrologers are, in theory, better equipped than most people to see the Big Picture. Our stock-in-trade is nothing less than the sky itself, whose patterns we use to plumb events for meaning. And right now it would seem to be high time to use our equipment.

Precarious times require that persons of conscience use all the intelligence we can muster. By “intelligence” I mean the wit to meld the instincts with which we were born together with the knowledge at our disposal. However we came by what we know, we need to press it into service.

http://www.daykeeperjournal.com/murray.shtml

Posted by: wv on June 28, 2007 09:48 PM



Full Moon in Capricorn
Saturday, June 30, 2007
6:49am PDT
8° 25'

Eight Verses SoundArtwork

If you feel like you are pushing a huge boulder up a steep hill on this Full Moon in Capricorn, blame it on retrograde Mercury, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto and Chiron. Ouch! Well, what other Full Moon could face this kind of struggle by shrugging its shoulders, and saying, "So what else is new?" Thank you Saturn, ruler of Capricorn, the great teacher of how to handle hardship, struggle and reality, with commitment, follow-through and guts. So though this is the Full Moon to celebrate goals and achievement, with this kind of planetary resistance to moving forward, we can also celebrate small steps, realistic goal-setting, and being successful when faced with tremendous limitations. Going forward has its right time and right place. This is the night to look within, connect with one's own sense of proper timing and trust the wisdom that arises from this kind of inquiry. Remember retrograde planets are ideal for inner work; especially retrograde Mercury

http://www.astrowisdom.com/thisfullmoon.htm

Posted by: wv on June 28, 2007 10:00 PM


Record opium crop in southern Afghanistan
· Region set to become world's biggest supplier
· Cocaine consumption up in Europe, says UN report

Richard Norton-Taylor
Wednesday June 27, 2007

Guardian

Helmand province in southern Afghanistan, where some 7,000 British troops are based, is on the verge of becoming the world's biggest drugs supplier, cultivating more opium than entire countries such as Burma, Morocco, or even Colombia, the UN warned yesterday.
The region was largely responsible for a huge increase last year in Afghanistan's opium poppy harvest, the origin of most of the heroin on the streets of Britain and mainland Europe. And Helmand's poppy harvest is expected to increase again this year, according to the latest annual report of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,,330088094-108920,00.html

Posted by: wv on June 28, 2007 10:27 PM


NEWSLETTER - Friday, June 29, 2007


"The public's had it with the NAFTA model..
It's meant real damage to people: unsafe food, downward pressure on wages, lost jobs."
- Lori Wallach

This week on Bill Moyers Journal (check local listings)


With U.S. mortgages entering foreclosure at a record pace, the crisis has far reaching implications, from the financial markets to the financial health of ordinary Americans. For the latest, Bill Moyers interviews assistant business and financial editor at The New York Times Gretchen Morgenson, who has been covering the story.


Lori Wallach, Director of Public Citizen_s Global Trade Watch, on the secret trade deal negotiated by leaders of the Democratic Party and the White House, and its implications for labor unions, consumer groups and the environment.


Then, from Barry Goldwater's deputy press secretary to George H. W. Bush's speechwriter, Victor Gold has spent four-decades as a Republican-party insider. Gold speaks candidly with Bill Moyers about how the GOP has lost its way, the subject of his new book, Invasion of the Party Snatchers: How the Holy-Rollers and the Neo-Cons Destroyed the GOP.


Bill Moyers on Rupert Murdoch and The Wall Street Journal.


PBS and every day at pbs.org/moyers.

Posted by: on June 28, 2007 11:09 PM

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/blog/2007/06/its_an_old_story.html

It’s an old story

Posted by: Pat C on June 28, 2007 11:55 PM

Cheney probed over salmon die off

WASHINGTON - The House Natural Resources Committee announced Thursday that it will hold hearings into Vice President Dick Cheney's involvement in Klamath River water management that many think led to the die-off of more than 70,000 salmon four years ago.

"It certainly appears that this administration will stop at nothing to achieve political gain from natural resources disasters," said Rep. Nick J. Rahall, the West Virginia Democrat who heads the panel.

Three dozen House Democrats from Oregon and California asked for the hearing in a letter to Rahall after the Washington Post reported on details of Cheney's intervention.

http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/246694.html

Posted by: Pat C on June 29, 2007 12:19 AM

Interesting title to a post over at DU which reminded me of the prediction you mention now and again, Cap'n Sally. That is, that the doors of Congress will be closed for three days and when they open, the Congress will present us with our Constitution yet once again. Anyway, the poster said "We Need a Constitutional Convention for Enforcing the Constitution." Nice thought. And ain't it the truth?

