President's actions ruled illegal one more time

Once again the Supreme Court has ruled against our warmongering President’s continuing attempt to become King of America. On Thursday morning the ruling in Hamdan vs. Rumsfeld was announced. The Supremes found the commissions established for trying the Guantanamo detainees to be illegal under both military justice and the Geneva Convention. Apparently the Geneva Conventions are not really ‘’quaint” as Attorney General Gonzales once described them.

The core of this decision goes back to the responsibility of Congress to approve any such action. Independent action of this sort is not included in the Constitutional duties and responsibilities of an American President. The Executive branch as headed by the President is empowered to enforce laws passed by the Legislative branch (the Congress). When are both the administration and the Congress going to awaken and shoulder their individual responsibilities. Today what we have is ongoing consolidation of power under the Executive branch without real regard to the law. The current Supreme Court ruling is a fine step in the direction of ending such overstepping.

Maybe one day we will find our Constitutional government back at the forefront. Hope does spring eternal.

Patriotism thoughts

Patriotism is an important attribute for the citizens of any country. The true patriot works to further the best interests of the country without overwhelming regard for personal benefit. Sincere patriots care more about the people of the country than any particular symbol which may represent those people. Symbols may include a President, a flag or a government body among others.

In my own opinion patriotism is best lived and not worn as an outward and exuberant demonstration. The very folk who feel they need to show public fervor are the ones who seem least likely to me to be true patriots.

Just one opinion among many I suspect.

The Democrats Blow it again--Helen Thomas

Could not have said it better myself.

Democrats could blow it again
By Helen ThomasPublished 12:01 am PDT Sunday, June 25, 2006

WASHINGTON -- When are the Democrats going to get their act together? Surely, they are not going to let President Bush's political guru, Karl Rove, snooker them in the midterm November election campaign as he did in the last two presidential elections.
What is he going to pull out of the hat? Soft on terrorism? Gay marriage? Flag burning? 9-11? Are the Democrats going to be such easy prey again, neutralized by phony wedge issues and neglectful of the real issue, which is the administration's flagrant use of falsehoods to justify a war of choice? It could happen again. The leaderless Democrats, speaking in a cacophony, are being outgunned by the conservatives and members of their own party representing the Democratic Leadership Council who are at heart "Republican lite."
The Democrats should campaign on the slogan "It's the war, stupid." Do any of them have the courage to take a stand on the Iraqi quagmire?
There are a handful, including Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., a Vietnam veteran who is calling for a speedy U.S. pullout from Iraq.
He also took a swipe at Rove on NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday for pushing the war while "sitting in his big air-conditioned office on his big, fat backside, saying 'Stay the course.' "
He was responding to Rove's speech in New Hampshire last week in which Rove attacked Democrats for what he called "that party's old pattern of cutting and running."
Rove -- who prides himself on being a history buff -- obviously did not remember when President Gerald Ford ordered American troops out of Vietnam in April 1975. They departed -- some clinging by their fingertips to helicopters -- as North Vietnamese forces advanced on Saigon.
At that time Ford said at Tulane University: "We, of course, are saddened indeed by the events in Indochina.
But these events, tragic as they are, portend neither the end of the world nor of America's leadership in the world."
Summing up, he added: "The fate of responsible men and women everywhere, (meaning the South Vietnamese) rests in their own hands, not in ours."
Amen.
Polls show that the American people -- including many Republicans -- are beginning to turn against the war.
In addition to an endless war for no known American objective, there are a host of other issues that Democrats should embrace to hit home to every American. They could shout from the rooftops against the chipping away at the Bill of Rights and expansion of presidential power.
President Bush has asserted the right to wiretap and eavesdrop on any American without a warrant in the name of fighting terrorism. He has asserted presidential power beyond stated constitutional rights and there is no Republican gutsy enough to call his hand.
The Bush administration also has detained hundreds of suspected terrorists in limbo without charges or trials.
And then there are the shameful alleged secret prisons abroad where prisoners may be subjected to torture under interrogation.
The fact that millions of Americans lack health insurance is a theme that Democrats should campaign on. The Democrats should support universal health care. When the Bush administration lays down the law in the prescription drug program that drug prices are not negotiable, who is it working for? Another rich target for Democrats: Bush and the Republican Congress cut taxes for the richest people in the country while fighting to keep the 10-year-old minimum wage at $5.15 cents.
Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., said last week that the "divide between rich and poor in this country has reached outrageous proportions." He urged passage of Massachusetts Sen.
Edward Kennedy's bill to raise the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour in three stages.
And how about the cuts in homeland security funding for vulnerable New York and Washington? The Democrats could also hit upon our diminished image around the world and loss of credibility.
As President Bush prepared to visit Europe this week, Die Zeit, a German weekly, declared that Americans have "lost their moral credibility in Iraq."
The newspaper also said "America's entire Iraq policy is out of control."That's what the Democrats should be saying

