Okay I give up on being rational.....
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Random Paranoia
okay maybe not random paranoia - but a disconcerting paranoia. It appears I am slightly paranoid of expressing my opinions. WTF?
I have noticed in myself a rush to fear the government "If I post that on my blog, write that in an email, or go to that meeting....I might be pissing off the government". I know that is ridiculous, not only is there freedom of speech - but why on earth would the government give a rat's patoody about me?
So rationally - no, I do not believe there will be repercussions if I vocalize my beliefs. But every time I publicly state my beliefs I get anxious. I have never felt that way before, but I guess after learning about wiretapping, suspension of Habeas Corpus, and people being videotaped at protests......... I am beginning to censor myself more.
Do I honestly believe we are moving towards fascism? Ummm I think the Bush Administration has tried to inch us there, but I believe in America. We will not allow that to happen.
So it is self-inflicted paranoia which keeps me from speaking up and voicing my concerns. That's lame. We shouldn't live in a culture of fear.
Perhaps this is just my issue, but I am curious whether other people feel this way.
I have noticed in myself a rush to fear the government "If I post that on my blog, write that in an email, or go to that meeting....I might be pissing off the government". I know that is ridiculous, not only is there freedom of speech - but why on earth would the government give a rat's patoody about me?
So rationally - no, I do not believe there will be repercussions if I vocalize my beliefs. But every time I publicly state my beliefs I get anxious. I have never felt that way before, but I guess after learning about wiretapping, suspension of Habeas Corpus, and people being videotaped at protests......... I am beginning to censor myself more.
Do I honestly believe we are moving towards fascism? Ummm I think the Bush Administration has tried to inch us there, but I believe in America. We will not allow that to happen.
So it is self-inflicted paranoia which keeps me from speaking up and voicing my concerns. That's lame. We shouldn't live in a culture of fear.
Perhaps this is just my issue, but I am curious whether other people feel this way.
Laura Bush On Larry King - Iraq Is Safe
The "One Bombing per Day" diet plan by Laura Bush. It works I tell ya! Americans should be proud, not horrified!
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
The blizzard of '07!!!!
Monday, February 26, 2007
Interesting tidbits
Holy Crapolis! Now that my brother has learned me in the ways of Google Reader I can dance my information jig even more.....here are some interesting items for your Monday morning
I don't know if James C. really did find Jesus's tomb - but he made a documentary about it. I am just for a rational approach for trying to figure out history. Even if it involves people/events that people worship in these modern times.
Are we really going to let this administration drag us into a war with Iran? Really? Really?
Oh yeah and this headline on Democracy Now - cannot be right!
16 Million Americans Now in Deep Poverty
The number of Americans living in deep or severe poverty has reached nearly 16 million. A new analysis by the McClatchy Newspapers found that the number of severely poor Americans grew by 26 percent since 2000. During this time period, the share of national income going to corporate profits has dwarfed the amount going to wages and salaries.
How do I know it isn't right? Because yesterday morning I watched the news love-fest, morning shows and was told that the economy is doing great! Why can't the poor just accept that fact? Jeeesh.
Peace.
I don't know if James C. really did find Jesus's tomb - but he made a documentary about it. I am just for a rational approach for trying to figure out history. Even if it involves people/events that people worship in these modern times.
Are we really going to let this administration drag us into a war with Iran? Really? Really?
Oh yeah and this headline on Democracy Now - cannot be right!
16 Million Americans Now in Deep Poverty
The number of Americans living in deep or severe poverty has reached nearly 16 million. A new analysis by the McClatchy Newspapers found that the number of severely poor Americans grew by 26 percent since 2000. During this time period, the share of national income going to corporate profits has dwarfed the amount going to wages and salaries.
How do I know it isn't right? Because yesterday morning I watched the news love-fest, morning shows and was told that the economy is doing great! Why can't the poor just accept that fact? Jeeesh.
Peace.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
ACL- Who?
