Saturday, May 31, 2008

Very interesting video interview on Oprah -- with Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor

VERY WORTHWHILE WATCHING! The brain scientist who suffered a stroke
tells her full story.... She talks about going to Mass. General Hospital
with her stroke...oh so interesting!!!
http://event.oprah.com/videochannel/soulseries/oss_player_980x665.html?guest=jbt&part=1
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Great poem: JUST A COMMON SOLDIER

God bless our Vets, from all wars.  This tribute to a common soldier is exactly what we should all feel toward our military.  Politicians like Bush & Cheney who avoided military duty like the plague, are the ones sending our young soldiers into an unnecessary war today--heedless of the pain and grief they are causing to these soldiers and their families.  Believing the lies of their leaders, the soldiers will continue to go to wars that benefit the rich leaders and their corporate buddies, and will give up their life and limb because they believe they are protecting our country.  God bless them all. Whether or not they are right in their belief, their courage is unquestionable.

And how are these brave soldiers being served by their "leaders" in today's world?  Bush and McCain want to deny them increased benefits. McCain voted against the bill to increase veteran benefits and Bush says he will veto it.  Think about this before casting your vote in November.   Enough said. 


JUST A COMMON SOLDIER

(A Soldier Died Today)

by A. Lawrence Vaincourt

He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast,

And he sat around the Legion, telling stories of the past.

Of a war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had done,

In his exploits with his buddies; they were heroes, every one.

And tho' sometimes, to his neighbors, his tales became a joke,

All his Legion buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer for old Bill has passed away,

And the world's a little poorer, for a soldier died today.

He will not be mourned by many, just his children and his wife,

For he lived an ordinary and quite uneventful life.

Held a job and raised a family, quietly going his own way,

And the world won't note his passing, though a soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state,

While thousands note their passing and proclaim that they were
great.

Papers tell their whole life stories, from the time that they were
young,

But the passing of a soldier goes unnoticed and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land

A guy who breaks his promises and cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow who, in times of war and strife,

Goes off to serve his Country and offers up his life?

A politician's stipend and the style in which he lives

Are sometimes disproportionate to the service that he gives.

While the ordinary soldier, who offered up his all,

Is paid off with a medal and perhaps, a pension small.

It's so easy to forget them for it was so long ago,

That the old Bills of our Country went to battle, but we know

It was not the politicians, with their compromise and ploys,

Who won for us the freedom that our Country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand,

Would you want a politician with his ever-shifting stand?

Or would you prefer a soldier, who has sworn to defend

His home, his kin and Country and would fight until the end?

He was just a common soldier and his ranks are growing thin,

But his presence should remind us we may need his like again.

For when countries are in conflict, then we find the soldier's part

Is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor while he's here to hear the praise,

Then at least let's give him homage at the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline in a paper that would say,

Our Country is in mourning, for a soldier died today.

C 1987 A. Lawrence Vaincourt

http://www.vaincourt.homestead.com/Common_Soldier.html

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Another "Is That So?" story...(~.~)

This is similar to the stories of the Buddhist monk or the old farmer to whom a disastrous thing would happen, then, with the next occurrence,  you'd find out it was actually a good thing.  This would keep occurring over and over in his life--and all along, the main character would be saying to every happening, good or bad: "Is that so?"  I love these stories --

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small,
uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him,
and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none
seemed forthcoming.

Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood
to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions.
But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find
his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky.

The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stunned with
grief and anger. "God, how could you do this to me?!" he cried.

Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a
ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him.
"How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers.

"We saw your smoke signal," they replied.
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McCain commits yet another foreign policy blunder

McCain commits yet another foreign policy blunder

From Crooks & Liars

But, but, but….that’s his strong suit. Right?

WaPo:

In comments to reporters on Thursday, McCain asserted that “I can tell you that it is succeeding. I can look you in the eye and tell you it’s succeeding. We have drawn down to pre-surge levels. Basra, Mosul and now Sadr City are quiet and it’s long and it’s hard and it’s tough and there will be setbacks.”

