Dick Cheney - Idiot of the Bush Land

Cheney commented on the President yesterday, and one can only marvel that Cheney got beyond gradeschool. To say that the guy is an idiot is an affront to the term idiot. Anyone who places any weight on Cheney probably needs to get off the bottle.

North & South Korea

One is reminded, that North Korea really doesn't want to settle differences. The goal is disrupt, to test the enemy, to look for weaknesses. If we were wiser, we'd just pull out of all efforts to find a common ground, and not bother to talk unless there is a significant change in attitude by North Korea.

"Fox News" wants to be a real news channel?

To be a real news channel, one must offer objectivity and honest reporting. The reputation of "Fox News" as a mud-slinging, biased slanted off-shoot of the Republican Party is not undeserved. You can't continue, day after day, to slant and distort facts to suit your own agenda, and at the same time expect to earn the name of a news channel.

Bravo to the White House for having nothing to do with you. Don't give in - they taint the image of news for all objective reporters.

Eric Cantor is the one in the other world

The House Minority Whip Eric Cantor is the one in the other world, if he hasn't seen all the Republican signs with the racist slant (and that's a mild word for it) on them at these town meeting. Photos of them are frequently displayed, much to the delight of the Republican minority. It's interesting, the more outrageous the lie, the more Republicans think the country will buy it.

Former President Carter took a lot of heat for saying what everyone can see is going on. When you cater to hate groups, when you encourage lies and discord, eventually it will come back on you. Think of that one Eric.

Jimmy Carter spoke the truth

Ex President Jimmy Carter spoke the truth about race, and in fact he was very moderate and careful in what he said.

But the Republican run, powers of the rich media, didn't like the message. So they've been lambasting him, and the rich interests forced many to fall on that bandwagon.

But they've yet to address the issues which ex President Jimmy Carter pointed out. It is sad, when money can buy out so many, even those who should be more interested in the truth.

We live in an age when truth is what the powerful want to say it is, and the powerful and rich control the media. There are a few that try to give a more unbiased view of the news, NBC, for example. Then there are those who don't even try to hide their biases and slanted viewpoint, FOX News for example.

Mr. Carter, thanks for standing up for the truth, and for reality. You put yourself out on a limb for truth, and bear the mark of a true Christian person, not a puppet of the irreligious right.

Global Warming - the U.S. won't commit

European countries are afraid the U.S. won't commit itself when it comes to taking action against global warming. They're right.

There's a concerted effort to deny there is such a thing, led by the irreligious right in this country. A large portion of our country is taught not to believe in science, and if they could, they'd have us believing the earth is flat, and that it is the center of the universe. So when our friends across the waters want to take action, it looks very much like they'll have to do it without us.

There are many areas in which our country is back in the Dark Ages. With Japan changing its policy we will be the only Industrialized major nation that still allows capital punishment. As long as the irreligious right in this country sets the tone, we will continue to become a country opposed to science and the advancement of human kind.

The President avoids the Fox

Our President is on a media blitz to get support for a health bill in Congress. However, of the forty some media sources the President has turned down only one, appearing on Fox News. Small wonder! The bias shown by Fox and lack of objectivity make Fox a laughing stock in the news community. Fox distorts facts it doesn't like, and gives new meaning to the word bias.

Other news media have been very critical of Fox, and it is no wonder. Fox should remove the word "news" from its name. If someone tells me they saw something on Fox News, or heard something there, then that tells me all I need to know about that person. I feel more than just a little pity for their mental facilities.

The President avoiding Fox? That only shows his good taste!

Deal with it!

Today a phone speaker on C-Span complained about C-Span, saying everyday Americans don't have a voice on C-Span, and the commentator pointed out that we've just then had three hours of "locals" commenting.

That didn't seem to satisfy the caller. They objected to listening to an international viewpoint on finance, and wanted only the "American" viewpoint. It's a sad commentary on a large segment of the American population. They say they want just the facts, but to them, if it's not American, it's not the facts. A fact to them is anything that agrees with what they believe or think. If it contradicts what they believe, then it can't be a fact.