Posted by: shylurker on June 29, 2007 12:30 AM

Bush is a dead duck and the rats jump ship.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/06/28/eveningnews/main2994929.shtml

Do Bush Defeats Signal End Of Influence?
His Own Party Held Back Immigration Law And Criticizes War; Is President A “Dead Duck?”

[snip]
The failure of the immigration bill means that George Bush is beyond being a lame-duck president," says CBS News analyst Douglas Brinkley. "He's a 'dead-duck' president."

And it's not just immigration. When the White House claimed executive privilege today to fight congressional subpoenas in the U.S. Attorney firings investigation, a top Republican complained the White House was just continuing to protect the president's embattled attorney general.

"And while the investigation is lagging, Attorney General Gonzalez continues to serve. But as long as he continues to serve, the department is in disarray," Sen. Arlen Spector, R-Pa., said.

Add to that this week's high-profile Republican deflections about the war, which sent national security adviser Steven Hadley to Capitol Hill to see if he could contain the damage.

"When people in your own party turn on you when you're a president is when your policies crumble," says Brinkley.

One GOP insider told Axelrod today: "When it comes to the president's influence, it's 'how low can you go.' If the president's approval ratings were just at traditional lows, things might be different. They're not. They're at historic lows. So now it's every man for himself.

Posted by: lunaoscura on June 29, 2007 03:08 AM

Libby Becomes Inmate No. 28301 - 016

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: June 28, 2007

WASHINGTON (AP) -- For years he was known as chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney and assistant to President Bush. On Wednesday, I. Lewis ''Scooter'' Libby became federal inmate No. 28301-016.

Libby, who was convicted in March of lying and obstructing an investigation into the leak of a CIA operative's identity, faces 2 1/2 years in prison.

The assignment of an inmate number by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons represents another step on the road to prison. Inmate numbers stay with prisoners even after their release.

Libby, however, is hoping that an appeals court will intervene and put the sentence on hold before he is ordered to surrender.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-CIA-Leak-Trial.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Posted by: lunaoscura on June 29, 2007 03:19 AM

This is NOT a movie. This is NOT a movie. This is NOT a movie.

RUSSIA CLAIMS THE NORTH POLE AS ITS OWN, INCLUDING OIL AND DIAMONDS

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=464921&in_page_id=1811

Posted by: Pat C on June 29, 2007 03:43 PM


More than half of Americans won't vote for Clinton, poll shows

Survey provides a snapshot of the senator's challenges as she seeks the Democratic nomination for president

By William Douglas
MCCLATCHY WASHINGTON BUREAU
Contra Costa Times



WASHINGTON -- More than half of Americans say they wouldn't consider voting for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton for president if she becomes the Democratic nominee, according to a new national poll made available to McClatchy Newspapers and NBC News.
The poll by Mason-Dixon Polling and Research found that 52 percent of Americans wouldn't consider voting for Clinton, D-N.Y. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a Republican, was second in the can't-stand-'em category, with 46 percent saying they wouldn't consider voting for him.

Clinton has long been considered a politically polarizing figure who would be a tough sell to some voters, especially many men, but also Clinton-haters of both genders.

Thursday's survey provides a snapshot of the challenges she faces, according to Larry Harris, a Mason-Dixon principal.

"Hillary's carrying a lot of baggage," he said. "She's the only one that has a majority who say they can't vote for her."

Clinton rang up high negatives across the board, with 60 percent of independents, 56 percent of men, 47 percent of women and 88 percent of Republicans saying they wouldn't consider voting for her.

http://www.contracostatimes.com/portlet/article/html/fragments/print_article.jsp?articleId=6260144&siteId=571

Posted by: wv on June 29, 2007 03:50 PM


http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dean/20070629.html

----
The Misunderestimated Mr. Cheney:
The Vice President's Record of Willfully Violating the Law, And Wrongly Claiming Authority to Do So

By JOHN W. DEAN
----
Friday, Jun. 29, 2007

Vice President Dick Cheney has regularly claimed that he is above the law, but until recently he has not offered any explanation of why.

In fact, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find a law that Cheney believes does apply to him, whether that law be major and minor. For example, he has claimed that most of the laws passed in the aftermath of Watergate were unconstitutional, and thus implicitly inapplicable. His office oversees signing statements claiming countless new laws will not be honored except insofar as the President's extremely narrow interpretation allows. He does not believe the War Powers Act should be honored by the President. Nor, in his view, should the President be bothered with laws like the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). In fact, it appears Cheney has actively encouraged defiance of such laws by the Bush Administration.