In fact, as the Obama campaign was quick to point out, the troop level in Iraq is at about 155,000 right now, well above the 130,000 that would mark a return to pre-surge levels.

And the McCain camp’s response:

Advisers to Sen. John McCain said the flap over whether the senator was mistaken about the troop level in Iraq is nothing more than “nitpicking” about “verb tenses.”

So the lives of 20,000 soldiers is just “nitpicking”? Nice to know you really “support those troops,” Senator.

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Thursday, May 29, 2008

Bush's laws will be scrutinized if I become president, Obama says

I don't see how anyone could find fault with this, especially those Republicans who consider themselves to be strict Constitutionalists. Wouldn't it be great to have our laws be in abidance with our Constitution once again? I would think any strict Constitutionalists would welcome this kind of scrutiny!

Bush’s laws will be scrutinized if I become president, Obama says

DENVER - Maybe it’s his background teaching constitutional law.

If elected president, Democratic White House hopeful Barack Obama said one of the first things he wants to do is ensure the constitutionality of all the laws and executive orders passed while Republican President George W. Bush has been in office.

Those that don’t pass muster will be overturned, he said.

During a fund-raiser in Denver, Obama — a former constitutional law professor at the University of Chicago Law School — was asked what he hoped to accomplish during his first 100 days in office.

“I would call my attorney general in and review every single executive order issued by George Bush and overturn those laws or executive decisions that I feel violate the constitution,” said Obama

Other goals for his first 100 days: work out a plan to withdraw troops from Iraq; make progress on alternative energy plans and launch legislation to reform the health care system.

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Wednesday, May 28, 2008

McClellan's book: Bush administration truth from one of their own insiders

Am glad McClellan is finally telling the truth -- too bad it took him so long. He could have quit his job and told all of this back when it might have made a real difference, forcing the cowardly Congressional Democrats and foolishly loyal Republicans to impeach the Idiot and the Dark Lord who managed him. Instead of making fun of Helen Thomas, the one true journalist who always asked the right questions and persisted in trying to get the truth out, he could have said, "You're right, Helen!" Instead, she was relegated to a seat in the back of the room, behind the potted palms.

If ever a reputation was in tatters, this is it for the Bushes. The Bush name for all time is spattered with mud. Jeb Bush couldn't get elected as a dog catcher at this point, and all the plans his family had for him--their golden boy--have been ruined by the one they always knew was their black sheep. Too bad those who voted for Bush had blinders on. Bush and all those connected with him (Cheney, Rice, Rumsfeld, Rove, Libby, and the rest of the dirty dozen) are now being revealed by one of their own for what they truly are--self-serving, greedy, power-mad, conscienceless liars.

It was apparent from the beginning to anyone who studied Bush and his character that he would be the very worst kind of president. We were warned by prescient authors who practically pleaded "Don't vote for this idiot!", yet millions did -- and even did it TWICE. God help us all now. Bush/Cheney have brought our country to its knees, and I'm not sure anyone will be able to bring it back to a standing position again. One thing I am sure of, though: McCain will carry on the same policies and dig us even deeper into the hole Bush/Cheney have put us in. There is NO DOUBT about that! Yet, even in the knowledge of that, I also know there are millions who will vote for McSame. Some never seem to learn their lesson.

http://www.ajc.com/meetro/content/news/stories/2008/05/27/mcclellanbook_0527.html
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Tuesday, May 27, 2008

The rat deserts the ship and then attacks the captain

I guess Bush's nickname for him now might be "Rat Fink." Scott McClellan has turned on Bush and the White House he used to so vociferously defend. Excerpts from his new book tell the true dark story, which he is now unveiling to the public. Read all about it at http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0508/10649.html

It's rather humorous to see how many Bushmen who stood shoulder to shoulder with the Idiot in the old days have now written books exonerating themselves from association with any of the evil misdeeds perpetrated within the neocon White House. The thick forest of fingers are pointing every which way except back at themselves.
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Jonathan Alter writes about cancer and politics

A good article. (See: http://www.newsweek.com/id/138510 ). Since my dearly loved sister died of the same kind of cancer Ted Kennedy is now battling (in exactly the same place in the brain), and many other members of my family have died of cancer, I am most interested in which senators and representatives care enough to fund studies in the fight against this disease. I myself believe alternative types of treatment, along with positive thinking and good humor (of the type espoused by Norman Cousins), are likely to bring a cure sooner than the development of more harsh drugs.