SHAREHOLDERS AND CONSUMERS TAKE STOCK OF AT&T AND VERIZON COOPERATING IN SPYING
The ACLU is backing a resolution by AT&T shareholders to force the company to disclose more about its role in the recent National Security Agency (NSA) illegal spying scandal and to tighten its policies to better protect customer privacy. If you are a shareholder or customer of AT&T or Verizon or just a concerned citizen your voice can make a difference in this effort. It only takes a few minutes to email AT&T and Verizon and let them know you want them to protect your privacy not help the government invade it:http://action.aclu.org/site/R?i=GbkowS1GCHrHAZMF3anmMQ..
Acting without a court order or the knowledge or consent of their customers, AT&T and Verizon are providing the government with potentially intimate details about who you know and who you talk to - details that are stored in giant databases, and may be mined by the NSA's supercomputers to scan through your associations and interests for "suspicious" signs, whatever that means.With support from the ACLU, shareholders and consumers are working to force these companies to disclose their handling practices for customers' personal information, any legal issues with assisting in government spying and amounts that the companies have spent in connection with the spying scandal.
Both AT&T and Verizon are attempting to obstruct shareholder discussion, by appealing to the Securities and Exchange Commission for permission to block proposed resolutions.Corporations are accountable all of their shareholders, who have a right to vote on issues they feel are vital to preserve their company's reputation and protect their long-term investments and the privacy of the customers. AT&T and Verizon users, board members and shareholders must be aware of all the issues inherent in assisting the government with its spying.Help hold AT&T and Verizon accountable and protect your privacy by taking action today:http://action.aclu.org/site/R?i=moMPXCu82Zzoccu2Li-bcA..
Okay now that that is out of the way........... Let's go watch the Oscars!
I love me some Academy Awards, and now I can rope Alex into watching it with me. I hope "Little Miss Sunshine" and "An Inconvenient Truth" do well.
The ACLU is backing a resolution by AT&T shareholders to force the company to disclose more about its role in the recent National Security Agency (NSA) illegal spying scandal and to tighten its policies to better protect customer privacy. If you are a shareholder or customer of AT&T or Verizon or just a concerned citizen your voice can make a difference in this effort. It only takes a few minutes to email AT&T and Verizon and let them know you want them to protect your privacy not help the government invade it:http://action.aclu.org/site/R?i=GbkowS1GCHrHAZMF3anmMQ..
Acting without a court order or the knowledge or consent of their customers, AT&T and Verizon are providing the government with potentially intimate details about who you know and who you talk to - details that are stored in giant databases, and may be mined by the NSA's supercomputers to scan through your associations and interests for "suspicious" signs, whatever that means.With support from the ACLU, shareholders and consumers are working to force these companies to disclose their handling practices for customers' personal information, any legal issues with assisting in government spying and amounts that the companies have spent in connection with the spying scandal.
Both AT&T and Verizon are attempting to obstruct shareholder discussion, by appealing to the Securities and Exchange Commission for permission to block proposed resolutions.Corporations are accountable all of their shareholders, who have a right to vote on issues they feel are vital to preserve their company's reputation and protect their long-term investments and the privacy of the customers. AT&T and Verizon users, board members and shareholders must be aware of all the issues inherent in assisting the government with its spying.Help hold AT&T and Verizon accountable and protect your privacy by taking action today:http://action.aclu.org/site/R?i=moMPXCu82Zzoccu2Li-bcA..
Okay now that that is out of the way........... Let's go watch the Oscars!
I love me some Academy Awards, and now I can rope Alex into watching it with me. I hope "Little Miss Sunshine" and "An Inconvenient Truth" do well.
Friday, February 23, 2007
Pow-wah to the Netroots!
Okay this is my 3rd post today.....I am slowly beginning to realize I should organize my thoughts first and then blog. But since I am going to be snuggling with my ho-nay all weekend and won't have time for bloggin, check this out:
Read this article by Ari Melber at The Nation
here is a teaser:
"The fight was not so much about religion or online obscenity as power. The netroots are the most aggressive, ascendant force in progressive politics, wielding more members, money and media impact than most liberal organizations. In the 2006 election cycle, MoveOn alone spent more than every other liberal political action committee except the prochoice EMILY's List. According to the Institute for Politics, Democracy and the Internet, online donors gave Kerry $82 million in 2004, and Democrats expect much more in 2008. (Bush pulled only $14 million from the web.) And now top bloggers--like Jerome Armstrong, Markos Moulitsas and Glenn Greenwald--have hundreds of thousands of readers, successful books and a bully pulpit in print and broadcast media"
The Netroots are on the rise! We have the power to think and analyze, and now we have the power to communicate and take action.