For Cheney, the Geneva Conventions - considered among the nation's most important treaties -- are but quaint relics that can be ignored. Thus, he publicly embraced their violation when, on an Idaho talk radio program, he said he was not troubled in the slightest by our forces using "waterboarding" -- the simulated drowning of detainees to force them to talk. There are serious questions as to whether Cheney himself has also conspired to violate the War Crimes Act, which can be a capital crime.


http://writ.news.findlaw.com/scripts/printer_friendly.pl?page=/dean/20070629.html

Posted by: wv on June 29, 2007 04:51 PM

REAGAN DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL CALLS FOR IMPEACHMENT OF CHENEY

http://www.slate.com/id/2169292/

Posted by: Pat C on June 29, 2007 04:55 PM


Original Content at http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_rob_kall_070629_time_for_you_to_get_.htm


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
June 29, 2007

Time for YOU to Get Local With Impeaching Cheney, then Bush

By Rob Kall

It's time for you to take impeachment to your local Democratic groups, especially if your district's representative is a Democrat or moderate or libertarian leaning Republican. Every week, more members of congress are signing on to Dennis Kucinich's bill to impeach Cheney, and Cheney is smelling rottener and rottener every day.

Yesterday, the local township dems in Bucks county PA, where I live, voted unanimously to support impeachment-- Cheney, then Bush. I brought it up at a meeting. I didn't expect a unanimous vote. It was easy.


http://www.opednews.com/maxwrite/print_friendly.php?p=opedne_rob_kall_070629_time_for_you_to_get_.htm

Posted by: wv on June 29, 2007 05:10 PM


God Angrily Clarifies 'Don't Kill' Rule
September 26, 2001 | Issue 37•34

E NEW YORK—Responding to recent events on Earth, God, the omniscient creator-deity worshipped by billions of followers of various faiths for more than 6,000 years, angrily clarified His longtime stance against humans killing each other Monday.

God.
"Look, I don't know, maybe I haven't made myself completely clear, so for the record, here it is again," said the Lord, His divine face betraying visible emotion during a press conference near the site of the fallen Twin Towers. "Somehow, people keep coming up with the idea that I want them to kill their neighbor. Well, I don't. And to be honest, I'm really getting sick and tired of it. Get it straight. Not only do I not want anybody to kill anyone, but I specifically commanded you not to, in really simple terms that anybody ought to be able to understand."

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/28151

Posted by: on June 29, 2007 09:12 PM

Look out AW'ers--guess who's putting out another book/contract?

If you guessed the NEWT, you are correct.

This one is the sequel to his infamous
Contract with(on) Amnerica, and it's titled
I couldn't make up something this ludicrous) Contract with THE EARTH.....it comes out in November, so sharpen those axes now....

namaste and love y'all!!!
Garry

Posted by: Garry Todd on June 30, 2007 12:19 AM

Ooops, that should be America and my comments should have been in parentheses(I couldn't make up something this ludicrous).

This editor regrets his typing skills (or lack thereof)...sheesh

Posted by: Garry Todd on June 30, 2007 12:21 AM

What's more bizarre? What's actually going on or this presentatio of it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVh6UZE38fc

Posted by: shylurker on June 30, 2007 03:24 AM

After decades of dumping so much garbage into our oceans, the chickens are coming home to roost. Actually, the "chickens" are more like slimy jellyfish and toxic bacteria, and they are loving our ignorance about waste.

This is a disturbing and sad yet very worthy read: http://www.truthout.org/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi/62/21496

Posted by: NEOBuckeye on June 30, 2007 06:45 AM

NEO, the sea's decaying habitat (and concurrent blossom of toxic slime) is being mirrored on terra firma as well. There seems to be a bloom of predatory birds, invasive plant species, etc. There is also a bloom of iressponsible behaviors, those capable of unleashing flesh-(and psychological)eating wars and injustices. It's a boullibaisse of nasty soup.

Part of a conversation last night revolved around how we have altered our own lives in accordance with what is transpiring, and having the feeling that we haven't done enough. (Activists all in one form or another.) But the real conundrum is in NOT knowing what next we CAN do. Hopefully the intent of the questions will energize the answers.

Posted by: karen on June 30, 2007 02:32 PM

Does anyone ever do Solar Returns for the US?

Posted by: lunaoscura on June 30, 2007 04:40 PM

From Bill Moyers, these are the harshest words I've ever seen him use! He really dislikes Murdock.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-moyers/on-murdoch_b_54361.html

[snip]
"...Rupert Murdoch is no saint; he is to propriety what the Marquis de Sade was to chastity. When it comes to money and power he's carnivorous: all appetite and no taste. He'll eat anything in his path. Politicians become little clay pigeons to be picked off with flattering headlines, generous air time, a book contract or the old-fashioned black jack that never misses: campaign cash. He hires lobbyists the way Imelda Marcos bought shoes, and stacks them in his cavernous closet, along with his conscience; this is the man, remember, who famously kowtowed to the Communist overlords of China, oppressors of their own people, to protect his investments there.