I would truly like to see homeopathy taken more seriously in our culture. The AMA and Big Pharma took over the U. S. health market in the mid-1800s, shoving homeopathy out the door (too much work for the doctors to learn it -- and not enough compensation, since homeopathic remedies are readily available at very reasonable cost). Thank god we do have some dedicated doctors who, in seeing the almost miraculous recoveries of patients with homeopathic remedies, decided they would study it and bring it back in this country. (It is still used on a large scale in Europe.) It's been a long, hard struggle on their part, as they are facing the stronghold the AMA and drug companies have--and want to keep--on the American public.

A great introductory book on homeopathy and how it works has been written by Dr. Timothy Dooley, a family physician in San Diego. Entitled Homeopathy--Beyond Flat Earth Medicine: An Introduction for Students and Patients, it is available on amazon.com for those who are interested. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for anyone who is curious and interested in treating the whole person, rather than just the disease--with non-toxic remedies that work. This book is short, readable, and to the point. In my opinion, it should be read by everyone, just to learn that other options are available and can be considered in health treatment. Homeopathic remedies are safe for children, too, and work almost miraculous cures on them for many illnesses, so it is worth a look at for parents who don't want their children on a steady diet of antibiotics, Ritalin, and other drugs now being prescribed all too readily by allopathic physicians. There is a place in our society for both allopathic and homeopathic medicine, which can complement each other. Hopefully, more doctors will become interested in holistic ways of treating illness as we head into the 21st century.
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Ten evil human experiments

To read about ten evil human experiments that have been done on this
planet:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/05/27/10-evil-human-experiments.aspx?source=nl

I pass this along because I think it is important for people to know
that our government is not the lily-white "land of the free" our
flag-pinned leaders have often painted it to be. Examples from other
countries are in this list, too. This planet deserves to have higher
consciousness people inhabiting it. I hope Barack Obama is the
harbinger of that higher consciousness being brought into our
leadership. From its inception, this country has had a few other good
men as leaders--men with heart and intelligence who stood out from the
crowd and were dedicated to the task of making life better for their
fellow countrymen. But really, very few. The past eight years have
brought us to the dregs as far as leaders go, and we have much to
recover from.

We, the people of these United States, need to wake up and make better
choices!!!

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NY times follow-up article on neuroscientist who had a stroke

Here's a fascinating piece from the NY Times. It's an article on the neuroscientist who had a stroke and spoke at the TED conference. You may have seen the wonderful youtube video of her speech about her experience. (See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyyjU8fzEYU ).


In my opinion, she has found the key to being in the world but not of it -- and enjoying it all to the nth degree! (~.~) Just reading this article made me laugh with delight! Thank god for people like her who have discovered inner truth and are sharing their experience with others.

Eckhart Tolle on Oprah's Monday online classes has been sharing much the same thing. Millions around the world are tuning in to these classes to learn the open secret of lasting happiness and inner peace that is available to all. For those who are interested, Oprah is continuing with interviews with other spiritual teachers/sharers in her Monday online classes.



I believe it may finally be time for a paradigm shift in the way Earth's citizens think and live their lives, with many indicators pointing in that direction. Obama seems to be a candidate for this time as well--perhaps we will at last have a president who will help lead us and our world in a more peaceful, enlightened direction.


JILL BOLTE TAYLOR was a neuroscientist working at Harvard's brain research center when she experienced nirvana...
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/25/fashion/25brain.html?em&ex=1212033600&en=f0b145c715f17d2b&ei=5087%0A
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Monday, May 26, 2008

I heard an interesting talk on the Public Access channel tonight

given by an architect at a seminar at the University of Manitoba. He directed people to an online site that he and other architects and building engineers have put together to alert the public to facts they have discovered about the 9/11 collapse of the WTC towers.

