Mad as hell

"I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!!!"

Petition to filibuster

I received a generic email from JohnKerry.com this morning. Here is what this email stated:

"Dear Paul,

Yesterday, Senator Ted Kennedy and I told our colleagues that we supported a filibuster of Judge Alito's nomination for the Supreme Court. And we weren't alone. But the bottom line is that it takes more than two or three people to filibuster successfully. It's not "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington." If you want to stop Judge Alito from becoming Justice Alito, use your own email list and organize. We can't just preach to our own choir. We need to prove to everyone - from our friends and neighbors to our fellow Senators - that the American people know Judge Alito will take our country in the wrong direction, and they expect something to be done about it.

So I'm asking you to join Senator Kennedy, me, and concerned citizens across America who are signing this petition to support a filibuster. If there was ever a time to forward an email on to friends and family, this is it. One way or another, we're going to find out in the next few days if Judge Alito is going to become Justice Alito. You know where I stand. The time to make your voice heard is now. So please sign this filibuster petition and get as many friends as you can to do the same."

And here is my reply:

If the majority of Democratic Senators do not take a stand against this nomination, I WILL abandon this party and support third-party candidates who have a MORAL backbone.

These are the most dangerous times our nation, and our World, have ever seen. The time for niceties and political patty-fingers is over. Aren't you, as individual members of Congress, and as a whole party, ever going to get tired of being mocked and ridiculed? The Republican party has painted you all as a bunch of quaint and dainty milquetoasts.

I'm not saying we have to stoop to their disgustingly immoral level. I personally believe in non-violence, but NOT pacifism!!!

Take a stand for what is right and just. Or get out of the way, and let someone else do it instead!!!

Here's the link to add your two-cents to this petition.

Is this representation?

Yesterday, I tried for several hours to get through to Senator John Warner's office - both by voice and by fax. Both lines were either busy (for the majority), or would ring and ring and ring. These are pretty much the only ways you can effectively communicate with anyone in our government anymore.

You can't just walk into their offices, unannounced. Nor, can you write a letter and mail it - chances are pretty good they will never receive it - all of those fears about Anthrax, dontchaknow - btw, why have they never figured out who was behind that scare? Is it just coincidental that the only government targets of these attacks were Democrats? If it had happened to Repugnikans, the Repubs might have actually pressed to find and capture the culprits. It's like the "hunt" for bin Laden. He goes from World Enemy #1, to der Führer stating "I haven't given him much thought, to be honest with ya."

I was finally able to get through on a voice line. As I voiced my concerns about Sam Alito's nomination to the Supreme Court, I was cut short by the staffer who had answered the phone. She told me flat-out "the Senator has already decided to support the nomination, but I will let him know you called." Then she hung up.

It wasn't until late last night that I was able to fax my letter in (this whole process began at around 7:30 yesterday morning). I just wanted some record of my dissent.

Is this the sort of representation we are to expect from our members of Congress? I mean, don't these guys work for us?

Anyways, here is the letter that I had written to the Senator:

"Senator John Warner
United States Senate
SR-225
Washington, DC 20510-4601

1/23/06

Dear Senator Warner,

I am writing to urge you to vote against Samuel Alito’s nomination to Associate Justice to the Supreme Court.

His extreme views of Presidential power are shockingly inappropriate, especially in light of recent revelations of Executive abuse of these powers. He also has a historical position of being Anti-abortion. While I, personally, do not agree with abortion, I do support a woman’s right to chose whether or not to have one.

His record also shows his disregard for the power of Congress, as evidenced in his dissent of rulings over machine guns and American car-buyers rights.

Once again, I urge you to carry out your sworn duty to uphold and defend our Constitution, and to represent your constituency and Country. It is my sincere belief that if Judge Alito is allowed to take a seat on SCOTUS, he will breach one of the last few remaining defenses our Nation has that allow us to rightfully state we are the world’s leader of Democracy.

Sincerely yours,

Paul"

Nailed to the tree

I am still totally boggled by the amount of hatred that seethes in this world. Why is everyone so afraid of others who are "different" from themselves?

Much to the consternation of the self-proclaimed "Christians," why have we not evolved? Why have these people (who have claimed commercial ownership of a man who preached undying love and acceptance) devoted their entire existence to the active engagement of hating and attacking the very people He unfailingly embraced?

This concept of "the lesser man" is owned by this group, those who proudly hail themselves as the morally superior race. They will discount the entire existence of man (those who are not white, male-dominated, and outwardly Christian), wholesale, while preaching the "good book." Where is their own self-esteem? They march around (and drive around in their mini-vans and Suburbans - all slathered with magnetic flags and "Pride" bumper stickers), beating their chests. Shouting out loud, "I am Christian, and Proud of it!!!"

In my upbringing, the Bible has always stated that pride is a sin.

Love, acceptance, humility - no wonder I am considered a heathen.

Time to change the subject

Oh, gosh! Bu$hCo must be getting tired of playing defense all of the time. Here comes another "warning" from the "turrists."