More Flag Burning rant

Our Senators in their infinite wisdom have seen fit to schedule as much as four days of debate for the proposed flag-burning amendment. In the meantime Americans continue to die in Iraq, but that will not merit debate. The deficit is growing at a rate difficult to comprehend, but that, too, will not rise to the level of serious debate. No since we have as many as 7 or so flag burnings a year in this country, some folk see fit to change the Constitution to prevent such.

As a veteran of VietNam I feel strongly about the protection of freedom of speech in addition to feeling strongly about the flag and everything represented by those stars and stripes. Many a good person has fought and died for the principles of truth, justice, and freedom for all embodied in our flag.
Burning the flag as a demonstration of protest seems to me a reasonable part of the freedoms symbolized by the flag. Freedom of speech and freedom of assembly are integral to the founding principles of this country.
Our Constitution has stood steady and strong for more than 200 years with little need for tinkering. The current flag burning outcry is nothing more than a political ploy to keep the American attention turned from truly major issues. This amendment needs to be stopped before any more time or energy is wasted in its consideration.

Pay raise time again for the Congress

The Congress is set to receive a scheduled pay raise in January, 2007. This action requires no action in advance. One more example of a Congress failing to meet its responsibilities to the public interests. If the Congress earned a raise, let the debate begin and let the record show support for the raise. Otherwise no such raise should given.

With the enormous costs of the Iraq occupation and the increasing deficit let alone the perceived poor performance of our Congress, a pay raise this budget year unconscionable. Automatic pay raises are not the norm in American business under most circumstances. Most Americans canot expect any such raise without a performance review for sure.
In past years Congressional action has led to foregoing the pay raise. Some members of Congress voluntarily pass up the raises at some points in time. In the circumstance of this year the best approach seems to pass the raise for every one of the current Congressional members. Maybe in the future if the performance is seen to be better raises could be instituted once again. Any automatic pay raise without some degree of responsibility to the public interest is intolerable and should be ended once and for all.

The outlaw President on a roll

Our outlaw President aided and abetted by the Congress just continues to roll. News reports continue to report consideration of bills to legalize the NSC monitoring of domestic telephone and internet communication. What a shame. One more example of a Congress acting as a doormat for a domineering President too drunk on power for the country’s good.

So many examples of blatantly illegal activity have been admitted to by President Bush in recent times. Yet every admission is greeted by a ho-hum attitude from the Congress instead of the impeachment proceedings that are so well deserved. When will Congress find its backbone again?

I truly fear for the future of our country. So much damage has been done to our standing both internally and in the world community in the past few years. Generations of real effort will be necessary to reverse this downward spiral. The sooner we get to work the better for me.

Ours is a country founded on principles of freedom and justice for all, not just for the wealthy and the heck with the poor. Our freedoms are being taken away in wholesale quantities by the Patriot Act and various illegal spying activities. The internet is under attack and in real danger of becoming another commercial venture in which freedom of thought and expression once again may be subverted.
Where will all this end? What do we do other than sit around and worry? We take action, that is what. We cannot afford to sit quietly in our comfortable homes and let this happen around us. We have a societal obligation to work for the benefit of the country more than to the benefit of the wealthy and powerful few.

The Flag Burning Decoy

The Senate is considering a constitutional amendment to ban flag burning. In the meantime Iraq is being systematically destroyed, New Orleans remains a near complete ruin, health insurance costs are leaving the middle class well behind, and jobs are fleeing the country at an unprecedented rate. So many other problems need immediate attention, but our administration sees fit to wave this amendment as a means of drawing attention away from the ongoing problems. One more success of the neo-conservative plan. The American public seems unable to maintain a focus on more than one issue at a time allowing the neo-cons to plow ahead in their program.

The neo-conservatives have been very successful in recent years. Power is highly centralized within the executive branch. Two major wars have been started with at best questionable intelligence. The Supreme Court has two conservative justices recently installed. Multiple bills have passed to the detriment of the country including No Child Left Behind (better known as Leave No Child a Dime), the Patriot Act (or the death of the First Amendment Act), the Medicare Drug Bill (an aid package for big drug companies), the Clear Skies Initiative (clearing the way to increased air pollution by major contributors), and the Healthy Forests Act (clearing the way to clearcut more of our national forests). In addition to all this we see tax cuts for the richest of our nation along with the highest deficits in history.