It's a thought-provoking site...with info. from credible experts. Check it out.

http://www.ae911truth.org/
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Friday, May 23, 2008

Joe Biden: Republicans and Our Enemies

A great analysis!  I hope Biden is being considered for a strong position in the Obama cabinet. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121150000249615875.html?mod=opinion_main_commentaries  
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GI Bill passes, despite opposition from McCain & Bush

EXCERPT: It’s interesting how vulnerable Republicans suddenly start to notice the merit of Democratic legislation six months before Election Day, isn’t it? Yes, it certainly is. And it will be interesting to see Bush veto this bill when he claims to be SO supportive of the troops. Why, he even gave up golf (sort of) as his own sacrifice to show how much he appreciates their sacrificing their lives and limbs in the war he sent them into on lies. Now, when it's time to give the troops some real benefits, he and McCain refuse. Yes...it's all so very interesting. I hope the voters--and the troops--are paying attention.

Modernized GI Bill passes, despite opposition from McCain, Bush

Once in a while, it’s hard to keep a good bill down — especially when it involves expanded benefits for the troops, during a war, in an election year.

The Senate has overwhelmingly passed a new GI bill and billions in new domestic spending as part of the $165 billion Iraq war funding bill pending before Congress.

The 75-22 vote marked a resounding victory for Senate Democrats as well as Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.), who has battled to expand the educational benefits for soldiers who served in Iraq. The vote was the first critical hurdle in a three vote package on the Iraq war funding bill. The measure also included a 13 week extension of unemployment insurance, home heating assistance and other domestic spending add ons. President Bush has threatened to veto the bill, which will top $200 billion with the extra spending. […]

What was most surprising was not that the domestic funding amendment and the GI bill won a majority of the Senate votes, but that half of the Senate’s 49 Republicans bucked President Bush and GOP presidential candidate John McCain to back the dramatically expanded GI bill. Many uncertain Republicans stood in the well of the Senate, taking their time to make a decision. Virtually every GOP senator who is politically vulnerable this year voted for the domestic spending, including Sens. John Sununu of New Hampshire and Roger Wicker of Mississippi.

It’s interesting how vulnerable Republicans suddenly start to notice the merit of Democratic legislation six months before Election Day, isn’t it?

In all 25 Senate Republicans broke ranks with Bush/McCain to support the measure, giving the bill a veto-proof majority. Even Lieberman voted for it. Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama spoke in favor of the bill and voted for it. McCain, who has repeatedly said he opposes the measure, decided to raise money in California and skipped the vote. All 22 “nay” votes were conservative Republicans.

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From the horse's mouth

In 2000, McCain admits he’d be too old to run in 2008

As McCain gets ready to release his medical records in a very limited fashion today, I’ve come across a clip back on 08/01/2000. He’s being interviewed by Jim Lehrer on News Hour and admits that he’d be too old to run in 2008.

video_wmv Download Play video_mov Download Play

Lehrer: Finally for the record, you have not lost your desire to be President of the United States, have you?

McCain: Certainly it’s been put in deep cold storage. haha..

Lehrer: You haven’t lost it?

McCain: Well, in 2004, I expect to be campaigning for the reelection of President George W. Bush, and by 2008, I think I might be ready to go down to the old soldiers home and await the cavalry charge there.

Nobody can complain if age comes up anymore since the candidate has made it an issue as far back as 2000 all by himself. Americans polled are sure worried about it anyway…

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Very interesting video

Check out this story and the video connected with it. Quite informative
and educational.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/max-blumenthal/my-interview-with-pastor_b_103177.html

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Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Great new song and video!