This local American ignorance, and I can only call it that, is a weakness in our national security. To them, facts are not facts if they don't agree with what they believe. We can trace this back to a segment of our population, a very large segment, that disbelieves the process of evolution, believes all life started in 6,000 BC, has no use for the vast scientific pool of knowledge that solidly refutes this, and condemns anyone who thinks otherwise as not just wrong in their book, but evil.

Here's some "evil" for you. Evolution is. Reality is. Deal with it. As for economics, get out of your swamp of ignorance and join the world. Look at cause and effect. Don't automatically reject anything that contradicts your narrow little world.

Oh, here's a few more tidbits you may have missed. The earth isn't flat. The earth isn't the center of the universe. The universe was created billions of years ago. Life evolved, although I shudder not at having come from slim marshes, but rather at the thought that you and I share a common ancestry.

Oh, by the way, life ends when you die. You die, you're dead. The only hereafter is what we leave behind in our memories of our deeds and words. So my thoughts for you; deal with it!

The Ir-religious Right - America's Weakest Link

Evolution is. The universe didn't pop into existence in 6,000BC. It's been around for billions of years. The weakest link in the National Security if the Fable around which the Ir-Religious Right base their life and actions.

When you die, you're dead. So live the best life you can, as this is it. The only hereafter is in the memories we leave behind, the actions and words we produced.

So where does that leave the ir-religious right? They have to turn to home schooling, to avoid teaching facts and reality, and they have their churches and talk shows to reinforce the blinders they wear.

The Republican Party, if it is to survive, needs to throw off the ir-religious Right. It is their and America's weakest link.

The Race Question

Former President Jimmy Carter took a bold stand in addressing the problem of race. There are many in the Republican party that needs to take a closer look at their attitudes and behavior.

Perhaps some of the commentary will give the leaders in the Republican Party a desire to modify the direction of their party efforts. There are some moderate Republicans, however their voices are often muffled by the extreme which seems to be in charge of the Party.

However, if you listen to the talk show hosts of the Right, you'll hear a distortion of the facts, and be treated to such a fabrication of events that one wonders if they're talking about events here on this planet.

Afghanistan - a no-win war - Bring the troops home

We are seen as the intruders, and after so many years of fighting and placing our troops in harm's way in a country where we are not wanted, it is time to bring the troops home.

We need to bring the troops home from there and from Iraq, and we need to start doing it now, and complete it as soon as possible. The President went into office, saying that the war in Iraq was a mistake, and he was right. It was a skillful lie brought about an administration that altered facts to fit whatever it wanted to believe.

But now we need to bring the troops home, all of them, to protect our shores, and not intrude into the affairs of other countries.

Sadly, Jimmy Carter hit the nail on the head

Jimmy Carter's comment about Joe Wilson's comment was right on the nail, sad to say. The Republicans, and Rep. Joe Wilson right along with them, are furious that the American public would elect the President, and their conduct indicates their wrath is at a very deep level. It is sad that we have this in America. Some Republicans don't think that way. Some are decent Americans. But for the most part, the party has been captured by the irreligious right, and it's going to bring them and the country down with it.

"You lie!" slur was planned by Republicans

Take a look at the photo of the rude Republican, Joe Wilson, as he said "You lie!" The eyes of both Republicans on either side are not on him. Now if someone was shouting something out at the President, a thing never done, wouldn't you be looking at him, startled, and perhaps amazed at his outburst?

But you don't see that there! Both Republicans are looking straight at the President. They were waiting for his reaction, because they knew in advance Wilson was going to do this. The Republican members had an idea of what the President was going to say, and they were waiting for him to say it. Then they pounced.

It was a political move, one that put millions into Rep. Joe Wilson's coffers and put the spotlight where they wanted it. Frankly, they should throw Rep. Joe Wilson out of the House.

I would suggest that the Democrats stop trying to compromise with the Republicans. The Republicans don't care about compromise, or the country for that matter. You need to pull together, unite, and turn the country around from the mess the Republicans left after eight years of bushwhacking the country.