Please bear in mind, WE created this "monster." Don't forget, 2006 is also an election year. Gotta keep those neocons in office - corruption be damned!!! Who better to defend us than the Repuglickkklans who take bribes from the defense contractors.

Who does this sound like, and who is stating this?

"Despite being democratically elected, the government of (X) has systematically undermined democratic institutions, pressured and harassed independent media and the political opposition, and grown progressively more autocratic and anti-democratic,"

And the answer is HERE.

The Impeachment of George W. Bush

Elizabeth Holtzman published this interesting essay yesterday in The Nation.

"Finally, it has started. People have begun to speak of impeaching President George W. Bush -- not in hushed whispers but openly, in newspapers, on the Internet, in ordinary conversations and even in Congress. As a former member of Congress who sat on the House Judiciary Committee during the impeachment proceedings against President Richard Nixon, I believe they are right to do so."

Only in our time of need...

Christianity's radical right has been making quite a noise about how "G-d" is punishing us because we have turned our collective backs on Him. Granted, I believe there is a lack of Spiritual cohesion in our world, as is evidenced in the corruption and graft with which our nation is plagued. Everyone is so caught up in the race for financial and material gain (How DO those Joneses keep up?), and the power that it accompanies, that little time is left for personal reflection.

Then, there come these headlines (not from your usual infotainment/news-like sources) of "spiritual leaders" invoking their interpretation of "G-d's will," as it is divinely passed down to them.

Rob Schenck of the National Clergy Council stated that, as in the Old Testament, G-d is punishing those who turn to him only in their hour of need.

And then, there is good ol' Marion 'Pat' Robertson. You remember him - former presidential candidate, the man who called for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Here is a veritable "dog's breakfast" of quaint ditties spoken by the good reverend. Did you know that former Attorney General, John Ashcroft, is now Professor Ashcroft, at Robertson's Regent University?

As for Jerry Falwell; here is what he told Pat Robertson on The 700 Club back on Sept. 13th, 2001 - “The ACLU’s got to take a lot of blame for this. And, I know that I’ll hear from them for this. But, throwing God out successfully with the help of the federal court system, throwing God out of the public square, out of the schools. The abortionists have got to bear some burden for this because God will not be mocked. And when we destroy 40 million little innocent babies, we make God mad. I really believe that the Pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American Way, all of them who have tried to secularize America. I point the finger in their face and say, ‘You helped this happen.’”

What about Billy Graham's son, Franklin? He was one of the radical preachers who stated that New Orleans only had herself to blame for Hurricane Katrina. Please remember, this is the guy who gave the benediction at Herr Führer's, I mean Chimpy McBonehead's swearing in ceremony.

I have always read the teachings of Christ as full of declamations of love and compassion. I guess Jesus was too liberal for these "men of G-d." Woe be unto us all, if these guys are really channelling the "spirit of G-d!"

Shut up and sing

Phil Donohue was interviewed for Time Out, New York magazine. Interesting read on American media, and how it is cowed by the repugnican administration.

When the walls come tumblin' down

And yet, here is another example of rampant corporate favoritism. There must be a heckuvajob in there somewhere from the White House.

Just when you thought Croniism was dead...

George Bush made more Recess appointments this weekend.

This time he has appointed Julie Myers as head of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement bureau at the Department of Homeland Security.

This smacks of another Michael (Heckuva job!) Brown, as she has no experience in Immigration laws.

The big hubbub is over the fact that she is the niece of former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Richard Myers. Oh, by the way, her husband also happens to be John Wood, chief of staff for Michael Chertoff, Director of the Department of Homeland Security.

I wonder if they will have adjoining offices?

Majority morality

Well, the defecation has made contact with the rotary oscillator, as far as Washington is concerned.

The twisted web of Jack Abramoff is coming apart, and many Republicans are running for their political lives.

Political columnist/heretic, John Scheer reports how Tom Delay (R-TX) and Abramoff played off of each other to influence American citizens, even the International Monetary Fund , to play ball according to their schemes.

Even the "left-leaning" CNN is reporting that House Speaker Denny Hastert is "donating" $70,000, received from Abramoff, to "charity." They don't mention which charity will benefit from this ill-gotten booty, but I'm sure they will be deserving.

Here is a list of Republican politicians who have benefitted from Mr. Abramoff's largesse.

THIS JUST IN -- George Bush is "forced" to return $6000, given to him by Abramoff. This is just a drop in the bucket, considering that Abramoff raised more than $100,000 for Bush, making him a Bush "Pioneer." added 1.05.06

Is the Reichstag burning?

"If a nukular weapon goes off in Washington DC, or New York, or Los Angeles, it will burn up the Constitution as it does. So I'm very happy we have a President that's gonna wiretap people's communication with people overseas to make sure they are not gonna blow up one of our cities."

- Congressman Dana Rohrbacher (R-CA), on CNN's "The Situation Room," defending the Bush administration's choice to continue violating the Constitution of the United States.