...should become the theme song for the November election.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdhJVsOGGi0

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Short history of Homeopathy--and how it works

I found the following informative explanation of homeopathy online. It presents a simple explanation of the history of homeopathy -- and how it works.
My own experience is that homeopathic treatments are very effective. No toxic side effects like you may get in pharmaceutical drugs. And reasonably priced!  http://www.heartlandhealing.com/pages/archive/homeopathy/index.html  
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Sunday, May 18, 2008

Warning: Using a mobile phone while pregnant can seriously damage your baby - Health News

All women should know about this study. I believe children shouldn't
use cell phones at all. Perhaps adults shouldn't, either .... or should
use them as little as possible. We have introduced into our present-day
world many electronic devices that were unheard of when we were kids --
and when our kids were kids. This new generation is being exposed to
far more energy fields than we would ever have dreamed of -- and many of
them are not beneficial. Warnings like this article should alert
parents to the dangers of cell phones for children, whether in or out of
the womb.
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Friday, May 16, 2008

If you take medicines, watch Bill Moyers' Journal this week

Even if you don't take any pharmaceutical medicines, this is well worth tuning into:

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/index-flash.html

The interview with Melody Petersen who has written a book entitled Our Daily Meds was most interesting!
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OUTRAGEOUS! Takin' care of the troops, Bush administration style

Here's the neocon-style way to care for the vets who were sent into an unnecessary war on despicable lies by Bush & Cheney. Now they don't want to pay them when they come home in debilitated condition. "Compassionate conservatism" at its finest.

Let's not call it PTSD -- let's call it "Adjustment Disorder," so we don't have to pay them as much.
By John Amato


We’ve got some proof against these bastards.

An internal e-mail written by a Veterans Affairs Department employee suggested avoiding a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder for veterans and instead considering a diagnosis that might result in a lower disability payment.

A copy of the e-mail was distributed Thursday by the groups Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a congressional watchdog group, and VoteVets.org. The e-mail dated March 20 had been forwarded to VoteVets.org, an Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans lobbying group opposed to the Bush administration’s handling of the war and veterans issues.

“Given that we are having more and more compensation seeking veterans, I’d like to suggest that we refrain from giving a diagnosis of PTSD straight out. Consider a diagnosis of Adjustment Disorder, R/O PTSD,” the e-mail said.

It also said, “Additionally, we really don’t or have time to do the extensive testing that should be done to determine PTSD.”…read on

Sure, just send them out to war where they get killed, maimed or PTSD and then screw them over. Sorry Charlie, it’s just a little dizziness caused by the damp weather. Come and see me in ninety days. That’s what they call "supporting the troops." At least Bush gave up his golf game to make up for your discomfort. Except he didn't--he was caught on video playing golf after he claims he "gave it up." His one "big sacrifice" for the dead soldiers and he couldn't even stick to this puny little promise. What a(n) _______!!! (fill in the blank yourself.)

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I seldom agree with Peggy Noonan -- BUT

she is right on in this latest column:

http://online.wsj.com/article/declarations.html

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Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Olbermann video from Crooks and Liars

Countdown Special Comment to President Bush: “Shut the hell up.”

In an astoundingly ignorant interview with The Politico’s Mike Allen Tuesday, President Bush insinuated that electing a Democrat in November would lead to another attack on America, and revealed that he made the ultimate sacrifice by giving up golf shortly after the start of the Iraq War — the timing of which he lied about. Naturally, Keith ripped into him tonight — with all the anger and passion you’ve come to expect from a Special Comment — for continuing this despicable fear-mongering, and for failing to understand what true sacrifice is.

video_wmv Download Play video_mov Download Play

Do your part in telling President Bush to “shut the hell up”: Digg It!

“Mr. President,” he was asked, “you haven’t been golfing in recent years. Is that related to Iraq?
“Yes,” began perhaps the most startling reply of this nightmarish blight on our lives as Americans — on our history.
“It really is. I don’t want some mom whose son may have recently died to see the Commander-in-Chief playing golf. I feel I owe it to the families to be as — to be in solidarity as best as I can with them. And I think playing golf during a war just sends the wrong signal.”
Golf, Sir?
Golf sends the wrong signal to the grieving families of our men and women butchered in Iraq?
Do you think these families, Mr. Bush - their lives blighted forever — care about you playing golf?
Do you think, Sir, they care about you?
You, Mr. Bush, let their sons and daughters be killed.
Sir, to show your solidarity with them - you gave up golf?
Sir, to show your solidarity with them - you didn’t give up your pursuit of this insurance-scam, profiteering, morally and financially bankrupting war.
Sir, to show your solidarity with them - you didn’t even give up talking about Iraq - a subject about which you have incessantly proved without pause or backwards glance, that you may literally be the least informed person in the world?
Sir, to show your solidarity with them, you didn’t give up… your
4,000 dead Americans and your response… was to stop playing golf!
Golf.
Not “gulf” - golf.