In other words, quit playing nice guy with the Fox.

In response to Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana...

In response to Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana the one big lie is the Republican Party. There were no weapons of mass destruction. A Republican President and Republican leadership lied to the American public for eight years about that and many other important issues. United under a party that promoted the big lie, the American public was bushwhacked for those eight years, and it's going to take several years for this administration to undo the lies behind the Bushwhacking.

So for a Republican to even suggest the President lied, is the height of hypocrisy. Plus, when you look at the details of the policy in question, there is no lie. At worse there is difference on how effective a policy proposal will be.

So yes, the House deserves an apology, as does the American public. But there's no character or honor among Republicans, so don't hold your breath waiting - and should such an apology come it will be so cloaked in conditions and vagueness as to render it hardly recognizable.

So the big disappointment, Rep. Mike Pence, is the continual behavior of the Republican party, whether it be a refusal to compromise or work at making democracy work, or whether it be just plain crude manners and behavior.

Republican Rep. Joe Wilson - is he typical of Republican poor manners?

Republican Rep. Joe Wilson - Not only should he have given an apology to the President, which he did but only after being pressured, but he also owes the House and the American people each an apology.

It's a sorry state of how low the Republican Party has sank, to see the way he's been ranking in the donations to his campaign since his crude and tasteless outburst.

If one listens to Fox News, (news? - Now there's a contradiction in terms), Rep. Joe Wilson is a hero. Sadly, the slant of the Republican media only feeds on itself.

There's no class there - for the lot of them!

Gertrude Baines died today...

Gertrude Baines died today. She was 115 years old. The doctor said she probably died of a heart attack.

Looking ahead, perhaps technology will one day provide us with small nanobots, that swim through the walls of our arteries, and clean the sides of the walls of plaque. Then perhaps, 115 will be considered a young age, in terms of human life?

Gertrude saw enormous changes during her lifetime. In the next 115 years what will people see then? A sad farewell to Gertrude, she left with a smile.

9/11 - Looking back...

Looking back at that day, there's a few facts we overlook or perhaps many don't know. This is not to minimize the heroic efforts of the many to rescue their fellow human beings. But it's important not to forget some very important facts.

The floors of the two towers were held together by large metal straps going all around the buildings, holding the towers in place by the four supports. The designers were probably aware metal expands when heated, but they were under directions of the rich to make the buildings as economical as possible. So when a plane hit the top of the tower, what would have been a contained and local effort turned into the disaster we all know, for both towers.

In fact, when the first plane hit, intercom messages told people to remain in the building, and not to evacuate, that the fire would be contained.

But sadly, heat does expand metal, and when the metal ring around the top floors expanded under the heat, they collapsed down onto the next floor, and you had a domino effect, bringing down the whole building.

When the people in the second tower realized what was happening, they made much more of an effort to get out of that building, but time worked against many of them. It too shortly collapsed.

Those in the two planes were interested in making a statement, but it was very unlikely they realized just how much of a statement it would make.

When it happened, the world and public opinion throughout the world, was behind the US and totally united in seeing what a terrible thing the terrorists had done.

The irreligious right talks a lot about saying how much of a Christian nation we are. But if we were, we certainly didn't turn the cheek at that moment and say we forgive the terrorist. They know not what they do. Had the US done that, the world would turned on the terrorist community and they'd have been hung out to dry.

Instead, we unleashed war on a country that had nothing to do with 9/11, under the guise of looking for weapons of mass destruction, a Bush distortion that was later discredit.

But our nation and other lands paid for it for the last eight years, as our government and people were Bushwacked and betrayed.

It is too bad we didn't follow the example of Christ, who would have turned the other cheek on the violence. World public opinion would have done what eight years of guns and bombs couldn't even begin to do.

But then again, we really aren't a Christian nation. Looking back, many gave of themselves to help others. The common man, the average Joe - they were betrayed by the rich and powerful, and the wealthy were never held accountable for their part in magnifying this tragic event.