I think I am feeling some audacious hope.
Read this article by Ari Melber at The Nation
here is a teaser:
"The fight was not so much about religion or online obscenity as power. The netroots are the most aggressive, ascendant force in progressive politics, wielding more members, money and media impact than most liberal organizations. In the 2006 election cycle, MoveOn alone spent more than every other liberal political action committee except the prochoice EMILY's List. According to the Institute for Politics, Democracy and the Internet, online donors gave Kerry $82 million in 2004, and Democrats expect much more in 2008. (Bush pulled only $14 million from the web.) And now top bloggers--like Jerome Armstrong, Markos Moulitsas and Glenn Greenwald--have hundreds of thousands of readers, successful books and a bully pulpit in print and broadcast media"
The Netroots are on the rise! We have the power to think and analyze, and now we have the power to communicate and take action.
I think I am feeling some audacious hope.
Electric Avenue
And then we'll take it higher......
does 300 MPG sound good to you?
I guess it doesn't to the White House.
Sorry I just puked a little in my mouth.
does 300 MPG sound good to you?
I guess it doesn't to the White House.
Sorry I just puked a little in my mouth.
I have no regard for "rules"
even if I make them!
So I am posting about books today.
I just finished reading The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins. It is not the typical kind of book I read at all. I don't usually read older books. I must have read something about the book on the internets and put it on hold at the library. By the time I got it and started reading it - I had completely forgotten why I had ordered it from the library.
I am going to stop right here and recommend everyone start using their local library. You are already paying for it - freakin' use it to stuff your head with ideas/stories/music. What is life about, except for learning about cool shit?
Anyway I read the Woman in White and really enjoyed it. It takes place in the 1800's and is a darn good mystery. It also brings up the issues of women & marriage and how different classes act within a social construct. It puts forth a story in which the lower class/poor people and the higher class/rich people are not inherently good or bad - but behave in a certain manner because of the influence of the class system. I think this is an important concept in any era.
I have just started Chicken with Plums by Marjane Satrapi. I loved Persepolis and Embroideries by Satrapi, so I have high hopes. In fact Persepolis has a important place in my heart because I got it from the library for Jeff to read when we first started dating. We have absorbed so much information together since. We have become very odd (but knowledgeable) people in the past 2 years.
So I am going to recommend Marjane Satrapi's graphic novels to everyone. I freakin love graphic novels/comics and I recommend her books as a good starting point in the genre.
Well we resheduled our trip to Taos. I don't wanna mess with Mother Nature. I can feel a storm a brewin in Calhan and want to stay safe. Plus cuddling with my hhhhhaaaandsome husband during a blizzard sounds pretty great to me.
Peace.
So I am posting about books today.
I just finished reading The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins. It is not the typical kind of book I read at all. I don't usually read older books. I must have read something about the book on the internets and put it on hold at the library. By the time I got it and started reading it - I had completely forgotten why I had ordered it from the library.
I am going to stop right here and recommend everyone start using their local library. You are already paying for it - freakin' use it to stuff your head with ideas/stories/music. What is life about, except for learning about cool shit?
Anyway I read the Woman in White and really enjoyed it. It takes place in the 1800's and is a darn good mystery. It also brings up the issues of women & marriage and how different classes act within a social construct. It puts forth a story in which the lower class/poor people and the higher class/rich people are not inherently good or bad - but behave in a certain manner because of the influence of the class system. I think this is an important concept in any era.
I have just started Chicken with Plums by Marjane Satrapi. I loved Persepolis and Embroideries by Satrapi, so I have high hopes. In fact Persepolis has a important place in my heart because I got it from the library for Jeff to read when we first started dating. We have absorbed so much information together since. We have become very odd (but knowledgeable) people in the past 2 years.
So I am going to recommend Marjane Satrapi's graphic novels to everyone. I freakin love graphic novels/comics and I recommend her books as a good starting point in the genre.