Full transcripts below the fold:


(Read the rest of this story…)

Crooks and Liars

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Don't Miss This One!!! A very special Keith Olbermann comment!

Keith Olbermann's Special Comment tonight is a REAL ZINGER! He speaks for millions of us! Everything he says about Bush the Idiot is absolutely true and has needed to be said by SOMEONE in the media for years! In this latest interview with politico.com, Bush has outdone himself in moronic statements -- and Olbermann is calling him on every one of those statements. Did you hear about Dubya's giving up golf (!) as his own personal "sacrifice" for the troops and their relatives? (Except he really didn't--he was caught playing golf after he "gave it up"). When I heard this latest Bush gaffe (Oh Lord, there have been so many of them!), I could hardly believe he could sink so low in consciousness. He has no awareness of others' feelings and not a clue as to how he sounds when he reels off the lies he has told over and over--and continues to tell, even though they have been proven to be lies. He has gone beyond the limits of Imbecile into a whole new realm of utter incompetency mixed with utter stupidity. How this moron could ever have been raised to the level of president is incomprehensible! How could ANYone have ever voted for him??? What WERE they THINKING?!!!! Watch the following video of Olbermann speaking for us -- and CHEER him on! YAY, KEITH!!! THANK YOU FOR TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT THIS BRAINLESS NINCOMPOOP! Keep up the good work! We have needed a truth speaker in TV news reporting for AGES. You are like a breath of fresh air blowing through the stagnant, controlled media we have come to despise.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24632990/
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Monday, May 12, 2008

Red State Update -- Humorous but oh so true


Ya' gotta' love it!  Red state Republican voters speaking out with all the vehemence they can muster in their little pin heads.  I agree with 'em -- for God's sake, let's us Dems pick a candidate and go with HIM!  The Republicans picked their candidate -- except, of course, for the Ron Paul guys who are going to start a revolution at their convention.  But hey, it's the good ol' American way....isn't it?  I've got to say these guys are really funny! (~.~) They've got their routine down to a "T."  I am still laughing! 

One big question: how in Heck can we make Hillary and Bubba go away?!!!!!  Dem. voters in West Virginia, perhaps cousins of these two guys in the video, apparently love her and will vote for her in overwhelming numbers.  Or, actually, the truth is they would never vote for a black man (who they honestly think is a Muslim--so help me God).  Some people will believe anything the neocon propagandists throw at them--and that is how Bush & Cheney got in TWICE. 


Subject: Fw:
Red State Update

 

 

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Friday, May 09, 2008

Obama being attacked with lies on the Internet

So what else is new? One would hope the people would be smarter than to swallow these lies. But, honestly, look at how many they swallowed whenever Bush and Cheney spoon-fed them neocon propaganda. Look at how many bought the "we are patriots" B.S. and are still waving their flags even though it's been proven many times over that the Iraq war was started on neocon lies. Look at how many believed the Bush/Rove-initiated lies about McCain in the S. Carolina primary in the 2000 selection. They started rumors that McCain had fathered a black child when he and his wife had actually adopted a little orphan from Bangladesh. They also put the word out that McCain was mentally unbalanced from his years spent in a Vietnam prison. South Carolinians bought it--and just look at the disastrous duo they helped put into the White House as a result. So I don't have the same confidence that Obama has in the following story when he says, "People are smarter than folks give them credit for."

Plus, I've already had some of these obvious lies sent to me by Republicans who should have known better--but didn't...and probably still don't. Just as they bought the swiftboat lies against Kerry in 2004, they've bought the Machiavellian propaganda being put out against Obama by the neocon-types this time around, too -- and they're going to stick with it. Some never seem to learn, especially when they are undiscriminating enough to believe whatever Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, and FAUX News are sending out to the dittoheads on any given day. (Imagine being proud to call yourself a "dittohead" and following an arrogant loudmouth liar who has labeled you as that! Look around the country at how many listen to Rush Limbaugh daily, giving him the highest ratings on radio. Then tell me, do you think people are smarter than they are given credit for?)