The ambitious can't resist his blandishments, nor his power to get or keep them in office where they can return his favors. Mae West would be green with envy at his little black book of conquests: Tory Margaret Thatcher, Labor's Tony Blair, George Bush. Even Jimmy Carter couldn't say no. Now, Bill and Hillary Clinton, who know which side of their bread is buttered, like having it slathered by their new buddy Rupert. Our media and political system has turned into a mutual protection racket.

Posted by: lunaoscura on June 30, 2007 07:08 PM

Once read in a numerology book that 'FOX' as in Murdoch's Fox News Channel (just 1 of his many international media outlets) has the same numerical value as ether 'evil' or 'devil.'

Raw Story website has a statement that most of world's media- in all forms - is owned now by only 5 corporations! Time to change the monopolys....

Posted by: Kat on June 30, 2007 11:30 PM

I couldn't agree more Kat, on all your points.

Posted by: Pat C on July 1, 2007 12:29 AM

"Once read in a numerology book that 'FOX' as in Murdoch's Fox News Channel (just 1 of his many international media outlets) has the same numerical value as ether 'evil' or 'devil.'"

The f, o, and x, in numerology, are the three letters of the alphabet with a value of "6." So, fox = 666...

Posted by: on July 1, 2007 06:13 AM

I don't know what his chart looks like, but I'll bet that Murdoch ends up biting off much more than he can chew with the Dow Jones. What a sad, sad greedy man... the epitome of capitalism in its' bloated and rotten endgame.

Posted by: NEOBuckeye on July 1, 2007 07:37 AM

Thanks for the warm words last week you guys. Have been pretty busy this year - I lurk often, but dont have much time to post these days. Love reading what all of you write, and articles that you post. Thanks so much!!!!
Anyway, just a quick comment on Rupert baby.
In the UK, Aust & NZ he has a captive audience for everyone except those still with poor reception rabbit ears TV or their own private dish. SKY is the corporate name and numerologically that reduces to a one. Total monopoly.
Saw an interesting documentary about him recently - his sister said that even as a little kid he was very competitive and absolutely HAD to "win" at whatever he was doing and would do whatever it took.
Staunch presbyterian upbringing, inherited newspaper/trash tabloid business from his father along with his cutthroat business tactics.

Posted by: kiwijeanie on July 1, 2007 08:34 AM

Yes luna I do solar returns for the US every 4th and will be putting one up this year.

Kiwi, lovely to hear from you and I agree on Murdoch. Don't like him, don't think he's been good for this country or any country. He had difficult aspects a year or so ago and I thought that might mean a big fall, but what happened was a falling out with his son who moved back to Australia or NZ (can't remember which)

Does anyone remember Roswell and the 1947 UFO Crash? I heard his son on an interview last night and he said his father always denied the UFO concept but it seems that several years ago his father wrote a letter, sealed it and gave it to his attorney, not to be opened until after his death. Well he died last year and his family released the letter. Interesting read.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23402429-details/Roswell%20officer/'s%20amazing%20deathbed%20admission%20raises%20possibility%20that%20aliens%20DID%20visit/article.do

Posted by: Sally on July 1, 2007 03:55 PM

Abuse of Executive Privilege

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/070107Y.shtml

An editorial in The New York Times this morning takes the Bush administration to task for its recent claims of "executive privilege" but, the Times notes, "Congress is finally challenging President Bush's campaign to trample all legal and constitutional restraints on his power. Congressional committees have issued subpoenas for documents and witnesses in two major cases and have asked for the first - and likely not the last - criminal investigation of an executive branch official who might have lied to Congress."

Posted by: Pat C on July 1, 2007 09:39 PM

July 1 3:35 pm
KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine — President Bush's presidency is stuck in low gear. On Sunday, his fishing boat was stuck on stop.

Fellow Republicans may not be rushing to rescue his legislative agenda, but the Secret Service bailed Bush out of a jam when his boat anchor got wedged in rocks along the Atlantic Coast.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20070701/bush-maine/
Putin due for dinner in 1/2 hour.@ 4:00 pm!
There may have been only several houndred protestors but they must have been sending heavy vibes!
And notice....Laura is AWOL! She & Jenna are over in Africa. Don't know if they'll be back for the birthday celebration in 5 days.....
QOP

Posted by: on July 1, 2007 10:04 PM

Oooooh! I do love this stuff. Be sure to use the link in the post immediately below this main one. Fascinating stuff and I can't help but wonder if it feeds somehow into the Mayan calendar 2012 thing.
Enjoy!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=228x31699

Posted by: shylurker on July 1, 2007 10:13 PM

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/070207K.shtml

Preparing for Permaculture

An interview with permaculture expert Robyn Francis in New South Wales, Australia.