Well we resheduled our trip to Taos. I don't wanna mess with Mother Nature. I can feel a storm a brewin in Calhan and want to stay safe. Plus cuddling with my hhhhhaaaandsome husband during a blizzard sounds pretty great to me.
Peace.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Yes, its true
my brother continues to Rock - Shout out to the brotherfish!
He set up a Feed option for my blog. Just in case you want to subscribe.
In honor of this event I will show you a picture of my cat.
The reason I do this is because The Spicy Cat hapens to be my co-blogger.
So rest assured that everyday I compose my messages, Spicy is cuddled up on my printer overseeing the job.
She is a friend to the fishes-
Peace.
Conundrum
I seem to be going through an ethical conundrum lately. Without trying too hard I am finding out about a very disturbing trend in our country. Just by using the library, netflix, and the intrenets (keep it free!) my whole worldview has changed.
What I was told was up......turns out to be down. Black appears to be white. I can no longer sit and eat junk food while watching corny movies, without getting a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.
My problem is how do I handle the situation?
Do I ignore it? Escape into reading, American Idol, chips & dip, the History Channel (oops I better be careful with that channel....history repeating itself tends to be an alarming message.......whew I turned it to HGTV)
Or do I stand up and speak up about my concerns?
Well the problem is that I don't want to be dismissed or marginalized.
But I also don't want the government to read my emails or tap my phones. I don't want to live in a country where the government dictates what the meaning of patriotism is to me.
On the other hand, I don't want my friends and family to think I am a paranoid, raving lunatic.
but what if I am not?
What I was told was up......turns out to be down. Black appears to be white. I can no longer sit and eat junk food while watching corny movies, without getting a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.
My problem is how do I handle the situation?
Do I ignore it? Escape into reading, American Idol, chips & dip, the History Channel (oops I better be careful with that channel....history repeating itself tends to be an alarming message.......whew I turned it to HGTV)
Or do I stand up and speak up about my concerns?
Well the problem is that I don't want to be dismissed or marginalized.
But I also don't want the government to read my emails or tap my phones. I don't want to live in a country where the government dictates what the meaning of patriotism is to me.
On the other hand, I don't want my friends and family to think I am a paranoid, raving lunatic.
but what if I am not?
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
WTF is the WSF?
I was pretty horrified last night when I turned on the TV to watch Larry King Live. I was hoping to catch an interview with John Edwards, instead I saw Larry interviewing the guy who gave Britney Spears a tattoo. WTF? Is this news or gossip? Seriously. Can we be that superficial as a country?
I really don't think so.
I think the majority of Americans do want to know what is happening in the world. The entire world. We want to know about injustice, suffering, and complex situations. We can handle the truth - whether or not America is the hero or the villain.
We are rational, intelligent adults, yet the mainstream media begs to differ.
For example. Take the time from your day and read this article.
Did you know about the World Social Forum? Why is our awareness about poverty in the global south low? Sure, we might not care about other people suffering enough to do anything, but do we really want to live in a world where our media consciously does not report it to us?
Information is power. What you do with information is your choice - but you should mad as hell that the mainstream media is censoring news. We should demand a true independent media. We cannot rally around our nation being a good example of freedom if our media doesn't believe in reporting facts and important world events. No wonder Americans look uncaring and apathetic. We have been lulled to sleep by our media.
YIKES!!!
Okay here are some options:
1) Always question and use rational thought when using MSM
2) Know what options are available
My husband likes Alternet and Axis of Justice
I love my FreeSpeech TV . Because we have Dish Network we get it on channel 9415
I can watch Democracy Now on FreeSpeech tv to get news, but I also go to Democracy Now's website.
Try it - you will be surprised at the news that the MSM doesn't think you want to hear. I am still shocked.
I truly believe we are a nation of rational adults. We can appreciate gossip for what it is worth, but we don't want gossip and spin replacing news. We care too much about truth and facts.
Otherwise Truthiness wouldn't be so damn funny (and scary). I love you Stephen.
Peace
I really don't think so.
I think the majority of Americans do want to know what is happening in the world. The entire world. We want to know about injustice, suffering, and complex situations. We can handle the truth - whether or not America is the hero or the villain.