If you want truth and you're interested to know which lies are being spread about Obama by frightened Republicans who fear having a president who is half African-American, go to the McClatchy news story at:

http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/925169.html
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Thursday, May 08, 2008

The Insanity of It All--Olbermann speaks truth

Olbermann: The point of the war in Iraq is to make sure there is war

By Beverly Davis

When Keith Olbermann offered an overview on Wednesday of recent Bush administration scandals, he touched on the failure to protect whistleblowers and the refusal to reappoint the one member of the Federal Election Commission who spoke out against John McCain’s attempt to opt out of federal campaign financing after using that financing as a loan guarantee.

But Olbermann’s harshest comments were directed against Max Boot, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, whom Olbermann described as “one of the administration’s consulting dumbasses, who got us into the quagmire in Iraq and is now pushing hard for a twin disaster in Iran.”

Boot insisted in an online debate Tuesday that the surge has worked because “civilian deaths were down more than 80%, US deaths more than 60%, between September 2006 and March 2008.”

However, Boot also argued in the Wall Street Journal on Monday that the jump in American fatalities in April “could be a sign that tough combat is under way that will lead to the enemy’s defeat and the creation of a more peaceful environment in the future.”

“And there it is, in all its beautiful, elliptical, symmetrical, asinine Bushian glory,” Olbermann concluded.

“If fewer Americans die in Iraq, that’s because the surge is working. If more Americans die in Iraq, that’s also because the surge is working. And if the surge is working, the troops have to stay longer to solidify its gains. And if the surge isn’t working, the troops have to stay longer to make sure it starts working.”

“And the point of the war in Iraq is to make sure there is a war in Iraq.”

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Wednesday, May 07, 2008

A NY Times short article: "Can you become a creature of new habits?"


EXCERPT: Try lacing your hands together," Ms. Markova says. "You habitually do it one way. Now try doing it with the other thumb on top. Feels awkward, doesn't it? That's the valuable moment we call confusion, when we fuse the old with the new."

AFTER the churn of confusion, she says, the brain begins organizing the new input, ultimately creating new synaptic connections if the process is repeated enough.

But if, during creation of that new habit, the "Great Decider" steps in to protest against taking the unfamiliar path, "you get convergence and we keep doing the same thing over and over again," she says.

"You cannot have innovation," she adds, "unless you are willing and able to move through the unknown and go from curiosity to wonder."




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Monday, May 05, 2008

If it ain't broke, it ain't Bushed, yet

Good article by Ed Naha. See the Readers' Comments at the end. Some intelligent analysis there, too!
http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/14445

One par-for-the-Bush-course Excerpt:

Last week, it was revealed that EPA assessments of the health dangers posed by toxic chemicals have been delayed and/or changed because non-scientists are participating in the reviewing process. The Pentagon, the Energy Department, NASA, political appointees and chemical manufacturers have participated "at almost every step in the assessment process," reported the non-partisan Government Accountability Office. "The (EPA) scientists feel as if they have lost complete control of the process, that it's been taken over by the White House and that they're calling the shots," one anonymous scientist said.

So, remember, kids: discarded rocket fuel in your tap water doesn't cause cancer. It gives you extra "oomph!"

Meanwhile, 60% of the EPA scientists responding to a survey...said that BushCo. was either twisting or tossing scientific findings that didn't benefit the Administration or its cronies across the board. "Our investigation found an agency in crisis," said Francesca Grifo of the Union of Concerned Scientists. "Distorting science to accommodate a narrow political agenda threatens our environment, our health and our democracy itself."

When California recently moved to impose stricter regulations on its own, the EPA quashed it, although its own scientists were for it. EPA chief Stephen Johnson has tossed out every excuse in the book in order to hide any of the EPA's in-house findings, from national security to the chance that documents showing scientists voting in favor of cleaner air and the EPA ignoring them would be confusing. It "could result in needless public confusion about the Administrator's decision."