Posted by: Pat C on July 2, 2007 03:59 PM

http://forums.fark.com/cgi/fark/comments.pl?IDLink=2862216

George W Bush Presidential Library

Posted by: Pat C on July 2, 2007 04:33 PM

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/07/02/appeals-court-rejects-libbys-bid-for-bail/

Appeals court rejects Libby’s bid for bail

WASHINGTON (CNN) — A federal appeals court Monday rejected former White House aide Lewis “Scooter” Libby’s request to remain free on bond while appealing his March conviction on perjury and obstruction of justice charges.

In an order handed down Monday, a three judge panel wrote Libby “has not shown that the appeal raises a substantial question” that regular appeals court will consider when its next term begins in September.

A trial judge ordered Libby to serve 30 months in prison, to start when a location is determined by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, and a date is decided for him to surrender himself at that location.

A court official told CNN Libby’s attorneys may still file for relief from the US Supreme Court, to try to keep Libby out of confinement pending his appeal.

Posted by: lunaoscura on July 2, 2007 05:49 PM

This story is like one of those science fiction B movies of the 50's, only it's real.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/oceans/la-me-ocean30jul30,0,952130.story

A Primeval Tide of Toxins
Runoff from modern life is feeding an explosion of primitive organisms. This 'rise of slime,' as one scientist calls it, is killing larger species and sickening people.
By Kenneth R. Weiss, Times Staff Writer
July 30, 2006


MORETON BAY, AUSTRALIA -- The fireweed began each spring as tufts of hairy growth and spread across the seafloor fast enough to cover a football field in an hour.

When fishermen touched it, their skin broke out in searing welts. Their lips blistered and peeled. Their eyes burned and swelled shut. Water that splashed from their nets spread the inflammation to their legs and torsos.

"It comes up like little boils," said Randolph Van Dyk, a fisherman whose powerful legs are pocked with scars. "At nighttime, you can feel them burning. I tried everything to get rid of them. Nothing worked."

As the weed blanketed miles of the bay over the last decade, it stained fishing nets a dark purple and left them coated with a powdery residue. When fishermen tried to shake it off the webbing, their throats constricted and they gasped for air.

After one man bit a fishing line in two, his mouth and tongue swelled so badly that he couldn't eat solid food for a week. Others made an even more painful mistake, neglecting to wash the residue from their hands before relieving themselves over the sides of their boats.

For a time, embarrassment kept them from talking publicly about their condition. When they finally did speak up, authorities dismissed their complaints — until a bucket of the hairy weed made it to the University of Queensland's marine botany lab.

Samples placed in a drying oven gave off fumes so strong that professors and students ran out of the building and into the street, choking and coughing.

Scientist Judith O'Neil put a tiny sample under a microscope and peered at the long black filaments. Consulting a botanical reference, she identified the weed as a strain of cyanobacteria, an ancestor of modern-day bacteria and algae that flourished 2.7 billion years ago.

more...

Posted by: lunaoscura on July 2, 2007 08:04 PM

Ex-Cheney Aide Libby Must Go to Jail During Appeal

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/070207I.shtml

Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, must go to prison while appealing his conviction for obstructing a CIA leak probe, a US appeals court said, according to Bloomberg's Cary O'Reilly. Libby is the highest ranking official to be sent to prison since the Iran-Contra affair.

Posted by: Pat C on July 2, 2007 08:05 PM

ABC News is reporting that Bush has commuted Libby's sentence. No link yet.

Posted by: Teresa on July 2, 2007 10:58 PM

Here we go: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19570081/

Posted by: Teresa on July 2, 2007 10:59 PM

from the above blog comments site, good advice...
#55.
July 2nd,
2007
7:05 pm
Unbelievable. Please, everyone, don’t just vent here. Contact the White House to let them know your opinion:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Comments: 202-456-1111
Main email: comments@whitehouse.gov
Vice President Richard Cheney: vice_president@whitehouse.gov
Mailing Address:
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Posted by: judigem on July 3, 2007 01:26 AM

gag Libby doesn't do time. Considering as how I recall his wife saying in a quick TV comment months ago he would roll over if he even did one minute of time this is no surprise.