Republican "slip of the tongue" more than bad manners

When the President spoke to Congress, and a Republican yelled out "Lier!" that was more than just a slip of the tongue and very poor manners. It was a calculated and planned event, designed to throw confusion on the health care issue and to attempt to discredit the President.

It was also another display of the arrogance and how low Republicans will go to shut down anyone who disagrees with them.

One of the greatest strengths of the Democratic Party is that it is the party of the people, the common working people, interested in their welfare and in agenda that helps them. At the same time is is the greatest weakness of the Party, as it is hard to get so many diverse voices to come to a common agreement and unite around one policy.

The Republican Party on the other hand is the party of the rich, the money interests, and as such it is very easy to get agreement among them. If it helps the CEO's and top money makers, then it's good policy, and they can bring in and control the elements of their party very effectively. This is also their greatest weakness, as the last eight years in which the country was Bushwacked and led down a dangerous and very unAmerican route.

That "slip of the tongue" was no slip. It was calculated. It was planned.

The Weakest Link - Rightwing Blinders For Youth

After listening to all the commentary on the Presidents speech to youth one is left with a feeling that the right wing is indeed America's weakest link. If you read through the President's speech, one is struck by how necessary and vital his message is, for the youth of our country. At the same time, one is left with a feeling that the right wing of this country wants to keep our youth in binders, to see only things as they see them, not to look at facts or reason.

This narrowness of mind and spirit has seeped through the Republican Party, and left it as the party of the negative. It is a cancer that is destroying the Republican Party, and reducing it to a splinter of its former spirit.

The ir-religious right is sowing the seeds for its own destruction - but sadly, it's taking the Republican Party down with it.

Fox runs tail?

It is not surprising that Fox is not going to make the President's speech available live as other networks are. If you compare the outlook Fox takes on news, it is not hard to see a very strong slant to the right. The bias they show is such that one wonders how they dare to call themselves a news network.

As in the the previous commentary, they too fear their young being exposed to a rational, well-balanced, and probably the most intelligent President we've had for quite a number of years. After seeing the country Bushwacked by the right for eight years, it is amazing the lack of intelligent thought that comes out of Fox.

So it's no wonder they're running tail when the President is addressing the youth of our country.

Fear of the President speaking to students?

It is sad that many on the right do not want their kids to hear the President talk to students about educational goals. They act as if he would contaminate their kids. It says much how strong the right is in terms of keeping its members only seeing one view of reality. They can't afford to have their kids listen to the President. They would be exposed to a very intelligent, rational and fair individual, and that's not something the Right wants their young kids to see.

It is no wonder that Republicans are so narrow-minded and refuse to compromise. They have become the party that doesn't support compromise or for that matter, democracy and the tolerance that has made our country strong.

It is sad, that these people are the backbone of the Republican party. It has become a party marked by lack of tolerance and many features that mark the ir-religious right for what it is.

Missles, not Timber - to Iran

Russia's 'Arctic Sea' Carrying Missiles to Iran? That's probably what occurred when you read through the news. The slip in the news release, the activity of Russia during and after this event, the visit by an official from Israel right after the recovery, and other factors - all point toward Russia sending missiles and not timber to Iran.

The U.S. government probably knows, but is not releasing this information to the American people. Nor is the U.S. major news media asking any questions. So the question becomes, why aren't they? There isn't the independence nor the desire to ask the deep questions, to "rock the boat."

Does this tie into our government's quicker than expected withdrawing of troops from Iraq? Are the troops to be needed elsewhere?

Will we soon see a reversal of our position in Afghanistan, and bringing the troops out of there?

Education - The Weak Link

A recent news article stressed our focus on math and science. This unlies a big weakness in our appraoach to education. What's the weakness.

Our lack of emphasis on history. We push history into the background. American history is whitewashed over, as is history of the world. Our students come out with little understanding of what made this country, and how we relate to other peoples.

What this does is give our people a very distorted picture of our history, and what results? A large segment of our population bases its beliefs and actions on a very distorted view of history and our role in this world.