We are rational, intelligent adults, yet the mainstream media begs to differ.
For example. Take the time from your day and read this article.
Did you know about the World Social Forum? Why is our awareness about poverty in the global south low? Sure, we might not care about other people suffering enough to do anything, but do we really want to live in a world where our media consciously does not report it to us?
Information is power. What you do with information is your choice - but you should mad as hell that the mainstream media is censoring news. We should demand a true independent media. We cannot rally around our nation being a good example of freedom if our media doesn't believe in reporting facts and important world events. No wonder Americans look uncaring and apathetic. We have been lulled to sleep by our media.
YIKES!!!
Okay here are some options:
1) Always question and use rational thought when using MSM
2) Know what options are available
My husband likes Alternet and Axis of Justice
I love my FreeSpeech TV . Because we have Dish Network we get it on channel 9415
I can watch Democracy Now on FreeSpeech tv to get news, but I also go to Democracy Now's website.
Try it - you will be surprised at the news that the MSM doesn't think you want to hear. I am still shocked.
I truly believe we are a nation of rational adults. We can appreciate gossip for what it is worth, but we don't want gossip and spin replacing news. We care too much about truth and facts.
Otherwise Truthiness wouldn't be so damn funny (and scary). I love you Stephen.
Peace
Monday, February 19, 2007
Okay, Nevermind
I have no reason to complain.
Meet some people who have every right too
How on earth did our nation become so twisted? And how can we truly become engaged and responsible Americans? Perhaps a look at our mainstream media might shed some light. I will tackle that huge, pink elephant in the room tomorrow.
Meet some people who have every right too
How on earth did our nation become so twisted? And how can we truly become engaged and responsible Americans? Perhaps a look at our mainstream media might shed some light. I will tackle that huge, pink elephant in the room tomorrow.
Busy Weekend
All day Saturday I was in Kiowa for a middle school basketball tournament. That was fun. Jeff had to work, so it was just Alex and I.
Sunday we went to the "big city" aka Colorado Springs and had brunch at Jack Quinn's. We drove around looking at houses in neighborhoods near downtown and went to a couple open houses. We didn't see anything we loved (thank goodness!) Overall it was a nice family day.
Nothing much else happening. Jeff and I are going to Taos this weekend, but the threat of a big snow storm might change our plans. Blechhh. I gots the winter blues, and they ain't cool.
Spring cannot come sooner.
Peace
Sunday we went to the "big city" aka Colorado Springs and had brunch at Jack Quinn's. We drove around looking at houses in neighborhoods near downtown and went to a couple open houses. We didn't see anything we loved (thank goodness!) Overall it was a nice family day.
Nothing much else happening. Jeff and I are going to Taos this weekend, but the threat of a big snow storm might change our plans. Blechhh. I gots the winter blues, and they ain't cool.
Spring cannot come sooner.
Peace
Friday, February 16, 2007
Now is the time
to pull our heads out of the sand and start dealing with the fact that we are at war.
We need to start supporting our troops. Not with empty platitudes or magnets, but by listening to what they have to say. We cannot pretend that it doesn't effect our lives, because as a nation we are sending men and women into a war zone.
Please listen to their stories.
The Ground Truth
For the same price as going to see a movie or less, you can rent/buy/borrow The Ground Truth DVD.
I know I cannot convince everyone to watch a DVD. But when it comes right down to it, it is our American duty to listen to their stories.
give them a voice.
Peace
We need to start supporting our troops. Not with empty platitudes or magnets, but by listening to what they have to say. We cannot pretend that it doesn't effect our lives, because as a nation we are sending men and women into a war zone.
Please listen to their stories.
The Ground Truth
For the same price as going to see a movie or less, you can rent/buy/borrow The Ground Truth DVD.
I know I cannot convince everyone to watch a DVD. But when it comes right down to it, it is our American duty to listen to their stories.
give them a voice.
Peace
Thursday, February 15, 2007
I am not in the mood
to be on the internets today. I also hate doing book reviews. Why am I recommending books on Thursdays then? Because I love books.
Love: Books
Hate: Book reviews
The exception was when I booktalked at my former job in Teen Services at the downtown library. Hmmmm that is a thought, maybe I should just write booktalks instead of stuffy book reviews. Perhaps next week, if I am in a internets kinda mood.