The neo-conservative element has been very successful in their plan. The nation is suffering heavily from their success. The time for a turnaround is here. Our Congressional members need to take a stand and regain their fair place in the government. We, the voting public, can take to the streets and to the polls to insure we replace elected officials who fail to exercise their proper power. We need to keep on talking to our friends, our neighbors, and all who are near enough to hear. We can blog, we can e-mail, we can phone. Any means is legitimate. The anger is simmering. We need to bring this pot to a full boil.

We Must All Take Action

The occupation continues in Iraq as an ever increasing amount of distressing news is found in the media. Increasing numbers of American troops are being charged with murder. To date the persons charged with serious crimes have all been low ranking with their superiors being left free. Higher ranking officials all the way to the Department of Defense and the White House should be on the list of those charged. General Sanchez early on wrote a memo describing the use of dogs to intimidate detainees. Those tactics were carried to an extreme and General Sanchez earned a big promotion rather than a punishment. Given the relatively loose guidelines troops were often left to decide for themselves what was or was not abusive. Thus we have Abu Graib and other similar incidents. Now we have murder on an increasing scale. This is jjust inexcusable.

At the same time we see increasing amounts of resistance to the war. Hundreds of American military personnel are now living in Canada to escape duty in Iraq. A few are serving prison time for their resistance. One Iraq veteran came home to establish the group, Iraq Veterans Against the War. People all over the country are refusing to be silent and are taking steps to end the illegal occupation.

Each of us has the ability to act to stop the downward spiral. We can write to our Congressional representatives. We can write to our local newspapers. We can join our local anti-war organizations. We can start a blog or contribute to one already working. In lieu of action we can donate money to the groups that are being proactive.

What are you doing today to end the morass and to bring our troops home before any more die and before any more are driven to serious crime in the name of war? Inaction is intolerable. Inaction brings only increasing responsibility for the ills created by the continuation of the occupation.

Freedom of Speech 1

More on this subject in future days I am certain. For today,

Freedom of speech is a founding principle of our country. Censorship in its broadest forms is not acceptable in America. And yet we are losing our freedom to express ideas openly as the administration monitors our phone conversations and our internet usage. How much farther will the police state be allowed to go before we cry “Foul” and stop the move to end our precious freedom.

Today we see increasing suppression of free speech in the name of “national security.” Journalists report being prevented from reporting truth or facts that are critical of the current administration. In fact one may notice mainstream journalists in America practicing self-censorship in response to administration or corporate pressure.

A degree of self-censorship is legitimate if one is a juror, an employee of a legal professional during litigation. Certainly self-censorship is appropriate when one refrains from making obviously false or mailicious statements, refraining from libel or slander, or violating a trust. As citizen journalists commenting on the world at large, we have an obligation to refrain from inciting violence.

Even so when all is said and done we keep an individual responsibility to speak up and share our thoughts. Free and open discourse is a founding principle of our country we must not let wither on the vine of either government interference or citizen disuse.

Take a chance today! Write that letter to the editor. Steal words from this blog if you wish. Feel free! Post a comment on a blog (this one is fine or any other of your choice). Start your own blog or make a new post on the one you already have in place. Keep on talking. Keep on telling the truth. We can spread the word if we all work together. Alone we are much too small a voice. Together we can be heard.

PC Manners and the Occupation of Iraq

Political Correctness manners are most often ascribed to liberals, not conservatives. Back in the old days of the 60’s and 70’s we liberals managed to stop the more conservative among us (read that Republican in large manner in those days) to stop using a variety of racial and other degrading epithets in the name of PC. Today the shoe seems to be on the other foot.

Today we have a “War in Iraq” instead of the more appropriate description of a war against Islamic jihadists. With a history going all the way back to Muhammed, we would not want to slur any group by using the wrong words now would we.

What we have today is really an occupation (once again the obfuscation comes into play) of a nation which never caused us any harm and never had weapons of mass destruction. What Iraq did have was massive reserves of oil. Quite a valuable commodity in today’s world. Enough for some countries to invade in an effort to take control, the US apparently included. War on Terror indeed.

The connection of the so called War on Terror with the Occupation of Iraq was deliberate political ploy by the Bush administration. All the outrage over 9/11 was purposely directed toward Saddam Hussein, who in fact had nothing to do with the event. Scapegoats surely are useful sometimes.