As this commutation is coming smack in the middle of the retrograde, I wonder if there's a nasty surprise ahead for the Shrub and Rove minion Libby. can someome please comment on the astrological intepretations? thanks
Swamp

Posted by: Swamp on July 3, 2007 03:27 AM

Wow, I just pulled up a chart for the event of LIbby's pardon. It doesn't look good. Sag rising w/ Jupiter at early degrees shows a strong will that can be reckless and haphazard, esp with a squared to Uranus in Pisces conjunct the IC. To me, this shows that the reaction to this cummute will not come from house democrats, but from a mass, anti-republican, anti-government movement most likely through the internet. GET THIS!!! Mars and Saturn are both in detriment (using Ptolemy's Dignities) No planets are Exalted or in Triplicity. Also, Saturn conjunct Venus in Leo in early degrees ninth. There will be legal or political backlash to this i.e. meetings about impeachment or political and or legal proceedings. Uranus and Jupiter are both at angles (Jupiter on the Asc, and Uranus on the IC). Jupiter Bush and the repubs who have this reckless attitude that they don't have to follow the law (i.e. the Jupiterian icon of cowboy who doesn't have to follow the restrictions of law and order). Uranus, on the IC (the home) is the people looking for Justice.

My prediction in that this will lead to trials and possible actions against Bush. The Uranus square Jupiter is there for a huge fight between the government and people. With some much in detriment, Bush doesn't have much to work with. One other thing. There is a moon, Neptune, Chiron conjunction in Aquarius in the second/third houses. Watch Bush and friends talk in terms of morals, spirituality, and religion. This will be his downfall. Neptune has him totally in a fog of self-deception that will only become even more dillusional as criticism against Bush becomes even more peresonal. He likes it on Neptune. The fog keeps him from seeing the painful truth. Thanks for the time.

Posted by: Travieso on July 3, 2007 03:34 AM

Why, thanks for the interpretation and insight, Travieso. And for letting us hear from you!!

Posted by: shylurker on July 3, 2007 03:41 AM

Surprise surprise Libby walk--but Travieso, your brilliant analysis makes it look like this may be the collective "last straw" we've been waiting for since that awful day in 2000 when the "Supreme"
Court handed the keys to the White Hosue to Dubya, against the will of the people. Here's hoping the neconvix' house of cards collapses as quickly as possible.

Namaste and love y'all
Garry

Posted by: Garry Todd on July 3, 2007 03:43 AM

This takes the proverbial cake--exactly how stupid do THEY think WE are?

Read this and try not to laugh: the dead US diplomat was declared dead by suicide--that is, by stabbing himself in the neck...does ANYBODY believe this horsehockey anymore?

http://rawstory.com/news/afp/Dead_US_diplomat_in_Cyprus_stabbed__07022007.html

Posted by: Garry Todd on July 3, 2007 04:00 AM

Thanks of the compliments. I know I haven't been around much. I'm building an addition to the house (progressed Uranus passing my own IC). Anyway, I have always said that Bush will not finish nis term in office. Could this be it? I hope so.....Nice to hear fro Namaste and skyluker again. I hope all is well.

Posted by: Travieso on July 3, 2007 04:08 AM

Hey, Travieso, it took this insanity to bring you back, well, me too. PS...just to back you up, I sent the congression Reps a word or two about the hearts and minds of Americans getting sick of this crap....and joined AfterDowningStreet and sent more petitions, one to Joint Judiciary committee...between Bush/Cheney and Lieberman, the cuckoo meter is off the hook. And yeh, Garry, I am now going to go stab myself in the neck, like Gary Web the reporter shot himself to death by shooting himself in the head...twice. I really think this is the last straw, or at least, the awakening straw. Hi Shy....

AfterDowningStreet or Democrats.com....they are on the warpath...thanks Pat C for sending the news.

Posted by: judigem on July 3, 2007 04:36 AM

I actually came to post thhis but was so taken by the Travieso posting I forgot to do it:

The following link is a report which states Dick Cheney was in hiding to avoid service of process, especially from Ambassador Leo Wanta's writ of mandamus over the trillions of alleged misappropriated U.S. funds of which up to two trillion dollars may be operated offshore by Cheney. Also states Cheney is concerned for his own safety.
YOU'D BETTER READ THIS ONE.!!!!! http://www.worldreports.org/news/66_cheney_hides_out_as

Posted by: judigem on July 3, 2007 04:40 AM

from afterdowningstreet
Cheney IS In Hiding....
Submitted by StephieL on Mon, 2007-07-02 13:13.
because he's very much aware his time as Vice President is almost running out, and he's looking at very serious criminal charges, including contempt of Congress, crimes against the Consitution and treason.

A good chunk of those trillions of alleged misappropriated U.S. funds wound up in the pockets of Saudi Prince Bandar, which were funnelled through BAE Systems' offshore operations. The evidence is now emerging that not only did Cheney allow these trillions of dollars to go to Prince Bandar, but he also directly intervened to stop the Justice Department's initial investigation of BAE shortly after Britain's own investigation of BAE was halted by former British Attorney General Lord Goldsmith at Cheney's direct insistence.