Actually my first book to recommend would work really well in a booktalk. It is in the kick ass genre of "Teen/Young Adult Fiction". Which is my favorite genre. The books are (usually) relevant, accessible, absurdly intelligent, and substantial. The are hardly ever too long and burdensome. I love me some teen books.
So read An Abundance of Kathrines by John Green
Then check out his website found in the back of the book (I'm not making it easy for you!) and become a fan of Brotherhood 2.0. It will blow you away.
Hopefully tomorrow I will love me some internets as much as I love me some teen fiction.
Peace.
Love: Books
Hate: Book reviews
The exception was when I booktalked at my former job in Teen Services at the downtown library. Hmmmm that is a thought, maybe I should just write booktalks instead of stuffy book reviews. Perhaps next week, if I am in a internets kinda mood.
Actually my first book to recommend would work really well in a booktalk. It is in the kick ass genre of "Teen/Young Adult Fiction". Which is my favorite genre. The books are (usually) relevant, accessible, absurdly intelligent, and substantial. The are hardly ever too long and burdensome. I love me some teen books.
So read An Abundance of Kathrines by John Green
Then check out his website found in the back of the book (I'm not making it easy for you!) and become a fan of Brotherhood 2.0. It will blow you away.
Hopefully tomorrow I will love me some internets as much as I love me some teen fiction.
Peace.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Love is in the air....
Ahhhhh, Valentine's Day. Its amazing how a holiday can be experienced in so many ways. I am utterly in LOVE with my husband. Ironically, I have no desire to buy crap for him or desire to receive crap that he has bought for me. The best gift we can give each other is just taking some time to be together. Which we did this morning and it was wonderful. And free.
I have the urge to qualify my observations by saying they are coming from my "hippie" side.
But that is bull caca. Turning a holiday about love and romance into a reason to get people to spend money is ludicrous. It might be labeled a "hippie" thought - but its freakin true.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with promoting love, compassion, and peace. So my first Wednesday website is........
http://www.codepinkalert.org/
Plus it is PINK!
If you feel the urge to go spend some $$$$$ on Valentine's Day, spend it on Love's dirty - hippie cousin..........
PEACE
(and then go get a little dirty yourself *wink*)
I have the urge to qualify my observations by saying they are coming from my "hippie" side.
But that is bull caca. Turning a holiday about love and romance into a reason to get people to spend money is ludicrous. It might be labeled a "hippie" thought - but its freakin true.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with promoting love, compassion, and peace. So my first Wednesday website is........
http://www.codepinkalert.org/
Plus it is PINK!
If you feel the urge to go spend some $$$$$ on Valentine's Day, spend it on Love's dirty - hippie cousin..........
PEACE
(and then go get a little dirty yourself *wink*)
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
A snowy start
It snowed last night. We live in a small town (approx. 1000 pop.) on the eastern plains of Colorado.
Calhan is a very beautiful town, but I miss being next to the mountains. I grew up looking at Pike's Peak every morning to give me strength to endure the mediocrity of high school. So although the plains are scenic, I once again need some mountain strength. Plus everyone in town assumes everyone else is Christian and agrees with the religious right. I am not Christian, but do respect the teachings of the New Testament. In fact I really like learning about the Christian faith, it is fascinating. But the religious right political movement scares me to the depths of my core.
We do not have enough discussion in this country about how the religious right has co-opted a faith and fed good, righteous people a pack of lies and deceits. We just happen to be a little closer to the action living in southern Colorado (shout out to Pastor Ted!)
The hypocrisy is horrifying.
Since my brother was kind enough to start this blog, I will respect his efforts and try to post regularly. But I am a bit rusty when it comes to sharing my thoughts with others. So I am going to organize my days by themes. Listen up sisterfish readers, this is how it is gonna roll....
- Monday : freestyle
- Tuesday : relevant news not in MSM (mainstream media)
- Wednesday : websites I look at
- Thursday : books to free your mind
- Friday : dvds I groove on
- Saturday : music I groove to
Or maybe not, but that is the plan.