Internet Threats

In the news recently was the mention of someone who was upset with a judge on his decision on some matter. What this person did is say that this person should be killed, and post directions to his home. Now that he is being prosecuted for this, he claims it is all part of free speech.

There is nothing in the rights of free speech to threaten someone, to promote their killing or execution. That is nothing less than murder, and the full force of the law should deal with that person.

In terms of security of our country, judges and the law are the cornerstone that protects all of us. What this person did is nothing short of being part of murder or at the very least intimidation. When our legal system is threatened, all of us are threatened.

Bravo to the authorities - to hide behind the apron of free speech is not how we Americans were taught to act!

The Economy & Security

As the economy continues to, how shall we say it politely, "adjust," people are scrambling to try to maintain their level of income. On a world-wide basis, the stronger the economies of the world, the less tension and risk of a war for scarcer resources.

What we're seeing is a leveling of the economic levels of peoples around the world. For years the U.S. has enjoyed the advantage of many economic activities of the world based on the dollar. When a certain Iraqi leader suddenly announced it was taking its oil production off the dollar standard, we suddenly found ourselves being told by our government that they were producing nuclear weapons and we took out that country and its leader. More than eight years later we never found any such weapons of mass destruction.

Actually, the weapon of mass destruction was an economic one. We did not want the oil producing nations to go off the dollar standard, and our leader at the time feared the ability of their leader to promote an agenda that would bring economic consequences to us we didn't want.

This leveling process is one of adjusting the worth of various countries to their actual economic contributions to the world economy. It is a painful process, and the downside of it is, that change very often harms the weakest in the society first. Those who don't have a voice in the government or the economy find themselves the first to be affected by these changes.

The big problem is, we can produce goods cheaply - but at the same time demand can not be created to meet that demand, as labor is less and less a part of this process. Behind all of the problems is the root problem. The growth of populations competing for fewer and fewer resources will continue to be a large part of the problem. The religious cry to "Go forth and multiply!" needs to be changed to one based on the available resources of a society. Society needs to look at the overall picture. We have this much land, this many resources, our ability to produce energy is this, we are increased our ability to produce energy at this rate, we need to come to terms with how to deal with pollution - all these concerns weigh into the problem of security. To the degree that a country or people can meet these often conflicting problems, that sets their level of security.

More Thoughts on the Trade Decision

The ability of a people to restrict foreign business interests from moving into a country should be under the control of that country. As a country, they should have the right to say who and who does not do business on their shores.

While business probably basks in this decision to open up markets in China, one has to wonder if allowing foreign business interests the right to move into a country is really a good thing. For one thing, it's going to damage the young film industry of China, that's probably not ready to compete with large foreign film interests.

This decision may be seen as an intrusion into Chinese life, and it well may be just that.

WTO Decision - China's Reaction

It probably should have received more notice - a World Trade Organization ruling that went against China's policy of having foreign economic interests funneled through China's companies. From foreign companies point of view, this is a good thing. But from the Chinese point of view this weakens their control of the influence outside companies have on China.

Is this a good or a bad thing? Again, it depends upon your point of view and interests. On one hand China is opening up its land to foreign interests, but at the same time, it is expanding its military and economic growth to other countries.

So this is an area to watch.

Not long ago, twitter was useful in Iran to people who tried to communicate news. Twitter was used, much to the dismay of Iran officials, to communicate with the rest of the world. Now we find the Twitter system was hacked today and shut down. Was it shut down by operators from Iran or other countries that wanted to know if it could be shut down if they needed to?

What was interesting is the public officials didn't indicate any effort to find out who did it. Was there something our Federal government knows, that it doesn't want the public to know?

Two submarines checking out our coasts?

The news report of two Russian subs checking off our waters by itself doesn't raise any alarms. However, several months ago there was a news article about thousands of rifles from China or Russia(who remembers the article?) that went to a country in South America. Now North Korea is suddenly releasing two journalists as a good-will gesture. It may well be only that, but ...?