So, you've got the BAE scandal, along with Ambassador Leo Wanta's writ of mandamus, hanging over Cheney's head like the infamous Sword of Damocles. He knows his time is short, and there are those among Anglo-Dutch banking establishment who have a lot to lose when the BAE case goes into the international criminal justice system, so Cheney is looking more and more expendable.

Some of the more influential aspects of the MSM are belatedly jumping on the "oust Cheney" bandwagon, as witnessed by the various editorials and op-ed's which appeared in several newspapers across the country yesterday; although the "I" word was never mentioned directly in any of the editorials or op-ed's, the implication of the "I" word, and the scenarios which could cause this to occur were very clear to those who read between the lines.

It's only a matter of time before that "long walk" to the White House happens, folks... stay alert and watch the weeks ahead.

Posted by: judigem on July 3, 2007 04:43 AM

I've been doing some volunteer work, type type typing away, putting Revolutionary War soldier records for one county in North Carolina into format that can be put on line. It has been quite the experience for me emotionally. So many of them, so very many, signed right up and did what they could to throw off the yoke of tyranny. For some if was too much, they "deserted"
(though I suspect some of them just went home to help get the crops planted or harvested), and a few went mad, "Deranged" they called it. Of course, many died, though the records don't specify whether from disease or war wounds--and that really doesn't matter, does it? They died for freedom and for the Constitution. But most signed up and did their assigned term and some, of course, signed up again. Their ages aren't recorded, but you know most of them were young men, many probably barely beyond their teens. And they went to war to repel the British. They were from the farms of North Carolina, certainly not children of privilege. And they fought as bravely as any could to repel the British and establish our Republic.

And now, we have ruling our Republic, the sons and daughters of privilege, of corporations, of "vested interests" which are 180 degrees opposite our own. I am so sick, so disheartened, to read and type about those young men from one little county in North Carolina, who signed up and gave their all (in the case of some, quite literally) to expel the tyrants, those who wanted to rule from positions of privilege and arrogance. But I am also
inspired and heartened because those sons (and daughters, too, though they are not on the rolls) of America did fight and they did win and we can continue in their tradition and strike more and more blows for liberty, Sweet Liberty!

Thanks, Cap'n Sally, for providing the space for this rant. Peace and liberty to all!

Posted by: shylurker on July 3, 2007 05:24 AM

Well said, shy. Although it may not yet be plainly obvious, I do believe many more eyes and ears in this country were opened today. Call it a cumulative effect, as we have already been through a great deal, and there is still much more to come.

As Travieso explained so well above, this certainly won't help Bush at all in public opinion, and maybe he just doesn't care anymore. But who and what exactly is justice for, if it makes exception to you and your cronies simply because you wield the power to make it so, and back that up with boatloads of mostly ill-gotten money? Perhaps America is finally on the verge of beginning to ask those important questions that haven't been visited in quite awhile. It's long overdue.

Posted by: NEOBuckeye on July 3, 2007 07:43 AM

Gandar Bush is high tailin' it!

At $135 million, Hala, just northwest of downtown Aspen, is the most expensive single-family residential property in the nation on the market, Mr. Saslove said. Selling it mostly consists of saying no.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/02/us/02aspen.html?_r=1&ref=business&oref=slogin

Some pix of the first family..Laura made it back from Africa after all...........

Oh how cute, the War Family makes little peace signs at the photographers. What other kind of douchebag behavior did our Royal Family partake in this weekend with Russian buddy Vlad the Putin?
http://wonkette.com/politics/dept%27-of-holidays-in-the-sun/weekend-at-bushies-274369.php

in a statement issued Monday, Senator Joe Biden decried the commuted sentence for former vice presidential chief of staff I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby. "It is time for the American people to be heard," said Biden. "I call for all Americans to flood the White House with phone calls tomorrow expressing their outrage over this blatant disregard for the rule of law."

Click here for reactions from other lawmakers.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/07/02/biden-flood-the-white-h_n_54727.html

Governor Baldacci signed into law yesterday the bill that allows tax relief from student loans for Maine Students. voted on by citizen initiative!
Haven't researched it yet but I presume it means you can deduct the cost of the loan not just the interest.
( I think that's Mike Gravels postiion on changes , to the way laws are made.)
QOP

Posted by: on July 3, 2007 12:10 PM

Travieso,

I hope you're correct. I'm so sick of this I could scream. I had to spend 30 minutes listening to my husband rant this morning.

If I were Libby, I wouldn't be smiling into the camaras. The repugs need to be careful in front of the camaras, too. One smug smile and watch out.