PS I like the picture cause I am wearing the necklace my delicious husband got me for V-day when we first started dating. Otherwise I look kinda old.
<>
Monday, February 12, 2007
Will she hate it?
I have taken the liberty to add a photo of Kristi to this page. Will she love it, hate it or fall somewhere in between?
Okay, Okay I am suppose to be lazy
but I am gonna jump right in and post this article:
Bush's attack was on Constitution
By Gary Hart
Denver Post
The endless Iraq war is decreasingly about Iraq and increasingly about the U.S. Constitution.
President Bush's decision to escalate the war, and to further Americanize it, is based on his flawed and dangerous theory of the "unitary presidency," a theory under which, once war is declared, the president as commander in chief can ignore constitutional checks and balances, disregard the Bill of Rights, suspend accountability and concentrate dictatorial power in his own hands.
History has already judged the invasion and occupation of Iraq as an American disaster of epic proportions. But an even more important judgment remains to be made: What damage has been done to the U.S. Constitution and our form of government in the name of the "war on terrorism" as cover for a neo-conservative agenda in the Middle East?
In rendering this judgment in years to come, constitutional scholars will take into account Congress' appalling suspension of habeas corpus, its approval of torture and rendition and its abdication of its oversight responsibilities. These congressional failures, however, will not be seen as cover or justification for an executive branch run totally amok.
George W. Bush will be held accountable in the court of history for manipulation of intelligence to serve his neo-conservative political agenda; his erosion of national security by the unnecessary exhaustion of our standing and reserve forces; his pathetic failure to respond to natural disasters; his unhinging of the national budget in the service of accumulated wealth; and his almost demented insistence that the U.S. military could put the lid back on a 1,300-year-old Islamic struggle that he himself had ignorantly removed.
In his adopted role as Captain Ahab, Bush will extend the tours of four combat brigades and add another to the Iraqi meat-grinder, all in the name of pacifying the capital city where, even today, F-18 aircraft are bombing neighborhoods to rout out insurgents. Thirty-five years ago in Vietnam, this was called "pacification." "Secure and hold" will fail equally for a simple reason: patience. It requires no MBA from Harvard to know that military occupations, unless they are intended to be permanent, will be defeated by insurgents who wait for the occupiers to leave.
All this will have to be tidied up on the watch of the unfortunate next president, who must assume - on top of many other duties left unfinished - the job of restoring the health, integrity and capability of the armed forces now so eroded by a war they should never have been called upon to wage.
Likewise, the price for this folly will live long after Bush departs. Were he sincere in the faith he professes, he would require those who have benefited the most from his tax cuts, those now increasing the size of their gilded yachts, to adopt one of the families of the more than 25,000 American military casualties. Each Bush billionaire can surely afford to care for the widow and orphans of one of the fallen or to provide long-term physical and mental care for one of the wounded in body and mind as a result of his folly.
Surely now, even the most cynical neo-conservative is prepared to declare victory. Iraq is no longer an imminent threat to U.S. national security, not that it ever was. We have rid ourselves of the tyrant Saddam Hussein (though it was never quite clear why he, among several dozen tyrants, deserved our special attention), and we have given the Iraqi people freedom, which they are now using to kill each other.
What we, the most dominant military power in history, cannot do is impose peace on a nation with scores to settle. Needed now is not a surge of military forces. Needed now is a surge of citizen commitment to restore the Constitution of the United States of America.
I promise to explain who, what, and how I am the sisterfish (swimming in a ocean of political hoo-haw), but for now I am too freakin sad about the untimely death of our Constitution.
Perhaps I am going through the phases of loss http://www.uiowa.edu/~ucs/griefloss.html. I left depression and I am swimming around in anger. I don't think acceptance is in the cards anytime soon.
I really, really loved the Constitution.
A sad fishy
Bush's attack was on Constitution
By Gary Hart
Denver Post
The endless Iraq war is decreasingly about Iraq and increasingly about the U.S. Constitution.
President Bush's decision to escalate the war, and to further Americanize it, is based on his flawed and dangerous theory of the "unitary presidency," a theory under which, once war is declared, the president as commander in chief can ignore constitutional checks and balances, disregard the Bill of Rights, suspend accountability and concentrate dictatorial power in his own hands.