No, I think most of the public would get it. The concepts of "unscrupulous whore" and "partisan hack" are pretty much part of Americana, these days.

Just last week, EPA/BushCo. forced its top environmental regulator in the Midwest to quit because she went after Dow Chemical for not cleaning up dioxin-saturated soil and sediment extending 50 miles beyond Dow's Midland, Michigan plant, contaminating both Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron. Highly respected EPA employee Mary Gade said that she was stripped of her powers as a regional administrator and told to quit or be fired by June. The EPA mumbled its usual disgruntled employee riff. The amazing thing about Gade's firing is that Dow has already taken responsibility for the toxicity. It just doesn't want to do anything about it.


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Hillary's Bitter "Victory" --

How the Democratic campaign turned into an absurd and acrimonious culture war
http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/14446
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Recent Quips from Late Night (~.~)


Recent Quips from Late Night

"President Bush announced the rebate checks for at least $600. ... I'm going to use my check to buy enough gas to drive to the bank and cash it. And then maybe back. The rebates were pushed through by the president to help get the economy going. It's kind of like when the mom of the kid nobody likes bakes everyone cupcakes so you can pretend to like him until the cupcakes are gone, and then you go back to giving him wedgies." --Jimmy Kimmel

"Tomorrow I go to Washington D.C. to perform at the White House Correspondents Dinner. It's thrown by the press corps for the president and his staff. Everyone who works for the president will be there. Dick Cheney will be there; Condoleezza Rice will be there; Fox News will be there." --Craig Ferguson

"And Barack Obama is suffering from a bad headache today. His former pastor, Reverend Wright, is back out there. Reverend Wright gave an interview earlier tonight on PBS with Bill Moyers, and he said he's gotten over a million emails and phone calls telling him to keep on speaking out, and every one of them came from Hillary Clinton. It was amazing." --Jay Leno

"I like John McCain. Do you like John McCain? He looks like the guy that forgets to roll up his windows at the car wash. ... He looks like the guy who yells 'Okay, who touched the darkness control on the toaster?'" --David Letterman

"Big day at the White House today. I've got to mention this. Today, at the White House, President Bush was busy. President Bush signed a proclamation declaring this week as Malaria Awareness Week. There was an awkward moment when, during the ceremony, Bush said, 'This is a great day for all Malarians.'" --Conan O'Brien

"Well, campaigning in Indiana today, Hillary Clinton, once again, is up to her old tricks. She told the crowd that she's a lifelong Colts fan, and recalled that when she was a little girl, her father taught her how to drive an Indy car. 'I remember racing around at the track.'" --Jay Leno

"President Bush says that the $300 rebate we've been promised, the rebate checks from the government, will finally be mailed out on Monday. It's nice. Good news, yeah. Then Americans can decide whether to save the $300 or use it to buy half a tank of gas. You're right, that was more sad than funny. Ha ha ha. We're screwed" --Conan O'Brien

"And of course, the really good news for liberals, Hillary Clinton won Pennsylvania! I remember when she used to be the big liberal. I guess things have changed. But she did, come on, you've gotta give it up for Hillary. She won it, again. I know, it's pesky. She keeps winning. She won in Pennsylvania, and the next day, she raised 10 million dollars. That's a lot of lolly. And her supporters said they would have donated that money sooner, but there was a purse at Nordstrom they just had to have." --Bill Maher


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Friday, May 02, 2008

McCain's temper: would you want this man as president?

It has been reported that McCain erupted and called his wife a "cunt" when she  fondly ruffled his hair and remarked that he was getting a little thin  on top.  A Baptist minister was brave enough to ask him about this at a  town hall meeting yesterday. McCain did a little tap dance and shuffle --  and avoided answering the question--quickly moving on to another questioner. But this story has been verified by several of those who were there at the time  the incident happened between McCain and his wife.  For video of the McCain tap dance, and full story about the "C" word incident, see:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/01/mccain-asked-did-you-call_n_99744.html  Would you want this hair-trigger-tempered man as president?  A good  question to consider, I think.  
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