Sadly a large percentage of both the American public and our troops in Iraq continue to believe the ongoing occupation is in retribution for 9/11. The facts must be spread loud and clear. We can no longer stand by and allow the administration to continue in power as the result of a deluded populous. Speaking up and spreading the word is an important and simple act which any one of us can easily manage. We must get to work and talk to our friends and neighbors. Together we can change this course.

Sedalia

Silence is no longer acceptable

From several days ago, the thoughts of that day.

Violence begets violence. The descending spiral is very difficult to interrupt. We see examples of such descent in Iraq on a near daily basis. Sectarian violence is on the increase. An eye for an eye when a relative is killed and the family retaliates. The same holds for attacks on American troops by Iraquis angered by the occupation. And now we hear of American troops attacking and killing civilians in apparent retaliation for the death of a comrade.

Why are we surprised by this news? On the other hand why are we not one and all so outraged that we insist on an end to this war and bring our troops home? So long as we the public remain silent the violence will continue to escalate. We must speak up and speak out lest we lose our moral standing altogether. Silence is no longer acceptable.

Sedalia

Staying the course

On his return from Iraq a few short weeks ago President Bush assured the nation he was filled with resolve to “stay the course.” What course one might ask? The current course in Iraq crosses dangerous territory. Sure some important figures in the old Iraq regime and in the current insurgency are either dead or in prison cells. At what cost? By staying the course we have more than 2500 dead American soldiers and thousands more too severely wounded to return to duty. By staying the course we are spending untold billions of dollars that could well be put to use in our country. Staying the course continues to lose respect from the world community. Staying the course generates new resistance among the Iraqi people on a daily basis.

How much longer will we just stay the course? The ongoing occupation of Iraq is much too expensive in both dollars and lives. We need to plot a new course. We, the people of this United States, can help set a new direction by speaking up and expressing our views. Staying the current course is no longer acceptable.

Sedalia

Moral Authority

Today the American military finds itself in a impossible in Iraq. Fighting an insurgency in the middle of a civilian population declared friendly by our government cannot be an easy task. Given the improvised explosive device as the weapon of choice of the enemy our forces are in one of the most difficult positions imaginable. Such heavy-handed activity by the opposition in no way excuses the repeated killings of civilians by American forces.

Recent news reports told of a pregnant woman shot to death at a checkpoint. This comes on the heels of increasing numbers of similar reports in addition to the Haditha massacre. How much longer can this continue before the moral outrage of America is heard. Our position in Iraq leads to atrocities. We must insist the occupation end without delay. Otherwise we are in danger of losing all our moral authority as a nation.

Sedalia

It is all about the numbers.

Could not have said it any better myself. The following is from mcjoan on DailyKos, June 24, 2006. The article is quoted in its entirety. This is not my favorite etiquette, but the words are just right. Posting a link might or might not work later. Enjoy Sedalia

-----start quote-----------------

It's a number. Not quite 2,500, but just as significant.

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Sunni groups complained Saturday that one of their top religious leaders was detained by American troops in Tikrit for several hours, while the U.S. military said three soldiers from the same division were killed in separate incidents.

The deaths of the three soldiers from the Multi-National Division in Baghdad raised to 15 the number of U.S. servicemembers who were killed or were found dead this past week. One soldier was killed Saturday and the other two Friday.

A soldier was killed Saturday by a bomb during a foot patrol south of Baghdad. On Friday, one soldier was killed by a roadside bomb and the other in a "non-combat incident" that was being investigated.

Some other numbers to ponder: 2,516 American soldiers dead; 91 journalists dead; 42,889 Iraqi citizens confirmed dead, by one estimate; $320billion spent so far, and to what end? Because the end is what we have to be talking about now.

The clear reality is that there is not a plan for an end. "Stay the course" is not a coherent plan. "We'll stand down when they stand up" is not a plan, it's a soundbite. Staying in Iraq until the next administration is in office is a sort of plan, at least as far as Bush personally is concerned--a plan to push the problem off on the next guy.

The 2,516 deserve better than that, as do we all.

-------------end quote----------

Thursday thoughts

The New York Times edition in our area today talks about how the Republicans are framing the Iraq occupation in a positive way for the midterm elections. Talking points are being circulated among the members of Congress and other high ranking Republicans for immediate responses to Democrat efforts to derail this misery. Once again the administration is aiming to play on the fears and overall lack of either interest or knowledge of the voting public.

Wake up, folks. Time is short. We need to stop this ongoing destruction of the American way. Unless we get busy and get active we stand to lose all we have built over the past 200 years.

Sedalia