History has already judged the invasion and occupation of Iraq as an American disaster of epic proportions. But an even more important judgment remains to be made: What damage has been done to the U.S. Constitution and our form of government in the name of the "war on terrorism" as cover for a neo-conservative agenda in the Middle East?
In rendering this judgment in years to come, constitutional scholars will take into account Congress' appalling suspension of habeas corpus, its approval of torture and rendition and its abdication of its oversight responsibilities. These congressional failures, however, will not be seen as cover or justification for an executive branch run totally amok.
George W. Bush will be held accountable in the court of history for manipulation of intelligence to serve his neo-conservative political agenda; his erosion of national security by the unnecessary exhaustion of our standing and reserve forces; his pathetic failure to respond to natural disasters; his unhinging of the national budget in the service of accumulated wealth; and his almost demented insistence that the U.S. military could put the lid back on a 1,300-year-old Islamic struggle that he himself had ignorantly removed.
In his adopted role as Captain Ahab, Bush will extend the tours of four combat brigades and add another to the Iraqi meat-grinder, all in the name of pacifying the capital city where, even today, F-18 aircraft are bombing neighborhoods to rout out insurgents. Thirty-five years ago in Vietnam, this was called "pacification." "Secure and hold" will fail equally for a simple reason: patience. It requires no MBA from Harvard to know that military occupations, unless they are intended to be permanent, will be defeated by insurgents who wait for the occupiers to leave.
All this will have to be tidied up on the watch of the unfortunate next president, who must assume - on top of many other duties left unfinished - the job of restoring the health, integrity and capability of the armed forces now so eroded by a war they should never have been called upon to wage.
Likewise, the price for this folly will live long after Bush departs. Were he sincere in the faith he professes, he would require those who have benefited the most from his tax cuts, those now increasing the size of their gilded yachts, to adopt one of the families of the more than 25,000 American military casualties. Each Bush billionaire can surely afford to care for the widow and orphans of one of the fallen or to provide long-term physical and mental care for one of the wounded in body and mind as a result of his folly.
Surely now, even the most cynical neo-conservative is prepared to declare victory. Iraq is no longer an imminent threat to U.S. national security, not that it ever was. We have rid ourselves of the tyrant Saddam Hussein (though it was never quite clear why he, among several dozen tyrants, deserved our special attention), and we have given the Iraqi people freedom, which they are now using to kill each other.
What we, the most dominant military power in history, cannot do is impose peace on a nation with scores to settle. Needed now is not a surge of military forces. Needed now is a surge of citizen commitment to restore the Constitution of the United States of America.
I promise to explain who, what, and how I am the sisterfish (swimming in a ocean of political hoo-haw), but for now I am too freakin sad about the untimely death of our Constitution.
Perhaps I am going through the phases of loss http://www.uiowa.edu/~ucs/griefloss.html. I left depression and I am swimming around in anger. I don't think acceptance is in the cards anytime soon.
I really, really loved the Constitution.
A sad fishy
My brother is freakin cool.....
This reminds me of the Christmas you bought and installed a cassette player in my first car. It was a hipster, orange Gremlin that came with a crappy AM radio. It amazed me at the time that you realized you had a younger sister, much less that you worried about my ears being assaulted by idiotic talk radio and weather reports.
You Rock, my brutha! Now the pressure is on for us to be witty and interesting.
But I know the true reason for this blog. You and mom were sick of my forwarded emails from www.moveon.org and www.barackobama.com. That's cool. Give the raving girl a forum and we won't have to be the only recipients of her ramblings..............awesome.
I can now annoy all my friends and family with my rants on life. But don't blame me, blame my enabling older brother. Who also happenings to be freakin cool.
Sisterfish
You Rock, my brutha! Now the pressure is on for us to be witty and interesting.
But I know the true reason for this blog. You and mom were sick of my forwarded emails from www.moveon.org and www.barackobama.com. That's cool. Give the raving girl a forum and we won't have to be the only recipients of her ramblings..............awesome.
I can now annoy all my friends and family with my rants on life. But don't blame me, blame my enabling older brother. Who also happenings to be freakin cool.
Sisterfish
Sunday, February 11, 2007
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