Posted by: abilene on July 3, 2007 02:52 PM


What Was the Downside?
Posted July 3, 2007 | 08:21 AM (EST)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Read More: Breaking Politics News, Bill Maher, Scooter Libby, Dick Cheney, Ann Coulter, John Edwards

Besides the obvious -- that you can't, as the president claimed, honor the verdict of the jury and then basically overturn it -- what was the downside for him? The twenty-something percentage of people who still back him probably know Scooter Libby, most of them socially, and appreciate his pardon; and the rest of the country probably has never heard of Scooter Libby. This is not a country that pays attention to anything complicated, and even has a hard time with the simple. Outside of the bloggers, it's not something that will upset Joe Sixpack.

Email
Print
Comment
And speaking of bloggers, may I take this moment to thank the bloggers and columnists who pointed out that what I said about Dick Cheney earlier this year was in no way parallel to what Ann Coulter said about John Edwards. Gosh, sometimes it seems like the far right just lies blatantly and on purpose. Which brings us back to Scooter Libby...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-maher/what-was-the-downside_b_54746.html

Posted by: wv on July 3, 2007 04:15 PM

Abilene, are you from Abilene, Texas? I live in Austin, and I'm originally from the valley.

Posted by: Travieso on July 3, 2007 04:29 PM


NY Times Editorial

July 3, 2007
Editorial
Soft on Crime
When he was running for president, George W. Bush loved to contrast his law-abiding morality with that of President Clinton, who was charged with perjury and acquitted. For Mr. Bush, the candidate, “politics, after a time of tarnished ideals, can be higher and better.”

Not so for Mr. Bush, the president. Judging from his decision yesterday to commute the 30-month sentence of I. Lewis Libby Jr. — who was charged with perjury and convicted — untarnished ideals are less of a priority than protecting the secrets of his inner circle and mollifying the tiny slice of right-wing Americans left in his political base.

Mr. Libby was convicted of lying to federal agents investigating the leak of the name of a covert C.I.A. operative, Valerie Wilson. Mrs. Wilson’s husband, Joseph Wilson, was asked to investigate a central claim in Mr. Bush’s drive to war with Iraq — whether Iraq tried to purchase uranium from Africa. Mr. Wilson concluded that Iraq had not done that and had the temerity to share those conclusions with the American public.

It seems clear from the record that Vice President Dick Cheney organized a campaign to discredit Mr. Wilson. And Mr. Libby, who was Mr. Cheney’s chief of staff, was willing to lie to protect his boss.

That made Mr. Libby the darling of the right, which demanded that Mr. Bush pardon him. Those same Republicans have been rebelling against Mr. Bush, most recently on immigration reform, while Democrats in Congress have pursued an investigation into whether Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney lied about Iraq’s weapons programs.

All of this put immense pressure on the president to do something before Mr. Libby went to jail. But none of it was justification for the baldly political act of commuting his sentence.

Mr. Bush’s assertion that he respected the verdict but considered the sentence excessive only underscored the way this president is tough on crime when it’s committed by common folk. As governor of Texas, he was infamous for joking about the impending execution of Karla Faye Tucker, a killer who became a born-again Christian on death row. As president, he has repeatedly put himself and those on his team, especially Mr. Cheney, above the law.

Within minutes of the Libby announcement, the same Republican commentators who fulminated when Paris Hilton got a few days knocked off her time in a county lockup were parroting Mr. Bush’s contention that a fine, probation and reputation damage were “harsh punishment” enough for Mr. Libby.

Presidents have the power to grant clemency and pardons. But in this case, Mr. Bush did not sound like a leader making tough decisions about justice. He sounded like a man worried about what a former loyalist might say when actually staring into a prison cell.


Posted by: wv on July 3, 2007 04:32 PM

Comfort at the White House:
-----------
One senior administration official said Bush quickly made his decision yesterday after hearing that the U.S. Court of Appeals had refused to keep Libby out of jail while his appeal ran its course," the article continued. "This source, who demanded anonymity to talk freely about the president's thinking, said there is 'comfort' at the White House that the decision will not hurt him politically despite the Democratic outcry."
--------------
Now why would he (chimpy) feel 'comfort' at this decision...are we are really far more screwed than we think we already are?

Posted by: judigem on July 3, 2007 04:56 PM

Yes wv, a truly believe that Bush is a sociopath. Of course, this is just my own opinion, but I believe that neo-conservatives and fundies are in a state of mass psychosis. If you fear everything and everyone, and everything and everyone is of Satan and evil, of course anyone will "flip out" and go nuts.

I was talking to my mother last night and we were talking how fundies have been so good at creating an alternative press, media, publising, market, etc. that fundies can totally immerse themselves in an alternate reality to insulate themselves from the real world. It really is cultish at its heart. Scary!!!

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